Andy Qian: Pittsburgh’s International Food Powerhouse

Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland

Since its recent opening in March, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings has seen great success in the Pittsburgh area. Located in the South Side at 2773 Sidney St., Nan Xiang brings authentic South Chinese cuisine to Pittsburgh. Originally starting in New York in 2006, Nan Xiang’s Pittsburgh location opened in March 2025.  The restaurant will be featured at our Highmark International StrEAT Festival, taking place September 20-21.  Coinciding with the International Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, over a dozen international food vendors from around the city will exhibit their representative cuisine.

Head chef Andy Qian is a pioneer in the Pittsburgh food scene, bursting with ideas.  Moving to Cleveland at just 18, Qian started cooking in hibachi kitchens.  Quickly working his way up the ladder, he soon became an owner of multiple restaurants in the Eastern United States.  Now 37, Qian has set his sights on bringing the tradition of Chinese cuisine to the Pittsburgh area.

Starting in the kitchen as a child, Qian learned to make dumplings to perfection, bringing that attitude to Nan Xiang.  Every soup dumpling is hand-rolled and weighed to maintain consistency in taste and appearance.

Qian’s business models emphasize food accessibility, with high quality food for a reasonable price.  With his current restaurants open late, they accommodate for students’ and night workers’ schedules, so anyone can come eat his food. Qian believes that “Pittsburgh restaurants are five years behind,” driving his motivation to expand business around the region.

To maintain tradition and authenticity, Qian has a team whose job is to fly from the U.S. to China to transport ingredients, purchasing in-country to avoid import tariffs.  By doing this, Qian is able to keep prices low, and bring the familiar ingredients to Pittsburgh, directly from the source.  He is constantly building a network of relationships and business connections, bringing in collaborators wherever needed.

“A lot of people living here can’t go back to their country of origin, so I want to bring their hometown flavors and ingredients here,”  said Qian.

Qian is full of ideas, sharing with us concepts for his upcoming projects, including an international buffet located at the Waterfront in Homestead. Located next to Dave & Buster’s, Opal is set to open in July of 2026. Look out for Nan Xian Soup Dumplings at the International StrEAT Festival, coming September 20, 2025.