Food

This Wynwood Japanese restaurant is opening a new Yakitori grill spot in Miami Beach

Uchiko features sushi dishes such as otoro, chutoro and akam.
Uchiko features sushi dishes such as otoro, chutoro and akam.

Uchi Miami had such success opening its Japanese restaurant in Wynwood that the hospitality group is planning a new spot in Miami Beach.

Uchiko, which means son of Uchi, will open a wood-fire, Yakitori-grilled focused restaurant in the upcoming 18 Sunset building in Sunset Harbour on Purdy Avenue. You might want to have some snacks in the meantime; the restaurant won’t open until 2024.

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The Uchiko concept is one of several from the Austin-based Hai Hospitality group and already has three other locations, including Austin and Houston. They are products of chef Tyson Cole, who won a James Beard award for best chef in the Southwest in 2011.

“We’re inspired by the great reception we’ve received with the opening of Uchi Miami in 2021,” Hai Hospitality CEO Tony Montero wrote in an announcement. “Since then, we’ve fallen in love with the unmatchable energy of South Beach and we’re looking forward to following up on the success of Uchi with the introduction of Uchiko.”

Uchiko brings in some of what makes Uchi a success, the raw fish and sushi bar. But the menu highlights will be from the Yakitori grill, such as wagyu beef cooked over hot rocks, take nabe Japanese mushrooms, even foie gras. Add to that a bar menu highlighting a selection of hard-to-find Japanese whiskeys and cocktails.

It will join other successful Sunset Harbour restaurants such as Casa Isola, Stiltsville, Pubbelly Sushi, Sushi Garage, Naiyara, Lucali pizzeria and True Loaf bakery.

Carlos Frías
Miami Herald
Miami Herald food editor Carlos Frías is a two-time James Beard Award winner, including the 2022 Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award for engaging the community with his food writing. A Miami native, he’s also the author of the memoir “Take Me With You: A Secret Search for Family in a Forbidden Cuba.”
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