Ginza 239 Atwood St. (412) 682-9226 $$ No Panther Funds

Face it; sushi bars can… Ginza 239 Atwood St. (412) 682-9226 $$ No Panther Funds

Face it; sushi bars can be intimidating: Impatient waitresses and menus practically written in Japanese contribute to a cool environment that can sometimes seem unwelcoming to the novice at sushi aficionado.

Ginza, a Korean and Japanese restaurant on Atwood Street, has none of these things. Instead, the pretty, little restaurant feels comfortable and homey, and although some of the items on the menu are written in Korean, there’s always an English translation. The waitresses are kind and helpful to bumbling restaurant patrons.

In addition to traditional Korean dishes like bibim bap and bulgoki, the restaurant serves an array of sushi. Order an entree a la carte, and the friendly sushi chef will whip up some tasty California or tempura rolls or even a deluxe mixture while he’s watching Korean soap operas.

Order a bowl of miso soup and relax in the peaceful atmosphere created by the miniature waterfalls and plant arrangements. You’ll almost forget you’re eating raw fish.

See, isn’t this easy? – Leslie Hoffman

The Golden Palace Buffet 3607 Forbes Ave. (412) 687-2288 $$ No Panther Funds

Tired of waiting in buffet lines as long as the Great Wall? Then maybe you should try The Golden Palace Buffet.

With a lunch and dinner buffet that is open every day, you can stop by to pick up some of General Tso’s chicken or some chicken with broccoli, or whatever your favorite Chinese dish is. The restaurant is open from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

The Golden Palace has plenty of vegetarian dishes to choose from as well, so if meat is something you don’t eat, don’t worry. – Joe Marchilena

Korea Garden 414 Semple St. (412) 681-6460 $$ Panther Funds

The Korea Garden is a hidden treasure of South Oakland if you like Asian food and need to get past General Tso’s Chicken. This restaurant serves mostly traditional – not American-style – Chinese food, along with some authentic Korean and Japanese dishes.

One such Korean dish is Bulgogi, a generous portion of marinated, grilled, thinly sliced beef in a delicious sweet, brown sauce. A bowl of rice and six small portions of vegetable garnishes accompany the meat. Another favorite, bibim bap, includes a bowl of rice topped by beef, various vegetables and a fried egg, and is served with a tangy, smoky red pepper sauce. The myriad of colors, textures and tastes here contribute to a pleasurable dining experience.

The atmosphere is simple and refreshing, with bare, white walls, natural maple chairs and tables with charming inlay floral decorations.

Lunch specials are available weekdays, and Asian and domestic beers are offered. – Dawn Diehl

Oishii Bento 119 Oakland Avenue (412) 687-3335 $$ No Panther Funds

A restaurant that calls itself “The Yummy Lunchbox” has to be good eating. Oishii Bento offers hungry students a variety of choices, from barbecued eel and rice to chicken teriyaki.

But if you’re not into the cooked side of food, the Lunchbox has a large selection of sushi like Philadelphia rolls, California rolls, Spider rolls, Ocean rolls and a few more that appeal to virtually any sushi preference.

Besides the rice bowls and the bento dishes that help give this place its name, customers can slurp some Miso soup for less than a buck or nibble on some veggie tempura.

Most of the bowls and bento will run about $5 to $7 with the sushi having less of an impact on your wallet. -Andy Medici

Orient Express 4609 Forbes Ave. (412) 622-7232 $ No Panther Funds

All aboard! This restaurant caters to people of all tastes, from its seaweed salad to its broiled soybeans. But don’t blow the whistle yet, since the meal specials offer duck, beef stew, spare ribs and tofu over rice. At $4.95, this will get anyone a ticket to ride.

They also cook up a diverse selection of tofu, from deep fried to General Tso’s-style. Don’t forget to visit the dining car for some pineapple salad or pickled mustard minced pork noodles for $4.95.

On the other side of the track is an extensive chicken, beef, and pork menu that will make any engine pick up steam(ed) rice. The Orient Express also offers a large drink menu to wash it all down.

Their milk tea with tapioca ranges from passion fruit to wheat germ. Or make sure your ride is smoothie: They offer mango, kiwi, red bean or green bean smoothies for $2.75. – Andy Medici

Spice Island Tea House 253 Atwood St. (412) 687-8821 $$ No Panther Funds

Spice Island Tea House takes its name from the Spice Islands, the islands in the Pacific where Asian cooking takes on a distinctive flavor.

But the word “spice” defines the restaurant in a different way; like a heady curry, the welcoming and exotic atmosphere of the restaurant is captured in its warm, golden walls and the glowing candles on its tables.

The restaurant is welcoming in other ways, too. With a wide selection of foods including pad Thai, curries, noodle and rice dishes, as well as a hearty sampling of vegetarian dishes, few Asian-food lovers won’t be able to find something suitable on the menu.

And don’t overlook the appetizers; the delicate spring rolls and the crispy vegetarian samosas offer a tantalizing preface to supper. – Leslie Hoffman

Sushi Boat 128 Oakland Ave. (412) 681-1818 $$ No Panther Funds

“Whatever floats your Sushi Boat.” “Don’t rock the Sushi Boat.” “Row, row, row your Sushi Boat.”

