★ 5

We had an impromptu anniversary lunch on a Saturday that coincided with a neighborhood festival a block away. Due to the festival it wasn't too busy, but there was a small crowd in the bar area where we were seated.

We enjoyed the Lao egg rolls, fried but still delicately crispy. They were filled with pork, veg, and noodles, accompanied with a nicely balanced and light dipping sauce. The chevre wontons with their own sweet and sour sauce were decent but could've used more scallion in the filling.

The Tom Kha special sold only on the weekend was worth showing up on a Saturday for! It was an incredibly bright yet rich broth with galangal, lemongrass, and lime, balanced with coconut milk, and served with their famous fries chicken over a beef of rice noodles. As delicious as the fried chicken thigh was, I recommend adding shrimp to this dish as that would pair better with the dish, imo.

The fried rice special served they day was flavorful, but was nowhere near the flavor bomb the Tom Kha was!

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★ 5

Anyone reviewing this place below 5 stars is out of their mind. Great food, Great service :)

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★ 5

Tried to get a table a few times with friends on a Friday and on a weekend and there was always a 20-30min queue. Ordered the Lao Egg Roll, Green Curry, and Pad Krapow with Egg noodles. The egg rolls were very tasty especially with the sauce which tasted like fish sauce with a sweet and spicy blend. The green curry was the best dish for me and was made really well - creamy and good balance of flavor. The Pad Krapow was an interesting dish with the egg noodles but I would love to try it with rice instead. Will definitely come back for their other dishes

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★ 5

Excellent. Elevated Asian flavors.

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★ 5

I had one of their curry dishes, and it was phenomenal-a wonderful mix of flavor and heat while still feeling like a comfort food . The presentation was lovely, especially for the drinks. We had a few different house cocktails which were fun and matched the dishes served.

They accommodated our large group incredibly well, with a few servers pitching in to help out. We felt very well cared for.

The atmosphere was calm and cozy, which made for a great night.

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★ 5

Best pho (pho tai with shrimp) i've ever had!!

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★ 5

I had the curry soup with chicken, which was spectacularly outstanding. My 2 companions (1 who does not particularly care for Asian food), both thoroughly enjoyed what they had ( Kung pao and another dish).

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★ 2

The food doesn’t taste that good. The presentation is beautiful, but the food lacks authentic Southeast Asian flavor. The soup was too sweet and too sour, and lacked any complex flavor. What’s their deal with putting fried chicken on everything? Whole restaurant feels a bit gentrified. Restaurant was so packed, so I really expected more. 19$ for a basic bowl of sugary soup is atrocious. We also weren’t given utensils or napkins and had to ask for them. No water refills.

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★ 5

Absolutely delicious, got food for the whole family and not a drop was left. Was recommended by my sister and it didn't disappoint, 10/10 would recommend

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Having recently moved to Madison from Chicago, I have been searching for a good Asian spot and have been pretty disappointed until my meal at Ahan tonight. Great, complex flavors with friendly and quick service on a Wednesday night. This will be my new go-to restaurant in Madison.

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★ 5

Chill atmosphere, fun and talented crew, delicious food, great management! Will come again!

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★ 5

Red curry udon might be the best dish in all of Madison.

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★ 3

Food is good but overpriced. Wish they would accept reservations. There is better Thai food in Madison.

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★ 5

Always amazing

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★ 4

Excellent and authentic food offering. A reliably good option in Madison (which is full of excellent offerings). The ingredients and preparation are consistently well executed. The menu is focused (not too many items), though the variety is more diverse than it may appear. It’s worth a visit.

This is a new location for this restaurant. The atmosphere is significantly better. The entrance is somewhat obscured but signs for other businesses in the same building.

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★ 5

I had the Lao platter and salted Limeade. It was absolutely delicious!! The staff were kind and more than helpful! The atmosphere was relaxing!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone! Thank you so much to the wonderful and hardworking people of Ahan for a magnificent experience!!! ❤️❤️❤️

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 4

Great service and vibe. Food was good and they have some unique refreshers as well. Coffee was too sweet - I would skip it.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Fire experience, both in terms of food and service. 🔥 I don't even have photos of the food to post because I ate it so fast. We got the laotian snacks and chevre wontons to start and they were transformative (the laotian sausage was insane). Then I ordered the laap nuea which was so good with a touch of fresh chilis and chili oil (so refreshing with the raw veg on the side and sticky rice). My partner got the praram long song with the fried lemongrass chicken (so good and crispy). My friend got khao poon kathi dang (red curry coconut noodle soup) and said she was changed after that experience. The chili oil and jeow som were so good I took some home with my leftovers. We ended up sharing a little of everything because it was so good. Also their cocktails are fab, a couple highlights are their pho spiced coffee martini, beekeeper (forgot the name but honey themed), and then the calpico cocktail (also forgot name). We loved our server, Jacob!! He even gave us a orange jasmine ice cream on the house just cause ✨

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★ 5

Ahan is an absolute gem - incredible southeast Asian food (and the boba floats - get them while you can!). Large portion sizes, excellent food, great service!

We will definitely be coming back here again!

Edit: Turns out everyone else agrees, so if you go at peak hours you may have a wait, but the food is still just as good if not better than when I first reviewed last year!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

High quality food and drinks! we got in just before the evening to rush at 430 and folks were lining up to get in by the time we left.

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★ 5

The lunch special- red curry, rice, vegetables and chicken was awesome. The flavors were amazing. Spiced just right. Each flavor was different and so tasty. I’ll be back to try more amazing dishes.

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★ 3

Flavorful food promptly delivered, but too spicy for people who perfer mild heat. Perhaps a bit too sweet, as well.

