2663 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Hungry Sumo opened next door to The Vanguard in Bay View in September 2017, aligning exactly with our return to Milwaukee- and it's been true love ever since. Chef Jif's menu is vast, but he still manages to maintain quality at prices that don't break the bank. Specializing in both Japanese and Thai, there's always something on the menu that will hit the spot: sushi, curries, ramen, poke, bao buns- there is certainly no lack of options. We tend to lean towards Sumo's sushi, fried rice and curry options but most importantly, we never go without their appetizers. For us, Hungry Sumo's flavorful Thai soups and extra creamy crab rangoons have become a comfort food. In addition to great eats, the trendy hotspot on Kinnickinnic compliments the Bay View neighborhood vibes well, keeping locals coming back for more.
Best Dish: Tom Kha Soup
2159 A2 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Also located on Kinnickinic in Bay View, Room Service is one of the newer spots in town, and Milwaukeeans can't stop talking about it. It could be because it's Milwaukee's first upscale Thai and Japanese cuisine offering, complete with inventive cocktails in a luxurious setting. Or, it could be that every single item on the menu just hits. With a six page book (not including drinks or desserts), that's a real feat. Impress your guests with the One Night in Bangkok cocktail that surrounds your table in a lemongrass aromatic cloud, purple royal flower dumplings that literally sparkle, and some Temaki Hand Rolls for an anything but a mundane dining experience, brought to you by a culinary team that boasts extensive experience in Bangkok and New York City's most sophisticated Asian restaurants.
Best Dish: Kinnickinic Crisp Shell
Multiple Locations
Before Hungry Sumo and Room Service came onto the scene, there was first Rice n Roll, a Japanese/Thai fusion eatery from Chef Tony and Chef JJ who also brought their talents from the big(ger) cities. Rice n Roll prides themselves on incorporating a Thai flair into their sushi and the quality of their sushi stands out in a city that isn't exactly oceanside. But their Thai dishes are equally if not more impressive, boasting depth and flavors that your typical neighborhood Thai spot may not. With the success of their East Side location, Rice n Roll's owners opened its sister location, Kin by Rice n Roll, in Tosa in 2019. Kin offers modern fresh Asian cuisine, similar to their original location but with a slightly more sophisticated vibe.
Best Dish: Khaosoy and Tom Kha Soup
6509 S 27th St B, Franklin, WI 53132
Sometimes you'll come across a restaurant that offers something great, but there's also the supply & demand factor that makes it just a little more desirable. Sweet Basil, a small family-owned restaurant in Franklin, specializes in Thai & Lao Street Eats that locals cannot get enough of. Sweet Basil prides themselves on serving food reminiscent of the night markets in Thailand the way they would serve dishes at home, resonating with fans so much that they often face long waits and the restaurant is forced to turn off online ordering early in the evenings. Sweet Basil is open Wednesday-Saturday and recommends arriving between 3-5 for shorter wait times.
Best Dish: Beef Teriyaki Skewers with the Jeow Flight of dipping sauces (Jeow Bong, Jeow Mak Len, and Jeow Sum)
360 E Erie St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
DanDan, opened by two chefs named Dan (it's too perfect, isn't it?), has specialized in Asian-American cuisine since they opened in the Historic Third Ward in 2017. Since then, Chef Dan Jacobs has become a household name after first competing on "Beat Bobby Flay" and in 2024, competing on Top Chef, making it to the finale where he took second place. The Dans describe their offering as having a Chinese soul with a midwestern sensibility. DanDan is a gourmet experience in a chic and modern space; offering quality dishes like the short rib & foie gras potstickers, a creamy walnut shrimp, and possibly the best crab rangoons you've ever had. Make sure you keep an eye out for DanDan's dim sum brunch series, where the Dans collaborate with expert chefs to serve the best fusion tasting menu in town.
Best Dish: General Tso's Cauliflower
1033 S 1st St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
While we were crushed by the closing of previous tenant 1033, which specialized in raw seafood, we were elated to hear that Milwaukee's first Omakase experience finally found its home. Omakase, meaning "I'll leave it up to you", means there is no ordering involved at this Walker's Point concept- just sit back and let Chef Ray serve 14 courses of his choosing and be wowed by the showmanship and creativity of each bite. On top of exquisite eats, expect blow torches, bubble guns, and good fun. We were lucky to try Dag Homakase when it was a pop-up at Easy Tyger, and it was then we learned that Chef Ray studied under the greats for over 15 years, including Chef Morimoto himself. 1033 offers three seatings a night (Wed-Sat) and the 90 minute experience costs $119 a person- but plan ahead, because Milwaukee is still very excited that Omakase has come to town for good.
Best Dish: All of it.
11102 W National Ave, West Allis, WI 53227
A little fun fact: Eric's all-time favorite type of food is Chinese that hails from the Sichaun region- he just can't get enough of that numbing tingle. When he's in the mood, we make a trip to West Allis for takeout from Sze Chuan (we have yet to dine in, but we will!). While we lean towards sichuan specialties like the house spare ribs and cumin lamb, Sze Chuan also offers cold and noodles dishes, dry and stone pot, and traditional Chinese options.
