dan modern chinese - playa vista

Chinese restaurant · Playa Vista

dan modern chinese - playa vista

Chinese restaurant · Playa Vista

1

12775 Millennium Dr #110, Los Angeles, CA 90094

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dan modern chinese - playa vista by Dan Modern Chinese
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dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
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dan modern chinese - playa vista by null
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Highlights

Taiwanese-style rice dishes, dumplings & veggies in casual digs  

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12775 Millennium Dr #110, Los Angeles, CA 90094 Get directions

danmodernchinese.com
@danmodernchinese

$20–30 · Menu

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12775 Millennium Dr #110, Los Angeles, CA 90094 Get directions

+1 424 835 4777
danmodernchinese.com
@danmodernchinese

$20–30 · Menu

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Aug 8, 2025

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The Best Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles

"Dan Modern Chinese is a local chain with seven locations across Los Angeles, including Playa Vista, Sawtelle Japantown, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Topanga, and Manhattan Beach. It is known for its open kitchen and upscale ambience. The restaurant specializes in handmade xiao long bao and fresh noodles. The menu offers Chinese cuisine with a modern twist, featuring dishes like three-cup chicken, street food-inspired dan mein noodles, fried rice, mapo tofu, crispy pan-fried dumplings, and scallion pancakes. Diners can also enjoy a great selection of beer and wine, as well as a refreshing menu of high-end boba drinks." - Kristie Hang

https://la.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-restaurants-los-angeles
View Postcard for dan modern chinese

Emily Kolman

Google
Best Asian cuisine I’ve had since being in LA from the East Coast! Their garlic string beans are like no other others, and I would eat five orders as my meal. Everything is flavorful, but not overwhelming, and each dish compliments each other so nicely. Portions are perfectly sized. When dining in, the service is exceptional, and the food Has always been consistent in quality!

Christie Thomas Realtor

Google
We had no idea we were in for such a treat! It was a random first visit because we were in the area. We glanced at the menu posted on the window and decided to go inside. Zander was awesome!! He made us feel super welcome and helped us select several DELICIOUS menu items. The food came out so quickly and it was piping hot! We didn’t waste any time indulging that I forgot to take pictures of the food. 🤦‍♀️ Trust me, it presented beautifully and tasted great. Zander, as promised, we’ll see you and your gorgeous eyes again soon! .😉

Milo DiazTamjid

Google
Came here for a small birthday lunch! Atmosphere was lovely and the tables were clean. Service was amazing! Food was delicious as always. We got the pork soup dumplings as well as the pork pan fried dumplings which are just to die for. Loveee the short rib dan mein. [Suggestion!] Get the noodles first and ask to get the dumplings later (after like 10min) so that you have time to eat the noodles without the dumplings getting cold (or you could just eat fast lol). If you’re more of a slower eater though, 100% recommend so that you can enjoy everything. 💗

Ms. Sotelo

Google
Wish I had pictures but we ate all the food before thinking about posting. This happens too often. The food is phenomenal. Truly authentic, from the noodles to the dumplings. This is my go to for comfort food. I will post pictures next time we order... I hope

J H

Google
Great place for a quick super tasty Chinese food stop. Great dumplings, really enjoyed the salt/pepper tofu and the authentic veggies. Have been back many times and will return for sure. Keep up the great service and fantastic kitchen!!

Giancarlo Manco

Google
Food is great, i liked the short rib fried rice, the beans as side, the three cup chicken . Food arrived quick and the server was very kind and professional. I was disappointed because of some kid’s nostopping screaming, i think the restaurant manager should have kindly said something to the kid’s parents because it s very annoying for the other guests.

Kyle Mika

Google
I love soup dumplings! If you do too, this is your place. It got quite loud later in the evening, but the food was very tasty. The dumplings were the highlight, and the soup and pan fried dumplings gave just enough variety to dinner. We also loved our side plates, especially the Short Rib Mein as well as the scallion pancakes for an appetizer. I want to go back very soon, and get more soup dumplings!

Jackie E.

