Kisser
Japanese restaurant · East Nashville
747 Douglas Ave, Nashville, TN 37207
Highlights
Japanese comfort food with katsu, udon, and unique small plates
Japanese comfort food with katsu, udon, and unique small plates
"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
"The brick-and-mortar location of Brian Lea and Leina Horii’s pandemic-born pop-up Kisser has made quite the splash with its 25-seat cafe in East Nashville. Situated in Highland Yards, the space is only open for lunch Friday through Monday, but manages to pack a crowd that clambers for its milk bread sandwiches, chicken katsu, and rotating udon, soba, and ramen dishes. Many of the items are also vegan and gluten-free friendly. There are no reservations here, so keep that in mind if you’re in a time crunch. —JGJ" - Ellen Fort
"Sure, it might seem hard to get a table at Kisser—this walk-in-only Japanese spot is roughly the size of a two-car garage and is only open four days a week for lunch. But the experience of waiting for some cod roe-stuffed onigiri is far from that of hanging out in Ticketmaster purgatory. You’ll probably only have to wait a few minutes amongst the crowd of families, folks studying in Vanderbilt hoodies, and people who probably name Cheers as their favorite sitcom. But after that, you’re in for a near-tranquil lunch fueled by those aforementioned rice balls and grilled 24-hour, sake-marinated yellowtail collar that’s so good you’ll murmur expletives under your breath at how tender it is." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak, adam sloan, bailey freeman
"This Japanese restaurant was the only Nashville spot to reach last year’s finalist round for Best New Restaurant; despite that finalist placement, the award ultimately went to a New Orleans restaurant." - Missy Frederick
