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    Kisser

    4.7 (184 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Kisser Photos

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    KISSER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Kisser

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    Chirashi bowl
    Brooke A.

    What a wonderful place! Kisser has all of the quality and inspiration of an upscale Japanese restaurant with none of the stuffiness! The cozy dining room is the perfect place for a casual, but top quality lunch. We had a reservation for Wednesday, and we were cheerfully greeted and seated immediately. We got the chirashi bowl, which was probably my favorite dish of the day. It is so artfully executed, with perfect layers of sushi rice, fish, and roe. We also got the onigiri, one of each, and while they were delicious, they were quite filling because of all of the rice. I would suggest getting them to share or as a main dish for one. We also tried the mackerel, which was so buttery, soft and sweet! They also offer an amazing Matcha here. It is clear they put so much love into everything they make!

    Miso crème brûlée
    Eliza H.

    Service is always fantastic and the food is fresh, flavourful and simply amazing. Strongly recommend making reservations (especially on weekends). The space is cozy and we love watching the chefs work in the open kitchen.

    Beef Tartare - Bear Creek Farm Beef, Crispy Rice Cakes, Avocado, Sesame, Chili Crisp
    Charlie B.

    Our flight from Raleigh landed at BNA at 11AM, and by 12 noon we were checking in for our resy at Kisser Nashville. And the lunch-only spot turned out to be a great start to our long weekend! I was excited to visit the Japanese-inspired restaurant, given all the acclaim (2024 James Beard Best New Restaurant Finalist, 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand). We landed a prime seat at the counter with a front row view of all the magic going down. And the food coming out from chefs Brian Lea and Leina Horii (both with crazy great backgrounds), and their team, did not disappoint. We loved every morsel that we gobbled down, including (see photos)... Beef Tartare - Bear Creek Farm Beef, Crispy Rice Cakes, Avocado, Sesame, Chili Crisp Onigiri - Yaki Grilled Rice, Cod Roe, Yuzu / Snow Crab Avocado, Cucumber / Japanese Curry Kabocha Squash Chicken Katsu Sandwich - Fried Chicken, Cabbage Slaw, Tonkatsu Sauce, Toasted Kisser Milk Bread Miso Clam Ramen - Littleneck Clams, White Miso Broth, Menma, Napa, Wakame, Roasted Garlic Oil Yellowtail Collar - Marinated for 24 Hours then Grilled and Served with Ponzu, Lemon, Daikon Miso Crème Brulée Kisser describes itself as "a homage to the Japanese kissaten... neighborhood spot serving comfort food, where locals can eat, drink, and hang out." I may not be a local, but I'd still love to come back many times for more eating, drinking, and hanging out! Congrats to the entire Kisser team for all you do... @brianslea @leinahorii @kisser_restaurant And yet another terrific spot from the folks. @strategichospitality @maxrgoldberg @benjaminrgoldberg

    Single beef tartare - a must order
    Priya B.

    Still one of my top five restaurants in Nashville, my favorite place to do breakfast/brunch on a weekend, and a must visit if your priority is delicious food in Nashville for a weekend. Kisser brings cozy Japanese cafe vibes to east Nashville with a menu that feels like the quality of a fine dining restaurant but with approachable dishes and affordable prices. You will find me here at least once a month dining solo, with a reservation so that I can waltz right in and take a seat at the chef's bar, watching the chefs prep dishes while I read a book and enjoy my actual perfect meal: an order of one of the delicious high garden teas (my favorites: the orange creamsicle milky oolong or the green magic organic, a green and rose combination!), a single order of the flavorful shrimp inari, and the Japanese breakfast. The food is incredibly filling but also well balanced and so, so delicious. Their Japanese breakfast made me fall in love with vegetables again, and allows me to try a bit of many things for a very reasonable price . There are so many other dishes I love here (the onigiri, the curry rice, the miso creme brûlée, to name a few!) but suffice to say Kisser is truly serving up some of the best food in the Nashville area with some of the friendliest, kindest serving team in the area. The vibes are chill, the food is fantastic, the new system allowing for reservations makes it easy to plan ahead, the parking is free, and it's a new institution (to me) for a must-dine in Nashville.

    creamy bacon udon
    Odille H.

