Unlike Uchi, Uchiko isn’t worth crossing town for - Review - Miami - The Infatuation

"The menu at Uchiko is an LSAT’s worth of crudo, sushi, steak, and tempura. Some dishes are respectably filling, others would offend a mouse. This is also true about Uchi, its more famous sister restaurant in Wynwood. The difference is, the payout at Uchiko isn’t as great. The menu here has more misses to navigate around. But it’s a solid spot for happy hour or a casual dinner if you’re not starving. photo credit: Uchiko photo credit: Uchiko photo credit: Uchiko photo credit: Uchiko Pause Unmute Don’t let the rows of big tables fool you, Uchiko is not a smart place for a big group dinner. Uchiko is best experienced at the bar. Even on a Monday, the snazzy green-tiled bar is full of Sunset Harbour residents who’ve taken the elevator down on the hunt for sake, human interaction, and good sushi. Uchiko delivers on that. If you’re sitting down for a proper dinner, there should only be one other person across from you. Skip the first three pages of the menu, where by-the-piece nigiri and sashimi will drive up your tab and offer little in return. Focus on the makimono, the cool and hot tastings, and the vegetables. Stay away from the hearth tastings, where you’ll pay $60 for a six-ounce ribeye that could fit in the palm of a four-year-old’s hand. Even though it can be a maddening restaurant when you order wrong, Uchiko is still a win for the Sunset Harbourists. The sleek dining room works well for a networking dinner and looking hot at the bar while nibbling on sushi rolls—two of the neighborhood’s most cherished pastimes. Food Rundown P-38 It’s a straightforward yellowtail roll, and it’s one of the more filling options you can get here for $17. Order it. photo credit: Richard Casteel Spicy Crunchy Tuna If you like spicy tuna, then you’ll enjoy Uchiko’s rendition. The only thing that differentiates it from every spicy tuna roll within a ten-mile radius is the hint of vinegar from the takuan. PlayMute video credit: Mariana Trabanino Kinoko Remember how we told you to ignore the nigiri and sashimi part of the menu? This is why. This $7 sliver of trumpet mushroom atop sushi rice is like spending $7 on single piece of gum. Not worth the fleeting moment of pleasure. photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Westholme Ribeye This comically small piece of meat is nowhere near the vicinity of being worth $60. But we’ll give it to them for nailing the au poivre. Too bad the experience is so short-lived. photo credit: Uchiko Koviche The lobster has a strange, grainy texture, and it’s lacking the citrus or acid we normally look forward to in a ceviche. Skip this. photo credit: Uchiko Karaage The juicy chicken karaage is just as good here as it is at Uchi. Order it, because it also helps you get full during a meal that’d otherwise consist of delicate little bites. photo credit: Mariana Trabanino Porkbelly We could’ve used about ten more slices of these sweet-glazed pork belly pieces on our plate. Delicious, but gone too fast. PlayMute video credit: Mariana Trabanino Milk And Cereal They’re essentially milk croquettes that pop in your mouth like a water balloon. Get a spoonful with the Cap’n Crunch and chocolate mousse to feel like you’re seven and having sugary cereal for breakfast. photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Mariana Trabanino