Eat With Sam KNashville is constantly getting new restaurants, but which ones are actually worth trying?
I'm visiting Nashville's newest restaurants throughout 2026 to find out. Every restaurant I personally review gets an independent Sam Score out of 10, and this guide keeps updating as new places open and I get to them.
I pay for my own meals, and restaurants can't pay for a higher score or a better ranking.
Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.
🏆 New Restaurant Rankings
Only restaurants I've personally visited and reviewed get a Sam Score or a ranking here. It updates automatically each time I add a review.
| Rank | Restaurant | Cuisine | Sam Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Thai Samurai | Thai | 9.0 |
| 🥈 2 | Halal Birdz | Halal Hot Chicken | 8.9 |
| 🥉 3 | Chen Chen's | Hot Chicken | 8.6 |
| 4 | NADC Burger | Burgers | 8.2 |
| 5 | Talkin' Tacos | Tacos | 7.9 |
Only restaurants I've personally visited and reviewed are eligible for this ranking.
⭐ Thai Samurai
Neighborhood: River North (East Bank)
Sam Score: 9.0/10
Best For: Thai and sushi with a show
Price: $$$
Series: Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants, Pt. 1
Thai Samurai serves Thai food and sushi on the East Bank in River North. There's a tuk-tuk parked out front, the bar sits under big backlit samurai murals, and the Flaming Tiger Roll comes out wrapped in foil and gets set on fire at the table.
I got a Thai Spicy Margarita, the Volcanic Lobster, Drunken Noodles with chicken at level 3 hot, and the Flaming Tiger Roll. It's the highest score I've given a new opening so far. It's in a cool part of town, and service was slow. Read Sam's full review →
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Thai Samurai review →
⭐ Halal Birdz
Neighborhood: South Nashville (Murfreesboro Pike)
Sam Score: 8.9/10
Best For: Halal hot chicken and snack packs
Price: $$
Series: Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants
Halal Birdz is a newer halal hot chicken counter on Murfreesboro Pike, serving Nashville-style tenders, wings and loaded snack packs.
I got the #3 Broadway Box and the #4 Halal Snack Pack, both at medium heat. Service was quick and the presentation is a big part of it. The shake machine was down and there isn't much seating. Read Sam's full review →
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Halal Birdz review →
⭐ Chen Chen's
Neighborhood: Midtown
Sam Score: 8.6/10
Best For: Hot chicken with Asian-inspired sauces
Price: $$
Series: Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants
Chen Chen's started as a Toronto pop-up from chef Chen Chen, who was born in China and raised in Nashville. After being named Yelp Canada's #1 Place to Eat in 2024, he's brought it back to his hometown, pairing Nashville hot chicken with his own Asian-inspired sauces.
I got the homemade mac and cheese with hot chicken bites in Szechuan sauce at medium heat, plus waffle fries. Quick, friendly, and short on indoor seating. Read Sam's full review →
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Chen Chen's review →
⭐ NADC Burger
Neighborhood: Downtown (The Arcade)
Sam Score: 8.2/10
Best For: One Wagyu smash burger, done one way
Price: $$
Series: Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants
NADC, short for "Not A Damn Chance," is a single-item burger counter inside the historic Arcade downtown. There's one burger: two smashed 3 oz Wagyu patties, American cheese, secret sauce, onions, pickles and jalapeños on a griddled bun.
I got it with everything, plus fries and the secret sauce. It's quick and it's in a cool part of town, with no seating inside. Read Sam's full review →
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full NADC Burger review →
⭐ Talkin' Tacos
Neighborhood: Downtown (2nd Ave N)
Sam Score: 7.9/10
Best For: Birria and late-night tacos
Price: $$
Talkin' Tacos is the first Tennessee location of a halal Mexican chain out of Miami, open on 2nd Avenue North since late September 2026. You order at a kiosk and eat under neon signs and a splatter-painted wall, or outside on the patio.
I got the App Trio and two Taco Trios, running through carne asada, Southwest chicken, bang bang shrimp, birria, birria taki and mahi mahi, plus a Mangodana. It's quick, it's got a patio, and the kitchen runs late. Read Sam's full review →
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Talkin' Tacos review →
More New Nashville Openings on My Radar
I haven't Sam Scored these yet. They're recent Nashville openings I may visit as part of Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants, and they'll move into the rankings above once I've eaten there.
Know somewhere new that should be on this list? Send me a DM at @eatwithsamk and I'll add it.
What New Nashville Restaurant Should You Try?
| Looking For | Try |
|---|---|
| ⭐ Highest Sam Score | Thai Samurai, 9.0 |
| 🍜 A Meal With a Show | Thai Samurai, 9.0 |
| 🔥 Hot Chicken | Halal Birdz, 8.9 / Chen Chen's, 8.6 |
| 🍔 Burgers | NADC Burger, 8.2 |
| 🌮 Tacos & Birria | Talkin' Tacos, 7.9 |
The rest of these picks fill in as I review more new openings. I'd rather leave a row off than hand out a title to fill space.
What Counts as a "New" Nashville Restaurant?
For this guide I'm focused on restaurants that recently opened, or that are new enough that people are still deciding whether they're worth visiting.
Restaurants don't stay in the "new" category forever. As Nashville keeps opening places, older ones move into my other guides and rankings instead, which keeps this page focused on what's actually new right now.
How I Rank Nashville's New Restaurants
A restaurant doesn't get ranked highly just because it's new or getting attention. I'm looking at the whole experience:
- 🍴 Food quality: does the food actually deliver?
- 💰 Value: does the experience justify what you're paying?
- 👀 What stands out: is there a reason to pick it over dozens of other Nashville restaurants?
- 🏠 Atmosphere: does it deliver the experience it's going for?
- 🔄 Would I go back: would I spend my own money to return?
The Sam Score is my overall take on all of it.
What's the Best New Restaurant in Nashville?
Right now it's Thai Samurai at 9.0/10, with Halal Birdz close behind at 8.9, then Chen Chen's at 8.6, NADC Burger at 8.2 and Talkin' Tacos at 7.9.
That won't necessarily hold. Every episode of Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants brings another place that can take the top spot, and the rankings above update the moment I publish a new review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new restaurants in Nashville?
I'm visiting Nashville's newest restaurants throughout 2026 and ranking the ones I've tried. Thai Samurai in River North currently sits at #1 with a Sam Score of 9.0/10, with more added through the year.
What new Nashville restaurant should I try?
Thai Samurai is my highest rated new opening at 9.0/10. This guide changes as I visit more recent openings.
How often does this guide get updated?
Whenever a new episode of Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants goes up, or whenever I personally review another recent opening.
Can restaurants pay to be included?
No. Restaurants can work with me separately on UGC or sponsored content, but Sam Scores and rankings cannot be purchased. Any restaurant receiving a Sam Score is judged independently.
How do I recommend a new restaurant?
Send me a DM at @eatwithsamk with the restaurant and I'll add it to my list of places to check out.
The Sam Score
Every restaurant I personally review receives a Sam Score out of 10 based on my overall experience.
Sam Scores are never for sale. I pay for my meals, and restaurants cannot purchase a higher score or ranking. Any UGC or sponsored work I do with businesses is kept separate from my independent restaurant reviews.
🆕 Follow Trying Nashville's Newest Restaurants
New places keep opening around Nashville, and I'm working my way through them. Follow @eatwithsamk on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for every episode, or browse every place I've rated.
More Nashville Food Guides
Looking for more places to eat? Check out these guides on Eat With Sam K: