Uchi is a contemporary Japanese

sushi is a Japanese cuisine, Japanese dish of prepared , usually with some sugar and salt, accompanied by a variety of , such as seafood, often raw, and vegetables. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is " ...

restaurant located in

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the space is a refurbished home. Owner and chef Tyson Cole's menu consists of hot and cool tastings, sushi and

sashimi is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce. Origin The word ''sashimi'' means "pierced body", i.e. "刺身" = ''sashimi'', where 刺し = ''sashi'' (pierced, stuck) ...

, makimono, yakimono and

tempura is a typical Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood, meat and vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. The dish was introduced by the Portuguese in Nagasaki through fritter-cooking techniques in the 16th century. The word ''tem ...

, and a changing

omakase is a Japanese phrase, used when ordering food in restaurants, that means 'I'll leave it up to you' (from Japanese ). Usage The phrase ''omakase'', literally 'I leave it up to you', is most commonly used when dining at Japanese restaurants ...

based on seasonal items. In 2011, Cole won the “Best Chef, Southwest” award from the

James Beard Foundation The James Beard Foundation is a New York City-based national non-profit culinary arts organization named in honor of James Beard, a prolific food writer, teacher, and cookbook author, who was also known as the "Dean of American Cookery." The prog ...

Sister restaurants

Uchiko

Uchiko, Tyson Cole’s follow up to his first restaurant, Uchi, opened its doors in July 2010. Translated as “child of uchi” from Japanese, Uchiko is located a
4200 North Lamar
just south of 45th Street in Central Austin. Chef Lance Gillum is the current chef de cuisine, Chef Nguyen Nguyen is the current Head Sushi Chef, and Chef Ariana Quant is the current Head Pastry Chef as of Spring of 2022.

Uchiko Denver

Uchiko Cherry Creek is set to open 2024, at 299 Fillmore St., Denver, CO, 80206.

Uchi Houston

Uchi Houston opened in February 2012, located at 904 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006 Chef Stephen Conklin is the current Chef de Cuisine.

Uchi Dallas

Uchi Dallas opened on June 1, 2015, located at 2817 Maple Ave., Dallas, TX 75201. Alex Astranti is the Chef de Cuisine. Right above Uchi is Uchiba, which is owned by the same people and recently opened in 2018.

Uchi Denver

Uchi Denver open October 4, 2018, located at 2500 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80205. Brandon Brumback is the Chef de Cuisine.

Reviews and features

Uchi's success in a city more known for barbecue and brews than stylized fine dining has garnered the restaurant favorable reviews from

Fearless Critic Fearless Critic Media is a US publishing house best known for its books ''The Wine Trials'', ''The Beer Trials'', and the Fearless Critic series of restaurant guidebooks to US cities. The publishing house was founded in 2004, merged with Workman i ...

. Articles about chef and owner

Tyson Cole Tyson Cole (born September 3, 1970) is a chef and restaurateur based in Austin, Texas, USA. Biography Cole had begun his culinary career as a dishwasher at a Japanese restaurant named Kyoto in downtown Austin, Texas. Attrition among the rest ...

have been featured in ''

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

'',

Saveur ''Saveur'' is an online gourmet, food, wine, and travel magazine that publishes essays about various world cuisines. The publication was co-founded by Dorothy Kalins, Michael Grossman, Christopher Hirsheimer, and Colman Andrews, who was also the ...

Oxford American The ''Oxford American'' is a quarterly magazine that focuses on the American South. First publication The magazine was begun in late 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi, by Marc Smirnoff (born July 11, 1963). The name "Oxford American" is a play on ''T ...

, Tribeza magazine, Austinist, and Food & Wine Magazine.

Uchiko reviews and features

Opened in July 2010, Uchiko elicited praise and attention from publications across the country. The restaurant has been mentioned in the ''

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With it ...

'',

Nation's Restaurant News ''Nation's Restaurant News'' (''NRN'') is an American trade publication, founded in 1967, that covers the foodservice industry, including restaurants, restaurant chains, operations, marketing, and events. It was owned by Penton Media (acquired by ...