Sushi Boat – it makes any tired cliche better. Take the Philadelphia Roll, a mix of salmon and cream cheese.

Of course, you might want to go with the old-school, and Sushi Boat can accommodate. They serve kani, avocado and raw salmon in sushi rolls, as well as vegetarian fare and various noodle and rice bowls.

A meal of one sushi roll with ginger and wasabi and a bowl of soup ranges from $5 to $8. – Eric Lidji

Szechuan Express 125 Oakland Ave (412) 687-8000 $ No Panther Funds

It was a sad day for all Pitt students when Szechuan Express fixed its trademark line “We are also have fun food you are never ate before” on its awning.

Fortunately, the now-grammatically-sound “Schwan” is no less authentic in its food preparation than it ever was. Long recognized as the pinnacle of South Oakland Chinese take-out restaurants, the Schwan specializes in noodle dishes from all manner of Asian cooking styles, including Taiwan noodles, pad Thai and Vietnamese noodle soups.

Often for less than $5, Oakland dwellers can also enjoy the staples of Chinese food, like General Tso’s chicken and beef with broccoli, all served promptly and in generous portions over rice.

The charm of the Schwan is largely in its lack of pretension. While it is perhaps a little intimidating at first, after a few trips, any patron will become used to the cashier talking on her cell phone or the small child running around behind the counter, and accept both as hallmarks of a family-run eatery. – Greg Heller-LaBelle

Little Asia 303 S. Craig St. (412) 622-0133 $$ No Panther Funds

When Chinese take-out is no longer enough to tingle your taste buds, cuisine from Thailand may provide a flavorful alternative. Heavy use of spices like lemongrass and coriander allows Thai food to retain deep, tantalizing flavor, whether it’s prepared spicy or mild.

The Thai Place Cafe, on South Craig Street, masters all of the flavors of Thai cooking and offers them to the college community at reasonable prices. A good measure of any Thai restaurant is the pad Thai, a traditional noodle dish, or the tom yum soup, a spicy, mouth-watering soup that is a sure cure for any cold. A key ingredient to Thai cooking is coconut milk, which the Thai Place uses subtly in the tom kha soup and the curries, a fresh green and a warm red, which are served over rice.

A nephew to the award-winning Thai Place restaurant on Bellefonte Street in Shadyside, the Thai Place Cafe has lost none of the family-run feel in its branching out. Don’t come in a hurry – be prepared to repeat your order slowly and to be asked how spicy you would like your food, on a scale of one to 10. All of which, any lover of Thai food will tell you, are good signs. – Greg Heller-LaBelle

Winner’s 3725 Forbes Ave. (412) 682-3396 $ Panther Funds

Want Korean food but don’t have the time to trek out to Ginza or Korea Garden? Forbes Avenue has an answer in the form of Winner’s.

Difficult to locate sometimes, Winner’s is hidden in a dingy basement next to the Sushi Boat. Simply follow the threatening signs informing all prospective beer purchasers that they will need a swipe-able ID, and soon you’ll be in Korean fast food heaven.

Of course, there is the traditional bibim bap, but don’t be afraid to branch out and try the chop chae or an excellent, spicy dish sparingly titled “squid.” All dishes are served with either a salad or hunks of the delicious Korean spiced cabbage, kimchi.

Don’t be surprised if you are the only patron of the restaurant speaking English, as Winner’s has apparently made quite a name for itself among the Asian community of Oakland. Take this as the best of signs, and visit Winner’s for a great alternative lunch break when you just can’t handle one more burger or meatball sub. – Greg Heller-LaBelle

Yum Wok/Lulu’s 400 S. Craig St. (412) 687-7777 $ No Panther Funds

Modeled after New York City’s trendy noodle shop Republic, South Craig Street’s Lulu’s offers a twist on the traditional Chinese place or noodle house.

Like Republic, Lulu’s takes pride in its noodle dishes, which are immense and come in a wide variety of sauces. They range from traditional lo mein and pad Thai dishes to a dish named after famed Pittsburgh surgeon Freddie Fu, the Dr. Fu’s Special, which is one of their most popular dishes.

Posters of attractive people with copious amounts of noodles line the walls, but Lulu’s has plenty of non-noodle dishes as well. The soups, like the wonton and the Thai-inspired tom kha, are excellent, as well as Lulu’s take on traditional Chinese fare like General Tso’s chicken.

If you’re in the mood for light dining, try combining a soup with one of Lulu’s “small eats” – or appetizers – like the crab Rangoon, which consists of a crispy, fried wonton filled with crab meat.

Often busy, the popular Lulu’s has all the hustle and bustle of a big-city noodle shop only blocks from campus, delighting students from both Oakland campuses with prompt, friendly service and a hip atmosphere. – Greg Heller-LaBelle

Asia Tea House Schenley Plaza $ No Panther Funds

Enjoy the latest tastes of Asian food while sitting in Schenley Plaza. The Asia Tea House features a wide range of Asian-style food from its chicken and broccoli to the sushi.

After purchasing your food, the Schenley Plaza offers a friendly environment to sit down and relax. Free wireless internet is accessible for those with laptop computers and live music can often be heard by nearby performing bands. – Alan Smodic