"Noko is our surest, most set-it-and-forget-it dinner recommendation we can make in Nashville. They serve ridiculously good Japanese wood-fired plates and crudos that have never let us or anybody we know down. It’s as good for a solo meal at the bar as it is for a birthday throwdown when you’re also trying to accommodate that picky friend who went through a “white foods only” phase. With expertly executed dishes you can’t find anywhere else in the city, a cool minimalist aesthetic, and service that’s always on-point, it’s impossible to walk away from Noko just liking it. Finding reasons to go back will become a borderline obsession. You'll smell the food roasting over toasty logs the second you get close to the building. It feels like they’re intentionally luring you in, and you’re going to be as helpless as when Pooh gets a whiff of honey. There are four different menu sections: fresh and bright, rich and savory, wood fire, and smoked—and all of them have equally high highs. Thinly sliced crudos, cloud-like bao buns stuffed with lobster, crab fried rice washed in wagyu fat, and a perfectly cooked 42-ounce tomahawk ribeye are just a few options, but honestly, there are no wrong answers here. photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks You’ve got a few seating choices—the open-air patio’s great on a crisp, early fall night. But we’re always going to opt for a seat inside the dining room, specifically at the bar. Because not only can you watch your cocktail with reposado, grilled peach, and Japanese chili bitters being made, but that’s where the grill is. You can feel the heat from the flames on your face every so often, which feels almost primal. Like you’ve just returned from the hunt, and dinner is about to be served. The servers are knowledgeable, quick on their feet, and do it all with a smile. The next day, there’s a high chance you’ll get a personal call from one of the owners to thank you for stopping by. It’s a small touch, but goes to show why we can’t get Noko out of our minds. Food Rundown photo credit: Kelli Dirks Bluefin Tuna Crudo The ruby red slices of tuna stand on their own, but the truffle mustard soy, pickled wasabi, and crispy onion toppings perk up the palate like Pop Rocks on steroids. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Lobster Bao Buns This one hits very similar notes to a lobster roll. Bao buns come stuffed with cold water lobster, creamy garlic aioli, crunchy bits of celery, and a citrusy hit of acid thanks to the lemon. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Crab Fried Rice Noko’s version of fried rice is a silky and rich bowl of wagyu-fat-coated rice paired with huge chunks of snowy white crab, egg, and scallion. If this isn’t part of your order, go back and try again. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Brussels It seems like everyone around town has a version of brussels sprouts on their menu. But they’re not Noko’s. A snappy and crispy exterior gives way to the tender and steamy vegetable inside. The spicy sesame dressing is there to make sure the dish stays as far away from bland as possible. Tomahawk Ribeye The tomahawk at Noko has the Fajita Effect: you’re going to get a lot of curious (we’d even say jealous) eyeballs from around the room on your plate. It’s a 42-ounce, bone-in behemoth that’s cooked to perfect temp and smothered with a richly decadent pat of truffle butter. Leftovers also make for a killer steak and eggs in the morning. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Brookie Remember TGIF’s brownie obsession? This is that, but so much better. A collab with HiFi cookies, this dessert has a fudgy chocolate brownie hugged by a layer of slightly brittle sesame cookie and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream swimming in a pool of miso caramel glaze." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