    My husband and I were here for his work conference. Service was a great balance of attentiveness and distance, and it was a casual, happy atmosphere with incredible food! The creamy bacon udon was my favorite that reminded me of a cross between a carbonara and udon noodles. It was a flavor bomb compared to the normal subtle flavors in traditional Japanese cuisine. The Japanese breakfast (only available on the weekend) was much more traditional flavor-wise with the miso asparagus being the star! We ended with the yuzu parfait. The tartness of the custard and sweetness of the meringue was the perfect end to our meal!

    Beef udon
    Andrea R.

    It is hard to get a reservation? Yes. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!! When you walk in you will notice that seating is quite limited as it's more like a communal eating space. I personally prefer to not sit with strangers but I respect their decision. The food is superb. The chicken Katsu is a no brainer. You need to order this sandwich!! The chicken is fried to perfection. The cabbage slaw & tonkatsu sauce really takes it up a notch and complements the bread & chicken so well. The onigiri plate brings three types of onigiri and let me tell you they each have their own unique flavor. I would like to highlight the Japanese Curry one as it stole the show. The Japanese Breakfast: Miso Marinated Cobia fish Three Vegetable Sides Tamagoyaki Miso Soup Furikake Rice This dish felt like an experience, which I really enjoyed. I can never look at rice the same way because this furikake rice tasted amazing & that is coming from someone that typically doesn't care for rice. The fish, although it was a little small, was full of flavor and buttery soft. The Beef Tataki Udon was another stellar plate! The beef was perfectly cooked & was not chewy at all. The noodles you can tell are handmade & the broth was simply delicious. I get the hype.

    Creamy Bacon Udon
    Christina D.

    I am so glad Kisser now takes reservations because I was finally able to try it after many years of having this on my list! And the experience did not disappoint! When we arrived for our reservation, we were promptly seated at our table. Our quickly waiter came by to grab our drink orders and give us food recommendations. I had the peach soda to drink. it came in its original bottle and they served it with a small cup I thought was super cute. The real highlight of the show though was the food which I shared with my friend so we could try everything. We started with the Onigiri which came with 3 varieties: Yak (grilled rice and roe), snow crab (with avocado and cucumber), and Japanese curry (vegetable). These were so delicious and my favorite was the Yak. The grilled rice gave the onigiri a nice smoky flavor that was warm and very satisfying. Next, we had the Curry Rice which was composed of Japanese curry gravy, chicken katsu, and steamed rice. Of the 3 dishes we had, this was probably my least favorite, but it was still quite good and hearty; I just thought the other dishes were better. My second favorite dish was the Chilled Curry Udon which came with udon, chilled curry sauce, curry crisp, grilled summer squash and rapini. This was super refreshing and exactly what you would want for a hot summer day. The flavors blended so well together and made for a delightful dish. Las, was the Creamy Bacon Udon which was my favorite of the 3. This was made with fresh udon, creamy white miso sauce, bacon, corn, egg, tempura flakes, and nori. It was similar to a carbonara but was even better than what I expected. The dish was creamy and rich with a touch of saltiness from the bacon and a sweetness from the corn. It was a well crafted dish and I'm so glad I got it! Overall, such a great experience here and I cannot wait to come back!

    Kimberly M.

    I am glad I finally got to try this popular lunch spot. This small place has a gentle soul and delicious food. Favorite bites: beef tartare and the yellowtail fish collar. The chicken katsu sando is crunchy and salty with a creamy balance from the cabbage slaw and mayo. The service was great, and I love that the 18% included tip is shared amongst the staff. Get yourself to Kisser.

    Chopped Salad
    Bailey D.

    After hearing nothing but hype for this little lunch spot in East Nashville for the last 2+ years ... I finally had to experience it for myself. If you're like me and you're not quite sure if you want to wait in a long line for lunch, let this review be your guide to snagging a coveted spot at Kisser. It's no secret that their hours are very specific, and this isn't just a place you can swing by for a quick bite. So my friend and I made a plan to arrive no later than 10:45 AM on a Monday (we thought a weekday would be easier than a weekend). There were a few people milling around at the entrance, and another group waiting at Flora & Fauna. However, no one was in line yet, so we were able to start the line ourselves! Now, if you don't want to put this much effort into getting a table at Kisser ... I've been told that there's a virtual queue that anyone can join during business hours. I recommend stopping by, scanning that QR code, and then depending on the forecasted wait, either hanging out at the coffee shop next door or running a quick errand on the same side of town before returning. Of course the food was everything we dreamed it would be ... and more. I started with a matcha, which is not my typical order, but I figured it would be well made and it definitely was. Not grassy or grainy at all! My friend and I shared a few different dishes and they were all incredible: the chopped salad, chicken curry rice, chicken katsu sandwich, and the creamy bacon udon. It's hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to, it would be the chicken curry rice. This was honestly too much food for two people, but it made for great leftovers! The prices are quite reasonable too, especially given the high quality of the food. We're lucky to have such a unique and tasty restaurant in the neighborhood.

    Chicken Katsu sandwich
    Presley J.

    First time trying Kisser and the line to wait made sense for how good everything was. We tried all 3 types of onigiri... the yaki was my favorite. We also had the big salad which is not an exaggeration at all it is a BIG salad. Also tried the chicken curry rice and the chicken katsu sandwich. The portions are so generous which is much appreciated. The strawberry matcha was so delicious it is up there with best matcha I've ever had. There isn't much seating but the wait is fairly quick and there are shops near you can look while you do wait. Overall great experience and I look forward to going back!

    Yellowtail collar
    Rachel H.

    My fav restaurant in Nashville, very small so serving up amazing Japanese food. My favorites were the curry katsu, chicken katsu sandwich, onigiri, and chirashi bowl. Definitely have to get there at opening to snag a table, very busy when I went but definitely worth it. Service was great and fast

    Kisser menu March 2026
    Aaron R.

    Kisser has some of the freshest and best Japanese food in Nashville. We have been 4 times in the last few months. You should get a reservation because it's always busy but it's very much worth a trip. The service is excellent and the restaurant has a Japanese influenced design that feels bright and cozy. Highly recommend the chopped salad with its fresh and tangy ginger dressing. The beef tartare is great and comes atop two good size pieces of crispy rice. The chicken katsu curry rice has a well rounded flavor and is very sizable. The beef tataki udon is also great and has a simple but tasty broth. Must get the miso crème brûlée if you are a fan of sweets because it's so good. Only complaints are that it's lunch only and that they don't have a location closer to us! Green Hills could use more Asian food but it's worth the drive and we have gone every month.

    Beef udon, clam ramen
    Naomi S.

    Kisser was the kind of meal that made my friends and I instinctively clap and dance while we ate-- EVERYTHING we ordered was that good. We definitely overordered because we were so excited to try so many dishes, but we do not regret having leftovers. The onigiri was excellent; our favorite was the yaki because of the grilling on the rice. The wagyu beef tartare was heaping with meat on top of such delicious rice with an incredible, addicting chewiness. I loved the big salad which tasted so fresh and was dressed perfectly. The yellowtail collar was melt in your mouth like butter. The beef udon came in a hot soup which I didn't expect, but the broth was umami and soul-warming, the beef medium rare, tender, and high quality, the mushrooms delicious, and the noodles you could tell were hand-pulled and wonderfully chewy. The chicken katsu sandwich was good, the chirashi bowls were solid, and my friend loved the bacon udon which resembled a carbonara. Service was fast and so friendly, and the setting was bright and beautiful. Our only regret was not saving room for dessert. Next time!

