Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse

What a fabulous evening dinner we had here outside with our dog. A great cozy spot and the food was fantastic. I went inside to use the bathroom and it looks amazing, large bar area and plenty of tables and smells amazing as they have a wood fired open kitchen. Please don't miss out on this one next time you are in downtown Asheville.

Absolutely incredible. If you want to immerse yourself in an experience of taste & flavor this is the place to be. Our server Jillian was very attentive to our palettes, & never steered us wrong. This was the first night of our honeymoon & she made it the best for us! Between the drinks, food, & dessert she & her coworkers timed each plate perfectly. The atmosphere is clean, cozy, & comfortable. The artwork & aesthetic was beautiful but not loud. Our favorites were the Japanese sweet potato, the pastrami brisket (try it with the vinegar sauce topped with their in house Kimchi), & surprisingly the ribs. Not too sugary or thin like most ribs. Very meaty, with a delicious sauce that paired well with the acidity from the lemon slices. The wagyu took the spot as the favorite for my husband, but for me the chimichurri paired with it was the best I’ve ever tasted. Loved the aromatic flavor, & each ingredient complimented well together. Usually I find it out of portion by having too much vinegar, garlic, etc. The chef has our compliments. To end the night we shared a dark chocolates’mores cake & took a coconut cake home with a few ribs which made the ultimate late night snack as we watched K-pop Demon Hunters. We will be back every time we come to Asheville now!

The food was absolutely amazing! This was definitely out of my comfort zone for food selection but we picked 6 different items to share with my husband and all the food was good! Would definitely eat several plates of the pork dumplings. Only downside was the service. Was extremely slow and we could tell that was only our waiter so assuming service would’ve been better with the other servers. Other than that would definitely go back!

Amazing food, service, food, cocktails, food, ambiance,…and food! We were celebrating our Olivia’s birthday and had a fantastic dining and drinking experience at Ukiah! Loved their takes on traditional dishes and certainly enjoyed the creative libations! The staff gave awesome descriptions of the components in each dish and cocktail which truly added value to each item! Our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Ukiah and we will definitely be back!

Detailed review including tips on ordering from a semi – frequent diner. I’ll echo what other reviewers have noted in that this is a great restaurant for shareable plates. My favorite dish was a surprise to me though. Having been quite a few times, the standout dish for me is the sweet potato. I know that sounds odd with all the beautiful offerings like the scallops and other items available from the smoker, but, sweet potato is a very Japanese staple. When we were in Japan, they had sweet potato vendors that would deliver hot sweet potatoes to your hands out of the back of their trucks! So what makes this sweet potato so special? Certainly it has a bit of sweetness to it, likely a cinnamon sugar, and a nice crisp, but they also top it with the perfect amount of cheese. Not big gooey cheese that you would expect, but a lovely white soft fluffy cheese. It’s incredible. They have managed to balance the savory and the sweet in one beautiful crispy yet soft dish Other standouts include the scallops ( I could swim in that broth) and the mushroom skewers. Don’t neglect the cocktails! Even the breakfast cocktails! We did come for brunch once and the breakfast cocktails and the breakfast offerings were very playful. Is it expensive for what it is? Somewhat. It certainly adds up. $20 for a couple of scallop skewers and $20 for a sake flight will add up quickly. The sweet potato was more reasonable at only $12, and the heirloom tomato salad, which knocked my socks off, was only $14. But, like any tapas or sushi type place where you’re buying lots of little items, it certainly can add up quite quickly. So I usually don’t come here for a drop-in on a Tuesday; we reserve it for special occasions or when we have shows at the theater next-door. Or when we feel like splashing out a little bit. My only complaint is the aforementioned sake flight. I’ve seen other places that provide at least four or five sakes in the flight for the same price. It would be nice to taste more than three. And it would also be nice to have some really creative sakes. One of them, the Snow Maiden, is something that is popular; I’ve been drinking it for years. I would love to see that substituted with a less-known sake. Overall, absolutely a favorite when we are craving small plates, beautifully prepared, with exquisitely balanced flavors. And, we have never had an off-cocktail here. Sometimes people get too creative with cocktails, and the result is a muddle of flavors, but these mixologists know what they are doing.

