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19 Pittsburgh Food Pop-Ups to Track Down This Summer

July 13, 2019 by Madeline Quigley Leave a Comment

Photo: B52 Cafe

If we know one thing for sure, it’s that Pittsburgh loves a good pop-up.

Something about the elusive, fleeting nature of these short-lived food events draws in the city like a moth to a light.

As word spreads of these “in the know” food events (usually through social media and word of mouth), a cult following develops. And grows. And grows. And then, if we’re really lucky, the pop-up matures into a permanent brick and mortar business. Lest us not forget Ki Ramen, Sugar Spell Scoops, Driftwood Oven, Bitter Ends Garden, Apteka, Baby Loves Tacos, Duncan Street Sandwich Shop, and Pigeon Bagel – all extremely popular Pittsburgh restaurants that began as pop-ups.

Below we have rounded up just a few of our favorite Pittsburgh pop-ups going on right now. Be sure to check them all out, because who knows – you could be trying Pittsburgh best new restaurant of 2022.

We know pittsburgh pop-ups can be elusive. Did we miss any? Please let us know in the comments below!

Track them down before they are going… going…. gone!

19 Pittsburgh Food Pop-Ups to Track Down This Summer

Kanto Kitchen Filipino Feast Club

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The #feast #club series IX is proud to announce the premiere of #filipino #kamayan #lowcountryboil a humble offering derived from two distinct cultures. What is ‘Kamayan’? It’s a traditional Filipino feast eaten with #hands only 🤲🏻👐🏼🙌🏽🙌🏽👏🏽✋🏾🤚🏿#ittastesbetter that way and more fun! Visit website at www.kantokitchenpgh.com for tickets and details, link in profile #pittsburgh . . . . #filipinofood #filipinofoodmovement #filipinofoodie #filipinochef #filipinocuisine #pinoy #pinoyfood #samaykanto #samaykantolang #american #americancuisine #lowcountry #412

A post shared by "KANTO" (@kantokitchenpgh) on Jul 6, 2019 at 7:02am PDT

Pittsburgh chef Rafael Vencio (previously Aubergine Bistro) has been teaming up with local businesses to present Kanto Kitchen, a series of Filipino popup dinners and “Feast Clubs” around the city of Pittsburgh. At spots like Driftwood Oven and Pie for Breakfast, and Brew Gentlemen, Vencio has been serving dishes like longaniza, chicken inasal, and Kamayan feasts! These delicious dinners sell out (fast!), so be sure to snag your tickets so you can enjoy one this summer.

Kanto Kitchen

AllSummr Pop-up “Day-party”

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Early scenes from yesterday’s Diaspora 2 Dope 2.0 brought to you by @darknessisspreading • We’re off today (Friday), but make sure to keep it locked 🔒 • Tomorrow (Saturday) w/ @djbamboo x @slimthadjpgh & Sunday w/ @onewavybabe x @thearie_cole featuring @miempanadapgh . . . . . . . . . . . #dayparty #pgh #uptown #pittsburgh #pittsburghpa #allsummr #allsummer #djs #pghmusic #tiki #pghdrinks #drinkpgh #pghfood #pghtech #popup #popupbar #pghpopup #pghbars #pghparty #pghblogger #pghmodel #lovepgh #pghartist #pghcreative #pghlocal #pghart #pghevents #bestinpgh #hennessy #igerspgh

A post shared by Allsummr | PGH ☀️ 𝟙𝟟𝟙𝟟 𝟝𝕥𝕙 𝔸𝕧𝕖 (@allsummr) on Jul 5, 2019 at 1:58pm PDT

As part of a collaboration between Round Corner Cantina and Umami owner Derek Burnell and Urbanist Guide owner Michael McAllister, an outdoor pop-up bar has opened in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood. The space is part-beer garden, part-tiki bar, and has a full summer schedule of barbecues, food trucks, and family-friendly games. In the evening, the space will play host to DJ sets, a tiki bar, a 21-tap beer wagon, and an Absolut cocktail bar. More information can be found online.