Best Dish: House Special Spare Ribs
110 E Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Momo Mee burst on to the scene by bringing Milwaukee something it didn't have before: Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings, made fresh and in-house daily. Previously, you had to make your way to Chicago or even New York to truly appreciate the soup dumpling experience. The dumplings, a minced pork and savory broth wrapped in a pleated dough wrapper, are eaten with both chopsticks and a spoon, carefully sipping the broth before dipping in black vinegar and finishing the dumpling. Momo Mee also brings quality Asian dishes outside of their dumplings, including a delicious Korean Spicy Noodle and Crispy Orange Beef.
Best Dish: Xiao Long Bao
5930 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Mekong Cafe touts itself as "three cuisines under one roof", specializing in fresh Laos, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. But they're even more than that- they are also an Asian market where you can do your shopping and grab dinner. Mekong also plans to bring back their lunch buffet in April 2025, a long-awaited comeback of a fan favorite.
Best Dish: Signature Sai-Oua Banh-Mi with Laotian pork sausage
2116 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Unlike Chicago, Milwaukee has never really been oversaturated with Korean Barbecue options, so Backstreet made their mark instantly when they opened up last year on Farwell. Even better than your typical Korean BBQ joint, you can order both all-you-can-eat hot pot and barbecue for just $37- and the menu options are literally endless. Seen it before? Still not impressed? Just wait until you see their fully stocked sauce bar, where you can concoct any sauce to your liking. This is a great place to get together with friends for a lengthy dining experience and an ambiance that's fun and inventive.
Best Dish: Hot Pot
707 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Brady Street has no shortage of good restaurants, but if you want Asian, we'd recommend Sticky Rice for some no frills, delicious Thai and traditional Laos cuisine. Sticky Rice's menu offers the staples, but they also aren't afraid to get adventurous with their menu. If you are into some serious heat, Sticky Rice is your place - otherwise, we recommend keeping it at a 2 as they tend to kick up the spice. When we visit, our order isn't complete without the Nam Khao, a deep fried rice ball with cured pork sausages and peanuts served with lettuce wraps.
Best Dish: Nam Khao
7453 W Layton Ave, Greenfield, WI 53220
Kyoto, located in an unassuming plaza in Greenfield, is one of those sushi spots that instantly boosts your mood with a familiar setting and comfort foods. It seems others agree, as they were at capacity on a Friday night despite a generously sized dining area. Kyoto offers your full sushi experience beginning with a house salad and miso soup (but don't skip out on the Hot & Sour, it's delicious).
Best Dish: Triple Tree Maki (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado rolled in a soybean sheet and drizzled with a creamy spicy sauce)
2699 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Hue Asian Kitchen, which specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, essentially makes our list for two reasons: we love the atmosphere (great beer offerings don't hurt), and they have one of our top Friday fish fries: a turmeric beer batter swai with garlic fried rice and Thai basil aioli. The Banh Xeo and (Vietnamese crepe) and Bun Thit Nuong (beef noodle bowl) are solid options if you want to go more classic or you're not here on a Friday, but their unique fish fry is what draws us in more often than not.
Best Dish: Friday Fish Fry
704 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
When The Noble in Walker's Point closed in 2023, we crossed our fingers for another good restaurant to take its place. Luckily for us, Cute Robot moved in, expanding beyond the first floor to a trendy two-story eatery filled with bright Japanese pop-culture decor. But it's not a gimmick- Cute Robot prides themselves on providing comforting and authentic Japanese soul food, a nod to the owners' mother's Japanese yoshoku-style dishes. The Nagoya Tebasaki wings are craveable, the curries flavorful and satisfying, and the Katsudon is comforting and homey. An all around cultural win for Milwaukee!
Best Dish: Pork Katsu Curry
2128 Silvernail Rd, Pewaukee, WI 53072
There's a lot of decent ramen out there, some much better than others. But connoisseurs know that a truly knock-your-socks off ramen is hard to come by, and can often involve traveling to Chicago or New York and waiting in long lines. That all seems less necessary now that Osaka Ramen is on the scene. The Tonkotsu had everything you want in a bowl of ramen- a rich, flavorful broth with a balanced umami taste, springy and chewy noodles, a charred and tender chasu pork, and a perfectly cooked ajitama (seasoned egg). And while there's no hibachi tables or chefs making onion volcanoes, the hibachi is also great. The filet mignon was a satisfying marinated steak, and you really can't go wrong with some veggies and yum yum sauce, can you?
Best Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen
10714 W Oklahoma Ave, West Allis, WI 53227
This rice noodle shop in West Allis is oozing in comfort food vibes, with a cozy atmosphere and friendly service to match. Noodle dishes are served in large insulated soup bowls and kept warm. While reviews will rave about the Tom Yum or Hot Pot noodle bowls, we're obsessed with their appetizers as well. Make it a small plates experience with friends and take your noodles home as leftovers- and don't pass on the salty crispy chicken or sliced beef in Sichuan chili sauce.
Best Dish: Salty Crispy Chicken or Sliced Beef in Sichuan Chili Sauce
2159 S Kinnickinnic Ave A1, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Yes, the name is odd; but we promise this quaint fried chicken joint is in no way affiliated with disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. The word Todd is actually the Thai word for fry, and that's what they do at this carry out spot located next to Room Service. Both restaurants are a part of Ground 59, a new development featuring various Asian cuisines, opened by the Rice n Roll owners. Stop in for a snack or a full meal of Donburi curry- if you have a hankering for fried chicken, Todd gets it right. If you can't bring it home, we recommend visiting in the summer when you can eat outside in the nearby plaza.
Best Dish: Green Onion Wings tossed in soy garlic sauce
