Great spot right in the heart of Santa Monica. The space is bright, open, and welcoming, and we were seated quickly. I'd definitely come back. The vegetables were excellent--the bok choy and green beans were my favorites. The dumplings with the chili oil sauce were the standout dish, so definitely order those. The noodles were also really good. Overall, great food, great vibes, and friendly service. A solid spot if you're in the area. read more

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Pretty much everything was way too salty, especially the three cup chicken and mapo tofu, which also had this odd starchy texture. Rice was undercooked, and the pork crab soup dumpling had a nice thin skin but the meat inside was tough. The oxtail beef noodle soup was at least edible and probably the best of the main dishes.... Surprisingly the fried vegetable dumplings were the best thing we ordered. Service was attentive and spacious. read more

During a recent visit to Santa Monica, we went to Dan Modern. It was a chilly evening and the meal was exactly what we needed. Delicious hot chicken soup - with plenty of chicken and scallions to add texture. The XLB with shrimp and pork were the perfect appetizer. We shared the shrimp with crab sauce - it had real crab in the sauce. Loved it! The wait staff were helpful and attentive. The place is industrial modern and minimalistic. read more

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I like the food but frustrated at the how you have to jump through hoops in order to get utensils or soy sauce with your Togo meals. There is no option in Uber Eats and they tell you there is. Makes you have to call in order to request utensils. Still they don't always include so frustrating please just add chopsticks!! Nobody wants to eat your food with a fork and nobody wants to go without soy sauce!!! Makes me choose din tai as they never miss on the experience. read more

Really good quality food made fresh and to order, served in a rapid manner by a very friendly team of servers. Really beautiful clean ambience. Upbeat and casual. Specially want to recognize Markx who did an amazing job taking care of a large group of us on what was a very special occasion for our dear friends. read more

dan modern chinese - Marx is the Man!!!! - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We've been here twice now and honestly, the food keeps pulling us back. The pan‑fried dumplings and the crab fried rice are the stars of the show. That fried rice hits hard! Tons of crab and that smoky wok hei flavor that makes you want to order another bowl. We tried a bunch of other dishes too and they were all solid. The xiao long bao are juicy, the spicy dumplings have a nice kick, the pickled cucumber is super refreshing, and the mapo tofu is comforting. Even the Thai tea was great. Service was just okay imo nothing bad, just pretty standard. The space itself is clean, modern, and fits the vibe of the name. Overall this is one of those spots we're happy to keep coming back to. The food delivers every time, especially those dumplings and that fried rice. read more

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Marx was so charming and helpful. This was THE BEST DINNER we have had all of 2026!! Woo!! Noodles and soup dumplings. Yas read more

Good as a one-time experience, but I wouldn't come back. For appetizers, we ordered the pickled cucumbers and the seafood tofu salad -- both were tasty and interesting. The cucumbers had a nice fresh flavor with just the right amount of salt, and the tofu seafood salad also tasted super fresh. For my main dish, I had the Pork Soup Dumplings. They were very juicy and had a good flavor. For dessert, I ordered the black sugar boba, and that's where things went downhill. It had a strange, unpleasant taste. It was extremely sweet, the boba pearls were soggy instead of chewy (also very sweet), and the milk tea itself was nothing special -- I couldn't even taste the tea. The service was good, and the ambiance was okay, but I didn't like the seating arrangement and it didn't feel cozy. read more

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Bland crab soup dumplings and fried dumplings also. Just very generic restaurant and nothing special about the menu or experience. I don't like wasting food so I ate it all but my first reaction was to spit out the soup dumplings. read more

Came here for dinner, wait time wasn't long, everything was absolutely delicious we tried a variety of dishes. Mason our server was amazing, informative, attentive and hilarious. It's a chill ambiance for date night, solo or with friends/family. read more

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Love to come to dans! The food here is always so flavorful and yummy. I love their noodles and fried rice. They have the best flavor and the perfect amount of salty. The services here tends to be great and never a long wait! read more

