I wandered into this place when I was in Lawrenceville to attend an event. I didn't really know much about it, so I was perusing the menu and asking the employee a lot of questions. She was extremely friendly and wanted to help me, but she was either new or just didn't know much because she didn't have answers to many of my questions (for example, what they put in their cucumber salad and how often do they make it). The inside is small with only a few tables so it has a fairly intimate feel. They have a small menu, but they have a variety of options. Apparently they make their ramen noodles fresh in house! I bought some dry ramen to go as I wasn't in the mood for soup. I wanted to try the bao but they were out of it so I tried the cucumbers and an empanada. Both were tasty and things I would order again if I'm ever back here. I had an overall good experience. I just wish the employee was a little more knowledgeable about their menu items. read more

Nanban is one of my favorite spots in Lawrenceville! They have a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options, and everything I've tried has been so good. I recently checked out some of their newer menu items, including the mac & cheese, collard greens, and Dan Dan Ramen, and I was seriously impressed. My all-time favorite, though, will always be the tofu bao buns. read more

See all

This was a perfect spot for a casual get together to catch up with family on a cold Winter day. There were less adventurous options for my brother who wasn't interested in trying ramen. The rest of us did have ramen which was extremely good. read more

Nanban - Spicy Miso Ramen - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Totally serviceable tasty ramen, with a friendly staff, and a comfortable inside. Not really much else to say, I would go back! Yummy broth. read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Spots are limited, and the interior can seem a little dinky. This place is definitely meant for more of a takeout vibe, but you can sit in, which is what my friend and I did. Prices are not bad. The service is slow because there's one person working at all times. I got the gochujang fried chicken with biscuits and absolutely loved it. The chicken was not dry. The outside was very crispy. The sauce was tangy and had a slight kick to it, and the biscuits were warm and soft. served with the delicious Sapporo miso butter. I also got the Brazilian limeade and liked how it was not too sweet. My friend got to get garlic chili noodles and devoured it! Highly recommend those two dishes. read more

Stopped in here with my husband for lunch. It's a casual spot for comfort food. We ordered a big selection to try a few things and here's what we had: cauliflower nugs (excellent), corn empanada (good, but missing a wow flavor inside), tofu bao (freshly made and a nice contrast of textures), garlic chicken sandwich (my husband said it was very salty), and I had the spicy miso ramen (excellent). We'd go back to get the ramen and he said he'd probably skip the chicken with the excess salt. read more

Chicken MADE the ramen!!! So worth the visit and hype! Brother got the fried chicken and also loved it. Definitely a spot to stop by. read more

Nanban - Miso Ramen with Chicken Nuggets - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I haven't been to Nanban in a while so we decided to stop by and grab dinner there yesterday night and it was a hit! You order at the counter and take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. There's only a handful of small tables inside and two tables that seat four each outside under tents so probably not the best place for a big group but it was perfect for our group of four. Nanban has a great selection of Asian soul food offerings with fried chicken, ramen and noodles, and bao buns, and more. We got a variety of items and were super stuffed by the end. Everything was flavorful and my favorite might have been the crispy beer battered cauliflower nugs (which was a huge surprise to me as a meat lover). My friend who was just in Japan said that the shio udon was really good! read more

See all

Found this hole in a wall randomly on Yelp and we decided to give it a shot. First time we had gotten to go and this time we decided to dine in. We got the ramen and it was nice. The bao bun was a fun lil treat. And the place is small so definitely make sure you come during non rush hours. You seat yourselves. The table we picked wasn't cleaned and no one comes and checks or cleans the table I guess? They only have a few staff so it gets backed up at the counter. It's a nice spot otherwise. read more

See all

Nanban is a Lawrenceville hole in the wall specializing in an interesting mix of various cultures' comfort foods. We specifically went to try the fried chicken, but they also serve ramen & empanadas. To start, we got the cucumbers & cauliflower appetizers. The cucumbers were pickled with a yummy spicy seasoning, and the cauliflower was fried (basically into nuggets) with a delicious coconut sambal sauce (I actually wish there was more sauce on the dish!). Both were quite large, so definitely share apps if you plan to visit. For my entree, I got the gochujang chicken & biscuits. The combination of gochujang glaze & inferno honey sauce on the chicken was super flavorful (tangy & spicy), and the biscuits were fluffy without being too heavy. While the tonkatsu gravy was super flavorful, I actually felt that it was a little too heavy/rich for the rest of the dish. My boyfriend got the fried chicken with Sapporo BBQ sauce, and the chicken was super lightly fried so it was crispy but still juicy without being too breaded. For drinks, we got the lemongrass sweet tea (a good combo with the spicy sauces) & the cucumber fresca (super green tasting). The restaurant is BYOB if you want to go that route. Service was not great (despite the workers being super friendly), in that after bringing our dishes we were never checked in on again. I could have used a knife to cut up my chicken thigh & a drink refill, but we never saw our server again to ask for either thing. Regarding ambiance, as I wrote earlier it definitely is a hole in the wall & there are only about 5 or so tables total - so go early if you want to dine in! Food: B+ Drinks: A Service: C- Ambiance: C+ read more

