DanDan

Chinese restaurant · Historic Third Ward

DanDan

Chinese restaurant · Historic Third Ward

5

360 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

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DanDan by @ExploreTock
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Highlights

Sichuan pork dumplings, smashed cucumbers, General Tso's cauliflower  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

360 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Get directions

dandanmke.com
@dandanmke

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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360 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Get directions

+1 414 488 8036
dandanmke.com
@dandanmke
𝕏
@dandanmke

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

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@infatuation

The 22 Best Restaurants In Milwaukee 2024

"Dan Dan—which, yes, was opened by a duo of Dans—feels unlike any other fusion restaurant in Milwaukee. The space is dimly lit, the service is exceptional, and the menu jumps all over the place in a good way. We always get the scallion pancakes and smashed cucumbers before moving onto the three-course Peking duck special (a rarity in Milwaukee) or sweet and sour shrimp. There are also great vegan options—the golden curry has enough lemongrass punch to get a meat eater to dance in their seat a little. " - kristine hansen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/milwaukee/guides/best-restaurants-milwaukee
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@infatuation

Dan Dan Review - Third Ward - Milwaukee - The Infatuation

"Dan Dan—which, yes, was opened by a duo of Dans—feels unlike any other fusion restaurant in Milwaukee. The space is dimly lit, the service is exceptional, and the menu jumps all over the place in a good way. We always get the scallion pancakes and smashed cucumbers before moving onto the three-course Peking duck special (a rarity in Milwaukee) or sweet and sour shrimp. There are also great vegan options—the golden curry has enough lemongrass punch to get a meat eater to dance in their seat a little." - Kristine Hansen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/milwaukee/reviews/dan-dan
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@eater

Why Milwaukee Is One of America’s Best Dining Cities in 2024 | Eater

"Highlighted as a Chinese/American fusion spot contributing to the city’s diverse Asian offerings, known for inventive takes on familiar flavors." - Eater Staff

https://www.eater.com/24058202/milwaukee-best-dining-city-2024-vote
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@exploretock

MILWAUKEE CITY GUIDE

"DanDan Milwaukee has a Chinese soul with a Midwestern sensibility. Flavorful, respectful, playful and seasonal, it’s an homage to the foods of our childhood."

https://www.exploretock.com/blog/city-guides/milwaukee/
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@eater

The Milwaukee Chefs Behind Dandan and Esterev on Illness and Empire-Building | Eater

"Opened in 2016 by chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite as their first collaboration, this Chinese restaurant launched the partners' local expansion and helped establish their signature, playful take on Chinese cuisine in Milwaukee. The lead-up to opening coincided with Jacobs' diagnosis of Kennedy's disease, which has affected some fine motor tasks in the kitchen and his voice, but also spurred a strong culture of mutual support among staff and community-focused fundraising—their periodic “Dim Sum Give Some” events raised over $50,000 in two years. The restaurant also served as the incubator for other concepts through its pastry program." - Monica Burton

https://www.eater.com/2018/8/9/17661632/dan-jacobs-dan-van-rite-fauntleroy-dandan-milwaukee
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Jackie Fiedler

Google
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!!

Madyun Wilson

Google
DanDan is a hidden gem that elevates Asian cuisine to new heights. Each dish features a unique flavor profile that is expertly seasoned to perfection. You can truly taste the influence in every bite, with meals served at just the right temperature. While the fried Brussels sprouts have a slightly bitter edge, the orange chicken surprises with delightful hints of vanilla. The Singapore noodles pack a spicy punch, but the rewarding blend of herbs and sage makes it all worthwhile. The interior of the restaurant is also inviting creating a vibrant atmosphere with a superb waitstaff to match!

Leo 263

Google
Food is upscale Asian. Tasty. A bit too creative for me personally but it was still good. I just asking myself ‘why’. The kung pao chicken had very little chicken and a lot of veggies and stuff added. This place is worth a try. People seemed happy and enjoying their food. The hostess was a bit rough. Just gave off rude mean vibes. No smile. No welcome. Just got to business. If you ignore her, everyone else was delightful. They add a silly 5% fee. I hate that. Just raise your prices. You already are with the fee.

Kristen Pena

Google
Family style for a large group work dinner. Everything was amazing! The chicken wings were *chef kiss* - everyone in our party enjoyed every single dish!

Sammy Weisgal

Google
Solid Chinese food. I sat at the bar. The staff was very friendly. I tried 3 dishes. Sichuan dumplings. They had a nice chew to them. The sauce was very savory when I enjoyed very much. General Tso's cauliflower. A sweeter dish but very good. It came out pilling hot. Cumin lamb noodles. These very decent but I didn't love them. This dish has a pretty strong cumin flavor. I found the lamb a little on the fatty side and the dish felt heavy. But overall it was still decent. Overall I enjoyed the meal.

1badruckus

Google
Ate at Dan Dan having had watched Top Chef. Our server was very attentive and engaging. We ordered the Brussel Sprouts, Crab Rangoon, and the Shrimp Stir Fry. Everything was very good but the Crab Rangoon was amazing with its’ creamy filling. I was quite surprised with how reasonably priced everything was. We will definitely return.

