A sad overall update that was due over years of experiencing every other omakase option in the Austin area... Uchi, a once beloved sushi spot for a night out, is now an outdated choice for sushi. It seems uninspired, service has always been either slow or rushed due to the anxiety of the waiters working, and I've had a version of almost everything they offer except better elsewhere. For the price, it's a little cheaper than other omakase options, but not very worth it in the end when you could save up $20-30 extra dollars for a better experience and taste overall. It also seems that management seemed to change or overhaul sometime in 2024? It might be the bane of having a restaurant that has existed in the same area and competing with the likes of esteemed sushi chefs breaking the boundary, but the menu's seasonal bites also are lackluster. Pickled blueberry on an oyster (a past bite, please do not expect that near the time this update is posted) is not that interesting anymore. In reality, going to their sister restaurant Uchiko during happy hour is a better choice and include better desserts most of the time. Oh, and if you're wondering, not much of the staff has any knowledge about wine (which is something I can overlook most of the time, but many other spots have a dedicated sake staff). Not to mention that it is always excessively loud and the walkways are narrow enough to always bother someone if you have to walk to your table or generally get up, it's gotten to be unromantic to eat there. You won't hate the food by any means, but you can definitely find better within 5 miles. read more

Amazing experience, great food!!! Our server, Karen, was so thoughtful and kind. She heard me mention I liked Tuna and it was my birthday so she brought out a tuna roll. Very sweet and tentative but not over the top. 10/10 will be coming back!!! great quality food, the yellowtail sashimi was a favorite, along with the crunchy tuna roll. I don't think you can go wrong with anything though!! read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I can't say enough good things about Uchi - the food, ambiance, and service are all amazing! We took my husband's new collegue there last night and as ususal we had a great time. read more

The small hot dish with mushrooms and rice was so tasty! Service is top notch. Ambiance busy and alive. Decor was modern and bold. Fun and also a good date spot. Everything was top notch. read more

Uchi lives up to the hype. Every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor- especially the chef's specials and nigiri. The service was top-notch, and the vibe felt upscale but still welcoming. A must-visit spot for sushi lovers in Austin. read more

Kubota sake - amazing You can't go wrong asking your waiter or waitress to recommend menu items. We started with sashimi preference, then moved to a yellowtail/brown butter dish that will change your mind on sushi and brown butter being on same plate. Our waitress was Alexus. She was incredible and every recommendation was amazing. 5/5 on yelp, 11/10 on rating read more

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Happy hour everyday 4-6p - yes please. I am not sure what's not to love about Uchi. Is it super expensive? Yes, it is. Happy hour is sooo worth it. This is a special spot with incredible service, impeccable food and next level ambiance. I once showed up with two extra people in my 5 person reservation and what did they do? They asked me to give them 15 minutes to re-arrange some things and I said no problem! I get it, I showed up with extra folks and it's not super easy to get last minute reservations. We hung out in their wait area and got some drinks. They proceeded to send us complimentary apps for making us wait, like what? What a classy, classy move. And we were able to get seated. Zero issues. Not sure if there's another sushi/omakase spot in the Austin area that is "affordable" - There are other affordable, quick sushi places but not like Uchi. I've been to Uchi Denver as well, but we will save this for a different review. read more

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What an excellent restaurant! We were a party of two: I wanted the omakase, and my friend wanted a few specific dishes. Although the omakase is normally for two people, the chef was more than happy two cut the portions in half as much as he was able to, and coordinate the timings of the other dishes with the omakase plates. Everything we tried was wonderful, it is hard to even pick highlights because each dish was unique and delicious in its own way. Additionally, the service was impeccable. We had reserved a table outside, but instead opted for two seats at the sushi bar due to weather. Although the restaurant was extremely busy, both our chef and our server were extremely attentive. Our plates were cleared promptly after finishing, and we never had to wait more than a minute or two between dishes. Additionally, even while doing his prep work, it was easy to ask our chef questions about dishes or order more. Overall, if you're looking for high-quality sushi, you can't go wrong with Uchi read more

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I've been here a couple of times, both during happy hour. The first time was with a good friend, we just decided to grab some sushi and it was the perfect timing since it was during happy hour and we've wanted to try this place out. We ordered a bunch of things, just wanted to try everything and we were pretty happy with what we got! The most recent visit was with bf to celebrate; we made reservations for dinner but figured why not go early for happy hour! They were able to accommodate us and gave us a pretty exclusive seating area towards the back inside so we were able to escape the heat. We did the omakase but didn't want to splurge too much so went for the HH option. Initially we were planning to order beyond the HH but the omakase alone was very fulfilling. Our server David hooked us up with a gifted dish and probably one of the best desserts I've ever had. Wonderful experience, I highly recommend this place. They offer complimentary valet service as well! read more

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First, I loved the space. The environment was intimate but full, and it was clear that care had been taken to minimize the loudness in the space. Second, the staff were all incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Third, the food was fantastic. We did the happy hour omakase, had sake and a cocktail, and added one additional hot tasting. Without hesitation I would recommend the omakase. There was only one instance where the flavor profile and balance was anything but fantastic. Although the snow crab gunkan was lovely, we thought the butter flavor was too forward. Otherwise we were happy to have a chef/team curated meal that was impressive from start to finish. Favorites included the grilled romaine, pork belly, and the many hand rolls/nigiri/sashimi that were delivered. I would eagerly come again read more

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This place was amazing! Our waitress had such a bubbly personality and really pretty curly hair and she knew her sushi! My wife and I were happy that she could build a flight of sushi dishes based on the price range and we ate a lot! The wait was a little long but we were able to sit outside and have some good drinks on an empty stomach! Probably why we wanted to spend a fortune on sushi by the time we got to the table! Sushi is always pricey but this was well worth it! read more

Uchi Austin - Date night - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Enjoyed our experience at uchi as first timers! We came for happy hour on a Friday late afternoon. The restaurant is very dim and has a bit of a cramped feel, but the service is fantastic! We ordered a lot of items off of the happy hour menu and pretty much enjoyed everything! Our favorite was the salmon dish, which had a orange zest taste and a light salty sauce. It was small but so delicious!! Parking is fairly easy here too, and it's in a nice area of town! read more

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This restaurant I adore. Valet parking and quick hosts to seat you. Amazing service all around. Lively atmosphere but lights are dim and it's noise level doesn't get too loud. I absolutely enjoy eating here every time. Anything you get on the menu will be done to perfection. We went for happy hour since it's most affordable then. The waitress was quick to explain everything and while I didn't catch all the dishes' names, they were all beautifully created and tasty with flavor and texture as well as presentation. You'll be glad you came and will be wanting to return as often as you can. A fabulous selection of sake as well. I enjoyed the hot sake Gekkeiken that comes in a vessel and tiny cup to pour. It's best shared so it is consumed hot. There's also a bar to either drink at for a while or just until your table is ready. Inside and outside seating. read more

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Always a great meal with great staff at Uchi. My partner and I have been coming here since the beginning and always leave with a giant smile on our faces. Thanks for doing what you do! read more

Came for a company off-site and decided to book a dinner at Uchi as one of our coworkers had come here before. Couldn't grab a reservation for larger then six so we booked two separate tables. Our table ended up doing omakase and our waitress, who was very nice, recommended some dry and fruity sake (forgot the name of it of course). It was delicious as we had three bottles throughout the night lol. I've had omakase in NYC before so comparing this to that I must say... this was exquisite. Though we are served at a table, each course was delectable and delicious. Started with fresh oysters and worked our way up to some great sashimi and rolls. There was one course of wagyu beef which was outstanding. Inside is well lit, easy to have conversations and the two tables had a chance to visit each other hah. I definitely recommend taking a break from BBQ if you have the time and try this place! read more

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We have been coming to Uchi since 2008 and this was the first time that we experienced poor service from our waiter. I had to goad her into explaining the specials for the night and as I went through the menu, she seemed annoyed that I kept asking her for her suggestions and explanations of new items on the menu. When we asked for the bill, we were surprised to discover that our dealership, Land Rover had in fact paid for the entire bill. My husband asked her if they had also covered her tip and she had the audacity to say that she could always take extra. If Land Rover had not paid our bill, the most she would have gotten from us would have been 15%. That is how dissatisfied we were with her lack of professionalism and attentiveness. The hostess was very nice and when we asked to move to another table due to loudness of the group next to us, she graciously moved us with no issues and we were very grateful. read more

I'm from SoCal , so we have alot of good sushi over there . I didn't come in with any expectations, but damn did this place blow my mind. They have great happy hour so we saved a lot of money with that. You must try their desserts ! There was no sushi that was disappointing either . Definitely would come back if I visit Austin read more

