Knoxville’s sushi scene rewards a discerning palate with fresh fish, attentive service, and settings that range from lively bars to relaxed neighborhood rooms. Whether you favor pristine nigiri, playful rolls, or a comfortable table that keeps mixed groups happy, there are inviting choices at sensible prices across town.
Let’s get to it.
Tangerine Japanese Cuisine
Roll lovers have a field day at Tangerine Japanese Cuisine. In East Knoxville, it pulls a steady crowd with playful plating and a menu that rewards curiosity.
House-special rolls like the Tornado and the namesake Tangerine sit beside rainbow-style creations, and the list is long. Purists are not forgotten, either, with straight-ahead nigiri and sashimi. Prices stay mid-range, so adding one more roll rarely stings.
It functions more as a dinner spot, and it gets busy. Expect a wait at peak times, the sushi bar often moves faster. If patience runs thin, online ordering and takeout are reliable fallbacks.
Going with a mixed crew? Hibachi plates, combo dinners, and plenty of cooked or vegetarian choices keep everyone comfortable, from edamame and veggie tempura to simple avocado rolls. A full bar covers sake and Japanese beers.
Diners frequently praise the freshness, though sourcing details are not front and center, and some items may be fresh-frozen, which is common inland. What arrives is cleanly prepared and neatly presented. Bottom line, a roll-forward, moderately priced hangout that suits casual date nights and group outings.
Tomo Poke Bowl
Craving nigiri while someone else wants hibachi or ramen? Tomo Poke Bowl in Hardin Valley makes that negotiation painless. It is a Hawaiian-meets-Japanese spot with poke at its core and a real sushi lineup alongside.
The sushi side covers made-to-order nigiri and sashimi, a sampler, specialty rolls like the Hardin Valley Roll, plus a playful Sushi Donut. No formal omakase, it is all a la carte.
They advertise sushi grade seafood, with tuna and salmon from Hawaii and hamachi from Japan. Pricing sits midrange, with nigiri around 4 to 8 dollars and bowls or rolls mostly 12 to 17. Beer and sake are available.
Service is counter order, then find a seat and they bring it out. Indoor and patio tables keep it easy for families or groups, and the menu keeps peace with tofu, katsu, hibachi, and warming ramen for the non-raw crowd.
Online ordering, delivery partners, and catering make it handy for office lunches or parties. Reviews mention occasional inconsistency at rush hour, so ordering ahead or visiting outside peak times helps. For variety, value, and low stress sushi near Knoxville, Tomo fits.
Mikata Japanese Grill & Sushi
Variety is the headline here. Mikata in West Knoxville balances a broad sushi lineup with full hibachi and teriyaki plates, so mixed groups settle in easily.
Prices land comfortably mid-range, and the vibe is neighborly rather than trendy. The dining room is compact with table service, while a steady stream of takeout bags hints at how popular it is for carryout.
Sushi fans get choices aplenty, from Dragon and Phoenix to Rainbow and spicy tuna, plus straightforward nigiri. Reviews consistently call out fresh-tasting fish. There is no omakase or chef counter, so it leans practical over precious.
Non-raw eaters are well covered with hibachi combos, teriyaki chicken or beef, dumplings, even corn croquettes. Vegetarian options, including teriyaki tofu and veggie rolls, make it friendly for plant-forward diners and families.
Weekend nights can run busy, which can stretch sushi wait times, so preordering for pickup or calling ahead for larger parties helps. The website does not list a full sake program; phoning to confirm beverages is smart. If value, variety, and an easygoing setting top the list, Mikata earns a spot.
Chaiyo Thai & Sushi Bar
Value comes first at Chaiyo Thai & Sushi Bar, and not in a cut-corners way. Roll-focused sushi shares the stage with fragrant Thai staples, so the table feels generous and the bill stays friendly.
The sushi lineup leans fun over fussy. Think Salmon Tempura, Spicy Tuna, the local-favorite UT Roll, plus the usual California, Salmon, and Hamachi maki. It is not a temple to omakase or a precision nigiri program. Expect fresh-tasting rolls with steady turnover and crowd-pleasing flavors.
Set near UT Knoxville, the dining room is small and casual with table service and a lively mix of students and locals. Walk-ins are common, though waits can build at peak times, and parking is tight.
Thai iced tea hits the spot. The full Thai menu means non-raw eaters and vegetarians have plenty to love, from curries to drunken noodles. Takeout smooths busy nights.
