O-Ku

"The Germantown location of this luxurious Charleston-based chain offers  A-5 wagyu beef prepared tableside; pristine nigiri and sashimi; head-turning rolls like the NashVegas with crab, goat cheese mousse, and spicy tuna; fun cocktails and a good selection of sake in a moody setting splashed with lavender banquettes and manzanita branches. A $140 omakase tasting features the chef’s choice daily offerings." - Kellie Walton, Eater Staff

"Nashville is a sushi desert. But there are a few oases tucked in various corners of the city, and O-ku is one of them. This is prime date night territory, with the cozy booths and two-tops, but it also brings a slick izakaya vibe that’s just right for a few friends and a couple of bottles of sake at the bar. Besides the great nigiri, makimono, and robata-grilled meat, the specials like the thinly-sliced Scottish king salmon with black lava salt and truffle ponzu, A-5 wagyu poke, and bourbon char siu-glazed sticky ribs really level up the experience. The multi-course omakase is by reservation only Sunday through Thursday, and is well worth the school night outing. " - jackie gutierrez jones 2

"The list of our favorite sushi spots in the city is painfully short, but O-Ku in Germantown is at the very top. The rolls aren’t overly complicated, and most importantly, the fish here is sourced directly from famous markets in Tokyo and Hawai’i, i.e. it’s really top-notch stuff. When you’re working with stellar fish, you don’t need to add much. Some of O-Ku’s strongest menu items let the yellowtail, salmon, etc. do their thing with minimal ingredients. Just order anything off the namesake nigiri and classic rolls sections. That’s not to discount some of the flashier options, though—like the Playboy with angus beef and goat cheese mousse. You just don’t have to settle for something that camouflages the fish here, because the raw materials are quality. There’s also some robata dishes for those who lean more turf than surf, but even if you’re staunchly set on otoro, you shouldn’t pass up the candied sticky ribs or the five-spiced duck breast with a yuzo miso marmalade. photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens The high-end izakaya vibe works for everything from a solo treat-yourself experience at the bar or a group date situation in a booth that might involve a boss and their partner. But we’ve also seen a few sake bombs go down at the bar between friends. Hell, maybe your boss is into sake bombs, too. Food Rundown photo credit: Christen Clemens Otoro This tender cut of bluefin is fresh and fatty in all the right ways. The O-Ku version adds caviar and chive which punches up the flavor with a salty texture. This should always be on your table. Playboy Roll This is one of O-Ku’s more popular rolls, and it’s definitely worth ordering. There’s crab mix, angus beef flank, herb aioli, avocado, chive, goat cheese mousse, asparagus, and truffle soy glaze. Yes, there’s a lot happening, but it all comes together nicely. Candied Sticky Ribs The candied sticky ribs from the robata menu deserve a spot on your table for two reasons. One, the ribs add a bit of heft to the meal. And two, the char siu glaze could make a trucker hat taste good. Let's Celebrate! This shot combines sake with peach jello to make something fun, but not overly sweet to drink—the bitterness of the Aperol cuts through it. It serves two to four people, and we highly recommend it as a way to break the ice on an awkward date." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

"Landlocked Nashville isn’t exactly a sushi town, but when nothing less than a slab of toro will do, we go to O-Ku. This place makes great nigiri and makimono, plus excellent robata-grilled meat, but the specials like the thinly-sliced Scottish king salmon with black lava salt and truffle ponzu, wagyu tartare, and bourbon togarashi-crusted tuna really level up the experience. O-Ku has all the essentials for date night: dim lighting, plenty of cozy booths and two-tops, and a ton of sake to choose from. It’s a refreshing option outside of the Broadway madness, where things are rarely cozy, and eating anything raw is just a really bad idea." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak

"Germantown has welcomed this Charleston-born chain to the neighborhood with open arms and for good reason: O-Ku is one of Nashville’s top sushi destinations. Usuzukuri, hamachi nigiri, kung pao cauliflower, tableside Wagyu tobanyaki, and all manner of signature makimono rolls all make a stellar first impression, but you can also relinquish control with a chef’s-choice omakase tasting experience and a sake pairing." - Kellie Walton, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones