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    Paul's Pel'meni

    4.4 (719 reviews)
    InexpensiveRussian, Asian Fusion
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Paul's Pel'meni Takeout or Delivery

    Paul's Pel'meni Photos

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    PAUL'S PEL'MENI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Paul's Pel'meni

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    Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order)
    uma p.

    Literally my favorite food in all of Madison, Paul's is THE BEST!! Although this is known as a late night spot in Madison, it is fantastic any time of day. I usually get "the mix" with both potato & beef, and it's amazing. The service is usually pretty quick as well! Highly recommend!

    Potato Pel'meni (Half Order) (with the works)
    fenn h.

    THIS PLACE IS AWESOME i love the food i love the workers i love the location. this is by far my favorite spot in madison. it's so delish please go here

    Beef pelmeni and potato pelmeni
    Louise F.

    A very very college style place, feels homey and comforting. We got an order both of beef and potato pelmeni and we liked the beef more. A little slow but quick to eat once you've got the food.

    No leftovers at Paul's Pel'meni

    Paul's Pel'meni. They serve dumplings a plen'y. Come in for some dranks. But.. eat before you get tanked. Order the half and half if you're unsure. Half beef, half potato is hunger's cure. Get a side of sour cream. Guaranteed to make your smile beam. Avoid Monday nights if you're planning a drunkard date. Cause every other night has $5 pints on tap from five to eight.

    Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order)
    Alex W.

    Flavors were okay. Just don't think it was worth the price ($9 for what didn't feel like a full meal). Felt like an elevated college tier meal. Would probably choose somewhere else when I'm downtown. Still, this was an interesting concept and a unique restaurant!

    Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order)
    Ben M.

    I thought it was slightly expensive for the amount of food I got, and perhaps a bit overrated based on how much I've heard this place hyped up. In terms of taste, not bad. I liked the beef pel'mini a bit more than the potato. There's a nice bar and seating area, but despite the (relatively short) 10-15 minute wait most people I saw took their food to go so it's empty. I'd recommend coming here once, but personally I probably wouldn't come here again (as there's only one menu option).

    Mixed order with the works!

    My favorite kind of place-where you specialize in the thing that you're the best at! I love a hole-in-the-wall place with excellent food. Perfected Siberian-style dumplings for a hella cheap price. Very quick service, too! Definitely will be back!

    Black Earth Ground Beef Pel'meni (Full Order) with the works- incredible
    Ben W.

    Beats expectations every time and now needs to be stopped at anytime I am around Madison. It's quick, delicious, flavorful and easy to eat! It's really the perfect snack to share, eat alone. Half/full order 7/9$ each with full orders giving around 30-40 snack size beef or mixed beef and potato Russian dumplings which are incredible when topped with 'the works' including that delicious curry powder! 5/5 every time out and a must try if you are in Madison!

    Ground beef Pel'meni (half order) with the works
    Phoebe H.

    I come here a couple times a year bc the food is so comforting. I like the beef with the works the most. If you come here when it's slow service is pretty instantaneous. The employees are always so kind and friendly. Definitely a gem near end of a night out.

    Full order half potato half beef
    MaryDan H.

    Ordered ahead on their website for pickup. Very easy to navigate, and I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonable prices. My first order was half potato/half beef dumplings with butter, cilantro and sour cream on the side. The dumplings are petite bite-sized dumplings that are simply outstanding. They reheat nicely, too. Love these dumplings!

    Half Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order)
    Sam U.

    Stopped in after recommendations from a friend. Yes, Paul's is on campus and yes the parking situation can be a nightmare but it is absolutely worth it. I got half and half order with the works and loved it. I especially loved the potato dumplings and if I were to return would get all potato - they were tasty! Food is out quickly so no long waits and there is seating for people who choose to dine in. All in all great food and I understand why Jenn Tran gave them a shout out.

    Potato dumplings
    Dana C.

    Great spot for a snack or something. We picked up the Russian dumplings. Great comfort food for a rainy day! Small pic up location right next to state street. Friendly staff too!

