Tavernakaya

Name: Tavernakaya
Address: 27 E Main ST, Madison, WI, United States, 53703
Telephone: (608) 286-1548
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.4

4.4

92 Reviews

$30 and under

Asian

About this restaurant

Innovative
Romantic
Good for special occasions

Tavernakaya “TK” is an upscale, but casual Asian restaurant-bar located in downtown Madison’s main dining and entertainment district. Our modern minimalist design with Japanese accents invokes a large metropolitan feel that Isthmus has recently described as “New Yorkish.”

We are an izakaya (think tapas) style restaurant that has a menu designed for sharing where items are brought to the table when ready so they can be enjoyed by everyone at their peak. For those not used to this style of dining please trust our service staff to guide you through the ordering as well as course out your meal so you can have the best experience possible. It’s a fun way to eat and like they say sharing is caring. It’s a great way for guests to try a variety of dishes while being able to enjoy foods together and share their experiences with each other. Think of it as communal eating.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Asian, Japanese, Izakaya
Hours of operation
Lunch: Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00am - 2:00pm Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm Late Night: Friday - Saturday: 10:00pm - 1:00am Bar: Monday - Saturday: 4:00pm - CLOSE
Phone number
(608) 286-1548
Website
http://www.tavernakaya.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Bee Khang
Catering
We are available to cater events or business lunches. <br />Email info@tavernakaya.com with inquiries.
Private party facilities
Private space available as well as restaurant buyouts. Contact us for more details. Email info@tavernakaya.com

Location
27 E Main ST, Madison, WI 53703
Neighborhood
Madison
Cross street
Pinckney St
Parking details
In addition to available street parking downtown, we are above the Block 89 Parking Garage (the entrance to the garage is located at 10 E Doty St, Madison, WI 53703) Pricing is $3 on weekday evenings after 4pm daily and $5 on weekends for this parking option located right below our restaurant.
Public transit
E Main and Pinckney Madison Metro Bus Stop located right outside (3, 4, 7 38)
Entertainment
When the meal's done, feel free to catch a nightcap at the bar. If you're in the mood, TK turns into a hotspot every weekend with an array of late night acts including DJ’s, live bands, and other entertainment.We keep a fresh rotation of events making Late Nights as inclusive as possible -- we're a minority-owned business and believe in creating fun, inviting, and safe spaces for all to enjoy.The overall mantra is diversity; from food to drink to entertainment, it’s what we believe in.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Edamame^$5.00
Pickled Veggies$6.00
Togarashi Fries* ^$6.00
hand-cut fries / togarashi chili powder / ginger-wasabi aioli (vegan option available)
Agedashi Tofu$7.00
fried tofu / dashi broth / scallion / kaiware / bonito flake
Asian Meatballs$8.00
pork and beef meatball / hoisin-sesame chili sauce
Tempura Cheese Curds$8.00
white cheddar / spicy mayo / togarashi chili powder
Fried Mushrooms$8.00
shiitake mushroom / oyster mushroom / shishito peppers / soy-balsamic reduction
Dumpling Soup$8.00
pork dumplings / pork and chicken broth / scallions / seasoned oil
Popcorn Chicken$9.00
Taiwanese-style fried chicken bites / Chinese five spice seasoning / Thai basil
Samurai Ribs$9.00
Niman Ranch spare ribs / Chinese five spice-chili rub / garlic-hoisin sauce / 3 pcs
Tofu Buns$7.00
crispy tofu / sugared peanuts / sweet Sriracha miso glaze / cilantro / steamed mantou buns / 2 pcs
Fried Chicken Buns$7.00
fried chicken / pickled carrots / pickled daikon / spicy mayo / cilantro / steamed mantou buns / 2 pcs
The 'O.G.' Pork Buns$8.00
red-cooked pork belly / pickled cucumber / scallion / steamed mantou buns / 2 pcs

Large Plates

General Tso's Cauliflower$14.00
fried cauliflower/ sweet and spicy sauce / scallions / rice
Three Cup Chicken$14.00
sweet-savory soy sauce / sesame oil / garlic / ginger / Thai basil / rice

