Discover Nashville’s best MICHELIN-recognised restaurants, where celebrated chefs, exceptional cuisine and sophisticated dining define the city’s evolving culinary scene.
Nashville has long been recognized as a destination for authentic Southern cuisine, but today, the city’s dining scene reflects an evolving culinary landscape that incorporates flavours and techniques from diverse communities. While Nashville hot chicken has become globally popular for its bold flavours, it does not define the city’s entire culinary identity. The MICHELIN Guide highlights the best options, offering food lovers a true glimpse into the city’s current culinary scene.
Offering a rich and diverse range of Central Asian flavours, Uzbegim is a restaurant specializing in authentic Uzbek cuisine with roots in Islamic China and the Middle East. A noticeable departure from classic Southern food, Uzbegim’s menu features dishes like vinegred, a traditional Russian salad of boiled egg, potato, carrot, green peas, and beets, which can be paired with manti, steamed dumplings stuffed with lamb and onions served with tangy yogurt sauce, Uyghur-style hand-cut noodles, and charred lamb kebabs.
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If you want to explore the unique flavours of American Southern cuisine and the beloved fried chicken with a Thai twist, International Market, led by chef and owner Arnold Myint, is the place to go. Established in 1975, International Market was Nashville’s first gateway to Thai cuisine, offering a juicy, Thai-style version of fried chicken marinated with five-spice and garlic, served with sticky rice and cucumber salad, along with nam jim jaeow (chili dipping sauce).
At Tailor, Chef Vivek Surti has crafted some of the best fusion dishes in Nashville, blending the bold flavours of the South with Indian cuisine in a lively, dinner party-style setting. Be sure to try the restaurant’s take on a regional favourite, the tomato sandwich, elevated with a distinctive masala onion aioli.
Locust is another must-visit MICHELIN Guide restaurant that offers a variety of flavours in a cozy spot influenced by Japanese and Irish styles, where Chef Trevor Moran’s seafood, or the beef tartare with smoked egg rice rolled in nori and topped with caviar, can be enjoyed with a pint of Guinness on tap.
Operated by husband-and-wife chefs Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz, The Catbird Seat features a lively, innovative tasting menu that emphasizes locality, seasonality, and preservation with a diverse array of ingredients. Explore their courses and variety of stimulating small bites, including stuffed chicken wings, grilled mushrooms with celeriac, and Kennebec potatoes with whipped gouda.
Nashville mainstay Arnold’s Country Kitchen remains popular for its dedication to authentic Southern cuisine, serving hearty comfort dishes like pork chops or brisket, along with sides like turnip greens mixed with tender, smoky pork.
But for a diverse and unique culinary experience, visit Kisser by the couple Brian Lea and Leina Horii, known for its Japanese comfort food, including onigiri—rice triangles with various fillings—grilled yellowtail collar, miso crème brûlée, or yuzu parfait.
At St. Vito Focacceria, Chef Michael Hanna presents his version of sfincione, a Sicilian street food, in Nashville. Unlike pizza, it’s like focaccia topped with fontina, breadcrumbs, and pecorino. Other things to try include several salads, a pasta dish, and a house-made tiramisu.
And ultimately, with Chef Bryan Lee Weaver’s Tex-Mex menu, Redheaded Stranger is a hotspot for tortillas, tacos, crunch wraps, and the unique green chilli cheeseburger.
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