Kaizen

Asian restaurant · Knoxville ·

Kaizen

Asian restaurant · Knoxville ·

Izakaya-inspired Asian fusion with steamed buns, fried rice

Information

127 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902 Get directions

$20–30

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

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

Kaizen

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

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)

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Kaizen

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

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)

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Kaizen

Kassandra S.

Google

Delicious restaurant in Old city Knoxville! I highly recommend the fried lions mane mushroom appetizer. It is so well flavored—the sauce is incredible! It is a must order. For entrees, we ordered the fried rice and the lemongrass chicken noodle. The portions are very large and we were able to take a good portion home. They have a great beverage selection. Would highly recommend this restaurant as it is a great value, the service is attentive and friendly and the food is delicious!

Angela L.

Google

This place was overall good! We got two steamed buns (pork and shrimp) and they were both tasty but the shrimp was my favorite. I will say though, they are TINY and $3.50 each which was a little pricy for the size. For entrees we got the fall stir fry and the duck noodle soup. The stir fry in my opinion was a little bland, but the veggies in it were cooked very nice. The duck noodle soup had a ton of flavor. We spent $70 on the two buns, two entrees, and two drinks.

Todd C.

Google

Amazing food. The buns were all great. We had pork belly and fried chicken fried rice bowls which were both outstanding. I got the feeling there was nothing bad on the menu. We ate outside with the dogs. Will be back whenever we are in town.

zachary K.

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.

Molly B.

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!

jason G.

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!

Joanna A.

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.

Eleanor T.

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.