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    Uchu Restaurant – Too Weird to Ignore

    By PDX Food Dude Last Update January 15, 2018 22 Comments

    Grand Opening Sign OpenUchu Restaurant is opening, and it’s just too darn weird to ignore. Apparently, it will be covering that tried and true genre of fried chicken and sushi.  They already have a website.

    The concept is so strange, it just might work. I can see going there, especially after a few late-night drinks. From the website:

    Together, this team of talented Portlanders leased a beautiful 2-level open-air space on North Mississippi Avenue and carved out an expansive dream of giant seascapes, rich and substantial reclaimed materials, inspired geometric forms of light & shadow and delicious sustainable seafoods.

    Now, six months later, UCHU is nearly complete.  The culinary team is perfecting broths, fermenting exotic vegetables & inventing new rolls, while bartenders concoct luscious new cocktails.  The aquarists are fine-tuning the 1300 gallon coral reef system & 800 gallon Koi tank and the design/build crew is honing their final details.

    Expect to find yourself delighted by the universe that is UCHU Sushi & Fried Chicken.  This neighborhood friendly business with a passion for the beautiful is sure to become a Portland destination spot for dinner and late-night treats.   UCHU is planning its grand opening for May 15, 2011.

    I used to have a gigantic coral reef tank myself, so I’ll go just for that. However, I’ve been told I don’t have a “passion for the beautiful”, so they might not let me in.

    Uchu will be at 3940 N. Mississippi Ave.

    Related

    Category: Portland Food and Restaurant News and Discussion. Related posts about Uchu Restaurant.

    Previous Post: « Survey 2011: Best Brunch in Portland
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ken H. says

      March 20, 2011 at 7:48 pm

      I foresee 6 months or less of business. Not a lot of late-night action on North Mississippi other than at Prost, and when is the last time you heard of late-night sushi rolls serving as a destination draw? Or aquariums? Or coral reefs?

      But best of luck to ’em!

      Reply
      • Oso says

        January 22, 2016 at 10:51 pm

        Haha, 2016 and they are still here xD my favorite sushi place. I commute from St. John’s just for the ramen and veggie tempura roll.

        Reply
    2. Tommy says

      March 20, 2011 at 7:41 pm

      Gesundheit!

      Reply
    3. John Book says

      March 20, 2011 at 8:17 pm

      If the fried chicken is anything like some of the fried chicken I tried growing up in Honolulu, it will hopefully be incredible. I know some people tend to prefer Korean fried chicken, but anyone who has tried certain types of chicken katsu in bentos will know how good it can be.

      Reply
    4. pdxyogi says

      March 20, 2011 at 8:19 pm

      This is too early for April 1st, right?

      Reply
    5. bdmackinc says

      March 20, 2011 at 10:07 pm

      chicken and sushi makes great sense! chicken can be found outside of these great United States, as well as deep fryers and it seems plausible that they might meet under different circumstances than those set before us by the great Kernal which for whom so many of us have in our pasts bowed humbly before. This communion of great cocktails, food and atmosphere shall be made available into the wee legal hours of the night, I know this.

      Reply
    6. grapedog says

      March 20, 2011 at 9:08 pm

      Ok, Chicken and Waffles sort of makes sense but Chicken and Sushi makes no sense at all. With all the success of “simple food” such as sandwiches and burger/fries, will this concept work? Hmmm….. Actually, the concept of a sushi bar with lots of fish tanks and dark wood and moody music just might work after a night of bar hopping. I hope they will stay open late.

      Reply
    7. extramsg says

      March 20, 2011 at 10:00 pm

      Damn, you, Tommy, you stole my line!

      Food Dude, I note a sarcastic tone, but the concept is actually quite banal. Fried chicken is on just about EVERY sushi menu in town as either chicken karaage or tatsutaage. These are, of course, more like chicken nuggets or chicken tenders than southern-fried chicken, but I’m assuming that’s what we’ll get. And chicken katsu, which is more like chicken-fried chicken is on a majority of menus as well. I’m assuming these are what we’re going to get, or, perhaps, tebasaki, Japanese-style fried chicken wings, which I don’t know is on many, if any, local menus. Usually tebasaki come as grilled/sauteed instead.

