
Ian’s Pizza Madison | State Street
Ian's Pizza Madison is famous for its wildly creative pizza toppings, especially its legendary Mac 'n' Cheese pie. It's a local staple with a lively a...

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Ian’s Pizza Madison | State Street

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Ian's Pizza Madison is famous for its wildly creative pizza toppings, especially its legendary Mac 'n' Cheese pie. It's a local staple with a lively atmosphere.
Try the Mac n' Cheese Slice
Don't leave without trying their famous bestseller, the Mac n' Cheese slice. It's legendary!
Lunchtime Value
Visit during lunchtime for great value. The lines move quickly even when crowded.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Pizza
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Iconic Mac 'n' Cheese Pizza
A legendary and unique pizza creation that combines creamy macaroni and cheese with pizza dough. A must-try!

Creative & Eclectic Toppings
Beyond the usual, Ian's offers wild and wonderful flavor combinations that push the boundaries of pizza.

Lively Atmosphere
Experience a bustling, energetic vibe, perfect for a casual meal with friends or after a night out.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Try the Mac n' Cheese Slice
Don't leave without trying their famous bestseller, the Mac n' Cheese slice. It's legendary!
Lunchtime Value
Visit during lunchtime for great value. The lines move quickly even when crowded.
Consider a Side Salad
Add a side Caesar salad to your order for a complete and refreshing meal.
Explore Unique Flavors
Beyond traditional, try adventurous pizzas like BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch or Drunken Ravioli.
Tips
from all over the internet
Try the Mac n' Cheese Slice
Don't leave without trying their famous bestseller, the Mac n' Cheese slice. It's legendary!
Lunchtime Value
Visit during lunchtime for great value. The lines move quickly even when crowded.
Consider a Side Salad
Add a side Caesar salad to your order for a complete and refreshing meal.
Explore Unique Flavors
Beyond traditional, try adventurous pizzas like BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch or Drunken Ravioli.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ian's Pizza is celebrated for its incredibly unique and delicious pizza creations, especially the iconic Mac 'n' Cheese slice. Diners love the lively atmosphere and the sheer variety of inventive toppings. However, some customers have experienced issues with service, including incorrect orders and unfriendliness, and a few have received burnt pizzas.
"One of the better slices of buffalo chicken pizzas that I've ever had. The slice had no flop whatsoever. Crispy crust with a nice crunch when I bite into it. Delicious. Staff seemed pretty friendly and accommodating. Passing through Madison Wisconsin as a first-time guest in this city, this is my first time discovering Ian's pizza and I absolutely loved it. Got a total of three slices today."
Otr Driving
"We decided to try this place out on recommendation from locals in Madison. The breadsticks were amazing. We were impressed with the breadsticks but the pizza was just okay. The atmosphere is more conducive to the college crowd. Service was appropriate and the wait time for food was as expected. We did have to track down staff for a side order that was taken by another customer by mistake. This is a casualty of yelling out orders by name versus bringing the food to a customers table. I would return just for the breadsticks."
Korey241
"Muy mucho featured slice was great. Spicy but not overwhelming. Light crust that made you interested in the doughy end of the crust with dipping sauces. Peeps forgot we ordered a whole cheese pizza and had to warm one up. Breadsticks were good but took away from the pizza. $4 side Caesar salad was amazing. Highly recommend. Staff were cleaning seating area—they had not given up!"
Kevin Bergeson
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Ian's Pizza is most famous for its incredibly unique and creative pizza toppings, particularly its signature Mac 'n' Cheese pizza slice.
Yes, Ian's Pizza has a full vegan menu with many creative vegan pizza options. [^M4]
Absolutely! Ian's offers delicious pizzas by the slice, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. They are known for large slices. [^M5]
Visiting during lunchtime can offer great value, and the lines tend to move quickly. It's also a popular late-night spot. [^data]
Besides the Mac 'n' Cheese, popular choices include Buffalo Chicken, Drunken Ravioli, and BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch.
Yes, you can order whole pizzas in various sizes, and they offer a wide range of creative toppings for custom pies. [^M5]
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Multiple locationsIan’s entire business model is built around serving the bar-time crowd a cheap, alcohol-soaking meal. Lines are long late night, but there’s a ton of upbeat staff to keep things moving quickly. The best seller is the mac and cheese slice, which everyone should try once.