Choose Chaiyo when you want variety and comfort without splurging. It suits mixed groups, weeknight cravings, and anyone who values straightforward rolls alongside satisfying Thai plates. Go earlier to snag a seat and settle in for a relaxed, budget-friendly meal.
Fuji Japanese Grill
Drive-thru hibachi with sushi on the side is a rare find in Knoxville. Fuji Japanese Grill makes it work, pairing speed with generous plates and prices that feel friendly.
This is fast-casual express hibachi, not a tableside show. Steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon, or scallops seared hot, piled over rice and veggies, then finished with the creamy shrimp sauce locals rave about.
Sushi here plays backup. Expect straightforward rolls over high-end nigiri or omakase. Handy when the group is split between cooked and raw.
Along Kingston Pike in West Knoxville, it leans into convenience with dine-in, pickup, delivery, and a true drive-thru. Portions run large, service runs fast, and the bill stays sensible at lunch and dinner.
Choose Fuji when value and convenience outrank ambience. If a sake list and a chef’s counter are nonnegotiable, a dedicated sushi bar will suit you better. For hearty hibachi and a spicy tuna roll on the side, this neighborhood standby earns its spot.
Nama Sushi Bar – Downtown Knoxville
Downtown Nama plays the diplomat at the table. Sushi purists and roll lovers end up equally content.
For the decisive or the curious, chef’s choice is the sweet spot. Nigiri and sashimi platters pull from a market-driven mix with today’s feature fish. Trust the team, get clean, confident cuts.
Value holds up. Most specialty rolls run $11 to $22, lunch combos add miso and salad, and half-price sushi nights feel like a win. It books quickly on deal nights, so Resy helps.
Traditionalists can stick to tuna, salmon, or yellowtail, while fusion fans chase Soy Joy, Dragon, or Moon. Vegetarians get a dedicated roll section, and non-sushi friends have tempura and bowls. The bar pours sake, wine, and seasonal cocktails, not BYOB.
The room reads downtown date-night with sushi-bar energy, great before a show. Pickup and delivery make it easy to stay in. Craving a hushed, ultra-traditional omakase temple? This is livelier, polished, and respectful of the fish.
Anaba Japanese Cuisine Northshore
Where pristine nigiri shares the stage with baked crowd-pleasers, Anaba Japanese Cuisine in Northshore pulls off a rare trick, a sushi bar that satisfies purists and roll loyalists in the same sitting.
The menu is broad but focused. Nigiri, sashimi, and chirashi are treated with respect, including combo assortments in the mid teens to 30s. On the playful side, you get Volcano, Spider, and Double Dynamite rolls, with many classics in the $6 to $16 range.
Settle at the sushi bar or a table, and let the sake or a cold beer carry you along. Reservations are accepted, and nightly tuna and salmon specials tend to keep things interesting.
Bringing a mixed crowd? Hibachi, ramen, rice bowls, tempura, and vegetarian rolls make it easy to keep everyone happy, and takeout or delivery works when the couch is calling.
One note for the cautious diner. Local coverage has mentioned a past health inspection issue with follow-up corrections, and the restaurant highlights Japanese training and a third-generation chef pedigree. Checking recent reports may give added peace of mind.
Nama Sushi Bar – Cedar Bluff
Let the kitchen steer for a change. Nama Sushi Bar in Cedar Bluff shines when you hand over the reins, with chef’s choice rolls and sushi platters that pull from whatever looks best that day. It is not a stiff omakase, just a smart, seasonal way to eat well without overthinking.
Prefer choosing your own? The regular menu balances tidy nigiri and sashimi with a parade of playful rolls, from Rainbow and Dragon to Soy Joy and Maui Wowie. There are plenty of cooked and fusion plates too, plus thoughtful vegetarian rolls, so mixed groups settle in easily.
Prices land in the middle for Knoxville, nudging higher for specialty pieces and the larger platters. Watch for the half-price evenings on Mondays and Thursdays if value sweetens the deal. Portions are generous, and sharing a platter with a cocktail keeps the tab sensible.
The space feels modern and relaxed, a true neighborhood spot with a full bar pouring seasonal cocktails. Reservations are available online and help on busy nights, while takeout and delivery keep weeknights simple. For a reliable sushi fix that still feels a bit curated, Cedar Bluff’s Nama delivers.
