Hot-n-Spicy

What a hidden gem! This is possibly one of the best Asian/Thai restaurants in town. It’s a tiny but powerful kitchen set in the back of the Asian store. The chi is flowing in this little kitchen. Very efficient and fast service. There are couple of tables that you can sit at and eat. I opted to pick up. They are kind and friendly. Menu is simple and fantastic. Prices are very reasonable. The flavors and ingredients are fantastic. The squash curry with chicken was so good, I had to stop myself from eating it all in one sitting. The crispy noodles with veggies was another delightful dish. I had never had this one so I wanted to try it. It’s excellent- I asked for level 3 spicy and it was awesome. Definitely satisfied my taste buds and heart. Cost was also very reasonable $15 and $17. It’s a bargain for a fantastic Asian dinner. Don’t let the store and the humble tiny kitchen to deter you from trying this place. I know I will be back. Go and enjoy!

This place is great for takeout. Don’t expect to stay and eat because there are just two tables and it’s in the back of the Viet Hoa market (which is also a fantastic grocery store. I’m a fan of the Pad Thai, squash curry and especially the shrimp summer rolls. The food has a slightly different take on classic Viet or Thai dishes because it is cooked in Hmong style. The Pad Thai is more peppery and umami than Thai style, but it tastes absolutely incredible nonetheless.

Hidden in the back of the grocery store is a small area where Hot n Spicy resides. The food was phenomenal. My favorites were the pho and the Lao sausage especially the dipping sauce it came with. Try to go early to get a seating since it’s limited. Definitely want to try all their other dishes!

Very authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Primarily takeout, but limited seating (3 tables) if you want to eat there. Very friendly and great service. Credit cards accepted. It is located at the back of the Viet Hoa Market grocery store. The Panang Red Curry was excellent but was spicy at "medium" spice level. I recommend going down a level from what you are used to! They do have a no spice option as well. The Pad Thai (with Shrimp) was good but I should have added extra egg for $1 extra. The Spring Roll was quite large and you get 2 for $7 ($9 with Shrimp). I will get the Shrimp ones next time. Great hidden gem!

Hot N Spicy never disappoints! We ordered angel wings and pad Thai with chicken. The chicken is so crispy and light, not heavy at all. They're filled with veggies and noodles. Everything was spiced just right. The pad Thai is equally as amazing. Perfectly cooked noodles with a sweet spicy sauce. We had chicken with ours.

Hands down the best Pad Thai in the Madison area. I know they have other options but it’s just so good. And I have tried all the local options for Pad Thai I think by now! They are also the best in town for how they prepare the tofu. The other options in town can’t quite get their tofu right (too chewy). Perfect at Hot-n-Spicy every time! I think I’ve been here a dozen times. I put 5 stars for the atmosphere - be aware that you are at the back of an Asian grocery store. It’s authentic but it’s not fancy. Maybe not a first date spot but more of a “I just want the best food” spot. Eventually the atmosphere becomes charming and grows on you. It gets cold in here, so bring a coat.

This place bangs so hard. We tried the squash curry, the steak laab, and the rice balls. All were 10/10. Seriously the best rice balls I've ever had. Note that it lives up to its name, so if you order spice, you're getting spice.

Stopped in for the first time, got some things I am familiar with like Pad Thai, Spring Rolls, Crab Rangoon, all were fantastic. I asked the young man who took my order (fantastic customer service btw) if he had any favorites and he said his was the Crispy Noodle Lad Na, which is something I probably wouldn't have ordered otherwise. OMG you guys, get THIS when you are here, it was one of the best Asian dishes I have had! I got spicy level 1 and it had a nice heat still. I did not know what to expect from a crispy noodle, I was thinking like thin crunchy noodles, but this was like thick soft noodles then deep fried, looked like a steak fry, and it was to die for. Will be back! FYI it is a little hard to find, but is in the Asian Grocery store in the parking lot next door to Rocky's, FYI.

The people that work here are so nice. It really seems like they care about the food they make. It seems like everything is homemade (even the curry paste) and let me tell you it paid off because wow. The curry squash is the best curry squash I've ever had. Their curry is unlike any other I've had in Madison. Their pad Thai, may look different from other pad thais but let me tell you, it's not dry. Even after you microwave it, it doesn't dry out which is definitely a con of leftover pad Thai but no this one was amazing and it's got such a nice sauce. The pad see ew, fantastic as well. I've been looking for spring rolls like the ones they make because they put inside what seems to be crispy egg roll wrappers which give it such a nice texture to the roll. Their angel wings are very good, it's like the meat and noodles in the inside of lumpia, but inside of a chicken wing?? So fun! The meatballs are really fun too. I genuinely feel like whatever you get here is going to be good and quality made. Oh and if you feel like other restaurants have been skimping on the noodles, look no further because you will have leftovers. I'm always looking forward to coming back. Thank you to the kind people of hot n spicy for making delicious food that honestly can't be replicated anywhere else.

Love this spot. It's a true hole in the wall gem. Their pho is tasty and the crab ragoons are delicious. I frequently visit just for those to enjoy at home. They have three tables so you could be waiting a while if you choose to stay and wait. Otherwise their food is packaged well for a journey home. The menu is very limited which I think adds to the quality in taste as they only need to focus on a few items. They also have a spicy scale so you can adjust the meal to your preference.

Picked up food here many times. Very good service, ready to go! First time trying the sesame balls, wow, amaze-balls! The red bean paste is like a dessert! Back of the grocery store so it's convenient to pick up some groceries too!

I've been to Viet Hoa before but this was my first time trying the restaurant in the back. Since I was in the area, I finally got to stop by for lunch and try it! I wanted to eat in since pho take out is never as good as in person, and they said it would be about 15 min wait for one of the tables to open up. There are only two (and a half?) tables used for dining in as most people tend to come in for take out. Being tucked in the back of the grocery store with people standing around for takeout can be a little awkward, and you definitely can't sit more than 1-3 people per table. This was some of the best pho I've had in Madison, the broth was super flavorful! I've tried a lot of places on the west side closer to where I live but they were just okay. I wasn't sure exactly what cuts of beef I'd be getting in this bowl, typically I order the Pho Thai.

Loved it! The food was great - 1 was spicy enough for me! Service was super. Right now they are in the back of Viet Hoa market, but I believe they are moving next door. Hot-N-Spicy is a treasure.

I have pad Thai for the first time and it was absolutely wonderful, don't miss this place hidden inside the Asian market, you don't wanna sleep on it... Absolutely amazing food I can't wait to try it again

I took out lunch from here. This place is inside Viet Hoa Market, with no board outside the shop. I had to roam around the complex couple of times before finally go inside the market to find this place. I took out a pad thai and made it very spicy. It was super spicy, though I loved it that way. Pad thai was made well and had a lot of veggies and flavor punch.

First time in, pho beef and pad Thai tofu were really, really great. Takeout was pretty quick, too!

Hidden inside an Asian market, which itself is quite nice. The pho was really good, I don't know how it compares to others because it was my first time having it, but I really liked it. The pork spring rolls were absolutely delicious. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Can't wait to go back!

I'm embarrassed to say I'm just discovering Hot-N-Spicy now, but better late than never! My husband and I had a craving for Pho and egg rolls today, and our search brought us to Hot-N-Spicy. Within three bites it quickly became our new favorite place in Madison. I had the red curry, my husband had the beef Pho, and we shared egg rolls with peanut and sweet and spicy sauce. All was better than we could have imagined. Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making sure our orders were to our particular liking. Be warned, they take spice seriously. I ordered my curry with level 2 spice and it had me questioning how one might even eat level 4 (I personally loved the level of spice in my dish, I just couldn't have tolerated higher). There is very little seating, so I would recommend take out if you live in the general area. We enjoyed looking around the grocery store while we waited for our food. We can't wait to visit again!