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i've seen reviews comparing dan to dtf, and i can't say i agree... but i did enjoy my dining experience here! i do like the option of steamed, pan fried, and even extra crispy dumplings! if there was a vegetarian xlb i would've loved to try it, but i settled for the vegetable dumplings, and got them pan fried. i also wish there was an option for chili oil in the vegetable dumplings, but luckily our server supplied us some on the side. i wish the description said what was in the dumplings, it seemed to mostly be spinach with maybe small chunks of mushroom and tofu? regardless, it wasn't very impressive in flavor. the vegetable dan mein was the highlight of my meal! the veggies are done beautifully and the noodles are lathered in a delicious sauce. definitely would come back for these, and maybe to try some of the veggie appetizers. overall, portions are not very large if you plan on sharing. parking in the area is also pretty difficult, so be prepared to pay in a nearby lot read more

dan modern chinese - veggies dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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10/10 hands down one of the best thick noddles I've had, the meat melts in your mouth. Vegetable Fried Rice paired well with th noddles. I always love a pickled cucumber side dish I think this is a great add on always. We also ordered the pan fried pork dumplings. Staff was very friendly, service is fast too. Perfect for family and big groups. Indoor dining is all that is available. I have been wanting to try this spot for the longest but Sawtelle location closes early but this was a treat! read more

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Very reasonably priced dim sum for Santa Monica. While there's plenty of table inside, there were a lot of larger parties of 8+ people tonight. Having larger groups like that really takes away from the space within the restaurant. So when we first walked in, it felt tight and crowded. Wait time for food wasn't bad at all. Everything comes out as it's ready. I would have liked if our waiter had check in on us a little more regularly throughout the meal. I didn't get my first water refill until I was nearly done with my meal. The food tasted good, but the xiao long bao needed better execution. They either didn't stay together or soup was already leaking out before we even picked it up. If you're in the mood for fast and cheaper dim sum in Santa Monica, this is a great place. read more

We stopped here last minute before leaving LA and we were thrilled by the food. The dim sum was unique and flavorful. The Bao were delicious and the short ribs were to die for. The service was very friendly and the restaurant has a great vibe to it. read more

Santa Monica is a terrible place the only good thing there is interscope headquarters!! The service is bad at the end of the day because they get irritable!! The ambiance is so mid, you look around and it's tons of other people making tons of loud noise in a bad annoying way that makes you wanna leave. Food is mid. read more

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This place is often compared to Din Tai Fung and I have to agree it's about the same quality (Just average imo) and price. The interior decor has a modern feel, as the name suggests. Portions were small, if you plan on doing family style be sure to double up on everything. We felt the service could be a bit faster, as even on an empty lunch service food took a while to come out. There's a nearby parking structure and only a 15 min walk to the pier. They do not validate for parking. read more

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Came across this place in Santa Monica and decided to check it out. Really wanted to try the three cup chicken and we weren't disappointed. Made the mistake of ordering two cups of rice which is actually a lot. Service was quick and reasonably priced. read more

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Dan Modern Chinese is my all time favorite restaurant hands down. Unfortunately I do think that it often gets overshawows by more well-known Chinese restaurants, but it deserves way more attention. My favorite location is the Downtown Santa Monica location as it has big windows and a calming atmosphere. If you go to any Dan locations I urge you to order the Dan Mein Noodles these are my favorite! I go all the time with my family and friends and are always met with the best and fast service. read more

Local Chinese restaurants are American fusion. Food is prepared in advance reheated. CHINESE VEGETABLESS are not brocolli zucchini. If I wanted Ametican flavors. I wouldn't order Chinese. read more

This place rocks. The food here is delish, and seems to be high quality ingredients as I am very selective in regards to restaurant food and I feel great afterwards - no sluggish/hangover feeling. The staff are sweet. When my office is having a lunch, this place is one of the favs of everyone. read more