Google
Great find. So happy we went here. Someone at the concierge in Hilton Hotel recommended it. Located about 5 minutes away from LAX airport. They are located inside a nice shopping mall. Design and atmosphere are really nice. Clean and organized. Parking was an issue last week we’re here last night, Tuesday night about 6:30 pm. We went around and around until we found an open spot. Not sure if there is a paid parking place close by. The service was very good. All employees are very attentive. Our server was Bernardo a very nice gentleman providing excellent customer service. The menu offers many good choices. I saw appetizer, rides, meats. Boba is offer in the drinks. Everything was just delicious period. Quality of ingredients excellent.
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Ernest M.

Yelp
this place is wow. I been in this plaza many times for other events or bars. My cousin took me here for my birthday. My cousin comes here many times and pretty much knows the staff. food: nothing short of amazing. The best thing there was the crab fried rice. Wow. The soup dumplings were totally on point. The short rib noodles was surprisingly blah unfortunately. A lot of people but I did not. The bok choi was crunchy and superb. Ambiance: it was pretty clean, you can bring your dog outside on a nice day to eat with you during your meal.
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Cassidy F.

Yelp
Is it authentic Chinese food, definitely not. But does it give off good vibes. It's very clean and very modern. Came here around lunch time on a rainy day and was able to find parking easily at the parking garage. They have lunch pricing/portion on some items too, making it more affordable. We ordered a shrimp fried rice, a short rib noodle, and 2 xiao long baos. Nothing really stood out to me. I did like the flavor of the short rib, but not much else. Overall my visit was decent. No complaints about service or cleanliness. I just didn't like the food. It wasn't authentic at all. I much rather pay a higher price and go to din tai fung.
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Brian P.

Yelp
I hadnt been here in a few years and recently returned for a quick work lunch. Overall, Dan Chinese reminds me of a more expensive din tai feng. I tried xiao long bao, some pork dumplings, crab fried rice and the fried tofu. The food was pretty good- but overall pretty expensive. For example, the pork xiao long bao was $8.75 for 5 (1.75 each) where as din tai feng's are $16.5 for 10 or 1.65 each. So- Dan's are 6% more expensive and Din tai fengs taste better in my opinion. The total for the lunch wad $61 for 2 people. Service was also a little disappointing/slow. Our waiter disappeared for long periods of time.
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Aarti K.

Yelp
Great location and modern vibes, but overall was a little disappointed by the food. This location is nestled in an outdoor mall right by a Whole Foods and several other boutiques/ eateries. There's a parking garage though the restaurant doesn't validate as well as plenty of street parking nearby. Our server was very friendly. We shared a few appetizers and I got the spicy oxtail soup, which was a little disappointing - though the meat was nice and tender, the broth just tasted like soy sauce. The scallion pancakes were also on the dry side and lacking in taste. I will say that if you come for lunch, the prices are pretty reasonable. With that said, I think there are several other Taiwanese/ Chinese restaurants nearby with tastier food.
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Jordon C.

Yelp
Overall a very nostalgic moment while eating childhood comfort food (like mapo tofu and xiao long bao), however, I grew up making scallion pancakes and was ever so disappointed in the simple dish. The trick is in the folds, and we ended up getting doughy centers. The staff forgot to bring a dish that I ordered to pair with the rice. It's not their fault the pork rib fried rice was so delicious, but it was gone before I could pair it with the tofu. May return, may not.
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Sherly C.

Yelp
Service was normal, my server was sweet, ambiance is there. Milk Tea 3/10: it's very watered down, no tea or milk flavor to it. However the tapioca is amazing, very well cooked, it would be better if the milk tea itself was stronger. Scallion Pancakes 3/10: Dryer side of pancakes, not enough moist to these. It's $8 for one regular size pancake. Spicy Pork XLB 5/10: Nothing really special about these, 5 for $9.75, I wouldn't recommend. Dan Short Rib Noodles 6/10: Great selection of vegetables, meat was very tender, noodles were great too. The choice of flavoring/sauce was not my personal preference. Overall, there are plenty of places that serves the same food at a more practical price, if anything more authentic.
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Mallory C.

Yelp
Went here on Mother's Day with my mom, who is Chinese and very picky when it comes to Chinese food. She picked this spot for her celebratory brunch and I was nervous she wouldn't like it, but she did! We got a bunch of different dishes, including their famous xiao long bao and short rib dan mein. Everything was super delicious and I was happy my mom was happy! It can get a little noisy inside the restaurant when it's crowded, but we didn't mind. Luckily, there's a parking structure in this building, so parking isn't an issue.
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Elizabeth L.

