Hai Woon Dai has been serving some of the best Korean food in town for over a decade. The Antioch gem does all of the standards right, as well as some lesser-known dishes, including budae jjigae, aka army stew, the Korean American fusion featuring hot dogs, Spam, tofu, kimchi, and noodles in a spicy sauce. The complimentary side dishes known as banchan are also top-notch. —Delia Jo Ramsey

Nashville has the largest community of Kurds in the U.S., and halal favorite Edessa packs a ton of Kurdish as well as Turkish flavor into its Nolensville Pike strip mall space, with standout items like a savory Anatolian flatbread stuffed with spinach and cheese, a variety of kabobs (like Cornish chicken and lamb), and several pides. To drink, try ayran, a food-friendly salted yogurt, and for dessert, baklava or Turkish kunefe (shredded wheat with a layer of melted cheese, topped with chopped pistachios and aromatic sweet syrup, served with ice cream). —DJR

Chef and owner Ragab “Rocky” Rashwan bills the experience at King Tut’s as “Egyptian fare with NY flair,” and his understated Nolensville spot reigns supreme among local falafel fans. More than a one-hit wonder, though, the counter-service restaurant also nails its hummus, chicken shawarma, grilled lamb, and salads. —JGJ

Head to Thompson Lane for some of the best Ethiopian fare in Tennessee, perfect for sharing with a few friends. At Hana Gebretensae’s homey go-to, Gojo, dive into zesty doro wat or prime beef tibs with plenty of injera for scooping it all up. The restaurant also supplies plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes like kik aletcha, a hearty split pea soup. Cap off the meal with Gojo’s traditional Ethiopian coffee service. —DJR

Curry and Tikka doles out a mean dahi puri, a tender lamb vindaloo, and buttery naan from its unassuming digs on Thompson Lane — that’s thanks to chef Agni Ranjit, who honed his skills in Maneet Chauhan and Brian Riggenbach’s kitchens. Locals have been flocking in and raving about its dishes (most of which are exclusively prepared in a tandoor oven), including inventive twists on the standards like masala fries and a tikka mac and cheese. The restaurant has also launched a lunch buffet that features all of the menu’s greatest hits for $14.99 per person. —JGJ

This sunny, midcentury modern bakehouse and cafe in 12 South is exactly where you want to be when you’re craving a sugary treat. The fast-casual bakery up front is home to impossibly beautiful delights like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cookies the size of a salad plate and churro croissants filled with dulce de leche creme. And if you can manage to snag a seat at the buzzy cafe in the back, you’ll be handsomely rewarded with ricotta and fresh herb soft scrambled eggs with chili crunch, crisply laminated breakfast cubes stuffed with cheese, and piping hot lattes. —JGJ

A fixture since 1975, International Market elicited cries of dismay when it closed and sighs of relief when it reopened right across the street from its original location. In its cheery home on Belmont, James Beard Award semifinalist Arnold Myint along with his sister Anna has added new offerings like a stunner of an eggplant plate with a soy lime dressing, hot chili crisp french fries with wasabi mayo, and sesame peanut noodles using egg noodles from local pastamaker Mr. Aaron’s. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Hat Yai Thai fried chicken — the sell-out risk is high, but you can guarantee that the dish will be waiting for you by preordering 24 hours before your reservation. —JGJ

Matthew and Ryan Poli have taken their talents to Wedgewood Houston with a 70-seat dining room that’s laser-focused on inventive Italian cuisine. Which is to say, expect the unexpected. An open kitchen allows guests to watch as the chefs prepare housemade brioche garlic bread with whipped cheese, confit chicken thigh ravioli, and lumache with Maine peekytoe crab, sea urchin butter, Japanese red chiles, yuzu, and roasted seaweed. Gluten-free pasta is also available as a substitute for most dishes. The restaurant recently launched an in-house market where guests can take home the restaurant’s handmade pastas and sauces to make at home. —JGJ

The family-run, cash-only VN Pho & Deli offers can’t-miss Vietnamese specialties in an unassuming Charlotte Pike strip mall. Grab bún bo hue, fried rice, or a piping-hot bowl of pho for here or to go. Anything fresh from the pastry case also deserves a spot in your order, as does the Sunday special mi vit tiem — a roast duck soup with egg noodles. —DJR

This Nashville mainstay has been feeding hungry customers since its doors opened in 1952. The charming diner serves meat-and-three-style fare that rotates daily, including BBQ spare ribs every other Monday, meatloaf on Tuesdays, and a fried pork chop on Thursdays. Pair your main with a selection of good-for-the-soul sides ranging from creamed potatoes to fresh fried corn and baked apples. —JGJ