I've ordered from here a few times and have had a great consistent experience! Their pad Thai is amazing. Arguably better than Ha Long Bay; however, I've only tried there once. Service is always super friendly and I appreciate that. It's always ready on time when I call ahead for pick up. Would definitely also recommend the spring rolls. We had the pork and it was really good. The crab Rangoon is even better!! Definitely give this place a try :)

Madison, WI is very lucky to have Hot-N-Spicy restaurant, an amazing little culinary gem serving authentic Thai, Laotian, & Vietnamese cuisine! It is currently inside the back corner of Viet Hoa Asian Market. There are a few tables to dine in but it is mostly a take out spot. There is nothing esthetically fancy inside but the food is incredible & it's a very friendly family oriented business! I recommend trying my favorite the Beef Laab. Laab is absolutely delicious & a very popular national dish that is a minced meat salad with herbs traditionally served in Laos & North Eastern/Isaan Thailand & varying with minced pork/chicken. The beef Laab at Hot-N-Spicy is mostly minced steak with onions, scallion, cilantro, mint, toasted ground rice, cooked tripe, fish sauce, & lime juice served with refreshing cucumber slices. I order sticky rice to eat it with it!! Try their Thai or Laotian style papaya salad also a well loved favorite popular dish in both Thailand & Laos eaten with sticky rice with lots of different variations. I usually order their Lao style which is mostly long beans, green papaya, Thai egg plant, tomatoes, Thai chili peppers, padaek (fermented) ,fish sauce, & fresh lime juice. In my opinion, Lao style papaya salad is more pungent than Thai style with the umami fermented fish sauce with more complex flavors/ingredients. Papaya salad is well loved because it's flavors of spicy, sweet, sour, bitter, & salty all in one dish! Hot-N-Spicy also has great Angel Wings, Vietnamese Pho soup, Chicken Satay, curries, Pad Thai & other noodle dishes, etc. This place is true to their name which I love! If you don't have a high spice tolerance or not used to eating very hot spicy foods regularly, you may want to start at spice level 1 to see if you want to order more spicy next time. For some of their dishes such as the Laab they will mostly ask you 1-4 what level of spiciness you would like but even a level 2 may be too much for some people. They have higher spice levels but do so at your own risk only if you are used to intense fiery heat! I highly recommend trying Hot-N-Spicy if you would love to explore Southeast Asian cuisine!

This place is a hidden gem! It's delicious and my new go-to & standard for Asian food!! While it's not technically a sit-down restaurant, they do have a a couple small tables you could eat at. It's located in the back of an Asian grocery store. We called ahead to pick up an order, the gal on the phone was very friendly and helpful; and our order was ready right on time. We tried chicken pad Thai, fried rice with chicken, beef & shrimp, crab Rangoon, egg rolls, chicken satay with peanut sauce & their purple sticky rice...everything was delicious and fresh, and not drenched in grease as sometimes fried food can be. I am a very picky person when it comes to fried rice - I like that smoky authentic flavor which to my surprise this had!! I really liked that you could select the spice level from 0-5 for the main dishes. We chose "2" for our pad Thai and there definitely was a kick! I don't think I could do more than 3 haha....All of the sauces were also delicious, especially the peanut sauce which I think is homemade. Another pleasant surprise was that for the fried apps they cut the side of the styrofoam container to keep the food crispy and prevent the steam from making it soggy- bravo! We will 100% most definitely order from Hot-n-Spicy again, and looking forward to trying other items from the menu - including pho!

Stumbled onto this place at the back of Viet Hoa market. They are closed on Mon/Tue but the lady owner was preparing food on Tue and said we could order food but must pay in cash. Thank God I got enough cash on me. They have 3 small tables with a total of 10 seats but all very cramped together. I believe most people order take away instead of dining in. Ordered pho and pad see eww with steak; food came in around 10 minutes. Pho broth was hot in temperature but too salty. Plenty of protein and good portion size. There was a small paper plate with bean sprouts/basil/jalapeños/lime. The pad see eww came with Chinese broccoli, carrots, excessive onions and broccoli. I asked for 1 star spicy level as I have no idea about their standards. Turned out it was not spicy and too sweet. If I order thay again, I'd ask to cut down in half sugar. It was good after adding chili oil. For Madison's standards, $30 for these 2 dishes are acceptable. If I'm in the neighborhood again, I may give it another try!

