Uchi Philadelphia

Uchi Philly Is a Japanese Restaurant With a Good Sushi Happy Hour | Eater Philly

"In a spacious, modern dining room with a full bar, an omakase counter, and plush booths, this Center City outpost of a Texas-based Japanese chain—helmed by award-winning chef Tyson Cole—spotlights sushi alongside hot and cold Japanese-style dishes and is already busy, especially at happy hour. While there is straight-up sushi, we found the rice dense and overcooked, so it’s better to stick with Uchi classics like the hama chili (yellowtail sashimi with ponzu and Thai chiles) and the Uchi salad with daikon and cashew pesto. Crowd-pleasers include the hot rock, where you sear a few slices of wagyu yourself and dip them in a good miso-butter sauce, and the fried milk dessert with vanilla custard and salted fudge—don’t skip it. The small-plates format means tons of shareable options, but portions are small. The comfortable room suits pricier dates and celebratory dinners, and the sharing style makes it easy for larger parties; on our visit, several corporate groups were dining. For the best value, hit happy hour between 5 and 6 p.m. for a $10 version of the hama chili, nigiri priced from $6 to $11, and other discounted items." - Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme