The owner is the person who really likes to cook and really kind to people. He is the only one who cooks and prepares most of the food so please be kind and understanding :) If you loves Thai and Laos food, I could guarantee this is the best place in Madison, especially the papaya salad set with sticky rice and fried chicken. Pho is also really popular and I have heard from most people that they guaranteed it's the best! Drunken noodles and curry rice are also good! I couldn't say enough that everything here is so good I would love to explore new dishes every chance I have

I first came to Rising Sons in 2014 and it’s become a mandatory stop during our week in Madison every summer since. The food is not fancy but really good, and there are some items that manage to shine a bit more than others on the menu.
Shrimp in a blanket with a strip of ginger inside the wrapper is lovely and quite addicting. Beef jerky, laabs and the kalapao are also really great. There’s no fanciful interpretation of dishes here. Whether it be drunken noodles or green curry, you get a flavorful plate of food that won’t bust the bank. They accept cash or Venmo/Zelle.

Rising Sons on State Street in Madison is a great place for Lao and Thai food. This papaya salad is fire! Delicious and so freaking spicy. I got there papaya salad combo that was supposed to be with beef jerky and sticky rice but got pork chops and regular rice. All good. It was delicious. I also got pork eggrolls and Thai ice tea.

The Coconut Noodle Soup is a delicious spicy journey! One of the best soups I’ve ever had.

Good food. The place makes you feel like you're back to local Thai Tam-sung place. Pad see ew looks really good, will try that next time.

Edit to add more pics from others visits

Been coming here for years and it is consistently the best Thai food in Madison. The owner is very friendly and remembers the way I liked my soups. Soups are amazing, very tasteful and great broth. The curry’s are fantastic as well. Now that I’m not in Madison anymore I look forward to swinging by whenever I’m in town.

did not like how during checkout they automatically added tip without saying anything so we tipped them twice.

This is my safe space on campus. I love the staff with my whole heart they genuinely care and remember you, they will make you feel so overjoyed. The pad kee mao and green curry combination is unmatched. Make sure you get everything super spicy it makes the whole meal 30x better. Please never go out of business I would donate my home to keep you with a roof over your head.

Overcharges compared to menu by x2. Expects high tips. Mediocre food. Solid pass.

I highly recommend their curry! I tried the Pad Thai, Tom Yum, and the Curry, and the curry was definitely the standout. Be sure to try their Penang curry, everyone.

did not like how during checkout they automatically added tip without saying anything so we tipped them twice.

파파야 샐러드 산뜻하고 맛있고 beef jerky는 맛있는데 좀 많이 씹어야 되서 굳이 추천하진 않겠다. 밥이 나무 통에 담겨 나오는데 약밥같이 쫀득하고 향이 있어 맛있다. 아내가 시킨 진한 국물의 국수도 참 맛있었다. 사람이 우리밖에 없었는데 음식 나오는데 시간이 좀 많이 걸려서 지쳤으나 음식이 맛있으니까 괜찮았다. 사장님이 불친절한게 아니고 좀 시크하시다.

The Coconut Noodle Soup is a delicious spicy journey! One of the best soups I’ve ever had.

The state Street location is takeout only. Items on menu are labeled GF if they are. I ordered the pad thai and spring rolls and had no issues

Fantastic and delicious hidden gem. Authentic and full of taste and spice. The tom kha gai was amazing. Sit in the secret garden outside if you can, it’s lovely.

Minuscule ahh portions. Not worth. Needs more veggies and chick.

I first came to Rising Sons in 2014 and it’s become a mandatory stop during our week in Madison every summer since. The food is not fancy but really good, and there are some items that manage to shine a bit more than others on the menu.
Shrimp in a blanket with a strip of ginger inside the wrapper is lovely and quite addicting. Beef jerky, laabs and the kalapao are also really great. There’s no fanciful interpretation of dishes here. Whether it be drunken noodles or green curry, you get a flavorful plate of food that won’t bust the bank. They accept cash or Venmo/Zelle.

