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    Tavernakaya

    3.7 (322 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

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    TAVERNAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Tavernakaya

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    Adrianna D.

    Our server, Sarah, was very nice and had quick, great service and food came quickly and was good! Had a mistake on the check on a team member reached out to help - something a lot of places would not do!

    Curry CHICKEN
    Annaliese F.

    The service was speedy and friendly, the sushi and gyoza were very good, but the main dishes were a bit bland. Still a nice casual spot.

    Chicken Fried Rice
    Chrissy R.

    Craving Asian food and something super savory after a few days of cheese heavy rich dishes, we stumbled on this place by accident. Right by the capital and super reasonably priced! Love all the veggie / tofu options. Got smoked tofu udon and chicken fried rice.

    The OG pork bun
    Anthony O.

    I found this place on accident. I've been in Madison for a week and found it on my last night here. So originally I thought Wisconsin is known for cheese. There is no way you will find good sushi in Wisconsin. I was wrong. This place is amazing and will forever be onu go to list inadison.yhe server was a real sweetheart. The place has great energy. Nice bar and even better food. Prices were average for sushi.

    Erik R.

    The service here was super good. Surprisingly, plenty of well trained service staff. Great tap beer prices too (eg Sapporo and Spotted cow @$5)! They also have a happy hour food menu before 6pm. I enjoyed the bao bun apps and pink dragon roll. I also had general tsao chicken which was good but could use more spice. Overall, would recommend for reasonable price dining in central Madison.

    My friend and I had the mojo mojito and the spring blossom
    Washieka T.

    My friend and I really loved how quickly the food came even though it was packed. I also liked how well the food was I had the broth less ramen and it was amazing. We also had a mock tail each and that hit the spot without needing any alcohol which was surprising but great. It was crowded but not too loud and compliments to the chef can't wait to go back

    Chass C.

    Ever had a meal that looked like a masterpiece but tasted like a disappointment? That was my experience here. The Japanese curry was bland, the sushi wasn't bad but wasn't good either, and the veggie spring rolls were just okay. The only real win was the drink--everything else was underwhelming. Definitely disappointing. If you are on the square trust me there are better places to try. The service was great and the ambiance is great especially being on the square.

    Green Tea Cheesecake
    Isabella K.

    One of my new favorite restaurants in Madison! Everything we ordered was fantastic. The tempura cheese curds were such a delight. They were light and cheesy and that sauce it came with was delicious -- just a little bit of heat to balance out the rich dairy. The chicken udon was exactly what you'd expect, but really yummy and satisfying nonetheless. The California poke bowl was absolutely exceptional. Next time I come to Tavernakaya, I'll be getting that. It felt so fresh. The green tea cheesecake took me by surprise. Those were two flavors that blended together spectacularly. It was the perfect end to our meal. We visited Tavernakaya on a Saturday evening and it was super busy. I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time. Plan on getting here a bit early to find parking as well. The restaurant itself was nice -- modern without being sterile. The tables seem a little close together, so that might be something to keep in mind for people with mobility aids. I'll definitely be returning here in the future and recommending it people in the meantime!

    Outside
    Jenni H.

    What a delicious sushi spot living a stones throw away from the Wisconsin State Capitol. Tavernakaya hit the spot for our party of six. While we didn't partake this time, this Madison gem boasts a happy hour (M-F,430-6PM) with 1/2 priced drinks and $5 snacks. ($5 sushi? Yes way!) The house salad was good, but huge. We also enjoyed the edamame, the beef buns and pork goyza. (Though the tempura cheese curds looked fab!) We got a ton of sushi-- ranging from $8-22. They all hit the spot! The drink menu at Tavernakaya really differs from other Asian spots I've frequented. The menu boasted a few saki flight options and a handful of Asian beers I hadn't had before. The ambiance was sleek and quiet. The staff was prompt. Pricing didn't seem outrageous. Our food came out correct and fresh. Tavernakaya is a great option in the heart of Madison. Pop in for Happy Hour!

    Asahi beer
    Molly C.

    Great service! Katyanna answered all our questions and made helpful suggestions. Happy we stopped here tonight. Great music in the background at the perfect volume. Chill vibes. Food is always solid and doesn't disappoint. Loved it all!

    Popcorn chicken
    Jessica M.

