1. Cafe India
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
The butter chicken here can fix anything, I swear. Let me explain. It’s been a long day? Butter chicken. No food in the fridge? Butter chicken. Too tired to cook the ambitious meal I planned four days ago? Butter chicken. Cafe India’s butter chicken is just *chef’s kiss.* It’s the perfect amount of spicy, it’s creamy, it pairs with the rice and garlic naan so well. I could eat it every week. Oh, and my partner always orders the Malai Tikka, in case you are looking for another rec. We may or may not have our exact order pre-loaded into the delivery app so all we need to do is push one button… Shoot, now I want butter chicken.
2. Pho Saigon
JUAN CARLOS GARCIA MARTINEZ, EDITORIAL INTERN
For my ideal takeout order, I’m going with beef or shrimp pho. A nice warm bowl of pho never fails to satisfy my hunger, but I always pair my orders here with my favorite appetizer, spring rolls. The highlight of this dish is undoubtedly the peanut sauce it comes with, dousing your satisfyingly crisp bite of veggies wrapped in bouncy rice paper with a sweet, savory and familiar flavor. It’s impossible not to double dip.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Sze Chuan
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
I think there’s a broken part of my brain that’s convinced me society will soon collapse and all calories must be desperately horded within my gut in preparation for those dark times when we will turn to animals in the streets, scavenging for what little nourishment remains. Or maybe I just like eating too much. I don’t know. Whatever it is, I’m always stuffing my face, and Sze Chuan is my latest stomach-straining obsession. The Chinese spot in West Allis serves big portions at low prices – and the food is absolutely delicious. My go-to takeout order is the orange chicken with sides of spicy pork dumplings and pot stickers. They hurt my waistline – but heal my soul.
4. Dia y Noche
ALLI WATTERS, DIGITAL & CULTURE EDITOR
I live dangerously close to Greendale’s cafe/restaurant hybrid Dia y Noche. The Latin American spot is within walking distance of my home, and I am proud (ashamed?) to say that I am there at least once a week. My lunch order never changes: It’s the rice bowl. The meal comes with yellow Salvadorian rice, veggies, your choice of protein, sliced avocado, a yolky egg and these delicious plantains that are fried to perfection. It’s so good, in fact, that I have tried, and failed, to re-create it at home. And to me, the fact that it can’t be matched in my own kitchen is the sign of a truly excellent takeout order.
5. FreshFin Poké
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
I don’t do a lot of takeout, largely because, 1) I like the experience of dining in a restaurant, and 2) Food is almost always better when it’s not sitting inside a carryout container, losing heat. There are exceptions, of course. When I work from home, the lunch struggle usually sends me out to get something at least once a week. An old reliable for me is Freshfin Poké. “Poké” usually refers to diced fish. But the protein sources at this place are not limited to fins. A bowl combines your choice of protein with rice, vegetables and condiments/sauces. I change up my order all the time. While they have some composed bowls, lately I’ve been doing the CYOB – Craft Your Own Bowl, picking two proteins (chicken and slow-roasted pork), lots of veggies and half white rice/half mixed greens. For sauces, I like sweet shoyu and Thai chile ginger, plus a drizzle of sriracha sauce.
6. Thai-Namite
CAMPBELL FAUBER, SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN
My ideal takeout order is the yellow curry (potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in coconut milk and yellow curry sauce) with soft tofu (not deep fried) from Thai-Namite in Tosa. Paired with steamed rice and a side of edamame for snacking, this is my go-to order no matter what time of year it is!
7. Hungry Sumo
SOPHIE YUFA, EDITORIAL DESIGNER
Hungry Sumo never fails me! My go-to takeout order comprises of their Tonkotsu ramen, Sashimi Zensai and an order of pork buns. Delicious, reasonably priced, and high-quality ingredients are all factors that keep me coming back (and I can’t forget to mention the fantastic service). What I’m most impressed by is how much I love their slow-braised pork, considering I’m not much of a pork-guy (I don’t usually go for soft/fatty meats). P.S.: The special sauce they put on their buns is out of this world.
