HERE ARE THE 2026 BEST BITE
Partner VENDORS
Savory partners
Elephant TKB
A Hmong restaurant and bar serving fresh Hmong food with flavors inspired by Thai and Lao cuisine. Elephant TKB opened in 2026 and brings a fresh take on familiar Southeast Asian flavors.
Best Bite: Pork Belly Nuggets Laab
Pork belly nuggets seasoned with laab seasoning, fresh cilantro, green onions, and red onions.
Hmong Appetit
A food truck serving Hmong and Southeast Asian-inspired dishes throughout the community, with plans to expand into a permanent location.
Best Bite: Taste of Solace
Chicken Cracklin’ topped with purple sticky rice, sweet, tangy and spicy pork rib meat, and pickled mustard greens for a combination of crispy, salty, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.
SapSap
Founded by Lao American chef and entrepreneur Alex Hanesakda, SapSap shares Lao cuisine and culture through food, storytelling, and community experiences across Wisconsin.
Best Bite: Lao Style Jerky
Marinated beef, lightly dried and fried until caramelized with crispy edges.
Vientiane Noodle Shop
A family-owned Lao restaurant that has served Milwaukee’s Silver City community for more than 25 years, sharing traditional Lao food and warm hospitality with generations of customers.
Best Bite: Beef Laab
A traditional Lao dish featuring beef, fresh herbs, lime, roasted rice powder, fish sauce, and chili peppers for a savory, tangy, spicy, and fresh bite.
A Filipino food business sharing Filipino culture through food while highlighting the many cultural influences behind Filipino cuisine. Currently serving at farmers markets, VS Pandanggo is also working toward bringing its products into grocery stores.
Best Bite: Chicken Adobo over Garlic Fried Rice
Chicken marinated and braised with ginger, garlic, onion, soy, and vinaigrette, served over garlic fried rice and garnished with papaya pickles and Pandanggo’s onion medley.
VS Pandanggo
An Ox cafe
Since opening in 2022, AN OX CAFE has brought Asian comfort food inspired by Hmong, Lao, and Thai cultures to Milwaukee’s Northwest Side. Beyond its menu, the restaurant has become a gathering place for the community, hosting a variety of events throughout the year.
Best Bite: Nam Khao
One of AN OX CAFE’s signature dishes, featuring deep-fried curry-seasoned rice with unsweetened coconut, nam sausage, fresh lime juice, herbs, and peanuts.
Dessert partners
Simply sweets
A Milwaukee-based bakery specializing in gourmet cinnamon rolls made with soft and fluffy Hokkaido-style Japanese milk bread dough and balanced sweetness.
Best Bite: Ube Sweet Roll with Coconut Buttercream
Soft Hokkaido-style milk bread infused with ube, filled with smooth ube filling, and finished with a light coconut buttercream.
Zoua’s treats
A Milwaukee-based home bakery specializing in not-so-sweet treats, including Asian-inspired sponge cakes and cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, and more.
Best Bite: Mini Cupcakes
Light and fluffy Asian-style sponge cupcakes in Pandan, Lychee, and Vanilla, plus American-style Biscoff, Chocolate, and Vanilla mini cupcakes finished with ganache.
Mochiunni
Founded in 2023 by certified pastry chef Pa Houa Vang, MochiUnni is Wisconsin’s first brick-and-mortar self-serve boba tea and bakery café. Blending Asian-French-inspired baking with creativity and connection, MochiUnni was created to make food an experience while inspiring others to pursue their passions.
Best Bite: Pâte à Choux
A French-inspired cream puff filled with light mascarpone whipped cream, featuring a crunchy exterior with a chewy, airy center.