Hot-N-Spicy is one of my all time favorite restaurants which remains a cultural culinary gem!…read moreMadison, WI is beyond blessed to have Hot-N-Spicy which is the most authentic SouthEast Asian restaurant in the Madison area that shares the culture of countries like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam with the community through their incredible delicious food/cuisine! They truly live up to their name "Hot-N-Spicy". The cultural significance of the chili pepper often represents hospitality, warmth, and resilience! They bring all the spice and don't hold back! If you are not used to spice/spicy hot dishes, I suggest you start at level one spice and work your way up. They will ask you on dishes made with chili peppers what spice level you want 1-4 and can even make it hotter also! Hot-N-Spicy is genuinely unique because they offer Issan food dishes and flavors that is uniquely from the Issan/Isan Northeast region of Thailand that is heavily influenced by Lao and Cambodian flavors with the use of heat, fresh herbs, and use of fish sauce that brings different flavors different from other regions of Thailand. Hot-N-Spicy used to be located in the back of the Viet Hoa Market. It is now located next door from the market in a larger space in the same strip mall that allows for a more comfortable sit-down seating experience of a full restaurant. I have tried almost everything on their menu and have never been disappointed! For appetizers, I love their angel wings which are deboned chicken wings stuffed with chicken, carrot, and bean thread noodles fried to pure crispy perfection! Their most popular selling appetizers are their amazingly addictively delicious crab rangoons! Their chicken satay is also a must try! I also recommend trying their beef jerky which is so delicious, it often sells out quickly during the day! Their main entrees are so outstanding, it is hard to order one entree! My absolute favorite that I recommend is their steak Laab which is the best Laab I have had in Madison! It is heavily influenced with Isaan flavors/culture with minced beef, tripe, red onion, cilantro, mint, fresh lime juice, rice powder, fish sauce and scallions. I love the beef steak Laab because it is unlike anything you will ever taste with so much flavor from a combination of flavors with hint of sour with the lime, salty/umami/pungence from the fish sauce, balanced with refreshing different herbs, texture with the tripe, while the toasted rice powder gives this dish a tiny bit of crunch/texture that gives a subtle nutty flavor! This dish is a minced meat salad traditionally eaten with your hands and sticky rice/vegetables like cucumber. I also really enjoy their Pad Thai, Pho, and Crispy Noodle Lad Na! Your visit wouldn't be complete without quenching your thirst with either their Thai iced coffee/tea! Hot-N-Spicy remains at the top of my list for Thai/Lao cuisine! If you are looking for true authentic flavors/traditionally prepared dishes, definitely try Hot-N-Spicy!

I recently visited Hot N Spicy again, and it was just as good as I remembered! The Summer Rolls…read morewith pork nem nuong were incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. The combination of romaine, cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, mint, homemade daikon, and the crispy fried egg roll wrapper created the perfect balance of freshness and crunch. The nem nuong dipping sauce was so good that I ordered extra. I also tried the Panang Red Curry, and it was outstanding. The curry was rich, creamy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor. I ordered level 1 spice, and it was the perfect amount of heat without overwhelming the dish. The homemade curry paste, coconut milk, basil, peppers, and jasmine rice came together beautifully. It's also been great to see this local business grow. What started as a takeout spot inside Viet Hoa Market has expanded into a larger space on Monona Drive, and it's easy to see why. The food is consistently delicious, the portions are generous, and the new location offers plenty of seating. If you're craving fresh spring rolls, flavorful curry, or simply a great meal, Hot N Spicy is absolutely worth a visit. Added bonus the service was AMAZING!!!

I visited Luang Prabang, a Lao-Thai cart on Library Mall, a few times earlier this year. They had a…read moreregular menu that included curries, noodles, and salads, but also a rotating daily menu, all at very affordable prices. The people working at the cart were really nice and accommodating, and were happy to modify any dish they could for ingredients that you can't or don't eat. The first thing I tried was the squash curry, which was a really generous portion size for $7, consisting of rice topped with a rich coconut milk-based curry filled with chicken, kabocha, and zucchini. It was really filling and tasty. But the real winner from the cart after a few visits was the avocado spring roll, which was $3.50 and the size of a burrito. It was basically a giant fresh roll filled with avocado, lettuce, cabbage, mint, rice noodles, cucumber, carrot, and peanut sauce. We got the medium spicy sauce, and it had a fantastic kick to it. Still can't believe something so large was only a few dollars, as it was such a great deal. Definitely worth trying this cart if you're looking for something to eat on campus.

Spring rolls the size of a full grown guinea pig!…read more Ask for it spicy. If that not enough, you can choose from their all encompassing menu of curry, papaya salad, or pad Thai! I love seeing the sweet owner every time I visit.

