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Start a Top 5 for JapaneseEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Cap Times, Isthmus, and Madison Magazine. Updated August 2026.
Tavernakaya · Capitol Square
A Japanese gastropub on the Capitol Square built around shareable small plates. Ramen and sushi both appear on the menu alongside heartier entrees like three cup chicken, giving the kitchen room to prove it handles more than izakaya snacks. It draws a downtown after work crowd looking to split several dishes over drinks rather than order one entree apiece.
Muramoto Hilldale
Chef Shinji Muramoto's izakaya leaning sushi restaurant, now based at Hilldale after its original downtown location closed. Careful nigiri and rolls share the menu with grilled Japanese small plates, giving diners a fuller meal than a sushi counter alone would offer. The sleek, modern room works equally well for a quick seat at the bar or a longer dinner.
Sequoia · Monroe Street
A Monroe Street lounge that splits its menu evenly between ramen and sushi instead of treating one as a side project. Weekday all you can eat sushi runs alongside a dedicated ramen program with its own broths and toppings. It works as a casual stop for either craving without feeling like two separate restaurants sharing one room.
RED · Downtown
A downtown sushi room just off West Washington Avenue known for inventive rolls and careful preparation. It took a silver placement in the 2025 readers' poll for East Asian cooking, a category spanning Chinese, Japanese, and Korean kitchens citywide. It draws a steady dinner and date night crowd looking for something more composed than takeout sushi.