P. Kahn

Google
We had a delicious meal at DanDan. Everything we chose was great. From the dumplings, brussel sprouts!, orange chicken, fried rice........ and the cocktail ...... yum yum and yum. Service was great too.

Debbie Natoli

Google
The food has so much depth and flavor. We will be back! Next time we will make a reservation because the place gets packed. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. I am craving the walnut shrimp and smashed cucumber and I just left:). If you are in Milwaukee, this place is a must-go. We were visiting Marquette and it was an easy drive.

Andy P.

Yelp
Service is excellent. I would say probably the one of the best around. Food was great.
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Isabella K.

Yelp
Food: The Crab Rangoon at DanDan is, hands down, the best I've ever had. It's crispy and crunchy on the outside with a generous, flavorful dollop of filling on the inside. And it's served super hot -- no weird gummy texture that can happen to wonton wrappers when they cool down. The sweet and sour sauce was just that, and complimented the appetizer perfectly. We gave the Chicken Wings a shot for a second appetizer and they were solid. The rub packed just a bit of heat and the green sauce paired with it was a little spicy as well, but with a deep herby and smoky flavor. I wasn't totally in love with the wings, so I don't think I'd order them a second time. I went ahead and gave the Orange Chicken a shot at the advice of our server and loved it. The dish came with a side of sticky white rice, which was a great addition. Somehow the chicken was both crispy and hot while still being super saucy? I'm not sure how they pulled that off, but it was such a delight. The herbs, orange slices, and sesame seeds made for a beautiful dish. My partner, who I shared with, did point out that the breading on the orange chicken was a little bit hard in some points, possibly due to an uneven fry. I did pick up on that with my next bite but it wasn't a huge deterrent. My partner tried the Chicken Pad See Ew and said it was his favorite thing we tried all night. With so many colors, textures, and ingredients, the dish was stunning. Personally, I'm not a fan of shiitake mushrooms, so I didn't love the dish like my partner did. But he said he'd definitely order it again. Service: Our server Andrew did a nice job. It took a little bit for him to come greet us, but he was knowledgeable about the menu and was pretty attentive for the rest of our time at DanDan. Ambiance: The vibes here are immaculate. The restaurant is modern but more eclectic than sterile. House plants adorn the entire restaurant, giving it a really organic, comfortable feel. Things to note: We made a reservation for 6:30 p.m. on a weekday, and I would definitely recommend doing the same as we saw a couple walk-ins leave after hearing the wait time. We spent about $85 before tip for two apps, two entrees, and two sodas (no alcohol). There's no designated parking lot, so make sure you arrive a little bit early to find street parking.
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Katie O.

Yelp
A great time at DanDan. The hostess was incredible - we showed up with no reservation on a busy night and they were able to find us a table very quickly and was very communicative and accommodating when we arrived. We ordered three appetizers to share - and those were the winner of the night. the chicken Bao buns - incredible, fluffy and crispy with lots of sauce. The pork peanut egg roll which had great crispy wrapper and the pork dumplings which were very fresh and flavorful. For mains, we shared the orange chicken and the shrimp pad see ew - both were okay. The bar was set very high by the appetizers. Ambiance was modern Asian and very trendy. Because everything is so fresh, they bring it out as it is ready, straight from the kitchen, making for a fun eating experience in courses. Will be back when I'm in Milwaukee again!
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Michael B.

Yelp
DanDan is tucked away near Summerfest grounds. We booked a reservation for a party of two the day before (Thursday for Friday) and their first opening was 8:30. They seemed to have a variety of small and large tables. They have a red and black theme that says cool Asian fusion wedding. The server immediately gave us a whole thing of water. The serve was friendly, asked if we had ever been here, and if we had allergies. She did let us know that they encourage sharing and due to the high volume in resturant and take out they can't have all entrees in a party come out at the same time. I appreciate both the honestly and so I can manage my expectations. Also much rather have my dish 5 minutes later than someone's be not hot. As per often I asked the server to tell me their favorite from several options. She had a clear favorite which was helpful to indecisive me. We got the Happy Chicken and Singapore Noodles (pork and shrimp). Maybe 30 minutes for food. The happy chicken is complex flavor with decent spiciness. The heat builds as you eat. Lots of chili, garlic, onion flavor. Crunchy without being dry or too bready. It was good but not great. The Singapore noodle is what I call Thai bbq with the smoky flavor. Some of it had a nice sweetness. In general good, fun but a couple dollars too much. Also good luck on Top chef, Dan.
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Greg W.

