There is a door on 8th Avenue South with a red light above it. No sign and no bold indication of what's really inside. The almost anonymous entry is the first clue that 888 is unlike anything else.
Created by Turnberry, the operators behind Bourbon Steak and the JW Marriott Nashville, 888 is a Japanese dining experience at 800 Clark Place that draws inspiration from the jazz kissas of Japan, intimate listening bars where food and music existed side by side. The concept of food and sound as equal partners runs through everything at 888, from the rice program in the kitchen to the handcrafted horn-loaded speakers on the wall.
The name comes from hachi, the Japanese word for eight. Eight is a number associated with rhythm, repetition, and continuity as well as a number that signals abundance and good fortune. Triple it, and there’s no way to avoid all that goodness.
At the center of 888's culinary program is Master Sushi Chef Kiichi Okabe, whose career spans decades in Michelin-recognized kitchens and globally respected Japanese restaurants across Japan, Singapore, Dubai, the Maldives, and Los Angeles. At 888, he leads The Kounter, the sushi bar experience that is at the heart of the restaurant.
Chef’s rice program, a shari recipe refined over the years, uses top-grade Japanese rice and a vinegar blend so the savory rice supports and complements the fish. The fish is selected through long-standing brokers out of the Japanese markets, held to a standard of texture, fat content, and age.
Signature dishes include nigiri, maki, cured salmon onigiri, donabe fried rice, and chicken karaage. The tempura asparagus is a must-have starter. 888’s beverage program is equally exceptional, showcasing an extensive selection of Japanese products including craft beers, rare whiskies, and a curated sake program.
To really appreciate 888, you have to understand that it is as much a listening experience as it is a dining one. The acoustics and sound system were meticulously crafted by a collection of talent: award-winning Steven Durr Designs, Soundlux Audio, and Devon Turnbull. Durr, a Nashville native, has worked with Lenny Kravitz and Taylor Swift and brought his expertise to many legendary recording spaces.
The setup includes specially crafted horn-loaded speakers, based on vintage Altec Lansing designs, considered by expert musicians to be the most musical speakers ever created. The result is a high-performance, handmade sound system where the music is not background noise, but part of the actual experience.
With a seating capacity of 100, including two sushi bars, a private dining room, and a central cocktail island, 888 is both intimate and communal at the same time. The interior was designed by Los Angeles-based Commune. Co-founder Roman Alonso drew his inspiration directly from the kissa bars he visited while working in Japan.
888 is for the food lover, for the vinyl connoisseur, for the design enthusiast, or for anyone, really, who believes that a truly great evening out should engage all five senses at the same time.
888Nashville.com