Review: Aiju Massage — Bethel Park, PA

Aiju Massage is a relative new Chinese massage parlor that fits among a small group of similar shops that have opened to the immediate south of the city of Pittsburgh in the last year or two.

Like CJ Onsen, with which it doesn’t appear to have any relation, it makes a habit of advertising on traditionally adult-oriented websites like Craigslist and Backpage. The ads its places are suggestive, containing stock images of Japanese and Chinese models that have nothing to do with the place in question. That probably has a lot to do with why the four customers I saw or heard enter while I was there were single men!

Aiju Massage is located on a pretty well trafficked secondary road in Pittsburgh’s South Hills. If discretion is an issue for you and you live nearby, you may want to avoid this place. Even though it’s a legit place, some people have ideas about all massage shops. For me, it’s no worry. Aiju Massage is staffed by a handful of recent Chinese immigrants, most in their 20’s and 30’s. They are kind and offer a pretty standard massage, but apparently nothing more. It’s a bit more plain that CJ Onsen, but standard for a Chinese massage parlor. Prices are fair at 40 dollars for an hour massage. The layout is white and clinical. The regular rooms are private, but you can hear the goings on in other rooms. There is a very secure room with a red light and locking door in the back which may be where extras are offered to regulars. During my visit, a single guy was led back there and I heard plenty of giggles from both him and the masseuse. But honestly I don’t think there is anything on offer here beyond massage for the average customer.

My masseuse led me to a room in the back with walls that go up to the ceiling and a fully closing door and asked me to undress as is par for the course. Because the place seems so “straight up” I left my underwear on for the first time ever while getting a massage. My masseuse knocked, entered the room, instructed me to lay face down on the table, and finally covered me with a white sheet. A few minutes into the massage, my masseuse asked if she could remove my underwear, which were getting in the way of her handy work. Of course I obliged.

My masseuse spoke little English, but we had fun trying to make small talk. About half way through the massage, another, slightly younger Chinese woman with even less English entered the room and finished my massage. Unbeknownst to them, I can understand Chinese to some degree, and I was able to figure out that the second girl was next in line to do a massage. But for whatever reason, she was scared to work on me. The other girl told her I was a nice guy and she happily finished me off. Unfortunately, no extras were offered. After I was instructed to flip over, I only received a short light massage of my legs before being told “all done.” My masseuse left the room and I got dressed and paid the fee to a friendly cashier on the way out, and then gave a 10 dollar tip to my masseuse.  All in all, it was a pretty standard routine for a legit massage shop.

The biggest problem with Aiju Massage, besides its semi-deceptive advertising practices, is that it is directly below a popular pizza shop. While trying to relax during your massage, you’ll notice that the calming spa music is punctuated with the stomps and bangs of the pie makers practicing their art only a few feet above you.

Because Aiju Massage advertises in adult lists, but doesn’t offer any extras, I’m tempted to give it one star. But because its prices are low for the area and the massage offered is not bad, I will give it 1.5.

What do you think?

Aiju Massage, 2971 S Park Rd, Bethel Park, PA 15102. (412) 833-3077 http://www.aijumassage.com