I think I might BE ramen at this point. I've been to Strings multiple times and it never disappoints. The last time I went, a snow storm was hitting madison and it was almost subzero temps-- perfect time for a warm piping HOT bowl of ramen. My favorites: Tonkostu ramen, when you need an extra creamy umami kick; miso ramen, when you want something with the classic tangy sweet richness of miso flavor; and cat rice, for a classic good bowl of poké. And of course always get it with kuro buta belly, which is the fattier of the pork options (because the fattier, the better) Check in on this here Yelp and snag some free edamame. Great side to have to add to all your different ramen. Don't forget to ask for a punch card! It's buy 10 bowls of ramen get 1 free!! You may have to spend over $200 in ramen, but when it comes to Strings, it's priceless. TLDR: Go Strings, or Go home (unless your forgot our punch card)!! read more

See all

Pretty tasty chain ramen joint well located in Madison and staffed by non-Japanese East Asians. We stopped by for lunch on a game day when most of the usual places had huge lines, it seems Strings Ramen wasn't in people's game day plans, which is fine. Wasn't super hungry so just got the Tonkotsu Kura Buta (Pork Belly) ramen. It was served in a decent sized bowl and generally nicely hot. The broth was really good, a fairly deep complex and very tasty Tonkotsu broth, surprisingly good for a chain place. The Chasu was a nice thick slice of pork, also very tasty. There were some decent additional toppings, a piece of Nori, a soft boiled egg, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo, sesame seeds and scallion. These toppings were all pretty good but the egg was cold, it most definitely was boiled before and came out of the refrigerator. This was bit of a dissappointing note to an otherwise very good bowl of ramen. One other thing I didn't appreciate was the several mentions in the menu of how China influenced ramen or served as an ancestor to the development of ramen in Japan. While there is some truth to this, it seemed unnecessary and distracted from the focus on ramen, which is a Japanese dish. Lets just focus on the ramen and different styles of Japanese ramen. Overall the service was good, the ramen was good, the place is clean and would go again. read more

Clean, quick service, great place to eat, casual. I was not adventurous enough to try the "hell Ramen" nor take the challenge. The bowl was nicely put together and delicious. I'd eat here again. read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is my go to spot during a busy week because it's so close to work. I know exactly what I want. Tonkotsu Ramen, Kuro Buta Pork Belly, No Menma, Level 2 spice on the side. Great place for a group of 6 or smaller. Ramen orders are filled quickly. Service is great! They provide a pitcher of water for your table. Decor is great. Not a lot of seating but people cycle through lunch quickly. I'd highly recommend you follow their Instagram for specials and promotions! They had a back to school special for students for 15% off your meal with your school ID. Totally recommend all of the broths. The appetizers are great too! Try out one of their sodas or mochi. If you're up for it, try the Hell Ramen Challenge. Good luck! read more

Food was okay. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with pork bell. I really like spicy so I ordered my spice level at 3. There was very little flavor and not spicy at all. For the amount that I paid I was pretty disappointed. I also ordered the chicken gyoza and that was good for the price. Probably won't b back. read more

Strings is the best Ramen in Madison. Not more that needs to be said. Don't play with the spice if you aren't ready to be knocked out of your shoes. The broth is creamy, flavorful, and the egg is perfectly cooked. The different levels of spice elevate the dish... if you dare to try it. The edamame and dumplings are both great as well! read more

Definitely a worth stop for some ramen or other Japanese foods! They do have rice dishes and apps so when it's not ramen weather I'll be back to try more. They do also have limited beers and they tell me today that sake is coming (YES!). This has a chain look to it but I wasn't sure so the server explained that there is this location and two in Chicago. I call that regional chain but it's still local to this area. They have very upbeat unique music playing I. The background which I think plays to their often younger crowd with the location being so close to the students. Cool spot! read more

Strings Ramen - Spicy clam & pork tonkotsu ramen with "Japanese cider" which turned out to be orange soda - haha - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm so happy I came here with my friends! There was about a 20 minute wait since it was a Friday night and it was quite busy. Seating is available for individuals or small groups, but I wouldn't recommend coming with a group larger than 6-8 people (it can feel pretty crowded). The food was excellent! Our orders were taken quickly, and the food arrived at a reasonable time. Our servers were very efficient and friendly. My standards for ramen are lower in Madison, but Strings Ramen met my standards for ramen I'd expect to eat back home in California I LOVE perfectly soft boiled eggs. The soup was well balanced and the temperature of the food was perfect. My only personal complaint is against the copious amounts of onion on every dish (I will ask to have it removed next time). There is a single restroom available for customers. It is kept relatively clean, well supplied, and functional. read more

