Ramen, Pho And A Central Cocktail Bar Make This Pennsylvania Asian Food Hall Anything But Typical

A mammoth three-sided bar anchors the middle of this food hall, and seven locally owned Asian kitchens circle around it. Ramen simmers on one side while pho steams on another.

The whole space stretches across 8,600 square feet inside a renovated Pennsylvania building with deep produce-trade roots. Lanterns and posters hang around a modern dining room with seats for a crowd.

I like how the setup skips the usual mall food court routine. You order from a kiosk, a QR code, or a cashier, then wait for a pager or text to tell you dinner is ready.

Filipino pork sisig, Korean marinated beef, Taiwanese fried chicken, and fresh Korean bakery treats all share one roof. I can’t imagine a better place to settle a family debate about what to eat tonight.

So which counter would you hit first?

Seven Asian Kitchens Gather Under One Strip District Roof

Pittsburgh’s Strip District already feeds a lot of hungry people, but this stop changes the menu math. Novo Asian Food Hall sits inside the renovated Strip District Terminal, right in the middle of the action.

Seven locally owned restaurant concepts share the space. Instead of competing like a typical food court, they were brought together as a collaborative hall.

That idea shows up in the lineup. You can find Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho, sushi, Filipino plates, Korean favorites, Taiwanese street-style chicken, and a Korean bakery all within a few steps.

Drinks get their own spotlight too. A tea counter pours bubble teas and smoothies, while the huge central bar ties every corner of the room together.

The hall covers about 8,600 square feet, so it never feels like a cramped mall counter. Lanterns and posters give it a modern look that suits a long lunch or a casual dinner.

For Pennsylvania families who can never agree on one cuisine, this layout feels like a peace treaty with chopsticks. Everyone orders what they want, then meets back at the same table.

Honestly, that alone makes it a smart addition to any Pittsburgh day trip. The food just seals the deal.

A Former Produce Hub Found A Delicious Second Act

Long before anyone ordered ramen here, the Strip District Terminal Building handled a very different kind of fresh food. The structure once served as a central hub for Pittsburgh’s produce trade.

Today the renovated terminal hosts a mix of shops. Novo Asian Food Hall became one of its most flavorful tenants when it opened on March 1, 2024.

Getting there took patience. Construction ran for more than a year before the doors finally opened to diners.

The project comes from owners Alex Tang and Mike Chen. Tang already knew the restaurant world well, since he owns Mola and Kung Fu Chicken with his wife, Mimi Lee.

That background matters. The people behind the hall clearly understood what local kitchens need to share a space and still shine on their own.

I believe there’s something fitting about a produce building turning into a place for noodles, rice bowls, and dumplings. The fruit crates left, but the focus on feeding the city stayed put.

It also gives the hall a sense of place that newer strip-mall food courts simply can’t copy. You’re eating inside a piece of Pittsburgh’s working past, and that adds a little flavor of its own.

Six Ways To Slurp At The Ramen Counter

Six. That’s how many ramen variations Maneki Ramen keeps on its menu, which is a dangerous number for anyone who hates making decisions.

The lineup covers a lot of ground. There’s tonkotsu, miso, spicy miso tonkotsu, shoyu, shoyu tonkotsu, and miso tonkotsu.

Pork-broth fans have plenty to explore with all those tonkotsu combinations. Shoyu brings a soy-based option for anyone who wants something a bit different.

Then come the toppings. Maneki offers various topping choices, so your bowl can look a little different from the one across the table.

Spice lovers will probably drift toward the spicy miso tonkotsu first. Cautious eaters can start with plain miso and work their way up on the next visit.

Ramen also makes sense in a food hall setting. One person gets noodles while another grabs sushi or fried chicken, and nobody has to compromise.

Winter in Pennsylvania practically begs for a hot bowl of broth. Then again, ramen cravings don’t really check the weather first.

Either way, this counter gives the hall’s headline dish real depth. With six bowls to try, you’ve got a solid excuse to come back more than once.

Pho, Banh Mi And Classic Vietnamese Comfort

Some dishes feel like a warm blanket in a bowl, and pho sits near the top of that list. At Novo Asian Food Hall, it comes from Tan Lac Vien 2, a Vietnamese bistro.

Pho is the star, but it has good company. The menu also features banh mi, small bites, and rice dishes built around classic Vietnamese flavors.

Banh mi makes an easy pick for anyone who wants something handheld. It’s a smart choice if you plan to sample a few other counters during the same visit.

Rice dishes round things out for heartier appetites. Small bites work nicely for sharing across a crowded table.

The menu even has vegetarian options. That’s handy for groups where not everyone eats meat but everyone still wants Vietnamese food.

Pho also pairs perfectly with the hall’s layout. Grab a steaming bowl, find a seat, and let your friends wander off to the other counters.

On a chilly Pittsburgh afternoon, few lunches sound better. The title of this article promised ramen and pho, and this counter carries its half of that bargain with real confidence.

Sushi Rolls And Hot Plates Worth Slowing Down For

Aged vinegar might not sound exciting, yet it’s the quiet secret behind good sushi rice. Mola uses a signature aged vinegar, and that detail tells you the kitchen sweats the small stuff.

The sushi menu covers maki rolls, nigiri sets, and chirashi bowls. Plans call for handrolls and individual nigiri pieces to join the lineup too.

Chirashi bowls are great for anyone who likes variety in one container. Maki rolls make sharing easy when the table wants a little of everything.

