It was a long time coming, but Uchiko finally opened its doors in Cherry Creek this week. Although Hai Hospitality had announced this project four years ago, the renovation of the former home of the Ginny Williams Gallery was a massive project.
This restaurant was worth the wait. Uchi means “house” in Japanese, and “Ko” is the affectionate diminutive suffix for a child, and Uchiko is definitely the child of Hai Hospitality’s Uchi, which came to RiNo in 2018. As Gil Asakawa reports, this is a place where diners can feel like they’re relaxing at home while sampling a variety of excellent dishes inspired by Japanese culinary tradition and modern foodways.
While the scene had long anticipated the opening of Uchiko, no one saw the closure of 100 % Agave coming. The Mexican restaurant opened in the Beauvallon back in 2013, then was taken over by new owners in 2024. No word on why it closed so quickly, but here’s a fun fact: Decades ago, this space housed Troy Guard’s first restaurant, Nine75…