Should allow at least some flexiblity in spice levels, or indicate spice levels for each dish on the menu, or start off with mild heat, rather than "we don't change the heat level for any of our dishes". :/ Can't believe that our waitress offered additional chili oil after we tasted our order! (Not her fault).

It's nice to know (after we already arrived to eat) that they offer a 3.5% "discount" if you pay by cash only (to avoid credit card fee). Although many restaurants offer this discount, most places let you know in advance. :/ This discount is not mentioned anywhere on their website or menus, nor by the staff.

Service was excellent and prompt, don't know what other reviews are complaining about (unless they were there during busy hours). We were served inside seating at 5pm on a Thursday in August.

Room is NOT quiet or comfortable. It has a coffee shop vibe. Was this the former location of Ground Zero cafe?

We had Summer Rolls (excellent). Coconut Red Curry Soup with tofu (chili oil was already in the soup, not on the side as is says on the menu) - tasty but WAY too spicy, couldn't finish. Green Curry with tofu (perfect; balanced spice level). Sticky Rice dessert (meh; but mango was fresh); at least it took away the burning heat from the Red Curry.

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★ 1

I had high expectations for this restaurant but ended up very disappointed. The food was fine, though service was slow. What made the experience unacceptable was discovering later—after comparing receipts with my friends at home—that 2 out of 3 of us were charged a forced 25% tip without any notice. At the time, nothing seemed unusual, since no receipt was provided and no signature was asked for. This is dishonest and feels like taking advantage of customers. I will never return, and I hope the management seriously addresses this by properly training staff and ensuring transparency.

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★ 5

Fantastic lunch today! Even if they’d punched me in the face at the end, they still deserve a 5-star! Wonderful, attentive server as well!

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★ 5

I loved their food - tasted great and the presentation was special. I loved their red and green curry! I’m Southeast Asian and the atmosphere was cozy and felt “right”. Our wait person was friendly and helpful! Everyone was friendly! The sticky rice with mango and ice cream was brilliant!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Been wanting to try this place for so long and I finally went and had the best experience!!! The food was so good. I got a bunch of appetizers and my mom and I shared two entrées and the server, Maggie‘s recommendations were so perfect. The drinks were amazing and if I was so cute and cozy.

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★ 5

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★ 2

Edit: 8/12/25 just went back for dinner and everything was pretty awful. Our server was rude and she didn't even give us silverware. She was gone for so long that when we got our appetizer, we had to go find the silverware ourselves. Not only that but she told me that the dishes I wanted to order, which were marked modifiable gluten free, could not be modified so none of the dishes I actually wanted could be ordered even though the menu indicated they could be. The food was not at all like how it used to be. My beef laab came out very undercooked and close to raw. I would still like to support Jamie but the experience was just so bad. We were also seated outside next to rotten and dead plants which were full of bugs. It was so underwhelming and felt like a waste of our time and money.

Old review: Awesome food! Was feeling homesick so I ordered some food for lunch. The best choice ever! Amazing and so flavorful! Also well-versed with food allergies. Totally celiac friendly place and when I spoke to Jamie on the phone, she was super polite and explained everything clearly to me. Cannot wait to order again and so excited to have this restaurant on my list of celiac friendly places!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Have lived in Madison all my life (30 years) and have tried multiple restaurants on Williamson Street only to find this hidden gem today. I always drove past this place thinking it was just an apartment building. I was craving southeast asian food and after my fiancé did extensive google research, he found this place and showed me the online menu - I was sold! Although we had to wait 70 minutes (our fault for not making reservations), we were fascinated by the ambiance, the great service/staff and it was definitely busy but worth the wait! Our waiter Austin was very fast, efficient and attentive - wonderful guy. The food was nothing short of AMAZING. We ordered the drunken noodle, pot stickers, lao platter as well as other appetizers and dessert. We finished everything. We are looking forward to coming back again!! ☺️

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★ 5

Asian food is not my favorite, but if those restaurants cooked like Ahan, Asian dishes would be my number one. The entrees and appetizers were like a party for my taste buds! All the flavors worked in harmony - the food, doughs, sauces, along with beautiful thoughtful presentation. Whoever cooks is very talented. (Also I would like to thank the restaurant for having some dishes without cilantro.)

The atmosphere is casual, comfortable, with authentically personable servers.

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★ 3

My husband and I have eaten here twice. The first experience was a late lunch on a Saturday. The restaurant was pleasant and not loud. Service was excellent. We had the Summer rolls wrapped in rice paper which were generous and delicious dipped in sauce. We were wowed by the Pork Cabbage Rolls and Tom Kha, a weekend special. We took leftovers home and looked forward to returning.
Our second experience was early Friday evening. The restaurant was busy and very loud. Service was very slow. We ordered the Lao egg rolls (deep fried) to do a comparison. They lacked filling and were dry. They looked like they came out of the freezer section of a grocery store and not as described.
We shared a main course, the National dish of Laos. The beef laap was tender and nicely seasoned but I would have liked the dish less dry. It was served with a wedge? of cabbage, lettuce leaves, a few radish and cucumber slices. No sauce. It didn’t wow me.
We were thrilled by our Saturday lunch and disappointed with Friday’s dinner.

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★ 5

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★ 5

First time visiting this amazing restaurant and will definitely return. We were well taken care of by our waiter Roman who couldn’t have been nicer. The entire staff was friendly from the moment we arrived.

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★ 5

I love this place! I always bring friends here when they visit!

