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    Jacknife

    4.4 (102 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Jacknife Takeout or Delivery

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    JACKNIFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Jacknife

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    Ericka B.

    Went here for lunch on a weekday and was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. We were greeted right as we walked in and asked if we had any questions about the menu. They have options for you to order at the counter or on a kiosk so we perused the menu while waiting for a friend. They have a couple pretty could lunch specials so we all went with that. I ended up getting the two rolls and a salad. The food came out extremely quick, to the point that we had barely sat down outside. The salad was nice and refreshing for a hot summer day and the rolls were quite filling. At first I thought the price was a little high, but seeing the number of pieces you get in each roll, I rethought it. Overall quite tasty and efficient. Definitely a good option if you want some sushi.

    Sophie Y.

    We were on the east side and decided to try Jacknife which is affiliated with RED. Parking can be a little tricky; there's some street parking, but it really depends on your luck. Thankfully, we came around 1 pm after the lunch rush, and managed to find a couple of spots. We ordered online ahead of time, and pickup was quick and easy. When I walked in, I didn't immediately see my name at the pickup area, but the cashier was helpful and handed me my order right away. The packaging was really nice, and we got the lunch special (half bowl). The flavor was good overall, though the rice was a bit overcooked and on the mushy side. I also would've liked a little more salad dressing. That said, the salmon was fresh, and the portion size was decent. At $18, it's on the pricier side for lunch, but the quality and amount of food made it worth it.

    Jenny K.

    Stopped in for dinner on a Thursday night. Lots of seating available, it wasn't too busy. I ordered the salmon nigiri and orange crunch roll. Both were good but pretty expensive. Decent spot for quick sushi.

    OH SAY CAN SUSHI STEAMED EDAMAME
    Luci S.

    Their sushi is consistently good. I like their sauces- like the sesame chili oil and the packaging is super cute and organized nicely. I like the pick up out of lockers set up when you order take out. It is pricey but the rolls are huge and super filling so it makes sense. Yum! Thanks Jacknife

    LIVING ON THE VEG, RAINBOW, CURRYSMATIC
    Willow O.

    Really tasty fast-casual sushi! They have a unique spread of rolls as well as sauces. I tried two vegan rolls, green machine and the currysmatic and they were really good and unlike any sushi I have ever had before. The person I was with had the rainbow roll and a poke bowl and said that the fish was excellent and fresh. The packaging makes it really easy to take to go as well

    LEI'D BACK POKE
    Ellena K.

    Always the best choice for casual sushi in Madison. Sometimes hit or miss with rolls. This time, the Nola roll was interesting - because of the combo of corn and tuna, but probably a personal preference. Spicy salmon did not seem as fresh as usual. Pear pressure is always my favorite, I really love the crunchy jicama and pear combo. Presentation was beautiful, as always. Also worth mentioning that Jackknife's ordering is always a quick and an efficient process. When you online order, you can just walk in and pick up your order from one of the cubes. Make sure to sign up for rewards!

    ANGRY BADGER, PEAR PRESSURE, MISO SOUP
    Steph H.

    Came in for the two roll special and it was fantastic. It came with a side of miso and I upgraded to their "fancier" rolls for a few dollars. Super filling, fresh, and healthy lunch for downtown diners!

    Rainbow and yellowtail
    Vince L.

    Fast food type sushi. Lots of choices. You order at the counter and the food is brought to your table based on the number tag they give you. Nigiri, rolls, even noodles. Obviously not the same as a sit-down traditional sushi place, it was way better than I expected. Good portions, freshly made, clean, all good. 3.5 stars.

    MIGHTY MUSHROOM and GREEN MACHINE
    Lexi G.

    Jacknife is a counter-style sushi/noodle/rice bowl spot. The space is clean, open and bright, with fun wall art and decor. I like to come for sushi, but the bowls seem to be the best bang for your buck. I've tried all the vegan sushi rolls, but my favorites are the Mighty Mushroom and Green Machine. I also like the cold sesame noodles. They carry some fun drinks, if a little over priced. I've never had an issue with it being too busy and not being able to snag a table. Overall, it's a great casual spot to get fresh and tasty Japanese food! And bonus points for having a vegan menu.

    Jordan B.

    Jacknife is a really fun place to grab a bite to eat. I love the witty catchphrases and designs in the interior. Everything is neatly setup and organized too in terms of getting silverware, water, extra sauces, etc. Food wise, the sushi is good! Ramen you can find better at other places though.

    Vince H.

    Takeout from Jacknife. First thing - the containers are great and convenient - really feels like a meal. They've definitely improved their quality since opening. The rice quality is great - and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. The portion sizes were also great, well worth the price!

    MISO PORK BELLY BOWL
    Aurora A.

    HOLY CRAP!!! This is one of the best places in Madison for lunch right now. For $16 you get any half bowl and ANY roll. The miso pork belly bowl was so delicious! Plenty of food even for a half a bowl. The pear pressure is a popular roll for a reason. Such fresh salmon. The green machine and King Kong (not pictured) were absolutely fantastic as well. We received our order about 6 minutes after ordering and the workers were so nice and helpful with ordering! They provide high quality soy sauce too :) new favorite sushi spot. The place gets plenty of natural light and has free Wi-Fi. Only thing I wish they had were backs on all their chairs, but that's so minor overall! CANNOT wait to try more of their rolls and bowls

    Ebibody Rock & King Kong sushi rolls
    Fawn J.

