Worth the Detour: Vientiane Noodle Shop

Construction doesn’t just impact traffic patterns — it impacts the small businesses that help keep Milwaukee vibrant every day. That’s the idea behind Worth the Detour, a new monthly series highlighting businesses in the Valley and surrounding neighborhoods that continue to show up for the community through construction, change, and disruption.

This month’s feature is Vientiane Noodle Shop.

For more than two decades, Vientiane has quietly built a loyal following through deeply flavorful Lao comfort food and dishes people passionately recommend the minute someone asks where to eat on Milwaukee’s South Side.

If it’s your first visit, regulars say the Khao Poon is a must. The pho, yellow noodles, spring rolls, and Lao sausage have loyal followings of their own, too.

Like many small businesses in the Valley and surrounding neighborhoods, Vientiane is navigating ongoing construction while continuing to serve the community every day.

Making the detour right now doesn’t just lead to a great meal — it helps support one of the local businesses that gives Milwaukee its character.