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    O-Ku

    4.4 (527 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    O-Ku Photos

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    O-KU ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - O-Ku

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    Passion fruit chocolate pudding
    Darya M.

    This place has my heart. Interior is beautiful and has a great ambience. The food is fresh and delicious. The staff were very friendly and kind.

    Sweet ribs
    Ms. Wong ..

    We did wait a bit before someone came to seat us. There is a parking lot but it isn't cheap so look for street parking first. Service was good. The waitress was attentive. Food was ok. It is pricey. The portions are small to medium. It was a nice place to go catch up with a friend as it wasn't too loud in there.

    Menu
    Amanda M.

    I'm never disappointed with O-Ku! The food is always delicious and the servers are helpful and have great recommendations. I love the sushi rolls and the cocktails are fantastic and unique. Shout out the the Origami Lantern which was created by our Server, Thomas M. This is great place for a date or double date. You can order as many plates as you want since everything is shareable. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for upscale Japanese cuisine.

    cucumber salad
    Aubrey M.

    Amazing all around. Our waiter (I believe his name was Corey) was extremely knowledgeable about the entire menu even when not looking at it. He made the entire environment so friendly and welcoming. Loved him!!! All the food we ate was more than amazing. The peppers, tuna tacos, edamame (with truffle oil), and wings were all amazing. Highly recommend the tuna tacos (table favorite) In my opinion the best part was the appetizers entrees were. good we had the Tenessee roll, California roll, and another I can't remember but was my favorite. Great with allergies, I have an allergy yo all nuts and they helped with everything. I wasn't afraid to try anything!

    Shogun
    Noelle C.

    O-Ku was such a great date-night spot. The atmosphere is dim, stylish, and lively. Our waiter, Sam C, was AWESOME from start to finish. He had fantastic recommendations and even surprised us with an extra dish because we genuinely couldn't decide between two items, which was such a thoughtful touch. The only downside was being seated about 15 minutes after our scheduled reservation time, which was a bit annoying--but once we sat down, everything else made up for it. The food was delicious. We absolutely loved the Kanpai-chi crudo and the usuzukuri (salmon crudo) so much that we genuinely wanted more!! Our first two sushi rolls--the Playboy and Shogun--were incredible, especially when ordered together as Sam suggested. They paired perfectly, offering a great contrast between savory/rich and fresh/light. We were still a little hungry and ordered the Tennessee Two Step roll, which didn't wow us as much, but I think that's only because everything else set the bar so high. Overall, a fantastic experience, amazing service, and food we're still thinking about. We can't wait to go back.

    Edamame, spicy tuna roll, black magic roll
    Christina D.

    Sat at the bar on a Sunday evening. Started the meal with edamame which came with truffle oil. The sauce was a nice touch but the dish was rather underwhelming and bland/underseasoned even wwith the sauce. I was definitely disappointed by this as edamame is a usually pretty good, but alas. Next, I had the Black Magic roll which was interesting. I looked really good, but there were interesting textures in the dish that made me not love it as much as I would wanted. I did like the spicy tuna roll which was fresh and clean, with just the right amount of heat. overall, had just an okay experience here though the service was great. I may stop by again in the future to try more of their menu but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

    Usuzukuri. Too salty, NOT to order !
    Nataliya Z.

    I am speechless how this restaurant has a 4.4 rating on Yelp!!! I gave it 1 star just because of the lively interior and the wonderful server Mary. The food though, I don't even know where to start! The whole idea of the Japanese cuisine is to enhance the flavors and the freshness of the Ingredients and not the erase the taste by adding the salt and extra salty sauce. In my otoro spoons the taste of the fatty tuna was completely overpowered by pickled wasabi so in the glamorous dish for the price of $35 you basically taste only wasabi. Sea urchin nigiri did not have any taste at all but swimming in the very salty sauce the king salmon , I would specify the microscopic pieces of it for $24, with the lava salt on the top was on the limit of uneatable. In summary, very overpriced restaurant with ridiculously small portions and no taste of the fish! To avoid by all means!

    Menus
    Tsan L.

    Amazing experience! Atmosphere is modern,sexy and upscale. The wait was a little long but it was well worth it. Our server Nate was remarkable. We had sushi,mango chicken, and several different cocktails and every thing was soo good! This is a great date night spot,atmosphere food and drinks are sure to get you another date lol!

    Crispy Rice
    Timorie B.

    Came here on a Thursday night. It's nice inside visually but very loud, so much so the waitress complained to us about it. It is located in a ness was and upcoming area and very walkable which is great! We had several rolls which were good. The crispy rice was ok - served with salmon versus typical tuna - soggy and mushy tasting. Edamame salted very good. The rolls were all good. The time to get our food was extremely long - too long. Our server was friendly and helpful and kept checking in regard to wait the wait our food but it was clear she had no control. Not sure the price is inline with the value.

    Usuzukuri ($24)
    Wendi K.