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This is one of the best restaurants in Austin. Second time to Uchi, and this place is fantastic. Both times I've done the ten course Omakase; the first with a group of eight, and this time with my wife. Great service each time. Both times the servers checked to see what we liked/didn't like, and the menu was fantastic each time. There was a great mix of hot and cold, hearty and delicate. Wish I could remember everything! read more

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I've been to the Scottsdale location and absolutely loved my experience, so I was stoked when my friend made reservations for four of us in Austin. We ordered, masu crudo, Kurodai, Hama chili, A5 hot rock, Hama Kama, Sake toro nigiri, Unagi nigiri, hamachi nigiri, Scallop nigiri, Blue fin otoro tuna nigiri, otoro nigiri, uni nigiri, hiramasa karai, and gai lan. Everything was delicious except for the A5. It was so chewy and not tender at all. And the the hot rock in Scottsdale (not the A5) and even that was better than this one. So we were sadly disappointed with that dish, but at least everything else was delish! Every bite of fish, whether raw or not, was fresh, tender, seasoned well, and high quality. We also ordered four desserts: warm banana cake, candy bar, honey toast, and coconut tapioca. Each were scrumptious in their own way! But my favorite was probably the warm banana cake. Service was attentive. read more

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We've been dying to try this place, we were luckily able to get a last minute reservation and we were able to celebrate my fiancé's birthday here. What a meal! From beginning to end, you are greeted with such kindness and amazing customer service. Seriously, the staff were consistently checking in on us and with every dish they placed on our table, they were so descriptive and knew the menu items very well. The greatly detailed descriptions added to the overall experience. We ordered: - Sake Tom Kha - Bluefin Crudo - Hiramasa Crudo - Wagyu Carpaccio - Fried Onigiri - Okonomiyaki - Market Fish Selection (Chef's Choice) - Hotate Gunkan - Toro Handroll - Avocado Nigiri - Umegave Cocktail - Ozeki Sake Everything was so fresh and flavorful, honestly blown away by the quality! They even gave us a free item as a gift for celebrating my fiancé's birthday. The food was so delicious, we honestly didn't want to stop ordering. The prices here are very high and the portions are so small which generally means you will most likely walk out of here still hungry for more. Highly recommend coming during happy hour because of the deals! Will definitely be coming back here since it was so amazing, could not recommend this place enough. But be fully prepared to spend lots of $$$$ :) read more

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This is an amazing place to have happy hour! My friend and I had a reservation at 5:30 (hh time) a We ordered drinks raw and hot dishes all recommended by our waiter! He was extremely helpful and we loved everything he suggested. Altogether, we had six or seven dishes and two drinks each all for 136 dollars! I will definitely be back for happy hour in the future! read more

Eating at Uchi is a spiritual experience. I was able to check out this restaurant for the first time recently and this will not be my last. I got to celebrate my birthday here with friends and loved every minute of it. I highly enjoy the presentation of the food. The wait staff will explain what's in each dish you ordered every time they serve it to you. The menus even has vegetarian options which are equally as tasty. All of the food that they serve is high quality. The fish melts in your mouth and is absolutely incredible. My personal favorite nigiri bites are the scallop and sea bream. This place is very chic and dimly lit. Make sure to make reservations a month in advance. You will have to wait a while even if you do have a reservation but it's absolutely worth it. read more

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My first time eating at Uchi on my birthday was the best decision ever! My husband and I enjoyed everything we had. The best items was the Foie gras, 72 hr gyutoro, Korodai and the Otoro Sashimi for us. Everything sashimi tasted very fresh, on the same level of what you would get in Japan! Our serve Keith was top notch! He explained the menu and what items he recommended. He was very attentive, friendly and updated us on what course was coming out next. The ambience here is very moody with very dim lighting. Not great for pictures so you will definitely need flash photography to up your food pic game. Highly recommended for their taste, quality and service! read more

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I've been told by many of my Texas friends to check out Uchi for good quality sushi, but I've also heard it's overpriced for what you get. I have to agree on the overpriced-for-what-you-get bit, especially since the omakase I tried here was more Asian-fusion-esque rather than nigiri forward. The flavors were great and the fish were all fresh, but the portion size of the fish on the nigiri was on the smaller end. There were also a few courses that were too flavor-forward and masked the taste of the fish rather than enhancing the taste of the fish. Overall, while it didn't live up to the hype, I would consider this a nice spot for happy hour if you can snag reservations ahead of time. Service was also great, and the ambiance was cool and chic but not stuffy. The decor is a nice mix of modern yet traditional. Call me spoiled by the massive selection of traditional omakase in NYC, but I probably won't be back. read more

