New Vietnamese restaurant coming soon to Oakland.

Signage went up a little while ago for a new Vietnamese restaurant "bringing the taste of Vietnam to Oakland." It seems to be called Vietnam Vietnam 9 and is located at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Window signage advertises pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

The side streets of Oakland, and S. Bouquet would qualify in spite of being a somewhat busy thoroughfare connecting campus to residential areas, have grown bland over the years, with fewer retail and restaurants. This corner of Oakland hasn't had a Vietnamese restaurant in decades, and the general Oakland area hasn't had one since a series of short-lived Vietnamese spots on N. Craig St. in what is now Bomb Chicken.

New time for Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, February 16.

Organizers have moved the start time of the Lunar New Year Parde through Squirrel Hill from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the hopes of finding warmer weather. The relatively new annual tradition returns in 2025 after taking 2024 off. The parade moves up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

2025 Squirrel Hill Lunar New Year Parade, February 16.

Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2025. From the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition:

Please come out to join us to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year with a parade starting at Phillips and Murray (Streets closed Phillips to Forbes on Murray Ave from 9 - 12 pm)

Update: the start time has been moved to 12:00 pm.

The relatively new annual tradition returns after taking 2024 off. The parade starts at 10:00 am, moving up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

PhoEverMore and Fantastea now open in Gibsonia, bringing pho, Korean food, bubble tea, and more.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea have now opened in Gibsonia. Signage first went up earlier this fall for the side-by-side spots, owned and operated by a Korean couple, though the pho restaurant seems to have gone through some different names in the planning phase. In addition to pho, the restaurant's menu includes Korean dishes and appetizers, Korean ramen, fried rice, hibachi rice and noodles, plus other Asian dishes. They are located at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

Fantas-Tea, Pho Grill coming to Gibsonia.

Signage has gone up for two new places in a Gibsonia plaza: Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill. The former will be a bubble tea place and the latter will be a Vietnamese restaurant. Not much information is available about either, though records indicate both are operated by a Korean couple that operates a beauty salon in Murraysville, and an older website from last year points to a "PhoEverMore" planned for the spot with a catch-all menu featuring pho, fried rice, ramen, and various Asian appetizers. Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill will be located next to each other at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Pho51 Cafe opens in Brentwood, another Vietnamese restaurant from team behind Saigon88 Express, Pho Saigon Cafe, and Pho Kim 88.

Pho51 Cafe opened last month in Brentwood in the South Hills. The restaurant, which has been in the works since last fall, features pho, bunbohue, spring rolls, and bobble tea, with an assortment of other Asian dishes and appetizers. It is run by the same ownership of Saigon88 Express in Robinson and Pho Saigon Cafe in Bethel Park, both of which have opened in the last five years, and Castle Shannon's Pho Kim 88, which opened in 2006.

2024 Vietnamese film Face Off 7: One Wish (Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước) in Pittsburgh, from June 13.

The 2024 Vietnamese film Face Off 7: One Wish (Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước) will play in Pittsburgh from June 13. A synopsis, from the distributor:

The longest and most successful franchise in Vietnam delivers a rejuvenating twist with its 7th installment, taking audiences on an enlightening journey with Ba Hai, a 73-year-old widow who questions the meaning of family love after an injury forces her to depend on the care of her 5 busy adult children. Written and directed by Ly Hai, produced by Minh Ha, Ly Hai Production, with an exclusive international theatrical release by 3388 Films.

It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village 10 and tickets are available online.

2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, Vietnam's highest grossing film of all time, continues in Pittsburgh through April 3.

The 2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 21, will continue here through at least April 3.

Restlessly haunted by the past, Mai is greeted by a new dawn when she reluctantly befriends the neighborhood ladies’ man. But when her yesterday catches up to her today, what will become of her tomorrow? Starring Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran, directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town and CJ HK Entertainment, with a North American & European release by 3388 Films.

It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, Vietnam's highest grossing film of all time, in Pittsburgh from March 21.

The 2024 Vietnamese movie Mai will play in Pittsburgh from March 21.

