Koyo

Koyo Knoxville was absolutely fantastic! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was LITERALLY out of this this world good! We had the tangy and rich crispy pork belly, sweet and fatty king salmon, and buttery Chilean sea bass! Paired with a top notch wine selection and cocktail menu. Even got to try an new sake. A great experience overall!

We had the pleasure of visiting Koyo for the first time. I think the sampling menu is the best route if you are hungry. We ended up doing individual dishes + drinks. I would give the atmosphere a 5- quaint, romantic, warm. Drinks also get a 5- tasty, reasonably priced, creative. Food is a 4 star- a few dishes lacked high flavor profiles but were still tasteful. Felt like the dishes were not 100% complete as far as seasoning. I highly recommend the sea bass dish with the butter sauce. Will definitely be back for drinks!

This place is not just dinner it is an experience, and we enjoyed every plate! We are already talking about what we will order next time we go! We recommend the Omakase with the sake and wine tasting to pair with it!

This was a great experience, the venue was elegant and cozy. The service was amazing and the food Heavenly. I would highly recommend for a date night. The atmosphere was very mellow and Grayson was the most amazing server and very knowledgeable of the menu and all the staff was very friendly and welcoming.

We really enjoyed our visit to Koyo. My wife and I both had the tasting menu with the wine paring and it was excellent. It was unlike almost anything else you’ll find in Knoxville and much more similar to fine dining restaurants that you’d find in bigger cities. The dishes and flavors were creative and incredibly tasty (especially the short rib and shrimp). The service was attentive but not over the top or bothersome. There’s no sommelier but honestly, this isn’t the kind of place where I’m looking for one and the wine pairing was great, regardless. The only real knock I have is that the pacing was a little rushed. The second that we finished a dish the next one was already coming out. It would be alright if they took a little time in between courses. Thanks for an awesome dinner Koyo!

My Wife and I have been here four or five times and we always order the same thing - the Omakase. It’s so good we won’t get anything else there. Omakase is a Japanese phrase that means I’ll leave it up to you. All of the courses have been different every time but one thing is constant and that’s the A5 Waygu which is always one of the courses Each course is like having a food present brought to the table. The Waygu is always plated/paired different each time. It’s on the higher end of the price scale at over $100 per person throw in a couple of cocktails the bill can get pretty high. It’s a great lace to go eat and just relax.

Wow! I was blown away after my experience at Koyo. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance and service was fantastic.We enjoyed the crispy pork belly, the mushroom crispy rice, scallops and shrimp, and jumbo prawns. It was unlike anything else in Knoxville. If you’re looking for a real treat or somewhere to celebrate a special occasion- KOYO is the place!

Absolutely wonderful. One of the finest meals I have ever had. A little on the expensive side (for the omakase). But still very worth it. The servers were excellent, I cant think of one thing I would want different.

First discovered Koyo via the Knoxville Vegan Chef Challenge. If it were not for that, I'd have never dined here. Looking at pictures of their menu through Yelp or on their website, it doesn't look like there's gluten free and/or vegan options. However, their seasonal menu notates gs and v for each item and some other menu items can be made gluten and/or vegan. We had the miso soup with oyster mushrooms and tofu, spring rolls, tteokbokki and the mushroom crispy rice made vegan by omitting the egg. We also had the Riff on a Manhattan and Shiso Vain cocktails. Everything was cooked to perfection and the drinks were divine. Our server was polite, helpful and attentive. The restaurant was decorated in an understated and classy manner for Christmas. We need to make it a 2024 resolution to come here more often!

First visit! Overall a 3.5 / 5 for us...not sure if we'll be back. Maybe we will be back if we read other good reviews. Our server (Cameron) was running all tables solo - kudos to this individual for all the great service. The food was good, but most came out either sitting too long before it got to us (or not heated enough prior to serving). Mainly made the Wagyu a little less enjoyable than what we would have preferred. The tuna was also not too fresh, but was still good and able to be eaten. I felt like the way we tried this out was good - try having one of you doing the four course selection, and the other person ordering a few al a carte items; makes for some great eating and experience of flavors. All I can say is - give it a go sometime if you like the pictures; I just hope it's a little less hectic inside and brought out more warm for you!

