Chock Full of Edible Art: Uchiko, Austin

The American South’s hippest city – Austin, Texas – got a little bit cooler last year with the opening of Uchiko, a contemporary Japanese restaurant that serves up innovative and sustainable food in a warm farmhouse setting.

Just barely a year old, Uchiko has already developed a devoted following and won some major accolades (GQ Magazine called it one of the top ten restaurants in the United States). And for good reason: Chef Tyson Cole has created a menu chock full of edible artwork fashioned from the freshest organic ingredients. Try the diver scallop with tomatillos, kalamata olives, and black limes, or the Brussels-sprouts kimchee with preserved lemon crème fraiche. For dessert, we like the sound of polenta custard with caramel salt. Whatever you order at Uchiko, rest assured it’ll be a brand new experience — and your taste buds will thank you.