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    dan modern chinese

    4.2 (576 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order dan modern chinese Takeout or Delivery

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    DAN MODERN CHINESE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - dan modern chinese

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    Jordan M.

    Was quite good...and the staff was accommodating and friendly. Will definitely visit again at my next conference

    dan mein vegetable
    Katelyn S.

    Was in Los Angeles to see my godson and decided to check this place out. It reminded me a twist of Din Tai Fung. Ordered a few things to try a bit of everything: vegetable dan mein, chicken soup, chicken, pork, pork & crab xiao long bao, and pork bao bun. Overall, their food was pretty good although the soup dumplings broke easily whenever I picked one up and the consistency wasn't that great. Would still recommend this place primarily for their vegetable dan mein, chicken soup, and pork bao bun.

    Steamed soup dumplings
    Elisa H.

    What a wonderful adventure we had at Dan's. Restaurant is comfortably casual. The food was absolutely delicious, the service excellent making for a terrific special lunch. Every dish we ordered had spot on flavors. Parking can be tricky. Street parking close to Dan's is limited, be prepared for neighborhood metered parking.

    Lilian F.

    One of many restaurants along Sawtelle but if you're looking for truly authentic Chinese food, I would pass unfortunately. **Service: 5/5 great service, our server was very accommodating of our relatively large party with two kids -- we couldn't make a reservation but were seated right away and provided two high chairs for the kiddos. She also split the bill up for each individual so that we could all pay separately. Quick to fill our water and to clear dishes as well! **Ambience: 4/5 classic clean modern interior, was relatively quiet when we first got there but quickly became a full house and relatively loud, but music was kept at low ambient volume (interestingly was EDM which was an interesting choice for the establishment..) **Food: 3/5 fell short. The Dan Dan noodles did not have noticeable mala/spicy flavor (definitely modified for the western palate) and noodles were a bit overcooked and squishy in texture. Steamed pork dumplings were cold, skin was thick, pork meat was okay but didn't taste fresh. Beef rolls were probably the best thing out of the three items but the meat tastes a bit overly sweetened even without the hoisin. **Pricing: okay, on par with other LA food prices. $41 dollars total for three items including tip Overall, this is convenient if you're just looking for some Chinese food out in the Sawtelle area but if you're looking for truly authentic Chinese food I'd look elsewhere.

    Pork chop, beef rolls, popcorn chicken
    Jonathan H.

    Heard good things about this place and decided to stop by on a Monday evening for dinner. We got there around 7 PM, and there were a few tables available both inside and outside. We opted to sit inside because it was a little chilly out (although I did see a few heaters set up). We got a few things to share - half an order of the green beans, pork and shrimp XLB, popcorn chicken, beef rolls, pork chop, and dan mien short rib noodles. For two people who hadn't eaten all day, it felt like a good amount of food, although portion sizes seemed a little small for the price point. The food was just OK - nothing really stood out or amazed me. The noodles were pretty salty, but the beef rolls were good (with or without the dipping sauce). In total, the bill was just about $87) without tip). This feels like a pretty no-frills spot. I wouldn't say it's the best food I've had, especially compared to the options in Sawtelle. It's a good spot if you're in the area and want some small bites to share!

    Black pepper beef
    Madeleine B.

    We came on a Sunday night and had no trouble getting a spot. Sawtelle is always busy though so Saturday nights are probably crazy. We shared the pork dumplings with chili oil, Dan Dan noodles, and black pepper beef. The dumplings were definitely the best of all. Everything else was fine, but nothing special. The portions were also pretty small, so order a couple dishes if you're hungry and planning to share.

    Taryn I.

    Had a great time at dans! It was a busy evening in Sawtelle but we were able to find parking pretty easily. They sat us down right away and we ordered a bunch of different dishes. We ate them so quickly that not all were pictured. They bring out the dishes once they are ready and don't wait for them all to be done which was great so we could start trying them even quicker. Some favorites include the beef noodles, Dan Dan noodles, veggie dumplings pan fried (the sauce that came with these was so good). We also got chicken xlb and veggie fried rice which were both very tasty. The food was amazing, the staff were so nice and they even had a section open where you could watch them make the noodles and dumplings right there!

    white rice
    Lexy A.