Tasteless and frozen. I ordered a curry and the vegetables were barely thawed and had a lingering taste of freezer burn on the potatoes and carrots.

Pho has a good and fresh taste.

An issue is that the service fee is automatically charged.

Good food. The place makes you feel like you're back to local Thai Tam-sung place. Pad see ew looks really good, will try that next time.

Edit to add more pics from others visits

My experience at this restaurant was pretty good until it took around 30 minutes to 45 minutes to get a plate of pad Thai and drunken noodles and also a plate of chicken wings. This wasn’t it though, as we were paying the male employee asked for our card, and tipped himself and for my food the (pad Thai and the chicken wings) was 25 dollars plus the tip together was 28 dollars. The food is overpriced for the portion and quality you are getting and time for the food to arrive took too long.

The owner is the person who really likes to cook and really kind to people. He is the only one who cooks and prepares most of the food so please be kind and understanding :) If you loves Thai and Laos food, I could guarantee this is the best place in Madison, especially the papaya salad set with sticky rice and fried chicken. Pho is also really popular and I have heard from most people that they guaranteed it's the best! Drunken noodles and curry rice are also good! I couldn't say enough that everything here is so good I would love to explore new dishes every chance I have

The only PRO is the papaya salad. (It's only good item on the menu.) However, it seems too expensive for the small portion. (It's $10, but only enough for one person. Other restaurants are either cheaper or same priced, but it's a shareable portion for two to three people.)

I've went twice now with friends and here are the CONS:
- I went at noon the second time and the waitress told me that the chef doesn't cook papaya salad this early (why is it on the menu then if I can't order it)
- Papaya plate platter (with fried chicken) the portion was too small and it was expensive ($17)... the fried chicken was freshly cooked, but I could tell that it was old/out-of-date (the chicken had a weird taste)
- Garlic Pork Dish (pictured below) was extremely dry and had a stench (the pork wasn't cleaned properly)
- Keng Kari (curry with beef) was extremely salty
- Pho and Pho Nam Tok were way too sweet
- When it was time to pay, the waitress clicked on the 15% for me. (The customer should be able to choose what amount to tip.)

The drunken noodles and the green curry are stunning. My friend and I always get these dishes. Delicious flavor that packs a punch (I love that you can get some real spicy food here). Hats off I say. My compliments to the chef. Also, the sesame balls are divine. Perfectly crispy and fried. Hats off once more.

Please please don't go here

They make you pay in venmo or zelle and include tips automatically my order was 13.66 and but made me pay 16$, tip 15% would be 15.7$

The noodles were cup ramen noodles and they don't have all the menus I asked pad thai, bubble tea, mango rice all no.

nice people, good food. accommodating of vegetarian and vegan options

Rising Sons on State Street in Madison is a great place for Lao and Thai food. This papaya salad is fire! Delicious and so freaking spicy. I got there papaya salad combo that was supposed to be with beef jerky and sticky rice but got pork chops and regular rice. All good. It was delicious. I also got pork eggrolls and Thai ice tea.

Been coming here for years and it is consistently the best Thai food in Madison. The owner is very friendly and remembers the way I liked my soups. Soups are amazing, very tasteful and great broth. The curry’s are fantastic as well. Now that I’m not in Madison anymore I look forward to swinging by whenever I’m in town.

This is my safe space on campus. I love the staff with my whole heart they genuinely care and remember you, they will make you feel so overjoyed. The pad kee mao and green curry combination is unmatched. Make sure you get everything super spicy it makes the whole meal 30x better. Please never go out of business I would donate my home to keep you with a roof over your head.

Prices online were not correct at pick up. 30 dollars turned out to be 60. Sorry, but the food was bland and oily. It tasted like it was watered down left overs from the day before. We won't be back.

Very interesting place. This was my first time seeing soybean sprouts instead of mung bean sprouts in pad thai--I didn't necessarily hate it, but it was definitely strange texturally. I asked for super spicy and received exactly that, but that was the only noticeable thing about the overall flavor--I didn't really taste anything else, just spice. So I wish something had been done about that. It was also quite costly. But otherwise, good portions, good location, and quick service!

