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The Best Ramen Shops in Madison

Posted on September 11, 2025   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas

A bowl of ramen noodles and a plate of dumplings on a table.

The noodles at Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar are made in-house, with several vegetarian and gluten-free options. (Photo courtesy of Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar)

Fall is here, and along with the flannel shirts and maple lattes comes an uptick in colds and other seasonal illnesses. Everybody has their favorite home remedies, but sometimes it’s our favorite comfort food and drinks that give us as much emotional support as medical.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians about the best things to drink and eat in Madison when you’re under the weather.

City Cast

Sick? These Are the Best Feel-Better Foods in Madison

00:00:00

For me, there’s nothing like a big steaming bowl of ramen to chase away the cold-weather blues. Here are some of Madison’s best ramen spots.

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Check them out on Overlook Maps!

The Madison outpost of this celebrated Chicago ramen chain features ramen from different regions of Japan and China. If you’re looking for a shock to the system, try the ultra-spicy Monster Hell Ramen Challenge, where you get a $50 gift certificate and a T-shirt if you can finish the bowl in 20 minutes.

This popular Middleton spot aims to be inviting to all members of the family, with handmade noodles and vegan and gluten-free ramen for diners with dietary needs.

This east side restaurant on Cottage Grove Road is committed to authentic Japanese ramen, but does through in some fun twists, including a house special that appeals to American’s love of fried food by combining pork broth and fried chicken.

This State Street bar evokes the vibe and the flavors of a late-night izakaya bar in Japan. The ramen offerings on their menu include tonkotsu ramen and spicy sapporo miso ramen.

One of the more affordable options for good ramen in Madison, this Park Street restaurant offers 12 different kinds of ramen dishes, including sesame ramen, seafood ramen, and spicy gyunika ramen.

I’ve always enjoyed sitting outside at this Willy Street spot and enjoying cocktails and apps, but their extensive ramen menu includes several vegetarian and gluten-free options, with all the noodles made in-house.

This trendy restaurant on the Capitol Square casts its net wide with sushi, poke bowls and dumplings, but also has a solid ramen menu available for both lunch and dinner.

This elegant Monroe Street restaurant leans much more heavily on sushi than ramen, but has a few solid ramen options on its menu.

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