Expect potstickers, scallion pancakes and soup dumplings, but also marinated turnips and jellyfish with celery. We'd be lying if we said we'd ever imagined dining in the laundromat behind the Shady Avenue Starbucks in Squirrel Hill. But now that it has become a Taiwanese restaurant, Cafe 33, we had just that opportunity.
It sure cleaned up nice. The building, a one-story postwar box, doesn't have much inherent character to play up, but it's set back from the sidewalk to create a pleasant forecourt permitting that holy grail of Pittsburgh dining, outdoor seating. Indoors, the ambience is stylish without straining at hipster cliches (no barn wood, no Edison bulbs).
It sure cleaned up nice. The building, a one-story postwar box, doesn't have much inherent character to play up, but it's set back from the sidewalk to create a pleasant forecourt permitting that holy grail of Pittsburgh dining, outdoor seating. Indoors, the ambience is stylish without straining at hipster cliches (no barn wood, no Edison bulbs).
Reviews (20)
Ken P.
Jan 29, 2022
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My sister took me to the Bistro. Service was excellent. The food was better. We had fish with pickled sour mustard soup, mini soup dumplings (they aren't mini), shredded pork with dried bean curd, double sautéed sliced pork, Be Feng Tong squid (salt and pepper squid with fried vegetables), and home style tofu with black bean sauce. Everything was delicious. It was a real joy to find good Asian food that wasn't Americanized.
Tammy L.
Jan 28, 2022
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I love coming here to get my fix of soup dumplings and authentic Taiwanese/Chinese food. My parents loved it too, and that's saying a lot about this place already. There's not many places to get soup dumplings in Pittsburgh, but this place has to be one of the best. I always order a side of scallion pancakes too, it's my favorite and they make it super crispy here. I would totally recommend the shrimp with black pepper sauce! That was my favorite dish, because it had the right amount of pepper kick and savory-ness. Not to mention - it's stir fried with veggies on the bottom
Shay H.
Jan 08, 2022
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Three cup chicken - 5/5, pretty decent and comparable to other places I've eaten at in other cities. I do like that the chicken has no bones in it and they give a lot of food.
Soup dumplings - 5/5, also would recommend getting! Nothing special but lives up to what I've had in other places.
Beef noodle soup - 3/5, would not get again. The broth lacked depth and tasted pretty watery and flavorless. The noodles were over cooked, thus felt like they were leftover noodles... worst of all it was barely warm. The components of this dish could not have been freshly prepared.
Service - 4
Soup dumplings - 5/5, also would recommend getting! Nothing special but lives up to what I've had in other places.
Beef noodle soup - 3/5, would not get again. The broth lacked depth and tasted pretty watery and flavorless. The noodles were over cooked, thus felt like they were leftover noodles... worst of all it was barely warm. The components of this dish could not have been freshly prepared.
Service - 4
Jin Z.
Dec 26, 2021
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This is probably my third or fourth time ordering from Cafe 33.
They serve authentic Taiwanese dishes. Probably the best in the Pittsburgh area. They have--hands down - - the best eggplant dish in town. (Also the best pig ear appetizer in town as well). It's truly a must order. Flavors are always on point each time I eat here.
They serve authentic Taiwanese dishes. Probably the best in the Pittsburgh area. They have--hands down - - the best eggplant dish in town. (Also the best pig ear appetizer in town as well). It's truly a must order. Flavors are always on point each time I eat here.
Jon McCusker
Dec 03, 2021
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Hmm, hole in the wall restaurant with a wide and fantastic menu. The place was packed and yet the service was still excellent and fast. Kitchen had everything out with admirable timing. To make the point, the squid was perfect. Proper flavor, proper mouth feel. To do squid right, under pressure, my hat is off to the kitchen. The stinky tofu is also amazing! My thanks to the staff, you made my day.
Natt A.
Oct 30, 2021
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Tip: come for an early dinner so you won't have to wait because they can and will get busy! Parking is tough so it's best to park on a side street and walk over. Your party needs to be present for them to seat you too.
I've been here and ordered take out more than a handful of time and every time friends/family visits, I'll take them here! It's a hustling and bustling Taiwanese restaurant where the owners and asian mothers run the front of the restaurant. They h e an assortment of Taiwanese, Chinese, and some Hong Kong style cuisines but mainly stick to the Taiwanese
I've been here and ordered take out more than a handful of time and every time friends/family visits, I'll take them here! It's a hustling and bustling Taiwanese restaurant where the owners and asian mothers run the front of the restaurant. They h e an assortment of Taiwanese, Chinese, and some Hong Kong style cuisines but mainly stick to the Taiwanese
Cayla S.
Oct 23, 2021
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I can't believe I haven't written a review as many times as I've been here! Always good food with large portions so definitely worth the price. I typically order food to go but I've dined outside on the patio. My favorite thing on the entire menu is the Bubble Tea Smoothie! It's amazing, and I can't help but to get it with every meal.
There isn't designated parking, but there is street parking and a public parking lot a block away.
There isn't designated parking, but there is street parking and a public parking lot a block away.
Paul B.
Oct 11, 2021
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A. F.
