Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Modu Three Brothers, a newly opened Chinese restaurant in Frankfurt that has already become the talk of the town among the local Chinese community. Despite its recent debut, the restaurant’s dishes have made a stunning impression, offering authentic dishes some of which are really one-of-a-kind and rarely found elsewhere in the city.
The restaurant has a cozy interior with plush seating options, including two-person and four-person tables, as well as a private dining room that can comfortably host gatherings of up to ten people—ideal for intimate celebrations or group dinners.
Restaurant Profile
- Name of the Restaurant: Modu Three Brothers (incl. menu)
- Adress: Hohenstaufenstraße 2, 60327 Frankfurt am Main
- Style: Chinese Cuisine – fried skewers, rice bowls, noodle soups, braised snacks (卤味), street foods, dumplings etc.
- Price: around 15 – 25 EUR per Person (incl. drinks and tips)
On the menu, you’ll find a diverse range of noodles, rice dishes, and a good selection of appetizers. Their snack menu is particularly exciting, offering everything from crispy fried skewers to flavorful braised delicacies, all customizable to your liking.
Let’s take a closer look at the dishes that make Modu Three Brothers so special.
炸串, or fried skewers, is a street food classic that transforms everyday ingredients into golden, crispy bites of joy. It was the ultimate reward after a long day at school. I still recall how we, hungry after a whole day of classes, flocked to bustling street vendors, where the tantalizing aroma of sizzling skewers filled the air. Vegetables and meats, fried to a perfect crisp and brushed with flavorful sauces, delivered spice, smokiness, and crunch all at once. Back then, I could easily devour 10 skewers in one go!
At Modu Three Brothers, you can choose meat, seafood, and vegetable skewers, priced at €1.5, €1, and €3 each, respectively. After making your picks, hand your chosen skewers and table number to the kitchen—and let the magic happen!
The flavorful punch comes from a blend of spices—cumin, chili powder, salt, sugar, sesame seeds —brought to life by sizzling hot oil poured over the mix. This fragrant, umami-packed coating unleashes a whole lot of flavors. Our recommendations are –
- Cauliflower: Crisp and smoky with a tender bite, the spices cling to every floret, creating an addictive crunch.
- Green Beans: Sweet, lightly charred, and bursting with freshness, they offer a delightful contrast to the bold seasonings.
- Beef Skewers: Juicy and tender inside, with a smoky, crisply charred exterior.
- Lamb Skewers: Firm and chewy, with marbled fat that turns irresistibly juicy as it cooks, carrying hints of cumin and spice.
- Chicken Gizzards: Plump and slightly chewy, their unique texture pairs beautifully with the intense spice.
- Octopus: Soft and briny, with a gentle chew that releases oceanic flavors in every bite.
- Mushrooms: Juicy on the inside with a slightly wrinkled skin, they soak up every ounce of the spice blend.
- Potato Chips: soft yet with crisp edges that give a light crunch, the starchy texture goes well with the bold, exciting spices.
- Tofu Skewers: With a hint of heat and a bold numbing spice, each bite bursts with a rich, earthy flavor and a robust bean aroma, offering a firm and satisfying chew.
小酥肉, or crispy fried pork is a combination of tender, juicy meat and a crispy, golden exterior. The meat itself is lean, soft and tender, with just the right amount of chewiness. As you sink your teeth into the crispy outer shell, the rich, savory pork blends seamlessly with the delicate, crisp coating, creating a delicious contrast of textures.
The numbing spice and the fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns elevates the taste with just the right level of heat. The nutty, savory and slightly sweet sesame powder dusted next to the crispy pork rounds out the mouthfeel, delivering a perfect balance of flavors.
Sichuan 卤味 (marinated snacks) is a thrilling flavor adventure, featuring vibrant, deep red color, achieved through long marination and slow braising. This process allows the flavors to penetrate deeply into the ingredients. The hallmark of 卤味 is its heavy, rich taste—savory, spicy, numbing, slightly sweet, all wrapped in the aromatic complexity of Chinese medicinal herbs and spices.
At Modu, you’ll find a wide selection of 卤味, such as savory and spicy tofu, crisp and earthy lotus roots, chewy, umami seaweed, peppery and slightly sweet duck neck and wings, rich and aromatic duck heads, firm and chewy cow stomach, succulent pig’s head meat, juicy gelatinous pig feet, and crunchy pig ears.
卤味 is served cold, making it a great companion to a chilled beer in summer or to a comforting bowl of hot noodle soup in winter. At Modu, you can order some of them individually or have mix-and-match platters—vegetarian or meaty. We personally prefer the vegetarian version. They’re best enjoyed with friends, where the warming flavors complement the warmth of good company.