AllSummr (1717 Fifth Avenue)

Blue Sparrow at Eleventh Hour Brewery

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Happy Father's Day! Hanging out in Lawrenceville at @eleventhhourbrewing all day! (11-7) Swing by for a beer, a solid high five and global street food!

A post shared by Blue Sparrow (@bluesparrowpgh) on Jun 16, 2019 at 6:01am PDT

Popular Pittsburgh food truck Blue Sparrow expanded their fleet last year with a vintage 1956 Greyhound bus. The food truck is known for serving “Global street food,” including dishes like Banh Mi, Korean BBQ Burrito, and the almighty Ramen Burger. If you want to track down the bus, it shouldn’t be too hard. This summer, Eleventh Hour Brewery in Lawrenceville is hosting Blue Sparrow outside their brewery four days a week. On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, Pittsburgh will find the bus outside 11th Hour on Charlotte Street in Lawrenceville.  More information can be found online.

Eleventh Hour Brewery

Roundabout Pop Up Beer Garden

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Pretty sure we're clear for the rest of this beautiful PGH Summer evening, so head on down for riverside vibes @dossantoschi and @riomiramarimba. Our good friends @lapalapapgh here too. . #roundaboutpopup #riversidevibes #saturdaynightinpittsburgh #

A post shared by roundaboutpopup (@roundaboutpopup) on Jun 29, 2019 at 4:35pm PDT

After their successful run last summer, Roundabout Brewery is once again hosting a Pop Up Beer Garden at their outdoor space on the Ohio River, located along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Chateau. The official address is 1836 Oxline St, and guests can bike (or run!) to the space and enjoy a refreshing brew with a view of the city.

Roundabout Pop Up

Casa Brasil Brazilian Pop-up Restaurant 

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Bom dia Pittsburgh! New pão de queijo recipe alert! Wishes of a great, hot and fluffy Sunday! . . Good morning Pittsburgh! Receita de pão de queijo novinha! Votos de um ótimo domingo, quentinho e fofinho! . . #casabrasilpgh #paodequeijo #fromscratch #glutenfree #patioisopen #pittsburghrestaurant #412eats #412foodie #pittsburgh #eattheworld #brazilianflavors #hotandfluffy #sunday #domingao #paodequeijo #quentinho #saindodoforno #vempracasa #comidacaseira

A post shared by Casa Brasil PGH (@casabrasilpgh) on Jun 23, 2019 at 8:23am PDT

Hello, Casa Brasil, a delicious new Brazilian pop-up restaurant located in Highland Park! Casa Brasil serves dishes like pão de queijo, caldinho, mandioca frita, moqueca de peixe, and more! The restaurant also offers “residência” program where local chefs host pop-up dinners in their space. More information can be found online.

Casa Brasil

Fet Fisk Nordic Feast

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thanks to those brave souls who feasted with us on monday. we are so looking forward to our next encounter! stay in tune for all the info

A post shared by FET FISK (@fet_fisk) on May 30, 2019 at 10:26am PDT

This new under-the-radar popup dinner series offers a chance to try interesting, Nordic dishes with a heavy focus on seafood. To get on this list for this dinner, you must DM Fet Fish to learn the location. Information is limited, so check out their Instagram. Oh, the mystique!

Fet Fisk

Mi Empanada

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We’re pollo loco over here 🤪🐓

A post shared by Mi Empanada (@miempanadapgh) on Apr 25, 2019 at 11:59am PDT

Calling all empanada fans! (That’s everyone, right?) Mi Empanada is a new Argentinian catering and pop-up businesses, selling their delicious, homemade empanadas around the city of Pittsburgh. Track them down at breweries, bars, coffee shops, and more by keeping an eye on their Instagram. They will also be a Tina’s bar in Bloomfield every Thursday in July.

