KOYO Knoxville

Name: KOYO Knoxville
Address: 416 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN, United States, 37902-2101
Telephone: (865) 253-7400
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.4

4.4

164 Reviews

$30 and under

Japanese

Top tags:

KOYO was born from our sister restaurant NAMA, but is a completely different concept offering guests a truly exquisite menu. The term KOYO means to elevate. Our chef's curated an elevated menu utilizing the freshest ingredients and designed a menu in true Omakase style. Omakase means "chef's choice" so when dining with us you can select the 4-course chef featured menu or dine from our KORÉ NI SHI-MASU menu or "I'll choose this one". Elevated. Unique. Dining. See you for dinner.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 2, 2023

8:30 p.m.

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of Operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(865) 253-7400
Website
https://koyoknox.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress

Location
416 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902-2101
Neighbourhood
Knoxville
Cross Street
The cross street is Walnut St. We're on Clinch Ave, which is a one way.
Parking Details
None

Experiences

Holiday Napa Valley Dinner
US$175.00 per person
Dec 13, 2023 only
Join us for a chef inspired holiday wine dinner. We'll proudly be serving the following wines from idolized wine region of Napa Valley. Rudd Crossroads Mt. Veeder Sauvignon Blanc Far Niete Chardonnay Nickel and Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Menu will be posted ASAP. Give us a call with any questions. Limited availability.

Popular dishes

Eggplant and Herb SoupUS$11.00
aromatic oil, herbs, yuzu
Beet SaladUS$13.00
whipped asiago, microgreens, cucumber, beet vinaigrette
Tempura Sweet PotatoUS$11.00
garlic and chive aioli, shiitake bacon
Mushroom Crispy RiceUS$13.00
145 degree egg, mushroom tentsuyu, green onion
Crispy Pork BellyUS$13.00
kimchi, gochujang, sesame, scallion, rice cracker
Duck BulgogiUS$22.00
bok choy, broccolini, spicy bulgogi sauce
Chilean Sea BassUS$25.00
squash, bonito butter, nori, pea shoots
Beet Cured Salmon CrudoUS$21.00
edamame dressing, orange, pistachio
Braised Short RibUS$16.00
celery root puree, gingered snap peas, maitake miso sauce
Curry Baked MusselsUS$15.00
bell pepper and carrot salad, green curry crumble, lemongrass coconut milk cream
Japanese A5 StripUS$75.00
collard greens, teriyaki

Signature Cocktails

TenchoUS$12.00
Wheatly Vodka, Nikka Gin, Casa Mariol vermouth, Yuzu soda
Green GardenUS$13.00
Haku Vodka, yuzu, Chu-hi soju soda, matcha powder
ModernUS$12.00
Midori, Cointreau, lemon
IcarusUS$12.00
Nikka Whiskey, Aperol, Carpano Antica, lemon
Sesame Old FashionedUS$15.00
Suntory Toki Whiskey, sesame oil washed bourbon, Ginger Liquor, Aromatic Bitters, Orange, Cherry
BonenkaiUS$14.00
Roku Gin, Jelly Sake, Yuzu, Bubbles
Matcha Melon High BallUS$13.00
Haku Vodka, Midori, Yuzu, Lime, Matcha Cordial, Soda

Beer

SapporoUS$6.00
japanese lager
Kirin IchibanUS$6.00
japanese lager
Bud LightUS$5.00
american lager
High LifeUS$5.00
champagne of beers
Chu HiUS$5.00
japanese grapefruit seltzer
Wiseacre PuffelUS$8.00
Double Hazy IPA

What 164 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

East Tennessee
Innovative
East Tennessee
Healthy
East Tennessee
Great for fine wines
Knoxville
Best Service
Knoxville
Best Ambience
Knoxville
Innovative
Knoxville
Healthy
Knoxville
Great for fine wines
Knoxville
Great for outdoor dining

