Best Starter in Nashville 2026: Kisser’s Inari
I’ve had this dish exactly one time, but that’s all it took to earn my nomination. Leina Horii and Brian Lea’s Japanese comfort-food spot Kisser offers as a starter a pair of these li’l fellas, which are named for the Shinto god of foxes and look to the untrained eye (well, my untrained eye, anyway) like petite baked potatoes. They consist of a balloon-shaped preparation of fried tofu skin, stuffed with sushi rice and cooked shrimp and sprinkled with masago. It’s a savory, slightly tangy bite that’s hearty and satisfying without being so filling that you won’t want that chicken katsu sandwich you ordered.