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★ 5

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★ 3

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★ 5

Unbelievably great dinner with fabulous service by Aiden (spelling?)! Great vegetarian options and tasty mocktails too. The Khao Tod and chèvre wontons were excellent as appetizers and the Praram Long Song for entree. Recommend getting there as early as you can as by the time our meal finished at 7pm it looked like a long wait, even on a Tuesday.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Noodles were good Tofu was hard and tough to chew

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★ 4

As a lover of SE Asian food, we wanted to try this inspired restaurant in the Madison area. As a SE Asian, I love SE flavors. We had the fish and the lao platter. We also had an appetizer (I cant recall the name atm). The fish was very fragrant and we had a large portion. The lao platter was good, but I for some reason thought the portion would be a bit more for the price of $29 which was market price. Both came with sticky rice. The appetizer was OK. It wasn't my favorite but it was tasty. It was a tapico pearl with ground meat which reminded me of fawm kauv which came with a peanut type of sauce. I think what fell flat was when I hear SE Asian I also think spice and herbs. There was very little spice. They had chili oil, but I felt a good homemade spicy fish sauce base offered would've elevated the entire meal. The dishes were very creative. The service was great. Server was attentive. Our water was always full. Multiple staff made sure we didn't need anything. Overall good experience, 3.5 stars.

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★ 5

Went here for the first time recently and it was phenomenal! My favorite item was the Khao Tod appetizer.

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★ 5

Fellow Asian-American girl here who is VERY critical towards Asian cuisine since that’s what I grew up eating. This restaurant passes my checklist on everything.

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★ 5

Hands down one of the best and most flavorful food I've experienced in a while.

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★ 5

Very delicious food and drinks. Compliments to the head chef, Drew! The special was delicious and service was top tier. Thank you very much Ahan!

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★ 5

Wonderful food and great staff! Enjoyed the atmosphere too!

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★ 5

Outstanding. Honestly, I’m well traveled have ate a lot of Thai food and have some of the best in the world in Toronto but when I say this was some of the best thai I have ever had, I’m not kidding. No wonder they just won a James Beard Award for the Mid-Wet. Kudos to the chef and the amazing team. Our server, Joey V was awesome! Everyone was super kind, smiley and hospitable. I’d be back here in a heartbeat. In fact we’re only in town two nights but you better bet I’m coming by on our way out to grab takeout for our drive out of town. Because it’s that GOOD! The Tom yum soup was good to the last drop. The Khao Soy was like none I’ve ever had. The texture was delicious and the broth was so flavourful although I will say it’s more soupy than curry-like, unlike some others I’ve had. The Pad Sew was well seasoned, cooked to perfection and you have got to try the chili oil. And if you’re into bubble tea, you can add tapioca to any drink so I added it to the thai iced tea and it was soooo good!

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★ 5

We ordered a bunch of different appetizers and entrees including the steamed pork buns, papaya salad, yellow curry, and cod. EVERYTHING was delicious. Some of the best food I’ve ever had and our waitress was very helpful and kind! We will be back for sure!!

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★ 4

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★ 5

Delicious and refined. The wait was rough.

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★ 5

Ahan was absolutely worth the hype. We’re visiting from out of town and are big fans of Asian cuisine, so this spot was at the top of our list—and it did not disappoint.

They don’t take reservations, so expect a wait, but it’s 100% worth it. We tried the red curry udon, fried rice, Laotian platter, and a handful of appetizers—every single dish was packed with bold, delicious flavor. You can tell the kitchen knows exactly what it’s doing.

Highly recommend if you’re in town and craving something vibrant, satisfying, and unforgettable!

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★ 4

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★ 5

So good it was packed full on a night fit for only ducks and turtles to be out! Really good food and service.

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★ 4

Went here last summer while in town and it was phenomenal. Every dish was delish and we had 7 of them. 5 star all around.

We were excited to go back when in town but it just didn’t hit the spot. We went at the end of lunch and had a switch in waiter. The second waiter was nice but the first was missing in action. I get it was the end of a shift but we had to go in to ask for drinks, never got extra water, and the food seemed like it was sitting there for a moment before it came out.

The fried chicken was cold and felt over fried, the cod was over cooked and chewy at parts, the sticky rice was dry, the noodles were meh. They offered our kid a soft serve ice cream as compensation but I was disappointed.

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★ 5

Had an incredible lunch here! I hadn't been to the "new" location yet and was delighted to find they have table service! (I thought it was still order at the counter, which I wasn't a fan of.) The lunch specials were generous portions at a great price! Food was awesome and service was friendly and attentive, even with a full restaurant.

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★ 5

We had a great dinner at Ahan! I ordered the Drunken Noodles, which came packed with fresh herbs and a generous mix of vegetables—super flavorful and a nice twist on the classic.

My girlfriend had the Yum Tom, which was light, bright, and refreshing—almost like a salad with a nice balance of tang and spice.

For appetizers, the summer rolls were a highlight—fresh, crisp, and beautifully wrapped. The dumplings were also excellent, with a perfect texture and flavorful filling.

Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you’re craving Thai-inspired dishes with a vibrant, modern touch.

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★ 5

Great food, great service. Would return for sure

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★ 5

Excellent food. Excellent excellent wait staff. Wisconsin size portions, even the appetizers. I could live off the appetizers.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Accompanied children. Not to my taste.

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★ 3

Being Lao, I really wanted to like this restaurant. The restaurant name is simple but clever. The reason for the three stars is really just around the fact it is overpriced for the portion. The Laab had good flavor but was 2-3 times more ($32!) than other local places in nearby Milwaukee. Also, we had to order three separate orders of the papaya salad because the portion was much smaller than what we're used to getting. The food itself had good flavor and was more towards the milder/less intense version than a traditional Lao level of flavor and spice level. The staff was friendly and the service was good. I would have liked to see more Lao themed decorations.

Overall, this may be a good restaurant to introduce a version of Lao food.

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★ 5

The food is magnificent here. Great drinks and a wonderful staff... But the food... the food is what stands out. Truly a first class meal.

