Uchi Philadelphia Is Opening , Bringing Chef Tyson Cole’s Award Winning Japanese Dining Experience to Rittenhouse

On Monday, November 17 at 4 p.m., Uchi Philadelphia — the modern Japanese restaurant from James Beard Award–winning Chef Tyson Cole — will officially open its doors at 1620 Sansom Street, inside the newly constructed Josephine building in Rittenhouse.

The Philly opening marks a major milestone for Hai Hospitality, the Austin-based restaurant group behind Uchi, Uchiko, Uchibā, and Loro. The Rittenhouse location becomes the group’s first on the East Coast, joining an acclaimed roster of restaurants in cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Miami, Scottsdale, and Los Angeles.

Since first opening in Austin in 2003, Uchi — meaning “home” in Japanese — has earned a devoted following for its elegant yet inventive approach to Japanese cuisine. Chef Cole’s philosophy marries traditional technique with contemporary flavor, blending Japanese precision with global ingredients and textures.

Guests at Uchi Philadelphia can expect the restaurant’s signature omakase-style service, which brings the sushi bar experience directly to every table. Menu highlights include:

• Hama Chili — yellowtail sashimi with ponzu and Thai chili, one of Uchi’s most iconic dishes.

• Machi Cure — smoked yellowtail with Marcona almonds, yuca crisp, and Asian pear.

• Hirame Usuzukuri — flounder with candied quinoa and olive oil.

• Kinoko Usuzukuri — seasonal mushrooms with shallot and shiro zu, a vegetarian standout.

• Maguro Goat — bigeye tuna with goat cheese and pumpkin seed, a hallmark of Chef Cole’s signature “perfect bite” concept.

Every dish on the menu reflects Uchi’s balance of refinement and playfulness — a culinary journey that embraces both authenticity and experimentation.

Spanning 4,900 square feet, the restaurant’s design is a collaboration between Hai Hospitality’s in-house Hai Design Studio, Zebra, and Philadelphia’s Rohe Creative. The interior blends Japanese minimalism with warm modern textures, creating an atmosphere that feels simultaneously sleek, intimate, and inviting.

With 148 seats, including an eight-seat bar, 13-seat sushi bar, and a spacious dining room, Uchi Philadelphia offers the kind of sophisticated yet relaxed environment that has become the restaurant’s hallmark.

At the helm of Uchi Philadelphia is Chef de Cuisine Ford Sonnenberg, a 29-year-old Austin native who has been with Hai Hospitality for six years. Sonnenberg, who rose through the ranks without formal culinary training, worked under celebrated chefs in French and Japanese cuisine before joining Uchi in 2019.

“Philadelphia is an incredible city — dense, diverse, and full of culture,” said Sonnenberg. “I’m grateful to bring Uchi’s style of hospitality here, and I hope we can give back to this community through the same sense of care and creativity that defines our food.”

Chef Cole echoed that sentiment:

“The welcome we’ve received from Philadelphia so far has been incredible,” said Cole. “We’re learning every day how vibrant this city’s dining scene is — and how community-driven it feels. We couldn’t be more excited to finally open and be a part of it.”

Uchi Philadelphia will be open Sunday through Thursday from 4–10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4–11 p.m.
Happy Hour will be offered daily from 4–6 p.m.

Reservations are available via Resy, OpenTable, SevenRooms, and directly on Uchi’s website.