Kisser
Japanese restaurant · East Nashville ·
Japanese comfort food cafe: curries, ramen, katsu sandwiches
Japanese comfort food cafe: curries, ramen, katsu sandwiches
"Run by married couple Brian Lea and Leina Horii, this popular, no-reservations spot channels Japanese comfort food and a kissaten vibe with a concise, shareable menu executed with care; don’t miss the onigiri trio (shredded snow crab and avocado, cod roe, and kabocha squash curry), grilled yellowtail collar with vibrant ponzu, a chilled ramen salad as a seasonal twist, and desserts like miso crème brûlée or a yuzu parfait." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Filling quickly and not taking reservations, this compact Japanese comfort‑food spot from Brian Lea and Leina Horii channels a kissaten's cozy spirit with a concise, shareable menu and exacting execution. I loved the onigiri — three triangles of rice with fillings such as shredded snow crab and avocado, cod roe, and a curry with kabocha — and enjoyed larger plates like grilled yellowtail collar with vibrant ponzu or a chilled ramen salad that offers a seasonal twist. For dessert, miso crème brûlée or a yuzu parfait make a satisfying finish." - The MICHELIN Guide
"In Nashville, Kisser is a Japanese restaurant that appears on the MICHELIN Guide's inaugural American South Bib Gourmand list." - The MICHELIN Guide
"It's impossible to use restraint when talking about Kisser, a lunch-only Japanese spot in East Nashville. Seriously, this caption could just be a voice note of us shouting “Yellowtail collar! Katsu sando!” and the rest of the menu items. But alas, we’ll control ourselves. Restraint is just not the natural response when item after item on the menu is so delicious and checks all the boxes for a dream lunch. Nice cold appetizer? Enter a red snapper crudo with chilled dashi-marinated eggplant. Something hearty to warm us up? Hello, Japanese curry gravy over steamed rice with a crispy katsu cutlet. One does not casually discuss this restaurant in civilized conversation. You loudly banter back and forth like overly passionate football fans at a tailgate." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
"Referenced as the destination‑worthy Japanese café that garnered wide critical acclaim and many accolades, and whose success led its owners to develop a subsequent café concept focused more on bakery and takeaway." - ByKate Kassin