A taste of Mexico
La Hacienda serves the best Mexican entrees in Madison, offering the full spectrum of Mexican foods, from fantastic enchiladas with mol?? sauce to large 'famous' burritos.
All entrees come with excellent refried beans and Spanish rice. The steak fajitas are typically fantastic, well-seasoned and obviously marinated, and many vegetarians can't seem to say enough about the veggie fajitas. The nachos are one of the best deals in town, heaping massive amounts of beans, cheese, meat and large avocado slices on a huge plate of homemade tortilla chips. Only those with a muy, muy grande appetite will be able to get through these nachos alone.
Open until 4 a.m. on the weekends, the Hacienda always attracts post-bar crowds from the Klinic across the street. Go get some late-night nachos to be assured that the avocado stains on your shirt are of the highest quality.
El Pastor is the most authentic taqueria in Madison. Located close to the Beltline, El Pastor is within walking distance from campus, but a full meal might necessitate a cab ride home. Should you be visiting the nearby St. Vincent de Paul Pick 'n' Save, this is the place to energize beforehand.
The house specialty is the Taco Loco, a truly crazy mixture of spicy shredded meats topped with Mexican cheese. Everything on the menu comes with chips and the most unique (in a good way) salsa in Madison. Entrees come with very good beans and rice.
Qdoba is the hot place for Mexican-style fast food. Anyone familiar with the fare at the national chain of Chipolte restaurants will know what to expect at this fledgling chain. Although Qdoba offers various salads and soups, the large crowds around bar time are there for either the burritos or the nachos.
All of Qdoba's burritos come with nice steamed rice, flavored with cilantro. Both black and pinto beans are available and, while not disappointing, the better option is
the grilled peppers and onions that replace the beans in the fajita burritos. The chicken and
beef are always decent, but never breathtaking. Fresh salsa comes in a number of varieties, but the 'hot' is not particularly hot, and the poblano pesto salsa is unimpressive.
Casa de Lara's food is somewhere between Chi-Chi's and La Hacienda's. Centrally located on downtown State Street, the upstairs dining room affords a beautiful view of Bop and Pizzeria Uno. With that and all the Mexican-type stuff on the stucco walls, there's no shortage of things to look at. Unfortunately, Casa de Lara is a relatively pedestrian restaurant.
The complementary salsa is good, but nothing exciting. The coolest part about the chip basket is the spicy slices of carrots that accompany the chips. They have a flavor reminiscent of a hot giardener, but somehow different'sensational.
The chile con queso bowl is a fantastic appetizer, kind of like a cheesy soup. Be sure to eat it before it starts to congeal; you will have five to seven minutes to complete this mission.
Other than that, there's not much to write home about. The fajitas are similar to the ones found at chain eateries across the country. You're better off getting a steak quesadilla from Taco Bell.
Entrees are priced at the $10 level, but that's where the similarities to La Hacienda end. The rice and beans are bland, and the tamales are okay, but nothing to rave about.
Although not without its strengths, Casa de Lara is only an option for the lazy. Real Mexican food is to be found on Park Street. Anyone who's had a meal at La Hacienda can confirm that it's definitely worth the trip.
A taste of Japan
You've probably passed Chinmi Restaurant before. You know, that little place near Four Star Video Heaven with all the plastic food in the window. It's easy to miss, especially with all the larger, more ostentatious sushi restaurants around.
In fact, that's Chinmi's big advantage, most people miss it, so its quiet, not too crowded and you don't have to wait very long. Unfortunately, Chinmi is no diamond in the rough. Some of the dishes are a little pricier than at nearby restaurants, and the food is only adequate'neither exceptionally bad nor very good. The decor is plain, simple and forgettable. Go to Chinmi if you want sushi and the wait is too long elsewhere, or if you just want to try a new place.
Wasabi is not open on Mondays. The wait to get a table can be long. They could probably offer more varieties of plum wine. Other than that, Wasabi is pretty good. The miso is briny, the teriyaki and the hibachi are both delicious, and of course, the sushi is excellent. The seafood tastes surprisingly good, considering that Madison is about a thousand miles away from any ocean.
The eel and the scallops are especially good, as are old standbys like salmon and tuna. The ume and matsu are the best way to get the most sushi and sashimi at the lowest price. If you are feeling especially hungry, try the Bento Box, a cornucopia of flavors and textures. Try not to get carried away, as you can easily spend a good deal of money here if you aren't careful.
Not surprisingly, Tokyo Express looks a lot like the Milan's Subs that filled the space before it, with the addition of some tasteful Japanese paintings and highback chairs. The radio that blared Z104 until this summer now fills the restaurant with gentle Oriental tunes.
Sushi options here are limited to whatever the chefs whip up and package during downtime, usually a variety of tuna, salmon, shellfish and vegetable rolls which are all fine, but nothing special. Tokyo Express has cleverly adapted the former cheesesteak grill to accommodate tempura production, although the batter tends to be on the thick side. The good news is that it's all fast and cheap (around $5), and certainly a more interesting lunch option than the usual purveyors of chicken tenders.
Tucked discreetly into the lobby of a State Street office building, Ton-Ton is a powerhouse of a Japanese restaurant. Although not as visible or as popular as Wasabi, Ton-Ton's fresh sushi is just as good, if not better. The usual roundup of Japanese fare is available, and done very well.
The best deals at Ton-Ton are the combination platters, which bring together delicate seafood and vegetable tempura with expertly marinated teriyaki steak, with a salad and miso soup on the side. Those with a taste for the dramatic will enjoy the Shabu-Shabu, prepared tableside. Top off the evening with some warm sake or a Singapore Sling, and you've got a meal that will hold its own against any other Japanese restaurant in the city.
Entering an already saturated restaurant market on State Street is a difficult task to be sure, but Takara has already set itself apart as the most ambitiously decorated of the bunch. Complete with floor seating (in addition to the standard chair and tables, sushi bar seating and hibachi grill seating), a meditative fountain, and various other authentic-looking accessories, the atmosphere is set for campus' only hibachi grill. Even the waitstaff and chefs wear traditional outfits.
The sushi bar is fully staffed on busy nights, ensuring that your sushi will get to you promptly. The hibachi chefs possess the typical collected pizazz that has come to be expected of their profession. The waitstaff is friendly and quite knowledgeable.
All this attention to detail and staff has perhaps left Takara a bit at a disadvantage to its competitors, however, as the sushi seems a bit overpriced. Its sushi equal/better can be found elsewhere downtown for less. However, the thrill of hibachi dining has finally arrived on the Isthmus, and its about time.