Mi Empanada

Café Agnes Salvadorian Cafe

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PUPUSAS RUN THIS MOTHER Join us tomorrow for lunch at #MarketSquarePittsburgh 10am-2pm . Goalz are goalz ✌🏽✌🏽 #pupusapower

A post shared by CAFÉ AGNES (@cafeagnes_pittsburgh) on May 22, 2019 at 10:54am PDT

Check out that pupusa! Café Agnes is serving Pittsburgh fresh and authentic Salvadorian food through their new pop-up, which can be found at local markets including: Thursdays at Market Square, Fridays at Mellon square, and Sundays in Squirrel Hill. Dishes include tamales and pupusas, served with refreshing beverages like horchata and watermelon agua fresca. More information can be found online.

Café Agnes

Hidden Harbor Daq Shack

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Tonight! It’s the launch of Daq Shack Thursdays at the Harbor, featuring a special menu of Daiquiri variations plus a deeply discounted classic Daq. Tonight’s menu spotlights the Margarita-like Golden Glove, the lightly tiki-fied Beachcomber’s Gold, and our own Strawberry Dry Ice Daiquiri from a #WeirdScienceWednesday of old, along with classic Daqs with the newly available Neisson Blanc 52.5% rhum agricole from Martinique. Let’s Daq! #tiki #🌴

A post shared by Hidden Harbor (@hiddenharborpgh) on Jul 11, 2019 at 5:31am PDT

Pittsburgh tiki bar Hidden Harbor is back with another innovative new series, “Daq Shack.” Every Thursday this summer at the bar will host a celebration of the Daiquiri, a drink that they call a “simple but elegant mix of rum, lime, sugar, and ice that is, quite simply, the greatest cooling contraption that man ever invented.” The rotating weekly menu will provide Daiquiri variations over the eras and classic Daqs at a deeply discounted price.

Hidden Harbor

Spirit Bagels

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This is our “Saturday after brunch current bagel count PSA”… $10 for 6 bagels… $2 each… Pick them up at Spirit today. Eat them tomorrow in your underwear. Also, @weirdpaulp just showed up to set up for his Lawrenceville Art Crawl Art @ 6pm… get here early and watch @toddkeebs DJ like a 🐈 on catnip.

A post shared by Spirit (@spiritpgh) on May 18, 2019 at 11:26am PDT

If I’ve learned one thing working at GoodFoodPittsburgh.com, it’s that Pittsburghers are all on a perpetual hunt for a “good bagel” in the city. Well, there is a new spot to add to the list – Spirit! The popular Lawrenceville bar/venue/pizza joint/??? has started sportically serving and selling homemade bagels, most frequently at the weekend brunches. Keep an eye on their instagram for the latest bagel updates.

Spirit

Sharing Farms at the Ace Hotel

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Last night Beth, Sukey, and Casey whipped up 4 courses of farm-fresh plates to celebrate an intimate evening with the Jamisons. Don't miss the next Sharing Knives in August with Lily Tran if Soba. #sharingknives

A post shared by Ace Hotel Pittsburgh (@acehotelpittsburgh) on Jun 21, 2018 at 11:43am PDT

Ace Hotel Pittsburgh has been hosting their “Sharing Knives” dinner for years, and this summer they are expanding to “Sharing Farms.” Typically for the “Sharing Knives,” dinner, Whitfield executive chef Bethany Zozula collaborates with another chef in Pittsburgh. For the new Sharing Farms dinner, Zozula will work with other local chefs to highlight a regional farm. The July dinner will celebrate Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance 20th Birthday. More dinner are planned monthly into early fall.

Sharing Farms

Muddy Waters Absinthe Night

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Every Tuesday join us for Absinthe Night. We have cocktail menu highlighting all the drinks with Absinthe (like this Green Fairy Fizz) ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Happy Hour starts at 4:30 today, whatever you are in the mood for, we got you covered! $1 Bayford Beautes (from Muddy Waters Oyster Farm) $2 Featured East & West Coast Oysters, $10 off all bottles of bubbles, $20 off all bottles of Champagne, $4 Oyster Shooters, $6 Hurricane and Don Wayne Cocktails and $8 Boilermakers. We have Happy Hour Food Specials like Chargrilled Oysters, Pork Rinds, Boudan Balls and Biscuits and Jam. See you soon friends! ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #seafood #seefood #sustainablefood #Pittsburgh #eastliberty #Oysters #eatoysters #onthehalfshell #rawbar #foodie #foodporn #instafood #happyhour #fresh #oyster #foodstagram #instagood #yum #delicious #champagne #restaurant #dinner #drinks #freshseafood #eatpgh #pittsburghfood #pghfood #eatlocal #pittsburghfoodie #muddywatersoysterfarm