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★ 5

Great food, fantastic service. Lots of fresh local produce used in a meaningful SE Asian way.

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★ 4

Not a bad experience but nothing out of this world. Dumplings were amazing as an appetizer and I highly recommend them. The Red Curry was nothing wild though. Pretty mild flavors and nothing that is worth $18 in my opinion. The bill turned out to be $40 for these two items. Quite a pricey dinner.

However, the waitress and service was phenomenal and I have absolutely no complaints.

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★ 5

It can be hard to find good Asian food in Madison, and while Ahan isn't authentically one cuisine, it's my favorite restaurant here.

The Praram Long Song and Red Curry Udon are amazing. The fried chicken with the peanut sauce is amazing, and an extra point for using chicken thigh in their chicken dishes. The lunch specials are also amazing!

The summer rolls, while aesthetic, are nothing special and I found the Khao Tod to be relatively bland and sauce-dependent. The papaya salad is solid and has a good kick to it.

It is a bit pricey but well worth it for the quality and flavor of dishes!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Ahan isn’t so much about ‘eating food’ as it is ‘reacting to flavor.’ For instance, you sit there with a bowl of tom kha. It shows up in an imposing black stoneware vessel; you don’t eat the tom kha. The tom kha lets you experience it. As I get up to leave, I realize this table needs a placard: “Here a man had a religious experience with a bowl of spicy fried chicken coconut curry.”

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★ 3

Unlike the old location, while the willy street building is really great for pedestrian visitors, driving over and finding parking can be a nightmare.

The interior space has also been downsized a bit in comparison, and as busy as this place gets, it feels a little too crowded at times.

The space itself is fabulous in its decor and atmosphere. The ambiance really sets the mood for a good time out.

The food shares this aspect of style, where the presentation looks great, having quite a bit of flare at times. Unfortunately I feel that the actual cuisine needs a boost for the flavor and quality to match the looks, making it feel like something average dressed up for a premium. If it met that standard, the price would feel acceptable, rather than a missed opportunity.

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★ 5

Do yourself a favor and get the Khao Poon! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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★ 4

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★ 4

Great Food! Also the staff was really friendly. I was interested in the Mocha Latte they offer, but unfortunately the machine was broken.
I recommend reserving in advance.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

The yellow curry and the wontons were delicious! A very cute atmosphere with menu options for everyone.

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★ 5

Awesome Thai dish and great ambience! Will be back!

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★ 5

Ahan is always a great choice! We started getting their to-go menu when they were in their smaller space, and we're loving the expanded menu in their new, larger space too! If you love Ha Long Bay, you've got to give Ahan a try too.

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★ 5

Quick and kind service, great drinks, and great food!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Such a cute place (decor and outside dining area!) with great food. Service was good but we were told 1/2 hour for our wait and it was closer to an hour.

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★ 5

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★ 3

no utensils. drunken noodles are not real drunken noodles. potstickers were banging

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★ 5

Ahan is a win every time. The red curry udon is my absolute favorite. Even as a meat eater, I order the tofu since it has such great texture and flavor!

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★ 5

Unique food and vibes. Philip helped us out tremendously. Looking forward to the next time!

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★ 5

Fantastic spot with delicious food. Save room for dessert and get their soft serve ice cream, you won't be disappointed!

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★ 5

My tongue was tingling with delight! I wanted to order everything on the menu and would come back to Madison just so I could eat here again. Best presentation and unique interpretation of regular Asian menu and I live in Hawaii! Never had plates this great

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★ 2

We had Laap and Pad see ew. The taste wasn't as good as we had in Thailand. Pad see ew is sweet and Laap not great.

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★ 5

I did not expect to find the best crispy chicken sandwich of my life at an Asian themed restaurant, but that's exactly what I got. From what the server said, there will always be a crispy chicken sandwich on the menu, but the style rotates. When I went, it was in the style of Korean BBQ. It was sweet and savory, and a little bit spicy. And it was unbelievably crispy. I don't think I can find the words to do justice of just how good this sandwich was. Just know that in the two days since our visit, I have told no less than eight friends, neighbors, and family members about this sandwich. We weren't even talking about restaurants, or food, or anything related. It would go something like:
Them: "Wow, the lake flies are really bad this year"
Me: "Uh huh. Let me tell you about this sandwich I had the other day."

The other entree we ordered the green curry which also top notch. The chicken was tender and flavorful, and the eggplant was cooked perfectly and had a great texture. For the Epic folks looking for a green curry that matches what they get on campus, this is as close as I've found - and to be honest, it's even a little better.

The atmosphere was relaxed and cozy, and our server was attentive and offered some great suggestions.

What a gem of a restaurant.

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★ 5

I ordered take out from Ahan today for lunch and it was absolutely 🔥. The Kung Pao Shrimp was perfect. So many fresh veggies, perfect rice and A LOT of shrimp. The Chevre Wontons were huge, crisp, creamy and full of flavor. Great job guys! 10/10 would recommend.

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★ 5

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★ 5

The green curry recommended by Roman, the nicest server in the world, was delicious. I'll be back!

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★ 5

Drunken noodles so tasty 🤤

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★ 5

We had a group takeout order and the labeled all the to-go containers so that was super cool and very much appreciated. Also the food is incredible specifically any chicken dish you come across and it’s not super expensive. Happy hour is also pretty nice.

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★ 5

Love the food! Absolutely amazing. Sesame balls desert was to die for.

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★ 3

I watched as people came later and was
Served first. 45 minutes to get food.

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★ 3

If you are looking for authentic Lao food, this isn't the place. The dishes are a bit americanize. Portions are a bit small for the price.

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★ 5

Some of the best Asian food in Madison! I think their lunch red curry was the best red curry I've ever had! It can get busy and noisy, but that's the price you pay for all this good food.

