Food is so good here! And the service was excellent! The mango moves mocktail was so refreshing and delicious. The soups are good and the udon noodles were tasty with a little kick to it as well. read more

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We walked here and it was a little bit confusing getting into the restaurant. It's from the back and it's on the first floor. The wait staff is very nice, the food is very good, we got the Khao Tod appetizer, it's very crunchy, but it taste very similar to a falafel, but instead of chickpea it is filled with rice. Our entrées were amazing, I highly recommend the red curry udon noodle, it is spicy and this is coming from an Indian girl, but my momma told me spices are good for your body. Please don't use this review for health advice. We also got the beef laap, it tasted like wet beef but it was good if you're looking for something refreshing. Overall, we can't wait to be back. Next time I want to try the wonton. read more

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Visited for the first time a few days ago, and it was a great meal. Their menu has some unique items, so I wanted to try something unique, as well as traditional Lao dishes. You place your full order(all courses) in advance, I assume to help the kitchen plan their cooking efficiently, and a team of servers brings the food out, then you pay your bill where you ordered. I started with the pork dumplings, which were pure perfection, with great flavor and texture! Next were the Lao Steamed Buns with Chinese pork, which I ordered off their Specials menu. The buns were slightly sticky like Chinese steamed buns, but easier to eat and filled with hard-boiled egg and Chinese pork sausage. Laap Nuea (Beef Laap) was listed on the menu as the National Dish of Laos, so I felt I should order it. It arrived in a large lettuce leaf with a side of a sliced cabbage wedge, salad, and sticky rice. I expected the laap to be spicy, but it was mild, yet incredibly delicious from the great seasoning they use. I asked how best to eat it, and my server said he likes to put the laap on the cabbage slices. I did that, but decided to use my hands to pick up sticky rice and the laap together, and that was a winning call! Great dish! I was full but ordered Lao eggrolls and Khao Tod (deep fried sticky rice with curry and crab) to-go but I opened the containers to take a bite while they were freshly cooked and took photos before putting them back in the containers. The eggrolls were really crispy on the outside and thicker and larger than I expected, and the center was softer than I expected. I thought there would be a little crunch from cabbage inside. The Khao Tod stuck to my teeth, and I didn't see or taste the imitation crab or curry, but I'm glad I tried this dish I've never seen before. It was a great visit, and I'm glad I finally got to try it! read more

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We dropped by on Tuesday for dinner at 6:30 PM. There was a 20-25 mins wait. It's definitely a busy restaurant w/full bar. After being seated, you can review the menu then walk up to a desk to place your order (different desk from hostess stand). I thought this process was unusual, why bother seating you only to have to get up to order again. My husband and I shared: * The Laos Snacks Plate from appetizers was well presented. It consisted of Spicy lemongrass Lao sausage, Son In Law Eggs (Hard boiled egg filled with pork, cabbage, carrot, scallion, vermicelli noodles), Sein Savnh (Lao Heavenly Jerkey), Jeow Som (ginger, garlic, Thai chili, lime dipping sauce), sweet chili lime dipping sauce, cucumber, radish, lime, sticky rice $20 - The beef jerky were the hardest pieces of jerky I've ever had. It wasn't even edible, burnt thick and too crispy to chew for the fear of actually losing a tooth. The Laos sausage and eggs were very good, especially with the dipping sauce. You're betting off ordering these dishes separately from the appetizers menu and skip the jerky. * Tom yum noodles with strips of boneless fried chicken $16 - the soup and noodles were good but the whole dish was offset by the fried chicken pieces. They were soggy by the time I took a photo and a bite. I spent some time scooping out the batter from the soup before I could proceed with eating it. The broth was too sour and rich for me, took a few bites before I gave up on continuing. * Pho Tai $15 - this was flavorful as expected at a Laos restaurant. I recommend ordering this dish. I will try this restaurant again in the future, to check out their other dishes and bar beverages. Service was very friendly, from front desk to food servers. read more

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Praram Long Song. Don't ask. Just Do It! You can thank me later. The ambiance was nice. Very packed and didn't mind the 30 minute wait. All the staff were attentive and kind. read more

Came here during a day trip to Madison with my bf! It was a great dinner with loads of flavor and spices. Really enjoyed everything we had. Kung Pao with Tofu was great and so was his dish, the service was good, you get a menu and have to order on your own and then everything gets served to you. It's nice since you don't have to worry about the bill when you're done and allows you to leave at your own leisure. There is lots to do down the street and we were able to grab drinks before and find parking with no problem on a Saturday. The restaurant felt family run/hole in the wall while having a lively crowd. Even though it was a Saturday we were able to get a table for 2 at dinner time around 7pm no problem! read more

