Uchida Eatery — Restaurant in Victoria

So, let me get the obligatory I don’t usually write reviews out of the way, but my experience, though brief, was so horrible, I’m never actually coming back.

First of all, I notice the sign that says pay before sitting down and decide to get take out because it’s just convenient for me to take it back to my office.

I pay $27 with the tip included and choose one of the three available tables. I take the bigger table because I figure I won’t be waiting long. An older gentleman comes in and says he was just scoping out the place because he has friends coming. They ask me to move to the smaller table. No problem as it just makes sense with me being a single party waiting for food. What truly baffles me though was they made it a point to come back to me and say, “You can sit here for now, but if someone else comes in, you have to move.”

I’m gobsmacked that they would ask me to do this as again, I’m just waiting for food, there’s one other table available, and the place is small as it is anyways. All the while, it’s okay for this guy to wait for his friends and not order while I, someone who already paid for the food, am getting rushed out the door. They even offered him water and I get a hey, move it.

Just completely unprofessional and ass backwards they care more for potential customers than one who already ordered their most expensive item.

Food was good, but for portion size, in no way worth it. It’s advisable to dine-in if you go to avoid them patronizing you for...

Not quite sure why people rate this place so high. First time visitor, went there within 25 minutes after they opened, thinking to be able to beat the crowds. It was pretty empty at that time, I was the only one ordering, and other than me there were about 5 groups (less than 10 people in total) all seated, eating or waiting. Went for Today’s special, though it would be served quickly and the taste should be guaranteed. Felt a bit surprised that Today’s special doesn’t come with rice. So ordered brown rice. Waited 25 minutes before I got served, after at least 3 people who ordered way after me got their meals first. The portion is really small, the main dish is a small cut of rock fish in soy sauce along with two small pieces of tofu and a chunk of half-boiled poorly peeled tasteless turnip… Side dishes are a little bit of pickled veggies and s boiled egg. The fish itself was over-cooked. Hard and dry and no taste inside. The turnip was non edible as, I guess it was just there for decoration and for making the dish look bigger? Egg has no taste either. It was really disappointing to pay $15 for the quality of the special. It did not remind me of Japanese cuisine at all. So far it ranks the bottom of all Japanese restaurants I have tried...

If you miss the pre-COViD uchida and have avoided supporting them or leave a low star rating because there is no dine-in option… you are missing out on this gem. I was a long time customer who had his early dates (with my now wife) here.. always loved going there for their dine-in experience. I am guilty of not going in the last couple years because of not wanting to takeout the amazing food in portable packaging. I ran into the chef socially in the last couple months and kept saying “I’ll see you soon”.. but today I really pushed myself in using their online ordering system and picking up takeout for a car date with my wife. The number of times I kept saying “wow” as I sat in my car holding the paper box… it’s astounding how much care and love the chef puts into this food. For it to taste this good even in a portable form.. I am embarrassed now to feel that I was waiting for them to resume dine-in to go support this amazing eatery.

Please experience Uchida and let this chef express this talents. As of this review in Nov 2022, you do you have to order online and pickup at their door. Trust me, it’s not the same takeout food you are used to. I ate every grain of rice, not to waste a single element of the meal made...