AN OX CAFE

I’m not sure what the hype is all about or maybe I went on a bad day. Anyhow, with 20% automatic gratitude and higher food prices, I would expect good Asian food but it was the opposite. 1. Pho - 4/5, the pho was respectable and probably the only good dish of the evening. 2. Volcano chicken - 2/5, the sauce was basically watered down soy sauce with sugar. Also, small portions for the price. 3. Papaya salad - 1/5, no flavor besides pepper and fish sauce. 4. Beef larb - 1/5, no flavor as well with a pinch of bitterness. 5. Wings - 2/5, the breading was off. The wings would’ve been better without the breading. Overall, no repeat for me. I feel this place is more about making Money than winning the hearts of customers with excellent food. Hmong town or Mong Teng’s Grocery down the road are more flavorful with decent prices. ☹️🤦🏻‍♂️

Food is yummy, a lot of foods I would only typically only eat at home and don’t often see at restaurants so was really interested to try their take. Also lots of nostalgia there! Gives the feeling of eating over at a friends house and having their mom’s home cooking. Doesn’t taste like how my parents make it but still good. Also the portions are huge, we definitely ordered more than we could eat, but have leftovers for the next day. Wanted to try so much but was so full unfortunately. Also charges a 20% service fee for all groups, there’s a big sign in the entrance so if this bothers you might want to reconsider. Also additional 3% fee for credit card; bring cash to avoid that.

Best quality ingredients and cuisines for any Lao/Hmong/Thai restaurant I have been too. First time, I walked in you got a weekday lunch special 2 for 22$ for many huge entrees with lots of leftovers. Red curry and drunken noodles were no.1 in the whole city! the spice, the attention to quality ingredients and flavor felt like I was back in SE Asia again. Next two times I went with family and they were also blown away by the pad thai and curries we had! INCREDIBLE FOOD! I will say I tried the sunday 10$ pho special and I couldnt finish the bowl so dont get that but stick my two favorites: PAD THAI AND RED CURRY! Pro Tip: go when Weekday lunch special to save money because there is 20% automatic tip included on bill! Truly one of my favorite for Asian restaurants in the city!

Good customer service, atmosphere cute and had nice set up. Food was ok. The pho was very bland and had no flavor and tasted like beef paste but very light and watery. The portion size was good and they weren’t shy on the meat. Egg rolls were mediocre, papaya was very basic. Will pass on this place if I was in town again. They also have a 10% service fee for all order.

Authentic, delicious food! Great service! Highly recommended! 2/$22 lunch deal with healthy portions was a great deal!

Feel like eating at home. Very authentic Lao food. Will be back to try other dishes

It's been amazing rocking with An Ox Cafe for a month now, lol. The food's great, the bartenders are great, the DJs are great, the security's great too. And the concert parties are outta this world!

Great menu and prices, spacious restaurant with nice patio, bar, and night club.

Best quality ingredients and cuisines for any Lao/Hmong/Thai restaurant I have been too. First time, I walked in you got a weekday lunch special 2 for 22$ for many huge entrees with lots of leftovers. Red curry and drunken noodles were no.1 in the whole city! the spice, the attention to quality ingredients and flavor felt like I was back in SE Asia again. Next two times I went with family and they were also blown away by the pad thai and curries we had! INCREDIBLE FOOD! I will say I tried the sunday 10$ pho special and I couldnt finish the bowl so dont get that but stick my two favorites: PAD THAI AND RED CURRY! Pro Tip: go when Weekday lunch special to save money because there is 20% automatic tip included on bill! Truly one of my favorite for Asian restaurants in the city!

Very very good food! I wish it was closer to me so I could have it in the regular rotation. Everyone enjoyed their dishes, including those additional to go meals that were eaten the next day! We had beef jerky, pad Thai, red curry, panang curry, and kao poon. All very recommended. We enjoyed the ability to add meaningful spiciness to our dishes when ordering as well! My main criticism is the service charge that I wish restaurants would just fold into the price of meals. There is also a charge for using a credit card.

