Restaurant in Dallas, United States
Ranked dining, counter seats, repeat-visit menu.
Ranked #425 on Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in North America for 2025, Uchi Dallas delivers consistent Japanese-inflected cooking on Maple Ave at a $$$ price point that rewards groups willing to share across the menu. The wine list, with 220 selections at accessible pricing, is worth engaging with. Easy to book on weekdays; plan 2–3 weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Uchi Dallas earns its place on Maple Ave by delivering the kind of Japanese-inflected menu that rewards repeat visits. Ranked #425 on Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in North America for 2025 (up from #426 in 2024), it has built a consistent track record over three consecutive OAD appearances. At a $$$ cuisine price point, you are spending real money here, but the cooking under chef Alex Astranti sits at a level that justifies the outlay for most diners. If you have been once and want to know whether to come back, the answer is yes — especially if you have not yet explored the group-dining format.
The room on Maple Ave is built around the kind of counter-and-table layout that works leading when you think carefully about how you book. The counter positions put you close to the action; tables offer more comfort for larger groups. For a second visit, consider requesting a group table or exploring whether a private arrangement suits your occasion — the difference between a solo counter seat and a full table for four or six is not just spatial, it shapes what you order and how the meal moves. Uchi's format rewards groups who want to work through a range of dishes together, sharing plates across the table and building the meal collaboratively rather than each person ordering independently.
If you are coming with four or more, this is one of the stronger options in Dallas for a group dinner that does not default to a steakhouse. The pacing and format suit occasions where the food is the reason for gathering, not just the backdrop. Compare that to a full table at Tatsu Dallas, which operates at a similar Japanese price tier but with a different structural emphasis. Uchi gives you more flexibility across the menu; Tatsu is more format-driven.
The wine list is rated $$ by Opinionated About Dining, meaning you will find a range of pricing rather than a list skewed toward expensive bottles. With 220 selections and an inventory of 1,300, Wine Director Stephanie Castaneda has built something with genuine breadth. California features prominently. If you are a regular and have not paid attention to the wine list before, it is worth doing on your next visit , the pricing sits at a level where ordering a bottle does not feel punishing.
Friday and Saturday service runs until 11 PM, which gives Uchi Dallas a later close than the 10 PM cutoff on other nights. For a group occasion or a longer dinner where you want to linger, book Friday or Saturday and request a later slot , 8 PM or later lets the room settle and reduces the early-evening rush. If you are booking for two and prefer a quieter atmosphere, a Tuesday or Wednesday at opening (4 PM) gives you the counter at its calmest. Sunday is a reasonable middle ground for a relaxed group dinner without the weekend crowd pressure.
Reservations: Easy to book; plan 1–2 weeks out for weekday tables, 2–3 weeks for weekend evenings or group seatings. Hours: Monday through Thursday and Sunday 4–10 PM; Friday and Saturday 4–11 PM. Budget: $$$ for food; $$ for wine, meaning a dinner with a bottle per couple will land in the $150–$200+ per person range depending on choices. Dress: Smart casual is standard for the price point. Group dining: Well-suited to groups of four to eight; the sharing format works leading with more people at the table. Address: 2817 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75201.
See the comparison section below for how Uchi Dallas sits against the wider Dallas dining field.
For broader context on where Uchi fits in the city's dining scene, see our full Dallas restaurants guide. Other options worth considering on the same night out or for adjacent occasions: Mamani for something different in approach, Avra Dallas if Mediterranean is on the table, and Babel for Lebanese-influenced cooking. If the evening calls for a classic Dallas steakhouse experience, Al Biernat's is the benchmark in that category.
Uchi also has its original location in Austin , see Uchi Austin for a direct comparison if you are visiting both cities. For context on how this level of Japanese cooking compares nationally, Nobu London operates in the same broad genre but at a very different scale and price tier. Among the most demanding fine-dining benchmarks in the US, The French Laundry, Alinea, and Le Bernardin set the national ceiling , Uchi Dallas operates at a different register but with consistent, documented quality.
Beyond restaurants, use our Dallas hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide to plan the full trip.
For weekday tables, 1–2 weeks out is usually sufficient. Weekend evenings , particularly Friday and Saturday , book faster given the later close and higher demand, so aim for 2–3 weeks ahead. Group seatings of six or more should book further out regardless of the day. Uchi Dallas is rated as easy to book overall, so last-minute weekday slots do come available, but do not count on it for a specific occasion.