    Half order of mixed (some beef and some potato) pel'meni (Russian Dumplings)
    Rick R.

    First time here and first time having pel'mini, which Google describes as Russian dumplings that are typically served with sour cream or butter. Here you can choose beef or potato or a mix of both, with butter, sour cream, cilantro, yellow curry powder, or Sweet Chili sauce, or The Works, which is all of the above. You walk up to an order window in hallway behind the bar, place and pay for your order. The steamed dumplings are ready fairly quickly if the place isn't busy, which it wasn't at 3:30 on the Saturday afternoon I came in. I waited a minute for my order. Then went into the dining room to enjoy them. They were great as is, but I can see the desire to add butter or sour cream. I chose the sweet chili sauce and yellow curry powder, which were fine, but I preferred the pel'meni as they are. Worth a visit. I would come back if a friend wanted to try it, or on a food tour of different places, since there is nothing else on the menu.

    Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order)

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    2 months ago

    Tasty and filling Russian dumplings. Get all of the toppings + sour cream. Reasonable prices, fun collegiate atmosphere.

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    6 months ago

    There's one thing. Get it. The bread is a nice touch! Go for the mix - a little bit of everything :)

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    5 months ago

    Staff were so wonderful! I had the best time enjoying the dumplings at the bar area with my friends! Will definitely be coming back

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    Page 1 of 18

    Paul's Pel'meni Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Paul's Pel'meni

    Does the dough contain egg? I'm allergic to egg. Thx!

    здравствуйте, Cheryl... I created an account on Yelp just to answer this question. if ever you do find pelmeni without eggs, you will have been the sole architect... & fated forth a total structural collapse.

    What are the Xmas hours?

    Closed Christmas

    Is it true that you can buy frozen dumplings to make at home?

    Yes it's true

    Does the new location serve alcohol or have any new additions to the menu?

    The new location has a full service bar in the back. They're looking to add new items to the menu, but as of a couple weeks ago they hadn't yet.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Roll Play

    Roll Play

    4.6(59 reviews)
    3.3 miStarkweather - Yahar
    $$

    been here first time because my friend recommend the pho noodle here very good, nice tryread more

    Listen, Roll Play has a pretty good Taro boba. However after being around for a couple years it…read morestill seems they are struggling. When they use the cup sealer it's not sealed properly, sometimes it's got two of the seals, sometimes it's just not sealed on all the way. And then if that's okay well then the straw is too small so every boba bit gets stuck. Oh man but if those two are okay then it's the boba pearls itself. Ahh. Boba is not a new concept for me, I've had my fair share but when the boba is so over cooked that some of it seems to be melted and that as you sip the slush you are also accidentally swallowing the pearls because they're so soft, small, and mushy that you can't even feel it in your mouth until its too late. Completely different from someone swallowing a boba pearl that is firm and round where the moment it enters your mouth and is no longer in the straw you are aware. And because the pearls are so warm, it melts the bottom of your slush. Sure you can swirl it around but it'll still melt the nearby slush. It shouldn't be too warm or borderline hot. If I wanted milk tea I would've just ordered that. And then, on top of all that if if IF all that seems to be fine. It's the wait time. It seems like it takes so long to get your drink if there's people ordering food. Like if you go in and it's a board game meet up, good luck. It's gonna be a half hour for 2 slushy drinks. If they cannot work under the pressure of having to serve their whole space full of people in a board game meet up group, then just say it's for a private event or something. You don't even wait that long at bubbling teapot if you're getting drinks when the nearby schools have just gotten out. Honestly so ridiculous, and I forgot to mention that the taro flavor varies. Sometimes it's good like something you'd get in the PNW and sometimes it's a hint of taro, sometimes it tastes like a mouth full of powder. I'll give it 2 stars because when it's good it's good, but when is it good? Hmm well not when they're in a rush so get there right when they open IF they open on time?

