Nashville may be best known for hot chicken and honky-tonks, but the city’s true flavor lies in its remarkable diversity. In pockets across town—from Nolensville Pike’s “Little Kurdistan” to Berry Hill’s colorful cafés—immigrant chefs and families are cooking the foods of home and, in doing so, shaping the story of Nashville itself.
Step inside a Salvadoran bakery, a Somali café, or a Venezuelan arepa shop, and you’ll find more than a good meal. You’ll find neighbors sharing traditions, preserving languages and spices, and weaving their heritage into the daily life of this city. These kitchens don’t just feed us; they connect us—reminding Nashville that food has always been a bridge between cultures.
Here is a shortlist of 20 immigrant-owned restaurants that showcase the city’s global table. From steaming bowls of Ethiopian stew to smoky kebabs, Cuban sandwiches, and delicate Oaxacan mole, each bite carries a story.