    We've been wanting to try out this restaurant for a while and had a wonderful time! We went on a Saturday around 7:30 PM and there were a good amount of open seats (both indoor and outdoor) but the indoor seating filled up quickly during our time. The restaurant is on Sawtelle so parking can be tricky but usually not difficult to find a spot if you don't mind walking a few minutes. The staff were very kind! The food was very good! I particularly enjoyed the dan short rib noodle and soup dumplings!! Everything was very flavorful. However I did think the three cup chicken and pan fried dumplings were noticeably salty. The rice definitely helped but even then was quite salty. I enjoyed my meal and time here and recommend folks trying the noodles at least once! But I probably won't be coming regularly

    Chicken dan mein
    Remy H.

    Love a good mapo tofu! Was very flavorful and has the perfect amount of spice. The dan mein with chicken was perfect as well. Can't wait to try more dishes!

    Chicken Dan mein  String beans
    Ashley H.

    Food here is yummy! Not necessarily the most authentic as it definitely is modern but I love the chewy movies! Service is quick and friendly

    Pan fried pork dumplings
    Serinee T.

    My first visit here was wonderful. The short rib dan mein was the favorite of the night. The short ribs were cooked to perfection and paired so well with the hand pulled noodles and addictive sauce. The pork soup dumplings were also impressive--I've never seen soup dumplings actually filled with so much broth. The pan fried pork dumplings were also tasty and fried to perfection. I'd highly recommend this spot in Sawtelle for anyone looking for a delicious spot for lunch or dinner!

    string beans
    Stephanie M.

    We were walking by Sawtelle and saw this restaurant popping, so we decided to try it out. Quality Chinese food and so many yummy options. We loved it so much that we've ordered takeout twice already since we came here. Lots to choose from, so I recommend the following items: - Dan short rib: best noodles I've ever had! The sauce is perfect, and the short rib is savory, making this the perfect combo! This entree is a must! - Green beans: well cooked and flavorful touch with garlic. I was a bit skeptical at first but after trying them, they became one of my favorites. All of their dumplings are amazing. The only item I did not enjoy was the popcorn chicken. I don't think I'd order this again. The staff is friendly and service is fast. There's plenty of space. The right side is mainly for takeout orders, so if you're planning to sit down, be sure to enter on the left side entrance.

    Lyla D.