A post shared by Muddy Waters Oyster Bar (@muddywaterspgh) on Jul 9, 2019 at 7:05am PDT

If you’re looking for a stiff drink on a Tuesday night, head to Muddy Waters Oyster Bar in East Liberty. Tuesdays are “Absinthe Night” at the restaurant, featuring a cocktail menu of drinks made with Absinthe. Yes, Absinthe – the bright green botanical spirit once infamously thought to be a hallucinogen. The bar also has happy hour, 9:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M. on Tuesdays with $1 and $2 oysters + more.

Muddy Waters

B52 Café Burger Night

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Hi! Okay, it’s time. Burger Night is here. Time to unwind, cool off, have a burger, have some fries, see your friends. Tonight, 5 pm till it’s sold out: kofta burger, white cheddar-style, cremini mushrooms, roasted shallots, garlic aioli, rosemary, arugula, @allegrohearthbakery sesame bun. Available with fries, za’atar fries, salad, or on its own. Phew. It’s hot, but this’ll help take your mind off it. See you soon. . . . . . . . . . #wednesdaynightisburgernight #vegancheddar #vegankofta #koftaburger #mushrooms #roastedshallots #vegandinner #veganpgh #b52pgh #arugula #burgertime

A post shared by B52 Café (@b52_pgh) on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:35pm PDT

B52’s vegan burger night has developed quite a following in Pittsburgh, even from devoted meat eaters. Every Wednesday, the restaurant serves a different vegan burger option from 5:00 P.M. until sell out. Options vary but are always tasty. Our advice? Get there early.

Burger Night

Summer of Soft-Serve

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DAIRY-FREE STRAWBERRY SOFTY-SOFT IS NOW SWIRLING AT SUMMER OF SOFT-SERVE. Say that three times fast, then come getchu sommmmeeeee. Open at noon in @bakerysquarepgh!

A post shared by Summer Of Soft-Serve (@summer.of.softserve) on Jun 1, 2019 at 6:23am PDT

Popular Pittsburgh ice cream company Millie’s Homemade expanded into the world of soft-serve ice cream this summer with their brand new summer pop-up in Bakery Square, dubbed “Summer of Soft-Serve.” The shop is located in the former Coffee Tree Roasters space in Bakery Square, serving six flavors of homemade dairy and vegan soft-serve, waffle cones, floats, and more! Get it while it lasts!

Summer of Soft-Serve

crumb. Late Night, Plant-Based Pop Up

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Happy National Fried Chicken Day! 🍗🎉 We’ll be slinging these perfectly plant-based and gluten-free Crispy Bois tonight from 10pm-12am! 4905 Penn Avenue, 15224 Come celebrate with us!

A post shared by crumb. PGH (@crumb.pgh) on Jul 6, 2019 at 10:53am PDT

Ah – we love a good late night option in Pittsburgh! crumb., a vegan eatery once located in the Smallman Galley, is now offering late night bites, every Friday-Saturday from 10pm-2am at the Gluten-Free Goat in Garfield. Everything served is fully Vegan, AND gluten, soy, corn, peanut, and oat free! OH -and delicious! Options have included: fries and gluten-free plant-based takes on fried “chicken” sandwiches and “chicken” nuggets.

crumb.

