A small café with customers seated at tables, a person at the counter, hanging lights, and colorful artwork on the wall.
ShadoBeni on Brighton Road in Pittsburgh's Central North Side. (Photo by Francesca Dabecco/Pittsburgh's Public Source)

🍽️ Restaurant: ShadoBeni
📍 Location: 1534 Brighton Road, Central North Side
⏱️ Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wed-Sun | Closed Mon-Tues
🌐 Links: shadobeni412.com, Instagram, Facebook

❤️ Best $15ish meal(s): Crispy oyster mushroom sandwich, roasted rainbow salad or a combination of smaller plates like doubles, mac pie and hand pies.

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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.

ShadoBeni is the only vegan Trinidadian restaurant in Pittsburgh, standing out with its fusion of spicy, sweet and savory flavors. Stop by the cozy, 12-seat restaurant on Brighton Road for a breakfast sandwich and mango smoothie, or go for lunch to get crispy oyster mushroom “wangzzzz” and their spicy baked mac pie. ShadoBeni’s menu has a variety of small dishes between $6 and $8, making it easy to get a meal on the cheap. If the weather is pleasant, grab a seat outside at their picnic tables or get your order to go and take it for a 10-minute walk to Allegheny Commons Park for a picnic.

Fun fact: “ShadoBeni” is the Trinidadian name for culantro, a pungent herb used in tropical cooking.

What to order 

Get an order of doubles, a popular Trinidadian street food for $6. It comes with two pieces of barra (a fried flat bread), curry channa and all of the sauces and chutney you’d like.

A hand holds a white plate with two pieces of fried dough topped with stewed beans, set against a lush green leafy background.
Trinidadian doubles, a popular street food, for $6 at Shadobeni. (Photo by Francesca Dabecco/Pittsburgh’s Public Source)

Then, add on another side like the $6 spicy mac pie or $6 saheena, a split pea flour fritter with mango tamarind sauce. 

A hand holds a bowl of baked macaroni and cheese topped with breadcrumbs by a sunlit window with a potted plant.
$6 spicy mac pie. (Photo by Franceca Dabecco/Pittsburgh’s Public Source)

You’ll still have enough room in the budget for a drink. Don’t skip the sorrel, a sweet and tart beverage made with hibiscus flowers, fresh ginger and warm spices.

Good to know before you go

  • Primarily a counter-service, takeout-friendly spot, though there is limited seating inside and outside the restaurant.
  • ShadoBeni is a small shop and has had to adjust their hours a few times. Be sure to check their website before you visit.
  • Tip: Take a 10-minute walk down Brighton Road to have a peaceful picnic in Allegheny Commons Park.
A hand holds a plastic cup of iced dark red beverage above a colorful patterned chair, with green leaves in the background.
Sorrel, a drink made from hibiscus flowers. (Photo by Francesca Dabecco/Pittsburgh’s Public Source)

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

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