When something like the coronavirus (COVID19) strikes, it probably doesn’t even occur to most of us that the outbreak will impact restaurants. However, as nationwide reports have begun to show, the coronavirus has incited unfounded fears and negative reactions from the dining public.
As "Grub Street" author Chris Crowley states: "The outbreak has provoked xenophobic and racist responses about the Chinese people and diaspora, including from those who push age-old and bigoted misperceptions of Chinese culinary habits."
These attitudes combined with strict travel guidelines that have drastically reduced the number of Chinese tourists visiting the U.S., have already had a major impact on American Chinese restaurants and Chinatowns across the U.S. In fact, restaurants as close as Chicago have seen as much as a 50 percent drop in business, according to this report in the Chicago Tribune last week.
That’s not OK.
What you should do
Now is not the time to put on your blinders and assume that this isn’t happening right now here in the Cream City. In fact, it’s a very good time to make the decision to offer even more support to as many Chinese-owned restaurants as you can muster.
Here are eight spots to get you started (with more in our Chinese restaurant guide).
Asian Fusion
1609 E. North Ave., (414) 273-6688
asianfusionwi.com
Don’t be fooled by the name. This restaurant serves up some of the best Chinese food in the city from scallion pancakes to Sichuan-style cumin lamb.
Emperor of China
1010 E. Brady St., (414) 271-8889
emperorofchinarestaurant.com
Head to this Brady Street staple for classic ambiance and an expansive menu of comforting Chinese favorites from egg drop soup and crab rangoon to pow pow sha.
Fortune
2945 S. 108th St., (414) 328-9890
fortunerestaurant.net
Delicious is the name of the game at Fortune, whether you opt for Chinese American staples like Mongolian beef and sesame chicken or consult the traditional Chinese menu for dishes like crispy skin chicken and duck feet with Chinese mushrooms.
Golden Gate Restaurant
1427 E. Racine Ave., Waukesha
goldengaterestaurant.com
Enjoy comforting, familiar Chinese fare at this longtime staple, which has been serving up a variety of Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan dishes in the area since 1939.
Jing’s
207 E. Buffalo St., (414) 271-7788
jingsmke.com
This classic nestled right inside the Marshall Building in the Historic Third Ward is still a staple for great Chinese American dishes, but don’t sleep on the more traditional fare from owner Jing Wang’s native city of Shanghai.
J.J. Chen's Eatery
10722 W. Oklahoma Ave., (414) 329-8333
jjchens.com
Don’t overlook this little strip mall restaurant; there are big flavors coming out of their kitchen. Try the beef noodle soup, salt and pepper shrimp or braised chicken feet in black bean sauce. Don't neglect to sample a few of the dim sum options on the menu.
Lucky Bakery & BBQ
11078 W. National Ave., (414) 329-2688
facebook.com/westallisuas
This simple carryout counter offers up a host of delights, including Chinese-sausage buns, steamed roast pork buns, steamed rice crepes and curry beef buns, along with traditional lightly sweetened Chinese desserts. But don't overlook the barbecue, including char siu (barbecued roast pork), siu aap (roast duck) or siu yuk (crispy pork belly).
Sze Chuan
11102 W National Ave., (414) 885-0856
goszechuanrestaurant.com
For Szechuan fare that will warm both your body and soul, look no further than Sze Chuan in West Allis. You can’t go wrong with dishes like Szechuan pork dumplings, grilled Szechuan lamb and vegetable dishes like mustard greens with tofu skin.
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.
