Sesame Garden

I was visiting a friend in Pittsburgh, and he told me that this is the best Chinese restaurant that Pittsburgh has to offer right now. So, I told him that we will go here for dinner. Well, I had the Volcano Chicken, which was strips of fried chicken sauté´ed with wine sauce, and he had the Amazing Chicken, which was strips of fried chicken in a slightly spicy and tangy sauce. Well, there was nothing volcanic about the Volcano Chicken, and there was nothing amazing about the Amazing Chicken. I mean, this might be the best in Pittsburgh, but this isn’t the best Chinese I’ve had. I wouldn’t visit here again if I were to ever come back to Pittsburgh again, but honestly, this isn’t a bad restaurant at all. It is pricey though. It really makes me wonder how bad other Chinese restaurants are like in this city if Sesame Garden is considered the best.

I remember going to this place when it was under different management/​ownership. The improvement under the new owners has been amazing. They know how to pack their takeout so things stay fresh and crispy. I’m excited to have such tasty Chinese food in Mount Washington.

Lately I’ve been steering away from most Chinese places just because I’m not loving the food. But Sunday night I was hungry and decided why not with this place. It’s close and I always run past and see people inside.
They close at 9 on Sunday’s and I made my order for takeout at 815 and it was ready before 830. I didn’t get any hostility or anything for ordering so close to close (some places do).
The gentleman who took my order was very nice and pleasant and when I picked up my food he was very friendly.
This place is a bit pricey I will say. I got the Amazing Duo (lightly fried chicken and shrimp in sauce). It was great! It was a ton of food. I’ve actually gotten 3 meals out of it!
If you’re looking for Chinese in the area I would recommend

This building used to house a crappy Chinese restaurant. A disgustingly bad Chinese restaurant. Thank goodness Sesame Garden came along and saved us all from terrible food.
I’ve eaten in a few times and I’ve also gotten take out. Food quality and deliciousness are always consistent. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable and the service is good. Everyone is very sweet– The owner gave my husband and I big bear hugs after we welcomed him to the neighborhood and wished his business well.
I usually order the amazing chicken and an egg roll. I’ve had more amazing amazing chicken and better egg rolls in my life, but these are pretty darn good. If you’re looking for a real treat, try the «Assorted Sampler» Platter. YUM!
The dinners are a little pricey compared to other Chinese restaurants in the area, but you get enough grub for at least two meals. (Amazing chicken makes a great breakfast, y’all). Plus I can promise that this is going to be some of the best Chinese food you can find on this side of the river.

After moving from Honolulu 15 years ago to Pittsburgh, I have gotten used to very sub-​par «Chinese» food and how much people love General Tso’s Chicken. When I moved here, I had no idea what that was. There was one of the typical sub-​par Chinese restaurants that I had gotten used to over the years in Mount Washington. Eventually, I got used to eating there. Then Sesame Garden opened last year. This made me a happy gal.
My boyfriend and I have been there a handful of times and I have ordered takeout once. Every time that we have eaten there, we have been sat at a lovely window table, received wonderful service, and delicious food. My takeout was no different. I thoroughly enjoy eating there every time. We try to get there for dinner as much as possible. We have the same waitress every time and she is friendly and efficient. Couldn’t ask for anything more, really.
This is where I tell you about how much I love the food. Sadly, we’ve found our favorite dishes and normally don’t try other things. It if ain’t broke, don’t fix it… Our favorite appetizer is the fried dumplings. We have tried both the pork and veggie options and we actually prefer the veggie. My boyfriend’s favorite dish there is the Tangy, Spicy Shrimp & Scallops. I have to agree that dish is very tasty. I have tried their Amazing Chicken which is to die for. But the Amazing Duo is fantastic. The Amazing Duo is chicken and shrimp together. I think I have found my favorite thing there. I know I have had a couple of other dishes but can’t remember since after having The Amazing Duo, my mind is cloudy.
All in all, I’m glad that I found a good Chinese restaurant in Pittsburgh and it is in my neighborhood. Thank you, Sesame Garden, for opening. I will definitely try to come and visit you more often. :)

I ordered pad Thai, orange shrimp and general tso chicken. It thought it was a little pricey until I saw how much came with the meal. The restaurant was empty which always give me cause for concern but these days restaurants are doing a large take out and delivery business so I decided to keep an open mind.
The lady that took my order was nice but all business as you would expect. Restaurant was clean
The food was enjoyable. I had leftovers for the next day for 2 people. Im not an expert by any means but I’d suggest this restaurant.

Great food and portions! Super clean location. Staff has great service. The Happy Family dish is great!

I’m always very happy with the food and service at Sesame Garden.
They will deliver if you live in the neighborhood. The delivery drivers are always friendly and usually arrive earlier than estimated. Who doesn’t love that?
Every so often we’ll order from another Chinese restaurant because the prices at Sesame Garden are a bit high in comparison. It usually results in disappointment and serves as a reminder for why we pay a little more to come here. The ingredients are higher quality and it shows in the flavor.
I love having a great Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood!

Easy take out Chinese food. Had the amazing chicken and it was all white meat. Quick and easy.

What makes you come back time and again to a restaurant? Is it the food quality? Speed of delivery (to your table or your home)? Or the service? Sesame Garden hits all three of these categories and is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the city of Pittsburgh.
Having visited the establishment twice now, the meals have been tremendous and by far some of the best food I’ve eaten in a long time. We ordered General Tso (not too rich or spicy, but hit the spot), Garlic Chicken (including crunchy vegetables and a light sauce), and Steamed Dumplings (delicious!). The only thing that seemed a little off was the Wonton Soup which was still delicious but underwhelming.
What’s really great is the staff and the level of service. After picking up an order and arriving home, I realized that the order we were given was wrong. Upon calling they quickly sprung into action and delivered the correct order to us within minutes.
Though the prices tend to run a little high (some of the most expensive I’ve seen outside of Chinatown in NYC), the food and quality is more than worth it. And if that means paying $ 3+ per entrée will guarantee great Chinese food, then pass the lo mein!

