Excited to try this place, as izakayas (associated with places where people would gather for alcohol and small plates of food) in Japan were really fun. Given this is the only izakaya in Madison, I can see why the skewers were somewhat pricey here. Aside from skewers, we got the spicy miso ramen and omule rice. The spicy miso ramen was so spicy that I couldn't really taste though food though my friend had no issues with it. The omule (omelette) rice was amazing. You can adjust the amount of ketchup, brown sauce, and Japanese mayo. They have a QR code to order with, which makes things convenient. Vibes were great with a variety of sitting options, and decor was representative of Japanese culture. read more

I ordered DoorDash and the food was totally overpriced. Almost $30 after delivery and tip for one portion of yakisoba. Flavor was mid at best and the dish was completely overwhelmed by excessive amount of cabbage and carrot. There was seriously almost no noodles in this dish at all. I paid an upcharge for chicken and it came with 3 pieces smaller than a penny each. I realized I had eaten all the noodles and the protein and still had 70-80% of the container full still of JUST cabbage and carrot. Such a ripoff. I would never be back. read more

Ambiance: It smelled like a burnt rubber tire so pretty unpleasant when we dined there. Someone in my group asked if they could fix the smell but the waiter said he was sick and could not smell anything which was bizzarre. Food: I enjoyed my ramen noodle bowl and the hot sake. Service: They bring out the food pretty quick but you need to scan a QR code then place your order, there is no waiter that takes your order. That was also more work than we anticipated since one person has to order from their phone even if you have a large group. The location is great since it's right on state street. read more

I ordered via Door Dash. The vegetable udon was packed with veggies but wish it had more room for actual broth though. The spring rolls were average and the chicken gyoza was a little overcooked. read more

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I took out food on a weekday evening. The place had good crowd, but not full. I ordered in store. Waiter was nice enough to give me a table to wait and a glass of water. Food was ready in 15 minutes. Wagyu skewer was my favorite item here. Chicken katsu don and chicken ramen were my other items. Both were good. read more

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First time here. We were in Madison for a show at the Orpheum. Wanted something close by, that was relatively quick. Izakaya turned out to be a good choice. It's a few blocks from the theater, an easy walk. When we arrived, around 6pm, we were the only ones there. The place is a bit dark inside, likely caused by all the lanterns that covers the large windows on the front. There are colorful flags and umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. It's a nice effect. There are either booths or tables, along with some tables outside. There is a large bar with stools. Took a booth inside. Got menus and a couple of waters. The service was a bit slow at first (again we were the only ones there), but that picked up as the meal went on. We were new to this menu, and the server helped us with our questions. We ended up ordering Yakisoba with Shrimp added, Beef Tongue Stew (Tan-shichu), and Eel Rice (Unagi Don). All the food was very good. Good portions, and flavorful. The added shrimp to the Yakisoba were small and few. Also, the broth for the Tongue Stew was very good, but it was lukewarm. The Eel Rice was very good. Tender pieces with a nice tangy sauce. Overall a good experience. read more

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Quality ramen, we both ordered a tonkatsu and enjoyed it - well flavored, had everything you'd want in Ramen. We were able to get in, order, and be served fast (Thursday night). The cornar decorations really set the vibe for a great experience and we loved that we got to sit in a booth! Only concern was the ceramic bowls we were eating out of had several chips and cracks - this is a health risk given it can potentially harbor bacteria or release toxic chemicals into the food - this was my only issue and if this were remedied I would say they are worthy of a 5 stars. The staff was incredibly attentive, kind, and efficiently on their game - working together as a team and ensuring the whole restaurant was vibrantly enjoying their experience and they even seemed to be happy to be working - I appreciated that energy! read more

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I gave this place another try and I once again got the spicy miso ramen. The ramen was great again, and I love the decor of the place. However, the service was somehow worse. They got rid of the paper menus and you now order with a QR code. They noticed that we were one pair of chopsticks short, but I had to remind them about it (there were only like three parties at this time). They also only offered to refill the water once, and this was right after we had paid. Wish the service was better :( read more