See all

The empanadas here caught my eye, but after noticing that I couldn't order them online I should've gone with another plan. The dining area was empty when I stopped by at dinner time on a Wednesday, and the wall menu had all empanadas besides beef wiped off. I asked about it and ended up ordering the two flavors available: beef and corn/peppers. It took a while to heat up and they were okay with the green sauce that came with it. I also ordered a Brazilian limeade that was fun to try once. The menu has decent variety, but the interior is super casual and feels a bit like a generic chain restaurant. I'd try other spots on this street before coming back again. read more

Found this place and made a point to get here for dinner. SERIOUS TIP! If at all possible - get dropped off or take an Uber. We spent maybe 15-20 minutes trying to find parking. Side streets, main streets are usually packed during high traffic areas. Order at the counter, then it's brought to you. We went with bao buns and ramen. For the buns we went with the pork belly bao, and for me a miso ramen. I substituted pork belly for the tofu, and held the mushrooms- also adding an egg. The bao was very good - succulent pork belly and the soft hug of the bun - a little kick to the sauce but very good. The chicken one also was a nice zing to it as well. As for the ramen - really solid, noodles were a touch overcooked, but the pork belly was perfect. Crispy edges but totally melted in your mouth. Very very good. Highly recommended. read more

See all

We stopped in for a quick lunch. There are a few tables and one tall table in the back. The counter service was really nice. We ordered Pork belly Bao Bun, Mayo Hot Chicken Bao bun and Garlic Miso butter chicken Sando. Everything was tasty especially the Pork Belly Bao Bun. The time it took to get out meal was a little on the long side, about 30 minutes. read more

I was really hyped to try nanban but it fell a little flat. I feel like the ramen had too much going on between the fried chicken and toppings. It's a really heavy dish and super filling, but sort of lacked the delicate balance that ramen has. That said the staff was nice. I think next time I'd maybe stick to just the fried chicken or a simpler ramen. read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great place for takeout or a quick 2-person dinner while you're walking through Lawrenceville. We ordered online and all the food was hot and well packaged when we arrived. The inside is casual and cute, with a small seating section. The person working the front was nice and helpful. Lots of vegetarian options from ramen to bao to empanadas. The tofu bao will have me coming back soon. There's furikake/nori sprinkled on the fries and some appetizers, so be mindful if you don't like the flavor (it meant that I got to eat my friends' fries, so I didn't mind). read more

See all

Nanban was a great surprise. The noodles were delicious with good flavor. The highlight was their biscuits. They had just made a fresh batch when my friend and I were dining. The biscuits were one of the best ones I've tried. Flaky, buttery, and all the goodness! read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Pretty good! An interesting concept. If you poke around online for info about Nanban, it seems like it's more or less billed as an Asian fusion restaurant. But it seems to be Asian comfort food dishes fused with... empanadas and fried chicken? We were looking for noodles so we stuck with the Spicy Garlic Chili Noodles and some ramen. Both were tasty. Be warned that the chili noodles pack a punch. The bao was okay -- I tried the BBQ. All I could really taste was the pork belly though. Real star of the show was the lemongrass tea. Very sweet, so if you're looking for something sugary and refreshing this summer, give it a try. They also seemed to have a walk up window on the sidewalk, which was neat :) read more

See all

First time visited and loved it! The fried cauliflower stole the show, you must get that. Cucumbers are good. Chicken nuggets were OK. The beef empanada was outstanding. Definitely recommend this place. Plus you can get 10% off alcohol and Beers & Cheers almost next-door. Don't be put off by the very simple exterior, it's definitely worth it! read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been to Nanban about five times, and Every time I've had their fries they were way too salty, same with the cauliflower nuggs. As for the sandos, the bread was dry but the chicken was okay. Their chili garlic noodles were fine, but nothing special. Lastly, I ordered their pork belly bun, and for $5 it only comes with one bun and the pork was dry. read more