LOVE it -this is hands down the most authentic Thai food I've tried in the state. The dishes are…read morevery unique, and I couldn't find many of them at other Thai restaurants. Everything we tried was delicious and full of flavor. The service was also very good--the lady came back to check on us, which we really appreciated. The only downside was that the table for two was very small, and we barely had enough space for our dishes. That said, we would definitely come back the next time we're in town.

Love this place, I tried the drunken noodles that was served on a beautiful white rice bowl…read more The dried spring rolls were a great started as I waited for my main entree, it helped me wait for the main food since I was starving! The food goes great with jasmine green tea for a chilly night and looking to get a little caffeine bump. My friend's pineapple rice looked great too. Portions are a good size, I had leftovers even though I was so hungry. Definitely ample portion for one person and can potentially share with two persons. Small and cute. I found this place to buys around dinner time. Parking is street neighborhood parking that was not hard to find a spot for. I would definitely come back!

Stopped by on a Friday night with friends. Parking was easy since this place is located in a plaza…read more Ordering was also quick and easy, since you just go down the line and pick toppings. The only hard part was choosing which toppings to get since there was such a big variety to choose from. I got a small poke bowl with half sushi rice and half spring mix, 1 scoop spicy tuna, mango, scallions, imitation crab, jalapeno, red onions, sesame seeds, chili powder, spicy mayo, and poke sauce. It was decently spicy, and the perfect portion for someone who can't usually finish a bigger poke bowl like myself. I need more shops in California to offer smaller bowls like this lol. Everything tasted fresh and the mango was properly ripe, plus it was very affordable. We took our food to go, but there was also a little bit of seating inside for anyone who wanted to stay and eat. Definitely recommend!

Great little spot! This is my best friend's go to, so she took me here for a casual bite while I…read morewas in town visiting. Portion size was pretty standard, ingredients seemed fresh, and the bowl tasted good. I've had better, but I've certainly had worse too! Prices were pretty standard too. My friend gets a veg bowl there and appreciates the option. A good, quick casual poke spot!

This is a quaint little place that has been well appointed in Thai fashion…read more This local dig is a must try when in the Fair Oaks neighborhood! Please remember it's CASH ONLY! This, I believe, helps to keep their prices very reasonable! It's excellent service but it also appears family ran, so don't be surprised if you have to wait a bit for some attention if it's busy. The jasmine tea was a perfect blend of sweet floral that came through on the nose and mouth. Egg roll was fried to perfection accompanied by an amazing Thai ginger sauce with a bit of heat that was appreciated. Chang beer was recommended and served with a frosty glass. It was a champagne light beer that had great taste. Pad se ew was cooked perfectly and served with a creamy soy sauce that had a hint of sesame/peanut flavor coming through. Veggies were al dente (yum) and chicken was tender.

Hearty portions! We two noodle ordered via UberEats and the quality and quantity were excellent,…read morealthough the Drunken Noodles were too spicy for me! I wasn't able to see where adjust the spiciness level on the UberEats app, but I'm sure if you are in person in the restaurant you could ask to downgrade the spice level, if needed. The Pad See Ew could have used more vegetables. I'd added the $3 veg upgrade, but it wasn't enough. Tasted great though!

I took two friends here to celebrate their birthdays. One of whom loves their stuffed chicken…read morewings. I tried the lettuce wrap and it was delicious and there was enough food to bring home leftovers. We each ordered drinks and all were superb. Service was great and we will definitely return!

Great food. I love their soup and the portion sizes of their dishes are always appreciatedread more

The sausage was pretty good and the dipping sauce made it even better. The sticky rice was pretty…read moregood too but I wish there was more sausage for the amount of rice since the portions for rice were generous while the sausage was not as much.

Pork belly: is solid and definitely edible, but not too juicy and I think relies too heavily on the…read moredipping sauce they provide. Tri-color drink: the coconut milk and sago was great at first, but too much ice and those worm-like things made the last half the drink unenjoyable.

I stopped to give them a try at lunch. I figured a Jamaican turnover pocket would be quick and…read moredelicious. To my shock, I was told that they make the pockets to order and it will be atleast 30mins. I don't have time to wait on workday for lunch. They lost a customer. Maybe, plan and prepare for a lunch crowd so they can be served quickly. I hope y'all make it. Very shaky business model.

So glad to welcome this restaurant to our neighborhood. Great vibes, friendly folks, and yummy…read moreJamaican goodness. Tofu curry is flavorful and tender. The plantains were perfection - very tender and served piping hot.