Noodles

All noodles produced locally by Umami Ramen

Miso Ramen*$13.00
chicken broth / house miso / ramen noodles / sliced pork tenderloin / flavor-infused egg / bamboo shoots / cabbage / scallions / garlic oil
Spicy Miso Ramen*$14.00
chicken broth / house miso / ramen noodles / sliced pork tenderloin / flavor-infused egg / bamboo shoots / cabbage / scallions / garlic oil / house-made spicy paste
Red Coconut Curry Noodle$15.00
crispy confit chicken leg / rice vermicelli / spicy curry broth / cabbage-herb mix
Sautéed Veggie Udon$12.00
asparagus / broccoli / string beans / shiitake mushrooms / carrots / onions / scallions / wok-fried udon
Sautéed Beef Udon$12.00
broccoli / string beans / carrots / onions / scallions / wok-fried udon

Fried Rice

Veggie$10.00
broccoli / string beans / shiitake mushrooms / onions / bean sprouts / egg / scallions (no substitutions, vegan and gluten sensitive options available)
Nueske's Bacon & Eggs$11.00
Nueske's bacon / onions / bean sprouts / eggs / scallions (no substitutions, gluten sensitive option available)

Sushi Bar*

Take*$16.00
6 pieces sushi Chef's selection / California roll / miso soup
Sashimi* ^$18.00
10 pieces sashimi Chef's selection / rice / miso soup
Albacore Ponzu*$12.00
ponzu marinated albacore tuna sashimi / daikon / scallion / wasabi tobiko
Chirashi* ^$20.00
Chef's selection sashimi rice bowl

Special Rolls*

Madtown^$11.00
tempura kale / daikon sprouts / yuzu mayo / avocado outside
T.K. Bay*$17.00
scallops / cucumber / tempura crunch / topped with wasabi mayo shrimp salad
M.C. Hama* ^$13.00
hamachi / cucumber / scallion / jalapeño
Mt. Fuji*$20.00
shrimp tempura / avocado / masago / topped with spicy tuna
Dragon$18.00
shrimp tempura / eel & avocado outside
Spider Roll$18.00
soft shell crab tempura / avocado / cucumber / yuzu mayo
T.K.O.*$18.00
spicy tempura pineapple / bacon / seared tuna & avocado outside

Nigiri / Sashimi*

2 pieces per order

Kihada Maguro* ^$7.00
yellowfin tuna
Bincho Maguro* ^$6.00
albacore tuna
Bincho Maguro Tataki* ^$6.50
seared pepper albacore tuna
Sake* ^$6.00
salmon
Hamachi* ^$7.00
yellowtail
Hirame* ^$5.00
fluke
Madai* ^$7.00
red snapper
Hotate* ^$8.00
scallop
Spicy Hotate*$8.50
scallop / masago / spicy mayo
Amaebi* ^$8.50
raw spot prawns
Masago*$6.00
smelt roe
Wasabi Tobiko*$7.00
wasabi-infused flying fish roe
Ikura*$7.50
salmon roe
Unagi$7.50
freshwater eel
EBI^$6.00
shrimp
Tako^$6.50
octopus
Kanikama$4.00
crab stick
Inari$4.00
sweet marinated tofu pouch

Raw Rolls

Add any item to the rolls below for $0.50 each avocado / cucumber / jalapeño / tempura flakes / eel sauce / spicy mayo

Tekka* ^$6.50
tuna
Spicy Tekka*$7.00
tuna / spicy mayo
Boston* ^$7.00
tuna / avocado
Sake* ^$6.00
salmon
Spicy Sake*$7.00
salmon / spicy mayo
Alaskan* ^$6.50
salmon / avocado
Fresh Philly* ^$6.50
salmon / cream cheese
Bincho Maguro* ^$5.50
albacore tuna
Bincho Tataki* ^$6.50
seared pepper albacore tuna
Negihama* ^$7.00
yellowtail / scallion
Hotate* ^$7.50
scallop
Spicy Hotate*$8.00
scallop / spicy mayo

Cooked Rolls

Add any item to the rolls below for $0.50 each avocado / cucumber / jalapeño / tempura flakes / eel sauce / spicy mayo