Yelp
We had been meaning to hit up DanDan since before the Top Chef hype and finally got the chance when visiting this month. We were there on a Friday and wanted to try a few things so hit the buffet. The staff, restaurant, and area around it are all fantastic and really nice. The buffet itself is standard "Chinese-american buffet" stuffs but done well. They keep the trays small so there's never anything sitting out too long. The downside is that they're often empty until someone notices and refreshes them. The crispy rice and cucumber salads were my favorites by far. An explosion of flavors and textures that made the whole eating experience pretty great. Next were a bunch of your standard lo mein, bbq sauced beef, fried rice, pad see ew, and kung pao tofu. All of this I'd call "unremarkable". It's just really heavy, sweet flavors used to pad out a buffet so folks don't eat too much of the expensive stuff. I'll say that the noodles in the pad see ew were a really nice texture. Nothing was spicy at all. The wings were super tender and had a nice dry rub coating that kept them crisp. I didn't have any of the egg rolls since they live along side rice in my "never eat at a buffet" list but I heard they were good. I'd be interested to try their real menu at some point but the buffet was decent. I'd recommend to try it once but probably won't be back unless they add a bit more variety beyond noodles and rice. Some vegetable dish would be fire.
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Grant S.

Yelp
We have been looking for a new favorite Asian-fusion dinner sort in MKE for a few years now and had basically given up hope. However, we gave DanDan a try tonight...AND IT HAPPENED! We have a new favorite Asian-fusion spot and we CANNOT wait to return again in future weekends! From the moment we walked in, we were treated kindly and warmly welcomed by the service staff. And what an adorable space. From the decor, plants, and overall ambiance, you truly enter a holistic dining experience from the moment you enter. Reasonable prices, clean facilities, and great hours definitely exemplify DanDan! Once seated for our reservation, we knew that we need the Sichuan Pork Dumplings. They were so so so good, but full of spice. Yum! For meals, my husband got the Happy Chicken and I got the Mongolian Beef. We both loved our meals. However, we each had several bites of the other person's dish and debated whether or not we wanted the other person's dish. In the end, we just decided that the food is epically excellent and anything we could get would be delicious. Thus, we just needed to come back in the future and try additional dishes. So, see you again soon, DanDan!
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Lauren S.

Yelp
DanDan has been on my list of places to try since September and then when I saw Dan on Top Chef, I needed to make sure to check it off the list sooner than later. This week was the week. The entire restaurant was packed, but the service was still impeccable. The portions are large and for sure shareable. Must try dishes include: General tso cauliflower Smashed cucumbers Cumin lamb dumplings Orange chicken I found the pad see ew to be a little overly sweet so could have done without it. The scallion pancakes were good but the cucumbers truly stole the show when it came to apps!
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Jennifer N.

Yelp
I know I'm not the only one influenced by the newest season of top chef, but let me embrace it and say that this place is honestly pretty solid for Americanized Chinese food! Normally you would not catch me at one of these but on the off chance that your city is featured and one of the chefs on there has their own restaurant in said city... I'm going! Make sure you get your reservations in! This place gets buuuuusy. We started off with sesame chicken baos (4/5, really crispy and saucy chicken) and Sichuan pork dumplings (4/5). Both I thought were good and the Sichuan pork dumplings satisfied my cravings. I liked that the pork dumplings were in a more vinegar-y-based sauce, it helped cut some of the greasiness of the other foods we had! For main entrees, my friend and I split the happy chicken (4/5) and Singapore noodles (3/5, wasn't the biggest fan of this and a bit too salty). The happy chicken is not for the weak (those who can't handle numbing). I wouldn't say it was spicy but it does have that traditional sichuan numbing effect. Besides my tongue feeling all types of weirdness, I thought the flavor was great. We had a great time and We had a great time with super knowledgable servers! Will definitely continue to support.
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Aaron H.

Yelp
It's a nice spot for a meal. But, it's so popular I had really high expectations. So, I wasn't blown away. Make a reservation. Set your standards for PF Chang level (not Momo Mee) and you'll probably be very happy.
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Jake T.

Yelp
Food: 4.5/5 very good, got some crispy rice and noodles. The sauce was excellent! Service: 5/5 our noodles actually came out a little cold, but wait staff was great. They apologized and comped that entree. Couldn't speak more highly of them Ambience: 4/5 it was a cool spot! I'll be excited to see it in the summer
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Faith B.

Yelp
My friend and I visited DanDan on the heels of Top Chef's spotlight on it. We were surprised to see Cheftestant Dan himself at the reception desk, wrangling diner seating. He was very nice. We were seated at a two top along the wall. The decor is mainly what you'd expect from a Chinese concept place - lots of red and black. It's chic, but a little on the nose. The space is also extremely loud. We couldn't hear each other from across the small table for most of the meal. Service was a team effort, but main server, Cody, was excellent. All the timing was spot on and we really enjoyed the progression of our dishes. Our craft cocktails were both excellent. Crab Rangoon was good with the rare inclusion of actual crab. We enjoyed the crispy Scallion Pancakes. The Veggie Momo were excellent. The sauces were not traditional Tibetan or Himalayan, but they were layered and yummy. The real star was the filling which had far more flavor than almost any veggie dumpling I've ever tasted. We finished with the Pad See Ew; the noodles were super tender. Overall we really enjoyed ourselves and were glad to have experienced it.
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Todd J.

Yelp
Just watched Dan win top chef at supper club elimination for his relish. Food was awesome and tasty. Service on point. When in Milwaukee a must stop. (Not exactly sure what the additional 5% for Employee Benefits added to the check is for.)
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Alyssa R.