    Tavernakaya is across the street from the State Capitol. Our group of 14 reserved a table a few days in advance for a Saturday lunch. For our party size, we had to provide credit card information to accommodate for a no show fee of $10 per person. They have a few tables at the front of the window which would put the State Capitol in direct view of a meal. Tavernakaya had planned for our party to be seated with Capitol views, however those tables are taller and not ideal for our party because of the young children. Instead, they accommodated and combined a few standard height tables towards the back of the restaurant. We tried several items from the menu: popcorn chicken, veggie tempura sushi roll, spicy TK miso ramen, TK tonkotsu ramen, sautéed udon with shrimp, and Japanese curry with pork. Overall, the food is a blend of multiple Asian countries without a very defining flavor profile. The popcorn chicken was a tad dry and the ramen did not arrive with hot broth. Although that is ideal for the young children in our party, I can't say the same for the adults. The pork belly was also extremely fatty. Understandably, it is pork belly and there should be fat but the fat should not be the majority. The veggie tempura sushi roll, sautéed udon, and Japanese curry were more redeeming and enjoyable. The staff was accommodating, friendly, and efficient. The location is convenient and parking was extremely easy, possibly because the farmers' market was moved to an indoor space for the winter.

    OG Pork Buns
    Ed H.

    Came here with reservations on a Friday night before a show. Table was ready right when we arrived. We liked the decor, it seemed fairly clean, open and modern. A bit buzzing but not crazy loud. Started with the OG pork buns. First thing we noticed is the large white pork chunks. Decent size but no braising or char and not appealing. Kind of cadaverous in appearance. Ok flavor but would have been much better with some braising on the pork. Had the Tonkotsu ramen. Another very pale looking dish with the white noodles, whiteish pork and very light colored broth. Essentially the same pork as in the pork buns. Decent sized but again no braise. The lady said maybe they boil the pork and idk it's possible. With a piece of nori, half an egg and scallions the toppings seemed a bit skimpy but it's like they tried to make up for that with a pile of bamboo shoots. Noodles didn't have much flavor. The broth was very light and not a deep and complex tonkotsu broth. So very meh. The cold mug of Sapporo hit the spot. Nice vibe and the server was attentive. Wouldn't go back for Ramen or pork buns however.

    OG Pork Buns
    Aurora A.

    What a great spot on the square! I've eaten here many times over the past couple years. My favorite menu item remains the bacon fried rice. So savory and plenty of it! I've always received great service when dining here. I love the option to sit indoors or outdoors and that the big garage doors open to let the breeze in on a summer day. This spot is one of the best on the square for a meal!!

    Tempura Cheese Curds

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    10 days ago

    Furious Surly IPA was great, Ramen was outstanding. Service by all from the door to the server were awesome

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    8 months ago

    My son took me here for a late lunch. The service is slow and the food is so-so. The portion is huge though. The interior looks nice.

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    11 months ago

    Menu is uninspired- just another Asian fusion place with the usual items on the menu. Also. Don't appreciate a 3% admin fee in checks?!?!

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    Tavernakaya Reviews in Other Languages

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    Sake Sushi

    Sake Sushi

    4.1(64 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    All you can eat
    Large group friendly

    Fabulous. Everything fresh, plentiful and tasty. So many things on the AYCE menu. Tons of options…read more Soups salads appetizers, ramen, teriyaki oh yeah and SUSHI. Like a billion different rolls all of them are GREAT. The Philly roll is a standout. As was the Madison roll. The price was very reasonable. Great service too. Will return

