Uchi is a contemporary Japanese sushi restaurant located in Austin, Texas,[1] which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the 2,700-square-foot (250 m2) space is a refurbished home.[2] Owner and chef[3] Tyson Cole's menu consists of hot and cool tastings, sushi and sashimi, makimono, yakimono and tempura, and a changing omakase based on seasonal items. In 2011, Cole won the “Best Chef, Southwest” award from the James Beard Foundation.[4]

Uchi
Map
Restaurant information
Established2003
Owner(s)Tyson Cole
Head chefTyson Cole
Food typeSushi
Street address801 South Lamar Boulevard
CityAustin
StateTexas
Postal/ZIP Code78704
CountryUnited States
Coordinates30°15′27″N 97°45′35″W / 30.257501°N 97.759588°W / 30.257501; -97.759588
Other locationsUchiko
WebsiteUchi
The former location of the final Felix Mexican Restaurant operation, which has since become Uchi

Sister restaurants edit

Uchiko edit

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 at 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 edit

Uchiko Cherry Creek is set to open 2024, at 299 Fillmore St., Denver, CO, 80206.[5]

Uchi Houston edit

Uchi Houston opened in February 2012,[6] located at 904 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006[7] Chef Stephen Conklin is the current Chef de Cuisine.[6]

Uchi Dallas edit

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

Uchi Denver edit

Uchi Denver open October 4, 2018, located at 2500 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80205.[8] Andres Araujo is the Chef de Cuisine.[9]

Reviews and features edit

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.[10] Articles about chef and owner Tyson Cole have been featured in The Wall Street Journal,[11] Saveur,[12] Oxford American,[13] Tribeza magazine,[14] Austinist,[15] and Food & Wine Magazine.[1]

Uchiko reviews and features edit

Opened in July 2010, Uchiko elicited praise and attention from publications across the country. The restaurant has been mentioned in the Houston Chronicle,[16] Nation's Restaurant News,[17] Austin American-Statesman,[18] and Texas Monthly.[19] In 2011, Uchiko was recognized as one of the top new restaurants in Texas in the Houston Chronicle,[20] The Dallas Morning News,[21] San Antonio Express,[22] and Texas Monthly.[23] 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.[24]

Biographies edit

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,[25] he led a team of Uchi chefs against Chef Masaharu Morimoto on the Food Network program Iron Chef America in March 2008.[26] He has also been named a semifinalist in 2008,[27] 2009,[28] 2010[29] for the James Beard Foundation Award in the category “Best Chef: Southwest”.

Awards edit

Notable awards for Uchi include

  • The Daily Meal - 101 Best Restaurants in America for 2015[30]
  • Chefs Feed - The Best Dishes in Austin March 2015[31]
  • Thrillist - The 21 Best Sushi Spots in America January 2015[32]
  • The Daily Meal - The Best Sushi in America December 2014[33]
  • TripAdvisor - Travelers' Choice Awards for Fine Dining October 2014[34]
  • Zagat Guide - Austin's Best Restaurant September 2014[35]
  • Southern Living - 100 Best Restaurants in the South August 2014[36]
  • Nylon Magazine Guide to Austin - Best Restaurant November 2013[37]
  • Bon Appétit - 20 Most Important Restaurants in America October 2013[38]
  • Zagat Guide - 10 Austin Restaurant All-Stars September 2013[39]
  • Bon Appétit - The Best New Sushi Restaurants in America October 2012[40]
  • Travel and Leisure - Best Seafood Restaurants in America October 2012[41]
  • Rare Magazine – Best Fine Dining June 2010[42]
  • Rare Magazine – Best Service 2009, 2010[42]
  • Rare Magazine – Best Sushi 2008-2010[42]
  • Bon Appétit Magazine – Top Ten Sushi Spots April 2009[43]
  • The Fearless Critic – Best Restaurant in Austin 2008, 2010[10]
  • Zagat Guide – Best Food in Austin 2008-2010[44]
  • Houston Chronicle - Top Restaurants in Texas[45]
  • Austin Business Journal – Best Chef August 2007[46]
  • Austin American-Statesman XLENT – Five-star review May 2007[47]
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Favorite Restaurant in Austin 2006-2010[48]
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Sushi 2004-2010[48]
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Chef 2005-2010[48]
  • Texas Monthly – Best New Restaurants in Texas February 2004[49]