If you're looking for a spicy chicken sandwich to knock your socks off this is it. Chikn and this place are my favorite two chicken sandwiches in Pittsburgh. Their service is always on point and your food comes out pretty quickly after you order it. The place is always packed but with food like there's it would be crazy not to be packed read more

Been wanting to try nanban for a while and one of my friends went recently and loved it so I had to make the extra effort to get here. I got takeout tried each of the bao buns - tofu, pork, and chicken, and the spicy carmelized onion empanada. Prices are pretty average for Lawrenceville. There are a few tables inside and there were two high top tables outside. I lucked out and got a parking spot right across the street, but it's street parking on Butler, so if you go during peak times expect a walk. The pork and chicken bao were INCREDIBLE. After I ate them I wished I had got another one of each of them. They were amazing; meat was tender and flavorful and paired perfectly with the veggies and soft bao. I would skip the tofu next time for sure, it was just really bland in comparison to the pork and chicken ones. The empanada was ok but was so spicy I couldn't even finish it without my lips feeling they were about to burn off and I like spicy stuff! Will def be coming back for more bao and to try the noodles! read more

Finally got to try nanban on a cold rainy evening after a hard day at work. The ramen is so good. Flavor is complex and the soup is just a hug in a bowl. We tried the fried chicken sandwich too, and it was spicy and crispy. The service was great and their little eating area was perfect for us. We loved it and can't wait to go back. Happy Eating! read more

I visited Nanban for the first time recently with some friends and had a great experience! The restaurant was small, but cozy, and even with a group of 5 we lucked out and were able to find seating. The service was amazing! The employee that helped us was able to answer all our questions and checked in with us throughout the meal. Everyone in our group had ramen. I tried the Shoyu Ramen and it was delish. My only complaint would be that the chicken nuggets were quite large and a bit hard to bite through or break apart into smaller sections. I would absolutely come back though to try the empanadas and bao buns! read more

Nanban - Shoyu Ramen - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had been craving Asian food for a few days, but didn't want our typical, go to Asian food, like Chinese, etc. As much as my husband & I are foodies, we had never actually had Korean Fried Chicken (referred from here on in this post as KFC, not to be confused with the fast food chain!) We had often heard of how KFC takes fried chicken to another level (Look it up. Different process & flavors). So, when my husband had an unexpected day off, we decided to find some place to get some KFC, knowing that there would be other offerings that would also satisfy my craving for that umami, sweet, & spicy profile that I was looking for. When I stumbled across a place that said it offered Asian Soul Food, I perked up! It also made me happy that our adventure would take us to Lawrenceville, which offers a plethora of sights, sounds, smells, & snacks! It's a great foodie neighborhood and lends to walking, window shopping, & people watching, which I love to do! I digress. What we discovered at Nanban Asian Soul Food was a cozy space with absolutely incredible food. Seating is limited, but we arrived at opening time & that helped. The menu options vary from KFC (Including a wide range of dipping sauces!), Sandwiches (they call them Sandos), Ramen, Empanadas, & Bao Buns. (They are not specifically Korean or one particular cuisine. That's the beauty!) We chose KFC nuggets with 2 dipping sauces (Ginger Soy & Coconut Sambal) and Gochujang Chicken & Biscuits. The KFC was super juicy inside & crackly, crispy perfection on the outside. They are made from Thigh meat. (In my opinion it is the tastiest part of a Chicken!). I'm a "saucy girl" and I need my meal to have a good sauce. The sauces were both extremely flavorful. I found the Coconut Sambal to be sweet, yet refreshing. It had a nice brightness to it, as opposed to the richer, earthy Ginger Soy. Both were delicious. But, the absolute star of the show was the Gochujang Chicken and Biscuits. I am not exaggerating when I say that this dish ranks amongst the top I've ever had! Their menu describes it as such: "Thigh & Drumstick coated in Gochujang glaze with biscuit, scallion, Tonkatsu Gravy, and Inferno Honey." For the cost of an entry at a typical fast casual restaurant, we indulged in sheer gourmet cuisine. The chicken had the light, crispy coating found on the nuggets, but had that extra flavor that bone-in meat provides. Cooked perfectly. The Gochujang delivered the beautiful balance of sweet and savory. It hit my palette with a great tangy flavor as well. The biscuits felt like they came from a Southern scratch-made kitchen. Prepared, again, perfectly! Crumbly, yet not dry, balanced with soft & buttery. It offered the perfect texture. The gravy was smooth and had deep pork flavor that cut the Gochujang perfectly. My only complaint? I wanted a gallon of it! Mixing in the scallions and inferno honey added herbaciousness, heat, & a kiss of sweetness to finish off a perfect balance of flavors. We can't wait to go back & continue to explore the menu, but, it will always be an order that includes the Gochujang Chicken & Biscuits! Bonus? We loved the ambiance, including enjoying spicy food with some Rock! The soundtrack was a playlist you could likely find on WDVE! Nothing like some Collective Soul in your ears as you've got "soul food" inspired by Seoul on your taste buds. read more

