🇺🇸 Madison Korean Food Recommendations 🤤

From a certified foodie with a big appetite — here’s my take on Madison’s Korean spots! 🥘✨ 1. 5 Star Korean BBQ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Only been once — it was freezing that day 🥶, and we walked a long way, so maybe that’s why it tasted extra comforting and warm… 😌❤️ (Pro tip: If you’re worried the food might be just okay, walk there in winter 🚶‍♀️❄️) I only tried the Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and Soondubu Jjigae (soft tofu stew) — both were delicious! 🍲🔥 I’ve heard their fried chicken is great too 🍗👌 2. Sol’s on the Square – Probably the most popular one! Every time winter comes, I crave their high-calorie warm foods 🍖❤️ (Basically I always want Korean food because it’s always cold here 😂). You might need to wait for a table on weekends! ⏳ Recommendations (in order of preference): 1️⃣ Kimchi Beef Fried Rice – I order this every time! Perfect blend of kimchi, beef, and rice. I love the kimchi flavor — best shared as a side dish. Eating it alone as a main might be too rich 🍛🤤 2️⃣ Short Ribs (Galbi) – Classic sweet, savory, oily Korean-style ribs. Sadly, I always struggle chewing the meat off the bone 🥲 3️⃣ Fried Chicken – Super crispy shell with tangy sweet sauce. Can be a bit heavy after a few pieces 🍯🍗 4️⃣ Soft Tofu Soup – Perfect with rice! 🍚🔥 5️⃣ Stews – I recommend the Pork Bone Stew (big meat chunks + potatoes, slightly sweet, not spicy). If you like spice, go for the classic Army Stew. Skip the beef one. 👎 Not a fan of their bibimbap or kimchi pancake — honestly, even their army stew is just okay. 3. SDG Dubu – Hehe right on State Street! 🏙️ I remember braiding a blizzard to eat here on Valentine’s Day ❄️❤️ Usually there’s a line. Recommendations: 1️⃣ Short Ribs – Better than Sol’s, mostly because it looks more appetizing 😅 2️⃣ …That’s it lol. Everything else is pretty average. Their Soondubu with ramen is worse than just making Shin Ramyun at home 🍜🙂 4. 🚗 Hidden Gem: The Bulgogi Taco Food Truck (in front of Memorial Library!) It’s silver and says "Bulgogi Taco" on it! I’ve only tried their fried rice — not amazing, but it’s close to campus and cheap! 🏫💸 If you know a place with better Korean fried chicken, LET ME KNOW! 👇🍗 #UWMadison #MadisonEats #KoreanFood #FoodReview #InternationalStudentLife