Super friendly. I loved both the pho and the fried noodles. There wasn't a lot of seating available.

Just like my first review, HnS continues to deliver. Arguably the best Thai in the city-all magically prepared in a minuscule kitchen in the back of a grocery store. Love their angel wings, their pho, and the pad thai is absolutely phenomenal. A true Madison gem.

Excellent Pad Thai. Better than any in the area. Generous portion of chicken. I usually request 2 for a spicy level (medium) This is a little spicier than other restaurants. Not a big deal. Next time, I'll order a 1 spice level (mild). I'll definitely be back

Fantastic Pho. I had the Beef Pho and it had all of the taste components: savory, a little spicy, salty, and sour. I had to take half of it home and it was fantastic the next day. I will definitely be back here. Friendly and fast service too. While I was here, I also picked up a few of those instant Korean noodle bowls that you don't get at typical grocery stores. A bonus.

I was recommended this place by a fellow Yelp elite, and it didn't disappoint. The place is in the back of a grocery store, and it only has two tables to eat at. We ordered takeout online, and when we got there they said it was still another 25 or 30 minutes. We had ordered about 20 minutes before arriving, so we were a little confused because people that placed orders right there only had to wait 25 minutes as well. Regardless, the food was delicious. Surprisingly, my favorite dish was the fried noodles with the gravy you pour over yourself (for takeout). I got it with tofu, and the level one spice was great. The spring rolls were also divine, and the pad thai is good as well. I would definitely order takeout from here again!

My 500th review has got to to go a local gem! I love this place and could order every week if I lived on the east side! Such an unassuming place inside a grocery store, but each dish packs so much flavor, it's dynamite! If you enjoy southeast asian thai/laos/hmong cuisine, must stop here and order take-out. When you ask for extra spicy, they don't play around either, which is exactly what I like. I've tried so many dishes, so I pick a top three that I like to order: 1. Pad Thai -- I'm a little different and go for the pad thai sauce but with the thick noodles (like for pad c ew). The thick noodles grad onto the sauce so well. I get it with tofu (which they provide a generous portion of). 2. Steam rice rolls -- the rice roll is so thin and delicate, yet holds all the filling in quite nicely. It strongly resembles Vietnamese banh cuon. The filling is plentiful and it's served with fish sauce, one of the all time favorite sauces of all time. 3. Beef laab -- ground beef sauteed together with so many fresh herbs like thai basil, mint, and more. I usually get large lettuce and make them in wraps, but it's also great with white rice to absorb the juices. Other amazing dishes are the pho and for dessert get the sesame balls! I really don't think you can go wrong with any choices here.

Their food is pretty good with large portions but the service lacks They will ignore you and hide in the back sometimes when you go to the counter And I've called to order for delivery and been told they were closed for the day twice So their hours on the web aren't reliable saying that though I do like their food Although the egg roll isnt homemade so not worth buying

I'm obsessed with this hidden gem!! Who knew right here in Monona, in the back of a grocery store, they would serve some of the best Thai food around!? We got a Thai tea- perfect. An order of shrimp spring rolls- they have such great flavor, fresh shrimp, and little crunchies in there too. I've never had it prepared like that and liked it a lot. Then I got the pad thai which was very delicious. And my partner got the panang curry with tofu. Holy cow was his good. I will say this place gives the more popular places in Madison a run for their money. Everyone working there was super kind and while the ambiance is a little underwhelming, it feels very authentic.