I'll start off with the good: atmosphere! Loved the decor and intimate feel of the restaurant. It's different from Kaizen so you don't feel like you're there with just a facelift. It is a completely different vibe. Loved we could get reservations but we didn't need them because it was very not busy. This is kind of a warning to me. Even though there was one server, she took good care of us and was attentive. Omakase. If I go back, I would do a la carte off of the menu and not opt for this. I always love a Wagyu and I really don't think you could ever go wrong, but we left hungry and very poor. Just don't think this place will last at the price point. Nothing wow'd us. I liked the lemony pasta towards the beginning and of course the wagyu but the amuse bouche was several little tiny pieces of tasteless beets. I could not get excited about the octopus and the lamb chop was just meh. Paired with two brussel sprouts made for a sad course. The beans that the wagyu were paired with made for a very strange combo. Could see it on the vegetarian menu but they need to switch that up for the carnivores. Dessert was cute - loved the crunch of the wafers that they paired with it. All over just way too expensive for what it is. Would try again if someone else picks up the check.

We visited Koyo when we were in town celebrating our anniversary. We visited late on a weeknight, so we were the only ones in the restaurant. We walked there since our hotel was close, but street parking is available, although very limited. Since it was a special occasion we opted for the Omakase chef's tasting menu. The food was just okay and normally I would have only given 3 stars based on the price of the tasting menu and the food we were served. What saved the experience was the service and the drinks/bartender. Would visit other places before considering Koyo again.

Service was fantastic. Intimate seating, beautifully decorated. Loved the seasonal menu. I started with the seasonal soup- Mushroom Miso- so good I could have been my meal. While the mushroom fried rice lacked flavor, the spicy bulgogi duck was amazing (the side veggies were the best part). The bartender even mixed us NA cocktails. Good first visit.

A small cool place - hard to describe; maybe high-end Asian/New American fusion? Japanese: they serve sake and many of their dishes have Japanese ingredients, but instead of the usual Japanese Restaurant staples (e.g. there's no sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, ramen, or tempura) they create nicely constructed and presented dishes with a farm-to-table ingredients vibe. The Wagu Beef is "market price". Our waitress said it's $100 and suggested that if we wanted it, it is included in the $175 Omakase Tasting Menu. We skipped it and ordered ala carte and really liked what we ordered. The Hijiki salad had some hijiki sprinkled in it, but it was used more as a garnish. The Spring Roll was a Vietnamese style wrapper with a flower inside! The sauce with it was a korean style BBQ, as was the sauce for the Duck Bulgogi. I'd give it 5 stars :)

we made a reservation for 8 to celebrate a friends birthday. We came in and were warmly greeted and sat down to have a drink while we waited on our other guest. The space is very intimate, I would say 6 tables + our 8 top table. The bartender who also ended up being our server was very friendly. We sat down with our group and browsed our menus. My partner and I shared the Miso Caesar which I would absolutely loved, it was honestly probably my favorite thing that I ate there. We then tried the Crudo, the fish was fresh which is amazing for Knoxville. I didn't love the flavor combination of the grapefruit and fennel but that's just a personal preference. We then shared the Duck Bulgogi. I was disappointed because the Duck was overcooked :/ but outside of that the flavors were amazing. We ended the dinner with the absolutely best Espresso Martini. I wish I could remember our servers name because she was just amazing with our group and clearly made some amazing drinks. Overall we had a great time and enjoyed the food but I did walk away feeling hungry and our bill + tip was $190. The omakase is around $175 per person. I would do this as a special occasion restaurant but it's not a place I could frequent on the weekly. I wish there was some more affordable ways to eat with them otherwise I'll stop in for drinks only.

We love this place. In the former site of Kaizen downtown Knoxville, east walk from Market square. They used to have a $20 Wagyu burger that is the best my wife and I have ever had. We got these Wagyu "Wellingtons" / little empanadas that were just so delicious. If you go during their "Cocktail hour" and choose one of their pairings (in this case Wagyu fat-washed Suntory) you get $8 off. That fat-washed whisky was like nothing I've ever had. Warm rich mouth-feel. (I'd dispense with the admittedly nice ice cube next time.) Service was excellent. Everything we have tried there has been delicious, but if in doubt just go for the cocktail hour and get what I got, A5 Wagyu "Wellingtons" and Wagyu fat-washed Suntory. If you like anything like that you will not be disappointed. Trust me.