Restlessly haunted by the past, Mai is greeted by a new dawn when she reluctantly befriends the neighborhood ladies’ man. But when her yesterday catches up to her today, what will become of her tomorrow? Starring Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran, directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town and CJ HK Entertainment, with a North American & European release by 3388 Films.

It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

"Characters across Asia: Using "Kanji" to write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese," February 1 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures will host Dr. Zev Handel and his talk "Characters across Asia: Using "Kanji" to write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese" on February 1.

Chinese characters originated in China over 3,000 years ago. Prior to their creation, East Asia was completely devoid of writing. By the time of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE), China already had a long literary tradition, a flourishing culture, and a sophisticated government bureaucracy. In this talk, Professor Handel will explain how the building blocks of the Chinese script were adapted to represent the words and sounds of Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean - and why today, only Japanese still use kanji in their writing.

Zev Handel is a professor of Chinese and chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Washington, Seattle.

The talk runs from 11:00 to 12:00 in 4127 Sennott Square (map).

Ineffable Cà Phê to open inside Pittsburgh's forthcoming Fresh International Market in summer 2024.

via @bowenkou

Fresh International Market announced last year it will open its first Pittsurgh-area location later this year, and the owner recently shared on social media that Ineffable Cà Phê will open a location inside in what will be the area's largest Asian grocery store. Ineffable Cà Phê is a Vietnamese coffee shop and cafe that opened in Lawrenceville in 2017. The Fresh International Market press release from last March has more details about the opening, scheduled now for Summer 2024:

New tenant Fresh International Market will offer authentic Asian flavors to Pittsburgh customers.

A major grocery store chain is set to open its seventh store in Pittsburgh's North Point Breeze neighborhood, within the Rockwell Park innovation center. Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, the market's new store will occupy the entire 40,000 RSF Apollo building.

Of the new store, Rockwell Park Principal Al Lardo shares: "We are thrilled to welcome Fresh International Market to Rockwell Park and the North Point Breeze community. This new store will be a fantastic addition to the city's vibrant food scene. The store's unique selection of international ingredients and prepared meals will provide greater convenience and comfort for local residents." He noted that the arrival of Fresh International Market would also contribute to the continued growth and development of Rockwell Park: “The opening of Fresh International Market at Rockwell Park marks a significant milestone for the Rockwell Park’s growth and development as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement."

According to Fresh International Market Founder and President Bowen Kou, the store aims to become a part of the local community:

"Fresh International Market is excited to join the vibrant Rockwell Park community and offer our unique range of international brands and Asian cuisine to local residents. We are happy to become a part of this beautiful and dynamic place and look forward to contributing to its growth and development. Our goal is to be more than just a grocery store, but a destination where customers can discover new flavors and expand their culinary horizons."

The store will be located in the Apollo building on 7511 Thomas Blvd, which was built in 1906. The construction work is expected to take up to 15 months.

An Evening With Mai Khôi and the Dissidents, January 10 at Club Cafe.

Opus One Productions presents "An Evening With Mai Khoi and the Dissidents" on January 10. A biography, from her official site:

Mai Khôi is an award-winning singer, composer, and activist. She rose to stardom in 2010 after winning the Vietnam Television Song and Album of the Year awards as one of the first female songwriters in Vietnam. As a pop star, Khôi released seven albums in genres of Vietnamese pop and dance, and made regular nationally televised performances. Several years later she became increasingly uncomfortable having to submit her work to government censors and, thinking she could reform the system from within, nominated herself to run in the National Assembly elections on a pro-democracy platform. Her campaign sparked a nationwide debate about political participation and culminated in a meeting with Barack Obama in May 2016. Her activism came at a high price, however: she had her concerts raided, was evicted from multiple residences, and was detained and interrogated by the police.

. . .

Since 2019, Mai Khôi has lived in exile in the USA. In 2019, she was a resident artist at SHIM:NYC, and in 2020, she was awarded an Artist Protection Fund Fellowship in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh, City of Asylum, and the International Free Expression Project. Mai Khôi was an Exiled Writer and Artist in Residence at City of Asylum in Pittsburgh from 2020-2023; she has continued to reside in Pittsburgh after the conclusion of this residency.

