Eating on State St Like a Local : 7 Foodie-Approved Restaurants to try now

Everyone wants to eat like a local, right? State Street is our city’s iconic downtown strip, filled with an (at times) overwhelming amount of restaurants to select from. Take a stroll during any time of the year and you’ll see students and locals assessing their options-and enjoying a diversity of food. Our Madison Eats food tour team has compiled together a list of 7 our favorite deliciously-affordable foodie-approved locally owned State Street restaurants to try this summer! 

1.Rising Sons 

612 State Street. 

https://www.hellorisingsons.com/

Three words – authentic, affordable, and aromatic. Rising Sons has been family operated since 2000, serving some of the tastiest Laos and Thai-inspired home-cooked meals. If you are looking for a bite of home (picture your favorite seat at the dinner table at your grandma’s place), this place never fails to disappoint, from the service down to the decor. Some of our favorites include the Panang Curry, Phó Lai, and Tom Yum Noodle. These dishes are best enjoyed on their own, no additional sauce or spice needed!

2. JustVeggiez

540 State Street

https://www.justveggiez.com/

Regardless of whether or not you are a vegan, JustVeggiez is a relatively-new must try. After spending 6+ years hosting pop-ups, takeout and delivery, James Bloodsaw Jr. settled down in order to serve his iconic “veganized” offerings. Think Wisconsin classics – cheese curds, chicken wings, and fried chicken meets samosas, gyro fries and collard-green burritos that are accessible to all types of eaters. We enjoyed their Shrimp Po-Boy, Collard greens and Chicken Sandwich!

Pro Tip: JustVeggiez is serving a 100% vegan Easter Brunch this year on April 20th from 11am-3pm!

3. Paul’s Pelmeni 

414 W Gilman St

https://paulspelmeni.com/

While not technically located on State Street, Paul’s has been a college-kid classic since… forever. They live by their motto – Do One Thing & Do It Well – and they definitely do it (aka Russian dumplings) very well! Here, they serve a very simple, straightforward and delicious menu of either beef, potato or mixed dumplings with “the works” (chili sauce, cilantro, curry powder, sour cream & more). Whether you are looking to end a great night-out with some heaty food or need an affordable place to grab lunch, Paul’s always proves reliable. Not to mention they have a hidden bar inside!

4. El Aquila Real

226 State Street

https://elaguilarealwi.com/

We all need an anchor that we can fall back onto when we’re craving a good taco, and El Aquila Real might become your new favorite State St location. While the interior faintly reflects the iconic Nick’s Diner, their menu offers a brand new, wide variety of Mexican classics including fajitas, tacos, nachos, and burritos. For a dinner (or late night meal) that’s perfectly affordable and comforting, we recommend the combination, where you can get a couple bits of everything, campechanos tacos, and cheesecake for dessert. 

Pro Tip: Every Tuesday, they serve $2 tacos!

5. 107 State 

107 State Street

https://107state.com/

6. Teddywedgers 

101 State St. 

https://www.teddywedgers.com/

For the ultimate bite of Wisconsin history and comfort, we love Teddywedgers’ pasties for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Originally opened in 1976, Teddy’s has been an iconic part of State St for students and locals looking to score the perfect bite to people-watch around the square, browse the farmer’s market, and share with friends. The team is constantly putting together ingredients for seasonal surprises, like their chickpea masala (a favorite of ours!) and fried chicken pasties.

7. Le C’s

411 State St. 

https://www.lecstea.com/

With Spring in the air, Le C’s has the perfect selection of mid-day sweet treats. As a patisserie and tea house, they offer a menu complete with delicious milk and fruit-based boba teas that pair best with one of their house-baked bread or buns. The owners describe their boba teas as “second-generation”, meaning they don’t replace key ingredients with artificial powders, making these drinks a standout choice for us. They are always prepared quickly, served with bright colors and taste incredible everytime we go!

Interested in other notable, relatively low-budget eats in Downtown Madison? Check out our socials for the latest updates and don’t forget to join us for a Food Tour!