I had no clue what a Pel' meni was figured I'd give it a shot because it sounded interesting and was very affordable. Nothing ventured nothing gain. My opinion Paul's Pel' meni what is a hidden gem. The Pel' meni's were awesome and filing. Very very tasty! I ordered the large mix with the works and was not able to finish them all. The service was friendly, helpful, happy and fun! Great vibe from the second I walked in. I was in for happy hour which runs until 8pm The beer was cold with lots of beer and drink specials. The new bartender was awesome. The ambiance is perfect. If you want to know exactly what I mean - go visit read more

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This is truly a UW Madison staple. It used to be a great cheap meal ($7 an order!) but with inflation I'm not surprised its gone up. With that being said, I think the food is still worth for the taste and nostalgia. My order is always mixed beef and potato with the Works. Sometimes the beef can be a bit dry in the pel'meni, but thats an easy fix with the sour cream haha. Love dining in as they also have the Sriracha, rice vinegar, and soy sauce to add on top. Truly makes for a great late night eat. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My kids love this place, especially the meat dumplings. We have a friend from Siberia, who makes her own dumplings, and these are almost as good. Also, the servers are very friendly. read more

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The dumplings are really good. They offer you either potato or beef or you can get a mix of both. I prefer the beef one and they have a lot of different toppings you can ask for. Service is very quick and it's got a chill vibe. Good for a quick bite. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Black Earth Ground Beef Pel'meni (Full Order) Potato Pel'meni (Half Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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 read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Potato Pel'meni (Half Order) (with the works) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Beef pelmeni and potato pelmeni - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - No leftovers at Paul's Pel'meni - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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). read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Black Earth Ground Beef Pel'meni (Full Order) with the works- incredible - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Mixed order with the works! - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground beef Pel'meni (half order) with the works - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Full order half potato half beef - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Half Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Potato dumplings - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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. read more

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

Fab takeout. I had the meat veg mixed option. Every topping. Was nicely spicy and their hours were accommodating. We had this delivered straight to hotel. read more

The best food in Madison. Been coming here for 10 years, since I first started college in Madison. The best Pel'meni I've ever had, including Seattle, Denver, and other cities across the country. The Pel'meni at Paul's is unmatched. Truly the best!! read more

Full order with the works ‍ 10/10 never misses. Thank you Madison. I will eat this for breakfast lunch and dinner read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Full Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Pauls is such an understatement. It's a hidden gem, a treasure trove of amazing little meat or potato dumplings, or as the name suggests, Pelmeni's! They're they Russian equivalent of Pierogis and honestly, amazing. I definitely recommend the Mix and the works with some extra sour cream on the side, if you like sour cream. Theres soy sauce and vinegar on the tables in sriracha bottles that you HAVE to put on top. Even if you don't like either, just try it. It's the other magical secret. The vibe is pub with take out, they call your name through the speakers, so feel free to take a seat, make friends and grab a drink too! Their bar has a HH basically every day where their beers are $4, granted they're usually $5 anyways, but still always good to have a great deal. read more

i have never heard of pierogis until i pulled up to wisconsin but this was actually so good. i feel like u cant really have anyone describe the specific pierogis at pauls pelmeni to you, u just need to go and try it. for someone who has no previous experience with pierogis this was reallllllly good! very quick to come out and id actually go back again read more

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

THE spot for late night eats after painting Madtown red. Popular with the college crowd as it's right off State St, so when the kids come spilling out of the many bars lining the street they don't have to stumble to far to find this gem of a food oasis. However, college age or not, this is a place that should be on your list when you are looking for something quick and inexpensive to eat. On top of that, the only item on the menu is amazing! Russian dumplings, something you never knew you needed in your life. Our latest visit was after a Badger night game at Camp Randall. It was 11pm and the place was PACKED. The line was about 10 deep but moved fast because they are a well oiled machine and pump out the dumplings quickly. It's a small place so it can be hard to snag a table but this is a casual, quick operation and people tend to eat and run so usually something opens up at a table or the bar area. The menu is simple: Beef or potato filled dumplings. Pro tip: get the mix and try them both. Next tip: get the works: Butter, cilantro, yellow curry, sweet chili sauce, and sour cream. It's a good amount of for sure, and you can add some vinegar or soy sauce located on the tables which only enhances the flavor. The half order is $7.00, but I'd go with the full, worth the $2.00 upgrade. Filling, amazing flavor and all on a budget. They also have a full bar, from taps to cocktails. This casual joint is a must stop in Madison. It's a hidden gem that everyone should experience. read more

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What can I say? Definitely a comfort food place that serves college students because it only has one item on the menu, the , which is basically the dumplings, and it opens until 2am which is quite amazing. They have either ground beef or potato , but I personally recommend getting the mix so you can have a bit of both. I also recommend getting the full order that is only worth $8.50, topped with "the works" which contains butter, cilantro, yellow curry, sweet chili sauce, and sour cream. It's a good amount of for sure, and adding some vinegar to it would be amazing. This place also has a lot of drink options ranging from taps to cocktails, but I didn't get any because I am not an alcohol person. A fun fact is that they put vinegar into used sriracha bottles! The was a pleasant surprise for sure hehe. read more

