Kaizen I Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Taster Restaurant & Food Reviews

If you didn’t know Kaizen existed, you need to! You would probably pass it up a few times walking along Central in the Old City, not even knowing it was there. There is a good patio area for outside seating, which is always a nice choice since it has a covered area. Inside the restaurant there is a small bar, along with limited seating. So, if you have a large group, you definitely want to make reservations, which according to their website, if your party is 8 or more, you can only be seated on the patio.

Fried Rice with Bang Bang

The steamed buns …. These things are so small, yet bursting with flavors. The Fried Eggplant was recommended, and I was not disappointed. This is delicious! A soft, fluffy bun with fried eggplant tucked inside with cilantro and wasabi-yuzu dressing. It is simple yet tasty. The Bang Bang Shrimp is yet another tasty bun. Served with pickled cabbage and the fried Bang Bang shrimp. These buns are a tasty way to get started. But the main attraction in my opinion is the fried rice. Hands down the best fried rice I have eaten! My go-to here is the Fried Shrimp with Bang Bang. This thing is huge and often I will have another meal for the next day. The fried rice is bursting with fresh flavors. It is served with cilantro, cucumber kimchi, chives, toasted sesame seeds, and of course, fried egg. I know several people love the Roasted Pork Belly with Sweet Chili, if you like pork belly … I am not a personal fan. I have tried this one and it is flavorful, but I would rather stick with the Shrimp.

I haven’t had many of the other entrée’s here, as I love the fried rice. The Dan Dan Noodles was one I did try. The flavor was there and it was quite tasty, but I enjoy my noodles warm instead of cold. These are chilled egg noodles with Szechuan peppercorns, pickled cabbage, ground pork and seasonings.

Kaizen offers a variety of gluten-free and vegan options, catering to diverse dietary preferences. Emulating the Izakaya style, Kaizen is a cozy Japanese pub known for its tapas-style small plates, meaning “stay-drink-place.” The ambiance and menu, featuring items like gyoza and fried rice, along with the maneki-neko at the bar and decorative signage at the entrance, truly capture this vibe. Kaizen is closed on Sundays but open Monday-Saturday evenings from 5-10 PM and for lunch from Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 AM-3 PM. So, pick a time to meet up with friends and enjoy some Kaizen soon!