Golden Gai Review – Premium Japanese Dining in Bakery Square

Golden Gai brings an izakaya-type dining experience to Bakery Square, complete with sushi, hot dishes, craft cocktails, and an extensive sake menu. As a sister restaurant to downtown's high-end sushi spot Gi-Jin, Golden Gai brings a slightly more relaxed vibe while still delivering the same great flavors.

We dined during opening week and were especially excited about the delicious noodles and grilled dishes that reminded us of our time in Japan just a few days prior.

Golden Gai is Next Level Gi-Jin

As much as we love Gi-Jin, it can be tricky to get a reservation and its price point definitely makes it a special occasion spot for us. Enter Golden Gai, offering a slightly more approachable experience along with an extensive hot entree menu.

There's no denying the space is stunning, as is the case with all DeShantz restaurants. The space is long and narrow with the counter running the entire length, meaning all diners get a closeup view of the kitchen and bar action- something we really appreciate. There are two tables at the back in case you have a larger group- but as there's only a couple these will probably be more difficult to snag reservations for.

The focus of the drink menu is on sake, craft cocktails with Asian flavor influences, and highballs, although there are plenty of wine options, a few beer choices, and several non-alcoholic choices, too.

We loved the Daruma Doll with vodka, pear sake, pomegranate, lime, honey, and sesame oil- it was well-balanced with prominent pear and sesame notes. For a fruitier option check out the Fu Dog, a tropical sour with tequila, sochu, yuzu, ginger, and banana foam. It was fruity without being too sweet, and we loved the hit of yuzu in there. Perhaps our favorite cocktail was the Tanuki, a spicy and savory Manhattan. This one combined chili-sesame oil washed whisky, vermouth, orange, bitters, and MSG, and it had a nice heat that built up after a few sips.

The menu is split between starters, sushi, and hot plates. We snacked on the spicy cucumbers with a sweet soy-based sauce while we decided on the rest of our order. They were nice and crunchy and hit the right balance of savory and sweet.

We knew we wanted to try a few sushi options, but we were really drawn to the cooked entrees as this is what distinguishes the restaurant from Gi-Jin. We started with the Golden Roll, an amazing hamachi-based roll that's loaded with yuzu flavor from yuzu tobiko and yuzu kosho oil. This was a standout roll and we will definitely order it every time we dine here.

We also got a small selection of nigiri/raw fish: salmon roe, scallop, and fatty tuna. The roe were presented in two adorable cups made of cucumber, giving a nice contrasting crunch to the roe. The fatty tuna nigiri was also great, but our favorite was the scallop nigiri. The hit of lime was so delicate and perfect, and the scallop itself was so big, creamy, and juicy.

Hot Dishes Are a Welcomed Menu Addition

We moved on to the entrees but had a hard time choosing- fried rice, yakisoba, gyoza, yakitori, karaage, miso cod, and wagyu were just some of the enticing options. We tried the fried udon with chicken, mixed vegetables, furikake, crispy chili, beni shoga, and pickled shiitake. The noodles were silky smooth with just the right amount of chew, and the veggies added a nice texture. There was some good caramelization and char in the veggies and chicken which added to the complexity of the flavor.

The fried rock shrimp were also a delight. These had a thick but super light and crispy batter, and the sauce was an addicting miso honey. I wish I didn't have to share this dish- next time, one whole plate for me, please!

Perhaps our favorite cooked dish, though, was the yakitori. This one featured chicken three ways with one skewer of tender chicken thigh, one with crispy chicken skin, and one with a juicy chicken meatball. For dipping on the side was a rich soy sauce with a raw egg yolk meant to be mixed in to the soy. It was a luxurious sauce that perfectly accompanied the grilled, smokey chicken.

For dessert we tried the matcha tiramisu which was light, spongy, creamy, and not too sweet, with crunchy chocolate crispies on top. We were also eyeing the miso caramel brownie which we'll have to check out next time.

All in all, while we do love sushi and the DeShantz group does it well, we're happy there's another Japanese restaurant in Pittsburgh that serves more than just sushi. The cooked dishes here were all delicious and executed well, and they will definitely draw us in for more in the future as we make Golden Gai a regular spot in our dining rotation.

Golden Gai is located at 116 Bakery Square Blvd in Bakery Square.