Yelp
Arrived fairly late in the night, and was pleased with the service. The food was served quickly. The restaurant was really cold, thought it was just me but everyone had their jackets on, but I loved the decor! Ordered the crab rangoon and would say it was average with not a very distinct flavor/filling. The Kung Pao Chicken didn't have a whole lot of chicken and was more tangy than spicy. The star of the show was the General Tso's cauliflower. The crunch held even covered in the sauce. It was a perfect balance of the sweet/sour/spicy.
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Catherine M.

Yelp
This was the most disappointing meal we had while in Milwaukee. I've made cooking mistakes that tasted better than what we had. The DanDan noodles were too salty with pork that was overly cooked and dry. The Singapore noodles were coated with gritty curry powder that immediately left me with a headache. The veggies were large slices which overwhelmed the small shrimp and tiny pieces of sausage. We left wondering how this was a James Beard finalist.
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Lindsy R.

Yelp
I've been hearing about Dan Dan for some time now and k was pumped to be able to finally try it. I didn't know that it was more of a shared plate experience or at least that's what we decided to do! We ordered the Dan Dan noodles and well as two type of dumplings. The Vietnamese Beef dumplings were more like a potsticker which was good but the Schichuan Pork Dumplings were so good! The service was great and I would for sure come back here. I will say it's priced on the hire end of Asian restaurant but would be a great date spot if you're looking to try something new. I'd recommend making a reservation it seems they do get busy.
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Melissa B.

Yelp
Decided to go here on a Sunday evening after a MSO performance and waited until the doors opened. We were seated immediately, which was lucky since it wasn't long before the restaurant was full. Our server was quick and friendly, and the food was truly amazing. Our table of 3 shared 2 appetizers, 2 mains, and 1 dessert and were very satisfied. However, we did order an extra bowl of rice since the one served was rather small for us. The Smashed Cucumbers were served cool with crisp flavors. The black vinegar gave it the perfect tang with a little bit of spice, and the cilantro, well, it's cilantro, so it just makes everything better, in my opinion. The potstickers were good-sized and with well-balanced flavors. The taste of the ribs was evident right away with the foie gras, giving it a nice finish. The Happy Chicken was spicy and so good! If you like spice, I highly recommend it! The DanDan noodles also had a bit of spice, but not overwhelmingly so, and the peanuts (which I'm usually not a fan of in food) added a nice, subtle crunch. I've heard the service here can be hit or miss, but our server was fast and attentive, and our food came out quickly. NOTE: a 20% tip is added to your bill automatically.
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Nicole L.

Yelp
We have been wanting to try the house special 3 course Peking Duck, and we finally made it happen. It says it serves 2-3 but it's more like 4 people - it was so much food! We had 3 in our group and all had leftovers to take home. Definitely worth the $85 but you do have to order it a day in advance. It starts with a warm, salty and brothy wonton soup with...you guessed it, Duck, Foie Gras Dumplings, Scallions, and Bok Choy. The dumplings were heavenly. Course two is a beautifully presented Duck breast served with perfectly spongey scallion pancakes, House Pineapple Hoisin Sauce and Cucumbers / Radishes. Lastly...if you have any room left is the Duck leg chow fun noodles. The house-made Rice Noodles were phenomenal, you get to bust open your own Duck Egg, and it's smothered in Foie Gras with Scallion, Bok Choy, Tomato, Celery, and Leeks. We did get the mango crème brûlée which was HUGE, so fresh, so interesting, and a perfect way to round out this incredible dinner. Do this. The service was amazing and you will not be disappointed!!!
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Sheila R.

Yelp
First of All- Highly recommend you make a Reservation. It seems to be super popular so that will def help. We got there early and sat at the bar had a drink before we got our table. Community Effort was mine and I loved it! Hubs had the 1971 and be really enjoyed it. As far as food goes, EVERYTHING was awesome. We ordered both styles of dumplings, chichen baos, fried rice with chicken and shrimp. The Mango creme brulee is by far the best creme brulee (with quite a twist) that I have ever had. Portions were great for all and it is like "tapas" so great for sharing and trying multiple things.
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Brandon T.

Yelp
DanDan is an innovative asian restaurant with a creative cocktail menu (my favorite was "community effort), great appetizers (I recommend the dumplings), and phenomenal service. Our waiter gave us spot on recommendations for the entrées and knew the menu front to back. In addition to the food and service I would highly recommend this spot due to its prime location in Milwaukee's third ward!
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Maggie B.

Yelp
Some of the best food in Milwaukee! Highly recommend the Tao's Cauliflower, Walnut Shrimp, and the dumplings. I could eat the cauliflower everyday and never get sick of it. I'm still dreaming of it. I do have to say while the food is amazing, it's overpriced. And that's separate from a 20% service charge on top of your bill. The dumplings and other small plates have 5 pieces per plate for $17? It's so good but there are other dumplings in the city that are just as good for a better price. The service was average and didn't warrant such a high automatic fee added. I do love the outdoor seating! It's nice to be able to enjoy this food on the patio with some drinks. I'll be back but hopefully the service and prices are reevaluated!
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Annie C.

