Kaizen

Asian restaurant · Knoxville

Kaizen

Asian restaurant · Knoxville

127 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Highlights

Steamed buns, Asian fusion plates, noodles & draft beer

127 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902 Get directions

knoxkaizen.com

@knoxkaizen

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

@eater

The Best Restaurants and Bars Around Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee | Eater Nashville

"A casual Asian fusion restaurant modeled after Japanese izakayas and sporting a covered patio, Kaizen offers small plates from steamed buns stuffed with seared mushrooms or Thai sausage to pad kee mao and tingly mapo tofu. The kitchen also rotates in specials like ribeye fried rice or Thai sausage green coconut curry. You can catch a live show at chef-owner Jesse Newmister’s other nearby restaurant, Tako Taco, focused on street food." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-where-to-eat-in-knoxville

View Postcard for Kaizen

@postcardnews

Jesse Newmister’s izakaya-inspired restaurant blends Japanese technique with Thai and Sichuan accents, from steamed buns to craveable fried rice. A fixture in the Old City, it’s often highlighted by local critics for inventive small plates and warm hospitality.

https://www.knoxkaizen.com/

Best Restaurants in Knoxville (2025)

View Postcard for Kaizen

@postcardnews

Owner-chef Jesse Newmister channels an izakaya spirit with playful Asian-inspired plates, buns, noodles, and a strong whiskey and cocktail program. Frequently recommended by Southern Living, it’s an Old City staple for shareable, high-flavor dining.

https://www.southernliving.com/best-places-to-eat-knoxville-7550467

Things to Do in Knoxville (2025)

View Postcard for Kaizen

zachary keenen

Google

Amazing food, amazing staff, they were very willing to make accomodations for food and drink. I was a little worried at first we may not get a table when asked if we had reservations, however the bar was empty at that time and they have a ton of patio seating here. I definitely think that the owner should add some more pictures of how nice the patio is and how many tables are out there. Also I think this place could be a runner up for Cintas best bathroom award.

jason giglio

Google

I sat solo at the bar and was lucky enough to have my friend, Rachel as my bartender—she is always incredibly attentive, genuinely friendly, and yes… super cute (don’t worry, she’s happily married, so behave yourself! 😄). The real surprise of the night was the hot and sour duck noodles. I always order the wings, friend rice or buns and decided to try another popular option. The flavor profile was wild—in the best way. Deep, complex, layered with heat, richness, and tang that made each bite something new. Definitely not your average noodle dish, huge portion too. This place is Perfect for a solo dinner or date night—just be sure to grab a bar seat if Rachelle’s on shift. She made the whole experience feel personal and polished. Always looking forward to my next visit, top 3 downtown spots! Thanks, Rachel!

Molly Baldwin

Google

Kaizen was absolutely delicious. Everything we ordered was 10/10. Service was great and the waiter was very knowledgeable about the foods (which I love because I always have lots of questions). We ordered for an appetizer the Shrimp Bun and the Prawns and Shishito Pepper Special and for our entree (pictured) we ordered the Lemongrass Chicken Noodle and the Mushroom Noodle Soup. Highly recommend!

Eleanor Tyner

Google

The wagyu and peanut fried rice was very good! A bit too salty, but the steak was fantastic. The tuna lettuce wrap was actually the best thing ordered- it was build-your-own and very generous with the tuna. The wasabi-yuzu sauce was very complimentary. The red bean bao bun was a great dessert, although offering other sweet treats would be a good improvement. Also, I'd make sure to call ahead for an indoor table, because they have a large patio but limited indoor seating.

Joanna Axelrod

Google

The food was a mixed bag for me here. The lions mane mushrooms were unique and tasty and although the lemongrass chicken noodles didn’t taste like lemongrass at all, they were tasty and you got a large portion. However, the bao missed the mark, and the duck entree didn’t have nearly enough duck for the price. I loved all the crazy wallpaper throughout though. We had reservations on a Friday night and they were able to take us in about 20 min early which I appreciate. We also heard them turn away multiple groups who didn’t have reservations, so if you’re considering going on a weekend, make a reservation.

Kennon Rymer

Google

Kaizen is a treat on all levels. Our reservation was ready upon arrival, and we were warmly welcomed and rapidly seated. Our server was well versed on all menu options. We set in on our massive order of appetizers and sides, and boy, were they all fantastic. Some items were just bites, but some were much more, so be sure to experiment. The dinners we ordered included specials as well as true tried classics. On every level, each meal was well seasoned and expertly prepared. Portions were more than enough for each person, even with some taking home leftovers. The atmosphere at the restaurant was clean, bright, had fantastic background music, and a vibe of FUN! Kaiser should be a stop for every fun-loving person who wants a vibrant meal well executed. Give Kaizen a try! Solid A!

Mikey Mo

Google

One of the shining culinary stars of Knoxville. We love this place! It’s hard to recommend just one dish so I’ll recommend a few. All of the steamed buns are delicious, the duck noodle soup…..delicious. Drunken noodles? Delicious. Rabbit curry??? Also so delicious. I’m not one to typically rave about a restaurant but Kaizen has never let us down.

Raghav Govind Jha

Google

We went for a quick late lunch and early dinner around 5 pm. The chicken and shrimp buns were delicious. Also had a nice Japanese lager (softer compared to Sapporo) We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Would recommend people to check this out if in the old city area of Knoxville.