Deli / Market
Brennan's Market
West Side (Watts Rd), Madison
Local Madison market near Middleton with a deli Philly cheesesteak that set the bar really high
Browse
Best Restaurants in Madison, WI
Supper clubs, dive bars, taco counters and tasting menus. Every plate paid for and eaten by Troy.
Looking for where to eat in Madison? Same, honestly. Everything on this page is a spot I actually pulled up to, ate way too much at, and would send my best friend to. Downtown, the east side, Middleton, Fitchburg, plus the small towns around Madison that are worth the drive. No fake stars, no sponsored stuff, just me telling you straight what to order and what to know before you show up.
Want a shortcut? Start with the best supper clubs near Madison, best burgers in Madison, top wing spots, or the bakeries around Madison.
Restaurants reviewed by Troy Munson in Madison, Wisconsin
76 spots, vetted one place at a time.
Middle Eastern / Mediterranean
Petra Bakery & Restaurant
West Side (Odana Rd), Madison
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spot off Odana with a chicken shawarma bowl and seasoned fries that hit the spot
Indian
Amber Indian Cuisine
Middleton (University Ave), Middleton
Middleton Indian spot with some of the best garlic naan around and a chicken tikka masala packed with flavor
Mexican / Tacos
AzTec Taqueria
Verona (Keenan Ct), Verona
Verona taqueria where the steak taco with green salsa and the queso birria are the move
Mexican
La Mestiza
West Side (Odana Rd), Madison
Authentic Mexican spot off Odana that a ton of you told me has the best Mexican food in Madison
Coffee / Salvadoran
Finca Coffee
Rimrock / Fitchburg, Fitchburg
Salvadoran-inspired coffee shop in Fitchburg with breakfast burritos, pupusas, and a signature Salvadoran quesadilla
Coffee / Breakfast
Ancora
Shorewood Hills (University Ave), Madison
Shorewood Hills coffee shop known for the Hella Stella breakfast sandwich and a honey bacon biscuit that lands on my top 10 list
Coffee / Cafe
Barriques
University Ave, Madison
One of my favorite chain coffee shops around Madison for solid food, great coffee, wine, and a Power Burrito that actually delivers
Italian / Wine Bar
D'Vino
Downtown (King St), Madison
Downtown Madison Italian spot for family dinners and date nights, with fried eggplant strips, calamari, and pasta that empties every plate
Mexican / Breakfast
Mexli
Beltline (W Beltline Hwy), Madison
Pink building off the Beltline with a massive three meat breakfast burrito that looked like the best in Madison
Soul Food / Mexican
Naty's Fast Food
South Madison (Beld St), Madison
South Madison Mexican and soul food spot where the lemon pepper wings with mild sauce fall right off the bone
Burgers / Bar
Settle Down Tavern
Downtown (Capitol Square), Madison
Downtown Madison bar with a true smash burger, the Jalapeno Hot Rod, that took my number one burger spot in Madison
Burgers / Bar
Licari's Bar & Grill
South Madison (Emil St), Madison
The only back to back Madison Burger Week winner, with a Pull Tab Burger so big and messy it could feed two people
Soul Food / Wings
Marie's Soul Food
Monroe Street, Madison
Tiny Monroe Street soul food spot with hot honey lemon pepper wings that might be the most slept on wings in Madison
Venezuelan
Pa'Que Roberto
Southwest Madison (Raymond Rd), Madison
Packed Venezuelan hidden gem on Raymond Road with a cachapa that tastes like a cheesy, meaty, sweet and savory pancake
Mediterranean / Cafe
Eloura
Downtown (Capitol Square), Madison
Upscale Mediterranean spot off the Capitol Square with great vibes, a hidden cafe corner, and a lamb kebab bowl that stole the show
Mediterranean / Gyros
Gyro Guyz
West Side (S Gammon Rd), Madison
West side hidden gem on Gammon Road with an $8 lunch gyro bowl and loaded gyro fries big enough to feed three
Indian
Grand Haveli
Verona (N Edge Trail), Verona
New Indian restaurant in Verona with crispy shrimp pakora, garlicky naan, a chicken tikka masala that nailed the spice, and super friendly service
Healthy / Bowls & Salads
Forage Kitchen
Middleton (Old Sauk Rd), Middleton
Healthy-ish bowls done right, with a Fiesta Bowl on organic black rice that is one of my favorite healthier meals around Madison