Everyone needs a solid ramen bar in the rotation — Black Dynasty is Nashville’s. Located inside Bearded Iris Brewing at Sylvan Supply, the cool, casual restaurant makes everything from scratch, dunking noodles in a variety of rich broths studded with veggies, pork, and oozy eggs. Cap off the noodle feast with a slice of Black Dynasty’s matcha chess pie. —JGJ

It isn’t just the experience of sitting 34 stories above Nashville with a full, unobstructed view of the city below you (although that doesn’t hurt), the quality of the dishes and services here are consistently some of the best in the city. Instead of the usual bread basket, your meal starts off with a trio of fries and high-end sauces, before you segue into platters of shellfish, butter-poached steaks, and crispy Brussels sprouts. Throw in a whiskey cocktail from the roving cocktail cart before wrapping up the meal with a slice of bourbon pecan pie. —JGJ

Nashville scored big when James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano and wine expert Cathy Mantuano came to town. The powerhouse couple brought the fine dining Italian menu and see-through cheese cave Nashville had been missing inside the Joseph hotel. While the Mantuanos are no longer with the restaurant, the a la carte menu still wows with fried Castelvetrano olives, arancini steeped in a veal ragu, earthy pumpkin risotto with pecans, and a 55-day dry-aged Kansas City strip steak with black truffle-mushroom conserva. Just save some room for jaw-dropping desserts from executive pastry chef Noelle Marchetti. —DJR

Chef Kamal Kalokoh and his brother and business partner, Rashean Conaway, grew up working alongside their mother, Ouida Bradshaw, at Jamaicaway, the popular Jamaican restaurant, before launching their catering company a decade ago. A food truck followed, leading in 2019 to this buoyant restaurant offering Caribbean culture and dishes like rice and peas, oxtail, jerk chicken, and cucumber-mango slaw near the historic Jefferson Street neighborhood. —DJR

A Nashville staple, Monell’s is an all-you-can-eat, family-style institution where fried chicken comes with every meal (as it should) and traditional Southern sides are served family-style and shared among strangers who quickly become friends. Monell’s is set in a Victorian-style home first built in 1905, so plan to arrive early for photos out front or in the adjacent garden. Locals know to go after hours for the unadvertised midnight country breakfast, available on Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. —JGJ

In 2016, nearly a decade after City House opened, owner Tandy Wilson became the first Nashville chef to win a coveted James Beard Award for best chef, Southeast, making this one of Music City’s better-known restaurants. The homey but lively stunner serves contemporary Italian dishes with local flair, most notably a belly ham pizza baked in a wood-fired oven and then topped with a runny egg. City House’s longtime pastry chef, Rebekah Turshen, churns out icebox cakes and delicate pies that earned a reputation for being some of the finest in town. —JGJ

Big Al’s comforting hospitality and reliable homestyle cooking merge seamlessly, making the Salemtown deli a top pick for breakfast and lunch. Big Al’s opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday, serving classic breakfast items and Southern lunch staples — from fried catfish to spicy South Carolinian shrimp and grits — in an atmosphere that feels like a family member’s home. —DJR

The top spot for Nashville chicken is a contentious one, but Bolton’s in East Nashville consistently rises to the top over and over again. It’s a no-frills situation here — don’t expect fancy art or ambiance lighting — but what you’re here for is a hot chicken with a spice seasoning that’s widely regarded as some of the hottest in town. The fried fish is also a can’t-miss here and gives the chicken a run for its money. —JGJ

Though the name implies otherwise, it was a very good idea for sommelier and owner Alex Burch to open his wine-focused restaurant with chef Colby Rasavong at the helm. Burch is a wine professional with time logged at restaurants around town like Bastion, while Rasavong was most recently chef de cuisine at Audrey. Located in the sanctuary of a former church, the menu is delightfully irreverent and pulls in flavors representative of Rasavong’s Laotian heritage using classic French techniques: a delicate crepe is stuffed with scallops blanketed in a nam prik blanquette and topped with a lacey tuile, while a cheeseburger pithivier is on offer on the late night menu (which is available til 1 a.m.). All are paired expertly with wines chosen by Burch; a particularly lengthy list of wines by the glass is ideal for those who like to taste the rainbow. —Ellen Fort