Notable awards for Uchiko include

  • Houston Chronicle - Top new restaurants in Texas[20]
  • San Antonio Express - Top new eateries in the state[22]
  • Dallas Morning News - Top 10 new restaurants in Texas[21]
  • GQ Magazine- Top new restaurant in America 2010[50]
  • Texas Monthly - Where to Eat Now, February 2011[23]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Ranicki, Carla (November 2004). "Austin Power: Restaurant News". Food and Wine. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Frommers (2010). "Reviews and Ratings of Restaurants in Austin". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  3. ^ D, Darcie (April 3, 2009). "Interview: Tyson Cole of Uchi". Austinist (Gothamist LLC). Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  4. ^ "The James Beard Foundation Awards" (PDF). James Beard Foundation. May 9, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Martin, Molly. "Uchi's Sister Concept Coming to Cherry Creek...in 2024. Here Are Three Other Spots Opening First". Westword. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  6. ^ a b "A taste for perfection - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  7. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  8. ^ Mickelsen, Denise (2018-10-04). "Uchi Denver Is Finally Here". 5280. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  9. ^ Mowbray, Scott (2019-04-26). "Does Uchi Denver Live Up to the Hype?". 5280. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  10. ^ a b Goldstein, Robin (2008). "Incredibly, the fish and fusion at the best restaurant in town are still getting better". Fearless Critic Austin. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  11. ^ McLaughlin, Katy (October 17, 2009). "Austin Raises the Bar on Good Food". The Wall Street Journal.
  12. ^ Cook, Alison (2009). "6 Texas Tastemakers". Saveur. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  13. ^ Anderson, Brett (April 5, 2010). "Brett Anderson on Sushi's Great White Hope". Oxford American. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  14. ^ Dupuy, Jessica (April 2010). "A Cut Above". Tribeza. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  15. ^ Joseph, Jaye (April 13, 2010). "Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Interview: Tyson Cole of Uchi and Uchiko". Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  16. ^ Morago, Greg (June 21, 2010). "Austin's Uchiko to open July 6". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  17. ^ Thorn, Bret (June 22, 2010). "Chefs on the move: Hendrix, McEachern, Good, Van Aken, Cole". Nations's Restaurant News. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  18. ^ Sutter, Mike (June 24, 2010). "Uchiko's key player". Austin-American Statesman. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  19. ^ Sharpe, Pat (May 11, 2009). "Baby Uchi Announces New Location". Texas Monthly. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  20. ^ a b Cook, Alison (January 13, 2011). "Check out Texas' top new restaurants". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Brenner, Leslie (January 17, 2011). "Critics applaud 10 top new restaurants in Texas". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  22. ^ a b Tijerina, Edmund (January 18, 2011). "Restaurant critics from state's largest cities pick top new eateries". San Antonio Express. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  23. ^ a b Sharpe, Patricia (February 2011). "Where to Eat Now". Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  24. ^ Richman, Alan (January 2011). "GQ Eats: The 10 Best New Restaurants in America". GQ Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  25. ^ "Best New Chefs 2005". Food and Wine. 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  26. ^ "Morimoto vs. Cole". Food Network. March 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  27. ^ "The James Beard Foundation Awards" (PDF). James Beard Foundation. March 24, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  28. ^ "2009 James Beard Foundation Awards Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists" (PDF). James Beard Foundation. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  29. ^ "2010 James Beard Foundation Awards Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists" (PDF). James Beard Foundation. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  30. ^ "101 Best Restaurants in America for 2015 | Slideshow". Thedailymeal.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  31. ^ "Best Dishes Recommended by Top Chefs | Chefs Feed". Chefsfeed.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  32. ^ Alexander, Kevin. "The 21 best sushi spots in America". Thrillist.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  33. ^ "The Best Sushi in America". Thedailymeal.com. 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  34. ^ "Best Restaurants in the United States – TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards". Tripadvisor.com. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  35. ^ "Uchi Named Austin's Best Restaurant: How It Changed the Dining Scene | sushi". Zagat.com. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  36. ^ "Best Southern Restaurants". Southernliving.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  37. ^ "Travel Guide Austin Texas". NYLON.com. 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  38. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (2013-10-21). "The 20 Most Important Restaurants in America". Bonappetit.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  39. ^ "10 Austin Restaurant All-Stars | downtown". Zagat.com. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  40. ^ "The Best New Sushi Restaurants in America - Bon Appétit". Bonappetit.com. 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  41. ^ Campbell, Geraldine (2012-10-01). "Uchi + Uchiko, Austin, TX - Best Seafood Restaurants in the U.S. | Travel + Leisure". Travelandleisure.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  42. ^ a b c "Rarest of Them All". RARE Magazine. June 2010. p. 12. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  43. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (April 2009). "Top 10 Sushi Spots". Bon Appetit. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  44. ^ Mahle, Michael (March 20, 2008). "ZAGAT LAUNCHES 2008 TEXAS RESTAURANT GUIDE COVERING 1,505 EATERIES IN FIVE CITIES". Zagat. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  45. ^ Griffin, John (March 5, 2008). "Traveling Texas/Follow the Light to Upscale Eateries". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  46. ^ Orman, Shelley (August 24, 2007). "Tyson Cole wins over sushi lovers with innovative style". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  47. ^ Rice, Dale (May 2007). "Cole's Uchi Remains As Creative As Ever" (PDF). Austin American Statesman. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  48. ^ a b c "Uchi - Restaurant Guide". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  49. ^ Sharpe, Patricia (February 2004). "Where to Eat Now 2004". Texas Monthly. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  50. ^ Richman, Alan (January 2011). "GQ Eats: The 10 Best New Restaurants in America". GQ Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2011.