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I love Uchi- period. However, we typically always go to the Houston location and we haven't been to this here in a long time. It was still good, but... Houston location is better. We ordered: -kinoko nabe- crispy rice with a bunch of different mushrooms. I've had this numerous times but this was super salty(the chef tasted and agreed). Also the ones I've had in the past has the rice cooking to get crispy but the lady you brought it out said- leave it alone for a couple of minutes to get crispy- then immediately starts mixing it! I'm guess the rice really was just put in and it was already made crispy. madai or Japanese Sea Bream is my all time favorite. I've never had it with salt flakes- not a fan- once you picked them off, it was fine. We started with an order of 8 pieces because we are pigs and 6 pieces of the Sake(salmon) lightly sauced with soy-yummy -Akamai, tuna- it was good but a little chewy Madai- it's on the list again because we ordered 6 more pieces with out the salt flakes- it was soooo plain- like the forgot an ingredient like no sauce at all nasu (eggplant), yummy as remembered gyutoro, waygu nigiri- husband swooned Hama chili, as expected Karaage, pork belly, shishito peppers/ not sure I'd spend the money on these 3- husband did say the pork belly was tender but nothing life changing here. The waiter was ok-he never brought my hot tea- oh well- completely ran out of water in the pitcher- and yes, it was a special occasion- our 30th anniversary he didn't ask. I guess the wine was ok but never was asked whether we wanted another. I would have gotten a cocktail as well but was not meant to be. $320's with a 20% tip- I think we could have done better sadly. They do have seating outside but it is hotter than hellfire- be sure to get reservations as we were seated immediately. read more

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Uchi is hands down one of Austin's most deserving top restaurants, and I make it a tradition to come here every year for my birthday because they always make me feel so special. The balance of textures and flavors is truly next level. Kanpachi Crudo, the sweetness of the fish paired perfectly with tangy pickles (3/5) The Walu Walu is always a standout--tender fish with the best yuzu jam (5/5). The Hama Chili was another highlight, combining fresh fish with sweet orange and a subtle chili kick (5/5). The Foie Gunkan was rich and indulgent, a saucy foie gras explosion (5/5). Kinoko Cap (a mushroom-topped sushi roll I devoured too fast), it was a solid 4/5. The Machi Cure remains a favorite--salty yuca chips, smoky fish, fresh pear, and crunchy almonds, all beautifully innovative (5/5). The Wagyu Carpaccio was cheesy and good but didn't quite fit with the other flavors of the night (2/5). For dessert, the Chocolate Bar blew me away with its combination of textures--crunchy, creamy, and indulgent (5/5). I'm already excited for next year! The shareables consistently outshine the nigiri, handrolls, and maki in my opinion. But no matter what I order, it's always a 10/10 birthday dinner. read more

My girlfriend who I never get to see flew into town and we decided to splurge and make a night out of it! Uchi was absolutely amazing! Best sushi we have both ever had. Each bite was better than the last. We did the chefs tasting and we were not disappointed!! I'll definitely be back! read more

Emma was a great server, helping our party of 8 navigate the menu. We shared a variety of hot and cold options, and I love that Uchi has Japanese sea bream nigiri - one of my faves. Restaurant was full and bustling and the outside waiting area tables were also full. It's refreshing when a sushi place has amazing desserts! We enjoyed the banana cake, chocolate candy bar, and Emma brought a honey toast from her. All were soooo good. read more

Great, high quality food. Good ambiance that makes for a great date night or a fun night out with friends. The staff is attentive and food does not take long to arrive. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time as spots fill up quickly. Overall, a great experience! read more

Uchi Austin - hama chili - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We are fans of this Sushi chain (and apparently they're coming to LA!) Tried so many dishes throughout the night but we loved the chicken karage, oysters, sashimi and the rolls! They offer non spirits based cocktails, on top of sake The hubby loved the Foie Gras sushi read more

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Came here for happy hour for a bachelorette party; Uchi has been one of those places I've always wanted to try and it did not disappoint! We didn't know how the happy hour omakase would work, but I'm so glad we chose it. The waiter was a pro, he picked or made dishes that could be split amongst 5 people and made sure we were able to try a little bit of everything. I thought there would be no way we'd be full after but I was pretty full. The dishes were unique but also delicious which I find can be a hit or miss with fine dining restaurants. Everything here was good, fresh, and the flavors worked well. The experience was fantastic and the service was amazing. Also dessert is a must try here, the coconut sago dessert was my favorite! read more

