Madtown Eats | Is the Izakaya on State St. Worth It? 🤔

I’ve been to Izakaya Kuroyama three times — here’s my honest take: 1️⃣ First visit – Just opened, and I was jet-lagged after returning from China. Thrilled to find a spot open until 2 AM! Ramen 🍜: Surprisingly delicious — maybe even better than Strings Ramen! Yakitori: Good… but the beef tongue was served cold 😬 Overall, a strong first impression. I left already wanting to come back. 2️⃣ Second visit – Ordered ramen and more yakitori. Ramen portion seemed smaller and less flavorful than before. Yakitori skewers were tasty but reallly small 📏 Still decent… so I gave it another shot. 3️⃣ Third visit – Tried takoyaki, ramen, unagi bento, and bacon-wrapped skewers. Takoyaki: Very doughy, not great 🐙 Unagi Bento: Small portion, mediocre taste — nowhere near as good as Sushi Express 😒 Service was also lacking this time ❌ 📉 My experience went downhill each time. Prices aren’t cheap — you’re mostly paying for the vibe 🏮🍶 There’s often a line… but unless you really love their ramen or certain skewers, I wouldn’t wait for it. 📍Izakaya Kuroyama #Madison #MadisonEats #Izakaya #JapaneseFood #FoodReview #MadisonWI