We had a great experience overall the food was very good, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The atmosphere was also a strong point: warm, inviting, and a really enjoyable place to sit and eat. The only thing holding this back from a five-star rating was the customer service. It wasn't necessarily bad, just not very friendly. A bit more attention and warmth from the staff would make a big difference. Still, the quality of the food and the vibe make it well worth visiting! Side note - please make sure the iPads are not right next to a table. A constant beeping takes away from the experience. read more

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Absolutely love this place, the food never disappoints. I've been here multiple times since it opened and the chicken katsu don is one of my favorites! read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - 17. Chicken Katsu Don 5. Takoyaki - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

First time and last time. We came with high hopes and expectations. Beware, the service is slow and they want everyone to order via QR code. If you haven't ordered for multiple people online, get a volunteer ahead of time. Once we finally ordered the dinners came out within a minute. The chicken katsu was dried and tasted like 3 day old canes left on the counter. Appetizers came out 10 minutes after the dinners. Once I saw the bill, I felt like we were at a Michelin rated restaurant. Avoid. Should've been $50 for the quality instead of $150. Go to the Taco Bell cantina instead. IYKYK. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Elmers glue textured rice. - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Came here for a Saturday night valentine's day dinner with my boyfriend, the food was good! The izakaya is mostly small plates so you're able to order a lot of dishes. Everything came out fairly quickly but still paced out. My favorite was the unagi and the wagyu, but I love how the chawanmushi came out in an egg and nest serving dish! So funny, lots of people asked us what it was. For dessert, we tried the taiyaki ice cream. The matcha ice cream was very light and refreshing, but I wish the matcha flavor was a bit stronger. The taiyaki itself was filled with red bean and so tasty! Definitely recommend :) Since this place recently opened, they seemed to still be working out some kinks with handling busy nights. I felt a bit cramped in the restaurant and servers were constantly being nagged by who I'm assuming was the manager. Still, I felt like the service overall was fine and I would come back. I definitely recommend making a reservation, lots of groups were waiting near the door and even in the back, especially because it's so cold outside this time of year. read more

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We had a reservation for 7 and were seated at a table that could accommodate half our party. The second table they were going to connect to ours still had folks sitting at it. After like twenty minutes we were still waiting to the second half of our table. I understand not wanting to hurry folks along, but our server didn't even know about the situation and half of our party was standing up. After we got the second half of our table things improved significantly. The food was really good, not quite the best izakaya food I've had but way better than anything in Madison. Yakatori Wagyu skewer was great as was unagi. I think everyone was happy with the food. However some of the folks bringing the food did not know what they were bringing. They would announce "beef" or "chicken". There are like five things we ordered from that animal. Overall I liked the place a lot, nice decor. I value food over anything but the service kinda disrupted things/actually disrupted our enjoyment. But I'm planning on coming back. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Wagyu skewers - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My husband and I were very excited to try Izakaya Kuroyama which is a Japanese bar and grill serving small plates/tapas focused on popular Japanese street food. This is one of the few restaurants in the area that is conveniently open late even offering karaoke after 9pm Friday and Saturdays which is very fun! I had mixed thoughts on our experience but I was disappointed mostly with the service. When we first walked into Izakaya Kuroyama, it was a very lively, cozy, yet casual atmosphere mostly filled with young college students from the nearby university. The ambience and esthetics represents the culture of Japan with beautiful bamboo umbrellas on the ceiling, a wall collage of Japanese artwork, and traditional lanterns! Izakaya Kuroyama has a great menu with affordable cheap options to try many different small plates and larger entrees. They serve a variety of poplular Japanese appetizers, Ramen, Yakatori (chicken skewers), and rice/noodle dishes. Some popular dishes are the Karaage (Fried Chicken), Seafood Okonomiyaki (Pancake), Tonkotsu Ramen, and Waygu beef skewer! They also serve cocktails, sake, and Japanese beer. Izakaya Kuroyama even serves a few fun Japanese themed desserts like their Dorayaki Ice-Cream (Matcha pancake with ice cream) to satisfy your sweet tooth! :) My husband and I enjoyed trying different menu items! The food was really delicious! I really enjoyed the Tonkotsu Ramen that had a savory, rich, creamy pork broth with a good amount of noodles. The Tonkotsu Ramen had a satisfying umami flavor with a salty goodness packed with pork flavor with a beautiful presentation! Unfortunately, Izakaya Kuroyama needs to better train their servers or try to recruit experienced servers. The service was disappointing. Our main server didn't know how to correctly pronounce certain menu items, was unprofessional, and didn't know all the food items on the menu. We had more than one server helping out that were scattered in their thoughts, unorganized, and moving at a slow pace. We also had the different servers accidentally dropping off the wrong food items and had our appetizers come out same time exact time as our main dishes which wasn't a big deal but the servers didn't pace or time out putting in the menu items in the pos. Especially for an ethnic restaurant, it is important and respectful that the servers knows how to correctly say and pronounce the name of cultural ethnic food items and at the least be familiar with what items are on the menu being able to describe it to customers. Although, we didn't have the best experience at Izakaya Kuroyama with the service, my husband and I loved the fun, casual atmosphere, and great food! We plan to back to Izakaya Kuroyama to try more menu items. I hope they will work on training their staff better and work on providing better customer service because the food was great but the poor customer service ruined the overall experience. read more

