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Start a Top 5 for JapaneseEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Pittsburgh Magazine. Updated August 2026.
Golden Gai · Bakery Square
Pittsburgh Magazine covers Golden Gai as a Japanese addition to Bakery Square, while the restaurant's current service centers on izakaya style dining. Small plates and drinks make the format especially useful for sharing rather than ordering isolated entrees. The evening schedule runs Tuesday through Saturday, so it is worth checking hours before planning a Sunday or Monday visit.
OTARU Japanese Restaurant Pittsburgh · Mount Washington
Pittsburgh Magazine identifies Otaru as a Japanese restaurant in its current dining coverage. The Grandview Avenue room pairs sushi and broader Japanese cooking with a Mount Washington setting overlooking the city. Its menu and elevated dining room make it suited to a leisurely dinner that moves from sashimi and rolls into hot dishes.
Umami · Lawrenceville
Pittsburgh Magazine includes Umami in its international dining coverage and describes the Lawrenceville restaurant through its Japanese izakaya identity. The menu extends beyond ramen into shareable plates and bar friendly dishes, making it suitable for a varied dinner. Its compact upstairs room and late evening rhythm give the experience the sociable pace of a neighborhood izakaya.