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★ 5

Absolutely wonderful experience. All items we ordered were delicious and freshly made. Cozy interior, can get a little loud between the music and the way layout is designed.

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★ 5

Awesome food and great service!

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★ 5

Fantastic Lao food. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

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★ 5

Praram Long Song with fried chicken is delicious!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Amazing food and drinks and staff was friendly. I recommend going and treating yourself .

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★ 5

We got the lunch special when we were there, which was such a great deal AND delicious! If I could give the service 6 stars, I would! We were very well taken care of and all of our food came out super quickly. Also to note, we had a baby with us and the host specifically sat us at a table that was accommodating to a car seat and even asked if we needed warm water for a bottle. Very kid friendly!

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★ 4

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★ 5

Never had a bad meal here. Specifically, the Pad Kra Pow chicken sandwich is arguably the best chicken sandwich I've ever had -- and I am someone who has had lots of chicken sandwiches. I think that may only be a temporary menu item, but hopefully this review allows it a permanent spot. Regardless, really good food spot. Service while generally good, can be eh as well, so definitely understand some reviews that knock it for that, but if a place makes delicious food, like Ahan does, I don't get caught up in too much of that. Really glad to have Ahan in Madison.

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★ 5

We came in last minute and Bryan was such a wonderful server! The Sakoo Yai Sai was so good. Thanks for a great meal!

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★ 5

I really enjoyed the red curry udon! It had the perfect level of spice and was packed with veggies & tofu. Perfect takeout meal!! The eggrolls are massive and full of filling, but I personally wasn’t a huge fan of them or the dipping sauce.

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★ 5

Top tier great tasting food!

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★ 5

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★ 2

Great food! No complains there. Our service experience was very poor. Did not refill water & only talked to table around us. We did not feel welcome. When it came time to pay, he was no where to be found. We went to the front to pay. A back of house worker came to help us find our server, but they did not know where he was either. Will consider coming back, but it would be nice to be treated like the other tables.

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★ 5

Ahan is exceptional!!! We started dining (takeout) here during Covid when they were in a much smaller space and since moving to a bigger space, their menu has expanded significantly. Every single item we have ever ordered has been something special. We’ve tried many many Asian fusion/thai restaurants in Madison and beyond but something about the flavors - they just stand out! Very aromatic, citrus-y, zingy - with every single dish. They have interesting spins on classic southeast Asian dishes. Their presentation of each dish is also exquisite, I really appreciate a restaurant who goes the extra mile with presentation (although even if the food was slopped on a paper plate - the flavors alone would make it a 10/10). My husband and I missed Ahan the most out of every restaurant in Madison since we’ve moved so we made the 1.5 hr trek to try out their new special- the Korean bbq chicken sandwich + pad see ew. Both absolutely phenomenal and you can’t skip out on dessert here - the homemade soft serve and dole whips are INSANE. Today we had the pineapple orange saffron dole whip with mango sticky rice. Special shout out to Roman, our waiter, who was extremely friendly and attentive. I can’t wait to return again! It appears they have gotten much busier over the years, rightfully so - if you are considering whether it’s “worth the wait” - it absolutely is!

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★ 5

Food was so good. Roman was so polite and one if the best servers I've had. I wish my boyfriend was half as nice as him!
-sincerely,
Another server and a half joking girlfriend.

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★ 5

My favorite place to eat in madison! Everything is delicious, especially the wontons, fried chicken, red curry udon, and Nam Khao salad. Also their mango sticky rice and soft serve ice cream and dole whip!!! And they have amazing NA beverages.

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★ 5

A truly fantastic dinner experience! The flavors at Ahan are authentic and delicious, and the service is always great. Highly recommend! It gets pretty busy during dinner time, so it can be tough to get a seat sometimes but there is bar seating available.

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★ 4

Dark and quaint, food is different but not in a bad way. Cool spot, typically priced.

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★ 5

Our experience at Ahan was amazing. They have awesome service, incredible flavors and a great selection. If you are looking for authentic Laotian food or something like Thai food, I highly encourage you to check out Ahan. We loved the red curry soup and the red curry Udon noodles. We will be back!

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★ 5

Awesome food and great drinks - we'll be back ASAP!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Arrived at 4pm and we're the only ones there but the place was packed by the time we left. Staff was attentive and offered to help describe the dishes as we took a while to order. Menu is smaller than other restaurants but best thai iced coffee, delicious steamed cod and flavorful tofu and vegetable dishes! A must try if you're up for something new. Dishes are not too spicy but hot sauce was offered several times if you like it hot.

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★ 5

This place is so good. Like omg I could eat here the rest of my life

Very good about dietary restrictions and allergies too.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Authentic place
We enjoyed food
We will comeback for other menu and mango sticky rice

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★ 4

First time at Ahan for dinner. I had the green curry with chicken which was a different presentation from what I am used to. Less like a soup with a lot of sauce, and more like a dish you can use chopsticks with. Bok choy, green beans, jalapeno peppers, onions and I think bamboo shoots were the vegetables. Flavor was excellent! Chicken thighs versus the typical white meat (at other places) was moist and flavorful. My friend had tom yum with chicken. I enjoyed a small taste of the lemongrass breaded chicken from my friends dish. I marked down the atmosphere because it had the music quite loud and it was hard to hear my friend and a bit distracting for me. Service was good.

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★ 5

Busy for early on a Tuesday night but service was friendly and attentive, food was fantastic- I plan on working my way through the whole menu.

