Uchi
Encyclopedia
Uchi is a contemporary Japanese sushi
restaurant located in Austin, Texas
which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the 2700 square feet (250.8 m²) space is a refurbished home. Owner and chef 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, Chef Cole secured his berth at the top of his field with his win as “Best Chef, Southwest” at the James Beard Foundation Awards
.
long-awaited follow up to his critically acclaimed 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. The restaurant features a main dining room that accepts reservations throughout the evening and an eat in bar/café area.
This second location of Cole’s highly-praised Uchi presents the same excellence and energetic atmosphere of the original with some noteworthy additions created by executive chef Paul Qui. Uchiko’s menu is a selection of newly composed dishes and sushi, as well as signature favorites originally created at Uchi. Highlights include hot and cool tastings, grilled items, greens, the Omasake, sushi and sashimi, Makimono and Philip Speer’s award-winning desserts.
.
Articles about chef and owner Tyson Cole
have been featured in The Wall Street Journal
, Saveur
, Oxford American
, Tribeza magazine, Austinist
, and Food & Wine Magazine
.
, Nation's Restaurant News
, Austin American-Statesman
, and Texas Monthly
.
In 2011, Uchiko was recognized as one of the top new restaurants in Texas in the Houston Chronicle
, Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express, and Texas Monthly
. The innovative 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.
Paul Qui - Executive Chef, Uchiko
Philip Speer - Pastry Chef, Uchi/Uchiko
The City of Austin's heath inspection of Uchi on November 5, 2009 resulted in a score of 78. (100 indicates no violations; 70 or below is failing.)
Notable Awards for Uchiko include
Sushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
restaurant located in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the 2700 square feet (250.8 m²) space is a refurbished home. Owner and chef Tyson Cole's
Tyson Cole
Tyson Cole is a chef and restaurateur based in Austin, Texas, USA.The culinary talents of chef and sushi master Tyson Cole are showcased at two Austin, Texas restaurants: award-winning “siblings,” Uchi and Uchiko...
menu consists of hot and cool tastings, sushi and sashimi
Sashimi
Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It consists of very fresh raw meat, most commonly fish, sliced into thin pieces.-Origin:The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e...
, makimono, yakimono and tempura
Tempura
], is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried.-Batter:A light batter is made of cold water and soft wheat flour . Eggs, baking soda or baking powder, starch, oil, and/or spices may also be added...
, and a changing omakase
Omakase
is a Japanese phrase that means "I'll leave it to you" .The expression is used at sushi restaurants to leave the selection to the chef. It differs from ordering à la carte. The chef will generally present a series of plates, beginning with the lightest fare and proceeding to heaviest, richest dishes...
based on seasonal items. In 2011, Chef Cole secured his berth at the top of his field with his win as “Best Chef, Southwest” at the James Beard Foundation Awards
James Beard Foundation Award
The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...
.
Uchiko
Uchiko, Tyson Cole’sTyson Cole
Tyson Cole is a chef and restaurateur based in Austin, Texas, USA.The culinary talents of chef and sushi master Tyson Cole are showcased at two Austin, Texas restaurants: award-winning “siblings,” Uchi and Uchiko...
long-awaited follow up to his critically acclaimed 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. The restaurant features a main dining room that accepts reservations throughout the evening and an eat in bar/café area.
This second location of Cole’s highly-praised Uchi presents the same excellence and energetic atmosphere of the original with some noteworthy additions created by executive chef Paul Qui. Uchiko’s menu is a selection of newly composed dishes and sushi, as well as signature favorites originally created at Uchi. Highlights include hot and cool tastings, grilled items, greens, the Omasake, sushi and sashimi, Makimono and Philip Speer’s award-winning desserts.
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 CriticFearless Critic
Fearless Critic is a series of restaurant guides to US cities. The series was founded in 2003 and currently has eight restaurant guides—most notably Austin, Texas, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and New Haven,...
.
Articles about chef and owner Tyson Cole
Tyson Cole
Tyson Cole is a chef and restaurateur based in Austin, Texas, USA.The culinary talents of chef and sushi master Tyson Cole are showcased at two Austin, Texas restaurants: award-winning “siblings,” Uchi and Uchiko...
have been featured in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, Saveur
Saveur
Saveur is a gourmet, food, wine, and travel magazine that specializes in essays about various world cuisines. The publication was co-founded by Dorothy Kalins, Michael Grossman, Christopher Hirsheimer, and Colman Andrews, who was also the editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2001...
, Oxford American
Oxford American
The Oxford American is an American quarterly literary magazine "dedicated to featuring the very best in Southern writing while documenting the complexity and vitality of the American South."-First publication:...
, Tribeza magazine, Austinist
Gothamist
Gothamist LLC is the operator of eleven city-centric blogs worldwide that focus on news, events, food, culture, and other local coverage.-History:...
, and Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
.
Uchiko Reviews and Features
Opened in July 2010, Uchiko elicited high praise and attention from publications across the country. The restaurant has been mentioned in the Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, Nation's Restaurant News
Nation's Restaurant News
Nation's Restaurant News is an American trade publication, founded in 1967, that covers the foodservice industry, including restaurants, restaurant chains, operations, marketing, and events. It is owned by Penton Media, who purchased it from founding company Lebhar-Friedman in December 2010...
, Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
, and Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
.
In 2011, Uchiko was recognized as one of the top new restaurants in Texas in the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express, and Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
. The innovative 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.
Biographies
Tyson Cole - Owner and Chef- Owner of Uchi and Uchiko, Chef Cole is an American sushi master. Named one of the Top 10 “Best New Chefs” in 2005 by Food & Wine MagazineFood & WineFood & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
, he led a team of Uchi chefs against Chef Masaharu MorimotoMasaharu Morimotois a well-known Japanese chef, best known as the third Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show Iron Chef, and an Iron Chef on its spinoff, Iron Chef America. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food....
on the Food NetworkFood NetworkFood Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
program Iron Chef AmericaIron Chef AmericaIron Chef America: The Series 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. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
in March 2008. He has also been named a semifinalist in 2008, 2009, 2010 for the James Beard Foundation AwardJames Beard Foundation AwardThe James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...
in the category “Best Chef: Southwest”.
Paul Qui - Executive Chef, Uchiko
- Chef Qui started working at Uchi in 2004—as an intern for free. His talents were quickly recognized and he rose through the ranks to become Chef de Cuisine at Uchi and now executive chef of Uchiko.
Philip Speer - Pastry Chef, Uchi/Uchiko
- Philip Speer is one of Austin’s most highly-renowned pastry chefs. Speer’s work has garnered him several local awards in both the Austin Chronicle and Austin American Statesman as well as national accolades in Bon Appetit, Cooks Illustrated and U.S.A Today. In 2011, Speer was named a James Beard Semi-Finalist , in the overall pastry chef category.
Health inspection scores
The City of Austin's heath inspection of Uchi on August 23, 2010 resulted in a score of 95.The City of Austin's heath inspection of Uchi on November 5, 2009 resulted in a score of 78. (100 indicates no violations; 70 or below is failing.)
Awards
Notable awards for Uchi include- 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 XL – 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.