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Settle Down had been on the list—thanks to another recommendation in the comments from Todd who’d also recommended Ian’s Pizza—but after the non-appearance of the advertised outdoor seating at the Old Fashioned the previous evening we were taking nothing for granted, Thankfully, a phone call to Settle Down confirmed the existence of a lot of outdoor seating and on arrival we saw that it was indeed so. The entire street in front of the restaurant was closed to traffic and strewn with tables and chairs. We picked one and then another and then another before finally finding one that was completely out of the blazing sun.
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With an original location near campus, a second at the top of State Street and a third within Garver Feed Mill, Ian’s found its niche in serving innovative and exciting pizzas by the slice. Their creative cast of pies constantly rotates (past favorites include cheesy potato and ranch, biscuits and gravy, and Thanksgiving slices) but one flavor can be found anytime – their most well-known slice and all-time bestseller: Mac n’ Cheese. And with a full vegan menu, everyone in your group can find their perfect slice.
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Multiple locations throughout MadisonWhen the craving for a slice of cheesy vegan pizza strikes, head here!. Each of their locations offers a special vegan pizza menu that is filled with a ton of creative options — no cheese-less pies here!. If you’re looking for something different, check out their Vegan Cheesy Potato and Ranch pizza (mozzarella, cheddar, diced potato, and topped with house-made ranch), but if that’s too wild for you, go traditional with a vegan pepperoni or veggie-packed pie!
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Ian’s serves hot, foldable pizza with Wisconsin cheese, a crunchy crust, and inspired toppings. The slices are great for the plate if you want to sit and eat, but you can also take your favorite slice to go and eat while you meander the city streets and take in the sights. Ian’s has several locations throughout the United States, but there are three locations in Madison, which is where this business originated.
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Ian's Pizza on State is one of Madison's premier spots for enjoying a slice or more, known for its creative pizza creations such as its mac and cheese pie specialty pizza. This restaurant, its spacious patio provides an idyllic place for enjoying an al fresco meal after exploring either the city or lake. Inside, its decor features friendly red accents on light tan walls that invite diners.
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Some of their stops, which offer meal size portions, include Brocach on Monroe (Wisconsin is the Badger State and Brocach is Gaelic for “badger den”), a cozy and authentic Irish restaurant and pub; Ian’s Pizza, popular for unusual variations like lasagna marinara, chicken cordon bleu and sausage penne Alfredo; and Brasserie V, a neighborhood eatery and tap room.
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Although I just recently found out that Ian’s Pizza has expanded to both Denver and Seattle, the flagship opened in Madison, WI back in 2001 and was an instant success. Ian’s has become a Madison staple because of their creative pizza toppings. It also helps that the shops are open until 2:00 AM (making it the perfect last stop after a drunken night out).
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If you read my Travel Guide to Wrigleyville in Chicago post, you saw that I stopped at Dimo's Pizza for a slice of their mac n' cheese pizza. Dimo's use to be Ian's Pizza, just like the Ian's Pizza in Madison!. Of course I had to stop there and order a vegan pizza.I ordered the vegan mac n' cheese pizza because who can resist cheesy pasta on pizza.
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But the pizza at Ian’s Pizza is not just your normal run of the mill slices. Sure, they have cheese and simple toppings like pepperoni and sausage, but they also have unique pizzas such as a penne alfredo, a drunken ravioli and their all-time best seller, mac n’ cheese pizza!. They also have vegan options, salads, huge breadsticks and so much more!.
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A layer of mozzarella on puffy, chewy crust is covered with crème fraiche, topped with elbow noodles and Wisconsin mild cheddar, then baked until piping hot. A local favorite, it has proven to be worth the hype, selling more than 1,000 slices on a typical Saturday. It has even been named the best pizza in the state by Food Network Magazine.
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If you want something quicker, Ian’s pizza is the college kids’ favorite thanks to their funky pizza by the slice flavors like Mac & Cheese pizza, philly cheese pizza or taco pizza. Parthenon Gyros is another popular late nightspot. Delicious at the time, you might regret your decision the next morning because their gyros are v greasy.
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Everywhere we looked, we saw Ian’s Pizza boxes, and everybody raved about how they bring affordable, craft-quality pizza to the people. We heard how they create exciting recipes incorporating the finest local ingredients to make the best NY-style, hand-tossed pizza to hit your tastebuds. But, truth be told, we were too full to partake.
