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DanDan: a noodle dish with origins in Chinese Sichuan cuisine. DanDan: two guys named Dan who grew up eating Chinese food and love cooking it. DanDan is a Chinese-American restaurant located in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. The co-owners and co-head chefs, Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, have always been passionate about cooking (and eating) Chinese food. Their vision was to create a restaurant that had a Chinese soul and a Midwestern sensibility, where diners can enjoy chef-driven food inspired by their own memories of eating at Chinese restaurants as children. DanDan’s menu offers a creative take on traditional Chinese fare including a variety of dim sum, noodles and rice, dumplings, pancakes and standout Peking duck.
Chinese plates of dim sum, noodles, stir-fries & more doled out in a happening dining room.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 360 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 488-8036
Website: http://dandanmke.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: dandanmke.com
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Related Web Results
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American-Chinese restaurant in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. We serve updated, chef-driven food.
Reviews
Theodore Stephen Johnson
Okay so I finally tried Dandan and honestly I’m still thinking about it. I ordered the Dandan Noodles, Spicy Pork Dumplings, and a Cucumber Salad, and I kind of just sat there taking a second after the first few bites because it was that good. The Dandan Noodles had this rich, slightly nutty flavor with heat that sneaks up on you but in a good way, and the texture of the noodles was spot on. The Spicy Pork Dumplings were juicy and a little crispy on the outside, and I probably could have eaten another order without thinking twice. The Cucumber Salad sounds simple but it was super fresh and helped cool everything down between bites. The place itself felt fun but not in an overwhelming way, just busy enough to feel exciting. Service was smooth and friendly, nothing dramatic, just people doing their job well. I left full, happy, and already planning what I would try next time because there is no way I’m not going back.
… moreTreberito
Happy chicken, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef were great. Personal favorite of them was the happy chicken. Dan Dan noodles on the other hand we would not recommend. Beautiful building, really helpful servers, but if you’re a spice lover, don’t expect anything crazy. Had a great meal!
… moreScott W
Most of the restaurants we dine at are usually the result of someone else’s recommendation, so we typically have high expectations. I don’t often give a 2-star rating to these restaurants, so I was sad that our experience here was so disappointing.
We had 5:15 reservations on a Wednesday evening. There were not too many people there when we arrived, and we got seated right away. The last time we were at this location, it was the “Tulip” restaurant, which served excellent Mediterranean cuisine.
Food:
To start, we ordered a couple of specialty cocktails: the Island Magic #815 for me and Murphy’s Law for her. Both of these were delicious. For food, we decided on the Dill Dumplings, Pad Thai, and Rice Cakes & Pork Belly. They serve everything tapas-style, so each dish should be at optimum temperature when it comes out.
The Dill Dumplings arrived first. They were flavorful, with an excellent mix of flavors. I’m not sure if this is intended, but they are heavily seared on only one side. They need to be eaten whole; otherwise, the halves deconstruct and you end up having to chase the escaped meat around the plate. Is this a serious issue? Only if you want to keep all the flavors together for the most satisfying bite.
The Rice Cakes & Pork Belly came next. On the first bite, you are overwhelmed by how salty this dish is. The flavors are excellent with the exception of the salt. The textures are good too, other than how rubbery the rice cakes were. The server noted this when we ordered, but instead of “rubbery,” she said “chewy.” I like chewy. This was definitely rubbery. This dish was painful to eat because it could have been just so much better.
The last dish to arrive was the Pad Thai. It was good, but not remarkable.
After our meal, we wanted to end on a high note with dessert. We love crème brûlée, and they had a mango version. Great combination! When it arrived, it was a BIG bowl with a nicely caramelized top. It had a satisfying snap when you pushed your spoon through it. But underneath, there was no firm custard. It was literally a bowl of mango soup. This is not an exaggeration. It was so loose that you couldn’t keep it on the small spoons. So disappointing.
Service:
Everyone we interacted with during the meal was kind and pleasant. We enjoyed the service at our table. The server and the food runners did a nice job with our orders, drinks, and food. They were eager to answer our questions and make suggestions.
When we mentioned the issues we had with our food, I wasn’t sure they were enthusiastic about relaying our concerns to the kitchen. Both the Rice Cakes & Pork Belly and the crème brûlée were a bit of an embarrassment. Without us asking, they did offer to take the dessert off the bill. We are not in the business of negotiating the price of a bad meal, so the entire situation was uncomfortable.
Atmosphere:
The interior of the place is really well done. It definitely gives you the vibe of Asian food, but with a twist. I have not been to Asia, but I could imagine this restaurant fitting in. There are plenty of interesting things to look at, with hanging pictures, ceramics, and quirky tchotchkes.
We were surprised by how bad our experience was. With the owners (Dan & Dan) being mentioned in many local food articles, I expected much better. With that in mind, we are not planning to go back.
… moreWe had 5:15 reservations on a Wednesday evening. There were not too many people there when we arrived, and we got seated right away. The last time we were at this location, it was the “Tulip” restaurant, which served excellent Mediterranean cuisine.