Kabuki Restaurant (Farragut)
When your crew wants hibachi flair alongside sushi, Kabuki makes it easy. The Farragut outpost pairs with a downtown sibling, so meeting in the middle stays simple.
Expect a broad, Japanese American lineup. Specialty rolls and tidy nigiri lead the way, with sashimi plates, tempura, poke bowls, and ramen filling in the gaps. Guests often praise the fish as fresh. There is no omakase program, and that is the point, since the fun is choosing.
Prices land in that friendly middle, tidy enough for lunch yet date-night worthy. The bar pours cocktails, beer, wine, and a handful of sake, not BYOB. Hibachi adds a little tableside theater, while veggie rolls and cooked entrées keep non-sushi eaters happy.
Go when your group wants variety without fuss. Consistency can wobble a touch across visits, yet overall the experience trends positive. Reserve if you want the sit-at-grill show, or slide into a regular table and settle in. Takeout and delivery make an easy backup plan.
Ichiban Japanese Grill
Value-first sushi without the corners cut. Ichiban Japanese Grill leans into the crowd-pleaser lane, pairing clean nigiri and sashimi with a roster of playful specialty rolls like Dragon, Rainbow, Godzilla, and the house Ichiban. It reads approachable without feeling watered down.
The pricing is the hook. Lunch combos keep totals friendly, whether you want two or three maki, a Sushi Lunch set, or a hibachi bento. There is no omakase or chef’s-choice pageantry, just a la carte sushi, combos, and big platters that make sharing simple.
Expect a compact, booth-heavy dining room and straightforward table service. It is a casual sit-down rather than a showy sushi bar, and peak times can feel snug, so patience helps. When it is busy, online pickup is a smooth backup for rolls, combo boxes, or a party tray.
Best fit for families and mixed groups, especially when one person craves teriyaki, another wants vegetarian rolls, and someone else plans to sample nigiri. Less ideal if you are hunting rare fish, provenance talk, or a deep sake list, as beverage options are not the focus. The draw is variety at a price that keeps weeknights sensible, plus an easy spot to keep in your Knoxville rotation.
Nama Sushi Bar – Bearden
Value that doesn’t taste like value. That is the Bearden mood at Nama. Prices are friendly, yet the fish reads fresh and the plates arrive with good polish.
There is no formal omakase here, yet the Chef’s Choice Nigiri Platter hits the sweet spot for indecisive diners. Or let the kitchen mix things up with a combination of roll, nigiri, and sashimi. Craving a playful American and Asian fusion tilt? Soy Joy, Moon, Dragon, Royale, and the colorful Rainbow fit the bill.
Lunch is the steal. Set combos come with miso and salad, and the nigiri or sashimi platter hovers near 16 dollars. Rolls generally land between 11 and 22. Budget tip: half price sushi to go on Mondays and Thursdays.
The setting flexes with your plans. This Bearden outpost adds an outdoor patio, and the full bar turns dinner into a proper night out. Reservations on Resy or OpenTable help avoid the wait.
Bringing a mixed crowd? Tempura, bowls, tacos, and plenty of veggie rolls keep non-raw eaters happy. Takeout and third-party delivery make it easy when home sounds better.
Fin-Two Japanese Ale House
At Fin-Two in Old City, the smart move is to let the chefs steer. The “Hall of Fame” 10-piece and the 12-piece chirashi become guided tours of what the team is excited about, and they keep decisions light.
Creative rolls like Godzilla and Old Town play nicely with purist-friendly nigiri and sashimi, from maguro and hamachi to bluefin otoro and sweet shrimp. Most rolls land in a casual price range, with premium bites available when you want a small splurge.
The room reads izakaya, all lively bar, clink of glasses, and sushi bar seats where you can watch the action. Sake on draft, Japanese whiskies, and cocktails keep it fun, plus a weekday happy hour.
With a mixed crowd, you are covered. The menu spans veg-friendly rolls like Appalachian Trail and shiitake avocado, plus ramen, yakitori, and rice bowls for those who prefer dinner cooked. Reservations, online ordering, and delivery add convenience.
Best fit. Groups that crave variety, date nights seeking a little buzz without sticker shock, and solo sushi bar perches. Some mention uneven pacing, yet the value-to-fun ratio, especially with chef’s-choice picks, keeps Fin-Two on the short list.
