Sophisticated Chinese fare. Great use of seasoning and items I've never seen before, like cumin chicken

i went here on two occasions, and both times were fantastic. the first time we came was at about 12pm. my sister and i ordered the wontons & dumplings in chili oil. they came out piping hot. all of the food is made to order, so things may not come out of the kitchen at the exact same time. however, it'll be fresh when you do get it so don't fret. when they mention something has a certain spice level, believe them. for my entree i ordered the hot and sour glass noodles and they were spicy! the sour part sort of balanced out the spice, but they had a true kick to them. the bowl that the noodles came in were also huge. the second time we went, i ordered the same appetizer and this time i opted for the dan dan noodles. they were more nutty in flavor than others i've had, but they were still tasty. not nearly as spicy as the first dish i tried from here. the space has 2 levels and it's quite small but i've never had to wait to be sat, i guess we came at the perfect time (12pm on saturday) and (3pm on saturday). take this with a grain of salt because saturdays are often busy, we just lucked out. the second upstairs level is really cute, a little tight but they're working with what they have. definitely recommend this spot in center city! read more

Dan Dan - sign - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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A very pretty hole-in-the-wall for a quick lunch of the signature dish. The place was deserted yet we were asked if we had a reservation. WIthin the hour the upstairs filled in nicely. Service is fast and efficient, and we couldn't resist the pork sauce on the dan dan noodles with a side of crunchy cuke salad. While the sauces were tasty and spicy, the noodles lacked integrity -- a bit limp for my palate. When we couldn't finish, the polite server provided plastic containers and a shopping bag. Would definitely like to return! read more

Dan Dan - A hearty lunch! - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We came here on a weekday for lunch. It's been a while since we've been here and I'm disappointed they've discontinued their lunch menu. The place wasn't busy, so we got seated immediately. My wife and I ordered the spicy aromatic pot with ribeye, which was quite an expensive splurge compared to other meat and vegetable options but was a good portion for two. Thr ribeye was finely sliced and consisted of a fair amount of the dry pot's ingredients, and was pretty tasty. The dish came with white rice on the side, which paired well. Having been here a few times, we'll be back again but this isn't a must try place anymore. read more

Dan Dan - Spicy aromatic pot with ribeye - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Quick and great service. We sat upstairs. Ordered an veg main and side for three people it's a lot of food

Lovedddd my dinner here with my handsome boyfriend. The drinks were so good and I really like the house made ginger ale. I heard so many great reviews of the Dan Dan noodles and they exceeded the hype! Can't wait to stop by again read more

This happy hour is not one to miss! My family and I ordered 1 of everything on the menu since the prices were unbeatable and we wanted to try as many dishes as we could. Perfect portions to share and sample the menu. All of the noodles and dumplings were perfectly cooked, and the sauces and flavors in every dish were excellent. The quality of service matched the food, as our server was so attentive and kind and offered some great recommendations for both drinks and food. Looking forward to my next visit to try even more items on this extensive menu. read more

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Spicy beef noodle soup and dry pepper french fries were my comfort options on a Sunday night. I sat at the counter. Service was friendly and professional, and the food was incredible. To the best of my knowledge, the flavors and textures are authentic, but even if they're not they're delicious. The broth is rich and spicy. The noodles are springy and chewy with lots of texture to hold onto the broth. The noodles tend to be VERY LONG, so lift with caution so you don't wind up splashing broth all over yourself. read more

Funny story! I thought I was ordering from Han Dynasty and was really craving veg Dan Dan noodles. I keyed in the words "Dan" and didn't realise I started ordering take out from Dan Dan. It wasn't until I came across the scallion fried rice that I realised that it wasn't Han! But no regrets I love them both! We ordered the scallion pancakes, Dan Dan noodles with Tofu, chicken in garlic sauce, and regular lomein. With an extra side of their chilli oil. Food was delicious, fresh and lip smacking. My favourite is that the Dan Dan noodles come in Veggie and pork, which a lot of places don't do. Great restaurant and great take out . read more

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Food: simply put, incredible. We got the spicy cucumbers and lamb cumin noodles. Both were unlike anything I've ever had before in the best way possible. The cucumbers were light and crisp tossed in a delicious, cooling sauce. The portion for the cumin noodles was perfect and there is a good potion of flavorful lamb. If you don't like cumin, this dish is not for you as it's pretty strong. Fair warning, their food is spicy. Service: excellent, restaurant was packed when we were there but staff was still really nice and accommodating Ambiance: very lively, relatively small space with 2 floors. Recommend getting reservations Would I go back? 110%, already planning my next visit read more

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I think this is a typical traditional Asian food establishment. The dan-dan noodles are really spicy but there was too much of an obscure flavor . The minced pork was not bad but also not something super flavorful for me. The restaurant is usually crowded, so I would recommend making a reservation if you want to dine here. And while you are waiting for your meal you can have a drink at the bar. read more