There are quite a few Laotian/Thai restaurants in town that serve tasty food, but I found An Ox Café to stand out in one aspect. The quality of its ingredients tends to be a bit higher, making the food cost a bit more as well. Perhaps price competition among these restaurants is intense, causing them to use cheaper cuts of meat (e.g., beef and pork with more gristles) and cheaper vegetables (e.g., cabbage instead of bean sprouts in a noodle soup). The way this restaurant tries to set a higher price may turn off some customers, though. Even though the prices of the dishes on its menu are just slightly higher than most other Laotian/Thai restaurants in the city, there is a 20% percent surcharge as well as a fee for using a credit card instead of cash. The motive is presumably to avoid showing too much a price difference from its rivals and make sure that all customers pay a "20% tip" so that the "effective" price is higher. I, nevertheless, would be happy to pay a higher price for higher-quality ingredients. But I do want to add that the ingredients are not necessarily of the highest quality, as the jalapeno peppers that we were served with our pho were clearly cut a day before with dark brown edges. We ordered three dishes: Beef Pho, Roast Pork and Nam Know. The quantity of each dish was quite large, so we packed at least half of the dishes home for another meal. The stock of the pho that we ordered was fairly rich; the flavor of the stock was, however, a bit plain, although I made it tastier by adding more lime juice and chili sauce. The Roast Pork was lightly marinated; although it was clearly precooked, the chef was able to heat it up in a way that makes/keeps the skin crispy. The Nam Know salad was the most flavorful of the three dishes. So far, An Ox Café is probably my top choice for Laotian food in the city.

We were out and about on a Saturday afternoon and saw this place pop up for good Asian food. They had THE BEST PAD THAI I have had in Milwaukee. If someone disagrees, let me know... We also had papaya salad which had some good spice and the volcano chicken which had a moist, well prepared chicken breast with some veggies. Portions were big so we have leftovers for later.

Love, love, love this restaurant. Unbelievably flavorful, fresh and authentic Thai/Laotian dishes served in heaping portions. You can choose from 5 different spice/heat levels for your dish and they serve up your order fast - wether you dine-in or take to go. Friendly service and a huge bar/entertainment space with live music occasionally during the week. What you see when you walk in is not what you will expect. It's kind of a disco night club meets quick lunch spot. Fun local hangout spot with ample, free parking on site and an eclectic vibe. Our new fav spot in MKE for Thai food!

The Lao sausage entree was prepared very well and I'd be back to try several of the 2 for $22 specials But here's where I was very disappointed in the administrative side of this restaurant For being the only customer in the whole entire establishment, customer service wasn't all that great. Wait staff came just as I finishing my meal. At this point a refill was offered on the water but not on soda which was refilled on request. I have no issue tipping 15-20% with great service. Then you have to pay the automatic 20% service fee to help pay the living wages for the employees. When you get the bill, there's a $ 0.75 price difference if you pay by credit card or cash. Personally I think that this establishment is set up more to be a night club than a restaurant.

I'm not going to leave as long a review as the first time I posted one. All I want to do is gush about how amazing the egg rolls are from An Ox Cafe. I've been looking all my adult life for egg rolls that are as fresh and wonderfully tasting as theirs. I think the Pad See Ew is very good as well with little to no spiciness added, but I would come here everyday for the rest of my life for the egg rolls if I could.

Forgot I had these photos. Food before it got wild at An Ox Cafe on Saturday night. Potato wedges. Can't go wrong with wedges. Pork Hmong eggrolls. Not your neighborhood Chinese cabbage filled ones. Beef laab. One of my fav dishes to get anywhere. Papaya. Refreshing! Nam khao. If you know, you know. Don't sleep on this! Crab rangoons. These taste the same everywhere to me. ‍ Solid meal for late night eats. Booze flowed freely afterwards. #eatlikejed #hmongfood #mkeeats #nojmovqabqab #anoxcafe #nojmovhmoob #foodie #foodgasm #hmong #hmoob #yelp @yelpwisconsin