Mexican / Tacos
El Gran Taco Gato
Fitchburg (Williamsburg Way), Fitchburg
Hidden gem taco spot in Fitchburg with $4 tacos on double corn tortillas, one of the better al pastor tacos I have had, plus desserts and more
American / Fish Fry
Quivey's Grove
Fitchburg (Nesbitt Rd), Fitchburg
Fitchburg classic with a beer battered cod fish fry under the big tent, a laid back Stable bar, and a huge lawn the kids love
Global Small Plates / Late Night
Nattspil
Downtown (King Street), Madison
Downtown Madison spot with one of the most unique menus I have ever seen and a three cup chicken I could eat by the bowl
Wings / Food Truck
Double Dub's MKE
Milwaukee area (mobile), Milwaukee
Milwaukee wing truck hundreds of you told me to try, with a level 3 buffalo that is one of the better buffalo sauces I have had
Bakery
Poppy Bakery
Lower East Side, Milwaukee
Tiny Milwaukee East Side bakery with flaky croissants and a kouign-amann that might be my favorite bakery item ever
Peruvian / Rotisserie Chicken
Pikkito
West Madison (Junction Rd, near Middleton), Madison
West Madison Peruvian rotisserie chicken that falls right off the bone, with cilantro rice I keep thinking about
Butcher Shop / Thursday Sandwiches
Meat People Butcher
East Side (Monona Drive), Madison
East Side Madison whole animal butcher with a Thursday-only sandwich that sells out fast and is worth the hunt
Burgers / American
Au Cheval
West Loop, Chicago
Chicago's hyped double cheeseburger with thick-cut bacon and a fried egg that lives up to the wait
Thai / Food Truck
BROThAi
Madison area (mobile), Madison
Madison Thai street food truck with egg rolls I could eat 100 of and a Thai wing sauce that slaps
Supper Club
Doc's Place Supper Club
Downtown Oregon, Oregon
Oregon's new supper club with immaculate vibes, duck wontons, and a soft-opening burger that still hit
Ramen / Japanese
Tochi Ramen
Downtown Sheboygan, Sheboygan
Sheboygan butter corn spicy miso ramen with cumin butter flavor I had never tasted before
Indian-Italian Fusion
Zafferano
Fitchburg, WI
Fitchburg Indian-Italian fusion with Chicken 65 gnocchi I am still thinking about
Italian
North Italia
Hilldale, Madison
Scratch-made Italian at Hilldale with hot honey prosciutto pizza, spicy rigatoni, and date-night vibes
Cafe / Breakfast
Oasis Cafe
Fitchburg Tech Campus, Fitchburg
Fitchburg coffee shop with a chorizo breakfast burrito that jumps when you add their house hot sauce
Venezuelan
La Taguara
East Washington, Madison
Authentic Venezuelan on East Washington with arepas, cachapas, and Caribbean-style cheese bites
Coffee / Cafe
Qamaria Yemeni Coffee
Odana, Madison
Peaceful Odana Road cafe with Yemeni coffee and a massive honeycomb sweet bread stuffed with cream cheese
Jamaican
Fya Syde Kitchen
Monroe Street, Madison
Jamaican spot on Monroe Street with oxtail birria tacos and Jamaican barbecue fried chicken that deserve more attention
Fried Chicken
Layne's Chicken Fingers
West Towne / Mineral Point, Madison
West Madison chicken finger joint with spicy tenders, house sauces, cheese curds, and a club that hits
Sushi / Japanese
Miyabi Sushi
McKee Road, Fitchburg
New Fitchburg sushi spot on McKee by Target filling the Verona-Fitchburg sushi gap
Sushi / Ramen
HERS Sushi Bar & Ramen
Downtown Oregon, Oregon
Oregon sushi and ramen spot people drive from Madison for, with broth that actually delivers
Tibetan / Asian
Tibet Kitchen
Gammon Road, Madison
Authentic Tibetan spot on Gammon by Woodman's with massive momos and chili pork belly stir fry
Burgers & Bar
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
Campus / Frances Street, Madison
Campus-area Madison burger legend with a huge menu, Heart Throb heat, and bar vibes
Bakery
Madison Sourdough
Willy Street, Madison
Willy Street bakery with some of the best sourdough in Madison (and cakes people rave about)
Supper Club
Daylene's Supper Club
Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells
Waterfront supper club on Lake Delton with scallops, pork belly, and cheese curds worth the Dells trip
Fried Chicken
Red Heat Chicken
West Towne, Madison
