Golden Gai

Name: Golden Gai
Address: 116 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, 15206
Telephone: (412) 844-6688
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (165)

$50 and over

Japanese

116 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 24, 2025

10:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

About this restaurant

Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions
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

Location
116 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Neighborhood
Point Breeze
Cross street
Penn Avenue
Parking details
Public Lot

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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

What 165 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
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Pittsburgh / Western PA
Best Ambiance
Pittsburgh / Western PA
Innovative
Pittsburgh / Western PA
Hot spot
Pittsburgh / Western PA
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables
Pittsburgh
Best Food
Pittsburgh
Best Ambiance
Pittsburgh
Innovative
Pittsburgh
Hot spot
Pittsburgh
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Golden Gai offers a vibrant dining experience with "excellent food" and "creative cocktails." The ambiance is intimate with "beautiful decor," making it ideal for a special occasion. Renowned for its "sushi and imaginative dishes," the restaurant's attentive staff enhance the experience. While service can occasionally be inconsistent, the overall dining experience remains "amazing."

165 Reviews

W
Will VIP
New York City5 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a great experience here. The food was fresh, well-prepared, and beautifully presented — everything we ordered was delicious. The wait staff was friendly and attentive throughout the evening, checking in regularly and making sure we had everything we needed. Even when the sushi bar got a bit backed up, they were quick to apologize for the delay and kept us updated, which we really appreciated. It’s clear they care about both the quality of their food and the customer experience. We’ll definitely be back — this place is a new favorite!
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B
Brenna
Pittsburgh / Western PA1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the atmosphere, we sat at the bar type seating where you can see the food prepped! So yummy
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A
Alex
Detroit / Eastern Michigan1 review
2.0
Dined on July 15, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Service was not good despite there not being many people there, had to ask for water and ginger constantly. Rolls were also too thick with too much fish
1 person found this helpful
M
Marla
Indiana2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Food was excellent. It took ten minutes for anyone to come over and introduce us as our server and take our drink order, and at that point we had already decided on drinks and food. There were one or two times when dishes were set on the high ledge in front of us and it was unclear whether they were ours, since no one said anything to us; the restaurant is not loud so surely we would hear them. We had to ask to clarify if it was meant for us or for a server to take to someone else. Maybe that's obvious to the employees but not to first-timers!
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j
jeffrey VIP
Pittsburgh / Western PA24 reviews
2.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
It was way overpriced.. I’m not one that typically concerns myself with cost as most places deliver on cost vs. quality.. but this place was extremely overpriced.. similar to gi-Jin.. I didn’t realize it was part of the same group.
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M
Magee
Pittsburgh / Western PA3 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
10/10 food was incredible, vibes were immaculate and service top noth. No complaints, will be back
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J
Janice
San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had eaten here once before and it was excellent as was this visit. I would have gone with a 4.5 rating if possible for this visit. The Shrimp Tempura was astounding the first tme we ate here. This time the shrimp itself was not as flavorful and was also a bit smaller. I say - raise the price but keep the shrimp quality if that's the case. Started with a spicy cuke dish, followed by sushi, both delish. Then Gyoza - so unique here and fantastic. Saved shrimp to last, because it had been such a showstopper the last time. All-in-all, a great meal and service.
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J
Jane VIP
New Orleans / Louisiana31 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 9, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
great food ... attentive service ... beautiful decor ...
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d
douglas VIP
Washington, D.C. Area1 review
5.0
Dined on July 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this place, not cheap but excellent food and ambiance.
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E
Edwin
Atlanta2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was good overall experience. It’s an intimate setting and staff were very attentive. Solid food and drink selections.
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FAQs

Golden Gai is rated 4.8 stars by 165 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 24, 2025

10:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

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

Website
https://goldengaipgh.com/
Phone number
(412) 844-6688

Golden Gai

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Starters

Edamame

Spicy Edamame

House Salad

Cucumber

Miso Soup

Bowls

Chirashi

Miso Tuna

BBQ Eel

Nigiri / 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

Maki Box

Nigiri Box

Sashimi Box

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Golden Gai restaurant rated?

Is Golden Gai currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information