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    Ohio Tavern

    4.2 (100 reviews)
    ModerateDive Bars, Tacos, Karaoke
    Open 4:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Ohio Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    OHIO TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Divey
    Hipster
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Ohio Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Courtney T.

    I can't stop thinking about the taco I had last week. The Bo Gia deserves much attention. With pickled relish, this pork taco is the perfect combination of smoky, spicy- goodness - topped with crema of course! I'm so obsessed. You can't beat the delicious $8 margs either! @theohiotavern will always have a special place on our Madison Must lists. This dive bar just got a makeover and she's looking cute. Make sure to bring cash for this cash only gem. I will also always love the PBR taco which is now called the bud light- And the New guy.

    Hours as of 12/17/23
    Lauren E.

    We had carryout tacos and they were amazing! Service was friendly and quick! I returned about a week or two later for their Brunch hot dogs and bloody Mary's only to discover they had new hours and were NOT OPEN! I was so disappointed! They do not have a phone, so I had no way to verify before heading out there.

    House Street Corn
    Hanna G.

    Finally had a chance to check this place out- it has with very laid back vibes, seat yourself and order at the bar. It was quite crowded on a Tuesday at 6 PM- all spots outside were taken, but we were lucky enough to snag the last table inside. Once we ordered, it took about 30 minutes for the food to arrive, but it was worth the wait. I ordered a margarita ($8), it was tart and strong- but I enjoy a good lime margarita and could have had a few more. Then I got the house street corn, it was pretty good! The toppings were tasty and mixed well together. This one was pretty mellow and not spicy. I got 3 tacos and they were HUGE, double tortillas and stuffed to the brim- I was soooo full from these. I tried the Scorcher (warning, it was spicy lol) The Travelling Matt - DELICIOUS The Old Boy - my personal fave All tacos were super unique and had tons of flavors- I would definitely come by again to try more. I got all this for $26 and I left quite happy.

    Hannah C.

    what a gem!!! honestly coming here gave me a bit of stress because the name of the place isnt immediately obvious but tbh if u see a bunch of hipsters / bikers chilling on a crowded patio/bar you're in the right place also ordering was difficult during rush hour -- you order at the bar no one really comes to get your order i think that being said. their margs on tap are incredible !! and it was dinner rush so our food took quitw some time but let me tell you!! all of the impatience/anger in my body completely disappeared when i took that first bite. the tacos truly are so so good especially the steak/beef ones. i feel like i truly saw the light/tasted tacos w flavor combos ive never hit before 10/10 i would like to come back again soon ohio tavern

    Nicole K.

    I drove past this bar and had to stop, there is street parking but if you like Street tacos this is the place. The seating is very limited but you have to check it out, the menu is just tacos but oh my goodness you will love it

    Tacos
    Sydney R.

    YUMMMM. Ohio Tavern is such a wonderful hidden gem in an amazing neighborhood. My husband got a table outside which was first come first serve. We had to take turns going inside to order which wasn't a big deal. We both had a couple of tap beers and ordered tacos. I was so pleasantly surprised with the large variety and selection of tacos. We both loved all of our tacos and could have ordered two more orders because they were so dang good. This bar is CASH ONLY. They do have an atm inside. To our surprise they also had bingo at 7pm on Wednesday which was super fun. You had to pay for the cards after a couple of free games. We will be back!!!

    Robyn L.

    Ohio tavern is one of Madison's best kept secrets for amazing tacos! They are packed full of flavor- my personal favorite is the PBR. The street corn is amazing too- a must try! They also have really unique hot sauces on each table as well. Tacos and drinks are great at Ohio tavern. Other things to know (why it's not 5 stars for me): - cash only - it is a pretty small establishment so getting a table can be challenging. There have been multiple times I've gone in and waited and left because it was unlikely anything would open up -they have live music often, which is cool and I usually love when places support local artists; however, the size of the establishment makes this tricky- taking away table space and making it really tricky to have a conversation Overall I recommend Ohio tavern- you will not be disappointed with the tacos. You might just have to try a few times before getting a table there. I have been more successful later in the evenings 9pm or so on weeknights.

    Tacos
    Mag L.

    My dad and I came here for a late dinner, and it was such a delicious stop! I had heard good things about the tacos, and they didn't disappoint. My dad and I each ordered three, and they were huge and filling. I would recommend any of the tacos honestly. They were all flavor bombs. For how hefty they are, I think the price is well worth it. I would 100% return! Service was great as well.

    the outside of the restaurant
    Geoffrey P.

    Oysters, beers, good music, and an excellent atmosphere. I spotted the vintage Blatz neon sign and knew I had to check this place out. Happy to report it is awesome.

    Ericka B.

    Went here on a Saturday for dinner. The place was pretty busy so we ended up sitting at the bar. The bartender was very helpful in explaining the spice levels of the tacos and gave some great recommendations. We ended up getting the special taco, which was beef heart and pineapple, the old boy, travelin' matt, scorcher, and lenny special. The travelin matt was the favorite out of the first three as it had a great balance of how the components played together. The taco had a nice spice that the queso cut and complemented. The brisket provided a comforting and dynamic base. And the chow chow gave a great crispness. The scorcher was definitely spicy and messy. It was very helpful that they gave a spoon with it to scoop up everything that fell out as there is a single corn tortilla with the tacos. The lenny special is the vegan option on the menu and I was quite impressed. It was also the less messy of the last two. It really had a great flavor, but I wanted a little extra spice, so I added some of the homemade hot sauce. The poblano plantain and the 3 pepper were our favorites. The price point of $4 for a taxi might seem like a little much, but its definitely worth it as they pack the tacos full of ingredients. We will definitely be back to try out some of the others!