Ahan - Kung Pao Tofu - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Visited on a Tuesday around 7pm, grabbed a seat at the bar, the restaurant was busy but you likely could grab a table with a short wait. Drinks: The bee charmer - a wild rollercoaster of flavor, spicy, sweet, tangy and nutty. The jasmine foam was light sweet and flavorful, the Thai chili and sesame gin was spicy and nutty, super unique and worth a try Thai tea time - really smooth, aromatic tea with a hint of richness, great balance of sweetness with a hint of acidity, surprisingly slight and refreshing Food: Laotian snack: a delicious assortment of appetizers, the sausage was well seasoned with a great snap, paired well with the sticky rice and Jeow Som sauce, son in law egg was so creative hard boiled egg stuffed with glass noodles, pork and veggies lightly battered and fried, the jerky was crispy with a nice sweet savory flavor, a fantastic way to start the meal Galapao Pad Kra Pao - bartender recommend this special and it did not disappoint, bun was moist, soft and fluffy, pad kra Pao filling was well seasoned the Thai Basil really shined and the hard boiled egg made this a filling appetizer Service was fantastic, staff was so warm and friendly, they provided great recommendations. Water was refilled regularly, and drinks and food came out without much of a wait. Overall highly recommend giving Ahan a try, great spot to dine solo but would be fun to come with a group to try more of the menu. Definitely look for the specials and drinks were really fun and unique. read more

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Gonna start with the bad because I want to end on a high note. I was bummed that Ahan didn't feature a Thai beer like Singha. That lager pairs nicely with most Thai foods. It also took a long time to get my food. While I waited, I enjoyed the music and vibes. All that said, I haven't had as fine a plate of Thai curry in quite a while. The taste reminds me of Phuket. Rich green curry with great body and depth of flavor. The fattiness of the curry is offset well with the lime wedge provided. The sprig of greens is a nice touch. read more

Ahan - Green Thai curry with chicken and added jalapeños for heat. - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I absolutely love Ahan. While the price points are a bit high for a college student budget, the experience is 100% worth breaking the bank for. Every single dish I have tried does not fail to impress! With the variety of chicken, shrimp, and tofu dishes I have tried, each one's flavor profile is so unique. Fried rice can often be a miss for me but they always nail it here. I could not rave enough about the food but if I even try it'll last forever so I won't go into detail:) Each time I've also tried the soft serve and it's always so yum! Pictured is the ube and strawberry as well as thai tea and mango. The ube is heavenly to say the least and each time I go I have my fingers crossed they have it! Service is always great, full of fun and pleasant people! TL:DR -- My perfect meal from here it would be the chèvre wontons, red curry udon with tofu, and Ube soft serve. read more

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I'm a Thai person living in Southern California so naturally I don't expect too much from a Thai restaurant in the US, let alone in the Midwest like Madison. But can tell good Asian food when I see one. The picture of the food here looked really authentic and decided to try it on our last day in town. I got the Sai Oua Fried Rice, which to me is like a Thai sausage () fried rice. I was so excited to try it and it didn't disappoint! The fried rice was SUPER tasty, the wok hei, the slightly sour taste of the sausage, the runny egg yolk, the garlic, slightly spicy...perfection!! I wish I lived close by so I could try other dishes as well. Highly recommend Ahan if you like Thai or Lao food. read more

Ahan - Sai Oua Fried Rice - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

every time i dine at ahan it is such a great experience!! food is delicious, staff is very nice, ambience is great. my favorite dish by far is on their specials menu, i think it was called the sakoo yat sai, and i absolutely love it!! they remind me of vietnamese banh bot loc, but have an interesting texture with the dumpling being formed from little tapioca balls. this is my #1 restaurant in madison and i always always always recommend it to people when they visit, even when the wait is 1.5 hours read more

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I didn't know this place existed this used to be a coffee shop I frequented when I was in my twenties. While in Madison for work I came across the Yelp posting and decided to get dinner to go. Food was packed well and smelt amazing as I drove to my hotel. EVERYTHING was delicious and fresh. Tom Yum with tofu, Bun, and rhubarb wontons. I couldn't stop eating I had to because the amount of food was also very generous. I will be back! Yum! read more

