The Best Sushi Restaurants in Nashville

An award-winning Asian fusion restaurant, Virago is headed up by Chef Andrew, who, alongside sushi Chef Himmi, creates Japanese dishes for adventurous foodies. Besides the creative Asian dishes offered on the menu, there are a variety of spirits, including a large selection of sake. Guests can enjoy meals inside the restaurant in secluded booths, or on the rooftop terrace that has unbeatable city vista views.

The original Nama Sushi Bar dates back to 2004, when it opened its first location in downtown Knoxville. A second was opened in the area four years later and then another in Nashville in 2014. On Nama’s menu is a variety of sushi, including sashimi, nigiri, maki, and vegetarian rolls. Enjoy appetizers like wasabi hummus, calamari salad, or kimchee and rice. Lunch specials, Happy Hour, and kids-eat-free specials are available on select afternoons and evenings.

Classic Asian entrees like chicken teriyaki, roasted duck curry, sesame chicken, pad Thai, and orange chicken are on the menu at the Eastern Peak. The sushi menu impresses as well, with a large selection of both signature and specialty rolls. Try the spicy tuna roll with masago, scallions, cucumbers, and sesame seeds or give the futomaki roll a try. It’s made with eel, avocado, crab, tamago, asparagus, and a sweet and salty sakura denbu. Make sure to visit during Happy Hour from 3–6 pm on weekdays for $5 drinks to rinse down the sushi.

While the physical environment of this sushi restaurant is quaint, the menu is vast. Appetizers include edamame, shrimp tempura, octopus crab sunomono, and an avocado boat. There are also non-sushi options like teriyaki plates and tempura platters. But the real reason people visit is the live rotating sushi bar. Grab your favorite fresh-made rolls as they glide by and use the handy plate pricing guide to determine how much you’ll pay.

The unique name of this restaurant highlights the expansive and eclectic menu offerings, which are a combination of sushi and Japanese cuisine. Located in East Nashville, this “more than sushi” joint features small starters like miso soup, seaweed salad, and fried calamari, rice bowls, Burmese curry, and a large selection of specialty, vegan, and traditional sushi.

This sushi hot spot has a large variety of rolls on the menu, including vegetarian and specialty options. You’ll find California rolls, crab rolls, eel rolls, and spicy tuna rolls. There’s also the cowboy roll with BBQ beef and green onion, as well as the Philadelphia roll with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and cucumber. Non-sushi dishes include sesame chicken, beef teriyaki, and tempura. Enjoy a bento box with soup, salad, and rice, or try the Japanese noodles.

Owned by Michelle and Steve Kang, this restaurant serves Asian food inspired by their respective Chinese and Korean upbringings. Umami has family-style dining and features a menu full of sushi, ramen, teriyaki, kimchi fries, Korean-style fried chicken, and bibimbap. Even the drink menu highlights Asian beverages like Japanese sake and fruity cocktails made with soju, a traditional Korean rice liquor.