🍽️ Restaurant Run of the Week:

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There are restaurants that get a lot of buzz and then there are restaurants that actually deserve it. Kisser is firmly in the second category and then some. Opened in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Chefs Brian Lea and Leina Horii, this place has been collecting accolades at a pace that’s hard to keep up with. Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025. Named one of Bon Appétit’s 20 Best New Restaurants in 2024. James Beard Best New Restaurant finalist. The list goes on. And somehow it still manages to feel like a neighborhood lunch spot that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The concept is built around kissaten, a Japanese word for a cozy neighborhood spot where people eat, drink, and hang out. That’s exactly what Kisser is. The space only seats around 40 people, which is part of what makes it special and also why you need to make a reservation. The menu is intentionally small and tight, rotating with the seasons and built around Japanese comfort food made with local ingredients, including some grown on the owners’ own farm. Onigiri, handmade udon noodles, seasonal small plates, unique drinks, and desserts that are worth saving room for.

What really sets Kisser apart from every other celebrated restaurant in Nashville is the price. This is Michelin-recognized, nationally acclaimed, James Beard finalist cooking, and you can walk out of there having had one of the best lunches of your life without spending a fortune. The portions are also bigger than you’d expect for a Japanese comfort food spot of this caliber. It’s the kind of meal that makes you stop mid-bite and appreciate that Nashville has a restaurant like this. One of the best meals we’ve had in this city, full stop.

Kisser is only open for lunch Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, and weekends from 10 AM, so plan accordingly. Make a reservation, show up hungry, and order something you’ve never had before. You won’t regret a single bite.

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• 📍Location: East Nashville

• 🍴Recommendation: Get a bunch of different things

• ⭐️ Highlight: Food, price

🔎 Last Eaten Review: Chicken Katsu Sandwich

At $15, the Chicken Katsu Sandwich is one of the best lunch deals in Nashville right now, and it’s not particularly close. It comes on Kisser’s signature Japanese milk bread, which is soft and pillowy in a way that makes every other sandwich bread feel like an afterthought. The chicken katsu itself is perfectly fried, and the warmth of it paired with the toppings creates this combination of textures and flavors that just works on every level. It’s filling in a way that surprises you for a sandwich, and for $15 at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, it almost feels like they forgot to add a zero to the price. Order it. You’ll be thinking about it for days.

🍗 Check them out: https://www.kisserrestaurant.com/

Have a great day!

Hueston Nelson | Publisher | The Nashville Grapevine