Everyone in Wynwood is familiar with Uchi, the Japanese restaurant from Austin that opened in the neighborhood to continued fanfare back in 2021.
Today, the eatery's latest evolution, Uchiko, which means "child of Uchi," debuted in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbour. The restaurant is actually the predecessor to Uchi and the space is the first East Coast location for the brand, making the destination that much more special.
“After Hai Hospitality’s successful Wynwood residence, it feels natural to expand our award-winning portfolio with Uchiko, just across Biscayne Bay to Sunset Harbour,” said James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole. “Guests will recognize Uchi favorites like the sake crudo and ,akimonos, but now they’ll be able to extend their orders with seafood, vegetables and steak prepared over an open flame—a key distinction between our two similar but uniquely different concepts.”
The Miami Beach outpost is led by chef de cuisine Jacob Yoder, who used to be an executive sous chef at Uchiko in Austin.
The 207-seat, 5,380-square-foot restaurant serves a menu focusing on yakitori grill dishes, specifically boasting a "from the hearth" section filled with smoked and cured dishes, from a hearth-roasted lobster prepared with umeboshi butter to a four-time seared New York strip wagyu with charred snow pea leaves and Japanese sweet potato. Daily specials and desserts abound as well, like the fan-favorite milk and cereal: fried milk, chocolate mousse and toasted milk ice cream.
Drink-wise the beverage program perfectly complements the flavors of the food on offer. The refreshing Subarashi, for example, prepared with Mi Campo reposado, Mezcal Union, lime and hibiscus agave, makes for the ideal counterpart to some of the more spicy dishes served at the restaurant.
One more thing: in case you're looking to host a party, consider renting out the private 12-seat dining room. A carved stone fireplace really sets the mood in there!