Friendly servers were patient to describe dishes for us, first time there and we were hungry-…read moreeverything sounded great! Empanada appetizers are a single small snack to start or as part of small plates meal. Entrees were so fresh and tasty! I expected the pork to be more like Jamaican jerk pulled pork; instead it, was thin seasoned, grilled, and cubed. Good, just different from expected. French press coffee hit the spot for desert. Several more desserts to try, so I'm interested to come back for others, cocktails and special drinks on the menu! (I love Pikkito in Middleton [though haven't been since they moved to new location]. Their menu is smaller, but I like their cilantro rice and criollo sauce better. ) Inside and outside seating (September). Comfortable atmosphere, casual, but nice. Not loud inside!! Though there were other customers, maybe three other tables for early Sunday dinner, space was big and not crowded and echoey which is difficult for some to hear conversations. Nice downtown location, street parking and garage not too far. Lovely birthday dinner!

This was a struggle. I wanted to go 5 stars and it might deserve 5 stars but I just can't bring…read moremyself to do it. Wife and I are in Madison. The why doesn't matter but know we had a very VERY good reason. Anyway, she tasked me with finding a place for dinner and when I saw Peruvian with vegan options including tofu and seitan options, how do you say no? The closest you can get to vegetarian or vegan at most Peruvian places is just something with vegetables or pescatarian. We each started with an empanada. Hers had vegan chorizo and mine was a gluten free version with chicken. I didn't love mine. It was okay but it tasted like they took the chicken stuffing out or the freezer and then deep fried it. The outside was hot but the inside was cold. I also had their chicken and rice soup which was awesome and we got an order of their gluten free Brazilian cheese bread which was fantastic. For entrees, we both got the tacu tacu-hers with veggies and tofu and me with chicken, but gluten free. We both loved our meals. Mine was very soy sauce-y with sweetness, like honey added. There was also enough rice and beans for 6 servings. The fact that I loved and ate it all makes me fat. My wife really liked hers, too, but not being a fatty fat fat like me, she didn't stuff herself to the point of exploding. We each got a drunk, too. She liked her Peruvian margarita and I got their Amazon blush which was a cherry bourbon drink and excellent. So I guess if I am taking a star off it's for my empanada. It's at least a 1/2 star off for the frozen filling and I can't round up to a perfect score for that.

I stopped by the new location, and the very first thing I ordered was two beef empanadas--and wow…read more They were so good I swear I'd been dreaming about them. For my entrée, I ordered the Filete a la Criolla: a perfectly cooked bass fillet topped with shrimp in a rich creole sauce, served with rice, green plantains, and salad. Everything was amazing. The fish was cooked perfectly, the creole sauce was full of flavor, and I loved that the taste was exactly the same even in the new location. That consistency really matters. To drink, I ordered a lemonade, and it was refreshing and perfectly balanced. The new location is so much closer to my home, which makes this an even bigger win for me. The atmosphere is beautiful and much more intimate compared to the East Washington location--perfect for a relaxed, enjoyable meal. The service was spectular and I'll definitely be back again and again.

Menu looks delicious. Only had time for calamari and a beer but will be back again. Service and…read moreAmbiance were great. Enjoyed the music.

I took two friends here to celebrate their birthdays. One of whom loves their stuffed chicken…read morewings. I tried the lettuce wrap and it was delicious and there was enough food to bring home leftovers. We each ordered drinks and all were superb. Service was great and we will definitely return!

Great food. I love their soup and the portion sizes of their dishes are always appreciatedread more

LOVE it -this is hands down the most authentic Thai food I've tried in the state. The dishes are…read morevery unique, and I couldn't find many of them at other Thai restaurants. Everything we tried was delicious and full of flavor. The service was also very good--the lady came back to check on us, which we really appreciated. The only downside was that the table for two was very small, and we barely had enough space for our dishes. That said, we would definitely come back the next time we're in town.

Love this place, I tried the drunken noodles that was served on a beautiful white rice bowl…read more The dried spring rolls were a great started as I waited for my main entree, it helped me wait for the main food since I was starving! The food goes great with jasmine green tea for a chilly night and looking to get a little caffeine bump. My friend's pineapple rice looked great too. Portions are a good size, I had leftovers even though I was so hungry. Definitely ample portion for one person and can potentially share with two persons. Small and cute. I found this place to buys around dinner time. Parking is street neighborhood parking that was not hard to find a spot for. I would definitely come back!