Yelp
Dan modern Chinese is a somewhat new take on traditional Chinese food. It is all great. It is a small chain and each one is great. We like this one. It is so clean and super cute and comfortable. It can get crowded, but they will get you seated without too long a wait. We try to stick to weeknights. You can also get take away or have it delivered. They have hand-made dumplings and hand made noodles. You have to try both. This is not fast food Chinese. It is the best. The food is all so fresh and just so tasty. For starters try the scallion pancake with soy ginger dipping sauce. Their popcorn shrimp with toasted garlic, green onions, and cilantro is some of the best we have ever had. Their handmade dumplings with pork are just the best. All of their dumplings are made fresh and you will wait 30 minutes for them so order them right away. They are some of the best you will ever have, I mean ever. You also must have their shrimp with crab sauce. It has shrimp, crab, garlic, ginger, and wonderful green onions. Their short rib dan mein and their shrimp dan mein is so good. They are prepared with snow pea leaves, shiitake mushrooms, and an amazing garlic sauce and all their noodles are hand made. The service is just great. You feel at home there. It is a lovely place.
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Sunny S.

Yelp
Dans is straight fire every single time! On the weekends there def can be a wait I just wish they took reservations. The food is great and consistent every single time. The service is no frills and to the point. Highly Recommend: Spicy Pork Soup Dumplings Scallion Pancake Short Rib Noodles Chicken Fried Rice If you want solid modern Chinese food Dan is def the move.
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Kirstin Z.

Yelp
Came here for my birthday and was not disappointed. There are not a lot of options on the Westside to get dumplings and these were surprisingly good. We got in easily, although there was a line and the place was busy. We got a little bit of everything and it was all delicious. The only thing I wish was a little better was the scallion pancakes, but honestly they were still good enough to it! There was a short rib noodle plate that was worth every penny. Loved it and the pickled cucumbers. Servers were nice and hostess got us In quick. Will return
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Hannah M.

Yelp
I have been to Dan Modern many times and it is consistently delicious. Despite how busy and popular this restaurant is we always manage to be seated quickly. My favorites on the menu are the garlic green beans and spicy pork soup dumplings. The green beans are a generous portion and are coated in garlic. Other excellent choices are the vegetable dan main and the short rib fried rice. The noodles are thick and chewy which an excellent saucy glaze. The fried rice isn't too oily, which I appreciate. They have outdoor and indoor seating, but the majority of seating is indoor. There is free street parking, the other option is the paid structure parking by the Whole Foods. Overall this is a tasty Chinese restaurant.
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Samantha L.

Yelp
If you're really desperate for some Chinese food in West LA, this might scratch your itch if you have a low bar. The location is nice, right within the heart of Playa Vista, so you're definitely paying for the location and ambiance. In terms of food, the string beans were really mushy, and the beef roll wrap was cold, not crispy, and overpowered with cucumbers. The noodles were okay but a bit greasy, so it was hard to keep eating after a while. The pork and crab XLB were okay, but there was barely any crab to the point that $4 per XLB basically felt like robbery. At the end, we had to wait 15 minutes to wave down someone to be able to pay, so all in all, I'd say the experience was pretty disappointing.
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Vivek K.

Yelp
The food here is amazing and won't break the bank. The food is tasty without being too greasy. If you're looking for something that'll hit the spot and taste better than a famous soup dumpling spot, this is it!
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Brooke M.

Yelp
I love the Chinese food here. Everything is so delicious and tasty. Very fresh and the service is wonderful! The service is so wonderful they have several people including the server always checking in. Happy fun family oriented ambiance with round and square tables. Plenty of light. I absolutely love the dumplings and the popcorn shrimp, fried rice, noodles. I didn't take more pics I was too busy eating sorry!
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Becky A.

Yelp
I love Dans. My faves are the string beans and the three cup chicken, but I don't think you can go wrong here. Everything on the menu looks delicious. Service is quick. Ambience is pretty cool. It's not a hole in the wall and it's also not some fancy spot. I think it's just right for a simple date night or a dinner out with some friends!
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Crystal W.