Delicious, fresh, all the umami. Ordered delivery: pad Thai, extra chicken, pad see ew-tofu, extra veggies, shrimp spring rolls, egg rolls, wonton soup. At the time, won ton soup was not available for delivery...so I called and they happily added it to my delivery. hot tip. Veggies were cooked perfectly, everything was flavorful: ginger, garlic, onions, heat...all the right heavenly flavors. Wonton soup is hearty, meaty, and perfect for our cold winter!! The chili was smokey-yum! So glad we found this place, will return!

This has definitely been one of my go to places in town for Thai/Laos food. They have been consistent every time. I love their spring rolls, pad see ew, and pho. But everything I've tried is always good! It's located inside of Viet Hoa Grocery store and can take a little longer but worth the wait for the freshness of the food. You can order ahead and take it home to eat. Still taste great. There are two tables there but limited seating. Definitely a must try place.

What a great find! I was just Googling and Yelping for some good takeout places in the area, and came across Hot-N-Spicy. The reviews were good and I love me some Asian food, so decided to give it a try. I suppose I might be the only one that didn't realize it was actually inside in the back of the Viet Hoa Market, but after a lot of confusion I finally found my destination (there's a sign in the complex sign, but not on the actual building where it is). Pickup was easy, staff was super nice and appeared to be taking all the right safety precautions amidst the COVID pandemic. I struggled to actually make a decision on what I wanted to eat, but I eventually settled on the crab rangoon and pad thai (my go-to's, really). The crab rangoon was very good, but a majority of each piece was the fried dough/crust, and not the stuff that was actually inside. I ended up tearing off about half of each piece as extra. I wouldn't order this option again for that reason, but would totally try a different appetizer. If you really like the crust/dough stuff plain, then you'd love this. All about preference, I suppose. The pad thai was very good. It was slightly dry, but I don't think that detracted from the dish... it totally worked. The noodles were thinner than I usually find in a pad thai dish, and the flavoring was divine. I ate the entire order, even though I could have saved it for leftovers and had about 4 more servings (call it a fatty night.... totally worth it). It took me a week or two to write this review, and I kept stumbling across the pad thai pictures I took on my phone and it makes my mouth water every time just looking at it. This is a great, local place that is delicious and totally a worthwhile business to support. I will certainly be back during and after this pandemic, and cannot wait to try new things on the menu. I am particularly excited about trying the Angel Wings and the Pad See Ew. Order from here today!!!!

Decided to give this hidden gem a try. I ordered the steak laab (level 2 spice) with shrimp spring rolls while my wife wanted the shrimp fried rice. This was my first experience with steak laab and it was a very pleasant flavor. The level 2 spice was enough for me, but the spice level goes to 4. The shrimp spring rolls were delicious and i love how they add some crunch (tempura?) to them. My wifes shrimp fried rice was very good and the thai teas that we both ordered were a perfect way to neutralize the spice from my laab. There are only 3 small tables but its perfect for pickup, and they are reasonably quick (15-20 minutes). I plan on exploring the store that it resides in more as well.

3.5/5 for me here. I ordered pad Thai and pho combo. The pho broth was a bit salty for me but the taste was good but not aromatic. The meat was pretty good quality as well. I liked that their shrimp didn't have the salty taste to it. I don't hate it. I'd get the pho again if I'm in the area. Additionally, not sure what sriracha they used but it was so good. I typically used Huy Fong one but it was the same sriracha brand, I don't know why it tasted so much better than the one I bought. I ordered level 2 for pad Thai. Oh my god, it was so spicy. The spice level goes from 1-4 with 4 being the spiciest. I could barely handle level 2. It was delicious but no distinct flavors. Overall, cute local place. Would come back to try different things.

This was amazing. It has a casual atmosphere in the back of a cool Asian grocery store. The red curry was authentic and full of flavor. I got the spiciest level. I really like spice, so definitely tone it down if you don't. For me, It was the perfect level of spice, accentuating the flavors but not distracting from the dish. The pho was huge! The broth was richer than most pho I have had. Highly recommend. The egg rolls were also hot and crispy. I also had the thai tea. It was the largest tea for the price I've had. It was a little on the sweet side for my taste. If I got it again, I would probably ask for less sweet. Overall, this is some of the best asian food in Madison.