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★ 5

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★ 5

It may not be possible to be disappointed with anything on their menu. From drinks to apps to Desert everything was divine. The staff were helpful and accommodating our server knew the perfect times to check in and all food and drinks were brought to the table fairly quickly after ordering. I highly recommend visiting at least once!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

The food is next level here. Everything we ordered was well seasoned, and I couldn’t get enough. Drinks are top notch too.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Genuinely some of the best food I’ve had since moving to Madison 5 years ago… I knew it was going to be good after doing my research but wow!!

thai iced tea is one of my favorite beverages and Ahan’s is 10/10. the chèvre wontons were absolutely delicious- my husband ordered the Pho tai and I the coconut red curry soup w tofu- it the most flavorful, delicious, satisfying meal i’ve probably ever had.

Additionally, our server was wonderful as well as the rest of the staff. I can’t believe we waited so long to come here! Give it a go if you’re thinking about it. you will not be disappointed!

Source: Google

★ 5

I went here the day after Valentines day and the wait was very long, the service was excellent, and the food was good. I got the dumplings, the chicken sandwich, the fried rice, and the drunken noodles. We had to wait over an hour at 8PM just to get a table.
The chicken sandwich was ok. It was huge but I wouldn't describe it as juicy. I've had a lot of chicken sandwiches and this one just did not stand out. The flavors and the asian toppings did not marry well together and texturally it felt like a mess. I've had other Asian style chicken sandwiches that have knocked it out of the park and this wasn't bad, just does not stand out.
The dumplings were good. Really good. And the sauce was perfectly balanced. Not much to say there.
The fried rice was unique. It was good but I did not enjoy the cucumbers. This is probably a personal problem but texturally and flavor-wise this should not go in a dish. They throw off the balance and are too moist and introduce a freshness that is not conducive to fried rice. I would say it is like piece of lettuce on top of a steak. Not terrible, but why?? But if we ignore that, it was a very good fried rice that was different. I liked the sausages. Reminds me of how my dad used to make it.
And finally the drunken noodles. I did not like them. Too much fish sauce and acid which gave it a strong, pointed flavor. My girlfriend loved it. People have different tastes.
What I can objectively judge is the care and quality of the food which was excellent across the board. My critiques are mostly stylistic choices which should not take away from the flavor at the heart of each dish which was rich and inviting.
Service was phenomenal as well. Apparently I need to go back and try the red curry udon noodles.

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★ 5

Tasty authentic Laotian dishes, good ambiance, friendly and helpful staff. Do arrive early because they do not seemed to take reservation and the place, including bar, filled up by 5pm!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great food
Super service
Old, neat, resto bldg

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★ 5

Every time I go everyone is so wonderful and kind. I bring my son in and I’m always asked if I need warm water for a bottle and some sticky rice. I can’t think of any other place that goes so above and beyond to make dining such an enjoyable experience for my whole family. The food is also great every time. Highly recommend to anyone.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Everything was amazing! 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a phenomenal dining experience. Our server Cedar offered excellent suggestions for food!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Ahan’s food and drinks always deliver - both on phenomenal taste, value, and the care and love the family and owners put into every dish. The Lao platter, NA drinks, and fried rice are our mainstay favorites! Do not miss if in Madison!

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★ 5

I rarely write reviews but Ahan really deserves one. I love their food, one of my favorites in Madison but last night they really made my night. I ordered takeout online and my connection was kind of spotty and I believe I ended up pressing order twice but didn't know. I arrived, the bartender humored me with a sesame martini ask that wasn't on the menu and then I picked up my food on the way out. I got 1/2 mile away and got a call from the hostess that they had another order with my name on it that looked identical. I told her that it was probably my issue and I would come back and get it (I'd surely eat this fine food) but she answered with "we don't know it's your fault" and "i'll check with my manager if we just can void it". Her manager graciously OK'd voiding the transaction at their own expense. That is a $75 loss they took due to my error after I offered multiple times to go back and get my second order. That is top notch customer service and they have earned a customer for life. Thanks Ahan!

Source: Google

★ 3

I'm going to give this review from two perspectives: me and my spouse. We arrived with a couple of friends for dinner and there were tons of people waiting. We waited an hour and fifteen minutes for our table - exactly the time we were promised when we checked in with the host station. We got some impromptu reviews from folks leaving after their dinner; one person said it was worth the wait and another said it wasn't worth the wait. I will say I really appreciate the posters and signs showing Ahan is an ally of all people. The restaurant itself is a total vibe: cool art, cool lighting, and an overall modern kind of feel. The service was rad. Very attentive and helpful. From my perspective, the food was decent. Nothing that blew my mind but tasty. Pricey but it's Willy St so it's par for the course. I got the fried rice and it wasn't bad. I loved all the veggies in the fried rice but it wasn't the most flavorful. My spouse, on the other hand, was incredibly disappointed with the food. My spouse is Asian and loves a drunken noodle. My spouse also inhales food at a pace that would shock some. The drunken noodles were barely touched. The sauce was overwhelming both in flavor and in quantity. We took the leftover noodles home and my partner planned to water down the sauce and noodles and put it over rice. It was better but still way too strong. While I'm glad we tried out Ahan, we would not go back. It's a little much for us.

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★ 5

Food was really good. I loved the taste and it was a Huge bowl of soup!