Yelp
While DanDan does attempt to offer non-traditional American Chinese dishes (they have more than just Orange Chicken and Walnut Shrimp), I found the taste to be monotonous and repetitive throughout. My assessment is based on my encounters with the Mapo Tofu, Dan Dan Noodles, and Orange Chicken-- all of which exhibited a lack of diversity in seasonings and garnishes. It appears that the chefs have not thoroughly delved into the ingredients and nuances of these dishes. The execution feels superficial, as if the addition of Szechuan peppercorns and garnishes of scallions and cilantro across all their dishes is enough to signify authenticity to the Chinese cuisine. The rice that is served with the entrees came out cold which was really disappointing. This lack of variation left me craving more distinct flavors and a greater sense of culinary exploration. I would recommend dining elsewhere if you are looking for something more refined.
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Leah G.

Yelp
I visited recently in restaurant twice over the past 2 months and the food is still just as amazing as always. I always do the General Tsos cauliflower because it's my favorite thing on the menu but I also loved the chicken bao appetizer and the Mongolian beef entree recently. I love that they have N/A options on the menu from Untitled. The only reason I am going 4 stars is because of the awkwardness of the 20% service charge plus ask for extra tip. As a previous service industry worker I tip 20% minimum, always more for good service. But something about the service charge handling here is awkward and makes it feel like they are asking for you to pay the service charge plus tip the server on top of that (double tip). Like the service charge doesn't go to the servers but anything extra you tip will so if you had good service you should tip double... not sure if this is the intention but having been there twice recently that's the impression.
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Katie G.

Yelp
Another great meal at Dandan! Don't sleep on the general tsos cauliflower or the egg rolls!
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Angelina P.

Yelp
Definitely not coming back after the previous experience. Seems like it just gets worse every time I come. Hosts and servers are terribly rude. It's as if they intentionally ignore you. Food is not what it used to be. The serving sizes seem to shrinking. Our entrees came out 20 min before the appetizer and the justification was "it's up to the chef however he wants to do it (what...?). $1 charges for a tablespoon of sauce, which I've never encountered before. An automatic 20% service charge regardless of how terrible the service was. The server came to check on us maybe twice while we were waiting 15+ minutes for a water refill. It took over 10 minutes just to get our check. Terribly disappointed
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Treba D.

Yelp
A friend wanted to take me somewhere I'd never been before and we ended up at DanDan's. This place did not disappoint. The food was so colorful and bold. The cumin and lamb dish may have been too bold for my taste buds but luckily there was tons of items on the table to choose from. The cauliflower was by far one of my favorite dishes. Followed by the green beans and crab rangoon. The dishes where all large enough to share. I thought the custom wallpaper in the bathroom was very unique. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. A good place for a date. Our waitress was extremely patient with us and did not rush us as we kinda closed the restaurant down.
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Matt R.

Yelp
We recently had dinner with a larger group of friends here. Very accommodating for our larger group and the tapas-like approach for the asian fusion menu was perfect. Nearly all the dishes ordered were quite good. Cocktail selection is a bit limited but service was excellent. If you enjoy asian fusion, this is a great place in Milwaukee.
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Ally S.

Yelp
Highlights/Lowlights 1. Super Flavorful Food 2. Fun Ambiance 3. Be Aware of Spice Level We hadn't been to Dan Dan since pre-COVID and I'm not sure why! We made. Reservation about 2 weeks in advance for a party of 4 at 6:45pm on a Friday. I definitely recommend getting a reservation as Dan Dan was pretty packed. We were seated promptly when we arrived (major points!) and given waters right away. We are family style which is highly recommended (there are so many flavorful dishes and it's fun to try a variety!). We tried the cucumber salad, wings, bean pancakes, Kung Pow Chicken, Shrimp. Everything was fantastic. The shrimp (which I'm honestly usually hit or miss on) had this incredible sauce and candied walnuts on it. It was such a unique way to serve shrimp! The only issue we had is that there are some chili pods in the Kung Pow chicken that while flavorful are INSANELY hot. Like kind of ruin your appetite, gulp water for 20 mins hot. Might have been out bad for not reading the menu item closer but WOAH. The vibe of Dan Dan is energetic, kind of loud but FUN. I love places that feel lively! We can't wait to be back and feel like we missed out by waiting so long to come back!
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Michelle B.

Yelp
We love DanDan! Awesome service, yummy drinks and I love how everything is served family style. We visited on Saturday this week and enjoyed one of the best bites of food I've ever had - The sesame chicken boa buns! Perfectly cooked - crunchy, sweet, sour, salty and all on an incredible bun. Fantastic.
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Ankita S.

