Take Your Tastebuds on a Trip
- Max McCrory
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Summer is the time for exploring new places and making discoveries. For many, this means travel and hopping on a plane somewhere. However, there is another option—staying right here in Pittsburgh. In recent years, this city has been expanding its international food offerings, which allow anyone the chance to take their tastebuds on a culinary adventure. These restaurants will allow you to travel to far-flung places without a passport.
Kiku Japanese Restaurant
Kiku Japanese Restaurant is a hidden gem nestled in Station Square. This homey spot will transport you to Japan from the moment you walk in. Its traditional wooden chairs, décor, and Japanese music really set this restaurant apart from more modern sushi spots. Kiku’s menu is extensive, with an array of traditional sushi restaurant appetizers, such as gyoza, vegetable and shrimp tempura, takoyaki, and ebi shumai. You can also tell they take their sushi seriously, with two highly trained chefs behind the gleaming sushi bar. They have all of the typical nigiri and sashimi, such as maguro (tuna), sake (salmon), ebi (prawn shrimp), and hotate (sea scallop), as well as a selection of rolls. A must-try nigiri is their tamago, which is a rolled, sweetened egg omelet. They make it fresh, and it’s the perfect contrast to all of the fish. If sushi isn’t your speed, Kiku also serves hot pot and a variety of dinner entrées, such as teriyaki and katsu (served with your choice of protein). No matter what you order, you’ll enjoy a relaxing, thoughtfully crafted meal at Kiku.
Balvanera
We don’t have many Argentinian restaurants in Pittsburgh, and Balvanera, located in the Strip District, gives us a thorough overview of what this cuisine has to offer. Empanadas are a staple of Argentinian cuisine, and Balvanera does them right, with the crackly exterior and delicious fillings, like tender ground beef and sweet corn. They also offer milanesa, which is a food preparation style that includes breading and frying any type of protein. They offer both chicken and skate (a type of fish) in this style, and both are crispy perfection. Argentina is known for its meat, and this is definitely showcased at Balvanera. They have a variety of sausages, including morcilla and chorizo, that are bursting with spicy and savory flavors. Many of their cuts of meat are sourced directly from Argentina, such as their angosto, lomo, and ancho. These are all premium cuts, and you can taste the quality of the meat. Balvanera is a delightful place to explore a lesser-represented cuisine in Pittsburgh.
Polska Laska
There is no shortage of incredible pierogies in Pittsburgh; we are a city filled with Polish immigrants, after all. In a city full of pierogies, Polska Laska, located in Sharpsburg, manages to set itself apart with beautiful braided edges and perfectly cooked, classic fillings. Potato cheddar pierogies are one of the most traditional fillings, but instead of dense potato with a hint of cheese, Polska Laska’s version is devastatingly creamy with a hit of sharpness. The farmer’s cheese and herb is a take on the typical cottage cheese pierogi, but brings a melody of fresh and tangy flavors to the mix. The restaurant also has some vegan pierogi flavors, like potato and onion, and kraut and shroom. If you want to expand your horizons and try something beyond pierogies, you can’t go wrong with haluski, which is homemade spaetzle, cabbage, and onions. They also offer some traditional Polish sides, such as mizeria (cucumber salad) and beet salad. Polska Laska often offers weekly specials that explore more of this hearty, delicious cuisine.
Soju
Soju brings Korean fusion food to life in Bloomfield. The restaurant, which just celebrated its seven-year anniversary, offers an approachable introduction to Korean cuisine. For a small space, they have a lot of variety when it comes to their menu. Soju’s appetizer selection ranges from more traditional Korean offerings, such as three-cheese tteokbokki (rice cakes with a similar texture to gnocchi); kimchijeon (a spicy and savory pancake made with kimchi and mung beans); and two versions of gimbap (a Korean version of sushi rolls); to more Americanized dishes, such as killer tofu (deep-fried tofu tossed in a pineapple soy glaze); nori French fries; and kimchi-chi nachos. Korea is a country known to have an affinity for meats, and Korean barbecue has been rising in popularity across the U.S. While Soju doesn’t have grill tables where you can cook the meat yourself, their kitchen offers kalbi (sliced beef short ribs), bulgogi (thinly sliced beef fillet), and dwaejibulgogi (thinly sliced pork), or a combination of all three on their BBQ combination platter. All of these dishes come with rice and banchan (different types of kimchi and assorted pickled vegetables), which are both traditional Korean barbecue sides. The restaurant’s other main dishes include kimchi fried rice, a spicy chicken sandwich, bibimbap, and more. If you’ve never tried Korean cuisine, Soju is a great place to open yourself up to a world of bold flavors.
La Cocina de Betty
La Cocina de Betty, nestled in the Beechview neighborhood, is an interesting mix of both Mexican and Central American cuisines. Their menu features tortas, tamales, baleadas, pupusas, and more. Mexican cuisine is readily available in Pittsburgh, but Central American cuisine is less well-known in the area. La Cocina de Betty offers a nice selection to get your education on this cuisine started. Baleadas, which hail from Honduras, are similar to tacos and are filled with refried beans, cheese, and sometimes crema (a type of sour cream). Eggs, avocado, and various proteins can be added to make the meal more filling. Pupusas, which originated in both El Salvador and Honduras, are thick, stuffed flatbreads that are often filled with savory ingredients like cheese, pork, beans, or loroco (a tropical vine flower). They’re typically served with curtido (a spicy, fermented cabbage slaw) and salsa roja, which add a burst of freshness to this heavy dish. La Cocina de Betty will quickly become a favorite with their hearty, flavorful dishes.
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