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    Jacknife

    4.4 (101 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Jacknife Takeout or Delivery

    Jacknife Photos

    JACKNIFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Jacknife

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    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!

    Farah A.

    Ok Madison folks we have a new sushi place in town!!! The creators of RED have come up with a fast paced Sushi joint offering delicious sushi rolls, vegan rolls, dumplings, bowls, and salad. Located on E. Washington this is going to become a go to spot for amazing sushi, fast service, and relaxed dining experience. I love RED and the moment I knew they were coming up with a new restaurant, I had to try it. LOVED it!!! We had the steamed edamame , streamed shrimp dumplings, avocado roll, Xoxo roll, spice spice baby roll, sea smoke roll and protein bowl. All of the rolls were so fresh and tasted amazing. The dumplings were fantastic, you must try. The edamame's were great as well. I loved that they had so many vegan options on their menu. I will be back to try the other items on their menu. Madison go check out this place NOW!! Highly Recommend.

    Basil Pesto Poke Bowl and Shrimp Sushi

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    My coworkers & I love Jacknife! The delivery service is always superb and the food fresh!

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Favorite sushi place in Madison, and their bowls are excellent. Lunch combos are great for the price too.

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    2 years ago

    Best sushi on the East side of Madison! The place is super clean and it's super quick as well!

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    2 years ago

    The location is fun and bright, with sushi at the same quality as Red, which of course is fantastic, employees are always helpful and kind

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    Great quality and fun packaging! Also easy pickup in alley lane. Fresh ingredients and good menu options.

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    Page 2 of 3

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    Tavernakaya

    Tavernakaya

    3.7
    (323 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    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.

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    Tavernakaya
    Shrimp tempura roll
    Shrimp tempura roll
    One basil after another

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    One basil after another
    Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar

    Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar

    3.6
    (440 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    If you go for ramen, your best bet is to go for the tonkotsu or miso ramen. They make their noodles…read morein house, so they are fresh and springy. And they adjust the noodle thickness based upon the broth type, so that's good. But if you like shoyu ramen, this really isn't their strong point; it will be more like a lighter tonkotsu broth with thicker noodles. They also offer dan dan men and chuka soba in the summertime, but it's not really the Japanese style. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and the staff is very nice and attentive. Service is quick. I stopped by on the way to Breese Field and it was a delicious quick dinner. The bamboo shoots are made with a canned variety, instead of dehydrated, and the marinated egg is really just soft-boiled. So if you're a ramen snob, set your expectations accordingly. Even still, it was a solid bowl of ramen

    We came here for restaurant week in the winter. There was a wait which we counted on! We decided to…read moreput our name on the list and run across the street to IO for drinks and games while we waited. Once we got called, we were seated at the bar which was a great experience. Our server was attentive and filled up the many diet soda refills of my partner and my water refills. We got dumplings which were delicious, then Ramen, then mochi ice cream to close it out. The ramen was flavorful and the dumplings were the star of the show. They were juicy and delicious. I love that it's in a house-like building and there are many different rooms. It feels cozy and comfortable. I will return again for ramen. It's my #2 place in Madison!

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    Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
    Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
    Saketinis

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    Saketinis
    Zen Ramen

    Zen Ramen

    4.3
    (49 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    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.

    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.

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    Zen Ramen
    Calamari - fried squid
    Calamari - fried squid
    Dining room

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    Dining room

    Jacknife - sushi - Updated August 2026

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