We stopped in for the ramen that they unfortunately sold out of over the weekend 🥲 However, our server was super sweet and helpful find other things on the menu to try. We settled on the sliced hamachi, smoked ribs, mushroom hot pot and the sweet potato. Everything was amazing! Im not a huge rib fan in general but I would go back and order these in a heartbeat; fall of the bone delicious! Sweet potato was tasty, hamachi was well seasoned and the hot pot had perfectly crunchy rice at the bottom. Topped off with amazingly friendly staff, it was a great night out! Would definitely want to make a return trip next time we're in Asheville!

Jeremy and the other bartender were WONDERFUL! I had the longest week ever and had just arrived in town after a long drive, so my brain was fried and they helped me choose everything, from drinks to bites. Every recommendation was 10/10 outstanding! The dumplings, crispy rice with spicy tuna, and scallops (not pictured) were my favorite, but everything was delicious! Thanks guys!

Atmospheric and a great spot to celebrate. The food is fusion and among the best I have had as an Asian. The smoker dishes are highly recommended, especially the tempura mushroom which was perfectly done. Scallops were excellent and the ginger beer was refreshing. Ramen and wagyu skewers were just okay but overall the experience was outstanding. There is both outdoor and indoor seating and both are great. The decoration is beautiful, the space is clean, and the service is excellent.

All of the dishes we tried were amazing. The fish was fresh and everything popped with flavor. The service was fast and friendly but not rushed. We had time to savor every dish. The food comes out as it's ready. It doesn't all come out at once. The indoor and outdoor spaces were cozy and had a nice warm vibe. I would definitely recommend this place. The food is on the pricy side but you get what you pay for.

We had a nice evening on the patio by the fire. The wagyu skewers were delicious and tender. The Japanese street corn was next level yummy. The service was excellent. Thanks Zander

Beware When Dining with a Large Group... A group of 10 friends and I - longtime foodies who regularly explore Asheville's restaurant scene - recently dined at Ukiah. While the food and cocktails were enjoyable, the overall experience was frustratingly marred by poor communication and surprisingly rigid customer service. When the reservation was made (and later confirmed twice to add guests), there was no mention of any special payment policies for large parties. As is customary at nearly every restaurant in Asheville, the group expected to split the bill individually. However, when the check arrived, it was presented as a single total to one person. The server informed them that the restaurant has a "special way" of handling large parties and offered to get the manager. Unfortunately, the manager arrived with a dismissive attitude and little willingness to find a reasonable solution. She insisted we had been informed about the policy in advance; we had not; and offered only two options: remove the 3% kitchen appreciation fee (added on top of the 20% gratuity for large groups), or split the bill evenly among all 11 diners. This created an obvious issue: those who had only a light meal or no drinks would be paying the same as those who enjoyed full entrées and multiple cocktails. Eventually, the manager agreed to remove any meals that could be paid for with cash before dividing the rest evenly - a compromise that only came after unnecessary stress and friction. As only two of us were able to pay in cash, this resulted in some of the remaining nine women paying considerably more than the price of what they had actually ordered. We were disappointed the inflexible policy, and even more so by the lack of empathy and professionalism displayed by the manager. After dining out together for decades, this was the first time we've ever been treated with such indifference. Sadly, this experience has left a sour taste. We, and I, will not be returning.

We couldn't reach Ukiah by phone but I was obsessed after reading their reviews so we came in person and luckily they seated us. Great success!! Our waiter Alex is HOT and super sweet and extremely accommodating!! I love my sake flight and it pairs so well with the prawn and the hamachi is awesome with all the herbs. They have plenty of gluten free options as well!! It's SOLID. This sweet potato was tasty enough without parmesan which would ruin it. Alex has the best personality and he is a GREAT server.

