Ian's Pizza by the Slice ★ 4.5
Ian's Pizza on State Street, the outpost of Madison's slice institution founded on Frances Street in 2001, runs mac-and-cheese pizza and rotating creations.
Try: Mac and cheese pizza by the slice
Eat well in Madison for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Cheap eats worth seeking out
Mickies Dairy Bar ★ 4.4
Mickies Dairy Bar on Monroe Street, the campus-side diner since 1946 across from Camp Randall, runs Wisconsin diner breakfasts and the legendary Scrambler.
Try: Scrambler with hash browns and pancake
Banzo ★ 4.4
Banzo on Sherman Avenue, the falafel cart turned brick-and-mortar Israeli kitchen, runs fresh falafel sandwiches, hummus bowls and shakshuka brunch.
Try: Falafel sandwich and shakshuka brunch
Buraka ★ 4.5
Buraka on Williamson Street, the Madison Ethiopian kitchen since opening on State Street in 2000, runs vegetarian and meat tibs samplers with injera.
Try: Vegetarian Ethiopian sampler with injera
Glass Nickel Pizza Co. ★ 4.2
Glass Nickel Pizza on Atwood, the east-side specialty pizza chain founded in 1998, runs creative pies and weekday slices at student-budget prices in Madison.
Try: Specialty pizza by the slice or pie
The Plaza Tavern ★ 4.3
The Plaza Tavern on North Henry, the State Street campus bar since 1930, runs the legendary Plazaburger and cheap beer pitchers in a student-friendly room.
Try: Plazaburger with fries
State Street Brats ★ 4.2
State Street Brats on State Street, the campus bar since 1953, sells red and white Wisconsin brats with cheese curds and Spotted Cow taps for game-day crowds.
Try: Red brat with a side of cheese curds
Paul's Pel'meni ★ 4.5
Paul's Pel'meni on West Gilman, the late-night Russian dumpling counter near campus, sells a single dish of pelmeni with butter, curry powder and sour cream.
Try: Russian pelmeni with butter, curry and sour cream
Parthenon Gyros ★ 4.1
Parthenon Gyros on State Street, the long-running Greek counter on the pedestrian strip, serves gyro plates and souvlaki for a student-budget lunch.
Try: Gyro plate with fries and tzatziki
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry ★ 4.3
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution, runs cheese-curd-topped burgers and hand-cut onion rings under $15 at lunch.
Try: Melting Pot burger with onion rings