Yelp
I went here recently for a work dinner with three other people and it was perfect for a tapas/small plates style dinner. I got JT's Senorita to drink and it was so good. It had the flavors of relaxing on a beach somewhere. We followed the drinks with almost one of each vegetarian dish on the menu because all of them sounded so good and everyone wanted to try something different. We placed the orders for all of the dishes at once and they brought them out one at a time as each became ready and it definitely helped to pace our time there. The mungbean kimchee pancakes came first - they were soft and dense, but in a very pleasant way. The kimchi they came with was good, but not overpowering, and the sauce it came with added a nice sweetness that made the dish perfect. The smashed cucumbers came next and it is truly shocking how something that sounds so simple can be so complex in taste. Do not sleep on the cucumbers! The chili corn, which was a special, was a surprise as it was on the cob doused in the most delicious and moderately spicy sauce. General Tso's cauliflower was great and Mapo tofu was good, but the latter was slightly saltier than necessary in my opinion. I think the only true letdown of dinner was the curry glass noodles, which unlike every other dish, was lacking in flavor. The noodles themselves were long and had a nice chew, but the broth was bland. They probably could've taken some of that salt from the tofu to add here and it would have balanced both better. The service was fantastic as well. In the middle of our dinner, our waitress brought a second order of the pancakes that we didn't order because there was a mix-up at another table, which was very kind of her! Overall great experience, but I do wish there was a vegetarian Dandan noodles option!
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Abigail W.

Yelp
Came here with two friends for dinner on a Sunday night. We made a reservation for 3 and were seated were right away by a nice man. We ordered our appetizer- crab Rangoons, which were delicious. Then ordered our entrees and were told they might come out at different times. Which is fine, normal for a little time between. It was 35 minutes between my meal and my friends noodles. When we asked if the food was almost ready the waitress was very rude, shrugging her shoulders and rolling her eyes saying they were REALLY busy. Honestly I wouldn't mind the wait if my food wasn't cold by the time my friends meals came out. They did give us a discount, but truthfully I wouldn't come back to sit down. Take out is definitely the way to go.

Priya B.

Yelp
Great spot and liked all the small plates we ordered. We liked the smashed cucumbers. Egg rolls were average, nothing to rave about. Sesame chicken bao and pork dumplings were delicious. The beef chow fun was sooooo salty and very heavy. If it had less salt we would've liked it. The happy chicken was awful. Overall great spot, great service, but everything was overly salty. This is my third time here and it's always too salty for everyone we bring here.

LaDonna K.

Yelp
service -- amazing. Our server was so knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. ambiance -- very nice. Not an intimate setting but it was inviting and comfortable. food -- sichuan pork dumplings -- excellent. DanDan noodles -- very salty. It was good but disappointed Salt & pepper fried rice -- salty. Happy Chicken and rice -- excellent. Seasoning was perfect. Dessert -- eclairs that were to die for. I could eat them every day. I was so looking forward to this dinner so I was disappointed that it had so much salt. I'm giving four stars for the items that were so good.
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Jessica J.

Yelp
Another enjoyable experience at DanDan! My family and I came on a whim last Sunday night. Without a reservation, it was tough to get dining room seating, so we were instead sat at a high-top in the bar area. We didn't mind at all, but do note that these are *small* tables, maybe better for two people, verses the four we had. They have quite the robust beverage menu that include plenty of draft and bottled beer options, two-dozen wines (white, red, rose, and sparkling), and a handful of signature cocktails. My dad and brother and big brew guys and they enjoyed the couple they tried. I opted for Sav Blanc, it was light, crisp, and refreshing. Just what I was looking for. We all decided to share various menu items, which is easy to do here given all of the small-plate dim sum options. Our server recommended we start with 2-3 dishes, and order more as needed since food comes out of the kitchen quite quickly. First came the egg rolls, short rib pot stickers, and a medley of cooked market vegetables. The egg rolls were my fave - they were sizable and filled with cabbage, tender pork, and peanut. I could literally eat these egg rolls daily. We all agreed the veg was tasty. The pot stickers were too, but that whole dish is prettyyy small for the price tag. We then ordered the Mongolian beef entree to all share. That was *chefs kiss* very flavorful! It's not often we come here, but each time we have, it's been worth it.
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Bri B.

Yelp
Atmosphere: HUGE place, lots of seating indoors and out. I still recommend a reservation they are always busy. The bathrooms are always....wet? Water everywhere and toilet paper/paper towel scattering the floor and it's the weirdest paint job they obviously did themselves because there are paint smears and splatters all over the toilets. Food: DELICOUS. Seriously so good but the portions are on the smaller side and the price is definitely on the high side. Two beers, an appetizer, and two entrees set us back $100 and we left hungry. Staff: Knowledgeable and friendly. I've noticed both times a bit of a mix up on where orders are being delivered which is understandable with the amount of tables. Also note to the owners: PLEASE fix your website. The menu is so hard to read online, and its a super easy fix from your web designer that would take less than an hour of billable time to implement. We always ask for paper menus which is less than ideal with the whole covid fiasco. Would love to give this place one more shot and bump this up a few stars the next time I'm in town.
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Lexie E.

Yelp
Favorite date night spot if u like sharing food. There service charge is confusing but employees are always very nice. Come with no picky eaters!
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Maria R.

Yelp
We ordered the 3 course peking duck. Sadly, the food was overly salty. Service was ok. Drinks were good. We were a little disappointed.
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Rachel B.

