Madison Eats | Is This State Street Izakaya Open Until Late Worth It?

I’ve been to this place three times—here are my thoughts… The first time was right after they opened. I had just returned from China and was still jet-lagged, so seeing a spot open until 2 AM made me so happy! 🥳 I ordered ramen, eggplant, and some yakitori. The ramen was surprisingly delicious—maybe even a bit better than Ramen Strings? 😲 But the beef tongue skewer was served cold… 😅 Overall, the flavors were solid, and I actually found myself craving it again. The second time, I got more yakitori and another bowl of ramen. The ramen portion felt smaller though, and it wasn’t as amazing as the first time. The yakitori servings were pretty tiny too. Still decent, so I gave it another shot. Third visit: I tried takoyaki, ramen, an unagi don (eel rice bowl), and a bacon-wrapped skewer. The takoyaki was mediocre—very doughy. The unagi don… both the portion and taste were honestly disappointing 😒. Not even close to Sushi Express. Service wasn’t great this time either. Overall, my experience went from pretty good to… not so good. Prices aren’t exactly cheap either—maybe you’re just paying for the vibe? 🍶 It often has a long wait. Unless you really love certain yakitori items or want to try their ramen, I’m not sure it’s worth lining up for. 📍Izakaya Kuroyama #100PlacesToTry #UWMADISON #MadisonWI #CampusEats #MadisonFood #WisconsinEats #FoodReview #IzakayaVibes