Wan Za Mian (1豌杂面 or Pea and Minced Meat Noodles) is a must-try noodle dish at Modu. It comes topped with peanuts, peas, minced meat, andfresh spring onions. The 豌豆 (peas) is soft, smooth, and a little creamy, creating a comforting base that pairs beautifully with springy noodles and savory minced meat. The noodles are elastic and chewy, yet easy to bite through.
The minced meat, a balanced mix of lean and fatty pork, is the best part. Cooked with a medley of dark soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions, the meat becomes irresistibly savory with a hint of natural sweetness, thanks to the caramelization during cooking. Its small, granular texture ensures a flavor-packed sauce that clings to each strand of noodles and infuses the dish with deep umami and a slight nuttiness that’s simply addictive.
The homemade chili oil is boldly spicy. When mixed into the dish, it takes the flavor to a whole new level—adding a tingling, numbing kick that enriches the earthy sweetness of the peas, the richness of the minced meat, and the smoothness of the sauce, making the dish as wholesome as it is exhilarating.
Sichuan Spicy and Sour Sweet Potato Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce (3招牌肉酱酸辣粉) delivers bold flavors and diverse textures in one bowl. The sweet potato noodles, known for its bouncy, chewy texture, provide a light and silky mouthfeel. They are steeped in a tangy, spicy broth boasting ma la (numbing spice), umami richness, and a hint of warming heat – a combination that’s sure to awaken your senses.
It’s accompanied by rich, savory, homemade minced pork sauce, alongside tender tofu strips, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, and soft enoki mushrooms. Fresh coriander and spring onions introduce a fresh aroma to the vinegar-forward broth.
A sip of the appetizing broth, paired with smooth noodles and vibrant veggies, is a symphony of contrasts – spicy yet refreshing, sour yet comforting, and rich yet light. Its warming and revitalizing quality makes it a great choice for rainy days or cold evenings.
Sour and Spicy Beef Noodles (12牛肉米线) is a tasty variation on the classic minced pork version, sharing a similarly tangy, spicy, and numbing broth. The soup, simmered with rich bone broth, has a bold yet refined umami depth. It’s warming, aromatic and balanced with a clean, lingering savoriness.
This version features tender, flavorful beef pieces with a good mix of lean and fatty cuts, adding a luscious, meaty essence to the soup. Fragrant chives, wood ear mushrooms, tofu strips, enoki mushrooms, and cilantro create a delicious mix of textures and flavors.
For this bowl, we went for rice noodles. Their chewy and bouncy texture goes perfectly with the robust broth. Alternatively, you can opt for springy, soft potato noodles, or wheat noodles for a heartier meal.
Stir-Fried Pork with Chili (辣椒炒肉) is a classic Hunan dish that promises an explosion of fiery flavors. It’s served on top of steamed rice to balance its intensity.
The red and green chilies are expertly stir-fried to achieve blistered skins, adding a smoky aroma while retaining a juicy, crunchy bite. Unlike some versions that remove seeds for a milder flavor, this rendition leaves the seeds intact for an authentic, fiery kick that’s unmistakably spicy.
The pork is tender and flavorsome, with just enough fat to give it a glistening golden edge, while the fermented black bean sauce (豆豉) brings an earthy, umami-rich depth. Overall, it’s fragrant, spicy, and savory, with chilies and pork sharing a delightful smoky, yet succulent crunch.
And it comes with surprising benefits – the capsaicin in chilies stimulates circulation and boosts metabolism, making it a to-go choice for many during cold weather. Some even say it helps burn body fat. What a delicious way to stay fit and energized!
This restaurant caters to different occasions, whether you’re in the mood for a simple, budget-friendly solo meal or a feast of flavors with small plates and skewers to share with friends. Modu offers a range of classics from Kung Pao Chicken to steamed dumplings, and noodle bowls with options like potato noodles, rice noodles, or wheat noodles. Vegetarian options are also thoughtfully included on the menu. And they have a generous policy of free extra rice or noodles, making sure no one leaves hungry.
For many locals, isn’t it true that with a skewer in one hand and a beer in the other, is like decoding the very essence of youth, when life radiates spirit and liveliness? Isn’t it true that for many of us, our first sip of alcohol only came at 18, on the night the college entrance exams end – a moment that deserves ceremony? As a crisp chime of clinking glasses rings out like a bell of adulthood, with every sip, we toast, and we glimpse the distant dreams in each other’s eyes. That night, the roadside feast marks the final stop of youth’s carefree chapter, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. And now, years later, does it still feel as though a life without late-night skewers and drinks is somehow incomplete?