Very disappointed with our takeout order and will not frequent Sesame Inn again. Ordered takeout dinner from there Labor Day evening only because, disappointingly, Thai Touch Kitchen was closed. One chicken and one pork egg roll, the only decent part of our dinner. The spicy basil chicken was bland and rubbery, same with the orange chicken. Giving a 2-​star because previous experiences weren’t quite as bad, but definitely not giving them another chance.

Mount Washington’s hidden gem! The staff is in friendly and the food is amazing. Typical Chinese food leaves me feeling lousy, but this is REAL food, worth the price.

It’s so nice to have a decent chinese restaurant in my neighborhood in Mt. Washington. Sesame Garden has pretty good chinese food. By no means is it the best I’ve had but it’s good enough, I’ll order from them again. However I do feel their prices are a little high. You get a good amount of food but still a bit pricey.
I ordered the vegetable spring roll (which I did not like), the Pad Thai (which wasn’t bad) and the Mussaman. The Mussaman was really good. Comes with green beans, potatoes, onions and pineapple in a light curry coconut sauce over top rice. I’m not usually a curry fan but this dish was great & not too spicy. Will definitely order again.

I love this place! I moved to Mt Washington 15 years ago and ate at the Chinese restaurant that was previously in this location, and even though I’m not a fussy eater, it was so bad I never ate there again.
In stark contrast, the food here is wonderful. I think it is somewhat expensive with average size portions (for the price) but even with that I give it a five. I mostly pick up or get delivery and have eaten in once. Service is always fast and very friendly. The restaurant is lovely with clean bathrooms.
As to the food: my go-​to favorite is eggplant with garlic sauce with chicken or shrimp. With shrimp is my preference. I like the barbecue spare ribs with bones as an appetizer. I’ve had several other dishes and liked them all. Although I usually get in a rut with favorite restaurants, every time I order here I usually get a known favorite and try a new dish. I probably get food here once a week, enough for several meals. I like that they have a few Thai dishes on their menu. I hope they are very successful and on the Mount for years to come!

I was craving Chinese food on a Saturday, and I’ve honestly had a lot of bad experiences with Chinese o the south end of Pittsburgh where I live. I gave this place a try, and I am so happy I did.
They were pretty slow for a Saturday, so I was nervous when we first walked in, but there was no need to be. The food was fresh, well cooked, and delicious. They use fresh vegetables and white meat chicken. The service was very good. I had a steady supply of water.
We had General Tso’s Chicken, Sichuan Chicken, and Kung Pao Chicken. We also had the pork eggrolls, vegetable eggrolls, and vegetable lo mein. The portions are huge, and in line with the pricing. Overall, we’re super happy to find a place within a reasonable drive for delicious Chinese for takeout or for eating in.

Fresh delicious flavorful traditional Quick Chinese food. Don’t let the freshly painted cute dining room fool you if it’s not full. There’s a constant flow of takeout orders. I had Gen Tso’s Shrimp. Perfect. Broccoli and big red bell peppers with just-​crispy shrimp. In a sauce with tones of ginger brown sugar and garlic. This. Is. Soul food!!!

On pulling into the lot for this restaurant I was taken aback because I thought my sister was going to look at a new Toyota for her husband. She then stated that the restaurant is on the same property as the dealership.
On to the food… I had the Sunday Brunch which consisted of appetizer, soup and entrée (Triple Delight) along with a drink for $ 12.99. All in all the food was very good and the portion size was appropriate. If I ever go back again I will try the Amazing Chicken which I got a chance to taste it was delicious and the portion was Huge!

The former spot had too much negative press to try so I steered clear of this place until I drove by, noticed it looked different and read the current reviews under the new ownership. A legit Chinese restaurant on the Mount? Well, I just had to investigate.
I took a look at the menu online and we ended up ordering lunch specials which were shrimp lo mein and the double delight (chicken and shrimp). It came with the normal options of soup or egg roll. We tried each and weren’t disappointed. The eggroll was light and flaky and packed full of crispy veggies and the normal pork. The soup broth was also light yet flavorful. The entrees were very good. Enough to make me think twice before heading off the Mount for Chinese. I really can’t wait to try some more from their menu.
Lastly, I must mention that the interior of this place looks great. It looks fresh and made we want to come back to dine in. The person who took my order and waited on me when I arrived was so welcoming. I always appreciate and acknowledge good service and that’s exactly what I got here.

As a previous reviewer mentioned, the place before Sesame Garden (it was called China Palace) didn’t have the best reputation or the best food. But this wasn’t just a remodel and a name change– it’s a completely new owner. The food has done a 180 and as a life long Mount resident I’m so glad to have a place to get my Chinese and Thai fix.
Portions are generous and prices are certainly reasonable. Welcome to the Mount!

New Chinese restaurant on the Mount!
Very solid Chinese restaurant with all the dishes you expect.
We had General Tso’s Chicken, Chicken Lo Mein, and Crab Rangoon. All the portions were extremely generous. The food was flavorful and well prepared. Happily the general chicken came with plenty of sauce and had a surprising amount of ginger flavor to it. Very nice.
We will definitely be eating here again.