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★ 5

Just great

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★ 5

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★ 1

We first came across this place when my girlfriend and I were in the area to pick up our packet for the Madison Marathon. It was a little while later that we saw this place was highlighted on the local news perking our eyes and ears up to try. We looked up the menu online and everything looked delicious. We knew it was downtown and that parking wasn't going to be readily available, but we found a spot around the neighborhood and walked our way to the restaurant. Upon entering, it was notably busy, as expected during dinner hours. We put our name and phone number down for the waitlist and was expecting a 45 minute wait time. In the meantime, we enjoyed a few spirits at the bar area. Some time had passed and I checked in to see where we were on the wait list. We were seated shortly after I checked in again. Unfortunately, it was when we were seated that our experience really went downhill. We looked over the menu. Did not get any water. Waited to get "waited" on. The time in between was pretty significant. Even then when we ordered and received our food, three waiters/waitresses tried to put a mule drink on us. The first one asked and we said we did not order it, especially while we had beerlao on hand. Then a second asian waiter came asking us again as if we didn't understand the question the first time and we clearly stated that we did not order it. Then the manager on duty came back shortly asking us again to triple check as if we didn't understand yet again. All while through this experience, we noticed that the manager wasn't in the best of mood. We were seated near the entry way and what she said very expressive. I originally thought that she was yelling at the employee/waiter near her but only to realize that she was directing that towards a customer that had recently left for whatever reason (let it be that it was a busy time or the customer was unhappy). This was all experienced while never once asked to see how we were doing, hearing the manager ask the table behind us and others how the food was, no refill on water to only be tried to be forced into a mule that we didn't order, and to feel like foreigners amongst food that we gave a change to be authentically good. The food was great, however, the service was way less than that. Unfortunately, we cannot return and cannot recommend to anyone.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Ahan has been a favorite of ours since day one. Always our first recommendation for anyone who reaches out when visiting Madison.

Tonight’s meal was truly on another level. The Tom Kha Gai immediately brought my wife and I back to our time in Thailand years ago. We were lucky to have some great off the beaten path recs for that trip (shoutout Andy Ricker!), and this meal took us right back to those special places. Truly the best dish we’ve had dining out in some time. Jamie & team, we are still talking about the layers and layers of flavor in that broth.

Also have to mention how friendly and accommodating they were with our 7 month old in tow. Cedar was fantastic, and Unc made us feel like family as well 🙂.

If you’re still sleeping on Ahan, it’s your lucky day. It’s only getting better.

Source: Google

★ 5

Had an amazing time at Ahan, we sat at the bar! The atmosphere is elevated but still casual, perfect for a wide range of occasions. I want to shout out Guy at the bar, he provided excellent friendly service, great food recs, and made some killer drinks! Thanks!

Source: Google

★ 5

5 out of 5.
Chef's kiss.

Host is warm and kind and professional.
Server was a wizard, nice, freaky fast, efficient (I like when my server isn't too flowery fake)

Regular menu stops at 9 btw, and late night 9 to 10.

We left to go out late, got there at 8.. probably 10 people waiting out in the hallway, was worried. Server said "yea no biggie we can probably get you in just in time" and they sure did, walked down to Wisco down the street and walked back at 845, got the call right as we were walking back in to Ahana the table was ready and got seated in a nice comfy booth. We felt bad showing up at later end of spectrum but had picked out what we wanted at the bar to be ready lol. Neither the server nor host showed any annoyance at us getting there later before dinner menu closed. And food came out FAST and PIPING hot.
LOVE the new table service, and the AMBIANCE. dark teal, flowers, wooden accents, gold, neon, amazing art, everywhere I look is a triumph. Music is warm electronic (think MGMT and Little Dragon, upbeat enough but warm and lilting, and not too loud! It only added to the feel of da place)
The cocktails, my bf and I both had a smoky mezcal cucumber melon with a yoghurty swirl, fancy ice cube, what wuttt. So. Good.

Lastly the food of course. Had been there over a year ago at their old location, now (Feb 2025) finally returned.

Summer rolls, even though my bf doesn't love them, I convinced him to get them here at Ahan and he's a summer rolls convert!
Had their fried chicken for the first time, it was otherworldly CHEVRE on a chicken sandwich, cucumber? Too insane to even describe.
Chevre wontons, best iteration of "fried Rangoon" you'll ever get (this is the only thing I feel I think portions a wee bit small)

The red curry udon, perfectly absorbed the sauce, perfectly al dente, and we didn't even have room to finish our kung Pao because servings were so big. So we took it home for a generous portions of leftovers.

((Quick breakdown of what we we spent, for two fancy cocktails, two appetizers, 3 mains for two people, $107 before tip, and we were stuffed!))

Hands down favorite place in Madison.
Bravo!! 👏👏

Source: Google

★ 5

We stopped into Ahan tonight for the first time at their new location and WOW. The food and drinks were so delicious. We came in on a Saturday night with my dad who is in a wheelchair and my 1 year old. They were unbelievably accommodating and kind. Before we even sat down our waiter asked if we needed hot water for a bottle or sticky rice to keep my little guy busy. It made me feel so welcomed and at ease. Highly recommend going on the early side so you can be sure that you can get a table. We will be back!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Great food, fresh and delicious! A must in Madison

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★ 5

Absolutely one of the best experiences of my life. Great flavors all over the drink and dinner menu. Exceptional service. If you come to Madison it is a must.

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★ 5

Delicious food, exceptional service. Highly recommend.

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★ 5

Brian is the bomb

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★ 4

Great staff, good food.

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★ 5

Excellent food all 3 times I’ve been there!

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★ 5

Arriveed 15 minutes early today before they opened and there was a small line at the door already. It was our first time here. Within 15 minutes of opening, the restaurant was full already. Gave me good hopes that the food was good. We order the pork dumplings and Khao Tod for appetizers. Kids love the dumplings that we had to order more.
For entrees, we had pho tai, pho gai, mok pa - the steamed cod, drunken noodles and the fried rice. All were very delicious. The presentation was also very nice. Food was not disappointing at all. We had the strawberry ube ice cream and that was yummy as well. Service was good too, considering the amount of people in at the time. There were still people lining up to come in when we left an hour later.

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★ 5

Excellent food, so good

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★ 3

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★ 5

One the best restaurants experiences ever, in all categories

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★ 5

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★ 4

Very good! Stopped in for a BD meal and this was our first visit. I was in the mood for coconut curry, and this place did not disappoint.

