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Anaba Japanese Cuisine
$$$Authentic Japanese restaurant offering sushi, ramen, hibachi, and traditional dishes. Popular for its fresh sushi and co...
Best Japanese Restaurants inKnoxville, TN
Community guide to Japanese food in Knoxville, TN. Compare ratings, menus, and locations for ramen, sushi, izakaya, tonkatsu, and authentic Japanese cuisine across East Tennessee.
19 Japanese spots
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BENGY Sushi & Poke
$$Marble City Market food-hall stall serving fresh sushi rolls and build-your-own poke bowls.
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Chaiyo's Thai & Sushi
$$Thai restaurant (near UT campus) that also offers sushi. Features Thai curries, noodles, and Japanese rolls in a casual ...
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Fuji Japanese Grill
$Fast-casual Japanese grill offering hibachi-style plates, teriyaki, and sushi in a quick-service format. Affordable opti...
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Fulin's Asian Cuisine
$$Sit-down restaurant offering a mix of Chinese and Japanese dishes, including hibachi and sushi. Known for a broad Pan-As...
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Hachiban
$$Marble City Market food-hall vendor offering Japanese- and Taiwanese-style hibachi, bao, and more.
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Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar
$$Long-standing Japanese restaurant with wide sushi selection, hibachi-grill entrees, and classic rolls. Known for consist...
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Kaizen
$$$Hip Asian-fusion restaurant in Downtown Knoxville, inspired by Japanese izakayas. Serves creative small plates (steam bu...
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Kyuramen
$$A modern Japanese ramen bar serving master-crafted ramen bowls and Japanese-inspired cuisine. Known for rich broth flavo...
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Makino Japanese Buffet
$$All-you-can-eat Japanese and Asian buffet featuring sushi, sashimi, hibachi items, and hot entrees. Offers a large varie...
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Mikata Japanese Grill & Sushi
$$Japanese grill and sushi restaurant with extensive menu: hibachi entrees, sushi rolls, and bento boxes. Praised for fres...
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Nama Izakaya
$$$Downtown Japanese izakaya in the former Harvest space on the 100 block of Gay Street, serving Asian-inspired small plate...
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KPC PartnerNama Sushi Bar
$$$Trendy local sushi bar chain with creative rolls and Japanese small plates. Known for fresh sushi and hip atmosphere. Mu...
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Spice
$$Kingston Pike restaurant serving authentic Thai dishes alongside fresh sushi and other Japanese fare.
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Stir Fry Cafe
$$Local Asian-fusion eatery blending Chinese, Japanese, and Thai influences. Menu features stir-fried noodle dishes, sushi...
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Tangerine Japanese Cuisine
$$$Upscale-casual Japanese restaurant featuring sushi, teppanyaki, and Asian-fusion dishes. Offers a diverse menu including...
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Tokyo Sushi & Steakhouse
$$Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar in Powell offering hibachi-grill fare and a full sushi menu. Family-friendly spot know...
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Yamato Ramen and Poke Bowl
$$Turkey Creek Japanese spot serving ramen, hibachi, poke bowls, and bubble tea.
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Zukku Sushi
$$Sushi vendor inside Kern's Bakery Food Hall serving creative rolls, poke bowls, and sushi burritos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find authentic Japanese ramen in Knoxville?
Knoxville's ramen scene has matured into a genuine restaurant category. Look for shops that simmer their tonkotsu for 12+ hours, offer shoyu and miso options alongside pork-bone varieties, and use imported or hand-pulled noodles. The best spots list their broth-making process on the menu. Browse the directory above for community reviews on every ramen option in town.
What's the best sushi restaurant in Knoxville?
Knoxville has a range of sushi options from all-you-can-eat to intimate omakase counters. The sign of a serious sushi restaurant is fish cut in-house daily, short nigiri menus that change with the season, and chefs who recommend cuts from behind the bar. Use our directory to sort by rating and read community notes on the freshest fish in town.
Are there any izakaya-style Japanese restaurants in Knoxville?
Yes — izakaya-style restaurants, which serve small plates (yakitori, karaage, okonomiyaki, tebasaki) alongside sake and Japanese beer, have a presence in Knoxville. These spots are ideal for groups who want to share multiple dishes. Look for menus organized around hot/cold small plates rather than big entrees, and check our directory for authentic izakaya reviews.
Where can I find authentic Japanese food (not fusion) in Knoxville?
Authentic Japanese restaurants in Knoxville are distinguishable by menus that include homestyle dishes — donburi, udon, soba, curry rice, chirashi — alongside the usual sushi and teriyaki. Authentic spots often list dishes in romanized Japanese and serve proper miso soup and chawanmushi. Browse the directory above for community-curated ratings on authenticity.
Is there good tonkatsu or Japanese curry in Knoxville?
Tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) and Japanese curry rice are available at several Japanese restaurants in Knoxville, often alongside katsudon and curry udon. These are comfort-food staples and usually appear on lunch menus. Filter by Japanese cuisine in our directory to see which spots specialize in donburi and curry rather than just sushi.
Know a Great Japanese Spot?
Help our community discover the best japanese food in Knoxville. Share your favorite restaurant with us.