It was a bit tricky to find the entrance after parking in the side lot. You enter through a door on Willy St. and walk down a hallway until you get to the front door of Ahan on your right. Right across from the entrance door to the resturant are bathrooms. Once you enter Ahan, you're greeted by warm hosts and shown a table. After reviewing the menus, you have to go up to a different host stand to place your order. As someone who dined at Ahan once before when they were located in Bur Oak, it was wonderful to see the restaurant in its own space. There's plenty of seating, and the restaurant is decorated warmly with plants, low lighting, and deep colors. Their menus are clearly labeled for dietary restrictions, with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options. I ordered the Khao Mun Gai Oup, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it was the best chicken I've had in Madison. The side of chicken broth it came with was also delicious, and the sweet chili sauce added a nice kick to the dish. I'm a sucker for Thai tea, and was not disappointed with Ahan's drink. Absolutely delicious meal, and worth the current $29 market price (as of Feb 2024). The staff was kind and very attentive - our water glasses were never empty, and there was always someone around if we had any questions or requests. I can't wait to dine here again! read more

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Excellant food, over the top service. Noisy restaurant. Ahan is one of the best restaurants at which I have ever eaten. The food was innovative, expertly prepared and served with aplomb. I cannot say enough good things about Ahan read more

Everything tasted so good!!!! Loved the specials and apps!!! Wait staff rocked:). Cool vibe.

Ahan was really good and I would eat here again! I think next time I would stick to lunch or takeout though. I wouldn't recommend going here during the supper rush if your group is larger than 2-4. They don't take reservations and there wasn't much space to wait. The food was all really good but a little pricey for what you get. For example, the chicken sandwich is their special for $15 and doesn't come with any sides. read more

Ahan - Chicken sandwich of the week! This one was the wonton sweet chili chicken sandwich. - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Everything was just as fantastic as the reviews we read. The bartenders and servers were super attentive and friendly. The vibe was super relaxing. We tried the bees charmer, papaya mule and Thai tea cocktails. They were all great, but the Thai tea was above and beyond our favorite. The wontons and dumplings were the best we've ever had. The drunken pork noodles were super flavorful. We tried the laap nuea for the first time and really enjoyed it. It was worth the wait and we can't wait to come back! read more

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Wonderful Asian restauraunt in restored candy factory. Amazing rice balls and cream cheese wontons. Table shared four entrees, all of which were excellent. Waitress was fantastic! read more

I would give this 6 stars if my stomach could handle spicy food, it was so good. The papaya mule had a nice subtle flavor. The Chevre wontons came out hot and fast. The pork cabbage rolls, a special, were so flavorful and cooked incredibly well. The only downfall for me was the little bit of spice but that is my own issue. Our waiter was super attentive and helpful, gave us lots of tips and recommendations read more

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We were genuinely excited to try this place, but the experience was unfortunately overshadowed by the service we received from our server, Maggie. Throughout the meal, it was difficult to get basic requests addressed, and there were long stretches where our table was completely unattended. When we were able to get her attention, the interactions felt curt and dismissive rather than welcoming. Hospitality is a big part of what makes dining out enjoyable, and that element was noticeably missing. Everyone can have an off day, but the overall experience left our table feeling uncomfortable and frustrated rather than relaxed or cared for as guests. It's disappointing to say, but because of this experience we won't be returning. read more

My wife and I were on our way back from the UP. Best meal we had all week....the staff was pleasant and helpful. The food was top shelf. Great experience. I'd drive back up from Chicago just to have lunch again here. Thanks! read more

I dined in on a Sunday afternoon. The place was almost full. Praram long song my the favorite item I had here. Chicken was fried crispy. Peanut sauce gave a sweet flavor to the chicken. Veggies below the chicken were so so. Lasp nuea was my other entree. It was way too spicy and had a raw feel. May I shouldn't have gone for that. Sakoo mak pow was a colorful dessert item which was the specialty of the day. It had chewy tapioca pearls and coconut. The dessert was not too sweet. Overall it was ok. read more

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The food was very delicious I got full on the appetizers I couldn't finish the main meal not a bad thing because I had it for lunch the next day and it was still delicious the vegetables in the dish still had a crunch to them like it was just made major points there. The service was amazing I'm sure if our server was one the owners but she was very sweet and nice, hostesses were very welcoming and friendly. Ambience was nice it was not too loud. The price is very reasonable. I will be back soon. read more

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Ahan was awesome. I liked the counter you went up to order to and the food was great. The noodles were a little spicy and the portion was good for the price. It was the perfect amount of food. The ambience in here was amazing it was so cozy and found parking nearby even though Willy street is usually crazy. read more