      That said, I hold little hope for this place.

      Reply
    8. Bananadan says

      March 20, 2011 at 10:06 pm

      The way Portland menus are going, all they have to do is put an egg on top and we’re right there.

      Reply
    9. Mary Sue says

      March 21, 2011 at 8:25 am

      Fried chicken has been perfected as an art form in South Korea, but Japan’s not far behind in that regard and every izakaya worth its lantern in Japan has chicken karaage on its menu.

      Reply
    10. mary says

      March 21, 2011 at 9:43 am

      I can’t wait. Sounds fun!

      Reply
    11. Food Dude says

      March 21, 2011 at 11:22 am

      Yes, I know chicken is common with Japanese and other Asian foods. I had it last week at a Japanese restaurant, and many times at Biwa. My issue is with the name of the restaurant which people are going to commonly pronounce like a sneeze, and the way the entire project is being presented, which just opens it up to jokes. The writing is so flowery it reminds me of the website we made fun of years ago – in the Dairy Building as I recall. It’s gone now.

      Reply
      • bdmack says

        March 21, 2011 at 9:38 pm

        I would really like to see a sushi joint named “Quality Sushi”, or “Certified Sushi”. The logo to either name being a big checkmark. “Uchu” is at least very short and easy to hack out of wood, and fairly easy to remember. I saw a place on Powell called “Super Sized Sushi”, (or something similar). Has anyone tried it? The name gave me a good laugh.

        Reply
      • Jill-O says

        May 11, 2011 at 8:56 pm

        That restaurant, in the Standard Dairy Building, was called, “Spice” – it went in after Billy Reed’s vacated the premises, another winner, to be sure. ;o)

        Reply
    12. Tim says

      March 21, 2011 at 11:08 am

      Fried chicken in this context makes perfect sense – it’s not strange at all. Karaage specifically is a staple at most Izakaya :)

      I cant wait, open till 2, and less than a block form my apartment…

      Reply
    13. charlotte says

      March 27, 2011 at 9:26 am

      Wow. Being new to Portland, I’d say you are all a BIT TOO serious about fried chicken expectations here! Is this a Portland thing? Just go eat there and shut up until you have.

      Meanwhile, let’s open up a forum to comment on business names. Much easier than actually opening a business!

      Reply
      • sidemeat says

        May 12, 2011 at 4:11 pm

        Welcome to Portland. If you consider any topic more serious
        than fried chicken you may have stumbled into the wrong room.
        Insofar as business names, sidemeat llc has trademarked
        ‘BIT TOO’ because you did not.

        Reply
      • nathaniel says

        May 13, 2011 at 7:32 am

        I hear what your saying, this and other forums are pretty quick to pile on, but here’s the thing… BIT TOO and serious is kind of Portland’s thing. No matter what the topic. And this place sounds kinda weird, it’s like pairing cotton candy and tabouleh.

        Reply
        • polloelastico says

          May 13, 2011 at 8:03 am

          Cotton candy and tabouleh would be considered molecular gastronomy and we would have people admonishing Portland for not “getting it” or willing to pay $275 for a tasting menu.

    14. Rain Panther says

      May 11, 2011 at 10:22 am

      Ok, just in case anyone’s interested in hearing from somebody who has ACTUALLY EATEN THERE, the fried chicken was worth the trip all on its own. Not even getting into the atmosphere (perfect), drinks (solid) and of course the sushi itself (totally tasty). What I’m trying to say is that was some good-ass fried chicken!

      Reply
    15. sam says

      May 15, 2011 at 4:49 pm

      Go eat there before you critisize. Uchu has got to have some of the best flavorful chicken i have ever eaten and the sushi is very different compared to your average sushi jont, it doesnt have just the “average” rolls. The space is awesome the atmosphere is great

      Reply
    16. Ryan Reichert says

      July 24, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      Agreeing with Rain Panther and Sam. Uchu is one of my favorite new places in town. It’s close to my house, has an amazing happy hour menu, a decent selection of rolls (not overwhelming, but sometimes simple and well made and decently priced is what I want), and the batters are great. I really enjoy hanging out there as well – perfect atmosphere for nearly any kind of weather.

      Reply

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