The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped how many people thought about their lives and livelihoods. It sparked new business ideas, introduced many to new hobbies, and inspired a willingness to do things differently than before.
For Noko Hospitality Founder Jon Murray, that meant the world of dining and restaurants shifting as social distancing began. In the aftermath, he began meeting up weekly with Executive Chef Partner Dung “Junior” Vo and Managing Partner Wilson Brannock and grilling out together. These weekly cookouts quickly sparked the idea of opening a wood-fired Asian-inspired restaurant. Thus, Noko was born in the heart of East Nashville. Since the initial opening, Jon and his partners have expanded under Noko Hospitality – the parent company that now houses all three restaurants – with Kase x Noko, and are preparing to open their latest project on Nashville’s west side: Noko Yaki.
Not only was the menu born out of the pandemic, but so was a guiding philosophy that’s now deeply ingrained in Noko’s culture: taking care of their employees. During the pandemic, Jon was working anywhere from 70 to 90 hours a week, which made him consider walking away from the restaurant industry entirely.
“The idea to do the things that we’re doing for our people came from COVID as well,” Jon explained. “We thought [that] there’s got to be a different way to do it. So, Noko conceptually came from fire, and grilling out outside. And the idea of changing hospitality for the better came from living during COVID and all the challenges that it brought.”
In a city where Broadway musicians wait tables by day, and country songwriters mix cocktails by night, few restaurants can promise their employees much of anything beyond a paycheck, yet Noko Hospitality has proven otherwise. The group’s restaurants have maintained a 14.6% employee turnover rate, compared to an industry average of roughly 80%. About 5.5% of Noko Hospitality sales – more than half a million dollars – have been reinvested in the team through benefits such as company-funded health insurance, complimentary therapy, gym memberships, PTO, and annual travel stipends.
However, the generosity doesn’t stop with its own staff. Noko Hospitality also gives back to the community in several ways, donating 1% of net profits to the Nashville Children’s Alliance and co-hosting the annual “Dine to Shine” gala, which provides services to children in Davidson County affected by abuse (all at no cost to the child or their family). Over the last three years, they have raised more than $800,000 for the organization. This philosophy even extends to the small touches within Noko, including managers personally calling each guest after each meal to thank them for coming in and to hear any feedback.
“You have anywhere to eat in Nashville, and you chose to eat with us,” Jon said. “We just wanted to say we’re grateful.”
Noko, the group’s first restaurant, opened in 2023 with a menu of wood-fired Asian-inspired dishes alongside a stellar happy hour. In 2024, Noko Hospitality expanded next door with Kase x Noko, a 14-seat neighborhood omakase featuring fish flown in from Japan, New Zealand, and Spain. This $75-per-person tasting menu has become one of the hardest reservations to land in the country. Now, the group’s third, Noko Yaki, is slated to open this fall as an Asian-inspired steakhouse. Each table will be outfitted with its own grill, with influences from Japanese yakinuku and Korean barbecue, though the menu will lean distinctly meat-forward.
Each new restaurant that Noko Hospitality opens is built as its own distinct concept. While Noko leans into wood-fired cooking and Kase x Noko centers on an intimate omakase experience, Noko Yaki brings something entirely different to the table. Once the restaurant opens, Noko Hospitality will employ roughly 110 people, all of whom will receive the same benefits that the company’s philosophy is built on.
“For me, aside from taking care of our people, being able to be that impactful in other people’s lives are the two most rewarding things about what we do,” Jon said.
Although it seems like a new restaurant opens in Nashville every week, Noko Hospitality’s restaurants stand apart, proving that a fine-dining experience and genuine care for employees aren’t mutually exclusive. Every reservation feels like more than a meal, serving as an investment that flows back into the people behind it and the surrounding community.
“We are nothing without our people,” Jon admitted. “I am one person. The restaurant would never open and operate with just me. So we thought that taking care of people at a deep level was the only way to operate a business. We’re able to give back to our community, and I really believe that all happens because of how we take care of each other internally.”
To make your next dinner reservation or to follow along for exciting new updates, check out the restaurants’ websites and social media.
@nokonashville | @kasexnoko | @nokoyaki
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