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    Roll Play - Game shop

    Game shop

    Roll Play - Red Bean taiyaki

    Red Bean taiyaki

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    Hot-N-Spicy - Beef Laab with side of purple sticky rice

    Hot-N-Spicy

    4.6(131 reviews)
    3.5 miLake Edge

    There's not much more I can ask for when visiting a restaurant for the first time in over three and…read morea half years, which was my favorite restaurant when I used to live in the area, and having an experience that was just as amazing and consistent as what I had all those years back! The workers and owners here at Hot 'n Spicy are very friendly and the larb siin, thum mak hoong, siin savanh, sai oua (medium), combo crispy lard nar, and sesame balls are the bomb! The larb's bitter and sour, with the beef tasting tender and juicy, just like how I like it and how I make it. The thum has the same fishy, pungent taste that I love, with super fresh papaya and tomatoes. These were the two dishes I ordered when I first checked out this restaurant in April 2022, and both taste just like how I remembered them. The siin savanh's flavorful (with hints of fish sauce and soy sauce), crisp, and tender. The sai oua's super juicy and tender, with spices, and is of the sweet variety (not the sour variety). The jeow som that comes with it is super garlicky and fishy, with a slight hint of spice, just as I'd want it like and how I'd make it myself. The lard nar has crispy noodles that were just right in terms of crisp and flavor (you can feel the crispy while still tasting the flavor of the wide rice noodles) and the protein's also the right level of tenderness (not tough at all)! I think the sauce uses more soy sauce than I'd like, as it's a bit heavier than what I make and see at most other restaurants, but that's no big deal. The sesame balls are warm, the perfect level of chewy, and generously filled. The bean filling's so tasty. They also aren't oily in the slightest! The (regular) sticky rice, purple, is fresh and is a generous option for the price. I wish the food were spicier, as I used to order this same spice level (their spiciest level) years back and found myself sweating and having a runny nose. I hope I might be able to order spicier than their spiciest level next time! I ordered a lot and they were in the middle of a lunch rush during my visit, but all my dishes came at a reasonable time. Also, my waitress, Alyssa (not sure if I spelled her name correctly since I didn't ask her how she spells it), made sure to check on me and other tables every few minutes to see how we were doing! After my meal, I love how Alyssa gave me some stickers, just as I love how I got to speak a little bit with the kitchen staff (as they were less busy by the time I was leaving)! I found it funny how some of them thought I was Kevin, a family friend of theirs. It was this amazing combination of food and service, which reminded me of my family and simpler times, that was the reason this restaurant was my go-to restaurant when I was a law school student at UW-Madison years back (even though this restaurant was out of my way and there were so many other Lao/Southeast Asian restaurants closer to where I was living). My visits here back then helped more than I could ever describe with combating all the stress I had (because law school was so difficult) and the loneliness I had (because I had no luck making friends at the time). Sadly, they didn't have Thai iced tea during my visit, so that'll be a reason for me to come back! I'll have to get their pho next time, as that's also a dish I ordered years ago and loved! Btw, this restaurant will soon be moving from inside of Viet Hoa Market to Mishqui Peruvian Bistro (same plaza), which will allow them to have more tables/seating and more hours, so I'll definitely be back after they've moved!

    Visited Hot-N-Spicy for the first time for dinner Saturday night. The venue has decent seating and…read morewe didn't have to wait long for a table for 2. The staff were friendly and helpful. We tried the angel wings, pad see ewe, and pho. The wings were delicious - very crispy and flavorful. The pho had a lot of beef and was flavorful. The pad see ewe was also packed with flavor and tasted really fresh. I had spice level 3 (out of 4) which was definitely spicy (would recommend spice level 1 or 2 for those who are not used to spice). Overall, food was great - would recommend.

    Photos
    Hot-N-Spicy - Sticky race containers

    Sticky race containers

    Hot-N-Spicy - Sesame balls

    Sesame balls

    Hot-N-Spicy - Tofu Pad Thai

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    Tofu Pad Thai

    Paul's Pel'meni - russian - Updated May 2026

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