Can you get excited about ramen?

Yes, ramen.

And no, not the rectangular instant packets of dried noodles wasting away in the back of your pantry.

Milwaukee is this amazingly, kind of secret epicenter of food culture. Actually, most cities I’ve been to are. And suburbs.

There’s incredible food everywhere, and sometimes we walk right by these places, drive past them on our way to wherever we’re in a rush to reach. I try to take exception to them, to make a mental checklist of the restaurants I see, both old and new.

Sometimes you take the chance and the food is mediocre at best. Maybe it reminds you of 20 chains you’ve been to featuring the same “Made-to-Order” frozen foods you can get from the freezer at your supermarket.

What about when it’s not? When it’s a new food experience that opens you up to even more food choices and a journey through a culture you never knew you wanted to learn about?

I ordered lots of plates on the first trip here. I actually wrote a review for this place in 2015 for a food-related course, but I’ve been back many times. 

The super delicious bowl above is Tanpopo’s Tonkotsu Ramen. The noodles are fresh, slightly springy in texture. They soak up a rich pork bone broth so infused with marrow that you’d mistake it for being cream.

Up top you see some roasted pork belly. The flavor is deep, smoky, a little anise-y and it melts in your mouth from the slow cooking process. Just below it, a nice aromatic pile of green onions brighten up the rich flavors. The soft-boiled egg adds a simple, delicate bite to the bowl and even more creamy richness. The bamboo shoots and mushrooms bring an earthy appeal to the mix.

A far cry from the instant cups sold in 24 packs for $5.

The ramen here is amazing and stands out from ramen I’ve had in other restaurants.

But what if you just aren’t into ramen like me? There’s a lot more going on at Tanpopo.

I mean, the restaurant name DOES include Sushi.

The Shrimp Tempura Maki roll is one that’s grown in popularity since the first time I tried it here, and it’s no wonder. The shrimp was cooked just enough and the crispy coating was a major contrast to the meaty shrimp and soft rice. The sweet, dark sauce drizzled over top made the light saltiness of the the tempura batter much more pronounced.

Being raised on the east coast, I was caught off guard to find some of the freshest tuna I’ve ever eaten, and right here in the middle of the country so far from a salty ocean. It was fresh and tender, a nice color added to the raw integrity. The avocado lent its fresh, creamy texture to the mild, meaty fish. Aside from some toasted sesame seeds sprinkled over top, these rolls had no flair. But they needed none. Simple, delicious, classic sushi.

Oh, they also have some other amazing appetizers.

The Gyoza were awakening. I’ve never had these made super fresh. As one might expect, they were filled with ground chicken, napa cabbage, other vegetables and spices. These gyoza had a heavy sear on one side which added a slightly charred flavor and a contrast of crunch and crisp compared to the chewy sides adjacent.

It’s not that I haven’t had gyoza cooked this way before, just never so well. The dipping sauce, a little, tangy pool of sweet soy sauce, sesame oil and rice wine vinegar gave the dumplings a spring from which to jump upon the senses. It pronounced the filling and the seared side and danced across my tongue. I was sad when they were gone.

And I liked the boat. That little boat serving dish was pretty awesome.

I decided to try a common dish that most Asian American restaurant features these days.

Sorry, it isn’t Orange Chicken.

Sesame Chicken.

The batter made only slightly gooey on the outside from the savory yet sweet sauce and somehow still crispy underneath. The chicken was juicy and the sauce was both rich and light. It was sweet, sour, salty and sensual. A big step above the usual thick, syrupy sauces associated with many chains and take-out places.

If you like Asian food, take an adventure outside of the city and explore the menu at Tanpopo.

Tanpopo Ramen& Sushi
Rating: *** / Excellent
5191 S. 108^th Street, Hales Corners, WI  53130
(414) 525-2266, Tanpopo Ramen & Sushi

Atmosphere
One level with bar, front section is windowed up to theroof, giving view of sky. Casual and inviting.

Service
Kind and friendly staff, attentive (at least to us). Foodcame in good time.

Sound Level
Quiet and calm. Soft music, strategically placeddecorative dividers dampen sound.

Recommended
Gyoza – $5
Tonkotsu Ramen – $9.50
Sesame Chicken – $11
Shrimp Tempura – $7
Tuna Avocado Roll – $6

Prices
Ramen & Noodle Dishes – $9 to $13
Small Plates/Appetizers – $2 to $13
Sushi & Sashimi (a la Carte & Entrée) – $4 to $46
Rice Dishes & Entrée Plates – $9 to $16
Sides – $1 to $3

Hours
Monday to Thursday: 11:00am – 2:30pm, 5:00pm – 9:30pm
Friday: 11:00am – 2:30pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 9:00pm

Reservations
Accepted.

Credit Cards
All major credit cards accepted.

WheelchairAccessibility
Left-hand side of the restaurant.

The Stars
(None) Poor
* Good
** Very Good
*** Excellent
**** Exceptional

Ratings reflect the reviewer’s reaction to food, atmosphere and service. Menu listings and prices are subject to change.