Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group behind sushi juggernaut Uchi, announced today Uchibā Austin will finally open its doors in the Google Tower (601 W. Second) this summer.
Nearly two years in the offing, Uchibā Austin was announced in the fall of 2021, and originally slated to open in fall 2022. Uchibā, a casual, small-bites-focused offshoot of Tyson Cole’s Uchi, opened its first location upstairs from Uchi Dallas in early 2018. (Uchibā replaced the casual Japanese restaurant Top Knot, with an eye toward being a pre-dinner drinks destination for Uchi diners.)
Uchibā, helmed by Chef de Cuisine Vaidas Imsha, will feature a full bar including an extensive selection of Japanese whiskeys. The menu centers snacky, shared small plates. In addition to classic Uchi and Uchiko favorites like makimono and agemono, Uchibā’s menu will feature bao, buns, and dumplings, perfect pairings of spirits and small bites, and omakase flights of whiskey and agave.
Uchibā Austin’s hours will be Sun.–Thu., 4-10pm and Fri.–Sat. 4-11pm, with happy hour Mon.–Fri., 4-6pm.
This article appears in May 26 • 2023.