Restaurants in Madison, WI: 10 local spots to know
Ten Madison, WI restaurants in our directory, covering Chinese, barbecue, Latin, pizza, Mexican, Mediterranean and burgers, with notes on each.
10 local businesses · Updated November 2026 · From Our Local Spotlight
Restaurants in this guide cover a wide range, from Chinese takeout and Texas-style barbecue to Latin plates, New York pizza, Mexican, Mediterranean and burgers. Some are built for a quick pickup, while others suit a long dinner or a private event, so the right choice depends on the occasion. Before choosing, check how you want to order. Some places take dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup or delivery, and some take reservations by phone or online. If you have dietary needs, ask about gluten free or steamed options, and if you are planning a group meal or catering, ask early about availability.
1
Asian Kitchen
Restaurant Madison, WIAsian Kitchen is a family-owned spot serving Chinese and Asian dishes at affordable prices, with fried rice, lo mein and General Tso's chicken. Diners often mention its large portions and lunch specials, and it offers dine-in, takeout and delivery.
2
Beef Butter BBQ
Restaurant Madison, WIBeef Butter BBQ is a Texas-style barbecue restaurant known for smoked prime beef brisket. Its smoked apple pie baked beans are made sweeter for Wisconsin tastes, and the business began as a barbecue restaurant on wheels before opening a dining room.
3
Begonia.
Restaurant Madison, WIBegonia is a modern Latin restaurant on Monroe Street with hand-pressed tortillas made daily and mostly scratch-made dishes. Guests can stop in for a cocktail and a few plates or settle in for a full evening, and the room has moody lighting.
4
Chen's Dumpling House
Restaurant Madison, WIChen's Dumpling House serves homemade Chinese food with dumplings as its namesake specialty. The kitchen makes dishes fresh to order, and the State Street location offers dine-in, takeout and online orders for pickup.
5
Comfort Fuel
Restaurant Madison, WIComfort Fuel is a scratch-made restaurant on Frances Street serving breakfast all day, plus bowls, wraps, açaí bowls and catering. Its Bucky breakfast sandwich comes on a Hawaiian bun, and the coffee is brewed from Just Coffee Co-op, a Madison roaster.
6
Dotty Dumplings Dowry
Restaurant Madison, WIDotty Dumplings Dowry is a family-owned burger restaurant on Frances Street that has served hamburgers since 1974. Its menu includes a long list of named burgers, cheese curds, a Friday fish fry and milkshakes, and it offers carryout.
7
Eat the Best Pizza
Restaurant Madison, WIEat the Best Pizza makes thin New York style pies with fresh homemade dough, hand tossed and topped with house pizza sauce. It also offers Sicilian and stuffed pizza, calzones, stromboli and garlic knots, and it lists late-night hours.
8
El Gallo Mexican Cuisine
Restaurant Monona, WIEl Gallo Mexican Cuisine is a woman-owned restaurant in Monona known for quesabirria, tacos campechanos and roasted guacamole, all made from scratch. It also serves churros and a tres leches cake, and reservations can be made through its website.
9
El Rancho 2 Mexican Grill
Restaurant Madison, WIEl Rancho 2 Mexican Grill is a family-owned restaurant serving traditional Puebla-style dishes based on family recipes, made fresh daily. Diners often mention its queso, tamales and street corn, and it prepares catering for birthdays, weddings and corporate events.
10
Eloura Mediterranean
Restaurant Madison, WIEloura Mediterranean serves Mediterranean small plates alongside cafe drinks and bar service in downtown Madison. Reviewers single out its date and prosciutto bruschetta, lamb kebabs and tahini chai tea, and reservations can be made by phone or through OpenTable.
Details come from each business’s own listing in Madison Local Directory. Businesses don’t pay to be in our guides.