It’s as important as ever to support the amazing collection of local restaurants that we have in our beautiful city. And there’s no better way to do so than committing to patronize them throughout the year. To guide you on your journey, I’ve composed a list of 52 amazing restaurants. Try just one of these every week and you’ll have visited them all by the end of 2024. View the full list OR download an abbreviated printable PDF file for your fridge or wallet.
An Ox Cafe
7411 W. Hampton Ave., (414) 336-0064
anoxcafe.com
Thai, Lao, Hmong
$$
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Whether it’s a warming bowl of pho, a fresh plate of herb-filled larb or deep-fried coconut shrimp, you’ll find something to love at An Ox Cafe, which continues to be a food-filled highlight of the Columbus Park neighborhood.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, bright and modern, making it the perfect spot to meet a friend and enjoy any number of comforting Southeast Asian dishes.
You'll find gingery housemade Lao sausage served with the prerequisite sticky rice; fragrant curries (from mild pandang to chile-infused green and sweet, lemon-grassy red); and uniquely delicious salads like nam kow featuring crispy deep-fried rice, coconut nam sausage and fresh lime.
Do not miss their ultra crispy-edged marinated roasted pork, which is served with rice and delicious housemade hot sauce (I like to order mine with sticky rice). It's one of those remarkable dishes you won't be able to get out of your head.
Recommended: Nam kow (crispy coconut rice salad); kow piek (Lao chicken soup); crispy pork; boba tea!
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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