🍜 2-Day Madison Chinese Food Review

We came to Madison for the Coldplay concert and seized the chance to try three popular Chinese spots! Here’s our honest review: 🇨🇳 1. FUGU Asian Restaurant We arrived late (9 PM!) but the owner kindly took our order. A nostalgic uni hangout for my wife – and still delivering old-school flavors! 🍆 Seafood Eggplant Pot: Soft eggplant with shrimp, crab stick, squid, and scallops – warm and perfect with rice! 😋 Though a few eggplant pieces were still firm inside. 🐟 Twice-Cooked Fish: Deep-fried fish stir-fried in bold sauce – super tasty and great with rice at first, but a bit heavy later. Ideal for strong flavor lovers! 🌶️ Pickled Pepper Beef: A bit salty but balanced with tangy pepper notes. My wife loved it – still rice-worthy! 🐔 Spicy Chicken: Crispy outside, tender inside – but not spicy at all. Just okay. 🥢 2. NANI - Cantonese Dim Sum Unfortunately, a big letdown 😢 🐓 Steamed Chicken Feet: Dry, bland, not hot enough, and slightly fishy. 🐮 Beef Tripe: Tasted like raw chili bean paste – no other flavor. Not good. 🍃 Chive Shrimp Dumplings: Decent, but likely pre-made. 🦐 Asparagus with Shrimp: Tasted like typical American Chinese food – better than their dim sum though. 🍲 Bean Sprout in Superior Broth: The best dish – flavorful and comforting! 🍰 Coconut Pudding: My wife was upset – coconut pudding topped with whipped cream?! 😅 🥟 Har Gow & Soup Dumplings: Pre-made vibe – nothing special. 🍚 Beef Congee with Egg: The only win – freshly cooked, though beef was a bit thick. Still tasty! 🏮 3. Tai Pan Restaurant After NANI’s disappointment, we tried Tai Pan – looks American-Chinese but some dishes really hit home! 🐟 Steamed Perch: Tasted just like home – my dad’s style! Well-seasoned and tender. 🥘 Radish Beef Brisket Pot: Delicious! Only downside – radish wasn’t soft enough. Had soft tofu too – perfect with rice! Beef was melt-in-your-mouth. 🦑 Salt & Pepper Squid: Standard fried squid – not much pepper flavor. Like regular calamari. 🎵 Perfect food adventure alongside an amazing Coldplay show! 🎶❤️ Have you tried these spots? What did you think? #Madison #ChineseFood #ColdplayMadison #UWMadison #FoodReview #DimSum