A person holds a sandwich filled with tofu, cucumber, carrots, and cilantro, with a blurred face in the background against a yellow backdrop.
Francesca Dabecco holds the $11 lemongrass tofu bánh mì sandwich at Maiku. (Photo by Francesca Dabecco/Pittsburgh's Public Source)

🍽️ Restaurant: Maiku
📍 Location: 1611 Penn Ave., Strip District
⏱️ Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wed-Sun | Closed Mon-Tues
🌐 Links: maikuvietnamesepho.com

❤️ Best $15ish meal(s): Bánh mì or pho with your choice of protein

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Why go?

A yellow graphic with a faint city map background reads: “$15ish Meal Map. Explore the map,” with a right-pointing arrow.

Don’t blink or you might miss this hidden gem on Penn Avenue in the Strip District, right near the 16th Street Bridge. Maiku is a cozy, no-frills restaurant that serves Vietnamese comfort food like hearty bánh mì sandwiches, nourishing bowls of pho noodle soup and flavor-packed cold vermicelli noodles, all with your choice of protein like meatballs, pork roll and lemongrass tofu. Everything on the menu is under $20, which means you may have room in the budget to get one of their bubble teas!

What to order 

Keep it cheap with a $11 bánh mì sandwich. Pick from proteins like grilled chicken, pork meatball, lemongrass tofu, and pate and ham. Pair it with a Vietnamese iced coffee, Thai tea or fruity bubble tea.

A Vietnamese banh mi sandwich with tofu, pickled vegetables, cucumber, cilantro, and sauce in a baguette, served in a white paper tray.
Maiku’s $11 bánh mì. (Photo by Francesca Dabecco/Pittsburgh’s Public Source)

As soon as the weather turns cold, you’ll want to sink into a bowl of their pho. Go traditional with the beef eye round steak. Not a meat eater? Get the vegetarian pho packed with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and tofu.

Appetizers can be a meal, too! Order a spring roll and grilled pork meatballs for a small-plate feast.

Storefront of a Vietnamese pho restaurant with the phone number 412-281-8888, a neon “Pho” sign, and food photos on the window.
A ceramic Maneki-neko figurine with a raised paw, holding a gold coin, sits on a red base with Chinese characters on a sign.

Good to know before you go

  • Primarily a counter-service, takeout-friendly spot, though there is limited seating.
  • If you call ahead, they typically have your order ready in 20 minutes.
  • Take your food to-go and head just a few blocks away to the Strip District Terminal. You’ll find some outdoor tables where you can enjoy your meal and take in the bustle of Smallman Street.

Know a Pittsburgh-area restaurant with a great meal around $15? Email us at social@publicsource.org.

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