Japanese-format restaurants at this price tier routinely accommodate dietary needs when flagged at booking , noting restrictions in your reservation gives the kitchen the leading chance to prepare. Contact the restaurant directly before your visit to confirm specific requirements. The menu's structure, which leans on seafood and vegetable preparations alongside protein-forward dishes, gives reasonable flexibility for pescatarians and those avoiding red meat, though the database does not confirm specific accommodations.
Dinner only. Uchi Dallas opens at 4 PM every day and does not serve lunch. Friday and Saturday run until 11 PM, which makes them the leading nights if you want a longer, more relaxed evening. Weeknight dinners at opening time (4 PM) are the calmest option for two people who want a quieter room.
The database does not list specific dishes, so we are not going to fabricate them. What the OAD ranking and the format tell you: lean into the kitchen's Japanese-inflected strengths and let the menu guide you rather than anchoring on a single dish. If you are a returning guest, ask your server what has changed since your last visit , menus at this level shift with the season and the chef's current focus. The wine list is worth engaging with; at $$ pricing with 220 selections, there is room to find something interesting without overspending.
Tei-An is the direct Japanese peer at $$$$ , more izakaya-format, different register, and worth booking if you want to compare the two approaches to Japanese cooking in Dallas. Tatsu Dallas also operates at $$$$ and is more format-driven. If you want to move away from Japanese entirely, Lucia at $$$ is the Italian benchmark in the city and a strong alternative at a similar spend level. Fearing's at $$$$ is the go-to for Southwestern-American and a different experience profile entirely. For something more casual at a lower price point, Cattleack Barbeque at $$ is a different category but one of the strongest options in Dallas if barbecue is on the agenda.
Yes, with some conditions. The OAD ranking gives you confidence that the cooking will perform on the night that matters. The $$$ price point means you are spending enough to feel the occasion without hitting the $$$$ ceiling of Tei-An or Tatsu. For a birthday, anniversary, or business dinner with a food-focused group, Uchi Dallas works well. If you want a private room experience or a fully sequenced tasting menu for the occasion, confirm availability directly with the restaurant before booking, as the database does not detail private dining specifics. For a more traditional fine-dining occasion setting, Fearing's at $$$$ has more of that formal-occasion feel.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uchi Dallas | Sushi - Japanese | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #425 (2025); WINE: Wine Strengths: California Pricing: $$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Selections: 220 Inventory: 1,300 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: American, Steak house Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Stephanie Castaneda General Manager: David Essex Owner: The One Group; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #426 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended (2023) | Easy | — | |
| Fearing's | Southwestern, American | $$$$ | Unknown | — | |
| Lucia | Italian | $$$ | Unknown | — | |
| Tei-An | Izakaya, Japanese | $$$$ | Unknown | — | |
| Tatsu Dallas | Japanese | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Cattleack Barbeque | Barbecue | $$ | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Book 1–2 weeks out for weekday tables and 2–3 weeks for Friday or Saturday evenings, when service runs until 11 PM and demand is higher. Group seatings on weekends warrant the longer lead time. Uchi Dallas is bookable without the extreme advance planning of a tasting-menu-only restaurant, but weekend counter seats go fast.
The venue data does not include specific policy details on dietary accommodations. That said, Japanese-inflected menus at this price tier ($$$) typically allow for communication with the kitchen at the time of booking. check the venue's official channels before your visit if restrictions are a firm requirement rather than a preference.
Dinner is the format here. Uchi Dallas opens at 4 PM daily and does not offer a lunch service, so dinner is your only option. Friday and Saturday extend to 11 PM if you want a later start or a more relaxed pace.
Specific menu items are not documented in the available venue data, so dish-level recommendations would be speculation. What is documented: the cuisine is Japanese-inflected and the price tier sits at $$$, meaning a typical two-course meal runs $66 or more. Ask the counter staff or your server for current highlights when you arrive.
For Japanese specifically, Tei-An and Tatsu Dallas are the closest comparisons in the Dallas market. If you want a counter-driven Japanese experience with a tight focus, Tatsu Dallas is worth weighing directly against Uchi. For a different direction entirely, Lucia offers chef-driven seasonal cooking at a similar commitment level.
Yes, with the right group size and booking approach. The counter is better for two people who want an engaged, kitchen-facing experience; a table works better for parties of four or more. Uchi Dallas is OAD-ranked (#425 in North America in 2025), which gives it a verifiable credential to anchor a celebration. Book a weekend evening if a later finish suits the occasion.
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