See all

I've wanted to try Nanban for a LONG time now & the only thing I can say is I'm so mad at myself for waiting so long! It was fantastic and it was a beautiful day so I got to enjoy outside. Staff was awesome, and I already am ready to go back. Dare I say best ramen in Pittsburgh? Thank you for making some amazing food! read more

See all

Did not know walking in that Ki Ramen moved here until I was ready to leave. If anyone notices, Nanban is actually a hybrid front comprised of Ki Pollo and Ki Ramen, pollo meaning chicken and ramen meaning noodle. Chicken came out extremely hot, too hot to handle. Interesting preparation: skin was extremely crunchy but the "in-between" fat membrane is actually missing. The chicken meat is juicy and hot but had very little flavor. The dip we ordered was a Ginger Asian Glaze that did not penetrate and blend in well resulting still a bland flavor. After a piece of chicken, I was pretty much chickened out. The highlight and savior was the ramen. It has been a while I had a noodle of ramen with the right proportion of toppings, broth and noodles. The broth was rich, the pork bellies were filling and noodles cooked to perfection. Would come back for the ramen noodle bowl and forego the pollo. read more

See all

Second time that I've eaten here. The first time my chicken was a little overcooked but I came back to give them a second shot. I tried the pork and chicken Bao. The pork was crunchy and flavorful. The chicken was not chewy and gushing with flavor. I had a chorizo empanada that didn't blow me away but I wasn't unhappy I bought it. My friend ordered an entree of gochujang chicken and biscuits and that blew me away. After trying that I texted two friends and told them they needed to try it. Will be back to get my own entree of the gochujang. For the building itself, outside seating is available, as well 4-5 tables and some bar seating. Staff was also friendly. read more

Nanban - Pork Belly Bao Bun Shoyu Pulled Chicken Bao Bun Chorizo empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Enjoyed the menu offerings. Counter service. Ordered the hot chicken sando which was cooked perfectly but the chili oil that it was dipped in didn't really bring any heat. Also ordered the shio udon. The broth was tasty and egg was perfect. Pork belly wasn't super memorable. I'd go back but it's tough competition in the area with pusadee and noodlehead within a few minutes. read more

Nanban - Shio Udon - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

LOVE Nanban. We were fans of Ki Ramen and were happy to see it had migrated down the street. Great ramen. Best in the city in my opinion. And fantastic empanadas! Be sure to stop! read more

Nanban is an extraordinary culinary experience. The restaurant's commitment to showcasing the essence of Asian cuisine shines through every meticulously crafted dish. The ambiance is very casual and it's more of a "order and sit" type of service. Nanban is undoubtedly a gem in Pittsburgh's culinary scene. I highly recommend going if you haven't been before read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Went in to get a 2 piece to go...was the only one in there to order then the place filled up... watched other people whom ordered from of after me get their food before I got my 2 piece to go..,I just left it and had to leave I only had a 30 minute lunch even tho my food was paid for. it was only a two piece chicken. How long does it freaking take? read more

I stopped in here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There was a group of 6 of us. The guy working ( I wish I would have gotten his name) was extremely helpful and patiently answered all of our questions about menu items. I ordered the fried chicken bao bun sandwich and a side of cucumbers. I also ordered a cucumber lime drink (I think! Whatever it was, it was so delicious and refreshing). My food was so good and everyone else really enjoyed their food as well. This is a neat little spot in Lawrenceville, I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

All of the food was amazing!!! Got the fried chicken, beef empanadas, and shiu udon and it was all fantastic. Shared with my boyfriend and we both agreed it was the best meal we've had in a while. 10/10 recommend and will be returning!!! read more

Service was great! Place was busy but my partner and I were well taken care of. Got the garlic miso chicken sandwich and the fries combo. It was amazing! Definitely recommend. Food was so good I forgot to take a picture until the end. read more

Nanban - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So many great vegan options, but I can't bring myself to get anything other than the spicy ramen without egg. It's so good.