This was an interesting meal filled with unique flavors that I had not tasted anywhere else. So, it was a good experience/meal. The waiter was great, explained the menu well, and answered all our questions. I ordered the bok choy for my appetizer and the local trout for my entree. The bok choy was incredibly smoky and tasty. The local trout was doused in a buttermilk dashi, a broth that was bursting with flavors that, although new, was extremely delicious. The mushrooms that accompanied the trout were a bit salty but not overpowering so. I ordered a side of rice because I felt that the meal was missing it. Overall, the meal was good. I would revisit to try other dishes!

We had a wonderful experience at Ukiah for my husband's birthday dinner! Excellent vibes, food and service. Alex was our server and he was incredibly attentive and personable. He made sure our dinner felt like a luxury experience. The edamame was fresh and delicious, I loved the vegetable gyoza, and my husband really enjoyed the wagyu skewers, crispy shrimp and tuna tataki. The cocktails were perfect as well. However, the Coconut Cake. Oh my GOD. It was potentially the best dessert we've ever had. It changed us. We haven't stopped talking about it and this was 2 weeks ago. They also made sure to acknowledge our birthday celebrations. We will definitely be returning and dreaming about the Coconut Cake until then!

Amazing Experience! We ordered the tasting menu. Unique and delicious. Ukiah had us at Bonita Flakes! Crazy amazing with dumplings. From shrimp to scallops, chili oil is used in a way I have never once tasted. We loved the rice cakes and the wagyu with onion rings. Honestly, I didn't think we could handle the multiple courses, but we killed it. The coconut cake and ice cream were just insane! The tasting menu is totally worth it.

Down in Asheville for my 50th and as a foodie wanted to choose a hot spot for dinner. Boy was Ukiah the right spot, everything was top notch. Very quaint ambience, and friendly knowledgeable staff. The food was incredible, best smoked brisket I've ever tasted, to go along with a smoked mushroom kitchen. Crispy mushroom bao and goyza were also . Great dinner for any foodie, especially for a date night.

Elegant dining experience with a ton of flavor! The ramen is what we came for, the small plates is what we will be back for. Very large patio for the whole squad to come. The chef gave us a free Toro Crispy Rice because he didn't like how the first one looked. That gives you a sample of the quality you are dealing with.

Superb food served beautifully. Perhaps the best morsels of pork belly I have ever eaten. I'm still thinking about the spicy tuna re-imagined slightly crispy sushi a week after I ate there. We thought about returning to Asheville after hiking in the mountains the next day. I kinda wish we had decided to go back instead of pressing on with our trip. Don't miss this gem of a restaurant. Also, is it a coincidence that the new 2025 King of the Hill's Bobby Hill owns a remarkably similar Japanese/BBQ fusion restaurant? I think not!

All I can say is wow, wow, wow! My son & his wife took me to Ukiah last night for dinner. It was the greatest treat. I admittedly do not have much experience in Japanese food, but after eating here I want to move to Japan, lol. They ordered so many things, each having multiple layers of complexity & taste. We had Bao pork buns, gyoza wrapped meat, unbelievable sweet potato, decadent ribs, pho, & so on. The food was not cheap, but it felt like I was in 20-star Michelin restaurant, hahaha. This place would be a go to place for super special occasions.

We did the sets tasting menu and it didn't disappoint!! Completely stuffed and went home with plenty of leftovers. Chef and team were amazing!

Pork shoulder with kimchi and rye toast points was really good. Wagyu skewer was fatty and chewy - not good. Unagi was exceptional. Bbq carrots and scallop skewers were good, too.Fairly crowded on Saturday night. Multiple servers with quick delivery of items after ordering.

I'm only here to report on the beech mushrooms - beautifully breaded, great portion, absolutely worth ordering. Their mocktails are also fantastic, sourced from a local apothecary-forward company. I really want to love this place, but it's inconsistent. Sometimes the food is too salty, sometimes bland, and other times spot on. It's frustrating because the atmosphere is stunning--it truly transports you to a restaurant in a big city.

