Nashville, TN
For Japanese in Nashville, the local food press points to Kisser, Two Ten Jack, and Otaku Ramen. Picks from Nashville Scene and The Infatuation, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Nashville Scene and The Infatuation. Updated July 2026.
Kisser · East Nashville
A Japanese comfort-food kitchen in East Nashville built around noodle bowls including handmade udon. A spicy miso version comes loaded with shredded duck confit and duck fat, part of a menu the Scene singled out as some of the city's most satisfying Japanese cooking.
Two Ten Jack · East Nashville
An izakaya-style East Nashville spot pairing yakitori skewers with ramen, small plates, and a deep drink list. The grilled chicken skewers, simply seasoned, are the standout, alongside a Japanese menu that leans on Southern ingredients.
Otaku Ramen · The Gulch
One of Nashville's first serious ramen shops, known for a shio bowl on pork bone broth with pork confit, woodear mushroom, and a soft ramen egg. The Gulch space also runs sake and a private karaoke room, blending a Tokyo-inspired menu with Nashville nightlife.
888 · Nashville
A newer Japanese spot pairing a vinyl listening lounge with dishes like tempura soft-shell crab served over udon in a spiced broth. The record-bar setting is unusual for the city's Japanese scene and pushes it past a standard sushi-and-noodle format.
Sonobana Japanese Restaurant · West Nashville
A Japanese restaurant and grocery on White Bridge Road offering sushi rolls alongside crisp tempura and noodles, its dining room freshly renovated. The market next door sells Japanese pantry staples, making it a rare combined restaurant-and-grocery stop in the city.
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