Yelp
We've been here twice now and have ordered take out a few times. Food has always been really good. We ordered the beef rolls, oxtail soup, pork XLBs, Dan Dan Mian (noodles), garlic bokchoy, popcorn chicken, mapo tofu, fried rice, and more. I really enjoyed it all especially the pork XLBs. They were comparable to din tai fungs. The oxtail soup was only ok - light on flavor. Noah was our waiter and was super kind and friendly. Thank you for your service! Everything came out quickly and he predicted our needs so everything was just seamless and great!
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Niona W.

Yelp
Same sauce on everything! It was fine. Just kind of blah. Everything tasted the same. We had the chicken, the beef and some noodles and I literally couldn't tell the difference.
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Dan S.

Yelp
First time here... I can't believe I've been missing out on this place. Good was amazing. Everything was so good but the short rib dan mein our server Zander was awesome. He was super nice and helpful and gave good recommendations. We will be back.
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Richie D.

Yelp
Great place, great location, although something wasn't quite right this time, they made it up for it. That's shows integrity and care about their food and customers. I'll be back to upgrade to 5stars.

J W.

Yelp
Dan Modern Chinese was delicious! The Beef Rolls and Chicken Soup dumplings were a hit at the table and were devoured quickly. Zander, our server, was fun and kept everyone cheerful with his quick witted humor. We will be back! JW Spoon ~ Nashville, TN
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Aimes O.

Yelp
Dan is my go to restaurant!! Celebrating my birthday at Dan's was an absolute delight. Each dish we had was meticulously crafted and bursting with amaaaaazing taste. The service was exceptional, but what truly stood out was the thoughtful gesture from the manager. As the evening unfolded, I was surprised with a plate of delectable dumplings adorned with a candle, commemorating my birthday in a truly memorable way. Dan Modern Chinese not only excels in culinary artistry but also understands the art of genuine hospitality, making it a top choice for any special occasion. I wish I had taken more photos, but trust me when I say it it a MUST that you visit!
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Robyn L.

Yelp
Came for dinner with my bf on a Tuesday night around 6:15. No wait at all, although I could tell their online orders were super busy. Ordered the pork xiao long bao, popcorn chicken, dan dan mian, and bok choy. The pork xiao long bao was delicious, thin skin, and - dare I say it? - may have even given din tai fung a run for its money. Definitely don't skip on them. Popcorn chicken was decent, it does have a dusting of sugar which is interesting. Dan dan mian - we ordered with short ribs - was absolutely delicious. The short rib is tender, there's ample sauce, and there's also a bit of vegetables. It's the perfect portion for just one person, and I imagine it would make a great lunch. Bokchoy was good - steamed well. It was definitely lively in there but not too loud. Will come back!
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Deon B.

Yelp
I frequent this place and can, in good faith, say this food is consistently delicious. No matter which dish I order, the dish is typically tasty. My usual order is chicken Xiao Long Bao and chicken fried rice. On some occasions, the Xiao Long Bao are not as generously filled as one might expect given the price, but they remain tasty. The fried rice is ample enough to satiate two individuals and never fails to satisfy. This place is no doubt expensive, but I am satisfied with my meal. The service, however, is inconsistent; there are times when the food takes over 45 minutes to arrive, which is less than ideal. Nevertheless, Dan's excels in both delivery and pickup, with the food retaining its quality during transit. In summary, this is an excellent restaurant that I frequently patronize.
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Tammy L.

Yelp
We've been here a few times now and I would say this place is a solid 4-star restaurant. It's a bright, open restaurant with glass so you can see through to the folks making your dumplings, a la the other place iykyk. The folks are very accommodating and attentive here so we've never had an issue with service. I was even offered water after we'd paid the bill (unheard of). As for the food, here are the ones who garner high marks: Pork XLB Pork & Shrimp XLB Pork & Shrimp dumplings in chili oil Marinated cucumbers Crab fried rice Short Rib stir-fried noodles Green beans Snow pea leaves Seaweed & tofu salad Honorable mentions: Shrimp in crab sauce - honestly delicious but super salty the 3 times we've ordered this, even when eaten with rice. Beef roll - a little too much of the sweet sauce inside, there was no need for the accompanying side of it Spicy Pork XLB - Not bad, just different - it tastes spiced, like lu rou fan. Solid place to check out. Cheers!
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Leems B.

Yelp
Great experience at Dan modern. Food was great, service was friendly and ambiance was relaxed. Came here with a friend for a catchup dinner but noticed this location serves all crowds - families, couples, and friends wanting to catch up. It has a casual feel in a clean, friendly and welcoming environment.
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Kim M.

Yelp
I've liked Dan from the beginning, so I went to order online after having a stroke. Web site said, 25% off your first online order, it didn't work and when I showed it to the lady at the hostess desk, she took it to the manager and they blew me off. Don't ever get to big you don't think you can one day be out of business. Fraudulent inducement sucks.
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Rashi B.

Yelp
Came here for dinner with a few friends one night. I will say - this location is much better than the Sawtelle and epsecially the Santa Monica location in terms of ambiance and traffic. The food is good - love the vegetarian options! It's clean, good portion sizes, and service is pretty quick. I like to call it economical Din Tai Fung. I highly recommend! :)

Drew D.

Yelp
Normally don't write reviews but service was exceptional tonight at Dan. Food was amazing and highly recommend the short rib noodles. Zander our waiter was extremely nice and went above and beyond to take care of us. He was incredibly polite and made our night! We will be back again soon.

Natalie R.

Yelp
Zander was such a great waiter. My family and I really enjoyed our dinner and the food was great. He really made everything so smooth!(:
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Jillene W.

Yelp
So I've had some really good experiences with ordering from here... today not so good. I ordered the scallion pancakes and the chicken dan mein noodles. First issue, the pancakes were pretty flavorless unless you dipped them into the very salty dip and then a few minutes after eating them I had some type of allergic reaction! I've ordered from them before and never had this experience. Second issue ...Then the chicken dan mein noodles... they lacked flavor... maybe it was an under salt issue... but I was very underwhelmed and even shocked at the disappointment of a meal I was having. Not sure if I'll be back because with this new allergic reaction to who knows what in the food... it's just risky business. My tip to you is to just stick to the short rib dan mein noodles. The last time I had it, it was good. Do not order the chicken and pass on the scallion pancakes. It's not worth it to me.
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Jawana M.

Yelp
This was not a good food experience. I was hoping for better. I had the following items: Appetizer - chicken dumplings 5 pieces each pan fried These were pan fried and covered in some sauce that made it taste super salty. The saltiness was both inside and out, so not sure if it was the glaze or something else. Waiting for this to come out was underwhelming, as it was suggested as a "must try". Only had a bite of one because I couldn't finish the rest. Entree - xiao long bao soup dumplings (dan's signature dish) handmade dumplings with broth with chicken and shrimp filling. This was just okay. Nothing to write home about. The broth was bland and the chicken was barely noticeable. While the shrimp was prominent, the entire bowl was just lacking. Drink - oolong tea Best thing on the menu I had. Overall, would not recommend nor come back. Also important to note, if you sit near the door, there is possibility of a strong draft. Even if they close the door, the AC will activate (which is facing in front of the door seated areas.) Be prepared to freeze a bit if you don't have a coat.
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Heather W.

Yelp
So good. Fast service, nice staff, and a pleasant experience. My husband and I will def be going back.

Mayami O.

Yelp
This is my favorite restaurant around this area! The service is great, everyone is so kind, especially Zander who is so attentive and makes sure everything goes well. Food is great too, we love coming here!!
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Michelle K.

Yelp
Great food and service! The garlic green beans are sooooo good. I enjoyed how thick the noodles were and the chicken soup dumplings were delicious. The fried rice was good too but there wasn't too much flavor. Everything came out so fresh. Can't wait to come back!

Kim B.

Yelp
We were seated within 10 minutes of arrival. The shrimp fried rice is sooo good. One of my favorite restaurants.
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Juo-Chin Y.

Yelp
Dan had solid Taiwanese food and I am so grateful that they have so many locations on the west side. We usually go to the playa location. A busy hours there's usually a wait so be prepared. While their dumplings and Xiao long baos are not quite comparable to Ding Tai Fung yet, I still think they are really good especially when you just crave some of those. Their pork chop fried rice is also pretty tasty, the pork chop is a little too salty for me but I would order it again when crave fried rice. They offer so many different kinds of dumplings, whether you like it steamed, pan fried or with chilli oil, I have them all. Tried their Dan mien (noodle) once, not my favorite though. I would recommend to go with the dumplings, Xiao long bao and fried rice.
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Leo S.