See all

My first visit, and I will come again. Preface: my friend and I ordered the Lotus Root, Edamame, Kuro Buta (Belly) Tonokotsu Ramen, and the Kuro Buta (Loin) Miso Ramen. The positives: - Edamame came out freshly steamed, hot, and with a proper amount of both salt and togarashi. 5/5 stars - The renkon (lotus root) was absolutely spot on. Salty, sweet, crisp, and with the barest hint of heat. 5/5 stars - The ramen looks the business. Plated attractively, good choice of toppings well-matched to the specific dish. Nice amount of fat in the broth, giving it a good feel on the tongue. 4/5 stars - My chashu pork belly was fantastic. Flavorful, meltingly tender. 5/5 stars - Ajitsuke tamago (the soft-cooked ramen egg) was perfect. Good flavor, jammy yolk. 5/5 stars The "could be improved": - Our lotus root appetizer arrived with just a small bowl. In Japan it is considered rude to eat food directly from a shared dish. Having lived in Japan for 5 years, this felt very awkward. Next time, small plates allowing everyone to take a portion rather than going directly from the bowl into their mouth would be appreciated. - I'm not sure whether it was the broth or the tare, but my tonkotsu ramen tasted very strongly of pepper. Totally overwhelmed any other flavors. It wasn't the heat that was a problem, as I love spicy. It was the "smack you in the face" level of pepper, to the point that it was basically a one-note dish. The miso ramen was just fine, so I suspect it was the tare. Anyway, very solid. My last ramen in Madison at a restaurant was at Morris Ramen at least two years ago and Strings compares very favorably. Definitely a come again! read more

Strings Ramen - Lotus Root - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Got the tonkotsu belly ramen - absolutely delicious. I should've taken a picture before diving in! Service was attentive (the table next to me had an error with their order and it was fixed quickly) and quick, the music is perfectly pleasant pop music, and the tables for four+ are comfy. will happily come back - one of the great restaurants in walking distance. read more

If I have to pick a ramen place in town this will always be my pick. The atmosphere is lively with many patrons and music going. The service was great but the servers some times lack the knowledge of the food items. This isn't an issue normally but the food that are offered were very specific, such as tonkotsu ramen or rice dishes, so I would have expected the servers to know their food. The food were great no matter which one we chose. All items had a unique taste to them, even if you get the same ramen but with different toppings. It was also a little funny in that they have a ramen with some of the world hottest peppers. Appetizer were great in taste but not in size if you are planning on sharing appetizers. There are multiple tables for you to sit down with long tables for groups and smaller tables along the walls for single or pairs. The downside is the size of the location made it a little too close to the tables adjacent to you. You would also have to wait a few minutes depending on the time you eat because there are sometimes line out the door, proving how popular this place is. Overall the restaurant is a must go for ramen lovers. The only thing holding the restaurant back is the size of the place but the wait is worth it. read more

I visited Strings Ramen for dinner and it did not disappoint. You are able to customize different spice levels for their ramen broths. The heat levels range from 1-5 which is really cool. I think they have a ramen challenge that you can participate in as well! Overall, the shoyu broth that I got was very flavorful and the noodles were very chewy and perfectly cooked. I enjoyed their edamame which was complimented with a savory seasoning. Overall, very neat spot for a quick snack or sit down meal. read more

Strings Ramen - Shoyu Ramen Miso Ramen Edamame - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Coming back from The Mall Of America in Bloomington, MN we decided to detour through Madison WI to find someplace other then the fast food crap that lines the interstate. We found Strings Ramen. The restaurant is laid out with a ordering, kitchen & serving area on the left and a linear row of booths on the right w/Asian style lanterns over the walkway. It was pretty chilly and we wanted something hot to warm ourselves internally something like hot soup or Ramen. Strings Ramen seemed to solve that issue. Strings is located in Madison WI. The Strings in Madison has been opened about 1 year. It's a far cry from the instant dry packaged Ramen we use to eat in college fo 10 cents a pack. I ordered the ramen w/the creamy pork stock. This broth was hot & chock full of flavor. Besides the ramen noodles it came w/a couple of pieces of pork belly, fish cakes, seaweed, green onion and 1/2 of a molten boiled egg. They cook the broth for 48 hours and it was delicious. My wife got a soy based vegetable ramen which was ok, but I found it to be lacking in flavor. Besides the ramen noodles here came w/bamboo slices, cabbage, seaweed, green onions, corn kernels & slices of red ginger. She ordered a soy base broth for her brother too w/ramen noodles, pork belly, 1/2 of a boiled molten egg, bamboo, seaweed & green onions. This hot ramen was just what the doctor ordered to satiate our hunger & warm ourselves up. Strings Ramen in Madison is a nice restaurant & has been opened about 1 year according to the waitress. There are 2 Strings Ramen restaurants in Chicago, 1 in Chinatown & 1 in Lakeview. read more