Mola isn’t only about raw fish, though. The counter also serves hot plates like grilled salmon with miso and Berkshire pork shoulder.

That mix is helpful for groups. One friend can chase nigiri while another digs into something warm and cooked.

Remember that Mola comes from Alex Tang, one of the hall’s owners. He runs it with his wife, Mimi Lee, so this counter carries a bit of home-team pride.

I like that the sushi option here feels considered rather than tossed in to fill a gap. Between the rice details and the hot plates, Mola gives seafood fans plenty to linger over.

Filipino Favorites You Rarely Spot On A Food Court Map

Chicken adobo, pork sisig, and lumpia don’t show up at every food hall. Lolo’s brings these Filipino dishes to Pittsburgh, and that makes it one of the hall’s most interesting counters.

Adobo is a classic starting point for newcomers. It’s one of the most familiar Filipino dishes, so it makes a friendly first order.

Pork sisig offers another big Filipino favorite. Longanisa, a Filipino sausage, also appears on the menu.

Breakfast fans should know about the Spam silog. It pairs Spam with rice and egg, the kind of plate that makes mornings feel worth getting up for, no matter the hour.

Lumpia make easy table snacks. Pancit noodles add a comforting option, and pan de sal brings soft bread rolls into the mix.

Here’s why this counter matters for Pennsylvania diners. Filipino food can be tricky to find in many parts of the state, so having it next to ramen and sushi feels like a bonus round.

Curious eaters finally get an easy entry point. Ordering a little from Lolo’s alongside something familiar might be the best way to discover a new favorite cuisine.

Kimchi Heat Meets Taiwanese Fried Chicken Crunch

Two counters handle the bold, savory side of the hall, and they make a tempting pair. Korea Garden 2 covers Korean specialties, while Kung Fu Chicken focuses on Taiwanese street food.

At Korea Garden 2, the menu features spicy kimchi and marinated beef slices. Bibimbap and dumplings also show up from this kitchen.

Kimchi brings that tangy, fiery kick many Korean meals are famous for. Marinated beef balances things out with something hearty and savory.

Kung Fu Chicken takes a different path. It specializes in seasoned fried chicken and other chicken-focused dishes drawn from Mimi Lee’s recipes.

That recipe connection adds a personal touch. Lee is also part of the team behind Mola, so her cooking shows up in more than one corner of the hall.

Crab rangoons and sweet potato fries appear on the Kung Fu Chicken side too. They make easy add-ons when the table wants something crunchy to pass around.

Planning a group order? Put one person on Korean duty and another on fried chicken patrol, then meet in the middle and share everything.

Save Room For Korean Cakes And Bubble Tea

Dessert gets its own dedicated counter, which feels like a very good life choice. Sumi’s Cakery is a Korean bakery serving a variety of cake flavors, freshly baked bread, and pastries.

Cake lovers can browse flavors before committing. Bread and pastries make nice take-home treats if you’re already too full to finish them on the spot.

The menu also includes items like bingsu, a shaved ice dessert, and stuffed beignets. That gives sweet tooths more than one direction to explore.

Thirsty? Teachana handles the tea side of the hall with an extensive lineup of freshly brewed milk, fruit, and bubble teas.

The list keeps going with lattes, smoothies, and slushies. Kids and adults alike can usually find something that sounds right.

Bubble tea also travels well. Grab one on your way out and you’ve got a sweet souvenir for the stroll through the Strip District.

I believe every good food hall needs a strong finish. Between fresh cakes and a long tea menu, this corner makes sure your visit ends on a high note rather than a sad napkin.

Everything Orbits The Giant Three-Sided Bar

Most food courts push seating into a sea of identical tables. Novo Asian Food Hall puts a mammoth three-sided bar right in the center instead.

The bar acts like the room’s heartbeat. It pulls the energy of the space together, so the seven kitchens feel like one lively hall instead of scattered stalls.

Kait Fellers manages the bar program. Its menu includes nonalcoholic drink combinations, so designated drivers and younger guests aren’t stuck with plain water.

Seating is generous. The dining room holds about 150 people, and the bar adds roughly 25 more seats, with 285 seats counted in total.

Ordering stays simple too. You can use kiosks, scan a QR code, or talk to a cashier at each kitchen.

After that, a pager or text tells you when food is ready for pickup. No hovering by the counter, and no awkward guessing which tray belongs to you.

Lanterns and posters finish off the modern look. Put it all together, and the room works well for families, friend groups, and anyone who likes a little buzz with lunch.

Plan Your Strip District Food Hall Afternoon

Finding the place is the easy part. Novo Asian Food Hall sits at 1931 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, inside the Strip District Terminal.

The hall opens daily, with a late-morning start most days. Sunday hours run shorter, so check ahead before making the drive.

Bargain hunters should keep the weekday happy hour in mind. It includes discounted food and select beverages, which makes a weekday visit extra appealing.

Parking in the Strip District can get tight. Give yourself a little extra time, especially if you’re arriving from elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Prices vary by counter and dish. Splitting plates across a group can stretch your budget and let everyone taste more.

The surrounding district adds to the trip. Shops fill the renovated terminal, so a meal here pairs nicely with an afternoon of browsing.

So is it worth your time? For anyone craving ramen, pho, Filipino plates, sushi, and Korean cakes in a single stop, this hall makes a strong case.

Bring a friend or three, divide and conquer, and let the pagers do the rest.