Uchu Sushi & Fried Chicken – Restaurant Review
by Veronica Adversalo
When we first heard that a new Japanese restaurant specializing in the surprising combination of sushi and fried chicken was setting up shop in Portland, we knew we had to check it out! Uchu Sushi & Fried Chicken is a bar-type restaurant on North Mississippi Avenue. Catering mostly to the late night crowd, they serve sushi and other Japanese fare – with a bit of a twist.
Inside, Uchu is decorated with dark wood, low lighting and tropical fish tanks. Seating options include individual tables as well as a full bar and additional seating upstairs. Fairly loud music also adds to the ambiance at Uchu, which one reviewer described as “a bit noisy, but cool”, though our group found this made it difficult to hold a conversation.
Uchu’s menu consists of several Japanese favorites, some with a bit of a Thai influence. One of our first dishes was grilled eggplant with a miso and coconut glaze. The coconut mixed with the miso gave this dish a unique, rich but not-too-sweet flavor. We also ordered a pork broth ramen, which contained a variety of veggies and an onsen tamago. Diners commented that the ramen’s flavor was decent, but the broth was a bit on the cold side.
The true stars at Uchu are of course the sushi and the fried chicken. While the nigiri menu features most of your standard sushi options, many of the rolls are original creations that you won’t find anywhere else. Like the grilled eggplant, the Chang Mai and Jungle rolls use Thai-inspired ingredients such as coconut curry and mango to create some seriously delicious sushi. Another favorite was the kakuni roll, filled with simmered pork belly, daikon and hot mustard. As for the chicken, Uchu’s fried chicken is served not as Japanese karaage but southern style, with your choice of wing, thigh, or breast meat. Crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, Uchu’s kitchen definitely knows what it’s doing here!
Service was fast and efficient without being pushy. Our waitress was happy to answer any questions we had about the menu, though she described some dishes as being bigger than they actually turned out to be, particularly the ramen. The menu seemed a bit expensive, though we were all surprised at how affordable our meal actually was once we received our final bill. Several diners said they would visit Uchu again, possibly later in the evening in order to check out the late night vibe.
If you’re in North Portland and looking for an interesting Japanese-inspired dinner or some late-night sushi, Uchu Sushi & Fried Chicken is a unique and delicious option.
Menu Selection – 3.7
Food Quality – 4.3
Service – 4.2
Ambience – 4.2
Value – 3.6
Overall Experience – 4
The Portland Chapter of JETAA (The JET Program Alumni Association) was created to serve the bonds of friendship developed by the program participants. JETAA’s purpose is to achieve, through its activities, a broader and deeper understanding between Japan and the other countries participating in the program.
