Savor Soul Food at These 6 Restaurants Near Madison

From Jamaican to Ethiopian cuisine to comfort-food-driven soul food and a coffee shop serving Swahili desserts, the area in and around Madison is home to a number of deliciously amazing Black-owned restaurants. Each serves as a love letter to visitors, showcasing the chef’s or owner’s heritage or favorite culinary inspiration. Stop in for a bite with friends and family next time you’re in town and discover amazing flavors and welcoming hosts.

Buraka – Madison

Named after the owner’s great-grandfather, Buraka is an East African- and Ethiopian-inspired restaurant that has been a Willy Street neighborhood fixture since 2016 after starting as a popular food cart. Dorowot (chicken, carrots and spices in a red sauce) is the most popular dish here, and the menu also includes a coconut curry chicken that draws inspiration from Kenyan cuisine.

This is a great spot to go with friends or family if you’re new to African cuisine. By sharing dishes, you can hone in on your favorites. Plenty of vegan selections are available, such as peanut stew or fried cauliflower, and there is even gluten-free injera (Ethiopian flatbread) upon request. Order Ethiopian coffee with a dessert to share, such as mango passion-fruit cheesecake.

Coffee4All Bistro Café – Stoughton

Priscah Norton opened this cozy cafe in Stoughton with bright red, orange and yellow walls in 2022, with a focus on serving breakfast and lunch. Her pastry menu, however, goes deeper than a coffee shop’s typical muffins and scones.

Here, you and your crew can indulge in delicious specialties like Swahili vegetarian donuts, kaimati syrup-glazed donut holes, powdered sugar-dusted beignets and homemade cinnamon rolls. For meatier options, try a Southwest chicken burrito or bacon-and-egg breakfast sandwich. Drinks range from organic coffee to Kenyan black tea to creamy iced matcha lattes. There’s something for everyone here—even the most adventurous eaters who love to try a new-to-them eat.

David's Jamaican Cuisine – Monona

New to Jamaican food? Visit Pauline and David Blake’s restaurant on a Friday night for the mouthwatering buffet where you and your group can taste through the menu. Dishes include fried plantains, jerk chicken, oxtail stew, curried lobster, pineapple salmon and breaded catfish. Non-meat eaters also have plenty of options to choose from, including the island-inspired mango or pineapple tofu. Paired with either tropical cocktails, ginger beer or Ting (sparkling grapefruit juice)—both are popular sodas in Jamaica—wrap up your meal on a sweet note with tasty key-lime pie.

Kingdom African Restaurant – Madison

Tucked into Northside Town Center in Madison, the owners describe their cuisine at Kingdom African Restaurant as African fusion. This translates to menu items like fufu (a cassava—or root vegetable—side dish), domada (peanut sauce over rice and chicken, beef or fish), shawarma (gyros), kabobs (skewered meat) and yassa (a spicy chicken and vegetable dish originating in Senegal), along with fries and chicken wings. Some dishes on the “A Taste of Africa” section of the menu can be customized to provide even more variety for your group, with selections of rice or couscous, and even the meat (chicken, fish or beef). Ending with a Wisconsin classic, the restaurant serves six flavors of Babcock Hall ice cream for dessert.

Marie's Soul Food – Madison

With Marissa Holmes at the helm, a meal at this Monroe Street eatery—open since 2018—means delicious Southern soul-food specialties like collard greens, yams, ribs, fried chicken, baked macaroni and corn muffins. Holmes does a superb job of curating meals that feature the perfect pairings, such as the BBQ baked-chicken meal with two sides and a corn muffin. Bonus: the restaurant stays open until 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, making it the perfect late-night spot to share with friends after a night on the town.

Justveggies – Madison

Focused on plant-based cuisine, Chicago-born chef -owner James Bloodsaw’s eatery recently moved from Madison’s East Side to State Street. Those who love meat might be surprised at the ingenuity of flavors here—and not hesitate to accompany their non-meat-eating friends. The menu’s not solely about vegetables, although you can order items like potato salad as a side to your BBQ drumsticks, plant-based shrimp po boy, or Koren BBQ sandwich. Bloodsaw even has “cheese” curds on the menu and a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Chocolate-chip cookies and Oreo Cookie Shake make for sweet endings.

Looking for more tasty restaurants in Madison? Check out these spots for allergy-friendly dining.