See all

I've only ever had delivery from Strings, but - WOW! - it is amazing. We have a good selection of ramen places in the city, i'm not going to cut corners about that - there's a little something for everyone. But Strings quickly moved into first place for me. I LOVE the broth here - and I was so excited to find ramen with a good heat to it. I usually order Hell Ramen level 1 or 2 (i'll get brave, eventually, and work my way through that heat scale), which uses spicy ground pork and quality hot ingredients. Absolutely would recommend. My husband has gotten the Kuro Buta each time we've ordered Strings, with the belly, and he has nothing but wonderful things to say about his entree. All in all, give this a shot. I think you'll be glad you did. ;) read more

Strings Ramen - Toukatsu Hell Ramen Level 1 - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

*Vegan review* The vegan options here are limited (all of the ramen noodles have egg in them), but don't worry there are other options on the menu. I started with the veggie gyoza, and was surprised to find out they had sweet potato in them! They were tasty with the dumpling sauce but a little bland on their own. The veggie donburi (make sure to order no egg to make sure it's vegan!) was huge and loaded with veggies. Very tasty and super filling, I would definitely get it again. read more

Strings Ramen - Vegetable Sui Goyza - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I had high hopes coming into this place based on a family AND friend recommendation, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. I'd give this place a 3.5/5. I would say the ramen here is a little bit pricier than other places I've been to in other cities. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with the pork belly. Creamy, good flavor, not over salted but seemed to be a tad oily to my preference. Noodles are great. The pork belly was above average. It had that melt in your mouth aspect I was looking for but lacked flavor in itself. Okay, literally, their roasted garlic is to die for! I think this is a $1 upgrade, but it is sooooo worth it! I'm a pretty big garlic fan. You can taste the flavors coming through the broth without even having to eat a whole garlic clove. So, in terms of local ramen places, it definitely beats out Umami by a landslide, but I think on taste, Morris ramen (depending on the day, it can be too salty) still takes the winner on this. Mind you, I still have yet to experience ramen kid and ramen station... read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen with pork belly - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

The food was so good. We ordered the Yakima soba kuro and sausage. Our service was quick and friendly. read more

See all

Edamame- holy spicy!!!! Chicken gyoza- Spicy The cat rice, miso Turkey, shoyu kuro buta loin, and miso kuro buta Loin we're all amazing. Plenty of food. And not super spicy. Portions of the edamame were inedible due to The spicy seasoning! And was very difficult to eat the chicken gyoza due to the spice. read more

This place has excellent service and are very accommodating which is great. When we ordered something and they ended up not having it, they substituted it with another type and comped it! Really nice of them to do. Donburi Spicy Crab and Scallops/Uni were nice and flavorful. White rice is fluffy and there was just the right amount of sauce. There is not much of an Uni flavor in that one but they make up for it with a good amount of scallops. This was nice to share as an appetizer. Level 3 Hell Ramen - love the toppings on this one but wasn't spicy enough for my taste. Tonkatsu Ramen - Kuro Buta had a rich broth, nice egg, and a decent sized piece of pork. Overall, I was pleased with both options. This place is in a great location in downtown Madison so I will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

Authentic and efficient, friendly service and excellent, home cook Ramen! My son picked sty perfect place on this cool day! Fresh veggies and tasting ingredients make this place a go-to for fresh cuisine. Delicious read more

See all

Fast, easy takeout for business guest staying at hotel nearby. Pick up was ready and had fork, spoon, and chopsticks as required.

I was eating my ramen and I felt something stab the roof of my mouth. It was a metal staple. Absolutely unacceptable. The pork belly also tasted strangely sour. read more

Strings Ramen - This is dangerous. - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Looking for lunch, as usual we were aiming for something that we couldn't get back in Tennessee and when we saw this spot we definitely wanted to try it out and compare it to the ramen that we have had before. So I we sat down, dying of th eheat of walking to get here and I ordered the usual, especially when I saw that they had pork belly on the menu. Tonkatsu Ramen with pork belly. I was a little confused at first on whether the meat was already set in the ramen, but I was relieved when they asked me what protein I wanted. Overall, this ramen was pretty good. Of course I've had better before and, but for Madison? I thought this was pretty much a home run. I mean, think of the location and just having this I felt Madison was already more diverse and open to other cultures than a lot of cities in the south. And if you want to talk about politics... It is a red state... Maybe it was the University or what not, but I thought this town was pretty awesome. If you're craving for some ramen, this place should definitely be on your list. read more