Crispy rice with spicy tuna, Pork bao buns, wagyu on a stick, vegetable gyoza and vegetable ramen. Two cocktails and sake flight. Coconut cake for dessert. All were fantastic and staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Had a delightful meal at this new to me restaurant. The service was a little slow, but very kind and polite. The noise level inside was moderate. Due to some issues we ended up sitting at the bar, which was nice. We were able to order a full meal at the bar. Started with the Hamachi, which was absolutely delicious. The flavors were wonderful. The fresh herbs were stunning, all around the perfect balance. The pork belly buns very good. The individual flavors in the sauce worked very well together. Then we moved onto the skewers. The wagyu was a bit overcooked, even though we asked ahead of time if it would be medium rare. The Seabass was perfectly cooked. The brown butter sauce was delicious and I really appreciated the roasted lemon that came alongside the dish. Finally, the dessert, fried mochi with caramelized banana and ice cream, was very well prepared and delicious .

This would have been a 3-star review but we had food poisoning afterwards. Upon further inspection, it seems like others have experienced food poisoning in recent months too after eating here. Overall, the restaurant advertises itself as a Japanese smokehouse, blending Japanese cuisine and southern BBQ. However, I felt it was much heavier on the latter and what it did infuse with Japanese cuisine/techniques was not impressive. We had the hamachi which was fine, but the flavors were nothing to write home about. The karaage chicken was executed well -- liked having both the kewpie mayo and carolina bbq sauce as dipping options. While the mushroom tempura had good flavor - it felt very heavy and greasy - not like the light and airy Japanese tempura I know. The smoked pork shoulder was average - I've had more tender pork. The grilled trout had an unusual grill taste on the skin. It may have been the wood they were using, perhaps, but I wasn't a fan as it really overpowered the fish. And lastly the coconut cake - this was a 5-star dessert - very dense like a pound cake with a hint of cream cheese flavor. Definitely can share for 3-4 people but very good. The service was excellent and the ambience felt cozy.

For those who love tasting menus that are a little bit unconventional, this is the spot for you. My wife and I came here on a trip to Asheville in March and had the best meal. They had a fairly large drink menu - of course with a ton of beers because Asheville - but there were a lot of really fun cocktail options. Both seasonal and regular. One cocktail I got was the Tsukemono (Lunazul Blanco Tequila, gentian liqueur, lemon, house yuzu pickle brine + Scrappy's Firewater Tincture) and it was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. We both went with the more expensive tasting menu and got WAYYY too much food. It was all delicious but some standouts were: -Sea bass on a stick (top 5 fish dish i've ever eaten, so meaty) -Pork and shitake mushroom gyoza -Tuna sashimi -Duck hot pot It was awesome and we would definitely go back next time we're in the area!

After spending hours perusing yelp for dinner tonight, I decided on Ukiah. Everything looked good and people loved it. Hubby picked me up and off we went. We found it no problem, but, could not find any parking. Everything is marked as a tow zone, and, with out of state plates, we were not going to risk it.

The pork belly skewers were the best thing we had- by far. The crispy rice with spicy tuna was excellent and the service was quick and pleasant. We wanted to try something new and were pleasantly surprised!

Last night my daughter and I celebrated her new job and the end of mine as an Early Voting Judge with dinner at Ukiah . It was sad to see the small staff and normally bustling restaurant still waiting for customers to comeback. Trust me they will comeback. What wasn't sad was the quality of service, food and cocktails served with enthusiasm and happiness to "be back" attitude. We went big on the tapas- size portions. My daughter is a pescatarian so we started with the Sashiko Peppers served with a marvelous carrot ginger ponzu - excellent. The next small plate was Crispy Shrimp served with Chili butter and Gorgonzola cheese-Excellent. We then shared the Salmon Sashimi, BBQ Baby Carrots, both excellent. We diverged on the next course - Vegetable Ramen for her and Pork Belly with apple chow-chow for me. All washed down by an awesome gin drink made with my favorite local Chemist gin. My daughter strategically planned on leftovers. Finally we always share a dessert so we converged again after making a tough choice, on the various house-made desserts, to order a Banana Tart served with Banana Bourbon Ice Cream. What the old saying- you scream, I scream we all scream for ice cream!! It was a great way to finish an awesome meal for one of my favorite restaurants in Asheville. Finally kudos to our menu Sherpa - Jill and the team of folks that prepare, cook, mix and serve our food. Like Asheville it's a team of folks bringing the patrons pleasure. Please support our local restaurants and workers.