    After performing a "surgical strike" pre-Christmas shopping trip at the Westfield Century City Shopping Mall, our stomachs growled for bowls of steaming hot Asian noodle soup and dumplings, AKA street food. I hesitated to suggest Din Tai Fung in the mall because we ate at that Taiwan-based restaurant in Las Vegas last week. However, as I pulled out my handy Yelp app to search for the nearest restaurant serving Taiwanese food outside the shopping mall, "dan modern Chinese" popped up as one of my bookmarks which appeared in Eater LA's November 2024 list of Best Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles. Although dan modern Chinese is a local chain restaurant with several locations in Los Angeles, its Little Osaka location was the closest to us. In unison, we exclaimed, "Let's Go!" My brother-in-law jokingly asked me to turn on my "Parking 'Aumakua" as we drove down busy Sawtelle Boulevard when I serendipitously spotted an open metered parking space on Mississippi Avenue and guided my brother-in-law to make a quick left turn to the open space. We walked a few hundred feet around the corner restaurant on Sawtelle Boulevard, Tsujita LA, which was bustling and had a line out the door. We quickly found the dan modern Chinese eatery next door. After peeking into their glass-enclosed kitchen, we watched several cooks roll out house-made dumpling wrappers and cut fresh noodles before entering their bright woods and modern, furnished dining room. A cheery server escorted us to a table set with eating utensils and menus and brought us glasses of water before giving menu item descriptions. After noticing that dan modern Chinese features housemade dumpling wrappers and noodles, we understood the menu did not feature traditional Sichuan spicy dan dan mian 擔擔麪 with minced pork. However, this restaurant offers both noodle soups and dry-style soups. We entered the restaurant after peering into the glass-enclosed kitchen, where we watched the cooks rolling our housemade dumpling wrappers and cutting noodles. I watched one cook stir-frying food in a wok before entering the modern furnished dining room and bright wood. At the time, we were the only Asians in the restaurant for at least 15 minutes before the restaurant began filling with other hungry customers. I spotted my husband's favorite appetizer menu item, Popcorn Chicken ($11.25), which is extra crispy, marinated, and juicy boneless golden fried bite-sized chicken pieces. We usually see this popular Taiwanese street food served with fried basil leaves and seasoned with spicy chili. However, dan modern serves its menu item with a spicy aioli and garnishes of toasted garlic, scallions, and cilantro. Then, our eyes were averted to their Shanghainese soup dumplings or xiaolongbao 小籠包 and handmade dumplings or jiaozi 餃子 with preparation choices of steamed (zhēngjiǎo), pan-fried (jiānjiǎo), or boiled (shuǐjiǎo and served in pool of chili oil). We ordered the pork and shrimp filled dumplings prepared by pan-frying, also known as pot stickers, and boiled served with chili oil. Of course, because we also came here for noodles, we ordered the short rib dan mein made with Shanghainese thick housemade wheat flour noodles or cumian 粗麵 which are similar to Japanese udon. The thick garlicky sweet soy sauce-based sauce coated the noodles and there were plentiful amounts of shiitake mushrooms, snow pea leaves. The beef short rib meat was fork-tender and also generously portioned in this noodle dish. We completed our meal with a bowl of beef oxtail noodle soup. The beef was melt-in-your mouth tender and its dark thin broth had essences of star anise or five-spice powder. The soup noodles were thinner and almost spaghetti-like. The bowl size was deceiving because we thought we wouldn't have enough to share among the three of us but we were wrong! We also enjoyed the tender-cooked vegetable garnishes and slightly spicy chopped preserved vegetable that was served on the side. Our only knock against this dish was we felt the soup could have been served more heat hot. $17.25 We'd gladly return to dan modern Chinese for their chewy noodles and medium textured dumpling wrappers. The Shanghainese, Taiwanese, and Cantonese flavors and textures were authentic but we did detect slight Westernized and other Asian twists

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    14 days ago

    The service was incredible, our waiter, Jin, was truly a gem. So kind, efficient, and friendly. Food was delicious. I recommend!

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    I have to say for the price and the quality of food it's not really worth it. Service was fine but food feels like it's gone downhill.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - dan modern chinese

    Is there free parking?

    Yes, there is parking behind the restaurant.

    What are vegan protein options?

    Do you allow small dogs under 10 lbs?

    this is a restaurant. leave your animals at home.

    Gluten free options?

    I don't believe so because the dumplings have to be made with regular flour

    Hi, will you be open on Christmas Day?

    Hi, we will be closed Christmas Day.

    Any options for vegans?

    Yes! They have pickled cucumbers, vegetable dumplings and a lot of stir-fried vegetable options. I would guess that the scallion pancakes, seaweed and tofu salad are vegetable dan mein noodles are but would double check.

    View All 9 Questions

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    Hui Tou Xiang

    4.3
    (485 reviews)
    7.7 mi
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    This is a very nice restaurant. The waiters are kind and the service is fast. There are also a lot…read moreof very delicious food and drink options that look as good as they taste. Overall, it is an amazing place to eat.

    Came here after a long day of walking along hollywood and i am so happy we did. I wasnt too sure of…read morewhat to expect, but the interior was so beautifully done with a mix of a subway/ speakeasy vibe and perfect lighting for any occasion. It was a but busy when we got there but luckily we got seared pretty shortly after arrival. We originally wanted to sit at the bar, but opted for a table for less wait time. When first looking at the menu we were shocked by the prices. I knew immediately i wanted to get the hui tou potstikers with pork and noodles. We ended up adding on the hongkong style wontons too. To my suprise the wontons arrived in a delicious and warm broth, keeping them perfectly moist and plump. The broth was so delicious even on a hot day, tasting faintly of sesame and scallion. Despite both dishes being pork they were so different and equally amazing in flavor. The pan fried potstikers which were CRISPED TO PERFECTION especially reminded me of black bean shortribs that you get from dimsum, fatty but hearty and had me wanting more and more each bite. The minced pork noodles were to no suprise, so good. Noodles tasted fresh, the sauce was umami with mushrooms and pork. While im not the biggest fan of mushrooms, i still ate it up. I feel it would be so good with some picked cabbage too to complement the saltiness. Most notable thing... THAT CHILI OIL. We probably used almost half the jar left at the table. It wasnt spicy at all, but it had this flavor that i genuinely have never tasted before. The texture of the chilli and sesame and the nutty flavor had me in awe. Enough to take two jars home... i would do it again. Servers were so quick, made sure everything we needed was at the table. Regardless of the crowd we were met with promptness and generosity. This that wonton place your girl tells you not to worry about forreal. Will be coming back despite the long drive from home.