    Beef tartare

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    Ask the Community - Kisser

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    Noko Nashville

    Noko Nashville

    4.8
    (604 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    I tried this place for the first time with my family to celebrate one of my cousins graduation from…read moreresidency. We started off with a round of champagne and a bottle of red wine for dinner. We tried a variety of dishes since we were told that the set up is family style: Hamachi Crudo: 10/10 one of the best I've ever had! Super fresh and the sauce paired well with it. Bluefin Tune Crudo: 8/10 It was really fresh and well prepared, but I've had better elsewhere. I typically prefer bluefin tuna sashimi or nigiri anyway. Tuna Crispy Rice: 9/10 This was such a fun and delicious way to eat spicy tuna! All of the seasonings made it packed full of flavor. Tomahawk Ribeye 9/10: This was insanely tender, and well seasoned. Tip: ask for lemon wedges to sprinkle some lemon juice on it--thank me later. Broccolini 8/10: well prepared, and I loved the lemongrass garlic chili that topped it East Side Shrimp 7/10: These were well cooked and well seasoned. Loved the salad placed underneath it. Wagyu Tartare 8/10: It was well prepared and loved that it's paired with nori and rice. Wished it had a bit more punch to it in terms of seasoning. Crab Fried Rice 8/10: this was delicious but still say it's a solid 8. Beautifully prepared! Korean Hot Wings 2.5/10: I could tell that it was well cooked, but it was insanely salty; it was practically inedible. Hurricane Fries 9/10: These were so delicious! You are immediately hit with the smell of truffle, which made my mouth water. Packed with flavor! Brussels 7/10: These were well roasted, but the sauce was a tad too sweet for my liking. I highly recommend trying this place out!

    Had a reservation for Sunday night at 7. Arrived early and they were able to seat us by the bar…read more The ambience is nice, upscale but nothing super fancy. By the bar we got to see some of the dishes being made. Great date night spot. Limited parking. This is a tapas spot and our serve did a good job recommending how many dishes to get. The only reason Noko is not getting 5 stars is because the server said that they would time out the dishes for us, so it was best to place our entire order all at once. However, we got 3 dishes and then it took about 30 minutes for other two to come out. Maybe we were eating too fast but felt like we were waiting a while for our food. The food itself was absolutely delicious. There was nothing we ordered that I did not like. Some favorites include the burnt ends lettuce wraps and Korean chicken wings. The Sando, shrimp and tuna crispy rice was also spectacular. The tuna was so flavorful and refreshing on the tuna crispy rice. The sauce of the east side shrimp really makes the dish. I'm not a huge shrimp person but this was really good. This is a must go to spot in Nashville and would definitely want to come back.

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    Great kitchen setup and ambience.  The good people hard at work.
    Great kitchen setup and ambience. The good people hard at work.
    Mini lobster rolls, yum
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    Kosho

    Kosho

    4.8
    (105 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    This is currently my favorite new restaurant in Nashville. I have been missing a true shabu shabu…read moreexperience and this hits on a very high note. The atmosphere is very contemporary. A good amoutn of tables, but does not feel too crowded. To get Shabu Shabu, you either sit at the bar or you grab a table that is condusive to shabu shabu. If you have multiple people ordering shabu shabu with different broths, you should grab the bar. The New York strip is better than the short rib, in my view. I did the miso broth, which is not overly salty, like some. A definite win for me. Adding in the spicy chile oil, fresh garlic, and scallions added the proper kick to the broth. The handroll was truly a handroll. She said she preferred when they sent it out rolled, as there was more rice than she normally likes. But the salmon itself was done well and tasty. The lamb lollipops were excellently done. I would return for this alone. Having numbers on the drinks is likely authentic, but I love creative names. The 35 is a Japanese twist on an Old Fashioned. The sishito pepper is a nice touch as a garnish (or appetizer?). The 34 was even better. It did not quite hit the high note of a similar drink at Sushi-San, but it did not disappoint. I can safely recommend this to anyone wanting to get shabu shabu without the all you can eat buffet option you get at shabu shabu on West End.

    First time dining here and I already can't wait to be back…read more I started with the wagyu and truffle hand roll, along with the spicy tuna hand roll. Both rolls were very fresh and the pickled ginger complemented them very well. The cassava fries paired with the yuzu aioli went perfectly with the chicken karaage. The unagi and crispy rice tasted amazing, the combination of the buttery soft sweet eel with the crispy rice and freshness from the jalapeño and miro herbs made for the perfect bite. As a main entrée I had the signature garlic noodles with shrimp, bonito flakes, and mushrooms. Normally I'm not a huge mushroom fan, but everything in this plate was delectable. The service is amazing even from the very entrance, you instantly feel welcomed. Vicky was amazing both drinks were a work of art with refreshing aromatic flavors. The Ube Banana pudding was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. A must every time I visit! The inside is beautifully decorated. The two floors allow for private intimate seating and casual dining.