A fantastic experience all around. The ambiance is cool - very relaxed and also chic but not pretentious. The service was also great - Sela and her counterparts did a fantastic job. Very attentive and helpful. The food was excellent - there's not one thing we didn't enjoy or eat completely. We ordered one thing from almost every section except ramen or the big plates and the 4 of us were full and very happy! The drinks were also yummy. Highly recommend to anyone in the area!

I have been to Ukiah more times than I can count and there is a reason for that. It's consistently a delicious and enjoyable experience. One of my favorite places in town.

We went to Biltmore and stopped by this place since it was near by. Out of everything we got our favorite was the beech mushroom tempura and the crispy pork ribs. I was surprised how good the mushroom was! We were expecting more out of the Seabass dish but it tasted more like cod or trout. The bao needed some sweetness it was on the sour side with the aioli sauce. I like the ramen, egg was well marinated but my husband thought the broth has too much citrusy flavor. Service was great!

Was in the Asheville area for a couple days, decide to try Ukiah that has been on my list for sometime. Walk in at 5pm on weekday, no line. Venkman Highball is a nice twist to Japanese Highball cocktail, I like the house made citrus base soda. Sliced hamachi is good, nice thick cut. It comes with mint, cilantro, and celery leaves! The surprise for me is celery leaf, such an underrated herb that gives so much flavor. Anyone that is used to traditional Japanese sashimi, this dish may not come with wow factor, in fact I may say its ponzu is overpowering, however I do think it is a good dish for anyone that is open to carpaccio type sashimi. I also ordered duck hot pot. Packed with mushrooms, bak choy, slice of duck. Consider the duck dumpling is smaller than regular dumpling size, I would prefer it came with thinner wrap, it is a bit gluey for my taste. Overall it is a nice fusion restaurant, I should be back for its tasting menu.

Very cool looking establishment, reasonably priced with good food. Service was very good and that's always appreciated. The food was good, not mind blowing great. We had the ribs appetizer and each had a bowl of ramen. Just didn't have a lot of flavor but it was good.

So delicious and fun! I took my fiance here for his birthday and he loved it. His favorite thing was the bao buns. Mine was the Enoki mushrooms. Everything was delicious and our server was very kind. It was a fancy yet casual place and I would definitely come back.

Amazing tasting menu! We loved majority of our dishes and it was a nice introduction to all their best sellers. We also opted for the beverage pairing, but I didn't really care for any of the drinks. We liked the sake the best. Started with the shishito peppers and salmon crispy rice--impeccable fusion of flavors. The iceberg wedge salad was a standout, thanks to the delightful sesame dressing. The crispy mushroom boa and seabass yakitori were hits, though the BBQ baby carrots lacked flavor. Japanese sweet potato was my favorite veggie dish with its perfect sweet-savory balance. Grilled mushrooms, though good, took second place to the mushroom boa. The chef's mom's coconut cake recipe and ice cream sealed the deal--a must-try, truly amazing! Our server was great. This kicked off our trip on a nice note. Can't wait to be back again.

Absolutely Incredible! Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse blew me away! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was welcoming and cozy, but it's the food that steals the show. Everything tasted fresh and unmistakably homemade, with so much heart in every bite. The ribs? Absolute perfection. Marinated for 6 days and slow smoked for 10 hours, they were fall-off-the-bone tender with a smoky depth that dreams are made of. Yes, they leaned a bit on the salty side--totally expected for the Southern palate--but the flavor balance was still spot-on. Every bite had me nodding in approval. This place is a must-visit for anyone who loves bold, expertly-crafted flavors with a Japanese twist. Zander was my amazing hostess and she was amazing. I had the Miso, dumpling, and ribs, it was the most expensive meal I've had $110. But was worth it to splurge alittle on my vacation.