    Bar
    Matt W.

    Wow, just WOW, the tacos served by the new and improved Ohio Tavern are the real deal. And kudos to the new owners for converting a gritty, rough and tumble dive bar into an inviting comfortable space. The craft beer selection is top notch and you can still score a PBR if that's your thing. Because the venue is small and open, the noise level can make it difficult to carry on a discussion at conversational tones. In the evenings, there are live acts or karaoke. But it's the food that makes the Ohio stand out. The $4 price is on the high side, but the portion sizes are more than generous. Plus if make it before 7pm, they knock off $1 from the purchase price. To make things even better, there are a half dozen homemade hot sauces that will knock your socks off. Cash only, but there is an ATM available.

    Karaoke

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    1 month ago

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    7 months ago

    The perfect dive bar in the middle of Madison. The specialize in tacos which are excellent.

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    3 years ago

    Great food, low key and enjoyable atmosphere. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a casual bite and beverage.

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Canteen - Burrito + cheese sauce

    Canteen

    3.9(357 reviews)
    2.4 miCapitol
    $$

    I had a previous review where I complained about the takeout service. They have since improved the…read moretakeout experience, and addressed the complaints I had. Great job! A solid spot right near the Capitol. One of my favorite things for a quick lunch is a taco and an esquites bowl. Good spot for margs, weather permitting.

    Went here for lunch to try out their burger for Madison Burger Week. We were very excited because…read moreit was a green chili cheese smash burger with yucca fries. It looked really good when we saw their post on Facebook right before we went. There were only a few people there when we arrived, so we were seated right away. The waiter came pretty quick to get our order, but unfortunately, when we tried to order the burger week burger, they said they weren't making it. This was really the only reason we stopped here for lunch, so we were slightly taken off guard by this. Since we were already there, we decided to order the lunch special of two tacos, rice, beans, and a drink for $12. It took a little while for the food to come out, but everything tasted fine. The carne fresco tacos were quite tasty and I would definitely order again. Overall, the food was fine, but it was a disappointment that they didn't have the only item we came there for. We ended up ordering ahead from a different restaurant participating in burger week and went to pick it up so we at least got to try one.

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    Canteen - Entry

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    Taqueria Jalisco - Pastor and Steak Tacos

    Taqueria Jalisco

    4.3(103 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $

    Finally got in here to dine in, and it was just as lovely as expected. We came here for lunch with…read morea group of six and had a wonderful time. Service was fantastic and they were very helpful with taking our order and explaining anything on the menu. We found a table and they brought us over chips/salsa/queso. All of these were so good and it was a struggle not to eat it all... I wanted to enjoy my tacos. Everyone in our group enjoyed their food and there were absolutely zero leftovers remaining! My two pastor and one steak tacos were overflowing with yummy goodness and I was definitely full afterwards! It's so nice that you can order tacos a la carte (or you can go the full meal and get the rice and beans etc, but I never eat them) for a reasonable price. I did squeeze my limes over the tacos, but they were so good as is I didn't even sample the salsas they brought to the table. It was the start of my day so I didn't get to enjoy an adult beverage, but certainly plan to be back again.

    I think the first time or two I was at this place I didn't have as good of an impression of this…read moreplace. My previous view was based hugely upon the poor customer experience that I had endured. But two weeks ago I returned because I was seriously craving a taco and the other nearby place had finally convinced me they were second rate. (I wrote a small bit, about that location, not more than a couple weeks back. I won't name it, but I rather hope these words will be taken to heart and affect change) But upon my reentry to this place I was beyond pleasantly surprised. Eduardo, the owner whom I have since met, is the reason why I have returned. An active and dedicated team needs their captain. So trying to reimagine the perfect taco place I had a fresh mindset and I think I was accurate about that choice. Today marks the 6th time in roughly 2 weeks. Basic ground beef tacos with onions, cilantro and some lime. Cheap and delicious. Absolutely not a bastardized low fat gringo taco. Not at all. Heavy on the filling and tasty. It's only missing one ingredient: spice. The orders include a pair of sauces, a green and red plastic cup with something resembling a hot sauce. Tuesday is a $1 ground beef taco. Sparse but not lacking in the meat. So glad I tried again. Eduardo has a key quality that makes a place feel welcoming. Friendly, and informative about the foods that are available. I don't speak Spanish, aside from simple jargon that every English speaker has to have as their basic vocabulary, even in regular American speak day to day situations. The place vibrates with a lot of ethnic authenticity right here in my Middleton neighborhood where I've lived now for 15 of my 25 years in Wisconsin.

    Photos
    Taqueria Jalisco - Pastor and Steak Tacos

    Pastor and Steak Tacos

    Taqueria Jalisco - Chips & Salsa brought to the table

    Chips & Salsa brought to the table

    Taqueria Jalisco - Shrimp tacos

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    Shrimp tacos

    Ohio Tavern - divebars - Updated May 2026

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