Yelp
The service and staff here is truly amazing. I came in without a reservation as my other dinner plans fell through. Here they were able to seat me right away in the bar area which was already off to a good start. I was served by Matt (who was seriously the greatest) and I will have to be returning because of how awesome he took care of us. The drinks we had were fabulous and the food was pretty good as well. The crab rangoons were a fan favorite of course! The dandan noodles and happy chicken were also very good. It was a good variety of food to enjoy. I wish I had gotten more to try but the food is a bit pricey for it being shared dishes. We wanted to grab more to share but limited it due to pricing. Overall, you have to try this place. It is unique and I haven't had anything quite like this in the Mke area!
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Madeline O.

Yelp
Have been dying to try this place Did not disappoint at all Food was ....gorlllllll atmosphere was 10/10 Server was chill as hell and had cool tats and was nice as hellllll Going to go back again!
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Jennifer M.

Yelp
It's like the country club ~ add a 20% fee to your bill and THEN add a tip. Just like the club but no pool, golf, or any other service, other than typical restaurant service. Dang. Maybe I'm just getting old and cheap. Maybe I'm not up to the times, but is this normal? Is it normal now for places to charge you 20% 'service fee' on your bill and THEN you tip your server on top of that? My fault. I should have read the website when we booked tonight. It's front and center so it's not a secret, but I don't get it. I do understand that the nation can't find good help and sometimes paying people more helps (sometimes treating your employees better helps too). But I'm not used to a 20% fee and I won't be returning. Yes, I tipped the server on top of this b/c it's not her fault, but she was SUPER lackluster herself. No smiles, Gave you the feeling you were bothering her. Still tipped her because... you know. That's what you do, but good grief. I paid enough in service and tip tonight. Menu: No menu.. That 20% doesn't cover the menu. Use your phone and QR code it baby. Then blow it up on your phone until it's nice and big and blurry . Then you realize that this doesn't work. Your spouse looks at you wondering why you're getting ornery. You say nothing and ask for a menu. Two people, one paper menu. Apparently that 20% surcharge isn't enough to cover the bill to cover TWO paper menus. Ugh. OK. fine. Read the menu upside-down husband. I'm holding this menu and you can read it upside down since we have to share it. Oh wait, the font? you can't read it b/c it's super tiny? Ask the crabby cat server for the menu suggestions since you cant read it. She suggests things. I'm exhausted by this point. Yes, yes, and yes. They all sound good. Food, awesome. Dumplings, Salad, noodles, chicken, and one more thing. All really good. Bill comes. Now the server has time to talk to us. She starts telling us about the 20% is for 'the house' and anything else goes directly to the server. Thank you for taking the time to hang out at our table and talk AND smile for a minute. Got it. She leaves and we look at the bill. $17 for the house and more for the server. How much do you tip a server when 20% was just given 'to the house?" I did about 13% off the sub total. I hope that was enough. This said, I'm done with this place. Can't do it. Good for Dan Dan if they can continue finding people that will support those fees. I felt like I was at the county club with no club to go with it. Didn't like it. I'm old school Milwaukee. We're thrifty people. So if they can fill their place with these fees and make it work for them, good on them. I will be bowing out and watching see how it works. Thank you for my last good meal at Dan Dan :) "A 20% service charge is applied to all orders and goes towards all staff wages. Any additional gratuity is optional, and goes directly to those who serve you."'
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Gary H.

Yelp
Full disclosure: I love me some DanDan. My visit last night did not disappoint in several ways: easy to make reservations, confirmation email, reminder, and prompt, courteous greeting at the door. Our server was attentive but not intrusive. Dumplings and two dinner entrees were delicious, the shrimp especially so. The beef was a little harder to judge because there was so little of it in a sea of onion and red peppers. Still, a solid 4-5 star experience. Then there's the restaurant itself. It needs a cleaning. I'll skip the details about the common areas. The men's room, however, cannot be glossed over. I've been in worse in filling stations on state highways, but I've also been in far cleaner. The walls were dirty; sinks, grimy; mirror and air freshener bottles, caked with oily gunk. I'll avoid graphic details of the rest of it. This condition was not at the end of an evening when the place was hopping. This was at 6:30 on a weeknight.
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Jeff B.

Yelp
Sometimes things just don't go right when you dine out. Mistakes happen. The mark of a good establishment though is how well they do when wires do get crossed. We had a group of 5, including a 2 and 1/2 year old, and arrived at about 6pm on a Sunday evening. It was nice weather and we were seated outside on the patio, which was perfect for the toddler and for the rest of the diners inside the restaurant. Our server was helpful in suggesting a simple dish of buttered noodles to tide the young guy over until the appetizers and mains arrived, which was brought out quite promptly. I appreciate restaurants like DanDan that bring dishes straight to the table when ready rather than placing items under warming lights. The problem tonight was that the serving staff served one of our dishes to another table and we didn't realize that they had until late in the meal. Everything had been brought out, and we had even placed additional orders, but we were missing a dish. Although the meals are family style, one of our group was waiting for the last dish of DanDan noodles, the house special, which never arrived. It was mentioned that we were missing a dish to our server and she assured us that the kitchen would be making it right away. But that didn't happen. After waiting another 15 minutes or so with no follow up by our server and being annoyed by fruit flies on the patio, we decided that the evening was done and the 2 and 1/2 year old needed to get home. Our server did take a couple items off the bill, which was appreciated. But it would have been better had the restaurant management done a better job letting us know what was going on and telling the kitchen that they needed to make our dish right away. When we left, the manager in charge should have come and spoke to us rather than making the server take responsibility for the restaurant's mistakes.
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Michael E.