    4.5 Stars - higher end sushi / Japanese fare in a stylish environment. We walked in as a group of 3 on a Wednesday a little after 5 pm - it was completely empty but the hostess very kindly stated we could only sit at the bar because the tables were for reservations. Thankfully my friend went on his phone and grabbed a reservation so we could sit at a table. A bit weird, but thankfully the rest of the meal was wonderful. We ordered drinks (loved the refreshing asian flavors like matcha, yuzu, and lychee incorporated in the drinks). I loved the lux touch of the staff coming around and asking what kind of fruit you liked in your water. Food: Rock Shrimp ($19) - amazing, fried crispy with a yummy breading and sweet aioli coating. Usuzukuri ($24) - melt in your mouth, but for 6 small pieces it's a pricey dish Playboy Roll ($21) - INCREDIBLE, the goat cheese mousse is such a excellent elevation on cream cheese Eel of Fortune ($20) - also a favorite, such a wonderful blend of flavors Shogun ($21) - our least favorite but still great - the closest to a "normal" tasting roll (spicy tuna). The serrano on too has a kick! Overall it came out to be about $160 for 3 people after tax and tip. The desserts also looked great but we were too full :) The bartender is awesome and so was our waiter - everyone was so cool and kind! I wish I had gotten their names. They are spot ON with the recs too.

    Bok choy
    Summer S.

    My first time at o-ku was delicious. Started with a bottle of the grove mill Sauvignon blanc which I will definitely be searching for moving forward. We had the rock shrimp which was crispy with the perfect amount of spice. My sister and I shared the Tennessee two-step, the lobster temaki, the nashvegas, and the bok choy. The Tennessee two-step roll was the star of the show. The nashvegas was unique and I liked it but in some bites it was too goat cheese forward. I could have done with less. The bok choy was the saltiest thing I have ever eaten and I would not recommend it. Though the veggie itself had a good bite and texture the saltiness made my tongue burn. Would be a great spot for date night. Our server thoroughly explained all sections of the menu and made thoughtful recommendations. I'll definitely be back.

    Last 2 pieces of the Nashvegas
    Lisa L.

    My SO and I came here to celebrate his birthday. We came midweek, no reservations, and easily sat at the bar within minutes (our preference). The restaurant has dimmer lighting with soft dark tones giving out lots of positive date night vibes. Bartender was amazing, very personable, knowledgeable about the menu, and gave great recommendations. Started off with kamo-negi, a skewered, charred duck with scallion, which was delicious. Duck had a wonderful charred flavor and not too chewy. We then had the nigiri flight and 2 rolls. Fish had great texture and flavor. All was so tasty, we got into the rolls and forgot to take pics! Service was wonderful. I hate that I forgot the bartenders name but he was on top of everything. Always had our drinks filled, answered our questions with patience and knowledge, and even would top off our soy sauce dishes! Would recommend and definitely go back.

    Tommy B.

    Wanted to try this place out. Here on a work trip and reviews looked great. We ordered a bunch of different apps & Rolls. We were promptly seated outside on the patio. Great views and atmosphere. I believe we had 4 different rolls, the beef ribs, tacos and the Waygu All amazing!!

    Lychee martini

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Business owner information

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    The Indigo R.

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    Gabriel R.

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    2 months ago

    Love their food and the service was great. It was our second time there and we will be back.

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    Delicious and super friendly and helpful staff. Not cheap however! Will go back if I'm in the area in the future.

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    3 months ago

    Rice was a little hard and cold. Sushi was decent nothing amazing. Not sure what the best bite was, but just ok.

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    Page 1 of 14

    O-Ku Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - O-Ku

    Does O-Ku have an "all-you-can-eat" option?

    No, they do not. It is a more upscale environment. Smaller portions.

    Is there a gluten free menu?

    Is this restaurant good for a group of 8?

    It's perfect. They have great spaces to accommodate and be social.

    What can you eat here if you can't eat sushi or pork?.?

    The Tebasaki wings garlic honey are incredible!

    Do they offer soy paper as opposed to seaweed paper for their sushi rolls?

    yes.

    Is there valet?

    There's a paid parking lot right in front but not sure if there's a valet

    What should we wear is it more casual or fancy upscale?

    You can go either way. Ppl are dressed across a range from casual to fancy.

    View All 10 Questions

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    Noko Nashville

    Noko Nashville

    4.8
    (601 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    I tried this place for the first time with my family to celebrate one of my cousins graduation from…read moreresidency. We started off with a round of champagne and a bottle of red wine for dinner. We tried a variety of dishes since we were told that the set up is family style: Hamachi Crudo: 10/10 one of the best I've ever had! Super fresh and the sauce paired well with it. Bluefin Tune Crudo: 8/10 It was really fresh and well prepared, but I've had better elsewhere. I typically prefer bluefin tuna sashimi or nigiri anyway. Tuna Crispy Rice: 9/10 This was such a fun and delicious way to eat spicy tuna! All of the seasonings made it packed full of flavor. Tomahawk Ribeye 9/10: This was insanely tender, and well seasoned. Tip: ask for lemon wedges to sprinkle some lemon juice on it--thank me later. Broccolini 8/10: well prepared, and I loved the lemongrass garlic chili that topped it East Side Shrimp 7/10: These were well cooked and well seasoned. Loved the salad placed underneath it. Wagyu Tartare 8/10: It was well prepared and loved that it's paired with nori and rice. Wished it had a bit more punch to it in terms of seasoning. Crab Fried Rice 8/10: this was delicious but still say it's a solid 8. Beautifully prepared! Korean Hot Wings 2.5/10: I could tell that it was well cooked, but it was insanely salty; it was practically inedible. Hurricane Fries 9/10: These were so delicious! You are immediately hit with the smell of truffle, which made my mouth water. Packed with flavor! Brussels 7/10: These were well roasted, but the sauce was a tad too sweet for my liking. I highly recommend trying this place out!