164 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall1food3service1ambience1
Waiter was not knowledgeable of the menu. Took an hour to receive 3 of the 7 courses on their 7 course dinner. Food was underwhelming in taste and portion size. I understand this is a tasting but they were extremely small. Restaurant is very small, you are sitting inches from other patrons. Would not recommend.
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D
Dave
E. Tennessee
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience4
Duck was good, soup and spring rolls are average. Buckwheat crepe was awful. Not many place inside.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
E. Tennessee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Seemed like you guys had your hands full with a large party of obnoxious Georgia fans, but still managed to make our experience feel unique. Kudos!
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AM
AprilM
Atlanta Metro
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best meals we’ve had in Knoxville. We decided to do a la carte and the dishes kept getting better each time. The duck bulgogi was outstanding! Will definitely be back soon.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
Didn't have items on the menu we went there to specifically try. Entrees came a different times.
1 person found this helpful
j
joee
Chicago
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience4
We were really looking forward to trying this, but left disappointed. I like what they’re going for but the execution wasn’t there for me. The ingredients were fresh and interesting, but the flavors didn’t come through. Multiple dishes we had at our table were so salty you couldn’t taste anything else. Cocktails were good, not great. I really wanted to like this place, not sure if we’ll give it another shot. Especially at this price point, there are other restaurants in Knoxville where I’ve had a much better experience.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
E. Tennessee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is a foodie’s haven located in downtown Knoxville. There is a parking lot directly across the street with limited street parking as well. I started with a deliciously balanced smoked whiskey drink which was a heavenly whiff of fall and winter. There were many more concoctions that caught my interest for future visits. The autumn menu was phenomenal with fennel, grapefruit and mushroom sides etc. Hubby loved the crispy duck confit, aka duck bulgogi (although not bulgogi imo) it was very nice. My absolute favorite: Hone-Tsuki Pork. It’s a make your own smorgasbord of little sticky buns in a taco shape with mustard, 2 pickled sides, shiso Japanese basil leaves, and smoky sparerib meat… fireworks in a, “wow this is just such a perfect fusion I never thought of” type platter. This dish could be a one and only star of a gourmet food truck anywhere. It was Japanese Octoberfest flavor Tennessee style. I’ll be back for their 7 course meals which change up every few weeks, and I’ll definitely be back for their new seasonal menu changes. You will enjoy!!!
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MM
MichaelMeir
Nashville
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
quaint, minimalistic stylr, huge food flavors great preddinner drinks next visit will plan time for omakase perfect for a first date and more
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S
Samcrow223
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is awesome so glad it’s in downtown Knoxville. If you like Japanese food with a twist and love sake pairing I recommend this place!
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TA
TerryA
Cincinnati
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on October 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing restaurant we tried 7 dishes and all were exemplary! Try one of the most unique dining experiences in East Tennessee.
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T
Twigg2050
Raleigh
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
DID THE TASTING IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! GREAT WAY TO START VACATION
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Western NC
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was very personalized and the food was top quality. Variety on the menu was just right. Cocktails were delicious and also higher quality ingredients.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
E. Tennessee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The tasting menu was amazing! Service was great and so were the drinks!
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MC
MistyC
Indiana
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and atmosphere were exquisite! The food is an amazing dining experience unique to KOYO.
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SP
SeanP
E. Tennessee
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Koyo is a must for anyone who truly appreciates inspired tastes and fine foods. Japanese inspired small plates filled with amazing flavors, and the highest quality ingredients. The Omakase, the chefs tasting menu, is hands down the best food experience you will have in Knoxville. A rare gem in a town whose fine dining scene has been ever so slow to emerge.
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D
Dianuhhh
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Sooooooooooooooooo amazing!!! Def my new favorite spot in town. We had spring rolls (the sauce was amazing), cucumber salad, mushroom rice and lions mane steak. We couldn’t pick a favorite ! Can’t wait to go back
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EM
ElsaM
Baltimore
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food! Small plates allow you to taste many different foods. Great wine list as well. Great spot for couples. Delicious!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing dining experience. First class service.
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AG
AmyG
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent food, outstanding service. We will definitely return!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
It is expensive but in my opinion worth the price. One of the best restaurants in Knoxville and meal experiences I've personally ever had. Everything was delicious and perfectly portioned.
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B
2Bishop
Washington DC
20 reviews
vip
4.0
20 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
The property is a nicely laid out, quiet spot in a town known for noisy restaurants. The service was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable and provided guidance and suggestions that made our first visit enjoyable. The duck was very well done and one of the best duck dishes I have tasted. The remaining small plates we ordered were a sampling of most of the menu. All were very good. The tasting menu was suggested but we did not have the 1.5 hours to experience the tasting. We will definitely return for the tasting menu and add this property to our frequent visit list. KOYO is a keeper....
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LS
LouS
E. Tennessee
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Food, beverage, and service were all very good.A tad expensive, but good ambience.
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B
Bruce
Western NC
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great service. great atmosphere. Highly recommend.
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CS
ChelseaS
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The French wine dinner was fantastic. We would definitely go again.
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KW
KenW
E. Tennessee
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The dinner was a French Wine Dinner. Five course meal, very creative with delicious flavor combos. Traditional French entrees with a unique flair.
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VH
VictorH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely perfect, it's a great place to go for drinks or that special occasion. We will definitely be back.
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OT
OpenTableVIP
E. Tennessee
154 reviews
vip
3.0
154 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience5
A very cute, intimate, small, and stylish location to experience an Asian inspired Japanese menu. A regular or vegetarian, 4 course, Omakase selection is an option, other than the individual items on a seasonally changing menu. A small covered outdoor patio is out front and the bar with a small main dining room is inside for a delightfully appealing and comfortable dining experience. While there is no reason to argue whether or not the A5 Japanese wagyu is authentic, the fact that an acceptable selection of the beef was chosen for serving, is of serious concern, because, the marbling of the beef was so bad and chunky, that the dish was inedible. Also, what type, either ribeye or tenderloin wagyu, needs to be identified on the menu or discussed by an employee, both of which never occurred. The salmon, was awful, and also inedible. Served cold, but cooked and fishy, almost if sautéed in fish guts. The Hoiki salad, crispy rice, and spring rolls appetizers were all wonderful. The scallops were also seared crispy outside yet soft underneath, and went lovely with the herbaceous sauce, making for a great selection as an entrée. More discipline is required in the kitchen and some cooking technique advancements with preparation and timing, service and communication, are all required for an improvement in score and rating. 3 out of 5 stars. Grade: C
1 person found this helpful
i
iheartfood
Coastal Georgia
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was amazing! The food was thoughtful and so precisely prepared and the staff were incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. One of our new favorite places!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
E. Tennessee
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
First time dining as they are posting on Instagram a lot plus were in an article about Knoxville so we wanted to give it a try. We went with the tasting menu at $150 a person and we’re not overwhelmed. The first course of a bite of salmon tartare with jalapeños was flavorful but the peppers overpowered the dish. The second was a single piece of a calamari on a stick with raspberry sauce again under whelming. The third dish was really good but is a staple on the menu. It was rice, egg , pork belly and sweet potato with a passion fruit sauce. Fourth was a squid ink pasta that was gummy and the dish was one note. It needed some veggie or green onion to give it a depth of flavor. It had 2 mussels, about 6 bay scallops and some calamari which was in dish 2. I wanted to love this dish but just no flavor. Bland broth. The last dish was a A5 Wagyu that was super tasty again on the menu regularly but it was paired with cucumbers which you saw over the meat as they put so many on. I felt it needed a little starch or something. Banana ice cream was dessert. Again it was ok 5/10 not worth the $150 pp however I will eat there again but maybe just try one of their regular dishes.
2 people found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
E. Tennessee
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Early dinner so no other patrons until 7, omakase tasting was the way to go, included select items on the menu prepped in variations, wagyu serving was impressively large! Please go
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GE
3GrnEyedBoiz
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Stephanie took excellent care of us, and listening to her describe the wines to our neighboring table was real treat. Great spot if you want the city without the noise coupled with an intimate dining experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The general manager was AMAZING, knowledgeable and definitely rolled out the red carpet. This is one of the best places to eat in Knoxville and we can’t wait to return!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience3
Crowded! to seat to many tables in their space.. Also water service was terrible.. Food was great service other than refilling water was good.. If we go back we’ll definitely try to sit outside, it seemed less crowded on patio..
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m
melissal
Denver
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
unique dining spot. Like dining in New York. Great vegetarian dishes. Extensive wine list.
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VP
ValerieP
Nashville
11 reviews
vip
3.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
I have gone before and had a better experience the first time. The second time I was not that impressed. Great service as always but the menu was different. The food was just okay.
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j
juliay
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was absolutely amazing. We both did the omokase and we had sake and wine pairings. Our server Stephanie was incredible and did a great job guiding us through our experience.
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TN
TNTWINMOM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the top 10 best meals I’ve ever had!! The combination of flavors were like a song for my taste buds! The staff was so kind and very professional, makes such a difference. Already planning my next trip!
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R
Rachel
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a lovely classy spot in Knoxville. Great date night spot or for a special occasion! My husband and I will definitely be back. Also, try the duck! It was so good I danced every time I took a bite.
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EM
ElsaM
Baltimore
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great date night spot! Amazing menu, wine list and service. A must visit!
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BW
BlakeW
E. Tennessee
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was absolutely phenomenal. Will definitely be coming back!!!
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FAQs