    Was hungry after touring 2 Frank Lloyd Wright sites and felt like sushi so I was happy I had…read morebookmarked Sake Sushi. Located on the West side of Madison, and I was already half way there. The neighborhood is nice and Sake Sushi is located in a small plaza, however I almost missed it since it is located on the side of the plaza and was not visible from the street. Inside I found an interesting mix of decor, it seems like a traditional Asian restaurant with white linen tableclothes and also some very modern touches including neon strip lighting along the ceiling and a variety of light fixtures. Overall a bit of a mishmash that would be better if they picked one style and stayed with it. I got there in the late afternoon so the place was empty at first, I was seated and given the menu which allows you to fill out what you want. The menu is fairly similar to other AYCE sushi places I have been at. Of note is that at dinner you can order up to 15 pieces of sashimi without an extra charge. I ordered a nice selection of sashimi, some sushi, a couple of different maki rolls, the salmon skin salad and the seafood soup. Interestingly the sashimi and sushi came out first, then the maki rolls, then the soup and salad. The sashimi was very good, fresh with nice sized pieces; the nigiri sushi had a nice portion of seafood to rice. I was a bit disappointed with the seafood soup, just a bit under seasoned and too much bean sprouts. The salmon skin salad was excellent with nicely roasted smoked salmon skin mixed with a bit of eel sauce, delicious, crunchy and one of my favorites that you don't see everywhere. I also enjoyed the scallops sashimi, large fresh raw scallops with a nice delicate flavor and texture. The maki rolls were good as well, nicely sized with plenty of filling. I did really enjoy the Super Lobster Roll with shrimp tempura, cucumbers, avocado then topped with lobster salad; the lobster salad was a nice treat, although I think it was made with lagostino lobsters it was still tasty. I also liked their version of spider roll, the soft shell crab was crispy and flavorful. I enjoyed my meal at Sake Sushi, dinner was $30 for all you can eat. The sushi and sashimi were very good, of course not quite the same quality as the best sushi bars but pretty close. Service was good and there are plenty of choices, including noodle dishes, fried rice, hibachi and tempura. The decor is a bit of a miss, but nothing that will keep you from enjoying your meal. Well worth a try if you are hungry and feel like some sushi and Japanese food.

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    Nori Sushi & Grill

    Nori Sushi & Grill

    4.3(31 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Quite possibly not just the worst sushi, but the worst food I've ever had in my life! The young…read morewoman in front was friendly and seemed nice, but had zero knowledge about the food. She called the sushi "chef" (that's a stretch in this case!) several times to answer questions. I asked if there were any spicy rolls, and he suggested a few, but they all contained imitation crab, which I find unappetizing. I finally settled on a Spicy Salmon Roll and a Soft Shell Crab Roll. I also ordered a Miso Soup. The Miso Soup arrived first, and it was a very watered-down version of Miso Soup with no umami. I stopped and pushed it aside after a couple of spoonfuls. The rolls arrived, and I was about to ask for wasabi and pickled ginger when I noticed these little pre-packaged plastic bags of wasabi and pickled ginger. I should have left then . . . a big mistake to stay. I started on the Spicy Salmon Roll. One bite and I knew I wouldn't enjoy it. I've never tasted such a mediocre take on sushi rolls. I ate two pieces because I was hungry, but it was all I could stomach. I looked at the Soft Shell Crab Roll and noticed that it contained imitation crab. I called the young woman over, and of course, she went and got the "chef". I told him that I didn't recall seeing imitation crab in the description of the roll on the menu. He said he'd make me a fresh batch without the imitation crab. The replacement roll came, and there were little red bits of something sprinkled on top of each slice. I called the young woman over and asked her what it was. She insisted that it was tobiko. Honey, I'm from California, and I know tobiko when I see it. This ain't tobiko. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Again, another big mistake. I took a bite and quickly spat it out because my chest suddenly felt constricted. I started coughing, and tears began streaming down my face. My mouth felt like there had been a chemical explosion, and I had trouble breathing. I called the girl over again and, with a raspy voice, asked her what was in the roll. Of course, she called the "chef", and instead of answering my question, he told me he would refund me for the roll. My curiosity got the better of me. I was pretty certain it was the little red bits of "tobiko" that caused the reaction I had, so I scraped them off the next roll and removed the piece of soft shell crab, ate it, and it was fine. I braved myself and took a bite of the roll with the "tobiko", and had the same reaction as before. That was it. I'd had enough of this wannabe sushi joint. I gathered my things, told the young woman this was the worst food I've ever had, and left. That was such a frightening experience. The pain in my chest subsided after an hour or so, but my voice remained raspy for the rest of the day. I will never go back and wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. How this place garnered 4.4 stars is beyond me. Giving it 1 star is being overly generous!

    Delicious sushi for a good price, and located close to my home. Perfect for a lunch date or take…read moreout at home! My husband and I stopped in a few months ago, and we enjoyed it so much that we did take out for New Year's Eve. We chose Tree City, Yummy, Dragon, and Mini Volcano rolls. Don't skip out on this absolute gem!

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    Nori Sushi & Grill - Crab Roll

    Crab Roll

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    Outside look

    Tavernakaya - japanese - Updated May 2026

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