Highest-rated restaurants in Madison by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Madison, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Novanta
- Rating: 4.6/5 (74 reviews)
- Address: 2903 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Mediterranean
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#29. Mishqui Peruvian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 4604 Monona Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Peruvian
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#28. Los Atlantes
- Rating: 4.6/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5706 Raymond Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#27. Silk Road
- Rating: 4.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 1920 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Halal, Salad, Kebab
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#26. Estacion Inka
- Rating: 4.6/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 616 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Peruvian
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#25. Ogden's North Street Diner
- Rating: 4.6/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 560 North St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
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#24. Zavala's Market & Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 805 South Gammon Road Ste A Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#23. Lallande
- Rating: 4.6/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 1859 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: French, Modern European, Cocktail Bars
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#22. Zippy Lube
- Rating: 4.7/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 2013 North Sherman Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Donuts, Chicken Shop
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#21. La Pollera Colombiana
- Rating: 4.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 3579 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Colombian, Seafood
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#20. DelecTable
- Rating: 4.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 3248 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Cooking Classes, Venues & Event Spaces
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#19. La Taguara
- Rating: 4.7/5 (494 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3502 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Venezuelan, Caribbean, Colombian
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#18. Saigon Sandwich Madison
- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 273 North Charter St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Food Trucks, Sandwiches
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#17. Mad Rabbit Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 805 Williamson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vegan
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#16. Hot Lunch
- Rating: 4.7/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 708 1/4 East Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Bars
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#15. Madison Chocolate Company
- Rating: 4.7/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 729 Glenway St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Cafes
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#14. Arod's Tex Mex & American Grill
- Rating: 4.7/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 2161 Zeier Road Unit 4 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tex-Mex
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#13. Kettle Black Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 1835 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
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#12. Touch of Ukraine
- Rating: 4.7/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 2438 Winnebago St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Ukrainian, Comfort Food, Beer Bar
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#11. Little Tibet Madison
- Rating: 4.7/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 827 East Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese
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#10. The Globe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 309 North Henry St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Soup, Tapas Bars
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#9. Marie's Soul Food
- Rating: 4.8/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1637 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Soul Food
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#8. Fairchild
- Rating: 4.8/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2611 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Seafood, Wine Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
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#7. Roll Play
- Rating: 4.8/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3241 Garver Green Ste 115 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Cafes, Tabletop Games, Pan Asian
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#6. Les delices de Awa
- Rating: 4.8/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 2045 Atwood Ave. Ste 109 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: African, Caterers, Specialty Food
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#5. Common Pasta
- Rating: 4.9/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 East Main St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Food Trucks
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#4. El Grito Taqueria
- Rating: 4.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 50 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#3. Stadium Take Out
- Rating: 4.9/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1517 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Hot Dogs, Burgers
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#2. Nook
- Rating: 4.9/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2138 Atwood Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
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#1. Fresh Cool Drinks
- Rating: 4.9/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 704-712 State St. University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Thai, Food Stands, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