This place used to be sooo good. The front staff is still excellent- bartenders and waiters. But the leadership has cut ties with excellence. someone told me they sold to Applebee's which sounds totally crazy but if you go eat at Ukiah the experience will be similar to any chain restaurant. And, whatever you do, do not order the oysters!!! there are many good restaurants in this area: wicked weed brewery, pax Tavern, Tupelo Honey, Bears barbecue, Farm burger, Thai orchid... you name it go anywhere else but Ukiah. Avoid.

5 star experience in Asheville! We had fantastic food, cocktails and service (Zander) at Ukiah. Highly recommend the tasting menu. So much food and a lot of things we may not have tried. Tasting menu started with peppers, hamachi, tempura mushroom (the only dish we wouldn't order again), oysters, tomato and onion salad, wagyu, duck soup, sea bass, zucchini, spare ribs, and homemade coconut cake with coconut ice cream. Truly a special dinner!

Unique concept ... small plates and shareable if you want. Pick two to three plates per person (unless you have a 21 year old athlete at the table .. then 4 to 5 plates). The menu was well designed with different meats and veggies as well as different styles.. skewers, fried with sauces, dumplings/buns, raw, etc. So we picked: 1. Pork bao ... crispy pork with a nice spicy sauce served in a bun. 2. Waygu skewers served with a chili sauce, Wasabi, and chimicharri sauce .. super favorable and tender. 3. Street corn 4. Mini zucchini 5. Karage chicken with a kewpie mayo ... the plate had a lot of chicken, and the mayo was a deep flavor with a kick. 6. Pork belly skewers .. so crispy!!! 7. Rock shrimp ... this was our only negative ... strange combo of flavors that did not go well together. The service was spot on and helpful. We had to park up the street and walk down, but that is typical for Asheville. Theme is Japanese smokehouse, but I would say the menu was only somewhat true to that theme. No matter the food was very good!

Do not sleep on the brisket, dumplings, and coconut cake. Honestly, one of the best meals I've had. I will be returning just for that brisket.

The food, the service, the vibe - all of it was on point!! The food is incredible, great sized portions for sharing with the table, all of the ingredients are fresh, and top tier. The drinks were unique and delicious! Our server was so personable and knowledgeable about the menu. My fiancé and his parents all chose different things to order and share, there wasn't a single thing we ordered that we didn't like! I'd love to go back again when we visit! Hopefully soon.

We shared the lower cost tasting menu early on a Saturday evening. First I had the Purple Rain drink of sake and egg whites and other things--incredibly well balanced. I also had another drink with gin, green pea puree, ginger, lemon. Very interesting and creative. I recommend both. I also greatly appreciate that Yukiah has a terrific THREE delicious mocktails. We found the food to range from very good to excellent with a nice consistency. Service was super friendly. Loved the vibe of the wood beams and the cool bar in the middle of the restaurant. Only quibble with service was two of our courses were served at same time --felt like I was being rushed a bit (and we are not lingerers) I promise! Photos of some of the courses included Very funky wedge salad--underneath it tastes much like the basic salad of lettuce and peanut sauce served at many Japanese restaurants. I would have liked the dressing a little thicker to stick to the leaves more. But great flavor Salmon on crispy rice bed. Never had anything like that crispy rice bed! I thought it was a great texture; would have liked the rice to be a little less to emphasize the salmon more.

I had the Raman and it was very good, very authentic. The drinks are also amazing. Will return to try other plates!