Austin American-Statesman The ''Austin American-Statesman'' is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is owned by Gannett. The paper prints Associated Press, ''New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''Los Angeles Times'' internation ...

, and

Texas Monthly ''Texas Monthly'' (stylized as ''TexasMonthly'') is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Downtown Austin, Texas. ''Texas Monthly'' was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy and has been published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. since 1998 and is ...

. In 2011, Uchiko was recognized as one of the top new restaurants in Texas in the ''

'', ''

The Dallas Morning News ''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ''Galvesto ...

'',

San Antonio Express The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the state of Texas, with ...

, and

. The restaurant secured its place on the culinary landscape when - in early 2011 - it was named one of the best new restaurants in America by

GQ Magazine ''GQ'' (formerly ''Gentlemen's Quarterly'' and ''Apparel Arts'') is an American international monthly men's magazine based in New York City and founded in 1931. The publication focuses on fashion, style, and culture for men, though articles on ...

Biographies

Tyson Cole - Owner and Chef :Owner of Uchi, Uchiko and Uchi Houston, Chef Cole is an American sushi master. Named one of the Top 10 “Best New Chefs” in 2005 by Food & Wine Magazine, he led a team of Uchi chefs against Chef

Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show ''Iron Chef'' and its spinoff '' Iron Chef America''. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food. Career Morimoto received practical training in sush ...

on the

Food Network Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ...

program

Iron Chef America ''Iron Chef America'' is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's ''Iron Chef'', and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed ''Iron Chef USA'' that aired in 2001. The show is produced by Food Network, whi ...

in March 2008. He has also been named a semifinalist in 2008, 2009, 2010 for the

James Beard Foundation Award The James Beard Foundation Awards are annual awards presented by the James Beard Foundation to recognize chefs, restaurateurs, authors and journalists in the United States. They are scheduled around James Beard's May 5 birthday. The media award ...

in the category “Best Chef: Southwest”.

Awards

Notable awards for Uchi include *The Daily Meal - 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2015 *Chefs Feed - The Best Dishes in Austin March 2015 *Thrillist - The 21 Best Sushi Spots in America January 2015 *The Daily Meal - The Best Sushi in America December 2014 *TripAdvisor - Travelers' Choice Awards for Fine Dining October 2014 *Zagat Guide - Austin's Best Restaurant September 2014 *Southern Living - 100 Best Restaurants in the South August 2014 *Nylon Magazine Guide to Austin - Best Restaurant November 2013 *Bon Appétit - 20 Most Important Restaurants in America October 2013 *Zagat Guide - 10 Austin Restaurant All-Stars September 2013 *Bon Appétit - The Best New Sushi Restaurants in America October 2012 *Travel and Leisure - Best Seafood Restaurants in America October 2012 * Rare Magazine – Best Fine Dining June 2010 * Rare Magazine – Best Service 2009, 2010 * Rare Magazine – Best Sushi 2008-2010 * Bon Appétit Magazine – Top Ten Sushi Spots April 2009 * The Fearless Critic – Best Restaurant in Austin 2008, 2010 * Zagat Guide – Best Food in Austin 2008-2010 * Houston Chronicle - Top Restaurants in Texas * Austin Business Journal – Best Chef August 2007 * Austin American-Statesman XLENT – Five-star review May 2007 * Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Favorite Restaurant in Austin 2006-2010 * Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Sushi 2004-2010 * Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Chef 2005-2010 * Texas Monthly – Best New Restaurants in Texas February 2004 Notable awards for Uchiko include *Houston Chronicle - Top new restaurants in Texas *San Antonio Express - Top new eateries in the state *Dallas Morning News - Top 10 new restaurants in Texas *GQ Magazine- Top new restaurant in America 2010 *Texas Monthly - Where to Eat Now, February 2011

References

{{Reflist, colwidth=30em Asian-American culture in Austin, Texas Japanese-American culture in Texas Restaurants established in 2003 Restaurants in Texas Sushi restaurants in the United States 2003 establishments in Texas