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Another AMAZING experience at uchi. I came here for my partners birthday very eager to explore more of the menu. We had the spicy crunchy tuna roll, sake kari, negitoro, and a lobster specialty roll. All were amazing but the negitoro was by far our favorite. As far as nigiri goes my favorite is the bincho but the sake toro was also packed with flavor. If you're not a huge fan of sushi the karage was again a favorite of ours - incredibly crispy bites of delicious chicken. Of course we saved room for dessert and if you're not getting the banana cake you're doing it wrong! This place has so many delicious options and the service was extremely welcoming. I forgot our waitress's name but she was incredible. This has to be one of my favorite restaurants in Austin! read more

Uchi Austin - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visited Austin for work and went here for a casual dinner with business friends. All around amazing. Food and atmosphere were top notch. We will definitely return when we're back in town. read more

Celebrating a birthday. All of your staff deserve kudos. Service these has gone by the wayside, but your team went well above and beyond. Oh yea and the food was amazing!! Thank you!! read more

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I've wanted to try Uchi for a long time, but have been deterred because many of my Austinite friends have said it's overrated. Well, they were very wrong and we might not be friends anymore since they robbed me of this amazing dining experience for so long! Fine, I don't hate them forever, but I am mad I didn't try Uchi sooner. I'll definitely be back to try happy hour. I was alone, so I sat at the sushi bar. It was such a cool experience. Not only was the curated tasting phenomenal, but I was so entertained by the chefs' seamless cooperation and teamwork. They didn't even discuss their seemingly choreographed dance to create delicious dishes for the entire restaurant, all while choosing the perfect dishes for their assigned sushi counter patrons. Every single course was beautifully prepared and tasted amazing. I can't wait to go back for Happy Hour and with friends so we can try even more of their ever-changing menu. It was $130 for my curated tasting of about 12 courses (I didn't count because I was enjoying the food so much). That's actually not terribly expensive for a tasting menu with such high grade seafood. Check it out if you can! read more

By far, our FAVORITE restaurant while we were in Austin! There's free valet parking so we didn't have to stress about parking. So happy we were able to get a reservation for a Sat night dinner. We were deciding between a la carte or omakase, but we ended up ordering a la carte. Service was great - our server provided SOLID recs and we enjoyed every. single. dish. he recommended. I truly can't recall a dish I didn't enjoy. It was quite cramped and loud inside, but that didn't deter from our experience. We were talking about this meal for the remainder of our trip. Safe to say we're def returning :) read more

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I've heard so many great things about this place and needless to say I wasn't disappointed. Easily one of the best sushi joints in Austin. The service from top to bottoms is unbelievable. Each member of the staff is so attentive and nobody skips a beat. The ambience is warm and welcoming. I had been told it's sooo hard to get a table because they are always booked up, but my fiancé and I were able to get a table fairly quickly at happy hour. We started with cocktails. The Umegave and the Kara Kyuri. Both were fantastic. Since we arrived at happy hour I asked the very amazing server to give us a tasting. So they treated it like omakase. With round after round of the most delicious offerings. Every plate was amazing. We ended with the Pecan Ice Cream Sandwich. I should've got 2! To end, I was throughly amazed and blow away at the level of service and the quality of each dish. read more

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It's a phenomenal place to say the least. The crowd speaks for itself. The food is unlike anything I've experienced in both New York and Austin so far. To note: David Fair (the manager) is a gem. There were some complications associated with the reservation, but he accommodated and stood by his word. Nothing but kudos for him. The food is exquisite. You try foods you would never dream of pairing together and it's a fun activity to talk about with another person. The price tag ($140 a person for the ten course tasting) is a bit hefty, but I think everyone should try this at least once! Cheers! read more

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What a fantastic Sushi restaurant. Each plate was better than the last. The service was amazing and Stephanie my server was phenomenal! Definitely returning soon. read more

First time here and it was quick busy. It's best to make reservation. We ordered somaskase and it was a tasting menu with 10 courses. Somaskase was based on our budget, types of food and dishes that everyone would enjoy. They were accommodating since one of my friends does not eat sashimi or raw seafood so they brought different courses for her. Some of the courses were not the traditional omaskase, but instead they had this green lettuce wrap, mushroom sticky rice bowl, and wagyu nigiri. Overall, it was a good experience, the food was good, but it is on the pricey side. The workers were attentive and it was lively inside the restaurant. read more

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