I got Rising Sons on my lunch break on a whim today because I was craving a Thai iced tea, and it did not disappoint. Both the Thai tea and the pad Thai were amazing. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is lovely -- very well-decorated and clean, and they have outdoor seating in the alley beside the building.

Got the pad see ew (w tofu) and mango sticky rice. Both were incredible. The pad see ew's noodles were very soft and tender, but still had the perfect amount of char. Veggies and tofu were cooked to perfection. The mango sticky rice was perfectly ripe and a delicious treat.

I liked the at home and family-friendly atmosphere that this place provided. They have a lot of menu options to choose from. The dish that I ordered, I thought that it smelled weird. I did not get sick from eating there though. This place accepts cash only.

Sit on their patio. A lot of the food here, especially the appetizers are microwaved. Cash only.

One of the best! Only a few people there, people must not know how good the food is!

Can't wait to go there again.

We absolutely loved everything we ordered and tried. It was amazing, and we'll definitely go back when we're in town.

We were seated outside after asking to sit there, and it was a really nice area. It is private and has a really nice vibe. My friend and I ordered the chicken and vegetable dumplings as an appetizer. It took about 10-15 minutes for us to get the appetizers. We ordered Thai iced teas but that did not come out until 10 minutes after getting the appetizer. The dumplings were not great, it had a really thick dough that was hard to bite through and the filling did not have much flavor. Originally, we ordered vegetable dumplings and did not realize it was chicken AND vegetable dumplings, not chicken OR vegetable dumplings. I am vegetarian, so I was startled when I ate a bite and it tasted meaty. I asked the waitress if there was meat in it and she insisted that there was no meat in the dumplings. I ate one more bite and knew there was meat in it that time. I ask her to ask the cook if there was meat in it, and she came back and said oh there is some chicken in it. Turns out it is a chicken AND vegetable dumpling. It is surprising that the waitress does not know there is chicken in the dumpling. So if you have an allergy or dietary restriction, I would steer clear of this place. The teas were absolutely delicious though. After 20-25 more minutes, my dish comes out which was a tofu Pad Phet Basil which is like a stir fry with baby corn, thai basil, and mushroom. It was just alright, the portions were small and the flavor was slightly lacking. My friends meal came out 10 minutes after mine. She ordered Duck Noodle soup and she said the meat was good but the broth needed a touch more flavor. We then ordered the sesame balls and mango rice for desert but they were out of sesame balls. The mango rice was fantastic.

Overall, the food was just alright. The lack of concern to know what is in the food was quite concerning. I asked for a replacement appetizer and they said no. Pretty unbelievable after saying the dumplings did not have meat in it when it is a chicken and vegetable dumpling! Will not come back here for that reason.

University area State Street tres casual Thai atmosphere with great food. Obvious from the clientele (other than us), that this is where those who know authentic Thai/Laotian food come to eat.

Essentially a solo operation, so don't expect to walk in with a group. This is slow food at its finest and you'll be rewarded handily for regularity. Cooks off menu if you go when its quiet, leading to the best Thai and Laotian food you've ever had. Ask for pad ka pow with an egg, or a curry with noodles and sit in the alley.

This is some of the best curry I've had. However it is a one man show so expect some longer wait times. If you have the time, the food is worth waiting for. I will be back.

"what's good here?" "Everything I cook is good, so everything."

And it was. Damn good :)

Nice Laotian-Thai food on state

• Pad Kee Mao 5/5
Phenomenal! The basil chili bok-choy combo really buys me. Noodles are true showcases of Wok Hay.

• Papaya salad 4/5
Decent dish. “The right taste” as I’ve expected. Can get quite spicy so I would recommend choose mild for starters.

• Chicken satay & Garlic pork 2/5
Have to mention this though. As other comments has pointed out, their meat were generally dried out and flavorless inside. Has rooms for improvement.

