Address: | 2032 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, USA |
Phone: | +1 412-422-2082 |
Site: | chayausa.com |
Rating: | 4.3 |
Working: | 5–9:30PM 5–9:30PM 5–9:30PM 5–9:30PM 5–9:45PM 5–9:45PM Closed |
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A Private User
One of the only two Japanese restaurants in the region (Kiku is the other), Chaya delivers authentic food with a heaping side of rudeness. I went there a number of times, despite hearing from others how poorly they were treated, and I was initially impressed by the food. I was there three times this week, in fact, accompanied by five other people who will also not go back. Ive tried to overlook the abyssmal service, but I give up. Dining isnt just about eating, its about having enjoying the experience. Its often said that the Japanese are polite people. Of course, the reality is a little more complex. Just like anywhere, there are a mix of people. But why wait to go to Japan? Just go to Chaya, where you can get the whole experience in an hour. Indeed, there are several servers at Chaya who are very polite and friendly. Frankly, Ill miss them, and I hope they can find better employment. But there are two waitresses, and one in particular, who put the ho in hospitality. This is a management issue, plain and simple. The place is tiny and theres no way anything is happening that the owner is not aware of. You own the place, you set the mood. Hurrying customers through their orders is rude; hustling them out the door is unacceptable. If thats the atmosphere you want to set, run a noodle stall.
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A Private User
In traditional Japanese fashion, Chayas concern seemed more in the process and packaging of the sushi bar experience rather than the actual contents. While on our search for great sushi in Pittsburgh, my wife and I were pointed to this tiny spot in Squirrel Hill. At first sight and sip of green tea, we were delighted. "THIS is a sushi bar," I remember telling my wife. But after being ignored for several minutes and passed over without hot towels (all the other, Japanese, patrons were given hot towels), I began to get a bit skeptical. Our sushi/maki rolls came, and they were average. Eh, you cant expect too much from a land-locked city. The true let down was the negimaki. Wow, somehow they managed to pass off frozen steak slices wrapping nearly-raw scallions (with no sauce in sight) as a poorly executed rendition of the amazing dish known as negimaki. Granted, a restaurant must steer their dishes towards local tastes, but when every other steak sandwich place in town cuts their own steak slices… why wouldnt a japanese restaurant do the same? Especially when the dish prices suggest another story. All in all, what really killed the experience was being treated like a foreigner in my own neighborhood and getting below average sushi to match it.
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A Private User
If you have baby, toddler and little kids who cant be quiet or behave, dont go there. First, they dont have any booster seats or high chair. Dont sit with kid in private seat area. my daughter who is 2 yrs and kept being as her age was told to be quiet. She was not screaming or loud. she was kicking wodden board of seat part and I told her not to. she stopped, but started doing again. We said her to stop, but she is only 2. She stopped soon enough. However one server came to our table and told us that she was loud. I understand she made a noise, but she was behaving well other than that. Just this upset me since we love Chaya but we cant even enjoy there with our baby. this place is not like very fancy and expencive restaurant that have dress code. people go there with jeans and casual shirts on. I dont understand why they havent had any booster and high chair even though they moved to bigger place. Id give them 5 star if they do and more friendly to parents with little kids...!
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A Private User
Ive had Asian food from my early child food - Japanese food is not an exception. I am not a real picky person when it comes to food but I do tell between yummy food and whats not. Chaya is a place where we (my wife and I) go quite often when we feel that its time to have some good meal outside. Chaya is definitely not a place to get cheap food, or where you seek a romantic atmosphere. We go there simply for good food. Some of Chayas offering is worth being expensive. For instance, toro (fatty tuna) and uni (sea urchin) are simply excellent. You cant get the same quality in other places in Pittsburgh. To control spending while we get good selections, we usually pair sushis with nabeyaki udon (soup noodle in a pot) or Don-katsu. I also recommend you try their grilled mero (fish). I find several appetizers unique and tasty as well. The place doesnt serve beverages. BYOB.
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Jonathan Hung
Chaya is one of two Japanese owned Japanede restaurants in Pittsburgh. The sushi quality is unlike any other restaurant in the area. Also they are very generous in quantity and it isnt too expensive if you know what youre ordering. My family usually gets two sushi dishes, a bunch of rolls, and Nabeyaki Udon (a big bowl of soup with lots of vegetables). Weve been going to Chaya for years now and its my restaurant in Pittsburgh. If you are looking for authentic Japanese cuisine and really good sushi I suggest going to this place! Just go before 6pm because it fills up really fast.
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A Private User
Really enjoyed the food; sushi was very fresh and reasonably priced. One complaint: we were seated extremely close to the table next to us; we were actually immediately abutting them, so that it was basically like one table. There was a divider between us, but we could hear everything they were saying and Im sure vice versa. I came from Manhattan and I was extremely excited to enjoy all of Pittsburghs open spaces and lack of crowding. So I was a bit flummoxed when I came in and saw how cramped the inside of Chaya was. On the other hand, the service was generally excellent.
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Garcarcha Verdes
Have you ever bought sushi from a grocery store? You know the type, it comes in a plastic box with the soy sauce and wasabi in a packet. The rice is like one solid mass and the seaweed is chewy. Thats exactly what this sushi was like, only worse. I think they prepare the rolls in advance. Couldnt say for sure as they wouldnt seat me at the sushi bar as it was closed???? Not sure what it was, perhaps the seaweed wrap that made it soooooo salty. Then the sashimi comes one piece at a time for $3.75 each and its both small and bland. Dont waste your money.
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Tianwen Chu
The price is not equal to what it actually is. Reception is very inactive, there are several groups of people standing besides the entrance but without any help from staff. Size of food is very small. We three persons pay more than 100 bucks yet still with empty belly. The speed of cooking is also very slow. In all, expensive, slow, cold attitude, so-so are words I describe this restaurant. The comments here seem very high, get u need to be careful! Never come here again.
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A Private User
Probably the best place in the city to get just plain sushi. Very good selections and very fresh, and their new location up the street is decently sized. A must-try if you like sushi, but also a very well rounded menu in general. They also offer a chefs choice meal (higher quality fish at a higher price), and reservations for feasts. Great fried chicken appetizers too.