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Golden Gai, Pittsburgh, PA

Golden Gai

4.8 (128)
$50 and over
Japanese
116 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 19 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Innovative
Welcome to Golden Gai, a hidden gem nestled in the vibrant heart of Pittsburgh’s East End, conveniently located in Bakery Square. Step inside and embark on a culinary journey to the bustling streets of Japan with our Izakaya-style dining experience.

As you enter Golden Gai, you’re greeted by the warm ambiance of traditional Japanese decor fused with modern touches, creating an inviting atmosphere that is both chic and cozy. The soft glow of our stunning light fixtures over the intimate dining space, where the wooden bar top that spans the length of the space, and slate accents evoke the charm of Tokyo’s iconic Golden Gai district.

At the helm of our kitchen is Executive Chef Michael Taylor, a master of Japanese cuisine renowned for his innovative approach to flavor and presentation. With a background honed at the esteemed Gi-Jin, Chef Taylor brings his passion for culinary excellence to every dish, infusing each bite with creativity and precision.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Izakaya, Creative Japanese
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (412) 844-6688
  • Website
    https://goldengaipgh.com/
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

Menu

Golden Gai's menu was last updated on 9/30/2024.

Starters

  • Edamame

    lime / sea salt

    • Spicy Edamame

      lime / togarashi

      • House Salad

        ginger dressing / pickled carrot

        • Cucumber

          rayu / soy / sesame

          • Miso Soup

            tofu / wakame / scallion

            Bowls

            • Chirashi

              sushi rice / salmon / tuna / yellowtail / ikura / scallop / chive / aonori / daikon

              • Miso Tuna

                sushi rice / sweet miso dressing / cucumber / avocado / furikake / scallion / wakame

                • BBQ Eel

                  sushi rice / avocado / pickled cucumber / sesame / fried scalliosn / Bulldog sauce

                  Nigiri / Sashimi

                  2 pieces nigiri or 2 pieces sashimi

                  • Salmon / Sake

                    • Tuna / Maguro

                      • Eel / Unagi

                        • Yellowtail / Hamachi

                          • Scallop / Hotate

                            • Fatty Tuna / Toro

                              • Salmon Roe / Ikura

                                Maki

                                • Spicy Tuna

                                  • Salmon Avocado

                                    • Yellowtail Scallion

                                      • California

                                        • Spicy Scallop

                                          • Eel Avocado

                                            • Tuna Cucumber

                                              • Toro

                                                Omakase, Maki, & Sashimi Boxes

                                                • Nigiri & Maki Box

                                                  chef's choice: 8 pieces nigiri / 1 maki / 1 sashimi / edamame / ginger / wasabi

                                                  • Maki Box

                                                    chef's choice: 3 maki rolls / 1 sashimi / ginger / wasabi / edamame

                                                    • Nigiri Box

                                                      chef's choice: 10 nigiri / 1 sashimi / edamame / ginger / wasabi

                                                      • Sashimi Box

                                                        Chef's choice: 10 sashimi / edamame / ginger / wasabi

                                                        Last updated: September 30, 2024

                                                        What 128 people are saying

                                                        Golden Gai reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                                                        Overall ratings and reviews

                                                        Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                        4.8
                                                        4.8 based on recent ratings
                                                        • 4.8Food
                                                        • 4.8Service
                                                        • 4.8Ambience
                                                        • 4.5Value

                                                        Noise • Moderate

                                                        Loved For

                                                        • Pittsburgh / Western PA

                                                          Innovative

                                                        • Pittsburgh / Western PA

                                                          Hot spot

                                                        • Pittsburgh

                                                          Innovative

                                                        • Pittsburgh

                                                          Hot spot

                                                        Review summary

                                                        AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                        Golden Gai is a vibrant culinary gem in Pittsburgh, offering a "wonderful and needed addition" to the dining scene. With an intimate atmosphere, it's perfect for date nights. "Amazing food and service," especially the "fresh and high-quality sushi," make it a must-visit. Reservations are essential for this "unique spot."
                                                        128 Reviews

                                                        1. jeffrey VIP

                                                          Pittsburgh12 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined 4 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                          Menu items were creative, of high quality and delicious. Service was impeccable. Would highly recommend

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                                                        2. Kelly

                                                          Philadelphia3 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined 5 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Fabulous food! Sushi was spectacular. A little twist on potstickers was a fantastic surprise. Highly recommend .

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                                                        3. Leah

                                                          Pittsburgh1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on April 19, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Everything was perfect! From the cocktails to the Karaage it was top notch! Service was excellent. It was a bar atmosphere so expected to be a little bit louder where we sat anyways. Still very intimate and able to hear each other very well. Sushi was fresh and tasted amazing. We did the Nigiri plate added the Otaro and scallops. Scallops were so good. We ordered more. Brownie dessert was excellent.

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                                                        4. Lauren

                                                          Pittsburgh4 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on April 12, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Amazing atmosphere and experience! Highly recommend for any date night occasion!

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                                                        5. SimB

                                                          Pittsburgh2 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on April 12, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 4
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Loved the cocktails made by Lauren

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                                                        6. joseph VIP

                                                          Pittsburgh50 reviews

                                                          3.0

                                                          Dined on April 11, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 3
                                                          2. Food 3
                                                          3. Service 3
                                                          4. Ambience 2
                                                          The cocktails were just ok. The sake selection was good. We had two of the specials and they were very good. The sushi was just ok, though. Not bad, just ok. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. I wouldn't hurry back but I would go back.

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                                                        7. David

                                                          Pittsburgh1 review

                                                          4.0

                                                          Dined on April 6, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                          2. Food 3
                                                          3. Service 3
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Ambiance was great!! Really liked sitting at the bar and watching the chefs and mixologists work. Server was very nice and knowledgeable of the whole menu. Cocktails were great! I feel some of the sushi plates were very expensive for what they were. They’re going for a lively, fun bar, but the price doesn’t reflect that. I feel this either needs to be high cuisine or affordable sushi/bar. It’s trying to be both. I walked away thinking “meh”.

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                                                        8. Sara

                                                          Miami1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on April 1, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Such a fun place- you can sit at a long bar and watch the kitchen work. Amazing food, too!

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                                                        9. OpenTable Diner

                                                          Washington DC3 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on March 30, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          The food is wonderful and they have the best service I’ve had in the city.

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                                                        10. melissa VIP

                                                          Pittsburgh16 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          Dined on March 28, 2025

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          I was super excited to try Golden Gai since it’s the sister restaurant of Gai Jin. It did not disappoint. The food and ambiance were a total vibe. We will definitely be back!

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                                                        FAQs

                                                        Golden Gai is rated 4.8 stars by 128 OpenTable diners.

                                                        Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                        1. Home
                                                        2. United States
                                                        3. Pittsburgh / Western PA
                                                        4. Pittsburgh
                                                        5. Point Breeze

                                                        Make a reservation

                                                        2 people
                                                        7:00 PM
                                                        Booked 19 times today
                                                        Google Map for Golden Gai

                                                        116 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

                                                        Dining areas

                                                        Additional information

                                                        • Cross street
                                                          Penn Avenue
                                                        • Neighborhood
                                                          Point Breeze
                                                        • Hours of operation
                                                          Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
                                                        • Price
                                                          $50 and over
                                                        • Cuisines
                                                          Japanese, Izakaya, Creative Japanese
                                                        • Dining style
                                                          Casual Dining
                                                        • Dress code
                                                          Business Casual
                                                        • Parking details
                                                          Public Lot
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