Went for late lunch on 8/6 after checking out fanboy expo, even though decor/atmosphere is more upscale, didn't feel like we needed to be "dressed up "by any means. I've gone to this space several times when it was the previous restaurant so knew what to expect as far as small area/close tables for seating. Miso soup, seafood chowder, duck Bulgogi, and Crispy mushroom rice with added pork belly were all to die for. Can't wait to go back for dinner sometime!

Picked on whim during a busy Friday night. Service was exceptional using an online reservation service to secure a table. The staff made us feel like we had planned our reservations well in advance and were naturally attentive. The Fall 2023 menu had exceptional offerings! Seated outside on a night with intermittent rain which we knew would happen ahead of arriving. The awning kept us dry, the heater provided warmth, and the food gave satisfaction.

I had the chefs tasting menu. It was superb. The Wagyu steak course was the best bite of steak I have ever consumed. My girlfriend agreed. She had the short ribs and duck. Delicious. We walked right in, had excellent service. Unique cocktails.

This place was absolutely amazing! My friends and I tried to get in to multiple places not realizing it was UT's graduation. No one would take us without reservations. The very kind hostess fit us in no problem. We ordered so much food. The spring rolls were beautiful and the sauce was incredible. Then we got the duck bulgogi and mushroom crispy rice. Amazing! After that we tried the pork belly and the mushroom steak. Both so different and very good. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be back!

Excellent service. We went to dinner after a Vols game and fortunately had a reservation because they were busy! Spring rolls, crispy rice with mushrooms and duck bulgogi were excellent. Crispy pork belly was undercooked and chewy. I could not swallow it. Nice wine selection. Pineapple ice cream was the perfect finish. Small space with big flavors! Again, top quality service!

I was sold on Koyo the moment I saw it had a 4-course vegetarian feature on the menu. I can't say I've seen that offered at any other restaurant in Knoxville in the 5 years I've been here. It was a great experience - delicious sweet potato + garlic soup, Dan Dan noodles, crispy tofu, and a fried rice-stuffed pepper. The waiter (who was excellent) said that the feature changes every few days - which is great to hear! Gives us a reason to come back sooner rather than later. The vegetarian feature was $65 but it was a lot of food - definitely glad I came on an empty stomach. I apologize the pics I took don't do it justice! I always loved this space when Kaizen was there, so I was glad to come back. It's a small and intimate dining room so for that reason I'd recommend making a reservation. We came in around 8pm and it was moderately busy with a couple tables still open.

We loved everything about this restaurant. The server and hostess we wonderful, the food was outstanding and the ambiance was perfectly casual and fun.

Sooo good!! We shared and thoroughly enjoyed the squid ink pasta with prawns, the crispy mushroom rice with egg, the super tender and flavorful spare ribs, the duck, and the pork belly amongst the four of us. We tried the macha tiramisu and cilantro lime ice cream flavor of the day which was unique but flavorful. The cocktails and wine selections were good as well! We will definitely be back!

Greyson was our server, he was amazing!!! Super attentive, very knowledgeable about the whole menu, offered suggestions. The drinks were delicious, the food had so much flavor. The ambience was perfect. Definitely a must go to! We will be back. Thank you Koyo for an extremely epic dining experience!

One of the best meals that I've eaten. Certainly the best I've had in the past year. James the GM and Josh the Chef, and the rest of the team, made it a memorable experience. The omakase menu was perfect. The absolute best sushi I've ever had in the states. The tuna was decadent. The prawns with red curry was stupid delicious. The beef- braised beef rib and grilled waygu melted in my mouth. Absolute deliciousness at every turn. I went back two nights later and had the crispy mushroom rice with 145 egg. It was perfect. I may just go back to Knoxville to eat here again. Will definitely eat there when I'm back later in the year. Go eat here now.

Koyo is a no-go. Nice setting. Great service. Delectable sounding dishes that are uninspired. One star.