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My friend was visiting from Milwaukee, and we decided to try this place. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the former Madison Candy Company building. Parking is limited, and since we came during lunchtime, we both ended up parking on the street. My party of 3 were seated immediately, despite the restaurant being quite crowded for a weekday lunch. Our food arrived within 10 minutes, which was great. We ordered the lunch specials: steamed ho fun and chicken red curry. The red curry was nicely presented, and my friend mentioned that some bites had a good amount of spice and my partner said it was similar to other red curry that he had. Having eaten pan-fried ho fun my whole life, I was excited to try the steamed version, especially since I wanted to avoid the crispy, deep-fried option listed on the menu. While I expected sweet soy sauce, I didn't anticipate it being quite so sweet. My partner tried it and even said it tasted like dessert. Personally, I would prefer a less sugary version. Portion sizes were good, and we finished almost everything. The only downside was the noise level--it was quite loud, making it hard to hear each other, but that's understandable during lunch hours. Overall, I'm glad we found this spot and got to try something new! read more

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It was really packed for a weekday evening. I had heard a lot about this place from locals and students. The ambiance was casual and dim. Service was friendly and accommodating to allergies. I tried the tom yum and the cod 'mok pa' dish. I was given a small side dish that consistent of a dried out lime, bean sprouts, and basil leaves for my tom yum. I typically like shrimp in my tom yum but the only options here were chicken and tofu. The chicken was nice and crispy. I enjoyed it. The tom yum was different. It was weirdly sweet. I expected a spicy soup with bright flavors of ginger and lemongrass so getting a soup that hit me with sweetness, slight salty, and very little spice was surprising. There weren't much vegetables in the soup either. I'm accustomed to mushrooms and other veggies being part of this soup. For those reasons, I wouldn't classify it as Tom Yum. The Mok Pa sadly fell short. I was excited for the side of sticky rice alongside the cod. The sticky rice didn't have much flavor, mostly just salt. I was disappointed as I thought they could have used coconut sticky rice as a side to balance the cod. The cod was bland. They added some chili flakes but it needed more spice, salt, ginger. I wouldn't recommend this dish. A missed opportunity was completing the dish with a bright salad of shredded carrots, cabbage, papaya, and other veggies drizzled in a light peanut dressing or papaya dressing. The cod dish felt incomplete and a total letdown. read more

My husband and I had lunch at Ahan while visiting Madison for the 4th of July weekend. The restaurant was a little out of the way compared to everything immediately around the capitol district, but we were rewarded for exploring with great food and service. On entering we found the interior decorations and atmosphere to be well-done - the owners really succeeded in creating a unique, visually appealing space with its own distinct vibe. We definitely recommend eating-in if possible. We ordered the Laotian Platter appetizer and the Drunken Noodles entree. The portions were big enough to share and like the interior decor, the plating was beautiful. The platter came with sticky rice instead of plain white or jasmine rice, which was a nice touch because the flavor and texture better paired with the entree. The drunken noodles had a more familiar Thai-like flavor (sweet and savory) and is probably more accessible to the general public that might be less adventurous. The Lao Platter gave us the opportunity to experience foods we had not tried before, pairing perfectly with bright sauces and greens. Altogether, the food was delicious and we felt we'd had something different from the everyday dishes we would expect. The service staff was friendly and attentive, and we left feeling good about having tried this out of the way spot. read more

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How did I wait so long to try this? Delicious food, some really flavorful and creative dishes, great mixture of textures. I like the model where you order with one staff member and it comes to your table but it's still mostly a sit down vibe. Plants and bright colors really kept the dining room lively. read more

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The atmosphere was wonderful, it had a fun tiki bar upfront. The staff was very friendly. And the food was amazing, a great spot in Madison, WI! read more

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We walked in on a Saturday evening and were immediately seated for three. Food was delicious - fresh and flavorful. My only regret is that I couldn't eat more and wasn't able to take the rest to go. Compared to the bite of my friend's vegetable egg roll, the pork dumplings weren't super special to me. Would definitely recommend the vegetable egg roll as an appetizer - the crispiness + tofu was delicious! read more

Ahan - Praram Long Song and Pork Dumplings - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The servers had great attitudes mistakes during dinner were made right. A great place to go with a group of friends, with family, or with a partner. Everything was cooked well. Warm dishes arrived warm arrived warm. Drinks were yummy. Lots of different flavor pairings. I appreciated that each dish a different sauce. Flavors were great. If your into pho, egg rolls, wontons and other similar foods or your looking to try something like this I would highly recommend Ahan read more

Ahan - Bar menu/late night menu - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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What a wonderful dining experience! We waited at the bar for a table and Christine was the best bartender and employee. She suggested drinks and appetizers! They were SO good! She was amazing! We got the potato curry puffs and boa buns. Dinner was also great! The drunken noodles and fried chicken sandwich were so good. This is def a 5 star restaurant! read more

