Nashville | First Look at Noko
I’m curious, how many of you dine at a new restaurant on opening weekend?
For those food enthusiasts like myself, there seems to be a feverish race to be the first to dine at the newest or latest restaurant in Nashville. Perhaps my competitive nature and curiosity get the better of me, but let’s face it, if you aren’t the first to showcase something on social media, you might as well not even show up.
I had been following Noko for a while on Instagram, and when I saw that they opened up reservations for opening week, I snagged a table for three, invited some of my best girlfriends, and off we went.
Nestled in the heart of East Nashville, Noko is an Asian-inspired, wood-fired restaurant that recently opened in the former Pomodoro East spot on Porter Road. Early on, Noko caught my attention. It wasn’t their flashy website or their carefully curated Instagram; it was the fact that they shared their mission and core values. “At Noko, we’re committed to change the reality of the past and to focus on serving our people first. We believe that caring for our people deeply will in turn be reflected positively in your experience with us. “
Honestly, how often do you see a restaurant do this? The hospitality industry’s high-stress environment definitely has an impact, and it’s wonderful that the owners of Noko recognize this and are willing to approach things differently.
Influenced by wanderlust and the simplicity of the Tennessee region, Chef Dung “Junior” Vo puts his Asian-influenced spins on dishes through smoking, searing, and roasting.
When dining at a new restaurant, my approach is to experience as much as possible. The build-up was real. We saw several Instagram stories from the nights prior and had already curated an incredible list of dishes if I do say so myself. For transparency, I was not hosted by a PR company. The final tab was paid for by myself and my two friends.
Let’s get into the details, shall we?
Noko | Menu
First things first, to get a true sense of Noko, I recommend ordering something from each section of the menu as they are distinctly different. Warning: when the server comes to take your order, they will ask you for everything at once. This approach always gives me so much anxiety. What if I miss ordering an essential dish? Even those of us who stalk restaurant menus and Instagram before our meals are likely to slip up sometimes, am I right?
As our server took our order, she mentioned that they would course our order out appropriately. Given that we ordered seven different dishes, this was crucial. After all, who wants everything to arrive at once and have it get cold to the point where it’s no longer enjoyable? Well, what do you know? We were a glass into our first bottle of wine, and five of our dishes were brought to the table. A look of panic fell across our faces, and we all looked at each other “ what in the hell is happening?” I realize they only want us to occupy the table for an hour and 45 minutes, but this is absurd. When we expressed our concern, the owner told us he could take the last two dishes back to the kitchen, but would we want to wait on them to sit? After all was said and done, all five courses were left for us to try.
Leaving just the Tomahawk Ribeye and the District Sando remaining, the restaurant tried to recover and make amends by sending out the Szechuan Green Beans and Bok Choy, which was greatly appreciated.
Noko | Tuna Crispy Rice | Spicy Tuna + Serrano,+ Sweet Soy + Spicy Aioli
With all restaurants, some dishes hit and some miss. Next time I visit, I’ll definitely order the Tuna Crispy Rice; this had great flavor. Likely, I’ll pass on the Smoked Gochujang Hot Wings. While they tasted good, I didn’t care for the orange zest. Perhaps my palate is too basic, and I need simple buffalo or dry-rubbed wings.
Noko | Smoked Gochujang Hot Wings + Yuzu Ranch
I realize I am biased, but several of these dishes reminded me of what Locust is serving, including the Wagyu Tartare, Dumplings, and Ribeye with shaved truffle. While the price points are significantly lower on the tartare and the dumplings, the quality and flavor also differ. I found the tartare to be rather bland and the dumplings to be overstuffed.
Noko | Wagyu Tartare | Sesame Aioli + Kizami + Toasted Nori + Rice + Chives
While the Burrata might seem out of place on this menu, we found it quite enjoyable.
Noko | Burrata | Tomatoes + Thai Basil Pesto + Greens +Focaccia
Although these dumplings were overstuffed, they were good, but by the time we made it to that dish, they were already cold, which was unfortunate.
Noko | Dumplings | Beef + Den Dashi + Chili Oil
The star of the evening was the Tomahawk Ribeye served with truffle butter, and you know this girl opted for the truffle supplement, which was an additional $35.00. Note that the truffles are pre-shaved on your ribeye before it is brought to the table. In fact, we were so surprised as they were doing table-side shavings during their soft opening that we were a little underwhelmed when it arrived at the table. They were incredibly kind and obliged us by shaving a few extra truffles for us on the house. Based on what we saw on Instagram, far fewer truffles were topping our steak.
Noko | Tomahawk Ribeye | 42 oz, Certified Angus Beef + Truffle Butter + 6g Of Burgundy Truffles ( $35.00 Supplement)
If I were to describe the District Sando to anyone, I’d tell them it was a bougie grilled cheese that would take their breath away. I could eat this any time of day. No matter how many dishes you order, this is one you can’t miss.
Noko | The District Sando | Prosciutto + Truffle Aioli + White Cheddar Cheese + Togarashi
Noko| Szechuan Green Beans | Wok Charred + Soy + Chilis
After multiple dishes, we couldn’t throw in the towel there. We ordered a bottle of sparkling rosé and the can’t miss Brookie by HiFi Cookies. Talk about a dreamy dessert. I think it was devoured faster than anything else on the table that evening. What a dish!
Noko | “Brookie” By HiFi Cookies | Chocolate Brownie + Black Sesame Cookie + Miso Caramel
Even though our meal wasn’t coursed perfectly and some dishes didn’t quite hit the mark, we enjoyed our meal at Noko. The hospitality was incredible, and we were grateful they allowed us to stay past the hour and 45-minute mark. Like anything, a restaurant needs time and experience to mature and grow. Opening weekend is chaotic, and things aren’t going to be perfect. I’m sure that the staff at Noko will grow more comfortable and continue to refine their service and dishes. While I’ll wait a few months and let the “newness” die down, I’ll be back. Great restaurants capitalize on opportunities like these to win guests over. On Sunday morning following our dinner, I had a phone call from the owner thanking us for choosing to spend our Saturday evening with Noko and apologizing for the coursing. That right there makes me want to return.
Welcome to East Nashville! I look forward to your bright future!
Tariff: Dishes range from $9.00 to upwards of $150.00. We ordered three bottles of wine and the dishes featured above, and our tab was roughly $450.00 before gratuity.
Can't Miss: Based on what we ordered, here were my favorites: Tuna Crispy Rice, The District Sando, and the Brookie.
Potential Pass: The Wagyu Tartare and the Dumplings are better left to Locust. While I did enjoy the Ribeye, I was disappointed by the amount of truffles we received for the $35.00 upcharge.
Until Next Time!