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The food is great but the service is bad (be prepared that they're slow, they will mess up your order, and they will absolutely not care). Do with that what you will. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Gyudon bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Honestly, I love this place. The service is always great. The food I've had is quite good. I love the beef tongue even though it often comes out a tad cold.. The scallops are to die for. The mushrooms are tasty. I haven't tried the whole menu quite yet, but the environment is what makes the place amazing. Casual dinner turns into wild karaoke. You always end up making friends with other patrons towards the end of the night. I'm so glad this place opened. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised. Food was very solid. Definitely varies by the dish but the yaki-toro was great, especially scallops. Chicken wings were ok, not great. All veggies were fantastic . Good whiskey selection. And the service was great. It sounds like things were rough at the beginning but they got the hang of it. Ordering with phone was easy and phone came out quickly. Ambience as other have noted is top-notch. I generally don't like TVs but it was nice bc it was a Japanese cooking show. And prices seems reasonable to me. Not sure what people are complaining about but I can't imagine most of these dishes being cheaper. Look it's not the best Izikaya in world but the point is that it's solid, convenient Izikaya in a spot with great vibes. Fantastic edition to state street read more

We went to this place after a night out and it's already awesome to have a ramen place open at 1am. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen which was very savory and delicious. However, I regretted not ordering the spicy miso ramen. I did not expect it to be so delicious. The broth itself was even better and more flavorful. Highly recommend. The service was cool, we sat at the bar.The ambiance was pretty causal and there was karaoke which was nice. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Spicy miso ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Such a cute new place. Loved the vibes. Service was great. Food was smaller than I had expected but had the charred/grill taste. Spicy ramen was hearty and full of flavor. read more

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Spicy Miso ramen... all heat no flavor. I believe the not so good ratings were given truthfully. One and done. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - 21.Sapporo Spicy Miso Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place genuinely needs to reexamine their food quality and recipes because for the ambiance, the food was lacking in so many ways. They really tried with the izakaya concept but failed to deliver We ordered 6 things and im shocked- the only thing fairly decent was the sweet potato but thats being generous. The meat was wack and was served on some coal plate but jt was hella over reused and dirty. The meat wasnt even warm so i dont know why it had to come on this plate. Plus the coke that we ordered was so flat it might as well have been juice. The omurice was not authentic. It sorta gave me the ick if im being honest. We left within 10 minutes because we couldnt even finish the food because it was bad. The bill came out to be 68$ and i think losing this on a slot machine would have been more worthwhile. read more

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I was underwhelmed during our visit. Reading the reviews, I came in with high expectations and our meal fell short. Before I begin, I want to comment on how well the interior was remodeled. It is a creative and warm space with a great vibe. Our server was also attentive and checked in with us frequently. The menu (with a very tiny font) is wide and varied. We tried a variety of dishes and all (with the exception of the eggplant) fell flat. All suffered from a lack of seasoning or in the case of the katsu-over fried and tough. The items came out quicker than expected and coupled with the poor execution, makes me wonder if items were pre prepared (and just needing finishing). They are relatively still new but will wait to see further reviews before deciding to return. read more

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THIS IS THE BEST RAMEN AND EDAMAME I HAVE EVER HAD! The karaoke is so fun and provides the perfect ambiance. The staff is so friendly and welcoming even at late hours! It was incredibly fast as well. Every aspect down to the drinks, karaoke request, and food was so speedy! Come here ASAP!!! read more

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Service was friendly! Food was great but nothing insanely memorable. Got the chicken ramen and the broth as a bit lackluster. Chicken also tasted burnt and overcooked. It came out quick and the ambiance of the restaurant itself is very pretty and sets the mood just great. read more

I may hurt someone's feelings with this review, but Izakaya Kuroyama hurt mine. There was so much hype around this place--every cool kid in town was buzzing about it--and it ended up being a total disappointment. I went on a Friday night and the tables were so tightly packed that I could have reached out and touched the next party's appetizers. The food was cold across the board, which is especially rough when you're serving items on a little grill that isn't even lit. The meat looked like it had dried out long before it ever reached the table. I ordered the karaage, which had way too much breading and was, again, cold; the Wagyu skewer arrived on the unlit grill and was cold too; only the mochi was served at the temperature it was meant to be. I had such high hopes and genuinely wanted to love this place, but I ended up embarrassed that I had suggested it for a date. Overall, the experience just didn't match the hype at all. First time, last time. read more

The food was good and served hot (miso eggplant, wagyu skewer, mackerel, beef fried rice, takoyaki) however the 400 mL house hot sake was a) closer to 250 mL, b) came with dirty cups, and c) had 2 dead fruit flies in it. The service was mid. The staff was only there to bring out the food/drink and to bring the check since all ordering was done with the QR code. The place looks nice inside though. read more

Food was great! BUT beware that they add 18% gratuity (for parties over 6) WITHOUT telling you. All orders are submitted online (yes.. even if you eat in with no mention of the added gratuity) AND when they give you the bill, they just show you the iPad with your total bill. I understand that I should have asked for a printed itemized receipt, but didn't think if it. II only noticed the gratuity when they asked if I wanted a receipt and looked later. Yes, my fault BUT just know this happens so you don't double tip. Annoying. read more

Came on opening night and was quite impressed! Hubby and I went to Tokyo in 2023 so we were comparing to a true Japanese Izakaya (high standards for Madison). We ordered several things from the Yakitori menu - negima, shishito togarashi, bacon wrapped tomato, wagyu, and unagi. All VERY good! Personal favorite was unagi, his was the wagyu. Then ordered okonomiyaki, karaage, and hakata tonkatsu ramen. All quite good as well. We were pretty full from the Yakitori and thought the okonomiyaki was a bit dense. The karaage was crispy and could have used a little more salt in the batter but the sauce compensated nicely. The ramen broth was tasty but we remember tonkatsu broth in Tokyo being more creamy and flavorful - not bad or bland though! Service was a smidge scattered but it was opening night and they've got a few kinks to work out but both of our servers (main guy and trainee) were attentive and kind. Will certainly be back. read more