I should have taken some pictures of the food because the presentation was beautiful, but I was too immersed in the experience to even know where my phone was or that I even had a phone. In addition to the presentation the flavor profiles put together by the Chef and kitchen team at Koyo were phenomenal and more than memorable. We decided on the chef's tasting which started with an amuse-bouche. Actually we really started with a pour of Weller Full Proof which is a hard spirit to find these days. The tasting continued with Saba, Quail & real A5 Wagyu and finished off with Green Tea and Berry Kakigori. We also had the Wagyu Meatloaf... which was out of this world!! It was served over a celery root purée with snap peas and mushroom( shiitake I think) gravy. It is not to be missed!! There's also incredible Japanese whiskeys which were sampled and complemented the meal from start to finish. If you are looking for a night out and an experience that's different, unique and delicious from start to finish, then Koyo is your spot. The restaurant only holds 40 people I total so you may want to make a reservation. I also heard they do lunch so I'm looking forward to checking it out as well.

I love everything here!! The people are so kind and the food is out of this world! I miss Japan but Koyo made me feel like I was there! I love the laid back vibe and the tablecloths and the great food!! Our waitress, Lola, was fantastic! James Michael was fantastic and made us feel so welcome. We love it here and will definitely be back. The vibe is so super cool and very bougie with white tablecloths on all the tables. We ate outside. It was a beautiful night in Knoxville. Couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience!!

Extremely underwhelming for the prices you pay.... I'm so dissatisfied. My husband and I were excited to try it and loved the atmosphere. Everything went fine until we got the 5 course sampler meal.... 2/6 dishes were good, the food wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't $500 worth... that did include drinks m... I'm sad because I really wanted to to like this place.

Just moved into the area and swung by after work still in construction attire. A little out of place not with a date (which would be great to try several dishes) but the staff was friendly & great; Very inviting. The food has tons of flavor, seems like they pride themselves on plating & presentation as well. The Herb and eggplant soup was the best thing I had, and will come back just for that. Great drink selection and the bartender looks like he is ready to bang out some great cocktails.

Extremely overpriced and extremely underwhelming. The food was not nearly worth a meal that after tip was almost $400 for two people. They talked up the Wagyu which we were extremely excited for until the served us a few pieces of medium well beef. That poor cow. Will not be back and certainly will not recommend.

The food and wine pairings were phenomenal...hands down! Best new restaurant in Knoxville!!!

Incredible food! Everything from the ambiance to the drinks was perfection. The wait staff was so kind and friendly! The meat, the vegetables, everything was so fresh and original. Never tasted anything like it. Can't wait to return and see what they do next with their menu!!

My husband and I stopped in for lunch today and had an absolutely perfect experience. Everything, including the cocktails, was delicious and we felt so welcomed. I highly recommend!

Great food, unique flavors, excellent service. Hidden gem. Loved this restaurant and will be back!!

The lion's mane mushroom steak was incredible! Make sure to try the matcha tiramisu for dessert!! Great ambience and kind staff, would recommend to anyone!

Last night was our fifth time dining at Koyo. The food and cocktails are always over-the-top exceptional. It's hard to even begin! everything from the veggie spring rolls to the pork belly to the A5 Wagyu (mushroom crispy rice is always a MUST) had its own unique flavors and the dishes were so thoughtfully put together to compliment themselves. Stephanie was our waitress and she made sure to do everything she possibly could to make us feel appreciated for spending and celebrating a birthday with Koyo. We were a table of six and must have ordered 15 entrées off of the à la carte menu and not only did everything come out in a timely manner from the kitchen. The food also came with zero errors, and the staff was able to accommodate all requests. If you ever get the opportunity to die in here, I highly recommend asking for Stephanie as she will go above and beyond to make sure that you have a pleasant experience.

I was attending a conference being held at the Convention Center and a colleague came back from lunch raving about how she stumbled onto Koyo where she had the best lunch. My roommate and I checked it out the next day and had the crispy mushroom rice dish. I went back a few days later and had the Japanese curry with chicken and, again, it was a most delicious lunch. The staff on both visits were very attentive without being intrusive and yet also willing to chat when queried. Highly recommend Koyo if you are in the area! (It must be good - as you can see, I don't write reviews but I want everyone to know about them so I broke my silence!)