216 N Highland Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 |
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Introduction
Two Sisters Restaurant is a Vietnamese spot serving authentic and delicious food. We had the pleasure of dining at this family-owned restaurant and talking to the owners about their experience recreating their grandma's recipes for all of Pittsburgh to enjoy.
The Owners
Trinh Phan and Trang Somphomaphakdy, the owners of Two Sisters, moved to the United States in 1992. We spoke to Trinh Phan and her husband, Andy Phan, who immigrated from Hồ Tràm, Vietnam and originally settled in New Jersey prior to moving to Pittsburgh. They grew up watching their grandparents and parents cook authentic Vietnamese food. In no time, they too started to learn the ins and outs of Vietnamese cooking. After immigrating to the US, they continued to pursue this passion by working in several different restaurants - sometimes for 14 hours per day - to provide for their families. Ultimately, they established and built up their successful business, Two Sisters, in order to connect with Pittsburgh’s Vietnamese community and share Vietnam’s vibrant culture and cuisine with Pittsburgh locals. In fact, cooking runs in their family, as their nieces, Kellie and Tuyen Truong, opened Bánh Mì & Tí, a Vietnamese eatery in Lawrenceville!
The Restaurant
Two Sisters, established in 2019, is conveniently located in East Liberty, a quick bus ride from the University of Pittsburgh campus. Inspired by their grandparents’ and parents’ recipes, the owners created a menu filled with authentic Vietnamese dishes, ranging from hearty pho to flavorful co’m (rice) dishes. All their ingredients are locally sourced from Pittsburgh restaurants and butchers. Andy’s favorite dish from the menu is Bun Bo Hue, a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup, and Trinh’s favorite is pho, which incorporates a tasty broth that requires 14 hours to marinate.
Building Two Sisters into a successful business did not come without hurdles, though. “Since we opened in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for us. We had to close, offer takeout, and then re-open with limited capacity,” Trinh expressed. However, they persisted, not only for their mission of sharing Vietnamese cuisine with Pittbsurgh’s community, but also to provide for their family. “We work hard for our children, usually from 6 AM to 11 PM every day,” Andy explained. Their dedication over the years has certainly paid off, as Two Sisters is a huge success today!
The Food
Ali - I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, which is a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup with brisket, beef shank, and pork rolls. On the side, it came with shredded cabbage, basil, and jalapeños to be added in at the customer's discretion. The broth was fresh and had a great depth of flavor, with a little kick of spice. When the owner mentioned that they cooked the broth for 14 hours, I could definitely taste the difference. I added in a couple spoonfuls of their homemade chili oil with lemongrass (provided at every table) with the chef's recommendation and it was even better. The portion was plentiful and I could only finish half of the bowl! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a nourishing, warm meal made with love.
Kaycee - I ordered the beef pho, which from what I heard and experienced is a Thai/Vietnamese dish. It’s white noodles bathed in bone broth (boiled for 14 hours) with cooked beef and with basil and bean sprouts on the side. I would say that the broth definitely hit the spot when I gave it a taste test. It’s probably the most authentic and natural-tasting beef pho broth I have ever had in my life. I really like beef pho and have tried many different kinds of pho in different restaurants. I do have one restaurant in mind that I always visit back at home for my beef pho but nothing could compare to the beef broth that I had at Two Sisters! Not only is the broth incredible, but the quality of the beef is expensive. Overall, good quantity and quality of the beef pho. Good deal for $17!
Korrina - I ordered the Chicken Co’m, a jasmine rice dish with chicken breast, pickled carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The chicken tasted incredible, from its tangy, crispy coating to the flavorful undertones of lemongrass. The dish paired well with a selection of fresh vegetables; I particularly enjoyed the pickled carrots! I finished off the meal with an authentic Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I absolutely loved the coffee’s creamy texture and subtle sweetness. Trinh attributed this unique texture and taste to condensed milk, which is blended with other ingredients to make their signature iced coffee. I would highly recommend Two Sisters to others and look forward to returning in the future!