    Jacknife is an amazing must try place for sushi lovers in Madison!!!! This is a casual sushi spot or upscale fast food place for sushi and sashimi! I was extremely impressed with every interaction I had with the workers that worked there. Who is the hiring manager? :) First, I had called to ask some questions about the menu and the lady was extremely courteous and informative. When I got to Jacknife walking into a beautiful, modern, well cleaned atmosphere with great unique wall decor, my order was taken care of by a very friendly gentleman. My order came out to me lightning fast and I specifically remember being served by the same gentleman who had a really amazing smile. It was nice to be served with an awesome, warm, genuine smile! :) I tried the King Kong & Ebibody Rock sushi rolls which had an excellent impressive presentation and absolutely delicious!!! My favorite out of the two was the king Kong which was black tiger shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, & spicy aioli! I plan to go back to try more items on the menu! My only little thing that sort of threw me off was the price point or after tip it seemed a little pricier than I was expecting but I still enjoyed the sushi & excellent customer service! It really made a huge difference!

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    6 months ago

    The take out is so easy and ordering on the website also. Food is always top notch I'm a big fan of lunch special with a roll and bowl.

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    6 months ago

    Great food!! Awesome service!! Very helpful. Everything went very smoothly. Thank you

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    2 years ago

    Really fresh sushi. The miso soup is full of flavor and generous bits of seaweed and tofu.

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    1 year ago

    The online ordering was super slick. I also really like all the food allergies that you can pick from, it felt safe for my celiac daughter!

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    2 years ago

    ALWAYS EXCELLENT!!! Never felt a hair of a reaction, and that's so rare with Asian cuisine for me. Love Jackknife and Sushi Red

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    Takumi Japanese Restaurant - Philly roll...they should calling the Philadelphia Creme Cheese roll

    Takumi Japanese Restaurant

    3.9(364 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    •$$

    Doesn't look like much from the outside, but the inside experience is as authentic as it gets…read more Sashimi was fresh and expertly cut with subtle but complex flavors and textures. If it's in season I'd highly recommend the super white tuna, in addition the yellow tail, and salmon were our group favorites. The octopus was not chewy but tender and fresh. Miso soup was not overly salty, nor tasted like water. The shumai tasted pre-cooked with an onion flavor but who goes to a Japanese restaurant for shumai? All of the sushi rolls were balanced and much higher grade than anything you'd get at a refrigerator in a market place. What sets the food apart is they serve sushi freshly made so it's the correct temperature though you do have to wait a while for the sushi chef to make your selections if it's a busy day. Just don't come here if you are in a rush as it's not a fast food restaurant. The sukiyaki was not greasy and tasted sweet/savory just like how my grandmother makes it only they used a lean stir fry beef cuts while my grandma would choose a fattier thinly sliced beef. Not many Japanese restaurants serve sukiyaki like this in a ceramic pot so it's probably worth trying this dish alone as it was a staple in my Japanese household. The tempura was crispy and not oily, I believe they use Panko bread crumbs to make it light and crunchy. If you come in a big party you can reserve the private room surrounded in oak paneling and a sliding privacy door. You'll have to take your shoes off and sit flush with the floor on seat cushions for a Japanese experience. If you order Japanese soda, you'll be using a small plunger to push a glass marble into your bottle to open the ramune. Only thing I missed trying out was the Japanese beer and saki, but I give high ratings to this place for the Japanese food and service.

    Out of business closed no longer open a Mexican restaurant now takeout place 85 characters achievedread more

    Photos
    Takumi Japanese Restaurant - The inside of restaurant. Very unassuming.

    The inside of restaurant. Very unassuming.

    Takumi Japanese Restaurant - Any 3 Rolls Lunch Special Tuna Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll Spicy Salmon Roll

    Any 3 Rolls Lunch Special Tuna Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll Spicy Salmon Roll

    Takumi Japanese Restaurant - Shimizu-no-mai sake

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    Shimizu-no-mai sake

    Tavernakaya

    Tavernakaya

    3.7(324 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Capitol
    •$$

    We were immediately greeted by some welcoming hosts who had the cutest outfits! We're were seated…read moreimmediately even though it was a busy Saturday night. Our server, Delaney, was AMAZING! Give her a raise! So helpful and so nice! We started with the seaweed salad, it was a small portion for three people to share, I recommend one or two people should order it. It was delicious and really hit the spot. My drink, one basil after another, was DELICIOUS! I will definitely be coming back for happy hour and getting that again. I also tried my friends rose water lycheetini which was very tasty as well. The basil drink was a bit booze-ier than the other which I liked. For our main courses we ordered the spider roll, negihama roll, and the salmon roll which I would rank in that order. The spider roll was so salty and yummy. The negihama was so fresh and flavorful. The salmon roll was good but nothing to write home about.

