21 Best Japanese Restaurants in Nashville

“My wife and I were extremely blown away by the unique opportunity we had with chef Ryan. Never could we have imagined the tasteful 12 course meal made for us. Unfortunately my words fail to paint a proper picture of the quality and excellence of Ryan's skill and the journey to another world this was..thank you!“

“Absolutely incredible meal here at A-Roi. The minute you walk in you are greeted with a lovely staff that is ready to get you seated. The menu has plenty of sushi and thai food options. Everything tasted incredible and the fish was so fresh! This will be my go to sushi spot from here on out.“

“Been my favorite for 27 years ,great service and wonderful food . My granddaughter's favorite after school ," let's grab a snack " ,speaks volumes.“

“Whenever I get food from this place it has always been through Uber Eats. This time I decided to eat indoors as I was in the area with my partner. Walking in, there is a sushi bar where you can sit in front of the chef as they make fresh sushi, or you can sit on the left where the tables are. We opted for the table. There are photos and varying art pieces ranging from news articles about the restaurant, past visitors or shots from Japan that tie into the experience. We ordered the Hurricane Roll, Jane Roll, Eel Roll, Yellowtail roll, Smoked Salmon Nigiri and another Nigiri that I cant remember(Maybe Tuna). The Hurricane roll was the best! The Jalapeño added a perfect contrast and kick to the fish. After having it delivered and eating in person, I have to say that it tastes better in person vs having it delivered. If you're looking for sushi in Midtown, Samurai will not disappoint.“

“My husband and I had a pre honeymoon get away to Nashville. We love sushi and were highly reccomended this restaurant… It was an amazing experience. Best sushi we’ve ever had and atmosphere/server was incredible!! We will be back ♥️“

“Great service, AMAZING food. Such a fun experience every time we go“

“The new owners are super lovely and the food is absolutely amazing! It is fresh and cooked on the spot. You can really taste the difference! You can watch them make the sushi in front of you.Dietary restrictions: If you let them know of any allergies they will work around them. They are very obliging!“

“Can't say enough good things about this place. Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious & the staff are phenomenal. They really go out of their way to ensure you enjoy your time here. Do not skip out on the crab fried rice, lobster bao buns or the wagyu tartare, SO GOOD!“

“The rolls were flavorful and really a decent size for this era of shrinkflation…authentic food means authentic prices $15.00 per specialty roll DEFINITELY worth it. They serve premium beer, sake, and I enjoyed the plum wine. The atmosphere was amiss because the chef used hot chili oil which smoked out the entire establishment…this was a rare cook mishap. We will be going back soon, unfortunately they are closed on Mondays!Vegetarian options: Miso soup“

“I was walking and saw this place in a strip mall. It looked good, not fancy. The lady at the counter had a huge smile and was very welcoming. The ramen looked good so I got the Tonkatsu ramen with the Charsu pork. It was amazing. The broth was rich and silky, just the way it's supposed to be. The egg was perfectly cooked too. The mushrooms were good as were the bamboo shoots. The noodles were just right. The portion is big, but not too big. The prices are also decent. This little gem is well worth it. Seek it out.“

“O-Ku is my absolute favorite restaurant EVER! I take all my friends and family and it’s the best spot for a romantic date! The food is always so delicious and beautifully presented. The whole atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is the best service I’ve ever had. Everyone is so nice, helpful, and genuinely friendly. My favorite servers all work here and I’m not the only regular who would say the same. I love you O-Ku Nashville! Shout out to some great servers I’ve had and highly recommend: Leah (the cool environmental enthusiast), Chance (the jokester with the biggest smile), and Ally (the crafty gal with the coolest handmade earrings and the sweetest heart). Food recommendations: PLEASE try the omokase. It is a 6 course tasting meal that is different every time you come in. I’ve had the best dishes from this meal and the nigiri are always so delicious. But honestly, I recommend anything and EVERYTHING. To start- king pao Cauliflower. Hot dish- get the Tokyo chicken bowl. Sashimi- the usuzukari or hamachi carpachio. From the robata grill- kamo negi (duck breast). A sushi roll- the playboy. Also the have O-toro, Uni, and so many specialty fishes like kin medai and shima aji!!!!“