KOYO Knoxville is rated 4.4 stars by 164 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 2, 2023

8:30 p.m.

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

416 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902-2101

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
The cross street is Walnut St. We're on Clinch Ave, which is a one way.
Neighbourhood
Knoxville
Hours of Operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
None
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Website
https://koyoknox.com/
Phone number
(865) 253-7400

KOYO Knoxville

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Holiday Napa Valley Dinner

Duck Bulgogi

Crispy Mushroom Rice

Beet Salad

Omakase

Sample

Sprout

Koré Ni Shi-Masu

Eggplant and Herb SoupUS$11.00

Beet SaladUS$13.00

Tempura Sweet PotatoUS$11.00

Mushroom Crispy RiceUS$13.00

Crispy Pork BellyUS$13.00

Duck BulgogiUS$22.00

Chilean Sea BassUS$25.00

Beet Cured Salmon CrudoUS$21.00

Braised Short RibUS$16.00

Curry Baked MusselsUS$15.00

Japanese A5 StripUS$75.00

Signature Cocktails

TenchoUS$12.00

Green GardenUS$13.00

ModernUS$12.00

IcarusUS$12.00

Sesame Old FashionedUS$15.00

BonenkaiUS$14.00

Matcha Melon High BallUS$13.00

Beer

SapporoUS$6.00

Kirin IchibanUS$6.00

Bud LightUS$5.00

High LifeUS$5.00

Chu HiUS$5.00

Wiseacre PuffelUS$8.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is KOYO Knoxville restaurant rated?

Is KOYO Knoxville currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information