Food:
To start, we ordered a couple of specialty cocktails: the Island Magic #815 for me and Murphy’s Law for her. Both of these were delicious. For food, we decided on the Dill Dumplings, Pad Thai, and Rice Cakes & Pork Belly. They serve everything tapas-style, so each dish should be at optimum temperature when it comes out.
The Dill Dumplings arrived first. They were flavorful, with an excellent mix of flavors. I’m not sure if this is intended, but they are heavily seared on only one side. They need to be eaten whole; otherwise, the halves deconstruct and you end up having to chase the escaped meat around the plate. Is this a serious issue? Only if you want to keep all the flavors together for the most satisfying bite.
The Rice Cakes & Pork Belly came next. On the first bite, you are overwhelmed by how salty this dish is. The flavors are excellent with the exception of the salt. The textures are good too, other than how rubbery the rice cakes were. The server noted this when we ordered, but instead of “rubbery,” she said “chewy.” I like chewy. This was definitely rubbery. This dish was painful to eat because it could have been just so much better.
The last dish to arrive was the Pad Thai. It was good, but not remarkable.
After our meal, we wanted to end on a high note with dessert. We love crème brûlée, and they had a mango version. Great combination! When it arrived, it was a BIG bowl with a nicely caramelized top. It had a satisfying snap when you pushed your spoon through it. But underneath, there was no firm custard. It was literally a bowl of mango soup. This is not an exaggeration. It was so loose that you couldn’t keep it on the small spoons. So disappointing.
Service:
Everyone we interacted with during the meal was kind and pleasant. We enjoyed the service at our table. The server and the food runners did a nice job with our orders, drinks, and food. They were eager to answer our questions and make suggestions.
When we mentioned the issues we had with our food, I wasn’t sure they were enthusiastic about relaying our concerns to the kitchen. Both the Rice Cakes & Pork Belly and the crème brûlée were a bit of an embarrassment. Without us asking, they did offer to take the dessert off the bill. We are not in the business of negotiating the price of a bad meal, so the entire situation was uncomfortable.
Atmosphere:
The interior of the place is really well done. It definitely gives you the vibe of Asian food, but with a twist. I have not been to Asia, but I could imagine this restaurant fitting in. There are plenty of interesting things to look at, with hanging pictures, ceramics, and quirky tchotchkes.
We were surprised by how bad our experience was. With the owners (Dan & Dan) being mentioned in many local food articles, I expected much better. With that in mind, we are not planning to go back.
Allyssa Clapsaddle
Always incredible food and incredible service by the Dans and their team. We absolutely love coming here. Nothing better than good people serving up great food.
We start every year with the New Year’s Day dim sum brunch which always has fun surprises, but we also love their staples like the happy chicken and general Tso’s cauliflower.
P.S. Never skip the crab rangoons.
… moreWe start every year with the New Year’s Day dim sum brunch which always has fun surprises, but we also love their staples like the happy chicken and general Tso’s cauliflower.
P.S. Never skip the crab rangoons.
Peter Young
We loved this spot. The happy chicken, glass noodles, and crab rangoons are a must. Food is served as it’s ready, so you might not get your items at the same time which is fine because everything is served hot and it’s meant to be shared. I’m ready to go back and try the other stuff. Can’t recommend it enough.
… moreNicci Cisarik De Jesus
Truly a five star experience! We ordered the Peaking Duck and it did NOT disappoint. Three courses that is enough to feed four people and all packed with flavor. Highly recommend to those who love food with a little flair and rich umami taste.
… moreEleni Dalianis
DanDan was great! We didn’t make a reservation before hand and it was quite busy but they were so nice and able to find us a spot! We ordered the beef dumplings, crab rangoon, orange chicken, Mongolian beef. It was all delicious especially the crab rangoon! They have a wide variety of drinks on their menu! I would definitely go back again!
… moreJackie Fiedler
I’ve wanted to try DanDan for years and it did not disappoint!
Hands down the best service we’ve ever received – Garret was excellent.
Started with the smashed cucumbers – wow, so flavorful. The pork dumplings were perfect.
The General Tso’s cauliflower was amazing. The beef chow fun and shrimp fried rice were so tasty too.
We had a ton of leftovers and thought the meal was an excellent value.
I can’t wait to return!!
… moreHands down the best service we’ve ever received – Garret was excellent.
Started with the smashed cucumbers – wow, so flavorful. The pork dumplings were perfect.
The General Tso’s cauliflower was amazing. The beef chow fun and shrimp fried rice were so tasty too.
We had a ton of leftovers and thought the meal was an excellent value.
I can’t wait to return!!
Marina Lola
This is a long overdue review! We visit DanDan often and order takeout on a regular basis as well. We love having them in the neighborhood! Service is always on point! Our favorites are the Crab Rangoon with the Blue Crab! And Walnut Shrimp. We love to engage with the servers and ask lots of questions. They always seem to make time for us!
… moreNatalie Seidenkranz
Tried out the lunch buffet. Service was good. Not much of a line at the buffet. Enjoyed the egg drop soup, egg rolls, fried rice, chicken wings, szechuan cauliflower, pork loin mein, cucumber mash, general tso check and orange pork. Would go back to try the Peking duck and crab rangoons.
… more