DanDan, the well-known American–Chinese restaurant in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, was temporarily closed on Friday and is now waiting on a re-inspection by the Milwaukee Health Department. A notice taped to the front door states that the closure was ordered on Friday, March 20. Staff have not publicly shared any explanation for why the restaurant was shut down.
According to TMJ4, the sign notes the March 20 closure and that DanDan is closed “pending re-inspection” by the Milwaukee Health Department. TMJ4 reported that no reason for the action was posted and that the station had contacted city officials for comment, with plans to update its story as new information comes in. The bare-bones notice and lack of detail mirror how a string of other recent Third Ward closures have been handled.
Third Ward inspection surge
DanDan’s shutdown comes on the heels of two other short-lived closures in the Third Ward earlier this month. The Wicked Hop was ordered to stop regulated food sales after inspectors found cockroaches, and Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria put up its own temporary closure sign following an inspection. WISN reported that The Wicked Hop reopened after bringing in pest control and passing a follow-up inspection, while Blue Bat’s closure and reinspection were documented separately. Together, the cases show how a routine visit from health inspectors can quickly sideline neighborhood favorites.
About DanDan
DanDan, co-run by chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, opened in the Third Ward in 2016 and has since become a fixture on the neighborhood dining map. The restaurant’s website lists its Third Ward address and hours and describes the menu as having “a Chinese soul with a Midwestern sensibility.” The DanDan name has also grown through work beyond the dining room, including a retail shop and other projects that have made the brand recognizable beyond its single brick-and-mortar location.
What a temporary closure means
When the Milwaukee Health Department orders a temporary closure, operators are typically required to fix any violations and then pass a follow-up inspection before they can resume regulated food sales. In The Wicked Hop’s case, WISN reported that the bar hired licensed pest control, completed a deep cleaning, and was cleared to reopen after re-inspection. If DanDan follows a similar path, it could return to service once city inspectors verify that any required corrections have been made…