My review is for Dan Modern, who hosted our large group party. Melonnie, the manager, was helpful and friendly to work with. The owner was kind enough to close the restaurant for event (we asked for a midweek brunch time, and filled the restaurant). The food was amazing- because the staff made the effort to continue cooking fresh batches and bring them out constantly so that we never ran out. The event was a success- everyone loved the food, the hosts were all incredibly gracious and helpful, they even packed leftovers into to-go boxes for us. If it helps anyone out everything we ordered was fabulous: short rib noodles, crab fried rice, pork/crab xlb, shrimp in crab sauce, pea sprouts, and pork chops. If you are thinking about hosting an event here, I highly recommend it! read more

Nothing out of the ordinary on the menu. But the preparation takes it to EXTRAORDINARY. Everything is Delicious +! Run, don't walk to Dan Modern. read more

I had a memorable dinner experience here. I thinkt that's what this place is for. I came a couple of times for a takeout order and it wasn't a great experience. read more

Dan is easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in Santa Monica! The food is just delicious, from the dumplings to the noodles to the scallion pancakes. It almost tastes homemade and we've come back multiple times. It's an easy place to walk into and find a table without a wait. It's also a nice option to grab a quick bite to eat. Last time, I even ordered the chicken noodle soup as I wasn't feeling the best and it completely hit the spot. Highly recommended as a great place for a delicious meal without a crazy, huge crowd. read more

Dan Modern Chinese in Santa Monica did something I'd started to think was extinct. It served Chinese food that actually tastes like someone cares. Scallion pancake crisp and fragrant. Popcorn shrimp light, addictive, gone too fast. Xiao long bao perfect little parcels of joy. Fried rice balanced, not oily or sad. Black pepper steak bold, savory, exactly what it should be. Every dish landed. Coming from New York, where Chinese food has somehow become both expensive and disappointing at the same time, this meal felt like a corrective experience. A reminder of how good it's supposed to be. This place didn't just feed us. It restored faith. It also made Santa Monica feel dangerously livable. Dan Modern Chinese didn't just serve dinner. It gave New Yorkers hope. read more

We were out enjoying a beautiful beach day near 3rd Street and decided to grab a bite -- stumbled across this restaurant and we're so glad we did! We were lucky to have Mason taking care of us. He was fantastic -- super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and had some great recommendations. The food: We actually came here specifically for the oxtail soup, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark. The presentation was nice, but the broth was off for us. They gave it a solid effort, but it just wasn't it. That said, everything else we tried was delicious. Pan-fried vegetable dumplings - packed with real veggies and a flavorful sauce that was perfect. Chicken soup dumplings - a definite hit at our table. Popcorn chicken - crispy, tasty, and that sauce? Yes, please. Tofu and seaweed salad - so fresh and flavorful. A surprising standout! Overall a solid spot with friendly service, solid dishes, and a chill vibe. Would definitely come back -- just probably skip the oxtail soup next time. read more

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Delicious food and fantastic service! We loved it! Very good dumplings and chicken noodle soup read more

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Love this spot they never fail to let me down, I brought my family with me this time and it was great to see that this place carries such a wide variety that everyone was able to find something! The location is perfect just one block away from the pier and the food was incredibly flavorful and perfect! Thank you to our server Mason who made this dinner even more enjoyable with his conversation and recommendations! read more

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We used to come here quite often and my favorites are the fried rice and beef roll. This time we got the short rib fried rice which was quite good but a bit oily/salty. The spicy pork XLB was not too spicy and had a good amount of liquid in the dumpling. The string beans were just okay (there wasn't much blistering which lacks the wok flavor.) read more

