20 years after opening Uchi in South Austin, James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole brings his beloved Japanese restaurant concept to Los Angeles.
Uchi’s omakase menu will change with the seasons PHOTO COURTESY OF HAI HOSPITALITY; RENDERING BY ORA
What started as a non-traditional Japanese restaurant in a refurbished old home in South Austin is now a phenomenon. Chef Tyson Cole is bringing Uchi—the Japanese word for “home” or “house”—westward, with outposts opening soon in West Hollywood and Scottsdale, adding to the current roster of restaurants in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Miami.
Chef Tyler Cole RENDERING BY ORA
Consisting of a range of small plates, from seasonal omakase to a brown butter crab handroll to wagyu with garlic chive and miso, Uchi’s high-end dishes balance beautifully with the welcoming service, all offered in an equally warm environment.
This all stems from the man behind it all. Cole, a James Beard Award-winning chef, trained in Japan, New York and Austin under two sushi masters. When asked what diners can expect vibe-wise from the forthcoming restaurants, he offers an enthusiastic answer: “[They will be] extremely fun and guest-focused—the food is always the star.”
RENDERING BY ORA
Foodwise, expect creative and delicious dishes enhanced with the freshest ingredients around. “We always procure local ingredients whenever possible, and L.A.’s amazing selection of seasonal fruits and seafood will shine,” shares Cole, who names Jose Andres, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Nobu Matsuhisa as chefs he looks up to.
A California-meets-Japan aesthetic by ora (ora.la) defines the West Hollywood restaurant’s design. Think live-edge wood slabs milled from local city street trees, a spacious patio and zen garden-inspired ceiling tiles in a light-filled indoor-outdoor space.
While L.A. is famously full of incredible sushi restaurants, Cole is anything but intimated about opening here. “L.A. is possibly the most exciting city for sushi in the world,” he says. We’re just excited to join the party.” uchi.uchirestaurants.com
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