Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse

This was an excellent dining experience! The food is so original and I got to try several things I’ve never tasted before. The bruschetta with fresh basil and lemon marmalade was incredible, and the ribs were insanely tender and crispy. I also got the pork belly sticks, and was surprised by the apple chow chow. We got the coconut cake to finish it off, and I wish I could eat it every day. This was one of the best meals I’ve had in Asheville, so unique and crazy flavorful. The service was excellent. Can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu!

First time dining here, have been looking forward to coming here. It definitely exceeded our expectations! Everything was delicious and very well balanced in taste and textures. Service was on point. When we come back to town we want to try more things esp the ramen !

Great food as long as you go into the restaurant knowing just a japanese izakaya / tapas style dining experience. If you just order one or two dishes it might not be worth it. This is a place you have to shell a little bit more money then most to get the full experience. They do have a course menu that you can opt into but everyone needs to participate in the table. So no ala carte and tasting menu combo is available. It was good, but not great. I had to order the duck ramen at the end because i wasnt full by the end of it. This is a place to taste food rather then eat to be filled up. People with bigger appetites beware. You might need to spend a little bit more or order a dish for its portion size and if your initial selections dont do the trick.

If I could give them 10 stars, I would! I took my husband here for his birthday dinner last night, & we definitely felt like we had a culinary experience! The drinks we spectacular & affordable. We did the chef tasting for dinner, & the staff made it like telling a story through food. Our server Jesse G was so personable, animated, made great recommendations, & very attentive to us the entire meal. Okay, so just about the food. We are total foodies, especially on a vacation/for a special occasion like this. We loved unqiue, tasty foods, & occasionally enjoy a more fine dining experience. Our meal at Ukiah was that & more! It was served in 10 small plate courses. They spaced each dish, timed them perfectly, & each dish built on the last in such a way that was truly amazing. Just when we thought the last one was our favorite, the next one was as good or better. The vanilla, almond, coconut cake with house ice cream finisher almost wrecked me lol! I could have licked the plate clean, but I was honestly too full to commit that hard. Every staff member that brought us a dish, refilled our drinks, cleared our table, etc were so friendly. Jesse (funny enough, also my husband's name & same spelling) was one of the best waiter's we've had, but also the kind of person you just want to be friends with after you eat & go hang out at the bar or something. It is definitely a higher end restaurant, but for the experience & service, it is well worth the money! We hope to return some day for sure!

We ordered crispy rice with spicy tuna, crispy mushroom bao, grilled snapper, and duck ramen — and it was an absolute wow. The grilled snapper was the best fish I’ve had in years. Perfectly cooked, juicy — I wanted to eat it slowly so it wouldn’t end. All the dishes were thoughtful, well-balanced, and genuinely delicious. We sat at the bar, and that was a separate kind of pleasure — a very friendly bartender who recommended food, was easy to talk to, and made the evening even better. You could really feel that he knows his stuff and loves what he does. A truly delicious place that you want to come back to. 100% recommended.

I had the best roasted cauliflower in my life. No seriously. It was that good. And it's a vegetable. The pumpkin dish was second best. I'll have to time back next time for the smoked meat and duck ramen

Ukiah is one of those restaurants that truly surprises you from the very first dish. This is not your typical Japanese spot focused on sushi. The food here is elevated, creative, and far more complex than what you normally expect from a Japanese restaurant. My top recommendation: the shareables. They’re the best way to explore the menu and experience the chef’s creativity — every dish is beautifully executed and full of bold, unexpected flavors. We also loved the service. The team was attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience even better. Definitely a must-try in Asheville. Highly recommended!

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!

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.

With an unusual menu for food and cocktails, this spot drew us in!! Karaage Chicken, a trendy fried chicken plate of deliciousness is always a must try...and Ukiah did it well. The sliced Hanachi in in ponzu with Serrano peppers was creamy, fresh, with a bit of heat..amazing. Almost everything we had was over the top delicious except for the Pork Belly stick. It was dry and overcooked. The cocktail menu is equally unique and my gin 'So Fresh So Green' was divine..gin, green pea ginger, lemon and scallion tincture. Fresh, bright, and earthy all in one. Perfection!!!

