Cafe Susu

4635 Centre Ave.

(412) 535-7878

$

No Panther Funds

New to the… Cafe Susu

4635 Centre Ave.

(412) 535-7878

$

No Panther Funds

New to the Oakland ethnic scene, Cafe Susu mixes what it calls light Asian cuisine with a standard coffee bar. Located at the corner of Melwood and Centre, near the North Oakland Giant Eagle, the coffee bar/Asian eatery is a small, quaint, hole-in-the-wall sort of place. The inside has diner-esque blue and chrome stools at the bar and matching booths framing the perimeter. Adding to the diner feel, a jukebox sits at the back of the cafe.

The menu is rather small, but offers both coffee-bar and Asian standards. Customers can order drinks such as mochas, lattes and chai, featuring Kiva Han coffee. The menu also includes a small variety of Asian foods, many of which are Thai-inspired. Some options include samosas, dumplings, lemongrass chicken and Thai curry chicken. The menu also notes that several items can be made vegetarian upon request.

Service is quick and pleasant, and the staff is eager to please. The cafe accepts both cash and credit and offers several lunch and “happy hour coffee” specials.

Combining Asian cuisine with a coffee bar and adding hours from morning to 10 p.m. most nights, Cafe Susu masters the math for a comfortable college hangout.

– Megan Smith

Ginza Korean and Japanese Restaurant

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 would-be 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 bi-bam bap and bulgoki, the restaurant also serves an array of sushi. Order a la carte or from the menu, and the friendly sushi chef will whip up some tasty California or tempura rolls or even a deluxe mixture, all 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.

– 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, some chicken with broccoli or whatever your favorite Chinese dish is.

While the restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., the buffet is only open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for lunch and from 5 p.m. until 30 minutes before closing for dinner.

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

House of Chiang

120 McKee Place

(412) 681-5169

$$

No Panther Funds

The quirky, red and gold-tiled pagoda columns and the jade-colored roof are only the beginning of the atmosphere that defines the House of Chiang. Stepping inside the restaurant, you are surrounded by walls done in Pepto-Bismol pink and covered with Chinese artifacts ranging from swords and shields to small statues.

The servers are friendly and efficient as they bring endless supplies of hot tea and fried wontons. Munch on fluffy rice or the crispy, fried Warshu gai chicken served in your own covered platter, while cheesy pop hits of the ’80s play in the background. Most portions are large and will easily leave leftovers for later.

Or, if you got dragged into the restaurant by your companions and really just wanted some plain American food, try the French fries or grilled cheese. Regardless of what you order, be sure to finish off the meal with a fortune cookie.

– Lauren Unger

Jimmy Tsang’s Chinese Restaurant

5700 Centre Ave.

(412) 421-9346

$$

No Panther Funds

Whether you are in the mood for a lavish night of Chinese dining indoors, or you want to bring the flavor into your dining room, Jimmy Tsang’s Chinese Restaurant is the place for you. They offer a huge selection of Chinese appetizers, lunches and dinners. You can choose from the four major styles of Chinese cooking: Mandarin, Hinana and Szechuan, Shanghai, and Cantonese. The restaurant has a meal designed for almost any taste.

Tsang’s has a large vegetarian selection available. They offer everything from bamboo shoots and black mushrooms to braised bean curd. For those interested in non-vegetarian plates, Tsang’s offers almost every Chinese meal imaginable. The lunch and dinner platters can be made with seafood, pork, roast beef or any of several other meats. If you can’t decide on what style of Chinese cooking you want, it’s not a problem at Tsang’s. They suggest you get a meal that incorporates all four styles of cooking.

Tsang’s menus are very elaborate and detailed. They explain the cooking styles behind the meals and the origin of each. After you examine a menu, the staff will be happy to answer any question you have about your meal.

– Joshua T. Cohen

Korea Garden

414 Semple St.

(412) 681-6460

$$

No Panther Funds

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 Korean-style -not American-style – Chinese food, along with some authentic Korean and Japanese dishes.

One such Korean dish is bulgoki, a generous portion of marinated, grilled, thinly sliced beef in a delicious, sweet brown sauce. A bowl of rice and six small vegetable garnishes accompany the meat. Another favorite, bi-bim 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 the restaurant offers Asian and domestic beers.

– Dawn Diehl

New China Inn

4609 Centre Ave.

(412) 621-6199

$$

No Panther Funds

Located in the heart of North Oakland, New China Inn delights the customer with a wide selection and a pleasant atmosphere. The mood of the restaurant is intimate, and since its recent remodeling, it attracts even more customers. The latest changes to the restaurant include large pictures of the menu choices on the outside windows and a mainly green decor. New China Inn offers several choices in rice, noodles, shrimp, chicken and beef selections. The service is quick for those in a hurry, and the experience is always pleasing.

New China Inn offers a take-out menu with large portions and variety. You can start a meal off with an egg roll or wonton soup, then order a meal ranging from sweet and sour chicken to oriental beef. The prices also provide an opportunity to enjoy a filling meal on a college budget.

– Meghan Dowdell

Orient Kitchen

4808 Baum Blvd.

(412) 682-3311

$$

No Panther Funds

The Orient Kitchen specializes mainly in dishes made from live seafood, which is kept fresh in the lobby of the restaurant. Oysters, lobsters and crabs are just a few of the ingredients a customer can choose. The authentic Chinese dishes are moderately priced, as the appetizers range from $1.50 to $5.50, lunch specials are $5.95, and entrees vary between $6.95 to $14.95, with fresh seafood priced seasonally. The Orient Kitchen has untraditionally late hours, open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., so the late-night Chinese food munchies can be satisfied.

– Jessica McCullough

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, and 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, for example, 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, various noodle and rice bowls, and an excellent Miso soup.

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 with generous portions over rice.

The charm of the Schwan is largely in its lack of pretense. While it is perhaps a little intimidating at first, after a few trips, any regular 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

Thai Place Cafe

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 Caf?, located 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 quality of 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, 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, on a scale of one to 10, you want your dish to be. 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 Accepted

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.

It may be difficult to locate the first time – Winner’s is hidden in a 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 bi-bim 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 English-speaking patron, as Winner’s has 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 Noodles

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 is 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,” 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 off campus, delighting students from both Oakland campuses with prompt, friendly service and a hip atmosphere.

– Greg Heller-LaBelle