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Enjoyed Paul's Pel'meni, especially on this windy day. We went right when they opened. Friendly service. You order at the counter and they will call your name when it is ready. Ordered the full order with the works (requested mix of potato and beef dumplings. Very filling and wasn't able to finish all the dumplings. Nothing fancy but definitely something different. Recommend! read more

The pierogis were delicious...there was an option to get either beef or potato. You can either get a half or full order and opt for different toppings. They were very dense so a moist topping like sour cream was necessary. Next time I would ask for several containers of sour cream! Portion was very filling! read more

Such a fun and convenient local spot for late night dumplings. Quick, cheap, easy, and tasty! I loved being able to grab a box of mixed dumplings and bring them to the adjacent bar for a drink. The mixed pel-mini (5/5) are great value. Get them with the works (e.g., curry powder, hot sauce, sour cream) for maximum flavor. The dumplings themselves are generously filled and fun to eat. Overall, a great late night snack or quick bite. Always fun to see Eastern European food around too! read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Mixed beef and potato pel'mini with the works - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Walk in. Order a whole or half order mixed (beef & potato) with the works! Then navigate to the bar to the right & order some tasty local suds. Shortly they'll call your name and, for $9 for a whole serving, plus the beer, you'll have a large amount of comforting, traditional small pierogi dumplings sprinkled with a yellow curry dusting, drizzled with sriracha and chopped cilantro will adorn the top. We had extra sour cream & sriracha on the side. Very satisfying & a great deal with classic pub surroundings. Enjoy!!! I sure did!!! read more

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I absolutely love Pul's Pel'meni. I've taken my kiddos here. Told friends and family about it. Usually I order for pick up after work to bring home. My favorite is 2 of "the works" and 1 without. I typically get potato. If I'm bringing them to a celebration with friends I will get beef as well. Thank you for many years of delicious food! read more

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I was first introduced to Pel'meni when my kids attended UW Madison. Ever since then, I've been HOOKED! The beauty here is in the simplicity. Potato and/or ground beef dumplings topped with your choice of butter, cilantro, sour cream, yellow curry or sweet chili sauce (all of which together is called "The Works"). The two men working the counter are very efficient considering the popularity of this place. Service was quick. The front counter where you order leads way to a small waiting area with chairs and then a small back room with tables and a full service bar area. Very reasonably priced, delicious and filling. They do have hot sauce for an extra price, and next visit I will be sure to get some of that. If you are in Madison and have yet to try a Russian Dumpling, this place is worth the stop! read more

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What can I say, if you're looking for Russian dumplings that are as good when you're drunk, sober, here you go. The service is rather fast if you think about it. One check out, multiple cooks. What makes time fly by even more is if you step into the other side and grab a drink. It's doesn't have to be an alcoholic drink, but that sure pairs well with these dumplings. Go to order: full beef order with extra ExTra EXTRA works. They commit to the extra too. read more

I never knew Russian dumplings were this delicious. Always go with the works. That is the stuff that adds flavor to the pelmeni. I went with a full order - half of potato and half of beef. I liked beef more than potato, but both were really good. I went on a weekday evening, and had to wait for 20 minutes for my order to be ready. It came hot from the stove. For $9 that was a treat not to be missed. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Half beef half potato pelmeni with works - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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

I first tried Paul's Pel'meni after a night out downtown thanks to their late night hours. There's one thing on the menu here - Pel'meni and they've definitely perfected it. I know lots of people will recommend getting the mix order of beef and potatoes, but I personally prefer the beef. I also recommend getting a half order because the full is a lot for one person. There's no better way to order these dumplings than with the works (and extra sour cream for me). Be wary if you're one of those people who can't handle the taste of cilantro as it is included with the works. This spot gets super packed with the late night crowds so long lines and limited seating can be expected. However, during the day they are never too packed! Paul's Pel'meni has turned into one of my favorite comfort foods and I'll keep returning for more, day or night. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Two half orders with the works! - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I used to crave Paul's all the time. But I feel like the portions have gotten smaller and the toppings are being skimped out on. Last night the order we got was dry and barely had any of the toppings while the prices have increased. I know inflation is a thing but at least maintain the quality. Please be generous with the toppings!! Please bring it back :( read more

The pelmeni were delicious. We went late Sunday and there was no line. Definitely a great place to stop while visiting Madison. I wouldn't necessarily stop and eat there unless you're in need of drunk food, but it's perfect to take to go and walk around town. read more

Paul's should be the last stop on every fun night. A small bar on one side with music though low enough to speak over. But the prime attraction is the quick service eatery. The menu is short and simple but there are no mistakes that can be made in ordering any of these items. Both the potato and beef dumplings are well made and flavorful. There is some limited seating but the food is equally suited to be taken in the road. read more

Paul's Pel'meni - Ground Beef and Potato Pel'meni Mix (Half Order) - Russian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Every time we go to state street, we pop in and order our carton of loaded dumplings. Pure, delicious comfort food. Thought about trying to make them ourselves, looked up recipes and equipment...then closed the browser and drove downtown instead. Zero way to copy perfection. read more