Brew Gentlemen Open Air Space

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What’s happening at BG Open Air? Swipe to see! – On Friday, if you are invested in Braddock – by living, working, or visiting – join us after work for some quality time with neighbors followed by a summer cookout with Hootie and @blowfishbbq. – On Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, @bluesparrowpgh will be taking over BG Open Air for a Creole Cookout featuring Cajun and Haitian-inspired food including jambalaya burgers, Cajun grilled wings, and alligator gumbo (made with real alligator!). – Both events will take place rain or shine. BG Open Air is family-friendly until 6pm, after which it is 21+. All beers $5. – #brewgentlemen #bgopenair #blowfishbbq #bluesparrowpgh #summerbbq #summer #visitpgh #lovepgh #drinkpgh #pittsburghhappyhour #creolecookout

A post shared by Brew Gentlemen (@brewgentlemen) on Jun 27, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

Attention! There’s a brand-new place to drink beer outside! Behold: the Brew Gentlemen Open Air space. This summer pop up allows guests to sip some of Brew Gentlemen’s award-winning beers in the great outdoors. The space will stay open while the weather is nice. The BG Open Air space is part of a larger expansion at the brewery, which you can learn more about here.

Brew Gentlemen

Rooted Plant-Based Ice Cream

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*Mint* (😂 here all week!) to tell you earlier that we’ll be at @neighborhoodflea this Sunday! ⁣ ⁣ You want lavender ice cream? We’ve got it. Coffee? That too. Crazy dark chocolate, vanilla sugar cookie? Check, check. ⁣ ⁣ See ya there for 1/2 pints and mini scoops!⁣ ⁣ #vegan #veganicecream #neighborhoodflea #fleafindspgh #foundattheflea #icecream #vegansofig #lavender #lavendericecream #coffeeicecream #darkchocolate #vegansofpittsburgh #pittsburghvegan #plantbasedvegan #plantbasedfood #plantbasedicecream #buzzfeedfood #eeeeeats #icecreamlove #dairyfree #rooted #rootedicecream

A post shared by Rooted Ice Cream (@rootedicecream) on Jun 5, 2019 at 7:40am PDT

Pittsburgh plant-based dining scene has expanded with the addition of Rooted Ice Cream, a new vegan ice cream company. The brand is a plant-based, small-batch ice cream company committed to producing less waste and serving ice cream that isn’t just “vegan ice cream, but good ice cream. Full stop. It just so happens to be vegan.” Flavors include: roasted raspberry w almond streusel, black sesame w a rose vanilla swirl, + more.

Rooted Plant-Based Ice Cream

Jak’s Bakery Bulgarian Breads and Pastries

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#jaksbakery #pittsburgh #foodie #pastry #bulgaria

A post shared by Jak (@jaksbakery) on Jul 9, 2019 at 1:09pm PDT

Take advantage of the unique opportunity to try Bulgarian breads and pastries from Jak’s! Jak”s bakery specializes in traditional items, bringing over 18 years of experience into their delicious baked goods. Look out for artisan specialties like Banitsa and Kozunak. You can find Jak’s at Farmers Markets throughout the week, including Lawrenceville, Carrick, and Shadyside. They are also available at Steel Valley Roasters in Homestead.

Jak’s Bakery

Duncan Street Dinners

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HERE WE GO AGAIN! NEW DINNER DATES! We are about 2/3 of the way sold out for our December dinners, so get your seats now if you want them! Link in bio! Thursday, December 6 Friday, December 7 Saturday, December 8 Menu coming soon! #duncanst #duncanstdinners #millvale #pghfood #pittsburgh #pittsburghfood #pgh #pghfood

A post shared by Sandwich Shop & Dinners (@duncanstreet_) on Nov 9, 2018 at 8:16am PST

This dinner series turned Millvale sandwich shop continues to wow crowds with their monthly, speakeasy-style, five-course dinners. Now hosted at their Millvale shop (no longer their home kitchen!) July is now booked, but there is still space for August. These dinners sell out fast, so hurry to book! And if you don’t get tickets, luckily you can still enjoy their grub from their tasty sandwich shop, open Wednesday – Sunday.

Duncan Street

We know pittsburgh pop-ups can be elusive. Did we miss any? Please let us know in the comments below!

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