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| - There are only two sushi restaurants in Pittsburgh that are actually owned by Japanese people. Chaya is one of them. The other sushi restaurants are owned by Koreans, Chinese, etc. Does it make a difference? Hell yes.
I used to eat here at least once a week when I lived in Pittsburgh. The sushi is spectacular and fresh, but like any fresh ingredient, there were some occasions where I was disappointed with the quality. But only because it wasn't the BEST tasting on THAT particular day.
The wasabi is homemade unlike most restaurants that use a powder mix. Compared to other sushi restaurants in Pittsburgh, they have a greater selection of fresh fish including, Fatty Tuna (Toro) and live Uni if you're into that. Don't worry, it doesn't wiggle. Instead, they crack open the sea urchin shell to reveal the yellow...uh, I dunno. I don't care for Uni.
The restaurant is super small and cozy which also means long wait times, particularly on weekends. You sometimes get the evil eye from the staff on those busy days, basically indicating that you should leave now so others can sit.
If your idea of sushi is fancy rolls and sauce, then I'd recommend Nakama instead. If you're into real sushi, I'd definitely come check this place out.
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