Food is pretty good, service can be pretty slow for how few people are there.

Amazing location for a photoshoot.

One of my favorite restaurants in Madison! We love sitting in the little alley while we enjoy a delicious meal. The kengpet curry is so delicious, it is difficult to try anything else.

My first visit to Rising Sons Thai Restaurant was over a decade ago - and I'm happy to be able to say the food is as good as it has always been. How great to have a restaurant which has served up such good food at a fair price so consistently for so long. I love the tiny outdoor seating area - look for it if you dine in!

My son in Madison took me here for fathers day lunch with family. Not a lot of room for dining and assume take out meals main portion of the business. Spring rolls were fresh and food was delicious with nice portions. Very satisfied!

We tried this Thai restaurant 2x. Both times the takeout was consistently good. We took a star off as we asked for an extra rice bit did not get it in our order. The app they use is very helpful. Worth a try for sure!

적당한 가격대에 맛있는 타이 음식을 먹을 수 있다. 팟타이는 소스가 진해서 맛있었고, 드렁큰 누들은 살짝 매콤한 게 좋았다. 양은 부족하지도 않고 남지도 않는 딱 1인분 정도다. 주인 아저씨가 태국(?) 방송을 듣고 있는 것부터 뭔가 신뢰가 간다. 사진으로 되어있는 메뉴판이 마음에 든다. 가게 간판이 잘 보이지 않는 것이 유일하게 아쉽다.

Was skeptical going in because I knew that it’s basically run by one guy, BUT my pad Thai great and the service was good. My Thai friend said this is one of the most authentic places downtown, and it didn’t disappoint

Consistently good! Curry squash is amazing. Never had something here I didn’t like!

One of the best places on state, phenomenal Thai coffee and Curry.

Amazing!! The vegetable spring rolls were super crisp and fresh and the sauce complemented it well, and the chicken Pad Thai was great!! We went later in the day and the man working gave my table extra food that was from a cancelled delivery order which was so sweet. Definitely recommend and will be back soon!

Food is still spectacular even after all these years. Cannot recommend this place enough. Picture menus available too if you are uncertain of a meal choice. Amazing.

Best fried rice I ever had and dumplings very cool patio overall great experience and food

Allen was the only person working, but he gave us the attention and care of a fully staffed restaurant. The food was delicious and we loved the vibe of this family owned joint. We can't wait to visit again!

Great place.

Excellent vegan curries. My favorite is the squash curry with broccoli.

My fav place to get drunken noodles !!!!

Excellent food, the best flavor in Madison....!

Wow what a great place to go to have a fabulous meal

This place is delicious. Honestly i’d say it’s the best Thai place in Madison.

Food was tasty... But less in quantity.... A bit pricey...

The food is fresh and delicious. It made fresh by a skilled chef who knows the cuisine. This location opened in 2000 and has been operated by the same family that believes in the highest level of service and quality. This was my first visit, and I look forward to my next.

Very good food, great service. 10/10 great stop for a bite on State St.!

I don't know what it is about their Pad Thai but I love it. Tons of peanuts. They take credit cards now!

Great Thai food. Reasonable prices too. Gluten free is clearly marked as well 💕

The Tom Yum noodles were undercooked. The curry portion was halved from the pictures. I do not recommend this restaurant, and definitely will not come again.

They served me cold fish. I understand that you made food earlier and put it in the refrigerator, but at least heat it completely before serving it to customer.

We waited almost an hour at lunch, were told it would be another 30 minutes, and walked out.

Just as delicious as I remember from the first time I visited 12 years ago! I loved the Pad C Ew and Thai tea. My favorite Thai food in Madison!

Good. But slow.

Excellent Thai food

Food was delicious and portions generous. We shared a few appetizers and a yellow curry with some extra rice and had plenty for four of us with no leftovers. Can eat outdoor in the alley or in front or rear dining areas. Take out orders at counter.

Love this place and the vibe is SUPER cool, too!

Great low key spot with good food

yummy breakfast