Izakaya Officially Opens with Asian-Inspired Plates & Cocktails

Nama celebrated 20 years in 2024, and the team wanted a way to mark the milestone without tinkering too much with a menu Knoxville already loves. The answer is Nama Izakaya, a Japanese-style bar and dining that took the place of the former Harvest Downtown space on the 100 Block of Gay Street.

“We wanted to celebrate Nama and everything it has done, but still give people something new and different,” said general manager Sophia Plummer. “At its core, it is a Japanese restaurant, but we’ll feature new items from around Asia.” The executive chef, Ryan Miller, is Filipino American and plans to rotate in dishes like lumpia and other dishes from his childhood and other parts of Asia. “I tried to stick with a very izakaya-themed starting menu,” he said. “We will change with the seasons and feature other Asian cuisines, but our staples and bestsellers will stay.”

The interior leans warm and calm, with soft tones and a touch of green and can be credited to the vision of Rhonda Gray. It is the kind of room you settle into, order some small plates and catch up with friends. As the night goes on, the lights drop and the music nudges higher. “Around 9 or 10 we go more bar heavy with a late night menu with items only available during those hours,” Sophia said. Live entertainment is under discussion with the team that books at sister spot Harvest.

Two dining rooms give the concept some range. One side seats about 50 and can be reserved for private events. The bar room seats roughly 48, and the patio adds 16 more seats. “Sometimes you want a quiet dinner, and you can do that,” Ryan said. “Over here, this side can be fun.”

An izakaya (居酒屋, pronounced ee-zah-kah-yah) is a casual Japanese bar that serves drinks with small, shareable dishes. “Instead of reinventing the wheel, we leaned into that.” The team is keeping the connection to Nama visible, while avoiding overlap. “I do not want this to be a sushi restaurant,” Ryan said with a laugh. “That is Nama.” They will, however, offer two sushi rolls for customers looking for a sushi fix alongside their hot plates.

Some early crowd and staff favorites are Mushroom Crispy Rice, Braised Short Rib, and Loaded Fries. “Mushroom crispy rice is probably my favorite,” Ryan said. “When it is done correctly, it is simple and intricate at the same time. We crisp the rice just right, serve it with a sous vide egg, local mushrooms with ginger and garlic, green onions, and a side of tentsuyu.” Pro tip from the chef: add braised short rib for $6. “It is braised in ginger, soy, honey, sambal, and garlic,” he said. “It is solid, tender, and the staff’s favorite.” I endorse the braised short ribs fully. They were as delicious as described.

The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake à la mode accompanied my interview (thanks, Chef!) It is a sweet finish that the chef insists you try at least once. On the late-night menu, the Tempura Fried Chicken has been the frontrunner. “If you like a chicken nugget, you are going to like the tempura fried chicken,” Sophia said. Approachable, crisp, and a crowd pleaser. Late night brings a totally separate menu with items you can only get after 9 on weeknights and 10 on weekends, including Tokyo Dog with kimchi and pork belly sliders. Due to “old lady status,” it is unlikely that I will ever try these since it isn’t served till after my bedtime. So, if the late-night part of the late-night menu isn’t a barrier for you like it is for me, you’ve got to let me know what you think!

Sophia has been with the Nama group since 2017, starting as a server in Bearden and later opening Harvest Downtown as GM in 2022. The current crew kept much of that tight front- and back-of-house team intact. “The camaraderie in this team is real,” she said. “Servers, bartenders, hosts, and kitchen all have each other’s backs.”

Harvest Downtown was well loved, but the team felt the concept did not fit this block during ongoing construction and with downtown parking hurdles. “We wanted a place that has something for everybody,” Sophia said. “You can come in for a $10 plate of fries or $6 edamame and a $5 beer and shot combo. Or you can order from a reserve wine list that includes everything we had at Harvest.”

Soft opening brought useful notes as the team reprinted menus and fine tuned cocktails daily. “If we are missing the mark, please tell us right then,” Sophia said. “Our job is to make you happy, and we want to be everybody’s favorite spot.”

Another notable change is from the Nama Collective as a whole. It features popular brands Nama, Harvest in Bearden, New Haven Pizza Pie and now Nama Nama Izakaya. The Nama Passport grew out of conversations with Brent Thompson of Spearheader Creative, who also books live jazz music for Harvest about how to better connect the restaurants under the collective’s umbrella and give customers a way to see the identity that ties them together. The team was encouraged to create a unifying name and concept, which became the Passport.

The idea is to offer something genuinely interesting and worth subscribing to, not just another marketing message. Guests who opt in via SMS (text messaging) receive special perks such as access to secret menus for each restaurant in the group that change monthly (a nod to Nama’s past hidden menu offerings), chef’s whims not listed publicly, unique pricing, early access to events, and other surprises. The Nama Passport has been live for about a month, designed to pull people through the customer journey while keeping things fun, fresh, and engaging. Thompson tells me it’s going well so far and that guests can expect to hear from the passport program only 1-2 times a month, featuring secret menus and specials.

Nama Izakaya feels like both a celebration of Nama’s legacy and a bold new step for the collective. With its balance of comfort and creativity, approachable plates, and late-night energy, the restaurant offers something downtown has been missing. The connection to the broader Nama Passport ties it all together, giving regulars a reason to keep coming back and newcomers a fun way in. Whether you stop by for a quiet dinner, a late-night bite, or to see what secret menu the team has dreamed up this month, Nama Izakaya makes a strong case for becoming your next favorite spot on the 100 Block.

ADDRESS:
141 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 800-6262
OPENING HOURS:
Tuesday – Thursday: 4pm-11pm
Friday – Saturday: 4pm – 12am
Sunday – Monday: Closed