Vibes: bustling but low key; love the wooden tones; bring a friend or the whole crew to sit indoors or on the patio Tasting notes: - Beech tempura: light, airy batter encasing tender, meaty mushrooms; well-balanced flavor between the ranch and onion ash; one of the more unique dishes I've encountered; shareable between two - Bok Choy: excellent char on otherwise crunchy leaves; surprisingly spicy dressing - Sea Bass: incredibly fresh fish with delightfully crispy skin; loved the meat-to-skin ratio; brown butter added just enough warm nuttiness without overwhelming the fragrant yuzu - Duck Hot Pot: deep shoyu flavor but otherwise light broth; loved the variety of "stuff" with each ladle - mushrooms, duck confit, dumplings - South Carolina Pork Shoulder: a choose-your-own-adventure dish; the meat was tender and juicy all by itself; yakiniku sauce is very umami while the bbq sauce is fruity and tangy; absolutely addicted to the crunchy, floral yuzu pickles; kimchi was pleasantly smoky Other thoughts: - free flowing kitchen with a comfortable amount of down time between dishes - above meal was very satisfying for two hungry adults Impression: what a creative, delicious dinner! Would absolutely come back in a heartbeat!

My friend and I took a last minute girls weekend getaway to Asheville and this place was on our list. We didn't have a reservation, but we showed up at 5p and we're immediately seated at the bar. The bartender and service bar tender were amazing. The overall vibe of the place was great, fun and welcoming. We wanted to try a lot of options so we went for the chef tastings (8-12 plates) with pairings. Now to the food and drinks. First course: The Grilled Shishito Peppers with carrot-ginger ponzu. Simple but delicious. It was one of our top 3 favorites. Second course: Beech Mushroom Tempura with tokyo ranch + onion ash. This course was one of my least favorite. It was sort of like a ball of grease in bitter ranch. It may have worked better in smaller fried portions. Third course: Salmon Sashimi in wasabi soy broth + scallions. This course did not quite present like sashimi, the bites were thick and the intended flavors did not come through. Fourth course: Iceberg Wedge with sesame dressing, nashi pear + nori. A nice play on the wedge salad. Flavorful. Fifth course: Duck Hot Pot with duck dumplings, smoked shoyu broth + mushrooms. This dish was very bland with overcooked dumplings. Sixth course: Pork + Shitake Mushroom Gyoza with black pepper ponzu. The course was a little bitter and the fried thing on top was confusing. Seventh course: Wagyu with shiso chimichurri, yuzu kosho, wasabi + sea salt. Another one of our favorites. Flavorful and well cooked. Eight course: Crispy Baby Back Ribs. We were excited for this dish but very underwhelmed. It was salty. Ninth course: Grilled Seasonal Mushrooms with green peas, wasabi, brown butter + ponzu. While this course was flavorful and delicious, the coursing was odd throughout the meal and to have another mushroom course after the meat course was odd. Tenth course: Coconut Cake with house made coconut ice cream. This was the star of the show. The chefs mother has a fabulous recipe. I wish I had it. Very light and delicious. As for the drink pairings it was more of a go with the flow, but a steal for $25. A cocktail, sake, red wine, white wine. If you don't consume alcohol then the mocktails are delicious. I tried one on the menu the Stimulation (Yerba Maté, Wild Kola Nut, Ginger, Cardamom, Wild Sarsaparilla, Star Anise, Fair Trade Sugar Cane Sugar and Vanilla Bean, Celtic Sea Salt + Fever Tree soda water Chai spiced, aromatic & stimulating, this quasi-traditional Coca Cola can boost vital energy without the crash.) and off menu a housemade spicy gingerbeer. While there were some hits and misses, overall it was an enjoyable evening and I recommend stopping by if you're in Asheville.

TOP FIVE MEALS EVER! I still dream about this meal.. it was seriously that good. We got the Tasting Menu with 10 courses. -Grilled Shishito Peppers: perfect way to start the meal, love the charr on these -Beech Mushroom Tempura: I am not a huge mushroom fan, but so much of this menu included mushrooms and I loved every single dish! this was filled with flavor - I no longer want a blooming onion as an app, I want this! -Salmon Sashimi: fresh, melts in your mouth -Iceberg Wedge: a light, crispy touch to the meal -Baby Bok Choy: another light, fresh touch to the meal -Wagyu: tender, delicious -Pork & Shitake Mushroom Gyoza: again, another mushroom based meal - incredibly flavorful -Crispy Baby Back Ribs: fall off the bone - loved the sauce they were in -Duck Hot Pot: a really rich broth with a depth of flavor -Ukiah Ice Cream Sandwich: perfect way to end the meal - light, has a salty sweet balance

