Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group based in Austin, Texas, announced today the location of its seventh restaurant in Denver, CO. Owner and Executive Chef Tyson Cole’s Uchi Denver, located at 2501 Lawrence Street, will mark the first time the group has opened a restaurant outside of Texas. Hai Hospitality’s current restaurants include Uchi Austin, Uchi Dallas, Uchi Houston, Uchiko, Top Knot; and Loro, which will open later this year in Austin.
The restaurant’s modern Japanese cuisine will meld the best offerings of James Beard award-winning Cole’s original Uchi and second Austin concept, Uchiko. The offerings of Uchi, which translated from Japanese means “house”, will include hot and cool tastings, makimono, yakimono, tempura and, of course, sushi and sashimi. Most dishes such as machi cure – smoked yellowtail served with yucca chips and marcona almonds – and kinoko nabe – mushrooms, rice and egg yolk cooked together tableside in a ceramic bowl – are designed to be shared by the table.
Acclaimed Denver architecture firm, tres birds workshop, will lead the design of Uchi and the surrounding mixed-use development, incorporating elements like a greenhouse and community garden. Award-winning Austin architect, Michael Hsu, who led the design efforts for other restaurants in the Hai Hospitality family, will remain a consultant in the process. Renowned Denver-based developer Westfield Company, Inc. is a partner in the real estate project, S*Park, where Uchi Denver will be located.
“We are excited to open Uchi in such an energetic city with its vibrant culture and evolving food scene,” says Uchi chef and Owner Tyson Cole. “We are always exploring new avenues to expand how we connect with food and the community. Uchi’s proximity to the greenhouse space above the restaurant and the community garden at S*Park presents an amazing opportunity. We fly in fish daily from around the world but relish the chance to work with local farmers.”
Uchi will be in S*Park (Sustainability Park) near Larimer Square, on the edge of the RiNo district at 2501 Lawrence Street. Uchi Denver will present a fresh dining experience for residents and visitors to Curtis Park, one of Denver’s fastest growing urban neighborhoods.