I learned about this place from our CM TD's first event, and the food was delicious! But I live on the far west side so I only finally got around to making it out here. The "restaurant" is pretty small, it's really just a place to order and 3 tables (in normal times, effectively just 1 right now) at the back of some food aisles in the grocery store. When I got there around 5:30 on a Saturday they were super busy - phone orders were looking at 45 min. Great to see they're doing good business right now. I ordered the pad see ewe with spice level 3 (out of 4) and Thai tea. Pad see ewe normally includes carrot, onion, broccoli, and Chinese broccoli but I skipped the broccolis. They generously subbed in snow peas for me. I was expecting to have to wait for my food based on the phone orders but it came out in maybe 10 min! The pad see ewe hit the spot for a late lunch/early dinner for me. Carrots still had a nice crisp to them, the noodles were maybe a tad too soft. Spice level 3 was about perfect for me with a nice little kick to the point of barely breaking a sweat. The condiment selection at the table is also excellent. Have you ever seen spicy chili crisp at other restaurants? Any place that has chili crisp is automatically a winner. Service was excellent, I was even given a complimentary refill on the Thai tea. It turned out the guy taking orders was at the Yelp event (it's been a while so I can't remember if he's the owner), and it was great to finally make a visit. The banh mi is made at the beginning of the day, not on demand, so you might have to test your luck if you're hoping to get some late in the day.

This is my favorite Asian restaurant in Madison The pad Thai is the best better then any we're else!! The nam kow curry fried rice with Nam meat is so good. If you have not tried the PHO your missing out!! Home made meatballs beat any pho spot in Madison... Everything I have got here was so good. I wish they would bring back the chicken soup with the home made noodles. On a cold winter day I would order it at least 3 times a week threw eat street and it was still amazing. Must try small authentic restaurant family owed in the back of the Asian market in Manona WI. The family is very nice they try there best to make sure your happy!

Delicious! It is just a small restaurant with only a few tables in a grocery store. I believe the bulk of their business is take-out. But don't let that deter you ... the food is excellent! We had papaya salad (lao style), heavenly beef jerky, bahn coun, sticky rice and spring rolls. If I lived in Madison I would go at least once a week. The food is excellent ... think high-quality home-made. Please note that it is inside of a small grocery store at the back.

Hot n Spicy may be just a small restaurant with only 3 tables in the back of an Asian market, but it is absolutely amazing. I've been eating here at least once a month for a few years now, and have tried the pho at several other Thai restaurants in the area but they just don't compare. My favorite items on the menu are the tofu pho, nem nuong spring rolls, jerky, and crab rangoon! Their delicious and fresh food is amplified by the fact that they're friendly and provide great customer service. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some authentic Asian cuisine that will quickly become a favorite comfort food.

Finally got around to ordering from this place even though it is right down the block from us. First encountered them about a year ago at a Yelp event. Found my way to the back left corner of the Asian grocery store to find the tiny little kitchen and the spot to pick up my order. It was ready very quickly from the time I called to pickup. We started with an order of their homemade beef jerky - it was flavorful and moist without being dried out. We liked it a lot. I then ordered Panang Red Curry with Shrimp it was very good with a bit of spice. We also ordered the Pad Woonsen with Tofu - also very good and tasty especially the noodles but a bit too hot for my wife's taste. Yes this place is called Hot n' Spicy so she shouldn't have been surprised. The menu is relatively small but it has many interesting selections like the Angel Wings so we will likely order again.

Amazing curry and pho. Squash curry will have you looking for a place to take a nap. Impeccable service from the folks taking orders and cooking. Small dining area in the back of a supermarket. Ecuadorian place across the parking lot good as well. Excellent fresh cooked food. I havent tried the jerky but I imagine it is great.