Japanese and bbq? What more could you want?! Our experience here was wonderful! Let's start with ambiance and service: the ambiance was truly delightful. We were lucky to get a booth that made the feel a little more private; plus they were totally comfy! The service was fantastic. Our server, Michael, was knowledgeable, personable, and helpful. On to the food: we ordered the ribs, spicy vegetable ramen (for me), and the duck ramen (for my husband). The ribs came out first and made for a great first bite! They were tender, sticky, and had those charred pieces that I look for in good bbq! The spicy vegetable ramen was absolutely fantastic and would have warranted 5 stars by itself! I love spicy, especially with pho or ramen. It was the perfect amount of spice! The broth was almost peanut-y. It reminded me of my favorite peanut noodles! On the other hand, my husband's ramen left a lot to be desired. The broth flavor was not fully developed and just lacked depth. Had we not had mine to compare it to, it may have not seemed as bland. Overall, we loved our experience and would certainly come back for the ribs and veggie ramen!

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.

The last time I went to Ukiah, my friend got the Ramen and I have thought about it many times since. So when I got a craving for Ramen, I knew the destination was Ukiah. It did not disappoint. Large portion filled with pork belly, mushrooms, bok choy, eggs, etc. Great service & cozy ambiance. Cocktails were delicious!

Quite literally the best food we've ever had! Everything was extremely flavorful, bold, and balanced. The service from Michael was quick and attentive. We also love the laid-back atmosphere. Looking forward to returning someday!

Finally visited after months of walking by all the incredible smells you catch from the sidewalk. The chef tasting menu was outstanding. We were blown away by every course. I appreciate that they were easily able to accommodate my dietary restrictions. You can tell this restaurant has range! Service was excellent and they maintained a great pace through the meal. My favorites were the scallops, hamachi, and brisket.

My favorite thing was the moody vibes of the place. The food was good but everything was either too salty or too citris-y. I think its pretty overpriced but ill support any WNC business happily. Best bang for your buck are the ribs. Service was kinda odd, the sides of veggies we ordered were the very last thing to get delivered to the table ... and at that point we had been done with the main entrees for awhile...

Came here for my birthday dinner and absolutely loved the ambience of their outdoor dining space and creative Asian fusion menu! Dish presentation was definitely a highlight - everything we tried was fantastic and looked stunning! Highly recommend the crispy shrimp with chili butter and gorgonzola, as well as their local burrata with yuzu honey marmalade and grilled roast - yum!!

Our second time here & they did not disappoint. Our favorite dishes were the hamachi, prime rib (10oz), wagyu skewers, and the grilled snapper skewer! The wagyu and snapper skewers specifically is must order! So tender and flavorful. We also got the duck Ramen however I probably would skip that next time just because the other dishes out performed it. We also tried the mushroom dish under vegetables and thought it was just okay. It did taste unique I think I just didn't like that specific type of mushroom. Ambiance here is so nice. Great for date night or family meal and staff is super friendly and helpful.

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!

If you give this place anything lower than 5-stars, I'm convinced you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to food. Came here for the V-day tasting menu and it blew my mind! Every single item was excellent, but I particularly enjoyed the crispy rice salmon, the salad, the cauliflower and the mushrooms. Our server, Alex (what a great name), was attentive and knowledgeable and the whole vibe of the place is just cool. 10/10 will go back again

We were visiting from Durham and found this place online. We are both foodies and have tried a ton of places in Durham and throughout North Carolina and would both say this is our favorite food we've had in NC in the last 5 years!! Wow everything was insanely delicious, perfectly seasoned and melt in your mouth bites. We have the crispy rice and salmon which was the right amount of crispy rice with melt in your mouth salmon on top, the iceberg lettuce salad was well seasoned with the crispness of the pear and Asian forward dressing, the pork belly bao was tender with probably the best textured bao I've ever had. The star of the night was the mushrooms which were airy and crispy. Wow never thought mushrooms could be so delicious. I'd eat it everyday if I could. We needed the night with the short rib. It's a larger portion compared to the rest of the dishes and well worth the value. For cocktails we each had a dreamsicle (perfect cocktail) and the cherry berry I think which was very refreshing. We can't wait to come back.

Absolutely amazing! We came in from out of town and wanted to try as many dishes as we could so we opted for their Valentine's Day tasting menu. We were a little worried about the portions but by the end of the meal we were pleasantly full. From the avocado salad to the wagyu bites, each dish was unique and delicious in its own way. We had a few of the cocktails (my favorite was the Staff Drink) and they did not disappoint! The ambiance was cozy and even though they had a packed house, it didn't feel crowded. The service was impeccable. Our server, Alex, was kind, attentive and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. I cannot recommend Ukiah enough and I cannot wait to go again!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.