Best Japanese Food In Nashville

Jan 11, 2023 | Local Guides

Experience the Flavors of Japan: Top Japanese Restaurants in Nashville

Nashville has a reputation for hot chicken and southern-style biscuits. Yet, the locals also relish Japanese cuisine. Music City is home to abundant establishments offering fresh fish, high-quality sake, and delectable sushi rolls. These restaurants are scattered throughout the city’s landscape. Nevertheless, we detailed the best Japanese restaurants to make that next lunch or dinner decision easier.

In our list below, we present the top restaurants that serve the freshest and highest quality Japanese food in town. Finding the best Japanese food in Music City is easy with this list. No matter your preference, hibachi grill, sushi bar, or sake tasting, it’s in Nashville. Once you know where to look, nothing else can hold you back. 

#1: Virago

Revolutionizing the independent restaurant scene for the past 19 years, Virago has done so with upscale cuisine. Their sushi chef, Himmi, is known to craft captivating nigirizushi (rice mounds topped with sashimi) and makimono (rolled sushi) masterpieces. Also, the restaurant is home to Music City’s most expansive Japanese whisky and sake offerings. The dining experience at Virago has been voted “Best Sushi Bar/Japanese Restaurant in Nashville” six times in a row by the Nashville Scene.

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1126 McGavock Street, Nashville, Tenn. 37203

615.254.1902

Virago | Wesley Mortgage
O-Ku Sushi Nashville | Wesley Mortgage

#2: O-Ku Sushi Nashville

Germantown’s first sushi restaurant, O-Ku Sushi Nashville, adds a southern twist to Japanese cuisine. Dining aficionados will be attracted here for the food offerings and the splashy setting that stands out from the rest of the city. While offering fish from some of the world’s finest markets, they also focus on sustainable produce from local farms. O-Ku’s unique ingredients, such as local barbeque and produce, along with Japanese specialties like wagyu beef, make for exceptional cuisine and sushi specialties that are as exquisite to look at as delicious. Diners who appreciate sophisticated presentations of their meals will be delighted by the focused approach of this establishment.

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81 Van Buren Street, Nashville, Tenn. 37208

629.900.0021

#3: Sunda New Asian

Showcasing Eastern and Southeast Asian local cuisines, Sunda New Asian extends a cross-cultural menu to the downtown neighborhood of The Gulch. Offering contemporary approaches to classic Asian dishes, this establishment’s menu fuses flavors and techniques for fantastic results. The popular Tuna Truffle Pizza is a standout item that is made with roti prata, black truffle, foie gras aioli, red onion, and truffle vinaigrette. Sunda New Asian is renowned for its award-winning sushi bar and premium list of sakes, Asian beers, and wines. Stop by during happy hour for discounted sushi hand rolls and their two-for-one special on warm sake.

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592 12th Avenue South, Nashville, Tenn. 37203

615.610.7566

Sunda New Asian | Wesley Mortgage
Midori Japanese Korean Restaurant | Wesley Mortgage

#4: Midori Japanese Korean Restaurant

Since 2001, this unassuming eatery has been one of Nashville’s favorite Asian restaurants. It is a family-run restaurant of Korean heritage known for its sushi offerings just as much as authentic Korean barbeque. Utilizing charcoal grills inlaid into the dining table, try the bulgogi (also known as “fire meat”), thin cuts of marinated beef. Pair that with a traditional banchan, Korean side dishes like fish cake or spicy cucumber salad. Or, stick to the Japanese side of the menu and order your favorite sushi or sashimi.

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5628 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, Tenn. 37211

615.831.1203

#5: Samurai Sushi

A sushi oasis in Music City’s Midtown is Samurai Sushi. This cozy restaurant will transform taste buds. Visitors can decide between various sushi roll options, including raw fish, cooked, deep-fried, naruto (wrapped in cucumber), vegetable, fruit and fish (in soybean paper), and temaki (hand roll sushi filled with spicy tuna, green onion, and cucumber). A few favorites include the Volcano Roll, made with asparagus, cream cheese, spicy tuna, and topped with avocado and spicy crabmeat, and the Samurai Roll featuring a blend of salmon, crab, cream cheese, and covered with avocado and eel sauce.

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2215 Elliston Place, Nashville, Tenn. 37203

615.320.5438

Samurai Sushi | Wesley Mortgage

#6: Two Ten Jack

This izakaya (Japanese pub) is the first of its kind in the Nashville area. Two Ten Jack offers traditional food like ramen and grilled meats but utilizes locally sourced ingredients. The environment is laid-back, staying true to the izakaya experience. For a small plate, try the pork gyoza. These traditional steamed dumplings are served piping hot and stuffed with sweet and sour pork. Regarding main dishes, ordering a few yakitori (grilled skewers of meat and vegetables) is a great way to experience the many flavors of Japanese pub fare.

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1900 Eastland Ave #105, Nashville, TN 37206

615.454.2731

#7: Sonobana Japanese Restaurant & Grocery

In West Nashville, Sonobana Japanese Restaurant is tucked into a strip mall on White Bridge Road. Shoppers passing by this Japanese-owned and family-run establishment often find its sashimi and sushi rolls irresistible. Their extensive menu includes classics like bento boxes and elusive selections like kaki fry (a dish consisting of deep-fried breaded oysters), negima skewers (made of grilled chicken and scallions), and natto (a traditional Japanese dish of fermented soybeans). Adjacent to the restaurant is a grocery store featuring traditional Japanese produce and assorted products such as seafood, rice bowls, miso paste, sake, and more.

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40 White Bridge Road, Nashville, Tenn. 37205

615.356.6600

#8: The Eastern Peak – North Gulch

Known as “Nashville’s hidden gem for amazing Thai and sushi,” this restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and generous serving sizes appeal to everyone. Popular menu items include Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, and various Bento Boxes. The signature sushi rolls always grab diner’s attention, such as the TNT roll featuring spicy tuna and cucumber, topped with a blend of shrimp tempura, masago, avocado, sriracha, spicy mayo, and scallions. The best time to visit The Eastern Peak is during happy hours, with promotions on beverages and sushi between 4 pm-6 pm on weekdays and 3 pm-6 pm on weekends.

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133 12th Avenue North, Nashville, Tenn. 37203

615.674.1411

#9: Ginza

Jack’s BBQ is the face of the Nashville bar-b-que scene. They have three locations and have been churning out delectable meats since 1976. Jack’s keeps things casual with a laid-back eatery atmosphere, accompanied by soft music and a staff focused on ensuring patrons experience the best southern hospitality. The fall-off-the-bone ribs are the perfect example of the Jack’s BBQ pit crew’s handiwork. Their brisket, ribs, and sausage are also gluten-free, and all their sauces are also gluten-free, and the team changes gloves, cutting boards, and utensils when preparing a GF dinner.

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334 W Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37207

615.228.9888

#10: Bang Bang Hibachi Grill & Sushi

The “Bang Bang” Nashville food truck provides window service and online ordering of Japanese dishes for takeout. This large red food cart is stationed on the property of a former gas station, which was converted to now feel like a drive-in restaurant. Choose between their hibachi and sushi menus. The hibachi grill chefs can feed entire families, while the sushi features the chef’s sculpting artwork. A crowd favorite is the sukiyaki steak – a hot pot dish served with thin-sliced beef with onion, carrot, and teriyaki sauce. Of course, that also comes with fried rice, hibachi vegetables, and yum yum sauce (a Japanese steak house mayo-based condiment).

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3720 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, Tenn. 37207

615.578.7777

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