California$6.00
crab stick / cucumber / avocado / masago
EBI^$6.00
shrimp
New York^$6.50
shrimp / avocado
EBI-Ten$6.50
shrimp tempura
Fried Salmon Skin$7.00
cucumber / avocado
Spicy EBI$7.00
spicy shrimp salad
Unagi$8.00
freshwater eel / avocado / eel sauce

Vegetarian Rolls

Add any item to the rolls below for $0.50 each avocado / cucumber / jalapeño / tempura flakes / eel sauce / spicy mayo

Kale Tempura$5.00
Yasai^$7.00
fresh vegetables
Shiitake^$5.50
mushroom
Shiitake & Asparagus^$6.50
mushroom / roasted asparagus
Kappa^$4.00
cucumber
Avocado^$4.50
Asparagus^$4.50
Oshinko^$4.00
pickled daikon
Kampyo^$4.00
sweet marinated gourd

What 92 people are saying

Tavernakaya reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

4.4

4.4 based on all time ratings

4.4Food
4.4Service
4.4Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

92 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis1 review
5.0
Dined on November 25, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great! We had s beautiful view at night!
Is this helpful?
l
lisan
Milwaukee4 reviews
1.0
Dined on November 22, 2018
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
horrible food! The pork buns were cold and the Ramen was over salted. Would never go there again.
Is this helpful?
N
N1123
Portland6 reviews
3.0
Dined on November 19, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
The food was good, some items were overpriced. The only negative thing about my experience this last time was that the waitress just took away our sake bottle without asking if we were done with it. In fact there was still a bit in the bottom but she just walked away with it!
Is this helpful?
HH
HeatherH
Milwaukee1 review
5.0
Dined on November 7, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nice atmosphere. Delicious food. (Cheese curds were underwhelming, but the rest was all excellent.) Nice cocktails and interesting non-alcoholic options.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Montreal2 reviews
4.0
Dined on November 7, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Miso soup was tasty but served a bit tepid; not hot. Sushi and Rolls were really really good. Great portions and flavorful. Nice big sushi pieces. It would be bizarre to have a crappy review from here. It’s a great spot!!!
Is this helpful?
D
Dave
Milwaukee12 reviews
3.0
Dined on November 4, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Love the lively ambiance and décor. Fun menu, not much in the way of beers for us beer geeks, but lots of other options. Service was great, server extremely helpful, as we were not familiar with the menu. Downside--all food we had was extremely salty, so we won't be back. We love spicy food, but when it is oversalting that makes our mouths burn, not only is it unhealthy, we just don't like it.
Is this helpful?
MF
MadisonFoodie
Milwaukee24 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 26, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Tasty, creative cocktails. Fantastic sushi, potstickers, ribs. All of the food was rich in flavor and lovely in presentation. Great service, food came out quickly. Highly recommend!
Is this helpful?
LF
LanaF
Chicago27 reviews
3.0
Dined on October 19, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The vibe of this place is nice. The service is amazing. I would highly recommend ordering the hot meals. We had the beef with udon noodles. My son thought it was really good. I liked the curry chicken with noodles and quail eggs. The fries with spice were also good. We ordered the sushi as well but thought it was o.k. We especially like sushi that has spice and creativity.
Is this helpful?
CS
ConnorS
New York City21 reviews
2.0
Dined on October 14, 2018
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
We made a reservation and were shown to a high-top table. We asked if we could get a regular table instead because a member of our party had a bad back. The host declined stating that the empty regular table right next to us was reserved. It was downhill from there. The venue is cool and the location is great. The bar has some interesting cocktails that don’t push the envelope, but show some creativity. Our server was lovely and almost overcame our poor start. The food, unfortunately isn’t very well executed. The ramen had two slices of pork that were tough and rubbery. The same went for the pork belly bun – the meat is supposed to be slow-cooked tender but instead required too much chewing. The udon noodles tasted mostly like soy sauce, and not much more. The price point is fine, but it just is not a quality Asian fusion experience. If you’re looking for a cool spot with decent drinks that will chase down salty food, then you’re fine. But if you’re trying to satisfy a craving for good Asian fusion food, this isn’t it. Oh, and the “reserved” table, and quite a few others remained empty by the time we left.
Is this helpful?
PS
PaulS
Milwaukee2 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 3, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We were a group of four for dinner who had not experienced Tavernakaya before. Our server Julia was terrific in helping us understand how things worked and assisting with menu selections . The chili dumplings were particularly tasty, the popcorn chicken not so much. Everything else we ordered was great. Will be happy to try this place again soon!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Tavernakaya using the Order Online button.