    I feel like this place is a bit overhyped. Don't get me wrong the food was good but is it worth the…read moreprice for the amount you get?? idk It was definitely a nice experience our waiter was attentive and the place looked fancy inside with dim lighting! But the line to get in and the need for a reservation days in advance i would save the trip.

    Photos
    Great kitchen setup and ambience.  The good people hard at work.
    Great kitchen setup and ambience. The good people hard at work.
    Mini lobster rolls, yum
    Mini lobster rolls, yum
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    Sushi by Bou - Nashville @ Dream Nashville

    Sushi by Bou - Nashville @ Dream Nashville

    4.4
    (49 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    I absolutely loved this private sushi event. It was an incredibly detailed and well-thought-out…read moreexperience from start to finish. The fish was extremely fresh and clearly high quality, and every piece felt carefully prepared. I really enjoy trying unique and different food experiences, and this one completely nailed it. The atmosphere was welcoming and intimate, which made it feel even more special. Everyone involved was very friendly, attentive, and passionate about what they were doing, which really added to the overall experience.

    As a concept, Sushi by Bou is one of the coolest ideas in the world of transforming omakase and…read moremaking it uniquely American. Adapted to fit high paced lifestyle of New York nights, it takes the idea of meticulous preparation and condenses it into a rapid experience that cuts the line between an omakase and a classic sushi dinner. At the same time, it's entertaining, sexy and fun. Sure, the time constraints will not generate the best tasting sushi ever, but it will be hard to leave disappointed for the price paid. The speakeasy-like vibe is a sharp contrast to any formal omakase experience and the founders managed to create this price point by finding unused storage spaces or other cheap backrooms that could be turned into this concept. Thus, a brilliant way to cut costs and allow the customer to get a better deal. One area where the establishment should do a bit better is the staff, in particular those greeting and getting guests sat. There needs to be polish and organization, instead of cold interactions that one might expect at a Chinese buffet. It was a bit sporadic getting that figured out and did not feel welcoming at all. Despite that, the sushi tasting set was excellent and the time constant allows guests to plan out the rest of the night without making the meal the only thing. In other words, pretty cool.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    A Wonderful Casual Tasting Experience
    A Wonderful Casual Tasting Experience
    Seating near bar in front of restaurant

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    Seating near bar in front of restaurant
    Kase X Noko

    Kase X Noko

    4.9
    (75 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    One of the hardest tickets to get in Nashville and it is evident why for anyone who has had the…read moreopportunity to get in. They book out 6 weeks in advance; with only 14 seats and 3 seatings per night, they are sold out in seconds when they go on sale at midnight. I have lucked out twice, once even getting a duo, so not impossible, but not easy. When you enter, you walk into a small bar area, where you can order a cocktail or two. I opted for the Shibuyu Nights, which had a slight coffee note on top of the whisky and bourbon. At the prescribed time, you are led into the omekase and the experience begins. Cue fanfare music now. This is nearly the definition of perfection. Each dish was both art and culinary genius. Pacing is perfect. Chefs interact with the patrons, enhancing the experience and the wait staff is well versed on which types of sake work best with different course. At the end of the meal you can add on extras, some from the menu and others off. If you are not full, I recommend considering the add ons. Kudos to the chef for handling my shellfish allergy with wonderful subsitutions. At $75, this is a steal. WIth extras, sake, and drinks, I ran over $200 for 1, but it was worth every minute. Once of the best restaurants in Nashville.

    We FINALLY got the chance to snag a reservation here. Seriously, it's challenging. They only have…read morelike (14? 15?) seats and only do two servings a night. First, let me say I was nervous. I don't typically like sushi and sashimi even less. The texture of a raw fish concerned me. Hubby loves it though, so I wanted to give it a chance. I figured if I was going to try, it needed to be at a place that knew what they were doing. James our sushi chef, definitely knew what he was doing. The servings were one piece at a time, served at a comfortable pace. Each piece was a different sort of fish, or a piece of wagyu beef! I enjoyed myself. The flavors made up for my personal wariness of the textures. Each piece was filled with delicious flavors. We ended up super full and content, and happy with our time here. I highly recommend.

    Photos
    First entrance at the mini bar
    First entrance at the mini bar
    Salmon bite - amazing
    Salmon bite - amazing
    Seared Salmon (sub for shellfish)

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    Seared Salmon (sub for shellfish)

    O-Ku - sushi - Updated July 2026

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