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The food was meh. We came during one of the hottest days in Madison (92 degrees), and there wasn't even ice in the water, we had to ask for it. It also way too hot inside the restaurant. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - 15. Omuie Rice (Omelette Rice) - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Fantastic new izakaya spot in the heart of Madison. With a classic Japanese ambiance and feel, this place is serving up signature Japanese don and ramen dishes along with a wide selection of appetizers and drinks. My friends and I ordered the Gyudon, Tonkotsu Ramen, Unagi-don, Takoyaki, Gyoza, and Karaage. Although the service was a bit sparse (due to it being opening weekend), we thought the food was delicious and the appetizers hit the spot. We will definitely be back - super excited for this fantastic new addition to Madison! read more

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Atmosphere was great, food was delightful. When you are seated, you order via QR code. I am typically not a fan of that, however our server came over multiple times to check in and our food came out so quickly after placing it was shocking! Absolutely would recommend. read more

I got two things, the oyakodon & okonomiyaki. My friend ordered the chicken hearts & seafood udon. We were the first people in the restaurant when it opened and for some reason it seemed like they completely forgot about her udon, it came out after my food and after other orders. Luckily she was able to snack on her chicken hearts. My oyakodon was fine; skimpy on the meat, onion and eggs, as it was MOSTLY rice. The okonomiyaki was not cooked all the way through in some parts. I didn't finish it and in retrospect, wish I had said something about it. Ambiance of the place is the best feature; mood lighting and pretty design. Service was slow and just ok, as well. Little attention paid to things like refilling our water bottle, despite the restaurant not being busy. I am not in a rush to return. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Oyakodon - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I tried the omurice here and it was surprisingly good. The egg was soft and cooked just right, wrapping the rice nicely without being too runny or too firm. The fried rice inside had good flavor and wasn't overly greasy. The sauce on top tied everything together -- a little sweet, a little savory, and very comforting. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've never been to an izakaya before but I was pleasantly surprised by the environment and the experience. After ordering the skewers and dishes came out so quickly, and it was fun to have snacks/meals while catching up with friends. I didn't have any of the drinks, but they sounded so yummy. I loved the seasoning of everything especially the grilled eggplant and beef skewers. I also had grilled mochi for the first time, and there was a wonderful sweet and salty flavor from the soy sauce. My friend went one of their first nights, and they had karaoke going so I'll definitely come back to do that and have more of their amazing dishes! read more

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We came here late at night for some appetizers and drinks, and it did not disappoint. Splendid service, and food and drinks were great for the price. We got to control the music and queue songs, which was sweet. Love this place and fired up to go back. read more

Izakaya Kuroyama - Sake Bomb - Izakaya Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The server handed us food we didn't order like 5 times, and forgot food we actually ordered so we had to wait again. When we asked him a question about how a dish was prepared, he said "I don't know, I don't cook the food", which I thought was kind of rude and incompetent. Servers should know their menu, or go to the back and ask if they're new!! What an unpleasant service experience. Regarding the food, it ranged between mediocre and bad. Even the bowl of rice was undercooked and hard... The grilled items we got, like the chicken hearts and mackerel were fine, nothing special though. The beef tongue stew was really terrible-- so overly sweet and inedible. The curry katsu rice was definitely made with boxed curry, but at least it was tasty lol. So far, I don't have an incentive to come back here, which sucks because the reviews gave me a lot to look forward to :( read more

Waiter was a complete asshole. He refused my REAL id even tho I'm 22 and gave me dirty looks the whole night. I came in to celebrate with friends for finishing an important competition and ended up leaving in disappointment. I never leave reviews but the service was so bad I had to. Terrible service. read more

Me and my girlfriend came in for a quick bite, only ordered the karaage. I paid cash and left a generous tip before I even received the food. The karaage was awful. Slimy, undercooked, unseasoned. We took a bite of it each, and decided that there was no way we could stomach eating the rest. We decided that we would try to send it back, and we were told that since it was already sent out that we were NOT able to get a refund or even a substitution. Never have I ever felt so scammed by a restaurant in my life. read more

Great service and good. Tried the beef rice don and bbq. All options have good value and great to taste

Really liked this place. The skewers are great. Really like their fried chicken and beef tongue