Uchiko Miami Beach — Restaurant in Miami Beach

We came for dinner on Friday and what a treat it was! Our server was Abraham and he was extremely knowledgeable and attentive. Many wait staff came around and talked to us to give us their recommendations and were very friendly. They constantly check on you to ensure you are enjoying your meal and bring out fresh plates constantly.

All of the food was very good. Everything was presented well and had good flavor. If I had 5 must gets I would say:

Hama Chili: We got this multiple times and the flavors were great. Presentation of this dish was very good too

Short Rib: This was probably some of the best short rib I’ve ever tried it was incredible and had good veggies as well

Pork Belly: It was cooked very well but the best part of the dish was the veggies. They tasted immaculate and with the walnuts the plate was basically left spotless

Brussel Sprouts: They were charred with a fish caramel sauce and I’m not usually one that likes Brussel sprouts but I would get them anytime they are cooked like that

Maguro- Big Eye Tuna: A great fresh cut of tuna you can’t go wrong

I would recommend getting the Kabocha as a good palate cleanser it’s basically pumpkin tempura and was very light and crispy

If you want an interactive experience with friends or a date the Hot Rock is a good option as it’s Wagyu that you cook on a rock for 5-10 seconds and is very high quality.

Also the Toro Nuta which was marinated tuna served with pistachios and blueberries was very good just a bit pricy.

The Roasted Lobster was 1 lobster tail for $40 but the soup it was in tasted great; just not sure it’s worth that price tag

In terms of dessert, the S’mores was absolutely #1. It was sort of a Mousse with a chocolate shell and graham cracker crumble w/ ice cream it was great. The cheesecake was a citrus flavor and was good as well along with the milk and cereal. The M & C had little filled balls that reminded me of Taco Bell’s Cinnabon Delights but a with more salt but was still good.

The biggest takeaway: I will never eat sushi the same again because Abraham told us for the Nigiri, to put the protein of the fish on your tongue to get the full flavor of the fish instead of the rice first. It really allowed you to get the flavor of the fish I was shocked. I’ve been to many Omakase’s and have never been told that so I’m very thankful he informed us of this trick and I recommend you do it too.

Parking: it’s valet or if you are lucky enough it’s street parking

Overall incredible meal, great service and ambiance and we will definitely be back! Excited for the...

Recently opened spot in Sunset Harbor.. it’s got a cool, laid-back vibe. Uchiko a spin-off from Uchi in Wynwood (literally translates to ‘child of Chi’ lol), brought over by Chef Tyson Cole from Austin. What’s cool is that you can feel the Japanese roots in the teakwood shutters and open kitchen setup.. apparently can seat ~200 ish people but yet can still feel intimate. Seems like the place to be is the bar.. unless you’re doing a formal dinner date

Menu leans into yakitori grill dishes, with some solid hits and a few misses.. more misses than ideal!

The move is the happy hour—it’s a daily seven-course tasting for two that’s a solid deal and lets you sample the best stuff without breaking the bank. Can also pick a la carte from the happy hour menu.. stand outs are the broccoli (like a Japanese version of the broccoli rabe.. charred and so so tasty!), the mushroom don (probably everyone’s biggest surprise and favorite.. must get with the egg!.

The rolls were solid too.. stand out was the sea bass.. holy moly! Had a macadamia nut paste on top.. next level! For dessert, the milk and cereal dish by famous pastry chef Ariana Quant—fried milk, chocolate mousse, toasted milk ice cream—was interesting. This is their signature dish across all Uchi/Uchiko locations

The coconut ice cream with strawberry glaze was tastier though!

Tips.. Can skip the hearth tastings (though roasted oysters were refreshingly good). The menu’s first few pages with nigiri and sashimi can also be a pass; they’re pricey and don’t deliver much. Stick to the cool and hot tastings, veggies, and maybe the omakase if you’re feeling fancy (they’ve got a 10-course one, plus a customizable somakase)

Overall, Uchiko’s not as polished as Uchi in Wynwood, but for a casual dinner with one other person, it works, especially with the happy hour. But also imagine it was meant...

An unexpected gem tucked away from the South Beach chaos, Uchiko delivers a near-perfect sushi experience that manages to balance innovation with respect for tradition. Walking in, the ambiance struck the perfect note - elegant dark wood interiors with subtle lighting that creates an intimate atmosphere without feeling pretentious. The staff were very sweet (Sabrina and Jo in particular) attentive without hovering, knowledgeable about every item on the menu, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve.

The entire menu was absolutely worth the splurge. Each piece arrived like a miniature work of art, and the progression of flavors was thoughtfully curated. The hamachi with yuzu kosho had just the right kick, while the wagyu nigiri quite literally melted on my tongue. The thin slices of pristine fish cook were mouth-watering.

What impressed me most was their attention to detail - house-made ponzu sauces, freshly grated wasabi (not the powdered stuff), and perfectly seasoned rice (it was one of the highlights) that maintained its integrity without being too firm or falling apart.

One minor quibble: I felt they made us wait longer than necessary for a table outside, there was plenty of room regardless of pending reservations. Definitely not inexpensive, but absolutely worth every penny for a special occasion or when you want to remind yourself what truly exceptional sushi should taste like. Will definitely return on my next...