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    Golden Tree Restaurant

    Golden Tree Restaurant

    4.4
    (387 reviews)
    11.7 mi
    $$

    We came here after attending a Dodgers game and were craving some Chinese food. We ordered the hot…read moreand sour soup, chicken with string beans, broccoli beef, and the house chow mein. Overall, we really enjoyed all of the food. The portions were good, everything tasted fresh, and the dishes were flavorful. The hot and sour soup was a little peppery for our taste, but it was still good and had great flavor. The staff were hardworking, attentive, and kept things running smoothly even while busy. We had a great experience and would definitely come back the next time we're in the area looking for Chinese food. Highly recommend!

    First off, AI let me down on this one…read more I came here expecting it to hit the mark for some solid kung pao chicken and mu shu pork after what I thought was a thorough search for the best Chinese food in Chinatown. That was my first mistake -- they don't even serve mu shu pork. That one's on me for not checking the menu first. I ended up getting my kung pao chicken and settled for the Mongolian beef, and veggie egg rolls. The Mongolian beef I could definitely pass on. The kung pao chicken was good at first, but somehow lost its flavor as the meal went on. The egg rolls were just okay. Nice and crispy on the outside, but too mushy on the inside for my liking. I was also pretty surprised (and a lot sad) that they didn't have hot mustard. The tea was really good though! Service was fine. The server was attentive, just clearly busy keeping up with all the takeout orders coming through. Ambience is definitely on the lower side here, so don't come expecting a nicer Chinese restaurant. It leans more Santa Ana burger joint vibes. That said, everything felt clean and they were pumping out a ton of takeout orders while we were there, so clearly they're doing something right. Overall, it just didn't hit for me, and I don't see myself coming back.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Shrimp Fried Rice 虾炒饭
    Shrimp Fried Rice 虾炒饭
    Menu as of May 2026 (p. 4 of 6)

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    Menu as of May 2026 (p. 4 of 6)
    Woon

    Woon

    4.2
    (601 reviews)
    9.7 mi
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    Woon is one of those spots that just hits differently - homestyle Chinese food with such a good…read morevibe to match. The pork belly bao is an absolute must-order. The braised pork belly was so incredibly soft and melt-in-your-mouth, and paired with the pickled carrots and cucumbers tucked into that steamed bao bun - so juicy. We also got the scallion pancakes which were crispy, chewy, and came with a soy ginger dipping sauce. The wood ear mushroom and bean curd stick salad was a nice lighter contrast to the heavier dishes too. We tried the beef noodles as well. The noodles were a bit on the tougher side, which is kind of expected with this style, but the flavors were solid overall. But do NOT sleep on dessert. I had to order the deep fried bao bun with ice cream scoop inside and it was delicious. Absolutely worth saving room for if you're looking to end your meal off with a sweet treat! Parking is easy with plenty of street parking nearby. Love that there's both indoor and outdoor seating - the patio outside is perfect for bigger groups at night, and the inside has its own aesthetic vibe that's equally great. Great service, good vibes, and delicious food. I'll be coming back!

    i really don't think you could go wrong with any choice off the menu! the service is always great…read moreand quick. i was actually quite surprised by the braised pork belly over rice. this is such a classic dish that i've always loved from my childhood and they made an amazing version of their own. just this alone was able to keep me full and happy. the cucumber pickles are a nice touch! even if you're not well-versed in chinese food, the menu is a great introduction to delicious staples that you typically can find in asian restaurants! went right before dinner so parking was easy and it wasn't busy.