    After seeing a YouTube video with a master Japanese sushi chef trying American-style sushi, a new…read morephrase entered my lexicon: "Mayonnaise Roll." Regrettably, I will encounter one during my visit. More on that later. I started off with a Mojo Mojito (N/A). Big points for noticeable mint notes, something which was forgotten in two I had previously (in different spots). That said, it was a little sweeter than I prefer, but this is a matter of taste. For my app, I ordered the OG Pork Buns. These were great! The buns were soft, and the pork was tender and well balanced in terms of ratio of meaty to fatty. It was also sauced the perfect amount, and had a great amount of cucumber for freshness. While I can't put it in the S-Tier, I will easily give it a B, maybe an A if I am in a good mood. The only changes I would prefer (also personal preference) is a little acid for brightness, and a shift towards the fatty end of the ratio. Then we arrive at the fated Sunset Salmon Roll. On the surface, it promises to be a roll to remember: two kinds of fish, three kinds of veggie (including jalapeño), tobiko, and mayo. Instead, anything the roll tried to do was lost as the balance was way off. The quantity of rice was such that it seemed as though the rice was the main event, and everything else was cast as "Waiter #3." To make matters worse, the Yuzu mayo was very strong, further shifting focus away from the fish and veg. Thus, we arrive at "rice and mayo roll." When asked how I was liking things, and I communicated as much, the bar-server offered to change it to something else (thank you very much). That something else was two sets of Nigiri: Unagi & Seared Tuna (Bincho Maguro Tataki). For the Unagi, this was perfect with no notes. The eel was cooked and sauced perfectly, and the balance of rice to protein was ideal. Good job. I can't say the same for the Seared Tuna. The kiss of fire can elevate a piece to otherworldly levels, but only if done correctly. Here, the flame seemed to be applied as an afterthought, and added nothing of value to the fish. The only thing it did was take away some of that amazing freshness sushi-grade fish has by partially cooking it. Any smokey and roasty notes were not in the building. Final verdict: Tavernakaya got off to a promising start with a great virgin Mojito and pork buns. However, it faltered severely when it came to sushi. While the Unagi Nigiri was a strong contender, the Sunset Salmon Roll and Seared Tuna Nigiri were poorly executed. Thus, while I am not against trying their ramen on a later day, I'll likely steer clear of the sushi side of the menu.

    Photos
    Tavernakaya
    Tavernakaya - Shrimp tempura roll

    Shrimp tempura roll

    Tavernakaya - One basil after another

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    One basil after another

    Zen Ramen - Beef Gyudon

    Zen Ramen

    4.3(49 reviews)
    3.5 mi•Rolling Meadows
    •$$

    I'm a bit conflicted about the meal I had. First off, service was great, and the speed the food…read morearrived was perfect. So, absolutely no issues there. For an appetizer, I had the gyoza, and it was perfect. Evenly fried and steamed, even if it was just frozen stuff from the bag like at the Japanese restaurant I used to work at, it was at least prepared with skill. My main entree was the garlic miso ramen. And while each component worked on its own, all of them put together made it seem less as a whole. My biggest issues were the chashu pork which came out a little overcooked. I know the reason, and probably shouldn't hold it against them, but it reminded me a bit of the overcooked pork of my childhood. The other issue was the broth. It was sweet on the backend, which really didn't do it for me the more I've thought about it. I'm not sure if it was the pork broth or the tare. My suspicion lies heavier towards the tare than the broth, but I could be wrong. Either way, I felt that such noticeable sweetness was out of place especially since it did too much to counter the garlic flavor. I suspect it was there to do that for those who don't like a heavy garlic flavor, but then again, if you don't like garlic flavor, you shouldn't be ordering something labeled as garlic on the menu. I will say that marinating the egg was a nice touch and gave it a depth of flavor that typically isn't there from other ramen places I've tried. Otherwise, it was good overall, it just felt like it didn't completely come together with the sweetness of the broth and the pork being a tad overcooked. Still, despite perhaps not looking like it, Zen Ramen was a solid little ramen shop on the East Side and I would not oppose going back to try some of their other ramen bowls. It might not blow your mind if you're a regular ramen connoisseur, but is still a solid spot if you want something affordable and unpretentious.

    The ramen is delicious, and I thought the Gyoza appetizer…read more was the best I've ever had. The server, (Jayai) was wonderful. She was very careful about our allergy concerns and made sure to take care of us (my daughter has a severe fish allergy and needed her ramen free of fish cake & sauce). The Thai boba tea was delicious, too. I discovered that I prefer Thai ice tea better without boba, but I really enjoyed it in this form, as well. I enjoyed the clean and comfortable atmosphere. I was thankful for the interior photograph left by a previous Yelper because the Yelp reviews I read didn't mention that the place had a dine-in an option. The dining space want just accommodating, but lovely, as well.

    Photos
    Zen Ramen
    Zen Ramen - Calamari - fried squid

    Calamari - fried squid

    Zen Ramen - Dining room

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    Dining room

    Jacknife - sushi - Updated October 2026

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