Hai Hospitality has just announced plans to open Texas-based Uchibā at Mary Brickell Village next spring, bringing their casual izakaya-inspired restaurant and bar to 900 S. Miami Ave. after becoming a major hit in Austin and Dallas. The 3,500-square-foot space will mark the third Miami location for the Austin-based hospitality group, following Uchi in Wynwood (2021) and Uchiko in Miami Beach, which opened earlier this year.
The restaurant, which translates to "Uchi Bar" in Japanese, draws inspiration from traditional izakayas found throughout Japan.
Uchibā photo
Bar-Forward Restaurant Puts Cocktails Center Stage
Unlike its more upscale siblings, Uchibā takes a relaxed approach with Japanese whisky, sake, wine, beer, and cocktails leading the charge. The restaurant, which translates to "Uchi Bar" in Japanese, draws inspiration from traditional izakayas found throughout Japan.The beverage program features drinks like the "Island Heat," which combines Del Maguey Vida mezcal with pineapple, habanero, orgeat, and yuzu honey, and the "Subarashi," blending Mi Campo reposado, Montelobos Joven, and hibiscus-lime agave.
James Beard Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole's menu will feature yakitori, bao, sashimi, daily specials, and a dedicated vegetarian menu, all designed to pair perfectly with the bar selections. While the Miami menu hasn't been released yet, the Texas locations offer dishes such as pork katsu bao with tepache jam and yuzu slaw, wagyu beef yakitori with bulgogi and kimchi, karaage chicken thigh with kimchi caramel, and hirame usuzukuri featuring thinly sliced flounder.
The restaurants also serve dumplings, tempura, and various nigiri selections, with happy hour available daily.
While the Miami menu hasn't been released yet, the Texas locations offer dishes such as pork katsu bao with tepache jam and yuzu slaw and wagyu beef yakitori with bulgogi and kimchi.
Uchibā photo
Vintage Miami Meets Japanese Alley Bar Aesthetic
The Miami location will seat nearly 130 guests across a dining room, a covered patio, a cocktail bar, an eight-seat sushi bar, and an eight-seat lounge. FormGroup, the architecture firm behind Hai Hospitality's other Miami locations, designed the space alongside Senior Interior Designer Kelly Walsh from the company's in-house Hai Design Studio.The design, as the company describes it, blends moody lighting with warm woods and velvets, creating a space where vintage Miami meets Japanese alley bars. Cozy booths, lounge seating, and a glowing central bar aim to encourage conversation over cocktails. "We've been so enthusiastically welcomed into Miami's culinary scene with Uchi and Uchiko, that the timing seemed right to bring our izakaya-inspired concept, Uchibā, to the Brickell community," says Hai Hospitality chief development officer Todd Reppert.
Uchibā currently operates locations in Dallas (since 2018) and Austin (since 2023). The Miami location is set to open in spring 2026.
Uchibā. 900 S. Miami Ave., Space 185, Brickell; uchiba.uchirestaurants.com. Opens spring 2026.