This spot only gets better and better! The prices are more than fair as the portions are amazing... The spice level is spot on for a place called "Hot-N-Spicy" - know that even Level 2 is a tad bit spicier than "Siracha" but that good kind of heat that is slow...Level 3 is pretty adventurous for dishes like curry, but SO good! The Pad Thai is a bit different from your 'typical' expectations but quite delicious all of the same...Definitely would recommend any of the curries... The spring rolls remain a huge hit (the addition of a textural crunch really makes it unique and outstanding amongst its peers) as they add plenty of fresh herbs and an order could be a meal in of itself (ask for extra sauce if you are a dipper - it's only $.75 extra and so worth it!) Also, a sleeper selection might be the beef jerky; it is craveable! Get it & eat it while it is still hot

This place caught my eye as it had some Laotian food, which is always cool to see. I ordered delivery from here, and I got my daughter chicken satay and sticky rice, and I got the pad thai and sausage. The pad thai was decent. A lot of noodles. A decent sized portion but a little more toppings to offset all the noodles would've been nice. Not something I'd order again as it was a little too dry. The sticky rice was purple, which was fun. It had more of a brown rice taste than white sticky rice, which was a bit weird but still tasty. They gave us a bunch, perfect to share between us. It paired great with the chicken satay and Laotian sausage. The satay was nice and juicy and came with a delicious, thin peanut sauce. And the Laotian sausage had a tad of heat and had that signature limey taste. So good. All in all, this place is more Thai than Laotian, but it's still great to have the Laotian food mixed in. I will definitely be coming back to try out their laab, jerky, and papaya salad.

TG for Yelp, or I may have never found this place. It's located inside the Viet Hoa Market, so it took me a minute to find it (should've read previous Yelp reviews). Several of us ordered take out for lunch which included Pad Woonsen, a coupe different fried rice dishes, the crab rangoons and the fresh spring rolls. Prices are incredibly reasonable and everyone raved about their dish. The crab rangoons were especially fantastic. If you like heat, don't be afraid to go all the way for level 4 spiciness.

Finally tried their food a while ago and it is truly a hidden gem inside of the supermarket, Viet Hoa. I've tried their nam khao fried rice, pho, and pad thai within the past few months and they were not a disappointment. Their pad thai is hands down the best in Madison, even some friends who have traveled to Thailand have commented that their pad thai taste as good as the ones they make in Thailand! My biggest regret is not coming here sooner and not taking any photos before devouring. Hope they expand out and maybe have their own little restaurant!

Tammy whips up some of the best Asian eats around and you will notice during peak lunch and after work hours. They don't behave a huge, extensive menu but what they do have is authentic and tasty. If you are looking for the spice level to deliver a palate smacking wallops at Hot-N-Spicy, make sure to tell them how many chilled you want. But be warned, it will get you sweating. There are pastes, ground dried Chile's, chile oil, and homemade sauces that can be used for maximum heat. Don't expect much in the ambiance department, but go for the food and enjoy yourself. You can order and shop around at Viet Hoa while you wait if you do order ahead. Check out all the interesting items and grab some things to make something at home. They also have weekend specials, offer free meals on their Facebook page, and also do catering so keep them in mind.

As I type this, Sweet Caroline comes to mind because their food is "so good! so good!". I got the pad Thai and papaya salad - Thai style (just ask!), both with 3 peppers out of 4. The pad Thai uses the thin rice noodles typically found in Pho, but it works because it soaks up all of the flavors and packs it into every bite. Ever try mixing the two together? It's a sweet and savory dream! Plus, it adds a little bit of texture to your humongous portion of noodles. The noodles come with your choice of chicken, vegetables, or tofu. I went with the tofu, they are the square, bite-sized deep fried kind and so good! so good! The papaya salad came with pork rinds and cabbage. If you soak the cabbage overnight in the leftover juices, voila! You get like a second portion of sweet and tangy salad. I would rate the 3 peppers as a Midwesterner's 7 out of 10 so be careful to all of the Karen's. But if you've been to Southeast Asia or area familiar with the level of spice, you can go up a pepper.

Amazing squash curry and tofu spring rolls!! Will definitely order again! So fresh, quick and full of veggies!