Ordered the green coconut curry with chicken, wife ordered cod wrapped in banana leaf. She too said her meal was delicious!

Every once in a while I get a craving for good coconut curry 🍛 this hit the spot.

Sorry, didn't get any pics of our food as I was hungry 😋.

Source: Google

★ 5

Every dish we’ve ever had from Ahan is outstanding. After many take out meals, we decided to dine in tonight. It was busy, but our waiter, Roman, was great! Something got mixed up and our dumplings didn’t get brought before our meals, but he went above and beyond to remedy it for us. The food was fantastic, as always, but Roman’s service and kindness stood out. We look forward to dining in again and continuing to work our way through the menu!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 4

Uno quizás de los mejores lugares para comer en la zona ; de ingredientes simples , pero muy bien sazonados , un lugar que no te decepcionará . Con platillos gourmetizados, porciones vastas y precios acequivles , que además cada cierto tiempo tienen un menú especial - con un platillo comen bien dos personas , y sus drunken noodles Los tienes que probar , son un must de la ciudad ! Sin duda regresaré para probar más de sus platillos , sólo quisiera que el servicio fuera diferente ; se siente torpe y aveces algo grosero , pero ya es ser muy minucioso , el lugar es espectacular

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★ 5

Outstanding food coupled with exceptional, attentive service!

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★ 4

Growing pains as they shift to table service, beautiful food and friendly staff

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★ 5

I went to Ahan with some friends for a Sunday lunch. The vibes were excellent. The food was even better! I wish I lived in Madison so I could eat here regularly.

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★ 4

The food here meets my expectations with flavors that cater well to Southeast Asian palates. My only complaints are that the Tom Yum and drunken noodles are a bit too sour. Additionally, their version of Thai Milk Tea doesn’t appeal to me as the sweetener tastes somewhat artificial.

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★ 3

My partner and I wanted to try a new restaurant and I heard great comments about Ahan, so we figured to try it out. We Ordered the Chèvre Wontons, Bún (tofu), Drunken Noodles, and the Fried Sesame Balls to-go.

The Chèvre Wontons were fine, nothing to rave about. The wontons are quiet large and a good price.

I ate the Bún with tofu and let me tell you, the tofu was tough as leather. The dressing that came with my meal was extremely one note. The only flavor profile was sweet. No Unami, spice, acid, or salt. It tasted similar to the sweet and sour sauce at McDonalds, but minus the sour. The positive feedback, the vegetables looked and tasted fresh and the portion size is good.

My partner had the Drunken Noodles, and likewise, he only tasted sweetness. No spice, hardly any salt, and many other flavor components were missing. Price for portion is fair.

Lastly, him and I both shared the Fried Sesame Balls. On thir website it states: “. . . rice flour, mung bean, sugar, coconut, and sesame seeds.” Perhaps this is my error, but I was expecting these to taste similar to red bean sesame balls—if you haven’t tried red bean sesame balls, I highly recommend. Again, similar pattern with our other dishes, overly sweet. And, it was $10 for two medium-sized balls, eh. I could see these selling for $7, but not $10.

Overall, I wouldn’t comeback here. Prize for portion-size, good deal. Fresh food, but undoubtedly one-toned.

Source: Google

★ 5

It's pretty busy and for good reason because it's worth the wait. The cocktails are excellent. Service is friendly and attentive. Food is top notch. Highly recommend the drunken noodles. Will be going back for more.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

Delicious food, well presented.
Plenty of support table staff.
Friendly folks.

Vegan and veg options.

A little too long in between the waiter's stops at the table, but he brought to-go container boxes without needing to ask! Thank you!

Possibly the vegan whip I ordered came out as diary soft-serve instead? I asked to confirm, but the receipt did say SOFT SERVE.

Source: Google

★ 5

We ate it alllll!!

It was so good and I love to eat it. I think it’s really good for all families. The yellow curry was absolutely our most favorite thing that we ordered. We also loved the Tom ka soup and the short rib pho.

Wonderful welcoming environment!!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

The food here is excellent. We almost exclusively get take out from here as they are almost always busy. We've gotten the beef pho, chicken pho, param long song, egg rolls, green curry, all excellent. We will definitely order from here again.

Source: Google

★ 5

Fantastic lunch! Ahan has been on my list for a while now, so glad we finally went. Food was outstanding, service was immediate and kind and came with excellent recommendations. Coworker and I shared lao egg rolls and pork dumplings, I had the chicken Ho Fun with crispy noodles (from server recommendation!), coworker had shrimp Kung Pao (he said it was the best he's ever had). Atmosphere also lovely. Will be back for sure.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great restaurant, had some unique taste and drinks. Would recommend. They're supposed to be adding more servers in the near future

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★ 5

We carried out a variety of dishes during our visit to Madison. I swear, this was one of the most delicious, memorable meals I’ve ever had … I can’t wait to go back and salivate when I think about it!

Source: Google

★ 4

Ahan on Willy Street has great food and drinks. You order at a counter and they'll bring the food and drinks to your table. They don't take reservations but I got there around 6pm on a Friday night and only waited about 15 minutes to get a table for 3. I got their beef pho which was pretty good. My friends got their curry soups which was also good.

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★ 5

The food was great and the staff were so sweet! Definitely one of my favorite food!

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★ 5

Really really stellar eatery. Food was amazing (still talking about it two days after eating there), service unique and friendly. Ordering is a bit odd at first, but it works.

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★ 1

Rating this place no star. Don't waste your money here. We went there because they were rated the best in madison. Worst thai/laos food ever. Everything was overpriced. Every dish we got was super sour and tangy like they used ketchup. The people that claim this place to be good don't know good asian food. Never going back.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google