Owners Kevin and Catherina Huang, after working at critically acclaimed Philly restaurant Han Dynasty, decided to open their own restaurant—an adventure in “authentic dishes native to mainland China and Taiwan.” The restaurateurs opened DanDan, initially in Philadelphia, and expanded to Ardmore and Wayne. The Ardmore location, at the center of Suburban Square, attracts a diverse variety of diners with its fancier (but not too fancy) vibe—families with young children, elderly couples on date nights, and millennials out on the town.
By the central green in Suburban Square, DanDan has open-air seating alongside a spacious interior. Inside, the dining room is separated into two main areas. One, sectioned off by paneled glass and stationed under skylights, gives DanDan a natural and airy atmosphere. The other room, where we dined, has one long booth down the center, almost like a church pew, with tables on either side of it. This unique furniture not only gives DanDan a chic, mid-century modern look but also reinforces DanDan’s encouragement of family-style eating.
Upon discovering that it was our first time at DanDan, our quirky, friendly waiter gave us the rundown. Customers are encouraged to dine family style, with a wide variety of shareable dishes as opposed to a traditional one entree per customer. Our waiter explained that many dishes have generous portions, which also explains some of the steep pricing ($42.25 for the Golden Spicy Stew)!
Under the small plates section, you can choose from two sections, cold and hot. From the hot appetizers, we ordered vegetable potstickers and scallion pancakes. With a slippery smooth wrapper and crispy bottom, these dumplings were a textural delight. If you’ve ever tried the Trader Joe’s frozen potstickers, get excited—these are much better. The scallion pancakes are also a reliable pick, with oily, crispy fried layers and a sweet soy sauce. Just as crispy are the spring rolls, which have a satisfying crunch and strong flavor—leaving a slightly unusual aftertaste.
From the soup section, described as “shareable soups that serve between 3-4 people,” we chose pork wontons in chicken broth. Appearing with a large ladle and an aromatic smell, the broth was strong and fresh. However, if you’re looking to eat more than a small wonton per person, the portion size doesn’t seem like enough to feed four hungry people.
We recommend pointing your attention to an unassuming section at the bottom of the menu: Authentic Noodles. With some items priced at $10.95 (cheaper than a Chipotle bowl!), these generously portioned noodles are wallet-friendly and delicious. The cold sesame noodles topped with slick sesame sauce and crisp cucumber have an earthy, clean flavor, but if you’re more adventurous, opt for the namesake DanDan noodles, topped with a crimson chili oil. Beware, though, if you’re not used to Sichuan cuisine—the signature Sichuan peppercorn is famous for its mouth-tingling feeling.
For an entree, we ordered the “garlic sauce dish” with pressed tofu. This dish came with an impressively unique variety of vegetables, including the wood ear mushroom, a rubbery black fungus with a cup-like shape. Although the look of it was slightly intimidating, its bouncy texture provided a needed complement to the soft pressed tofu. The sauce was relatively standard, with sweet, slightly spicy, and garlicky flavors.
Overall, the food at DanDan is interesting and palatable, but there’s not much to blow a diner away. If you’re interested in trying a wood ear mushroom or want a romantic spot for date night, DanDan is a safe bet.