Tickets for the ages 21+ show are available online. Club Cafe is located at 56 S. 12th St. on the South Side (map).

Jho's Pool Hall coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

A recent Pittsburgh Business Times article summarizing some of the recent businesses coming to Squirrel Hill gives a name to the project at 5846 Forbes Ave. (map) in the old Panda Supermarket location. The article says the spot will soon be home to Jho's Pool Hall. We read on PennsylvAsia back in December 2022 that a Liquor Control Board Application went up on the grocery store doors, and there has been slow-moving progress inside the space since then. The spot will be run by the team behind Squirrel Hill's Tan Lac Vien.

Little Viet Kitchen soft opening in Wexford.

Little Viet Kitchen is in the middle of a soft open in Wexford. It is the first Vietnamese place to open in the North Hills, located in the Pine Creek Shopping Center in McCandless (map). The menu includes customizable banh mi, rice bowls, vermicilli bowls, and pho, in addition to bubble tea and an assortment of Vietnamese coffee.

15 Asian restaurants and eateries coming soon, or even not quite so soon, to Pittsburgh.

via @kpotbbqandhotpot

Pittsburgh has a ton of Asian restaurants and eateries in the works, from national Korean bakery chains and quick service Vietnamese restaurants to several hot pot and Korean BBQ places. There are event two Asian food courts in the works that may be open by year's end. What is interesting about this recent rush is the number of chains that are finally noticing Pittsburgh. National and international chains have tended to avoid Pittsburgh, until 朝茶 TSAOCAA opened in 2020 and New York-based Chinese fast food chain 98K Hamburger moved in next door in 2021. While some people may be turned off by chains, fearing , on the contrary I think their arrival is evidence of how much Pittsburgh's food scene has grown. Hell, it wasn't that long ago the only ramen place around was in Morgantown.

Here's a recap of 15 Asian restaurants and eateries coming to Pittsburgh in the near, or the not-so-near, future.

Little Viet Kitchen coming soon to McCandless.

photo submitted by reader.

 
A reader shares news of Little Viet Kitchen Vietnamese Eatery, offering "Quick Service Vietnamese Food," coming soon to Pine Creek Shopping Center in McCandless (map). Little Viet Kitchen will be the first Vietnamese restaurant to open in the North Hills.

In Person Reading & Conversation: "Dust Child" by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (w/ Cameron Barnett), April 8 at White Whale Books & Coffee.

White Whale Books & Coffee will present "In Person Reading & Conversation: 'Dust Child' by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (w/ Cameron Barnett)" on April 8.

We're BIG fans of award-winning Vietnamese poet and internationally bestselling novelist Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai—The Mountains Sing was one of our favorite books of 2020 (and one of our customers' faves, too!). And we're very excited to welcome her to Pittsburgh on her national tour for her latest novel, Dust Child (out 3/14). She'll be joined in conversation by Chatham University's Emerging Black Writer-In-Residence and local author Cameron Barnett (The Drowning Boy's Guide to Water, Autumn House Press). We're grateful to the Chatham University MFA in Creative Writing for co-sponsoring this event.

Quế Mai will do a short reading from the book, talk about her research and writing process and perform her poetry in Vietnamese and English. She will also take your questions. She can't wait to see you, and is happy to sign and personalize your books.

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel. From the horrors of war and its enduring afterlife for men and women, lovers and children, soldiers and civilians, she weaves a heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption. Dust Child establishes Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as one of our finest observers of the devastating consequences of war, and proves, once more, her ability to captivate readers and lure them into Viet Nam’s rich and poignant history."—Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Sympathizer and The Committed

Pho and Roll Vietnamese Kitchen now open in East Liberty, in old Two Sisters spot.

Pho and Roll Vietnamese Kitchen has recently opened in East Liberty at 216 N. Highland Ave. (map), the spot most recently occupied by Two Sisters Vietnamese Kitchen until its closure on December 31. The menu is primarily pho, of course, with a selection of other sides and entrees, including a number of spring, summer, and egg rolls. Pho and Roll is run by Tnon (Simon) Atapan, who has owned and operated Thai restaurants and groceries in the Chicago area for the last several years.