West View has a little business district which is easy to get to. But in East End-centric Pittsburgh, it might as well be on the dark side of the moon. Though you can get Thai food everywhere and Vietnamese food is becoming more common, there’s not a lot of Burmese cuisine in Pittsburgh. So this place is special. Don’t sweat the pronunciation and go for something like khauk swe kyaw, an egg noodle dish with meat or shrimp and scrambled egg, or curry chicken with paratha (flat bread). Perhaps not trusting Pittsburgh palates completely, they also feature other Asian standards like Pad thai and a full menu of sushi.
Huszar, Deutschtown
Deutschtown is slowly becoming known for food, with Siempre Algo and others setting up shop on East Ohio Street. But back in the residential part of the neighborhood, overlooking the Parkway, is this little barroom with great homestyle Hungarian food. It’s got a pleasant “grandma’s basement” feel to it, with wood-paneled walls and maps of the Old Country galore. The Gypsy Pork Loin, a garlicky pork loin with slab bacon, is just as hearty and belly-filling as you’d imagine. Curiously, this place is pretty good for vegetarians too, with hearty dishes like mushroom paprikas — a sour cream and paprika sauce over dumplings — and potato pancakes topped with cheese and sour cream. You can always go all out and order the Transylvanian platter, which will fill you up with grilled pork, chicken and steak.
Golden Pig, Cecil
When it comes to authentic Korean food, the place that always comes up in conversation is the Golden Pig — which, we admit, is a hike. But if you’ve got gas in the tank and a taste for kimchi, this tiny, unpretentious spot is it. Mandu beef-stuffed dumplings are a favorite here, and classics like daiji bulgogi — thinly-sliced pork in a red pepper glaze — are given strong renditions. Who doesn’t love a menu with a challenge like the Buldak, a spicy marinated chicken dish “that isn’t for the faint of heart?”
The Harmony Inn, Harmony
This beautiful converted hotel in the National Historic District of Harmony is worth the trip from any direction. A close relation of North Country Brewing in Slippery Rock (also great), expect to find their beers on tap, as well as a menu of hearty German food and plenty of sandwiches. The Best of the Wurst is a great place to start, with sausages (bratwurst, knockwurst, etc.) made with North Country beers. They have seven (!) different Reubens, including the Hippy Reuben with a portabella mushroom cap, and the Mooben, with brisket slow-cooked in Buck Snort Stout.