Excuse me, Asheville has an AMAZING Japanese fusion restaurant and it is UKIAH! Please do not expect very traditional Japanese food, but if you want something that has a unique Asian flavor (this is coming from someone who LOVES Japanese food) - this is THE PLACE. I feel like they did such a great job of highlighting what makes Japanese cuisine as unique and delicious as it is (Sweet potato? Toro? SHITAKE????) but putting a few added touches to it that still make it taste unlike anything you've ever had but still VERY delicious! Portions were great, pricing was fair, and service was top notch! Can't wait to go back! Please order the Japanese Sweet Potato - something that is so unique and different but actually quite simple and refreshing - you won't regret it!

Came here for the yakitori alone (wanted small bites at the time). The "sticks" were good and unique but quite pricey for what it is and what is given. Got both the chicken thigh and pork belly yakitori - both cooked well and juicy with good flavor. The pickled apples that came with it were a little confusing but actually complimented the meats well. It was real packed when we dined but got seats at the bar with pretty good service. Majority of the patrons got ramen. It's quite interesting to notice when you dine at an Asian restaurant and see no Asian patrons or even staff there.

Ukiah delivered a fabulous wedding dinner and experience for a group of 12 following our small elopement ceremony. I reserved their semi-private dining area and selected the Ukiah tasting menu, which they were graciously able to adapt to accommodate several dietary restrictions. Every dish was incredible, but the standouts were definitely the mushroom tempura and pork shoulder. The service was wonderful, the drinks were creative and delicious -- I couldn't have imagined a more perfect meal to close out a perfect day. Thank you for being a part of our celebration!

Ukiah continues to be a must stop when in Asheville. The Japanese sweet potato and sticky ribs will always be in the order, but you can't really go wrong with any of it. The value is the only thing that will knock it down a star for me. I'm happy to pay for quality products, but appreciate being able to leave full after spending $60/person.

Excellent food and drink in a beautiful setting. We went for an early light dinner and were offered a seat at the bar, which was fine with us. After watching the bartender firing up some smoked old fashioned cocktails, we each ordered one, along with the pork ribs and collards greens to share. Everything was delicious. The collards eat more like a meal than a side of veggies, as they're chock full of smoked pork, bacon and crispy fried onions. Just amazing. The pork ribs are also terrific, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our old fashioned. Service was excellent; prompt, friendly and super hospitable. Well most definitely be back.

Do not pass on this place! They have mastered the perfect blend of tastes and flavors. And don't sleep on brunch - shashuka was out of this world. I mean, ALL the food was so freaking good. And the staff were amazing, kind & quick with service. Will be telling everyone they need to eat here when in Asheville.

Phenomenal food. We did the serving menu and it was lovely. The zucchini was an unexpected hit! I would come back again for sure. The service was lovely, Cam was great!

My husband and I love Ukiah for its tapas-style dining in Asheville. We are usually able to get in without a reservation. The staff are always friendly, and the atmosphere inviting. My go-to cocktail is the Purple Rain, which sets the mood for a relaxing evening. We enjoy sharing dishes like Edamame, pork, and shiitake Gyoza. The flavors are always unique and delicious. Ukiah is our favorite go to spot. Highly recommend!

Tourist trap. The outside of the restaurant and interior are so aesthetically pleasing! The wait staff is very friendly and the cocktails are great. I'm giving 3 stars for the food. If you are looking for some dank Asian fusion tapas, I'd go somewhere else. Flavor was basic and, portions were good, but overall left feeling unenthused and wanting more flavor elsewhere.

We appreciated that the Bartender offered tasty recommendations. It's a tapas menu and as each plate was delivered, the server presented and described the plate. The tuna tataki was exceptional. Great service.