I used to live very close to Dan Dan and we'd used to order takeout from there all the time. During that short period of time, I probably gained 5lbs thanks to Dan Dan. Some of our favorite dishes include the Pork Belly w/ Sweet Garlic Chili Oil, Beef & Tripe in Chili Oil, Spicy Chengdu Chicken, Wontons in Chili Oil, obviously the Dan Dan Noodles, the Dry Pepper Dishes and the Dry Pot Dishes. Recently I was craving hand ripped noodles. NOT hand-drawn, hand-pulled or shaven noodles, but HAND RIPPED. The kind from Xi'an Famous Foods, except we don't have one of those here in Philly. Dan Dan happened to be the only place in Philly that has it. So I had their Spicy Beef Hand-Ripped Noodles. The braised beef on top was super tender and soft, and the hand-ripped noodles were just perfect. It completely satisfied my craving. I'm looking forward to trying their Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles next. read more

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I've been going to Dan Dan for years and it's such a consistent staple. Dan Dan noodles always, but I've never disliked anything. Other regular dishes include jing jiang chicken or beef, dumplings in chili oil, dry pepper chicken, long hot pepper dish, string beans. Special shout out to the sichuan beef noodle soup when I'm sick! read more

Everything was delicious. I got the shrimp kwetiaw goreng, chicken fried rice, garlic peanuts, pandan soymilk & fried plantain!! Highly recommend read more

Couldn't even begin to imagine being a business owner in the hospitality industry (not to even mention the current economy) and allowing your hosts to rudely deny you a seat and or table. Just leaving a work event and ask for a table and was told only bar seats for parties of one (which there were no bar seats, totally understandable if that's your policy) but to then confirm I can't have a table to only get her snarky attitude. Doesn't sound like hospitality to me. read more

Came in around 9 on Friday night & was very pleasantly surprised -- all servers were friendly and very accommodating despite it being later in the evening and pretty busy. However service was understandably slower and our food came out at different times in a weird order (entree before our appetizers/sharables). The homestyle fish had solid sweet & sour flavors, but was not as spicy as I was hoping. The dan dan noodles were pretty good and were very creamy and rich. The highlight was definitely the spicy crispy cucumbers which helped cleanse our palette throughout the meal and offered some really great spice, while being a little sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed it -- it was great for a date night but can definitely get backed up and crowded, especially near the front tables by the bar. Food was good, but I think could have been better with more spice on the fish & a little more balance on the dan dan noodles for my personal preference. read more

Dan Dan - Dan Dan Noodles & Spicy Crispy Cucumbers - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I made an order through Doordash. They forgot some items. I called to get assistance. They told me their policy is that they don't offer refunds or replacements for missing items. That is stealing. read more

This is not a typical traditional Asian food joint (you'll likely have to venture to Chinatown in order to find that). The dan dan noodles are indeed spicy, but it had too much of a peanut butter taste. The minced pork wasn't bad, but also not a stand out for me. Overall, I felt the meal was very heavy and the food was almost over flavored. The place can get crowded and still seems really popular so I'd recommend making a reservation if you want to eat there. I also felt that the seats at the bar were not tall enough. read more

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Wow! Really impressed by this place and its ambiance. Serves Chinese food which I was skeptical about since none of the workers were Asian -- however, I was quickly proved wrong. They are stirring up some deliciousness here! FAVE ITEMS: - Dan Dan Noodles: so good. The noodles were thick but not too thin, and very chewy. The flavors of the sauce were slightly spicy but also rich. Overall, very solid dish that I am already craving. - Three Cup Chicken: juicy chicken pieces with a flavorful marinade. Definitely recommend. - Chinese Broccoli: delicious as well! A good pairing to balance the rest of your food. SERVICE: they are pretty good about checking up on you frequently. PARKING: not too sure, it's in the city of Philly, we just walked there! PRICE: decent for what I'd expect for the ambiance I am ready to recommend this to friends and family. Def would check this out if you are in the Philly area, want good vibes, and crave Chinese food. read more

My boyfriend and I ordered the: Crisp Spicy cucumbers (app) - so good. crunchy cucumber with an amazing spicy sauce Dan Dan noodles - AMAZING. So filling. The best dan dan noodles I've had in my life (maybe the ones I've been to in DC don't really cut it). The peanut butter notes and the spicy kick makes it sooo good. Three cup chicken - also amazing. they serve with rice as well. The sauce is delicious and we finished all the chicken. The basil was perfect and so fresh. Highly recommend this place if you enjoy authentic Asian food (Szechuan and Taiwanese). Also is very chic - great for a date night. The service was awesome and on top of it. read more