I feel torn about this review/experience because the concept of an Asian soul food spot sounds amazing and definitely fits in the Pittsburgh food scene. However, the service was just eh. You order up at the counter, pick a table, and then they bring the food to you. It seemed like our food took a century to arrive at our table and the staff did not seem very friendly. You also have to pay extra for sauce.. what. As for the food, it was just alright. Miso ramen was tasty and the noodles were great! But the fried tofu that tops the bowl gets incredible soggy by the time they bring it out to you. The fried miso chicken sando was good but it was served to me incredibly greasy/filled with oil and very hot (almost like it came directly out of the fryer and was served). However, the nori waffle fries were awesome! read more

Nanban - Inside - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The ramen at Nanban was exactly what you want from ramen. The broth was flavorful and not very heavy, the ingredients were fresh (I especially liked the spinach), and the pork belly was crispy on the outside but still had the tenderness on the inside that you expect. My partner ordered the Shoyu ramen with regular ramen noodles and our friend ordered it with the rice noodles. Both were delicious and satisfying. The spicy chicken sandwich, however, is why I am giving this review a 4 instead of a 5. The toasted sesame slaw was great and the presentation was beautiful. The chicken unfortunately was not spicy and as you can see from the pictures, the inside of the sandwich was rubbery and hard to eat. While the outside of the sandwich was crispy and flavorful, the chicken wasn't cooked well or wasn't good enough quality as it should have been juicy and tender and instead I felt like I was eating rubber. I could have said something to the staff (they were super nice) but I had hoped that it was only a small part of my sandwich that was not good but it was almost the entire thing. Maybe it was a bad day and if I tried it again in the future it would be better. I do think this is highly possible because this place is pretty great overall and is worth returning to. read more

See all

visited PA and my friends took me to this place, and loved it!! the ambience was super chill and a great place to hang out with friends. the late night, neon, colorful vibe made it feel like i was rlly living it up in the city during my 5 day stay. the food was super good and portions were satisfying. I didn't expect the chicken to be pretty big, but you get your money's worth! they don't add the sauces onto the chicken; they come in dry and have the sauces on the side for you to pour or dip the chicken in which was pretty interesting. they were packed w flavor so I feel like having the chicken already glazed with the sauce would be even better. would def come back here when I come to PA! read more

See all

A group of friends and I chose Nanban for a quick, Friday dinner based on its appealing menu of ramen and Asian inspired fried chicken. Our meal tasted overall fine, but this small Lawrenceville eatery is not somewhere I'd heartily recommend for a meal. The set up here involves ordering and paying at the front counter and then food being brought to your table. While we experienced no wait time, this place seems popular and the restaurant is small so peak hours may pose a challenge for larger groups. Despite the fast casual service model, it took a while to receive our food (particularly the fried items). I ordered the special hot chicken sandwich and a pork belly bao. The steamed bun represented a poor value at one piece for $5, but tasted decent enough with a well cooked slice of pork belly and flavorful char siu sauce. My chicken sandwich offered a massive piece of shatteringly crispy chicken that overhung the edges of the bun. The flavors on that dish tasted great and balanced, with a zippy, citrusy aioli completing the slightly spicy, chili oil-inflected chicken and the richness of the dish cut smartly with pickles. While the taste left a positive impression, an overly toasted, desiccated bun and stringy, slightly dry meat betrayed those solid flavors and made the sandwich overall so-so. Diners who ordered ramen seem to enjoy their bowls well enough, but were dismayed that a small container of chili oil to add spice cost $2. Overall, we had an okay meal here. If you are craving Asian fusion flavors in the neighborhood and don't have time for a sit down meal, Nanban may fit the bill. A lack of value and forgettable food categorize it as strictly 3 stars for me. read more

I was really impressed with the flavor here. I'm not a huge fan of chicken sandwiches but somehow pulled off something pretty impressive here. The chicken is incredibly crispy while also being plenty juicy. With the miso chicken sandwich, the butter and seasoning coating the fried chicken brought me a lot of joy. It's worth checking out if you're in the area, since the combination of japanese food and empanadas is just a really fun concept. read more

Nanban - Miso Chicken Sandwich - Empanadas Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all