Explore the top 5 eateries in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill South neighborhood

Explore the top 5 eateries in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill South neighborhoodWaffallonia. | Photo: Sarah W./Yelp 
Hoodline
Published on December 17, 2018

Looking to uncover all that Squirrel Hill South has to offer? Get to know this Pittsburgh neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a waffle joint to a tearoom.

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in the neighborhood, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of local hotspots -- all of them restaurants beloved by Yelpers. Read on for the results.

1. Waffallonia

Photo: tina b./Yelp

Topping the list is Waffallonia, a spot to score desserts including waffles, ice cream and frozen yogurt. Located at 1709 Murray Ave., it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 287 reviews on Yelp.

Try the Antwerp, which starts with the original sugar waffle. Top it with your choice of Dave & Andy's ice cream, including classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla bean or a special Waffallonia flavor, like Nutella and Speculoos. Finish it off with a drizzle of homemade Belgian chocolate syrup.

For a taste of the full array of waffles on offer, go here.  

2. Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33

Photo: ashley t./Yelp

Next up is Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33, which offers noodles, seafood and more from its space at 1711 Shady Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 210 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. 

Start with vegetable and pork wonton soup or crab meat and bean curd soup. The Drunken Chicken Leg (made with alcohol) or Stinky Fried Tofu might become your go-to appetizer. Chicken dishes include chicken with Chinese watercress in black pepper sauce.

Of course, there are also vegetarian dishes and soft drinks and tea are served. Fun fact: The restaurant is set up in a former laundromat. See the full menu here.

3. Dobra Tea

Photo: Dobra t./Yelp

Tea room Dobra Tea is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1937 Murray Ave., 4.5 stars out of 169 reviews. 

Cozy up with white teas, flowering teas, green teas, yellow teas and more. Try a specialty tea, like Memories of Prague (an organic Assam tea and dark chocolate), or Taste of Kashmir, a green, Oolong and spice blend. Check it out here.

4. Hidden Harbor

Photo: ming x./Yelp

Hidden Harbor, a Hawaiian cocktail bar and restaurant, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 147 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1708 Shady Ave. to see for yourself. 

In this self-titled "modern tiki spot," start with a specialty cocktail, like the King Ku, made with bourbon, rum, lime, grapefruit, peach, maple, allspice and more.  Or share with friends with the O.M.G. (Oh My Guava), a rum drink that serves three to four.

Bites include meatballs, nachos, wings, sandwiches and ceviche. Or try the house version of mofongo, a Puerto Rican favorite made with smashed plantains, garlic, pork belly, chicken, ground beef, shrimp or veggies.  

5. Té Café

Photo: hanwen m./Yelp

Last but not least, check out Té Café, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 111 reviews on Yelp. You can find the sushi bar and bubble tea shop at 2000 Murray Ave. 

Yelper Emily H. writes, "I like that this place serves bubble tea in actual cups and has a nice seating area. I usually take my bubble tea on the go but it's nice to slow down and relax sometimes. I had the taro here, which was tasty. I also tried a summer special which was some kind of pink soda, also with bubbles. It was pretty, unique, and tasty. The bubbles here I had were cooked well, not too hard and not disintegrating in my mouth either."