Two Sisters Restaurant is a Vietnamese spot serving authentic and delicious food. We had the pleasure of dining at this family-owned restaurant and talking to the owners about their experience recreating their grandma's recipes for all of Pittsburgh to enjoy.
The Owners
Trinh Phan and Trang Somphomaphakdy, the owners of Two Sisters, moved to the United States in 1992. We spoke to Trinh Phan and her husband, Andy Phan, who immigrated from Hồ Tràm, Vietnam and originally settled in New Jersey prior to moving to Pittsburgh. They grew up watching their grandparents and parents cook authentic Vietnamese food. In no time, they too started to learn the ins and outs of Vietnamese cooking. After immigrating to the US, they continued to pursue this passion by working in several different restaurants - sometimes for 14 hours per day - to provide for their families. Ultimately, they established and built up their successful business, Two Sisters, in order to connect with Pittsburgh’s Vietnamese community and share Vietnam’s vibrant culture and cuisine with Pittsburgh locals. In fact, cooking runs in their family, as their nieces, Kellie and Tuyen Truong, opened Bánh Mì & Tí, a Vietnamese eatery in Lawrenceville!
The Restaurant
Two Sisters, established in 2019, is conveniently located in East Liberty, a quick bus ride from the University of Pittsburgh campus. Inspired by their grandparents’ and parents’ recipes, the owners created a menu filled with authentic Vietnamese dishes, ranging from hearty pho to flavorful co’m (rice) dishes. All their ingredients are locally sourced from Pittsburgh restaurants and butchers. Andy’s favorite dish from the menu is Bun Bo Hue, a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup, and Trinh’s favorite is pho, which incorporates a tasty broth that requires 14 hours to marinate.
Building Two Sisters into a successful business did not come without hurdles, though. “Since we opened in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for us. We had to close, offer takeout, and then re-open with limited capacity,” Trinh expressed. However, they persisted, not only for their mission of sharing Vietnamese cuisine with Pittbsurgh’s community, but also to provide for their family. “We work hard for our children, usually from 6 AM to 11 PM every day,” Andy explained. Their dedication over the years has certainly paid off, as Two Sisters is a huge success today!
The Food
Ali - I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, which is a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup with brisket, beef shank, and pork rolls. On the side, it came with shredded cabbage, basil, and jalapeños to be added in at the customer's discretion. The broth was fresh and had a great depth of flavor, with a little kick of spice. When the owner mentioned that they cooked the broth for 14 hours, I could definitely taste the difference. I added in a couple spoonfuls of their homemade chili oil with lemongrass (provided at every table) with the chef's recommendation and it was even better. The portion was plentiful and I could only finish half of the bowl! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a nourishing, warm meal made with love.
Kaycee - I ordered the beef pho, which from what I heard and experienced is a Thai/Vietnamese dish. It’s white noodles bathed in bone broth (boiled for 14 hours) with cooked beef and with basil and bean sprouts on the side. I would say that the broth definitely hit the spot when I gave it a taste test. It’s probably the most authentic and natural-tasting beef pho broth I have ever had in my life. I really like beef pho and have tried many different kinds of pho in different restaurants. I do have one restaurant in mind that I always visit back at home for my beef pho but nothing could compare to the beef broth that I had at Two Sisters! Not only is the broth incredible, but the quality of the beef is expensive. Overall, good quantity and quality of the beef pho. Good deal for $17!
Korrina - I ordered the Chicken Co’m, a jasmine rice dish with chicken breast, pickled carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The chicken tasted incredible, from its tangy, crispy coating to the flavorful undertones of lemongrass. The dish paired well with a selection of fresh vegetables; I particularly enjoyed the pickled carrots! I finished off the meal with an authentic Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I absolutely loved the coffee’s creamy texture and subtle sweetness. Trinh attributed this unique texture and taste to condensed milk, which is blended with other ingredients to make their signature iced coffee. I would highly recommend Two Sisters to others and look forward to returning in the future!