10 June 2026
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Nashville’s legendary country music scene attracts visitors from all over the world, but the city is now becoming known as a dining destination as well — and for more than hot chicken and traditional Southern fare. These standout restaurants serve some of the most diverse and creative food in town, and they’re all a great value as well, earning them Bib Gourmand awards.
Kisser
A meal at Kisser feels like sitting down in the home of Brian Lea and Leina Horii. When they opened the lunch-only restaurant in Nashville’s Highland Yards complex, the couple was inspired by Japanese kissatens, small, family-run tea shops that serve a local crowd. In Kisser’s snug dining room, guests sit elbow-to-elbow and watch Lea, Horii and their team at work in an open kitchen just feet away. Dishes like chopped salad with “Leina’s dad’s carrot ginger dressing,” chicken curry rice, beef tataki udon and snow crab onigiri are comforting and expertly prepared, with most items priced under $20.
Redheaded Stranger
Redheaded Stranger, a fun and quirky restaurant named after a Willie Nelson album, bills itself as a taco spot, but that sells the rest of the (handwritten, often illustrated) menu a bit short. Chef Bryan Lee Weaver’s playful ode to Southwestern cooking also includes green chile cheeseburgers, Frito pies and Christmas-style (red and green chile) crunch wraps. Tacos are made with fresh flour tortillas and creative filling combinations like poblano, whipped feta and crispy rice with Dreamweaver hot sauce. Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., it’s a popular place to fuel up for the day or soak up a night of excess.
Sho Pizza Bar
Whether he’s reviving lost heirloom seeds or perfecting the art of the crust burger, celebrated chef Sean Brock is known for being ingredient and technique obsessed. His latest infatuation — pizza — is no different. After Brock had a life-changing pie in Tokyo, he and his team spent several years figuring out how to recreate it in Nashville at Sho Pizza Bar (named for the Japanese word shokunin, meaning “a master of one’s craft”). The result, made with Italian flour, fermented for 72 hours, and baked in a wood-fired oven, is surprisingly light, with just the right amount of chew. Whether topped with fior di latte, “really nice mushrooms,” or Calabrian chile honey, Sho’s Neapolitan-style pizzas cost less than $30 each, and there’s an appealing array of salads, starters and cocktails to try as well.
S.S. Gai
Hot chicken is Nashville's signature dish, but the shatteringly crispy bird at S.S. Gai has inspired a passionate fan base of its own. Owned by husband-and-wife team Chris and Emma Baird, the restaurant specializes in gai (the Thai word for “chicken”), both roasted and fried, served with sticky rice and accompaniments like fried shallots and garlic, tamarind fish sauce and fresh herbs. Pair it with a charred eggplant or green papaya salad, and you’ll have an affordable feast for a crowd. Currently located in The Wash, S.S. Gai plans to relocate to a brick-and-mortar location in 2026.
Uzbegim
In an unassuming house near Vanderbilt University, Uzbegim serves generous portions of lamb somsas (samosas), grilled kebabs, hand-rolled noodles and other specialties from Uzbekistan. Since 2023, owner Ulugbek Fayziev has introduced Nashvillians to his native cuisine and given the local Uzbek community a taste of home. The menu reflects their globally influenced cuisine, which is shaped by the country’s position on the ancient Silk Road. Grab a table on the patio and enjoy generous portions of manti, steamed dumplings filled with lamb, and plov, a hearty mix of rice, lamb, carrots, chickpeas and raisins. Leave room, if you can, for a slice of multilayered Russian honey cake.
Peninsula
Few places in Nashville make small plates as showstopping — or as affordable — as Peninsula.The intimate, dimly lit restaurant helmed by Chef Jake Howell takes its name and broad culinary inspiration from the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Spain and Portugal. While you can order a Spanish tortilla and choose from a menu of gin and tonics, it’s best to dine here with an open mind and expect a few surprises. Dishes are described in just a few words and arrive as painterly compositions. “Endive, burnt onion, lovage” isn’t a salad but a small bowl of fried endive blanketed in a rich foam and sprinkled with burnt onion powder. You’ll want to try every item on the menu, which tops out at around $30 for yellowfin tuna with caviar and wagyu beef. It’s a luxurious experience without the fine dining vibe or price tag.
St. Vito Focacceria
In both size and heft, Sicilian-style pizza (sfincione) makes Chicago-style deep dish pizza look like thin crust. Chef Michael Hanna of St. Vito Focacceria starts with a sturdy base of fontina-studded sourdough focaccia, then layers on toppings like rich potato cream and roasted potatoes, shingled rows of pepperoni with saffron honey, tomato and oregano or burrata with spicy tomato sauce. One thick slice can be a meal in itself, but St. Vito’s also serves snacks like dates with ‘nduja and balsamic vinegar, as well as salads and a few non-pizza entrees like rigatoni with beef and oxtail ragù.
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Hero image: Spread at Kisser. © Cederic Angeles/Kisser
Thumb image: Famous Gai Tod. © Victoria Quirk /SS Gai
Article created by the MICHELIN Guide in collaboration with Nashville