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You can find a variety of unique pizza variations at Ian’s Pizza. Ian’s all-time best seller is the Mac n’ Cheese pizza, which is made from creme, mozzarella, macaroni noodles, and cheddar. Another one-of-a-kind choice is the Smoked Brisket and Tots pizza made from house-made barbecue sauce, mozzarella, smoked brisket, and Tater Tots.
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With late night hours, Ian’s Pizza is the perfect spot to grab a slice. From classics like vegan pepperoni to unique flavor pairings like vegan mushroom pesto or vegan Smokey the Bandit (with bbq sauce and cauliflower), Ian’s rotates through their extensive vegan options. They can even make their signature Mac n’ Cheese pizza vegan.
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You could say Ian’s Pizza is all about the wild toppings, if it weren’t for the excellent crust that manages to bring plenty of bready flavor yet remain crispy at the same time. Still, the endless ingenuity with topping combos — with pizzas emulating everything from corn chowder to Thanksgiving dinner — keeps every trip fresh.
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While not following the same construction as your typical nacho platter, the Macho Nacho pie from Ian’s still deserves to make the list. Ditch marinara sauce for a chipotle creme, mozzarella for pepper jack and pepperoni for house-made chorizo, pico de gallo and other Southwest garnishes with this signature pizza.
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Cuisine Type: Pizzeria Location: 319 N Frances St, Madison, WI 53703 Website: Ian’s Pizza. Ian’s Pizza is known for its unconventional and delicious creations, including unique toppings and flavor combinations. The restaurant’s casual and lively atmosphere makes it a popular choice for pizza lovers of all ages.
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Ian’s Pizza: Another late night local specialty pizza eat in or take out, is Ians Pizza favorite is Ian’s pizza, home of the favorite “macaroni pizza” and other crazy combinations (I seriously saw asparagus pizza in there the other day). This is another pizza place in Madison that caters to the after bar crowd.
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This is one of my favorite Madison places, a student hangout that attracts other demographics, too. The salads are gigantic and you can choose from more than 40 mix-in options, lots of vegs, tofu, chick peas, nuts and Brussels sprouts. Ian’s Pizza often has vegan slices ready to go.
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No culinary journey through our favorite Madison Wi restaurants would be complete without a stop at Ian’s Pizza on State. With its creative toppings and thin-crust perfection, it’s pizza paradise for families. Grab a slice (or two) and find a cozy spot to enjoy your meal.
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Ian’s Pizza is an on-campus pizzeria that is one of the most well-known place by the students. The pizza at Ian’s is convenient and is open 24 hours making it the most popular post-party, midnight snack. Nothing screams game day louder than this restaurant.
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But at Ian’s Pizza you can usually find them in the case right beside vegetarian and meaty options. And if you want to guarantee your vegan slice, stop by between 5 p.m. and midnight on Monday, which has been Vegan Night for the last couple of years.
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I asked for restaurant recommendations and this Ian’s Pizza was one you all recommended over and over again. And you were again correct — it was delicious and had such a fun vibe!. Ian’s Pizza sells a variety of unique pizzas — by the slice.
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Their signature pizza is the Mac n Cheese pie, but be sure to try their drunken ravioli, penne alfredo, and nacho pizzas also. They also have delicious salads, breadsticks, puppy chow and ice cream. Address:100 State Street, Madison, WI
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (354 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American- Address: 100 State St, Madison, WI 53703-2573- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Ian’s Pizza doesn't make the average slice of cheese, pepperoni, or sausage. At Ian’s, kids can sample giant slices with unique toppings such as the signature mac and cheese pizza. Unless noted, photos by the author
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Ian’s pizza is quite possibly the most popular place in Madison. People get it for dinner, for lunch, or basically whenever they feel like pizza. And it’s even at many different club meetings.
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As Madison’s most popular pizza place, Ian’s is a classic and favorite choice among kids. Ian's is best known for its Mac n' Cheese pizza. Locations: 100 State St. and 319 N Frances St.
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Ian’s Pizza is the place to go for a quick bite to eat or to curb your late-night cravings. Try out the best selling mac n’ cheese pizza or my favorite, the penne alfredo pizza.
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Frances Street OR 3241 Garver Green, MadisonCuisine: Pizzeria. This is no typical Pizzeria. Ian likes to call it his “Pizza lab”, where experimental pizzas are born.
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This eatery on State Street cemented its reputation selling pizza by the slice (and opened satellite shops). Patrons gobble up its top-selling mac 'n' cheese pizza.
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