The food is fabulous. Excellent wait staff. Great parking available adjacent to restaurant. Abidance is spacious with outdoor seating ( weather permitting)

*This restaurant has a 20% service fee added to all orders.* I am a first and last time diner of this establishment. I came with a large party and the waitstaff kindly put tables together so we could sit together. (We were the only people there on a Saturday afternoon.) We ordered a plethora of dishes and were pleased with the food. When the bill came, we noticed there was a 20% service fee which did not include gratuity. We engaged with the waiter about it because we had not seen such a high miscellaneous fee before. After some dialogue, we asked for the owner's business card and said we would follow up with them later. We paid the bill in full along with 20% gratuity. After some phone tag, a manager followed up and told us to not come back to the restaurant if we didn't want to pay their service fee. She was very rude and short about it. Please be assured that NO ONE from my party will go back to An Ox Cafe due to their high service fee and poor customer service. I would prefer a menu to reflect the cost of goods versus having a unregulated service fee tacked on top of a bill. High prices will scare customers away? So will ridiculously high service fees. I educated myself about service fees after this incident and I learned that service fees are not regulated in most states and restaurant owners decide how they want to spend the money. I believe in supporting small and local businesses and paying people livable wages but I'm not going to let anyone double dip in my wallet. Restaurant owners are hurting but so are the every day people. If you charge a 20% service fee, don't expect customers to pay another 20% tip on top of that. Something's gotta give and after this harsh lesson, I know it's not gonna be my money at least. This whole incident was handled really poorly by restaurant staff. I was ignorant about service fees but I approached the discussions from a learning and polite mindset which was not returned in kind.

Great food snd service! The roast pork was amazing!!!! We will be back for more soon!

Great service and tasty food! Went for lunch and although kind of quiet... food was great and speedy service!

We enjoyed our dinner here. Large parking lot. Great service. Love the spacious, bright and clean dining area. Feels more like a big sports bar than a traditional homey Asian restaurant. They serve a variety of southeast Asian food. We got Pad Thai, Tom Yam Gai (Thai hot and sour chicken soup), Roasted Pork dinner, egg rolls and a Bahama Mama drink. Not the best that I've had because I am an Asian who grew up in Asia, but definitely of decent quality in Milwaukee. Pad Thai and crispy egg rolls were yummy. The fillings of the egg rolls were kind of different here - seasoned pork and egg - like those homemade ones by our Hmong friends. The Roasted Pork dinner plate is $24, more on the expensive side. The meat was crispy and juicy - I thought that's why it's more pricey - it might take them a very long time to roast. It's a heavier and more salty dish. I actually liked eating it w the sweet and sour sauce that came with the egg rolls - that's my Cantonese way to eat it. I can tell the sauce that originally came with the roasted pork is Thai inspired. There's a lot of thought that went into this menu! The Tom Yam Gai soup was sour and slightly spicy w strong lemon grass aroma. Loved it. The chicken and mushroom tasted plain but that's fine in the soup. Overall, this is a good place for eating & hanging out. They also have Karaoke (there's literally a stage w mic) that starts at 8 every Thursday night.

Southeast Asian cuisine at An Ox Cafe towards the NW side of Milwaukee. Opened in February and has a very modern aesthetic with a ton of space that will be great for groups. I ordered their Panang Curry (with vegetables) with a spicy level of 4 (very spicy) and while it certainly had some heat, it also carried a lot of flavor! I can't recall the name of the Mule (maybe it was a Milwaukee Mule or An Ox Mule... it wasn't named as a traditional Moscow Mule, but as a mule fan, I'd order it again). Dessert - if I remember correctly, they ran out of something for their hot chocolate s'mores cake so they had something similar that I was happy with too! Very friendly staff. Modern aesthetic included several TVs throughout the space - great for the next sports game), and with warmer weather they offer patio seating too!

Good place to hang out for a small or large crowd. They do have a lot of parking available.

