Bites Nearby: Miyako Japanese Restaurant

Overview: is a small, hibachi grill restaurant located in the Wexford Plaza on Route 19. The restaurant features authentic Japanese food cooked table-side.  Miyako is open for lunch and dinner.

At Miyako, the chef prepares your meal in front of you whether you have a party of two or 10. Many Japanese steak-houses require a certain number of guests for table-side preparation.

Decor: Miyako has a true Japanese decor featuring grill-side tables. Although a bit dark inside, the restaurant has a quiet, soothing atmosphere where guests sit around rectangular tables with a grill in-set in the tables. The tables are regular height, not the lower tables that may make it difficult for some visitors.

The drinks: Miyako has a full-size bar and offers regular bar service along with non-alcoholic beverages including soft drinks and tea. Miyako also serves house specialty drinks including the Miyako, a rum, coconut and pineapple juice mixture. Specialty drinks are $6.25 for a glass or $10.25 in a mug.

Appetizers: There is a wide variety of Japanese-style features including shrimp or mushrooms, seaweed salad, mixed vegetables, tuna steak and fried rice. Entrees come with an appetizer. Appetizers run $3.25 to $7.25.

Entrees: Again, Miyako features Japanese-style dishes including sesame chicken, beef teriyaki, tuna steak, shrimp and filet mignon, shrimp and sesame chicken and others. I take a certain joy in watching my chef prepare my food while putting on a show for me. Our chef, Bill, has been preparing Japanese food for more than 20 years and has the skill set down pat. He joked with us, answered questions and allowed me to take photos as he prepared our meal.  

Bonus: At Miyako, the chefs prepare lunch table-side as well and the lunch menu is extremely reasonable at $7.50 to $14.75 for entree, appetizer, soup or salad and fried rice.

Desserts: Mochi ice cream, fresh pineapple, and banzai (fresh pineapple and a group photo for special occasions) are offered. 

Service: My son and I joked with Dave, a professional server who explained a few things about the restaurant, provided us with “training wheel chopsticks” and was an all-around nice guy.

Address: 10636 Perry Highway, Wexford – Wexford Plaza. Phone: 724-933-7253 www.miyakopgh.com.

Hours: Lunch: Monday through Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday: 1 to 4 p.m. Dinner: Monday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday: 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday: 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday: 4 to 9 p.m.

Costs: Appetizers range from $3.25 to $7.25; sushi lunch was $12, lunch entrees from $7.50 to $14.75. Dinner entrees are $16.95 to $32.95. Desserts are $2.75 to $5.25. They do offer a children’s menu.