I live nearby and there aren't as many restaurants as there are on State Street. Nam's is my first pick on this side of the campus. My favorites include spicy beef shank noodles and mapo tofu for a simpler and quicker meal. The dish here in general is not the same as what you would have in China, but it is modified in a more pleasant way than it is in many other Chinese restaurant in Madison. That is less greasy and less soy sauce. One cool thing about the mapo tofu is you can opt for beef in stead of pork. The Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce or garlic sauce is my favorite veggie dish and it is done in an authentic way. The beef casserole is also tasty and authentic.
The potential factor for a bad dining experience here is the karaoke party. Although the karaoke is done in separated rooms, if you encounter lousy but loud singers like I have once, it can still be a major turn off.