I'm back at it again. This is my third time here! I went April 14th at night around 9pm. I wanted to see what their open mic hype was about. && I loved it. Granted there were a lot of sad songs being sang but I loved how people weren't afraid to sing/rap and it was all around a good night. Staffs were great as well. Now onto Dinner. I had to try something new. & decided to try the drunken noodle. I would have to give it a 5/10 it was on the saltier side. However, the amount of meat on the plate was good for its prices. The noodles weren't too hard/soggy it was just right.

This place is a hilarious paradox wrapped in a mind-boggling enigma. First of all, let's address the elephant in the room: it's not even a cafe! I walked in expecting a quaint little spot with baristas serving up aromatic lattes, only to be greeted by the sight of an adult lounge that seemed to have stumbled upon the wrong name. It's like stumbling upon a secret speakeasy, except instead of cocktails, you're greeted with surprisingly mediocre Thai cuisine. Talk about a plot twist! Let's start with the food. An Ox Cafe serves Lao and Thai food to a whole new level. With each bite, you'll find yourself embarking on a gastronomic rollercoaster of unexpected flavors and peculiar combinations. It's like a culinary game of thrones, where you never know what will force you to the throne (toilet). If you enjoy playing Russian roulette with your taste buds, this sexy little masterpiece is the place for you! Now, let's talk about the atmosphere. An Ox Cafe has somehow become a magnet for a very specific demographic: the coolest Gen X couples in town. This is where they go to let their gray hair down, dust off their dance moves, and remind the world that they've still got "it". The dance floor is a spectacle to behold, with moves that could rival any dance competition on a particularly hilarious episode of reality TV. It's like being transported to a parallel universe where disco line dancing lives forever and ever and ever and ever. But wait, there's more! An Ox Cafe is also home to some of the most captivating characters you'll ever encounter. The middle-aged men and women who frequent this place are an absolute delight. They embrace their inner goofiness with unabashed enthusiasm, unleashing their wild side for all to see. It's like a living, breathing sitcom unfolding before your eyes, complete with exaggerated facial expressions, impromptu karaoke sessions, and fashion choices that deserve their own spotlight. In a world where conformity reigns supreme, An Ox Cafe dares to be different. It's a haven for those seeking a break from the mundane, a place where you can laugh until your sides hurt and let go of any inhibitions. It's a magical spot where subpar food becomes a conversation starter, and where the unexpected becomes the norm. So, if you're ready to embark on an adventure filled with culinary surprises, eccentric dance moves, and an unforgettable cast of characters, make your way to An Ox Cafe. Embrace the irony, savor the domestic Lao and Thai flavors, and immerse yourself in a world where laughter and good times reign supreme. An Ox Cafe: The hilariously eccentric gem you never knew you needed in your life!

Tried this restaurant for the first time. I order the red snapper with rice. It was well seasoned and absolutely delicious. We also tried the duck which I don't have a photo of but my partner loved it! Looking forward to visiting in person!

Food was mediocre, from what we got out of our order. We sat for two hours without getting all of our food. We were on a schedule so after sitting there for two hours and them taking our order two times, we decided to cancel part of our order and go. Tables were full and they said that all orders were backed up but they weren't in a rush. Our other groups also had late food and wrong items.

My families of 13 people came to Milwaukee for an event Friday we heard An OX Cafe has good foods and services. Saturday for lunch we decide to visit this place since peoples rave about it. The places look and atmosphere look nice when you walk-in. We all sat looking at menus to order for foods. I asked for waters for everyone at the tables, 20-25 minutes goes by we didn't get water or anything but I notice two separate couples just came in and sat down already got their waters. I thought hmm why our tables hasn't got water I flagged down the waitress requesting waters for the tables again. 10-15 minutes laters we finally got waters and beverages. We order our foods, about 30 minutes later our foods came to the tables but none of use got any utensils to eat and I ask the same waitress about getting us some utensils. She look at me with blank stared looks in her face and I told her we sat down hours ago but we never got utensils or anything how are we going to eat, and with what.She left and came back with our utensils. The foods have a decent taste like every other Asian restaurant. The restaurant menu lack of order items than other Asian restaurants I've been too. Overall, would I go there again if I visited Milwaukee again in the future, probably not due to lack of customer services I got the first time the next time visit will not be any different or better. Food wise depends on what you order, my families did like some food they order some didn't like the texture of food, especially the Pho noodles. The noodle taste like left overnight being served to them.