Yelp
The three course Peking Duck is one of our favorite meals in town. Tender duck breast, always cooked perfectly with that light crisp layer on top, just can't be beat! The three course meal starts with a flavorful duck filled wontons in a broth that was right at our salt level. The main course comes up next with that beautifully sliced duck breast accompanied by scallion pancakes, hoisin and veggies. This meal feeds 2-3, you can take home some of the first or third course but make sure to finish duck breast in house. Completing the meal is the chow fun made from leg meat with noodles. We have had this course come out quite a bit after twice so you may want to ask for it earlier if time is a factor. There were four in our group on this trip, therefore we did start with Egg Rolls and Crab Rangoons. I enjoyed the Egg Rolls, crisp outside and fresh inside. The Rangoons are a favorite for many, however I felt they were nearly all cream cheese with no discernable crab. Service was very attentive, this has been our experience across all four visits. Great look inside, however noise level can be a bit rough on busy nights. You can reserve a duck in advance which is the way to go as they have just a few available at the beginning of each evening's service.

Dan J.

Yelp
The food, atmosphere, and service was all amazing! I'd been hearing many positive things about Dan Dan' for the past couple of years, but had not yet checked it out myself until this past weekend. I loved it! I'll be back again soon.
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Farah A.

Yelp
This place is a total vibe!! One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Milwaukee. The ambience, service and a food is a solid 10/10. Came in on a Saturday night and had reservations for 11 people. We got in at 8:45 pm and the place was buzzing. Such a lively atmosphere here. The service was great, our server was extremely helpful and patient with our large group. The service is super fast and the food comes out quick and hot. Loved the presentation of each dish. The taste of each of them was exquisite. We loved the Shrimp Toast, Veg Momos, Kimchee Pancake , General Tso's Cauliflower, Salt and Pepper Fried Rice, Singapore noodles, and Kung Pao chicken. Each dish was bursting with flavors and tasted incredible. If you are visiting Milwaukee do check our Dan Dan for some authentic Chinese cuisine. Highly recommend!
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Jenna O.

Yelp
After spending $70 on two small entrees and an order of crab rangoons, DanDan left me feeling a bit bamboozled. While our server was attentive and the food was good, I'd rather save 30 bucks and stick to the usual Chinese takeout ritual. The restaurant was nicely decorated and had a good atmosphere. However, the high prices in addition to the built in gratuity that we weren't even sure if it went to our server left a sour taste in my mouth.
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Megan B.

Yelp
I had been waiting so long to come here and it was worth the wait! We got the Kimchee pancake, Chicken fried rice and Mangolian beef (suuuper spicy beware). Definitely the best Chinese American food I've ever had. Maybe because it was fresh and not sitting in a cardboard take out box for however long but the flavor was great. The restaurant is cute and cozy with traditional Chinese decor. Would go again! Only downside was our table for two was tiny- could barely fit out two entrees and drinks on it! Oh well.
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Nalissa W.

Yelp
My friend and I FINALLY tried DanDan after years of procrastination. We put our faith in our trusty bartender/server. We ordered a pineapple cocktail and a gin martini. Tasty. Then shared pork dumplings (INCREDIBLE), egg rolls, cauliflower and beef chow fun. Everything was exceptional. Great service, great atmosphere and great food. Highly recommend.
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Tom P.

Yelp
Not sure why the negative reviews about the service. At least, we walked in with no reservation on a weeknight and we were seated immediately, even though the restaurant was busy. Our server was friendly and shared tips about the menu. So that part was totally fine. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. Downsides would primarily be the menu: the QR code menu is annoying, and my wife's cell signal was weak, so she was completely unable to load the menu on her phone and had to use mine, and then found the tiny text very hard to read. I'm sure having a digital menu is convenient (for raising the prices at will, am I right?), but having some physical menus would be nice for accessibility. The dishes we ordered, while good, were not amazing. We got the market vegetables, which were probably my favorite, but they were so salty my wife could only eat a few. We got the scallion pancakes, which tasted overwhelmingly of sesame oil and little else. The DanDan noodles just tasted like peanut butter. They all could have benefitted from a bit more care in the preparation and taste. The crab rangoon were good (hard to mess up crab rangoon), and the matcha creme puffs were good. Also don't appreciate the obligatory 20% gratuity, but overall, it was an alright experience.
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Tedan H.

Yelp
Great fusion place mainly serve food from southeast asian. However, it is hard to describe it to be authentic. We did had a fantastic experience and service is great, tho the menu can be misleading at times. I do really Pad See Ew noodle tho!

Suzette S.

Yelp
Food was excellent. Shareable Service not so good could have been an off night . Very cold evening and it felt like the heat was not on. We were right at the window