You can practically smell East Nashville’s wood-fired, Asian-influenced restaurant, Noko, from the parking lot — and that’s a very good thing. Chef Dung “Junior” Vo shows off his culinary chops with standout dishes including tuna crispy rice, wood-fired 42-ounce tomahawk ribeyes, and the District Sando, a glorified grilled cheese stuffed with prosciutto, truffle aioli, white cheddar, and togarashi. Wash it all down with a wagyu fat-washed Old Fashioned. The Sunday brunch service is also a hit with its Japanese fried chicken and waffles and the ube colada — a riff off the piña colada with coconut ube cream, pineapple, and rum. —JGJ

East Nashville’s essential late-night haunt is also Nashville’s oldest dive bar. Dino’s now boasts an outdoor patio for enjoying some standout cheeseburgers, hot chicken, animal-style fries smothered in cheese, and ice-cold beer in the fresh air. Not to worry though, as the busted brick-front entrance and dimly lit interior retain the beloved dive’s familiar vibe. —JGJ

Heirloom corn is at the center of all of chef Julio Hernandez’s efforts, which he painstakingly nixtamalizes and mills into fresh masa himself. Tender, flavorful tortillas result from that labor of love — perfect vessels for carne asada, green chili chicken, or crispy fish. Stop by the food truck that started it all in front of East Nashville bar Chopper Tiki, or head over to Hernandez’s newly opened restaurant in the Gulch for drinks and elegantly composed plates like duck mole alongside greatest hits like his quesabirria and fish tacos. —Ellen Fort

One of Eater’s 2022 picks for best new restaurants in the country, Sean Brock’s East Nashville ode to his grandmother Audrey boasts a museum-worthy art collection, historic photographs, patchwork quilts on the walls, and, of course, a world-class kitchen. If you snag a reservation, look for Appalachian-inspired dishes — like the heirloom Jimmy Red corn grits topped with sorghum-cured egg yolk and Appalachian salt-risen bread — served on incredible plateware. For a special night out, book a tasting experience at his 37-seat space June, located right above Audrey. You’ll have a full view of the chefs meticulously plating your meal and Brock’s food laboratory while you wind your way through 15-plus courses. —JGJ

Philip Krajeck’s pizza-focused Folk has earned its way into many restaurant rotations. Consistency, clam pies, and pork Milanesa from the McFerrin Park restaurant prove that yes, Krajeck can steer two ships at once — both Folk in East Nashville and Krajeck’s second restaurant, Rolf and Daughters in Germantown, remain local favorites. The restaurant’s new Apero Hour offers reduced prices on snacks and sips from 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. —JGJ

When expanding their Pan-Asian restaurant from South Carolina to Nashville, husband-and-wife owners Joshua Walker and Duolan Li set up residence in a trailer at the Dive Motel. The idea proved successful enough to move Xiao Bao into permanent digs in East Nashville, improving the city’s options for pork belly bao buns, okonomiyaki, fried dumplings, and hand-pulled noodles alongside natural wine in a space that artfully blends ’50s diner and Chinese American restaurant vibes. Xiao Bao doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared for a wait. —JGJ

The brick-and-mortar location of Brian Lea and Leina Horii’s pandemic-born pop-up has made quite the splash with its 25-seat cafe in East Nashville. Situated in Highland Yards, the space is only open for lunch Friday through Monday, but manages to pack a crowd that clambers for its milk bread sandwiches, chicken katsu, and rotating udon, soba, and ramen dishes. Many of the items are also vegan and gluten-free friendly. There are no reservations here, so keep that in mind if you’re in a time crunch. —JGJ

Coming off of a win for “best fried chicken” in the 2023 Eater Nashville Awards, S.S. Gai has carved a name for itself in a town known for frying up a stellar bird. Situated in bay 3 of East Nashville’s the Wash, Chris and Emma Biard’s Thai fried chicken comes with sticky rice, fried shallots and garlic, tamarind chile fish sauce, chile vinegar, vegetables, and herbs that you can artfully arrange into rolls and dip to your heart’s content. If you’re looking for some of that heat Nashville is known for, ask for the “make it risky” option and prepare to break a sweat. —JGJ

Bastion offers two fairly distinct experiences: On one hand, it’s a serious dining venue, and on the other, it’s a lively bar. While the big bar on the side is known for its cheeky (literally) murals, colorful nachos, and daily punch cups, the small 24-seat restaurant helmed by James Beard finalist Josh Habiger serves a set tasting menu with whimsical interpretations of traditional dishes, from raw beef with squid ink and sesame to cobia with fennel and milk bread. Somehow, it all comes together. —JGJ