Got takeout from here for Yelp's Big Night In. I've been wanting to actually go to the restaurant since they served food for one of our Yelp events, which was amazing! First thing to note, they are located inside the grocery store, which is kind of fun to check out if you are picking up food. They have pretty good prices on produce!! We ordered the spring rolls, a sesame bun, and the panang curry (spice level 3). My favorite was the spring rolls! They were filled with 4 large shrimp and the amount of greens and carrots was a perfect balance. The interesting part of the spring rolls was the fried wonton wrapper inside; it added a nice crunch to the dish, and I preferred it to the standard of peanuts. The dipping sauce was also quite good. We also liked the panang curry. It had a very good flavor, but I was kind of expecting a little more spice with a spice level of 3. During our Yelp event I remembered their food being pretty spicy, so we didn't go with level 4, but I think next time we will have to. The sesame bun was also a little treat. Stuffed with red bean paste and fried, it was the right filling to bread ratio and didn't taste greasy. The sweetness of the red bean paste complemented the savory of the bun perfectly. Overall, super easy pickup system and great food! We will be back to try more in the future!

You know when you've found a gem and it makes you so excited!! This place is in the back of a grocery store with only 2 tables! I went with my partner and our good friend and we all got different things and just raved about how good and flavorful everything was. I'm a huge curry fan, my friend got pad Thai and my boyfriend got fried rice. We also got spring rolls, grab Rangoon and egg rolls. 5 starts all around! The chef also sent us sesame balls which was such a kind gesture! While waiting for our food we shopped the grocery store and got some goodies. I loved this place because I felt like it wasn't your everyday Madison experience. Can't wait to come again!

The food was very good, and I'd recommned carryout as the dining tables are just in the back of the grocery that this spot is located in. We will be back.

Tried Hot-N-Spicy at the Hmong New Year. The food was good. Only thing missing was their entire menu. Will definitely go back to the restaurant to get the pho and angel wings (not shown in photo). Photo shows meatballs, spring rolls, egg rolls, fried chicken wings, Lao papaya, beef laab, beef jerky and pad Thai. Favorite was laab and spring rolls!

This is a very unassuming place tucked way inside a busy grocery store. If you aren't familiar, there's no proper signage as well. We had to ask the cashier where the place actually was. They had 3 tables and a few chairs. Not ideal for an eat in setting. We ordered to eat in and then changed our mind and made it a take out. There was a funky smell in the store that I didn't want to spoil my first eating experience here. The person at the counter was very accommodating when I asked him to change my order to go. We ordered a Pad Thai and a fried rice. Very traditional- spice level of 4 was perfect for us. They know what they are doing when it came to the spice level. I think it's best to order ahead and do a take out from this place. I do recommended it. This is as authentic as it gets. My only complaint is their limited seating area and a bit unorganized..... (they don't have napkins)- gave me paper towels instead

A hidden gem in Monona, hot-n-spicy is located in the back of the Viet Hoa grocery store, and everything I've ever ordered there has been super flavorful and fresh and just... a delight. The best Pad Thai you'll ever have, for starters. Delicious Thai iced coffee, excellent noodle dishes. Their various specials are always a highlight: the Nam Khao Tod (crispy rice salad with Lao sausage) is a OUT OF THIS WORLD, as is the Khao Piak Sen (chicken soup with tapioca noodles) if you're lucky enough to get it. Not a fan of their Banh Mi sandwiches (bread is disappointing, and flavors are a little muted) but everything else is GREAT.

This is easily becoming my favorite southeast Asian restaurant in the Madison area. They hit all their flavors spot on. Today I tried the squash curry for the first time and it was absolutely delicious. Love having all the veggies in there! I've also had their pho and pad Thai - they do not disappoint! Give them a try if you haven't already- I can't say you'll regret it!

Delicious. What a treat. Located in the Asian market so we ordered to-go (there are tables in the inside). Shrimp rolls, sesame balls, tofu pad Thai and chicken Laap salad were all so good. Highly recommend.