Strings Ramen - Spicy Clams and Pork Tonkotsu (with no onions/scallions) - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I have tried a lot of ramens in different cities: Dallas, Columbus, LA, Cleveland, Toronto and Milwaukee. This place's ramen was a bit different for me. I got the level 1 hell ramen. Their ramen's broth had no meaty taste that I was craving for. The flavor was basically just spicy. I've gotten spicy ramens before and they always tasted spicy but still had the pork broth flavor. The toppings also were strange as well. I was expecting eggs, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and scallion. There were no eggs. Maybe this is hell ramen's traditional toppings. Additionally, I think it maybe better to use pork belly instead of ground pork. Also, the broth was not creamy at all. Lastly, the noodles were meh. Kinda disappointed. Granted I got this as takeout so it may be better eating inside. Will try different type of ramens next time. read more

Im gonna give it a 5/5! Pretty great ramen for Madison. Which by itself I would give probably an 8.5/10. The ambiance of the restaurant is great! It's so cozy and somehow makes me hungry just being there. The service is also nice. I only have been there a few times, having the same server, but they were very efficient and polite, while not being too vocal (ideal for a ramen place imo) Thanks for the good food! 9/10. Rating 5/5 because it's the closest to how I feel. read more

Fricken sweet, definitely on the cozy side.. but amazing food... so dang good tried a couple things and it was excellent- and my son and I love to hit ramen shops when we travel and this place stacks up well read more

Damn good ramen. The toppings are perfect, and they offer different level "spice bombs" for the more adventurous pallet. That way you can enjoy a good miso, but still get in the kick. read more

I absolutely love the place. The kuro buta belly is delicious, the prices are fair, and the manager is the sweetest lady. I order either the hell ramen, the tonkatsu ramen, or the kuro buta yaki soba. The prices are fair for the quality of the ingredients. The atmosphere is very comfortable. It tastes just as good ordered as take out. Very reliable tasty food. read more

Have gone a couple of times and it is consistently delicious. The pork belly is always a great choice. Love the regular and the pork ramen.

I decided to check this new place out before hitting Overture. They've got touches to try to feel authentic yet modern Japanese that if you've actually been to Japan you find a bit cute with how they're close but a bit off. These are more obvious to me, being Japanese, like their very strange spelling of tonkotsu and Hokkaido (in Japanese) above the counter when you walk in and the off-accent いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase), but that's being picky :) I had a bit of a wait at 6pm on a Tuesday but nothing crazy. It is a smaller place with maybe 10 tables total, seating 4-6 ppl each. I got the tonkotsu ramen with pork belly. The broth temperature was fine but could've been hotter (maybe the fattiness of tonkotsu broth cools off faster? I've noticed this at many other places too with tonkotsu). The ramen itself was much firmer than any other ramen I've had in Madison, in a good way, but I would go for a tad bit softer. The flavor of the broth itself was fine but nothing special for me. It is creamy as it's supposed to be; I probably just am not a tonkotsu person to be honest. The ajitsuke egg was good but cool, which felt a bit odd in hot ramen. For $14 I'm not sure it's quite worth it. I know for sure the royal milk tea (canned) is not worth it. There are much better Japanese royal milk tea brands, and the dedicated boba places down the street are solid (though royal milk tea is not quite the same as Taiwanese milk tea!). Their level 5 hell challenge is a bit intriguing though, but I didn't get the spicy sauce on the side to test out how big of a deal it really is. It seems to be a regular bowl of ramen with a lot of chili to be eaten in 20 min. read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I had the pork belly miso it was very tasty. I would recommend getting the dumplings, they are awesome. Best I've had so far. It's a little pricey if you add sides but enough to take home. The service was great. read more

Strings Ramen - Pork belly Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Definitely a great place for ramen and more. I have been to multiple ramen places in the Chicago area as well as the Milwaukee area and Strings Ramen definitely rates high. We tried different menu and, so far, they have all been great. Strings Ramen also has some Chicago locations but we have not yet tried those. They also are food allergy savvy (person in our party has nut and shellfish allergies). While the menu is not labeled for food allergies, the servers seem cognizant and don't diminish the importance of understanding the allergy. The restaurant is located close to campus and downtown. The décor is modern and clean lines. Some of the items we have tried: Edamame: served warm and nicely seasoned Vegetable Suyzi Goza: Delicious, seasoned just right We have had the Miso Ramen, Tonkutsu Ramen and Hell Ramen - vegetarian variations can also be had on these as well as different egg additions. The tofu in the vegetarian version is very tasty (not just diced tofu out of a package). I like the pork in the Hell Ramen since it's ground and absorbs the broth flavor better. Those who love pork belly will also be happy with some options. They also provide the option to add extra noodles for remaining soup for a small charge (they ask in the middle of your meal). Dessert is delicious as well, we typically have sasa dango which comes nicely wrapped in leaves and has a nice authentic flavor. The atmosphere is nice and casual. Laddles and chopsticks are at the table to optimize your intake of ramen. The menu has a lot of options so definitely not boring. read more