Don't let the location deter you from trying out An Ox Cafe. My friends and I met up for lunch and everything was great from atmosphere, service and food. The price may look intimidating but the portions are great! Will definitely be going back to try out more dishes. The roast pork melts in your mouth. The crispy duck is perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. The pho itself is perfectly balanced and honestly, the crab rangoon took me by surprise as I'm not a huge fan of rangoons. I definitely see success with this place.

We had a coworker reunion and it was a great time. Definitely had a few drinks and had to give their pho a try. The restaurant has been remodeled inside and it's quite modern and nice. Plenty of space and seating. Great customer service. The review: Ox tail pho, it was good, clean and well seasoned broth. Came with the typical side condiments. Only wish the oxtail cooked bit longer to soften. I tell myself I'll comeback and give it another try when I don't have too much to drink yet. The other foods look great but my main focus was just giving the pho and try. Definitely recommend for everyone to come support and give the food a taste.

A hyped up establishment that unfortunately did not stand up to the publicity around it. Walking into the space, it felt more like a food hall than the intimate setting that the reviews boasted about. The service was bad and the food was stale. We got the Moscow mule and thai tea. The Moscow mule had a unflavorful ginger beer, almost making the taste very bitter. The spring rolls, red curry and red curry were OK, but the volcano chicken was very chewy and it tasted like old chicken that was refried and served. Hoping to give this place a second chance to see if the food and service get any better.

Very yummy place. My husband had the pad see ew (stir fry thick noodles). His dish was good but a bit more sweet and oily. I had the red curry and it was a bit salty but to the point where you wouldnt really notice (if that makes sense). Overall very good food with a nice Lao/Hmong food mix. 100% would come again! Service was very fast and efficient also!

This place is a true anomaly. Part Southeast Asian restaurant, part sports bar, part night club. Whatever, let's try the food. For starters, we had the papaya salad, which was downright skunky. I've tried just about every Laotian and Thai joint in SW Wisconsin and this Som Tum was extremely fishy, borderline offensive. If that's your jam, this is your spot. I had the red curry, which was uninspiring. Most of the veggies were well overcooked. But my wife had the Kow Piek and enjoyed it, with its savory broth and thick, chewy rice noodles. It's worth a try and, in my case, a follow-up visit to explore other menu items. I'll update my review when I do.

Came here for an early dinner on a Saturday. Only 4 other families in the place (which is huge). Could see it being a great place to watch a game or catch a show. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was dynamite! Truly a hidden gem

Add 20% to every menu item for mandatory gratuity. There is a sign on the door announcing this policy so they can pay their employees a living wage. We tip based on service quality. It is up to the employer to pay their employees a living wage - even on slow days. This mandatory gratuity policy is becoming all too common and should be published clearly on the restaurant's web site. We turned around, walked back to the car, and drove to another restaurant that does not have mandatory gratuity.

First of all, the name threw me off, there's no way I knew it was Thai or Lao, but the food was good, everything looked clean and neat and the service was great. There is a parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. There was an automatic $10 service charge on a $55.00 bill for serving two people, I guessed this didn't account for the tip, so I left a $10 tip, just in case the server didn't share in this service charge. So, $75 for two people on a sit-down Lao or Thai meal, even if you get take out, there is a service charge. So just beware when you're ordering, consider a service charge is added.

Volcano chicken was the best I remember having ever. Pork was quality meat, cooked perfectly (but lacked zip compared to the volcano chicken). Papaya salad was really nice. With a stylish and spacious dining area, the cafe was easy to get to (just a block or two off of 145) and had its own parking lot. For anyone on the northwestern side of Milwaukee or in the northwestern suburbs looking for great Thai, I'd recommend An Ox Cafe.