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I'll be honest! I love this place! I've been coming here for about five years now and I've fully perfected my order at this point and always bring out of town friends and family here. Roses: - It's always spotless, the wait times are minimal, and the staff is nice- The food is super consistent, which I really appreciate - My go to order: scallion pancakes, xiao long bao (pork and chicken are both amazing. I still need to try the pork & dungeness crab combo one), and the short rib dan mein which is sooo good and makes for good leftovers - The price point for this quality of food is unbeatable Thorns: - Free parking in this area can be tough. Really read the signs because I've gotten tickets for not looking closely, and I've seen cars get towed. There are paid lots nearby, or you can park at One Westside if you validate at one of the stores - Personally, the rice dishes aren't my favorite. I've tried the chicken fried rice and the shrimp fried rice and they just don't hit the same as the rest of the menu - I wish they served alcohol Overall, though, this is one of my longtime staples. When a place keeps you coming back for five years, they're clearly doing something right. read more

Ordered this spot off Uber Eats while crashing at my hotel after a long night of nonsense. I was starving, half-expecting a sloppy delivery situation, but they hit everything right. The noodles were insane--perfect texture, juice cooked right into the broth like someone actually cared in the kitchen. Comfort food with finesse. The chicken dumplings weren't bad but didn't steal the spotlight. Still, nothing felt phoned in. Even the packaging looked like it was wrapped by someone who gives a damn. Blessings. Everything arrived warm, sealed, no leaks. You could plate it at a restaurant and not know it was takeout. That's rare. Now I need to pull up in person and eat this fresh off the line because if delivery hit like this, I can only imagine how it smacks in real life. It's giving: "I just won five hands in a row and this bowl knows it." read more

Always easy to get seated outside even when sawtelle is busy. The food is always good, they have great soup dumplings. read more

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This is my second time eating at Dan modern Chinese, but my first time eating at the Santa Monica location. I didn't take any photos this time. The food was still delicious. The second time around we ordered the pan fried dumplings the pork chop Dan noodles both short rib and chicken, and the popcorn shrimp Everything was delicious, savory and scrumptious. We had plenty of leftovers. I've been eating the leftovers for lunch for two days. The Santa Monica location is definitely more spacious than the Sawtelle location and it's conveniently located next to the parking structure on second St. we took a stroll on the 3rd St., Promenade before we went to lunch and we still only paid two dollars at the parking structure. If you want good food and a nice experience this is the place to go. I would definitely recommend it. It's yummy. read more

Great service, great environment. The food took us by surprise. Best soup dumplings we've ever had! Also the short rib Dan mein was addictive. Loved every bite. The scallion pancake was a little salty but still delish. Will be coming back soon. I can't get over the food read more

dan modern chinese - Dan mein - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I ordered the chicken fried rice and 2 orders of xiao long bao. The fried rice was $15+ and the xiao long bao $7+. The portions were tiny, especially considering I paid nearly $40 for my entire meal (I only ordered these 2 items and water to drink). It took forever for a server to even wait on us and get a drink once we were seated. And then after we ordered I think the server may have come back once. We actually had dirty utensils so we had to get new ones. When we asked the server they said nothing, took the silverware and very forcefully put the new set onto the table without a word. The whole experience was quite unpleasant. read more

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Portions were small. Service was fast and servers had excellent knowledge of the menu. But for the price it wasn't what I hoped for.

I was so happy to find a Taiwanese / Chinese restaurant at the Santa Monica 3rd street Promenade ! The food was flavorful and authentic. We ordered steamed dumplings, a veggie dish and fried noodles. Even though it was a busy night and the restaurant was short-staffed, our server apologized profusely and offered 3 different types of hot sauce for us to try! The interior was clean and modern and I will definitely come back to try their other dishes. If you are in Santa Monica and are craving delicious Taiwanese / Chinese food with good value, I highly recommend this place! read more

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This is a neat little place I found on Yelp when I was craving some Chinese food. Portions could be a little bit more generous, but it was very flavorful. I'm looking forward to trying other dishes. I tried the veggie dumplings because they were out of chicken. I don't know what was in it, but it looked like minced kale? The soy sauce was ridiculously salty, it's like drinking from the dead sea. Very fast and friendly service. Beautifully decorated inside. read more

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Soup dumplings that rival Din Tai Fung! Highly recommend the Salt and Pepper Tofu and Dungeness Crab Fried Rice. Upscale ambience with excellent service. read more