Yelp
Came here once in January 2020 after my Packers lost to my then girlfriend's 49ers (Don't worry, I'm just a lukewarm fan of a morally corrupt sports league anyway), and it was pretty dang good. I came here again on my own in March 2024 (Don't worry, my then girlfriend is now wife) and it was still dang good. So bonus points for consistency. Each time, I had their classic pork XLB (Or soup dumplings, for you casuals) and they were delicious! Nice thin skin with generous amounts of broth inside them. They're similar in quality to a DTF (Or Ding Tai Fung, for said casuals) which isn't surprising, as you can see the cooks work on them through large glass windows. Would definitely recommend. This time I also ordered the crab fried rice, which was really good as well! Pricey, but worth. Especially since I was traveling on my work's dime. I mixed in a lot of their spicy oil with my rice which was perfect Ok, story time. If you come this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further (!). So I show up to this spot pretty late after being at a conference all day. You know, one of those ones where you have to fake being nice and cordial to all these strangers that you're most likely never gonna meet again. I consider myself now a social hermit, so being in a setting like that took way more out of me than it would a normal, regular human-being. As such, I came exhausted and hungry. I told my nice waitress that I was pretty dang hungry, so please don't judge me for ordering a bunch of food as a party of one. I already felt bad enough that they seated me at a table for 4, but fuck it. More room for me to sprawl out and stream basketball on my phone with my earbuds in, right? Anyway, the lady was really nice and said, "You'd be surprised at what people order on their own! I won't judge you." Well, I ordered pork XLB and crab fried rice, to which she said, "Oh, that's it? That's not bad!" I immediately felt like a fraud and nearly added more food just to "prove my point," but instead I just shyly muttered, "Well... that's just to start. I'll keep a menu for round 2." She immediately saw through me and kinda gave me a "SureJan.gif" look. I didn't end up ordering more. The whole point of this story is that despite how hungry you are, it's okay to not over order. I'm a classic over eater, just because I can. Not because I want. In this case, since I wasn't paying for it, I was probably very likely to order like 3 sets of XLB, some garlic string beans, and even some soup. Instead, I kept it modest, and it's okay. Even if your waitress/waiter thinks you were just sellin, it's okay. Portion control.

Mayra B.

Yelp
Dan Modern is the best Chinese place to eat with friends and family. The food here is delicious and mouth watering. The Service here is amazing, shout out to Zander he's like the best sever ever.
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Atul P.

Yelp
Our first visit to Dan was a pleasant surprise. We went for lunch. The menu has many interesting options for most palates. Even for us (pescatarians) there's plenty of choices. We shared the delicious crispy tofu appetizer which was little cubes of crispy silken tofu with a soy dipping sauce. Next we had the steamed vegetable dumplings which were rather bland. The vegetable filling didn't have any taste to it. Finally we shared the mapo tofu with a side of rice. The full size serving is generous even for two people. The dish was nicely spiced with garlic, soy sauce, ginger, and a generous dose of black pepper. It made for a tasty dish. Service was friendly and prompt.
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Otto Y.

Yelp
I love noodles and dumplings, and if you were to put all the noodles I have eaten into a line, it would probably stretch to the moon and back. My gold standard is the noodles and dumplings in Taiwan. Since this place is close to home, I thought I would give it a try. It was disappointing. Xialong bao (soup dumplings): These came with saggy and deflated skin. The flavor (pork and shrimp) was OK, nothing special. There was minimal soup inside; when done properly they should explode in your mouth. Instead, these were about 1/4 full of soup. Oddly, the order came with 5, making it impossible to share equally if you are in a group of 2 or 3. I am guessing this is on purpose, encouraging you to order at least double to be able to share. Steamed dumplings: The skin was oddly tough and dry and chewy. Done properly, these should be soft, plump, and slightly rubbery, like proper al dente Italian pasta. Instead, the skin was leathery and died out. I frequently make my own dumplings from scratch, and I am guessing that these were left out for some time and reheated. Again, the order came with 5. Oxtail noodles: I LOVE oxtail. If you've had it, you know it has a very specific flavor, and is fatty and tender. The meat in these noodles was dry and fibrous, consisting of thin strands of meat. As you probably also know, the oxtail meat is in small plump chunks on the bone; these fibers were too long to be oxtail, and extremely lean, like pulled beef in a sandwich. Neither the texture of flavor were oxtail; I am certain it was some other beef, the stringy kind used to make jerky, or perhaps skirt steak. Whatever it was, this was NOT oxtail. The portion was also pretty small; the noodles were OK. I ordered the spicy version, which barely had any heat. The prices were quite high for orders of 5 dumpings and a small bowl of soup. For the same price, you would get twice as much noodles and dumplings at a place like Mandarin Noodle House in Monterey Park (and much better quality). Now that I am finished writing, I think I am being generous with 2 stars. However, the food was OK, just less than mediocre but above terrible, which is why I am rating it 2 stars. The people giving this 5 stars and raving about the xiaolong bao obviously have not had much experience with the real stuff. I'm a snob that way, but this is my cultural heritage so I'm picky.
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Roger G.

