This sushi and noodle restaurant is anything but new, but it's better than ever thanks to a major renovation of the dining room. You can expect the same high-quality sushi rolls and crisp tempura, only now you can see the other people enjoying a meal like you are. There used to be a ton of walls breaking up the dining room and shutting in families in the booths, but with those gone, the space feels open and alive. The bento box remains an unbeatable lunch deal.

We’ve heard there’s some pretty good pizza in Tokyo. We’ll get there one day to try it for ourselves, but in the meantime, you can catch us at Sean Brock’s new spot in Riverside Village, which specializes in a similar style of pies. The dough undergoes a three-day fermentation period in a temperature-controlled dough room, and the result is a delightfully chewy personal-sized pizza topped with things like country ham, guanciale, and mushroom cream.

There’s bar food, and then there’s what’s happening at Little Miss Mao, an outpost of New Orleans restaurant Mister Mao that’s sharing a space with Skinny Dennis. They do Southeast Asian, Mexican, and Indian snacks out of the takeout window on the honky-tonk’s back patio. There’s cheese rind fried chicken, fried onions with tamarind chutney and serrano cream, and prahok ktiss—a mix of Cambodian curry ground pork and fish paste served with shrimp crackers.

Another buzzy Mexican opening? Welcome to Nashville 2025. But Alebrije, who finally got a brick and mortar after being a hyped-up food truck for a while, is one we’re really excited about. The space isn’t huge, but it’s got some nice touches like Aztec and Mayan murals and graphics, and the space works extremely well for a quick lunch of exceptionally tasty maiz-based street food. We’re talking crispy shrimp empanadas, mole enchiladas, and tostadas topped with carnitas or asada meat.

Lona isn’t on the level of Bourbon Steak or Catbird Seat when it comes to fancy dinners, but it’s the city’s best new option for special occasion Mexican. You’ll find it in the former Makeready spot in the Noelle downtown—a dimly lit dining room that could easily be mistaken for any place in Mexico City. Split bites of a chipotle-spiced lump crab guacamole, a respectable queso fundido, and a well-seasoned steak tampiqueña with an undeniably fantastic version of refried beans.

We need more Thai and Texas BBQ mashups in our life. Enter: Curry Boys. They just opened in East Nashville in the old Lou space, pumping out hot links covered in queso and brisket bowls with shreddy meat floating in curry. It’s a fast-casual operation and our new go-to for a late lunch, casual dinner, or a round of whiskey and thai lemonade cocktails on the patio. They’re coming from San Antonio, so there’s some real Texas BBQ pedigree happening here.

The New Orleans location of Turkey And The Wolf kicked off the hypey sandwich shop trend nearly 10 years ago. Now, they're open in East Nashville with long lines, slinging those same iconic sandwiches—like the saucy collard melt and the famous fried bologna. Come for lunch and get one of those, plus any vegetable side, like the cabbage salad tossed in a roasted chili-coconut vinaigrette, and pay attention to the “cold sandwiches” section of their menu.

Our solitary complaint about The Yellow Table Café is that we wish they had more tables. Alas, the tiny, adorable yellow and blue cafe only has four inside, but they’re worth the possible tussle for a seat when there’s goat cheese and leek galettes involved. If you can’t find a spot, any of the crepes, like the standout with dark chocolate, and galettes can be enjoyed on the go, wrapped in paper, and eaten on a lovely stroll around Eastland Park.

Sauced is the latest NYC transplant touching down in Nashville, and this wine bar is just what Germantown needs. There’s no drink menu—just tell the staff what you’re in the mood for, either by grape type or flavor notes, and they’ll probably pick out something perfect. You should also order enough snacks to make up a full meal. There’s toast loaded with tuna tartare and caviar, and paper-thin mortadella that’s sandwiched between pistachio sauce, a tomme cheese foam, and buns.

The West End has been aching for a bar with ample space, really good food, and actually interesting cocktails. Enter: Perfectly Fine, a cool kids hangout that feels like it’s run by former tattoo shop owners. The fried buffalo chicken sandwich is a star here, served with salt and vinegar powder-covered fries so good they could make the Lays empire nervous. Cocktails are named “whiskey drink” or “vodka drink”, but contain things like bulgogi marinade or earl grey.

Sophomore projects are rife with pressure, but Noko’s new omakase spot breezes through the follow-up with finesse. It’s right next to its Porter Road location and offers 14 courses of stunning slices of fish and beef for $75 per person. With its attentive service, high-quality fish, and intimate space, Kase is practically made for an anniversary or celebrating a jump in pay grade.

Turmeric & Co. is single-handedly breathing life into Hunter’s Station. This Indian fusion restaurant has transformed the barren warehouse-like space into a lush, fauna-filled escape with Bombay flair. Keep it in your back pocket on nights when no one wants to cook and you have zero plans to change out of your sweatpants. Luckily, dishes like the cashew korma mac and cheese, the light kachkumber salad, and the vegetal saag gnudi are worthy bait to lure you from another 90 Day Fiance binge.

Dos Santos comes to Nashville by way of Colorado. Which surprises us because everything about this Mexican restaurant in Wedgewood-Houston screams Miami—from the loud, thumping rap on the speakers to the flamingoes and Miami Vice-themed logos on their merch. It’s a perfect group spot for a clubby-ish dinner with a bunch of friends to begin a night out. Start with fresh and crisp poke nachos with pickled jalapeños and onions before really filling up with hearty wedges of pork-stuffed quesadillas.

The Henry in 12 South is one of the best new places for a big group dinner in Nashville. With its bright, French bistro atmosphere, huge dining room covered in marble, and upstairs patio, the restaurant was practically built to feed bachelorette parties that worked up an appetite marathon shopping at Draper James. The American food, like truffled brie toast, burgers, steak, and seared ahi tuna with creamy green curry rice, aren’t the most complex or creative, but they’re really, really good.