Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Uchi, Uchiko, Uchibā, and Loro, is introducing its first house sake this fall in collaboration with Brooklyn Kura, New York’s pioneering sake brewery. The new release, Better Together, is a Junmai Ginjo set to debut October 1 at Uchi, Uchiko, and Uchibā locations in Texas before rolling out to the group’s restaurants in California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona later this year. It will also be available at Brooklyn Kura’s taproom in Brooklyn.
“Sake has always been part of the dining culture at Uchi,” says Jason Kosmas, Hai Hospitality’s Beverage Director. “Working with Brooklyn Kura on Better Together allowed us to create something that celebrates partnership, hospitality, and the guest experience.”
The collaboration was hands-on. Over two days in New York, Uchi’s culinary and beverage teams joined Brooklyn Kura’s brewers in making koji, the mold that drives sake fermentation. From steaming rice to inoculating it with spores and monitoring the transformation into a starter culture, the teams worked side by side through each step of the brewing process.
The result is a Junmai Ginjo made from U.S.-grown Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 60%. Better Together is described as smooth yet crisp, balancing fruit-forward aromas with a dry finish. Tasting notes include honeydew, orange peel, cherry, puffed rice, mochi, and cream. It can be enjoyed on its own, though it’s designed to pair seamlessly with sushi and Uchi’s signature dishes.
About the Restaurants
Founded in Austin in 2003, Uchi — meaning “home” in Japanese — began in a small red house where Chef Tyson Cole introduced his vision of the “perfect bite.” Its sister concepts followed: Uchiko, with its bold, hearth-driven cooking, and Uchibā, highlighting yakitori, izakaya-inspired plates, ramen, and cocktails. Together they form the Uchi family under Hai Hospitality, known for elevating Japanese dining with creativity and precision.
Where to Find Better Together (Available October 1)
- Texas: Uchi Austin, Uchiko Austin, Uchibā Austin, Uchi Houston, Uchiko Houston, Uchi Dallas, Uchibā Dallas, Uchiko Plano
- Later this year: California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado, Arizona
- Brooklyn Kura Brewery & Taproom, Brooklyn, NY