Yelp
I came in the other night when the place was absolutely packed. It was clearly peak rush hour, and the staff were still incredibly kind and communicative. Most of the food was very good. The Dan mein noodles were fantastic, as was the scallion pancake. Having been to the Santa Monica location, I was expecting less filling portions, and was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying the meal was. I got to take the noodles home, and am happy to report that they are still great on reheat. The dumplings were not very good; the dough was a little... off, which is fine, considering the rush the restaurant was in, but the actual contents of them just wasn't very good. I do still wish they had some vegetarian option for the soup dumplings, since they seem to be all the rage at this establishment, and I would've liked to try them. The place is very nice & classy without feeling stuffy. Might still be worth calling ahead if you're trying to get dinner, though.
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Elizabeth G.

Yelp
Come for their lunch specials/happy hour! Come for dinner! The mapu tofu is TO DIE for, the three cup chicken is deliciously crispy, and the soup dumplings already have me drooling when i think about them. The service is quick, so don't worry about missing that 2pm meeting.

Cindy T.

Yelp
Loved the Dan Dan noodles. I had leftovers and they tasted delicious after reheating them on a pan. Definitely coming back! Please consider adding chocolate dumplings to your menu hehe
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Nadthawee P.

Yelp
Food is ok for not real chinese recipes, blend taste but at lease they are clean environment. If you want to experience good Asian is not here for the taste but just for something to make you stop craving a bit. Service is 100% bad! Employees did not seem to like their work. The lady on her shift of Saturday 6th January 2024 at lunch time is really not that good to assist you. Only big group of people that might make her smile so she can get big tip! (May be) Long wait forever at least 30 mins for appetizer to be served with not a lot of customers at that time Not recommended at all!! Just the brand that make you feel like you need yo try but not for happy Asian meal at all. At All!!!
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Lewis C.

Yelp
Four of us had dinner here recently. We had the Xiao Long Bao, pork dumplings (pan fried), dan noodles, scallion pancake, string beans and shrimp fired rice. All of the dishes were very good. The soup dumplings were not too hot to eat. The dumplings were juicy and tasty. And the dan noodles were our favorite. We were seated right away and the service was prompt. The space is nice and comfortable. Even though the restaurant was full, it was not too loud for conversation. We had an excellent meal.
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Gary M.

Yelp
Last time I ate here was for lunch and the service, ambiance, and food, were all good. Solid four. Today the food was good but the service sucked. I will think twice before coming here again.
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Zach S.

Yelp
Lunch portions are amazing value for the money. For $25 after tip, I walked out with amazing broccoli with garlic and a half portion of their shrimp with shishito peppers. All of their dishes pack an unbelievable amount of flavor in them, and the wok-made ones have lots of wok hei. A must visit every time I roll through LA!
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Amber K.

Yelp
Love the Pork Bao. The fried rice is also amazing. Great takeout spot. Chicken fried rice over the short rib fried rice.
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Matthew M.

Yelp
We loved this place and definitely recommend if you are in Pasadena! The soup dumplings were amazing, as was the oxtail soup. Chicken soup and pan fried dumplings were great too. Chicken mein noodles were incredibly tasty. Good service. Not crowded for lunch. Got lucky with street parking nearby. Overall I definitely recommend checking this place out! Great lunch specials where you can get half orders so you can try multiple items! Affordable too for food so tasty!