“Sushi is always fresh. Great service.“

“Amazinggg sushi in nashville. I got the baked salmon roll and completely devoured it. My friends enjoyed the lobster roll and Philadelphia rolls just as much as I enjoyed mine. Overall, no complaints at all regarding food. Prices are extremely reasonable too!! The restaurant is a cute, cozy location off a main street with an authentic vibe. The only reason I wouldn't give this place 5 stars is the wait time. My group of 3 waited around 30-40 minutes for 3 rolls of sushi when there were only 2 other ppl in the restaurant. Overall: would definitely come back and favorite affordable sushi spot in Nashville, but the long wait time is disappointing.“

“So far the best onion volcano and train ever!“

“I don't know why this place is not more busy! It was so good. The hot miso soup hit the spot in the cold Nashville weather and the rolls were amazing. We got the how-we-roll roll and it was so good. A bit off the beaten path but definitely worth the short walk.“

“Great menu with rolls we have never seen or had. Prices were pretty good for sushi and the Ramen bowl sushi combo seems like a great deal for $20. A bit disappointed by the draft Sapporo. We normally get a can and was looking forward to draft but is was not very carbonated and was not very cold. I'd rather have received the can. Rolls were good size, well made and fresh tasting. I would recommend the ahi seared tuna salad as you get good amount of tuna that way and was delicious with ginger dressing. Conveniently located near our hotel and just down the road is a great ice cream parlor for dessert! Note: we were going to have the fried brownie dessert but they were out of ice cream (? Pssst..younext door to a grocery store). Overall was great place to check out if you like sushi. Next time I'll try the Ramen as they did look great and you can choose type of broth, protein which is cool.“

“Stopped by on sunday with mt fiance we loved it. Best sushi and miso ive had in awhile i can not wait to come back this weekend to try out more of the menu. Even though were not from gallatin its worth the hour drive from bowling green for us.“

“I was recommended this place by a friend and had my birthday lunch here. I must say this place definitely met my expectations for excellent sushi! While a bit on the expensive side, it is absolutely worth it.For my lunch, I ordered the red mango crunch and angry fish. The red mango crunch has a sweet taste of ripe mango that was likely from frozen. This isn't a bad thing as it breaks down the mangoes carbohydrates into sweeter simpler sugars. The mango pairs very well with the heat from the spicy crab and spicy mayo. The salmon and avacado add a nice richness, while the tempura give it a very appreciated crunch texture.The angry fish was a more savory roll. The bluefin tuna is probably the highest quality I have ever had and had a more complex flavor the other varities I have tried. The eacolar and avacado paired with the fried onion gave a nice play of varying textures.My friends enjoyed their rolls and dishes as well. Our plates not only tasted great but also looked beautiful due to clean creative plating and the usage of edible flowers. The food was excellent with absolutely no complaints.The restaurant is quite large and fells very open and spacious. The large windows on the bar side of the restaurant let in a lot of light during the day that warms up a space that might feel a little dark and cold to some. The darker hues and lighting fixtures give an upscale vibe with a Japanese accent. The restaurant was surprisingly empty during our lunch despite it being Saturday.The service was good. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and fulfilled any requests we had. There is a $20 outside dessert fee if you would like to bring in a cake. The only complaint I have is that parties larger than 6 can only have up to 3 separate checks due to inconvenience, but they did submit and gave everyone a separate check when we complained. I genuinely do not understand why restaurants do this, particularly when they use phones or tablets for orders that make it quite easy to give out separate checks.Overall, I had a great experience for my birthday and will certainly be returning!Parking: Parking validation is available for the garage. There is plenty of cheap street parking available around the area too.“

“Jerry is the best funniest greeter! The floor staff are friendly and knowledgeable. And the sushi chefs are so skilled and creative every bite is a dream!! Best nigiri, rolls, and nebiaki udon anywhere! Its become a very busy sushi house but retains its custom made-for-you feel.“

“Best Korean Food in the Southeast! The Bulgogi was absolutely delicious! Fresh and flavorful ingredients prepared to perfection in generous portions. The KFC is out of this world and will change your life. The Atmosphere and Team members also 5 Star and give great recommendations! Most importantly, this is definitely a child friendly dining option!!“

“I’ve been coming here for years and I can always expected great food and service! They have a lot of cooked sushi rolls (which I prefer) and the prices are fair. The staff are also friendly and accommodating.Vegetarian options: There are a few vegetarian options such as the soups and salads.“