Sep 19, 2021
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I was surprised to hear about a Taiwanese restaurant in Pittsburgh, and decided to try it. First of all, I thought that the dining area was really nice. I ate outdoors, and I liked the aesthetic hanging lightbulbs along with a "Taiwan street food" vibe. The menu was impressive, it was hard to decide on what to order because I wanted to try everything. They have a lot of "night market" foods if you know what I mean ;).
I tried the pork noodle soup which was super good and also the turnip cakes, which were very crispy, so that was good.
Overall, I thought that it was very tasty
I tried the pork noodle soup which was super good and also the turnip cakes, which were very crispy, so that was good.
Overall, I thought that it was very tasty
Luke Rindels
Sep 18, 2021
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Justin Menko
Sep 11, 2021
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Zhicao F.
Aug 27, 2021
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Located near CMU and UPitt campus. Name of the place was "Taiwanese" and it appeared to be run by Taiwanese staff, but the menu actually blends a variety of Chinese cuisines including Szechuan, Canton, American Chinese, and Taiwanese. Decor had the typical Chinese/Taiwanese intimacy, but it could be very noisy and a bit muggy when packed with customers.
Came here for a walk-in dinner at around 7:30 pm and was given a table after a few minutes of waiting. Service was rather quick and attentive.
Food:
Watercress with fermented bean curds---standard.
Eggplants with basil---a good dish
Came here for a walk-in dinner at around 7:30 pm and was given a table after a few minutes of waiting. Service was rather quick and attentive.
Food:
Watercress with fermented bean curds---standard.
Eggplants with basil---a good dish
Mark Cleofe
Aug 16, 2021
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I think we found a new favorite in Pittsburgh! We stopped by for dinner and found Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 looking for Taiwanese sausage and found it here mixed into fried rice. After having some I realized how salty other fried rices I've had have been. The flavor was very good and went along well with our new favorite dish: Duck Yolk Rib Tips. OMG. Sooo good!! We also had sauteed green beans with beef which was also very very good. Our server was very attentive, filling our waters and checking with us often. We'll definitely be back!
Stephen Hoover
Aug 14, 2021
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Barbara B.
Aug 11, 2021
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Tucked away off the main drag, Cafe 33 offers a lovely space to enjoy delicious Taiwanese food with friends. Bring your own alcohol, but dig into flavorful food. At this time, their bathroom is closed for visitors, but there are other nearby establishments with accessible bathrooms (shhhh!). Our group of 6 was served quickly and efficiently on a Saturday night (we got there at 5pm, and we were the only ones there for a while). It was wonderful.
Food pictured: Sauteed kimchi with chicken, pork buns, and stinky tofu
Food pictured: Sauteed kimchi with chicken, pork buns, and stinky tofu
Gerald Gallagher
Aug 02, 2021
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Best Chinese food I've had in Pittsburgh. Small. Inside and outside dining. Off the main street, but still a busy road. Parking lot right around the corner, but it gets full fast, so you may need to park on the street. Plenty of street parking if you don't mind walking a block or so back to the restaurant. Even more parking available if you drive a reasonably sized vehicle and know how to parallel park (though both these things are getting rarer it seems).
This is Taiwanese food, so dumplings. Soup dumplings. Not as good as you get in Flushing, but slightly better than what you get in Philly.
This is Taiwanese food, so dumplings. Soup dumplings. Not as good as you get in Flushing, but slightly better than what you get in Philly.
Mike H.
Jul 15, 2021
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We were pleasantly surprised to find such a nice Taiwanese restaurant in this area. Some of the dishes aren't that authentic, but still quite good in their own rights. A lot of other tables ordered soup dumplings (小籠包). Unfortunately we didn't think to order them ourselves, but they do look quite good.
Praharsh Patel
Jun 28, 2021
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Evan Broscious
Jun 17, 2021
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This place is fantastic. The crispy chicken cutleg is one of my favorite dishes at any Chinese restaurant. The tiny bit of added sweetness in the sauce elevates this dish for me because it simply doesn't taste like anything else I've eaten; It's almost like what general tso's chicken wishes it could be and I think a lot of American palettes will appreciate this option. The second stand out dish for me is the fish fillet. I've seen similar dishes in other Chinese restaurants but Cafe 33 seems to do it just slightly better. The seasoning is on point and the saltiness is just right for this fried
Jordan Zenisek
Jun 03, 2021
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Great food and great service. We tried two appetizers and two entrees. The tempura and pan fried dumplings were both delicious and cooked really well.
The mala chicken was so juicy and perfectly cooked it was amazing. The stinky tofu was very good and I highly recommend trying it if you want something different, but it does smell and they give a lot so you might not want to finish it.
Overall I highly recommend coming here, everything I had was good and I can see why they were so busy. The only downside is the tables were really close together with no type of divider in between, so probably consider
The mala chicken was so juicy and perfectly cooked it was amazing. The stinky tofu was very good and I highly recommend trying it if you want something different, but it does smell and they give a lot so you might not want to finish it.
Overall I highly recommend coming here, everything I had was good and I can see why they were so busy. The only downside is the tables were really close together with no type of divider in between, so probably consider