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If a restaurant is named after a dish, that dish better be good. The dan dan noodles are indeed good at Dan Dan, but there are plenty of other tasty dishes on the menu too. The food is Sichuan and Taiwanese. Dan dan noodles are not the only noodle option on the menu. There are also cold noodles, hand-ripped noodles, lo mein, and rice noodles. If you are not feeling noodles, go for an entrée or some fried rice. Most of the portions are about right for one person. One dish leaves me pretty full. Add on a side dish, like the delicious scallion pancakes, and I am stuffed. Depending on how hungry I am, there might be some leftovers. The dan dan noodles are listed as a favorite on the menu, but there are a lot of other equally good dishes on the menu. I like the dan dan noodles - it is a simple but tasty and flavorful dish that hits the spot. However, I do not think that they are a must-try. Aside from the dan dan noodles, I have also tried the spicy beef hand-ripped noodles and the lo mein. They are all good. Just go with whatever you are in the mood for. The restaurant is small, but they make the space work with a full bar on the first floor and more seating on the loft. Take-out and delivery are options too if you do not want to or do not have the time to be around people. Take advantage of happy hour if you can, which is Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 P.M. on the first floor. The normal prices are okay, but happy hour has some good deals and savings. The baby dan dan noodles on the happy hour menu are a regular-sized portion and not a baby-sized one so that is definitely worth getting if you are around during happy hour. There are so many good restaurants in the area, and Chinatown is so close by. Dan Dan is a solid choice though if you are in the Rittenhouse Square area and are in the mood for Sichuan or Taiwanese food. There are plenty of spicy dishes on the menu, but there are also dishes that are not spicy or just mild on there too. I do not recommend going far out of your way to go to Dan Dan, but I highly recommend going to Dan Dan if you are in the area. read more

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Yummy knife cut noodles!! Came here for dinner on a week night and there was no wait. We sat outside but honestly should've probably sat inside for the vibes read more

Dan Dan - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great food. This is my go to for Szechuan food. Noodles, dumplings, meat dishes are all prime. Service is solid, and food is always delicious. read more

ADDICTING. I'd highly recommend booking a reservation in advance because it gets packed even on a weekday night or you might end up in a bar seat. The space is tight as it's located in downtown and expect to be loud and bustling. Dan Dan noodles - The namesake and highlight of the meal. Chewy, saucy, not as peanut-y noodles. The default spice was spicier than I thought it was going to be. But that sauce I could use for anything. Great price as well! Wontons in chili oil - Bottom of the list of things I've tried, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. Nice spice and a hefty wonton. Dry pepper French fries - This also comes with a aioli on the side that was refreshing and it helped to help balance the saltiness of the fries. Cumin lamb hand ripped noodles - Lamb didn't taste super game-y and pleasant to eat. Packed with a lot of flavor and felt the noodles soaked in the sauce nicely. This is a place I can see myself going back to next time I'm in downtown Philly! read more

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The service is ok, but the food is not authentic enough. More like American Chinese food. Compared with the Chinese restaurants in Philly Chinatown, this one is pretty pricy...... read more

Everything here was delicious! The presentation was exceptional! It made the meal that much more appetizing! (So much so that we brought our leftovers onto our departing flight!) We are so glad we came by! We especially loved our waiter, I believe his name was Nigel. He was so gracious in dealing with a rude couple sitting nearby and very professional with everyone. He also gave us very great recommends for what to do in the area! Thanks for that! read more

Dan Dan - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had a wonderful time here at Dan Dan. The food is super tasty and very fresh too! The service is quick and attentive. The ambiance is very calm and fresh. 5 stars. read more

Visited this restaurant while I was on vacation in Philadelphia... Honestly, I came here due to the Yelp reviews.... So glad I came here. Food was amazing! We ordered the authentic Dan Dan Noodles, dumplings in chili oil, Taiwanese minced pork rice, and vegetarian mapo tofu. It was very authentic, flavorful, and hella spicy lol! I finished my meal off with a refreshing strawberry daisy cocktail! Great dinner and customer service. Definitely recommend you try this spot out! read more

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I had an exchange student from China seek out this place and put it on the map for me. Since then, I've been here a few times. Here's my takeaway: Food - lots of options to choose from, tasty, right amount of spice, and flavor Service - op point, even when busy Ambiance - dimly lit at night for a swanky vibe and bright and airy during the day. My only recommendation is that the prices seemed a bit high, even for Rittenhouse. Just getting takeout was a bit more than I would had expected to pay. read more

DanDan this was YumYum! But beware, it is SPICY! Got it to go, so can't say anything about dine in experience. They could use a rearrangement though. A single lane for people coming in, going out and servers to go by. Had the cumin lamb over hand torn noodles and spicy cucumbers. Cukes had a sweet-spicy sauce that just kept getting hotter and hotter! Lamb was well spiced and tender (thin cut). Would definitely order again! Those coming in for the first time, just beware of the spice level. read more