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    Dining Area
    Dining Area
    Pork Chop Sandwich - Insta @friesandchives
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    Beef Noodles 牛肉粗炒麵

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    Beef Noodles 牛肉粗炒麵
    Sichuan Impression

    Sichuan Impression

    4.0
    (944 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    6 years in business

    The service was good. You'll just have to flag them if you need something. They were all helpful…read moreand nice. Food wise - everything we ordered was great. The cumin lamb was flavorful and spicy. The Mao Cai was spicy, full of meat and the broth was tasty. The boiled fish was my second favorite - spicy and fish was not overcooked. The fried intestines were really great! The shrimp fried rice is ok. I wanted either a whole fish or a whole crab but they ran out - on a Saturday night. They have a good Asian beer selection. $35 for corkage. $6 valet parking with validation. Free for 1 hour only with validation. It's a very casual place. Clean.

    My kiddo is a big fan of sichuan food especially fish fillet in chilli sauce so we came here for…read morelunch out of her recommendation as this is her favorite Chinese restaurant in town. The reception wasn't warm as the girl was on the phone and she just waved at us to get in. Food was scrumptious. Their basa fish fillet in chilli sauce had to be the best I've tasted. The fish was tender, sauce yummy, veggies fresh! It was excellently prepared. Husband and Wife beef and tripe slices was another outstanding dish. It was so good I had to order more rice to eat with it therefore happily broke my diet again. Steamd eggplant with pickled condiment on top tended to be on the salty side, it was soft and tasty. I loved it! Service was lukewarm at best. The girl performed her service in a convincingly nonchalant way. But at least I got lemon infused water refilled twice. :) Well decorated with Chinese cultural elements. Very spacious, clean and peaceful ambience. We had a lovely time and will return.

    Photos
    Wonton in chili oil 红油抄手
    Wonton in chili oil 红油抄手
    Beef noodle casserole 砂锅牛肉
    Beef noodle casserole 砂锅牛肉
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    Firstborn

    Firstborn

    4.2
    (134 reviews)
    12.0 mi
    $$$$

    Really outstanding modern take on Chinese cuisine. They apparently change their menu every week so…read morenothing is old. Their service was great and their servers were very knowledgeable. Their drinks also stood out in terms of creativity and the amount of work that goes into them. Overall, I put this on par with Baroo in terms of creativity, service and flavor.

    Firstborn is almost shockingly good for Chinatown, whose hip arriviste eateries have all seemed to…read morecoast on far more hype than quality. The menu is New American with Chinese influences served as a four-course prix fixe set, with each course having three choices, and optional additions are available. (There is an à la carte menu available in the bar area.) I went very carnivorous on my selections, choosing the beef tongue carpaccio, duck sausage, and beef short rib. There was not a bad dish among these: The tongue was tender, soft, and delicate. The duck sausage was fantastically good as well; served with an apple jam atop Swiss chard, it was a sort of Chinese-Alpine fusion cuisine of which I never envisioned but instantly wanted more. While delicious, the short rib was overshadowed by its cabbage accompaniment. My server told me it takes four days to make that dish, and I would have happily ordered a full dish of just that. The kaffir lime curd dessert was light and balanced, perfect after the heavier meat courses and like a small vacation to Thailand on a plate. The one dish I did not love was the Chongqing fried chicken course I added. The chicken itself ― a boneless leg quarter ― was a large portion and well-prepared, but the sauce covering it was a thick layer of chilis (which, thankfully, were not inedibly hot) and straight oil, lots of oil. Eating so much oil like that made for gastrointestinal discomfort the rest of the night. The soy pickles helped cut the greasiness a bit, but they weren't vinegary enough to get that level of oiliness off the palate. The duck fat rice, though quite good, also did not help much given its fattiness. Given the chance, I definitely would have requested the oil-sauce on the side. I did appreciate the crunchiness of the batter, which never went soggy despite being soaked in that oily puddle for a long time. I did not find any wines by the glass that bowled me over, so I stuck to cocktails, which were good. Service was warm, personable but not intrusive, and brisk, while the room has the comfortable feel of a mid-century modern den complete with well-worn cookbooks on the shelves lining the walls. I would happily return to try the bar menu with cocktails or when the prix fixe options change. At $68 for four courses, Firstborn's prix fixe is one of the best fine dining offers in L.A. right now, and it makes a trek up to Chinatown worthwhile.

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    dan modern chinese - chinese - Updated June 2026

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