My friends and I drool over this place. There is almost always a wait but we'll worth it read more

Ahan - Sakoo yat sai (Laotian tapioca dumplings) - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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came here few years ago and had a awesome three course meal. Everything was great! Decided to come back tonight and the food wasn't great. Pork dumplings were good. Pho Gai was lukewarm and the Lao platter was overrated. The chicken was cold and over powered with veggies. Server checked on us once when I was ready to leave. Just wasn't the experience I had in the past. $90 bill isn't sitting right with me. Hoping the next time I go back, it's a better experience. read more

Food and service were both great! The soft serve and the chèvre wontons were delicious! The wait for 4 people on a Thursday night around 6 pm was a 40 minute wait. Luckily, we got in after waiting for 20 minutes. The restaurant was very crowded and loud so, it was hard to hear each other. Besides that, it was a great experience! read more

Ahan - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food was fresh, delicious and plentiful. The server was attentive and very helpful in describing the many choices. My new favorite Madison restaurant! read more

Absolutely delicious. A restaurant that leans more towards Laotian cuisine though there was more typical Thai dishes scattered on the menu. We shared the red curry udon (the noodles perfectly al dente, wish there was more sauce only because it was so delicious) and praram long song with fried chicken (my favourite -- the herbs were so very fresh topped with a simple peanut sauce. The star of the show were the small chicken chunks that were unbelievably crispy; a symphony of texture). We also had 3 cocktails -- the bee charmer (the most interesting -- very savoury reminiscent of some sort of Asian snack with a refreshing citrusy foam), LA S Star (more traditional spicy marg) and soursop Paloma (very delicious and refreshing, I really enjoyed it). We ended with the soft serve mango coconut sticky rice which was mostly a disappointment -- very small size, the ratio was way too heavy on the rice. AND the soft serve machine was broken. Not worth $11. Everything else was very solid. read more

Ahan - Red curry udon + fried chicken praram long song - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Came here for dinner on a Sunday night. Red Curry Udon was fantastic. Spicy (but not too hot), creamy, succulent. Very good.

Cute little restaurant with free parking. Came in late (1.5 hours before closing) but it was busy with people still coming in. No reservations but we're seated right away. Was told they do things differently here where you order your food and pay first at the counter. I never liked this as I'm prepaying a tip for an experience I have yet to receive. It's ok, I still drop 20% :-| Egg rolls were really good. Not oily. 4/5 Drunken Noodle was a surprise. It had a lot of sauce and was very flavorful. I typically like my noodles on the drier side. 4/5 Mok Pa (steamed cod). 1/5 This item was NOT good. It was bland, no taste. Dropped $23 on this dish, so disappointed. Had to mix the cod with the sauce from the noodles to finish. Service was OKish. The greeter was fantastic. He even asked around about the spice level of the dishes for me. Water glass was empty for a long time. I always give busy places the benefit of doubt but after 15+ mins of workers circling with no refill, I don't like that. A lady asked if she could clear my plates and box my appetizer. She came back asking if there was anything else we needed. Um yeah lady, we didn't get our entrees yet, relax! :-| It wasn't a big deal but it was odd. I had really high hopes here but I wasn't very impressed after spending $63. The value was not there and overall service was meh (aside from greeter). I typically don't like writing negative reviews but this is what yelp is about. Saying what needs to be said. read more

Ahan - Laotian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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A+ for Food, D for Service Came on a Friday lunch to celebrate my husband's birthday and it was not too busy. Generally I find it odd that they seat you, then you go up to order, have to decide on tip in advance (lowest option is 20%), then get normal table service. Told our server in advance it was my husband's birthday, asked if I should order my dessert initially or later. They indicated I should order at the beginning and they would space it out. Food came out quickly and was AMAZING! But throughout the meal, our drinks were empty, servers were scarcely seen (and when they were ran and avoided eye contact, or chatted nonstop with other servers or friends that were visiting). The food came quickly then after 20 minutes of waiting for dessert I had to run down our server to ask. They asked what my order number was (never got one), what I ordered. No recollection even though we had a full conversation and they had at max 2 other tables. They also never once acknowledged that it was my husbands bday (I had asked specifically for a candle in the dessert since I saw one go to another table which they did come with once the dessert they totally forgot about finally came, but still not a 'happy birthday', which just felt odd). I will say they refunded the dessert due forgetting about it, but it was very odd. Overall - hopefully they can improve the service because it really took away from the amazingness of the food. read more

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