Halal fried chicken in the West Towne Mall food court with house heat levels and a special sauce I want to bottle
Burgers & Bar
Badger Tavern
Seminole Highway, Madison
Classic Seminole Highway dive with one of the most consistent bar burgers in Madison
Pizza & Bar
Greenbush Bar
Regent Street, Madison
Old-school tavern pizza in the basement of a 1922 Italian social club on Regent Street
Bar & Wings
Showboat Saloon
Wisconsin Dells, WI
A Wisconsin Dells bar people swear has the best wings in the state, with half-price wing nights and $2 Miller High Lifes
Asian
Momo Mee
Walker's Point, Milwaukee
Walker's Point noodle and dumpling spot where the Dan Dan noodles stole the whole meal
Supper Club
The Del-Bar Supper Club
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Classic Wisconsin supper club in Wisconsin Dells since 1943, where the steak, cocktails and old-school atmosphere actually live up to the hype
Tacos & Coffee
Bandit Tacos & Coffee
West Washington, Madison
Eclectic tacos and coffee shop on West Washington with a breakfast sandwich Alton Brown called possibly the best ever
Bar
Your Office
East Town, Milwaukee
An elevated Wisconsin dive bar on North Milwaukee Street with office-themed breakfast and friendly prices
Mediterranean
Taza Mediterranean
Middleton, WI
The best falafel I have had around Madison, hiding in plain sight in Middleton
Sushi
Yako Sushi House
Cottage Grove Road, Madison
Small-house sushi spot on Cottage Grove Road with fresh rolls and a killer lunch special
Wings
Neighborhood Draft
Washington Heights, Milwaukee
A hip Milwaukee bar turning out some of the best grilled wings in the state
Donuts
The Brioche Box
Middleton, WI
Freshly baked filled brioche donuts, pickup only, weekends in Middleton
Pizza
Four Winds Farm
Fitchburg, WI
Wood-fired Pizza on the Farm nights in a restored Fitchburg barn
Italian
Glorioso's Italian Market
Brady Street, Milwaukee
A Milwaukee institution that's part deli, part bakery, part Italian grocery
Mediterranean
Banzo
East Side, Madison
East Side Mediterranean spot with some of the best falafel in Madison
Burgers
Tipsy Cow
Capitol Square, Madison
A downtown burger and cheese curd staple with Capitol Square patio seating
Food Cart
Crepuw
UW Campus, Madison
A campus food cart making gluten-free rice flour crepes, sweet and savory
Bakery
Bloom Bake Shop
Monroe Street, Madison
A Monroe Street bakery whose sweet potato donut is the best in Madison
Mexican
Tapatio's
Fitchburg, WI
Birria-forward Mexican in Fitchburg that cracked my regular rotation
Bakery
Andi's Bakes
Waunakee, WI
A Waunakee home baker making the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had
Sandwiches
Stadium Takeout
Monroe Street, Madison
Chicago style Italian beef by Camp Randall, gloriously messy
BBQ
Smokin' Jack's BBQ
East Side, Milwaukee
USDA Prime brisket and the reigning best Bloody Mary in Milwaukee
Bakery
Fosdal Home Bakery
Downtown Stoughton, Stoughton
Old school Stoughton bakery with the best donuts near Madison at 2026 prices
Indian
Swagat Indian Cuisine
West Side, Madison
A huge west side Indian buffet that expands into goat and lamb on weekends
Brewpub
Full Mile Beer Co. & Kitchen
Sun Prairie, WI
A downtown Sun Prairie brewpub with big saucy wings and standout cheese curds
Wings
Chicken Licks
Sun Prairie, WI
A Sun Prairie dive bar with the Nashville-style dry rub wings Wisconsin votes number one
Bar & Grill
5th Quarter Bar and Grill
Verona, WI
A packed Verona sports bar known for Boom Boom wings and a Friday fish fry
Hmong
Hmong Legacy Market
South Side, Madison
A family-owned Hmong market and deli making egg roll stuffed chicken wings
Bar & Grill
The Dump
Cambria, WI
A Cambria pub legend with award winning burgers and Wednesday-only wings
Turkish
Nar Turkish Halal
East Side, Madison
A no-frills Fordem Ave spot with halal plates and homemade Turkish ice cream
Mexican
Taqueria Jalisco
Middleton, WI
Authentic street tacos and a Mexican grocery under one roof in Middleton
Indian
Rajni Indian Cuisine
West Side, Madison
A west side strip mall hiding some of the best South Indian food in Madison
Deli
Alimentari
Monroe Street, Madison
A Monroe Street European deli making what might be Wisconsin's best sandwich