Excellent restaurant. I've eaten at many Thai restaurants in Thailand and I found this one to be the best In Milwaukee. The space is very big with a sports bar theme. You have to go here you won't be disappointed.

Too many fights. Too many drunk people. But it is spacious and good lighting. Make sure to have your phone out ready to record fights.

This is a nice place DJ played some good music and the food is great, visited on Saturday we had a good time

Such a great place to go, service is awesome, food is delicious, have not had a bad dish. The pple there so friendly great and family oriented place...have told my friends about it they love it.....Don't let the area fool u its safe area , I live few blocks from it.

Noodles horrible! Service okay! Ragoon very good! The place looked very clean! I wouldn't go back!

The food was good, but on the more expensive side. I've been here several times but haven't been back for a while. However, just recently with my recent visit, I noticed that they started charging an additional 20% "service charge," which does not include tips/gratuity (which they clearly stated on their document posted when you are greeted at the front door). If I could recall correctly, the service fee charge was to pay their employee and help keep their establishment going, which I thought was very different since I'm going to also have to tip on top of the 20% service fee--a bit ridiculous in my opinion. Also, I have no issues tipping and I usually tip at least 20-25%. Anyway, I won't be going back because I can't see myself paying gratuity on top of an additional 20% service fee.

We are in town from STL & decided to visit this restaurant. We loved the ambiance, service, & food was fresh & great FLAVOR!!!!! WE WILL RETURN

One of the best places in Milwaukee. Amazing, amazing staff. Lots of TVs for the game, plenty of room for events, and the food is perfection.

We had this delivered and it exceeded our expectations as well as hot and fast. Truly a great addition to our neighborhood

On cold, wet days, it is hard to beat a steaming bowl of spicy green curry. This is the best I have had in a very long time. Fragrant, spicy broth with sweet bell peppers and little round Asian eggplants with a bit of crunch. Not at all overcooked. I took half of it home for my dinner. My friend had Pad Thai with house-made noodles and super fresh bean sprouts. She also took more than half home. We shared a trio of Hmong egg rolls. Delicious! The cafe is comfortable with a very Friendly staff. The decor has a spare, post-industrial design. It fits with the neighborhood, but it is definitely worth a drive. I am looking forward to the outdoor patio when the weather improves.

food is amazing, service amazing, atmosphere amazing. but careful not to try to eat late there, kitchen is open late but they charge SO much extra if you order past 9pm.

Excellent food and huge portions. The service was great but look at the signage at the front door. There is a service charge of 20% added right off the top.

Good service, good food, and a great start! Pho is very good and drinks are strong. They're just getting started and they have impressed me with the quality of their food, service, and ambiance. Don't be afraid to give them!

I dined in with a large group. We let them know and had our orders placed early. When we arrived, they had our food ready in a decent amount of time and it was delicious! Some of the cooks came from other establishments and brought with them goodies that are hard to find. I've always loved Hung Tai's crispy duck which was in West Allis many years ago. Found this item on their menu and it was just as good. Grilled pork belly did not disappoint either. A bit pricier than what I'm used to seeing but I don't mind paying if the quality is there... and it is. Will be coming again!

First time there and loving it. Small menu selections, but good stuff. Loved purple sticky rice that they offered; Perfectly cooked. They offer special of the day. Keep an eye on those items. They are good dishes and hard to find elsewhere. We had a brunch of drinks and dishes. Loved them all. Will be back.

Very impressed! The place is large and can accommodate large parties. Also very clean! Friendly customer service, and the food! We ordered a variety of dishes from the menu... every dish was on point! Love this place and will be coming back!

The food was outstanding and the dining area is very modern and clean. The staff was very friendly. Stop in and check it out! You won't be disappointed.

It was delicious I heard about it and pass by it everyday on my way home so I decided to give it a try and was not disappointed I will definitely go back it's a cute spot to go and eat and relax

The food was amazing and I love the experience and great customer service and the Crispy Egg Rolls were AMAZING