Tavernakaya is rated 4.4 stars by 92 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

27 E Main ST, Madison, WI 53703

Additional information

Cross street
Pinckney St
Neighborhood
Madison
Hours of operation
Lunch: Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00am - 2:00pm Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm Late Night: Friday - Saturday: 10:00pm - 1:00am Bar: Monday - Saturday: 4:00pm - CLOSE
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Asian, Japanese, Izakaya
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
In addition to available street parking downtown, we are above the Block 89 Parking Garage (the entrance to the garage is located at 10 E Doty St, Madison, WI 53703) Pricing is $3 on weekday evenings after 4pm daily and $5 on weekends for this parking option located right below our restaurant.
Public transit
E Main and Pinckney Madison Metro Bus Stop located right outside (3, 4, 7 38)
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Bee Khang
Entertainment
When the meal's done, feel free to catch a nightcap at the bar. If you're in the mood, TK turns into a hotspot every weekend with an array of late night acts including DJ’s, live bands, and other entertainment.We keep a fresh rotation of events making Late Nights as inclusive as possible -- we're a minority-owned business and believe in creating fun, inviting, and safe spaces for all to enjoy.The overall mantra is diversity; from food to drink to entertainment, it’s what we believe in.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.tavernakaya.com/
Phone number
(608) 286-1548
Catering
We are available to cater events or business lunches. <br />Email info@tavernakaya.com with inquiries.
Private party facilities
Private space available as well as restaurant buyouts. Contact us for more details. Email info@tavernakaya.com

Tavernakaya

About this restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Starters

Miso Soup^$3.00

House Salad$5.00

Seaweed Salad^$6.00

Kale Gomae$5.00

For the Table

Edamame^$5.00

Pickled Veggies$6.00

Togarashi Fries* ^$6.00

Agedashi Tofu$7.00

Asian Meatballs$8.00

Tempura Cheese Curds$8.00

Fried Mushrooms$8.00

Dumpling Soup$8.00

Popcorn Chicken$9.00

Samurai Ribs$9.00

Tofu Buns$7.00

Fried Chicken Buns$7.00

The 'O.G.' Pork Buns$8.00

Large Plates

General Tso's Cauliflower$14.00

Three Cup Chicken$14.00

Noodles

Miso Ramen*$13.00

Spicy Miso Ramen*$14.00

Red Coconut Curry Noodle$15.00

Sautéed Veggie Udon$12.00

Sautéed Beef Udon$12.00

Fried Rice

Veggie$10.00

Nueske's Bacon & Eggs$11.00

Sushi Bar*

Take*$16.00

Sashimi* ^$18.00

Albacore Ponzu*$12.00

Chirashi* ^$20.00

Special Rolls*

Madtown^$11.00

T.K. Bay*$17.00

M.C. Hama* ^$13.00

Mt. Fuji*$20.00

Dragon$18.00

Spider Roll$18.00

T.K.O.*$18.00

Nigiri / Sashimi*

Kihada Maguro* ^$7.00

Bincho Maguro* ^$6.00

Bincho Maguro Tataki* ^$6.50

Sake* ^$6.00

Hamachi* ^$7.00

Hirame* ^$5.00

Madai* ^$7.00

Hotate* ^$8.00

Spicy Hotate*$8.50

Amaebi* ^$8.50

Masago*$6.00

Wasabi Tobiko*$7.00

Ikura*$7.50

Unagi$7.50

EBI^$6.00

Tako^$6.50

Kanikama$4.00

Inari$4.00

Raw Rolls

Tekka* ^$6.50

Spicy Tekka*$7.00

Boston* ^$7.00

Sake* ^$6.00

Spicy Sake*$7.00

Alaskan* ^$6.50

Fresh Philly* ^$6.50

Bincho Maguro* ^$5.50

Bincho Tataki* ^$6.50

Negihama* ^$7.00