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    Two Ten Jack

    Two Ten Jack

    3.9
    (959 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    In Chattanooga for a long weekend girls trip and ate at TwoTen Jack. It was my first time in…read moreChattanooga and first time at this restaurant. Our friend got there early so she was able to secure a table. We started with the happy hour house white wine and ordered various shareable small plates. We ordered the jfk - Japanese fried chicken, not pictured below - edamame- because everyone knows what edamame looks like, crispy brussels, pork gyoza, yellowtail jalapeño sashimi. Everything was delicious. My favorite was the yellow sashimi. I could eat more of that! Our server was Kyler and he was fantastic. He made sure we were taken care of and at the end of the night, ordered the house sake, which Kyler highly recommended, I enjoyed the layout of the restaurant and the dark wood and bar area. It wasn't crowded on a Thursday night which I enjoyed having the restaurant to ourselves, at least it looked that way since we were in the back area across from the bar. Would definitely come back in the winter or a cold day to try the ramen.

    Honestly, I wanted more from two ten jack!! It was decent, but the portions were minuscule for the…read moreprice!! I tried: -crispy Brussels: 9/10 - delicious!!! Amazing flavor, very rich. Loved. -Wagyu stuffed shishitos: 4/10 - didn't taste like much of anything interesting, despite my love for Wagyu, and paying $8 for 4 tiny shishitos is a crime. -Crab noodles: 7/10 - good crab flavor, but very simple. -Tori paitan shoyu: 6/10 - it kind of just tasted like microwave ramen. The broth did not have much depth of flavor and the fact it came with only two small meatballs was kind of disappointing.

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    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Rock shrimp - tempura  breaded - delicious
    Rock shrimp - tempura breaded - delicious
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    Kase X Noko

    Kase X Noko

    4.9
    (75 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    One of the hardest tickets to get in Nashville and it is evident why for anyone who has had the…read moreopportunity to get in. They book out 6 weeks in advance; with only 14 seats and 3 seatings per night, they are sold out in seconds when they go on sale at midnight. I have lucked out twice, once even getting a duo, so not impossible, but not easy. When you enter, you walk into a small bar area, where you can order a cocktail or two. I opted for the Shibuyu Nights, which had a slight coffee note on top of the whisky and bourbon. At the prescribed time, you are led into the omekase and the experience begins. Cue fanfare music now. This is nearly the definition of perfection. Each dish was both art and culinary genius. Pacing is perfect. Chefs interact with the patrons, enhancing the experience and the wait staff is well versed on which types of sake work best with different course. At the end of the meal you can add on extras, some from the menu and others off. If you are not full, I recommend considering the add ons. Kudos to the chef for handling my shellfish allergy with wonderful subsitutions. At $75, this is a steal. WIth extras, sake, and drinks, I ran over $200 for 1, but it was worth every minute. Once of the best restaurants in Nashville.

    We FINALLY got the chance to snag a reservation here. Seriously, it's challenging. They only have…read morelike (14? 15?) seats and only do two servings a night. First, let me say I was nervous. I don't typically like sushi and sashimi even less. The texture of a raw fish concerned me. Hubby loves it though, so I wanted to give it a chance. I figured if I was going to try, it needed to be at a place that knew what they were doing. James our sushi chef, definitely knew what he was doing. The servings were one piece at a time, served at a comfortable pace. Each piece was a different sort of fish, or a piece of wagyu beef! I enjoyed myself. The flavors made up for my personal wariness of the textures. Each piece was filled with delicious flavors. We ended up super full and content, and happy with our time here. I highly recommend.

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    First entrance at the mini bar
    First entrance at the mini bar
    Salmon bite - amazing
    Salmon bite - amazing
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    Seared Salmon (sub for shellfish)

    Kisser - japanese - Updated July 2026

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