See all

Came on a weeknight and despite it being busy our server was attentive, and we got our food quickly. I got the Hell Ramen level 2 and it was superb! Incredibly flavorful but definitely packs a kick. The spice is a long lingering kind as expected with Szechuan chili (minus the numbing part). Highly recommend this place. I'll be back soon! read more

Strings Ramen - Hell Ramen level 2 - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

(3.5/5 stars) Ramen was good with a plethora of toppings (and spice levels!) **No vegan options on the menu but you could make do with a veggie ramen broth and rice Service was not so great - the waiters didn't seem like they were trained well and had to refer to someone else (manager maybe?) for all of the questions we had. Definitely don't recommend coming if you have 4+ people since the restaurant doesn't have much seating. read more

I came here once with a strong ramen craving and got the literal only vegetarian option (shoyu ramen). It was not great at all - it had no flavor beyond hot and salty. I had no intention of ever returning until a friend who loves this place wanted to go together and I reluctantly said yes. Thankfully I went in time for the lunch special and grabbed a bowl of the mixed vegetable curry, which may have been one of the most beautiful dishes I've ever had and super tasty to boot. We split the veg gyoza which were also pretty fantastic. 3 stars because the curry was lovely but as a vegetarian, I would never consider visiting save during the hours that the lunch menu is available. read more

Strings Ramen - Mixed vegetable curry. Just look at those colors! And the roasted garlic cloves. Ok! Work! - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was our second time here. Notably both times it has been snowing, so apparently that's a thing. I'm always a bit overwhelmed by the menu which results in me defaulting my order. I went with the Tonkatsu ramen with pork loin. It was the perfect thing to warm me up during the first snowfall of the season. We also started with gyoza and the Sriracha broccoli. Don't miss out on those! The broccoli is steamed and served in a sort of dashi broth, then covered in Sriracha mayo, bacon, and togarashi. It was insanely delicious. I want to stop back for some of their other dishes, like the cat rice and the soba noodles. The space is quaint and cozy. Small tables/booths and very attentive staff. The only oddity was that they were playing Christmas music already... It was November 12th... I didn't hate the music though!! read more

I've had ramen a handful of times and was never a big fan until I came here. I've only ever eaten their tonkatsu ramen with kuro buta, but it's so good. I come here whenever I crave ramen and have even convinced a friend to celebrate her birthday here. They were very accommodating with us bringing our own cake and even had the chef cut it up for us. I give Strings Ramen 5 stars for food and 4 stars for service. While the waitstaff are always attentive and courteous, they've failed all but one time to ask if anyone at the table has a shellfish allergy. I've been here 6 times so far. The one time they asked, the waitress told me they're required to ask this question every time. read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkatsu ramen with kuro buta - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Good place for dinner!! Very close to downtown and campus. We ordered level 1 hell ramen and the summer special Hitoshi king. read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Favorite ramen in Madison!! I usually get the hell ramen (you can get it vegetarian like me!) and usually go with the level 2. I will admit that even though I think I am pretty spice tolerant, I am too scared to try the ghost peppers after the person at the table next to me was nearly crying and couldn't eat more than a few bites of their level 3-- so start with a lower spice level!! Everything always tastes super fresh and is always so good either in restaurant or to-go. The turkey miso ramen is my boyfriend's choice order. It is usually pretty busy on Friday and Saturday nights so if you have more than a couple people expect to wait. Definitely a must try in Madison!! read more

Strings Ramen - Vegetarian Hell Ramen & Turkey Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

This ramen wasn't great. It was just okay. I ordered the kuro buta belly ramen. What I did like was the pork belly and the broth. The pork belly was soft and the broth was pretty standard, so no complaints there. However, I disliked the eggs and the noodles. The noodles weren't the typical chewy noodles you get with ramen. It was more like eating spaghetti noodles. The eggs also were weakly marinated and had hardly any flavor. The noodles and eggs were pretty disappointing, and I feel like those are two main ingredients of ramen dishes. I wouldn't recommend this place and I wouldn't go back. Disappointing, not authentic, and not worth the price at all. read more