Hot-N-Spicy is one of my all time favorite restaurants which remains a cultural culinary gem!…read moreMadison, WI is beyond blessed to have Hot-N-Spicy which is the most authentic SouthEast Asian restaurant in the Madison area that shares the culture of countries like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam with the community through their incredible delicious food/cuisine! They truly live up to their name "Hot-N-Spicy". The cultural significance of the chili pepper often represents hospitality, warmth, and resilience! They bring all the spice and don't hold back! If you are not used to spice/spicy hot dishes, I suggest you start at level one spice and work your way up. They will ask you on dishes made with chili peppers what spice level you want 1-4 and can even make it hotter also! Hot-N-Spicy is genuinely unique because they offer Issan food dishes and flavors that is uniquely from the Issan/Isan Northeast region of Thailand that is heavily influenced by Lao and Cambodian flavors with the use of heat, fresh herbs, and use of fish sauce that brings different flavors different from other regions of Thailand. Hot-N-Spicy used to be located in the back of the Viet Hoa Market. It is now located next door from the market in a larger space in the same strip mall that allows for a more comfortable sit-down seating experience of a full restaurant. I have tried almost everything on their menu and have never been disappointed! For appetizers, I love their angel wings which are deboned chicken wings stuffed with chicken, carrot, and bean thread noodles fried to pure crispy perfection! Their most popular selling appetizers are their amazingly addictively delicious crab rangoons! Their chicken satay is also a must try! I also recommend trying their beef jerky which is so delicious, it often sells out quickly during the day! Their main entrees are so outstanding, it is hard to order one entree! My absolute favorite that I recommend is their steak Laab which is the best Laab I have had in Madison! It is heavily influenced with Isaan flavors/culture with minced beef, tripe, red onion, cilantro, mint, fresh lime juice, rice powder, fish sauce and scallions. I love the beef steak Laab because it is unlike anything you will ever taste with so much flavor from a combination of flavors with hint of sour with the lime, salty/umami/pungence from the fish sauce, balanced with refreshing different herbs, texture with the tripe, while the toasted rice powder gives this dish a tiny bit of crunch/texture that gives a subtle nutty flavor! This dish is a minced meat salad traditionally eaten with your hands and sticky rice/vegetables like cucumber. I also really enjoy their Pad Thai, Pho, and Crispy Noodle Lad Na! Your visit wouldn't be complete without quenching your thirst with either their Thai iced coffee/tea! Hot-N-Spicy remains at the top of my list for Thai/Lao cuisine! If you are looking for true authentic flavors/traditionally prepared dishes, definitely try Hot-N-Spicy!

I recently visited Hot N Spicy again, and it was just as good as I remembered! The Summer Rolls…read morewith pork nem nuong were incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. The combination of romaine, cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, mint, homemade daikon, and the crispy fried egg roll wrapper created the perfect balance of freshness and crunch. The nem nuong dipping sauce was so good that I ordered extra. I also tried the Panang Red Curry, and it was outstanding. The curry was rich, creamy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor. I ordered level 1 spice, and it was the perfect amount of heat without overwhelming the dish. The homemade curry paste, coconut milk, basil, peppers, and jasmine rice came together beautifully. It's also been great to see this local business grow. What started as a takeout spot inside Viet Hoa Market has expanded into a larger space on Monona Drive, and it's easy to see why. The food is consistently delicious, the portions are generous, and the new location offers plenty of seating. If you're craving fresh spring rolls, flavorful curry, or simply a great meal, Hot N Spicy is absolutely worth a visit. Added bonus the service was AMAZING!!!

This is a quaint little place that has been well appointed in Thai fashion…read more This local dig is a must try when in the Fair Oaks neighborhood! Please remember it's CASH ONLY! This, I believe, helps to keep their prices very reasonable! It's excellent service but it also appears family ran, so don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit for some attention if it's busy. The jasmine tea was a perfect blend of sweet floral that came through on the nose and mouth. Egg roll was fried to perfection accompanied by an amazing Thai ginger sauce with a bit of heat that was appreciated. Chang beer was recommended and served with a frosty glass. It was a champagne light beer that had great taste. Pad se ew was cooked perfectly and served with a creamy soy sauce that had a hint of sesame/peanut flavor coming through. Veggies were al dente (yum) and chicken was tender.

Hearty portions! We two noodle ordered via UberEats and the quality and quantity were excellent,…read morealthough the Drunken Noodles were too spicy for me! I wasn't able to see where adjust the spiciness level on the UberEats app, but I'm sure if you are in person in the restaurant you could ask to downgrade the spice level, if needed. The Pad See Ew could have used more vegetables. I'd added the $3 veg upgrade, but it wasn't enough. Tasted great though!

Not very vegetarian friendly IMO. The veg option for each dish is cheese, which doesn't balance…read morewell with the already rich base. I did like the potato and cheese pastelito with a drizzle of their hot sauce.

A hole in the wall place with solid Venezuelan eats. While it is built more for takeout, there is a…read morefew tables and barstools for dine in. Order at the counter and choose from a wide array from options-breakfast, snacks, arepas, cachapas, empanadas, etc. It seriously is extensive. We opted for an arepa, a cachapa and a tequeno as a snack while waiting. All three were excellent choices. The arepa and cachapa were absolutely humongous and easily could have been shared by two people. Authentic. Homemade. Simple yet tasty. It's obvious they take pride in what they do and it shows in the food they put out. I will be back-just wish it was closer!

My husband got pad thai and I got drunken noodles. We eat a lot of Thai food and this was one was…read morepretty bad The sauce was different in a bad way for the pad thai and the drunken noodles were very overcooked and lacking in flavor. We would maybe give it one more try but we wouldn't be excited about it.

The 4 of us had 3 delicious entrees. Pad Thai, Volcano, and…read morea curry. All with chicken. Great service. Good place for a casual date night.