Dan Dan - Spicy Crispy Cucumbers - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I ordered takeout from here, so I can't comment on the location or appearance, but the food was amazing!!! I got the aromatic pot with pressed tofu. The menu said it was 4/5 spicy, but I would say maybe like a 2.5 or 3 spicy. But otherwise it was good - the vegetables were fresh, and the tofu was an extra firm texture. Exactly what I wanted! read more

Dan Dan - aromatic pot with pressed tofu - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Got undercooked pork here once! But overall, the food has remained consistent "good not great" especially for a city with so many great Chinese restaurants. Their happy hour ends way too early and their menu feels a bit outdated now. read more

I got shrimp lo mien to go and it was good but if you are getting take out, I prefer circles Thai. Obviously Dan Dan has a cuter atmosphere if you are dining in. The shrimp were excellent! But the dish was a little too greasy and barely had any veggies read more

Dan Dan - Lo mein with shrimp - Szechuan Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great hand pulled noodles. Amazing service. I highly recommend. Parking can be a bit tricky though.

Love love this place!! I was a bit skeptical it was going to be super Americanized but it was the opposite. I got the following: - Dan Dan noodles: can I order 10 of these and take it back to Chicago? Noodles were so fresh and a great balance with the sesame paste and ground pork. - dumplings: a little too much dough wrapper to filling ratio but the filling itself is amazing. We got pork - hand pulled noodles with beef: the beef was whatever. Chewy and semi bland. Noodles weren't too fresh either. Would try the lamb cumin next time but maybe not bc I expected more with the noodles too read more

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A Chinese restaurant serving you spicy Sizchuan/Taiwanese specialty dishes! It's bi-level restaurant with a cute interior and great vibes! We reserved ahead of time but you should be fine getting a table via walk-in. Waiters were super nice and service was excellent. We ordered the Scallion Pancakes, Wontons in Chili Oil, Dan Dan Noodles, andTaiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. To pair we ordered the Thai Daq and Hazy Jane drinks. My favorites were the Scallion Pancakes, which was crunchy and flaky, and the Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, which I got with their hand-ripped noodles ~ SO FRESH! Wasn't a huge fan of the Dan Dan noodles, maybe just wasn't into the sesame sauce and the spice. BUT all these noodles and carbs got us ready the next day to walk around Philly! read more

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My friend and I stumbled across this restaurant after a recommendation for The Happy Rooster. We did go into the Happy Rooster, but there was no place to sit. I was starving and I could eat Asian every single day so, I was thrilled to see Dan Dan. It is quaint on the inside, but they offer outside seating and we opted for that, however, for some odd reason we were sat at the table that did not have covering when there were tables available under the cover and the next patrons were offered covered seating. It wasn't a huge deal because it was about 6:30 so, the sun wasn't an issue and it wasn't raining, but still very odd to sit us there as it was the furthest table away. I was slightly disappointed that happy hour is offered from 4-6 pm which also happen to be the hours you cannot park on the streets closest to the restaurant, parking resumes at 6:30 so it may prove difficult to enjoy happy hour unless you happen to be lucky enough to work or live close by. The drinks we ordered were delicious and well balanced. I had the Phoenix dragon and my friend had the margarita with a melbac float. For dinner we had scallion pancakes and spring rolls as appetizers, rice noodles with shrimp and the farmer's dry rub lamb, we both enjoyed our food. We did have to end up fighting off gnats from our food and it was quite annoying while trying to enjoy our delicious food. If it weren't for the gnats and parking situation this would be a five star review. We did opt for another round of the awesome Phoenix dragon. read more

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Have been in 2 of their locations--suburbs is nicer but this is more convenient. Cocktails are pretty good but a bit pricey. Cold cucumbers are a must--sweet with spice. XLB are tasty w good texture/flavor & decent amount of soup. Love the DanDan noodles. Cumin tofu was excellent--love the ability to choose spice level. Taiwanese popcorn chicken (salt & white pepper) is always a crowd fave and reminiscent. Baby bok choy/mushrooms dish was a large portion and perfectly cooked but unexciting flavor and pricier than expected (d/t king mushrooms). Overall, I do love this place and will def return as service is attentive. read more

It was very busy for take out order but it's hard to justify finding a plastic piece in my stir fried that I chewed on. I do like the flavors of the foods but they can be very greasy especially the noodle soups, there's literally an inch of oil on the broth, and when I asked the waitstaff she told me it is how they prepare the broth so there's nothing she can do. There should be a thin layer of hot oil, yes, but not an inch, never this over the top. Many ways to improve. I lived in both Sichuan and Taiwan for years so I think I am more than qualified to give this judgment. read more

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Great locale. Excellent Taiwanese food and great ambiance. Highly recommend this place.