Pittsburgh has so many delectable dishes to try on any given day, but there’s something special about snagging some nosh from a pop-up spot. It’s like going on a treasure hunt. The reward could be anything from droolworthy pizza to melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
Track down these pop-ups (not food trucks) for delicious bites and bevs around the Burgh.
Malaysian Kitchen
Taste the bold and rich flavors of Malaysian cuisine with Malaysian Kitchen, often set up at Novo Asian Food Hall. Order something savory like rendang pot pie or chili pan mee, wash it down with a cendol slushie, and get some treats to go like pandan cake and cornflake clusters. Tip: My favorite is the cashew cookies. They are so buttery and just the right amount of sweet!
La Grassa
While we wait for this deep dish pizza spot to open in Lawrenceville, there’s still a way to get their pie — and dessert! La Grassa serves crispy corner slices at Field Day in Lawrenceville on “Tiramisu Tuesdays.” And they’ve added something new to the mix: Test Kitchen Mondays, a totally take-out pop-up out of The Vandal. Make sure to get in your order on Fridays. It’s pre-sale only!
Mandarine Matcha
Green tea fans must try the creamy, dreamy drinks from Mandarine Matcha. It’s a one-woman show that pops up all over town, from boutique shops to vintage markets. Look for speciality matcha latte flavors like coconut cream, strawberry, and banana bread. If you’re lucky, you might find a dessert, like mango sticky rice matcha.
Bitter Ends
Remember Bitter Ends Luncheonette in Bloomfield? They were famous for farm-fresh ingredients and stellar soups, sandwiches, and pastries. The restaurant lives on today as a pop-up — and you don’t want to miss their Monday spaghetti nights at Nancy’s Revival in Wilkinsburg. Menu items include pesto buccatini, arancini, Caesar salad, and chocolate cake with apricot jam.
Manduhandu
I thought nothing could replace the hole in my heart left by the closure of Bae Bae’s Kitchen in Downtown — until I ate Manduhandu. The all-vegetarian Korean pop-up serves hearty bowls of japchae and bibimbap, side dishes like pickled radish and kimchi, and more. Find them at markets and festivals, and look out for future kimchi-making workshops.
