Dandan
360 E. Erie St., (414) 488-8036
Dandanmke.com
Asian-American
$$-$$$
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While I’m a big fan of more traditional, regional Chinese and Thai fare, there’s something craveable and nostalgic about trips to Dandan where the dishes are more about flavor than “authenticity” (a word I don’t love to use to reference food, but which seems apropo here).
And even before we knew Chef and Co-owner Daniel Jacobs would be repping Milwaukee on Season 21 of Bravo's "Top Chef", Dandan has been a worthy destination for creative Asian fare.
Among the varied bites, the short rib and foie gras potstickers are an earthy indulgence and Dandan's signature chicken wings are crisp and meaty with a sweet and salty kick from five spice and chilies and a sauce that offers hints of citrus and roasted pepper.
And while I still miss some items from the original menu (like their long-gone umami-bomb of an okonomiyaki pancake and the Taiwanese noodles that popped up on the menu during the pandemic), I’ll never tired of the five spice-infused Happy Chicken or delectable General Tsao’s Cauliflower.
Want a fun off-menu Dandan experience?
Take a look at the upcoming dates for their Taste of China regional dinner series featuring the food of Guangdong (Cantonese fare) in April and Fujian in May.
Recommended: Mungbean kimchi pancake, potstickers, wings, Happy Chicken
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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