Another Michelin 2025 star restaurant, found in Asheville, but a Japanese fusion restaurant called Ukiah (apparently haiku spelled backward -- cute)! The restaurant is just beautiful and seating capacity is great--inside and outside. If weather is nice and permitting outside, you get a beautiful view of the mountains. The interior has a full bar and modern-decor. The menu features lots of creative fusion dishes. I enjoyed the avocado salad more than I expected. Maybe it was the ginger lemon dressing. It's light and filling. The ramen bowls are rich and the miso vegetarian Ramen is much more bold, flavorful than I had expected. The carrots and roots were caramelized with a sweetened hint. The ramen bowls are generous in size. I'm bookmarking this place to come back!!! The waitresses gave us several recommendations and her shows through her service and her recommendations of local shops to explore after our dinner. read more

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My wife and I went to Ukiah twice this week while on vacation from Ohio. Our favorites were the BBQ carrots, crispy mushroom bao, baby back ribs and the brisket. The vibes in the place are great too. The first night we had Jess. Jess is great - took amazing care of us. We did have a couple issues with the way the food came out. The manager got involved, and I have to say they take excellent care of you here. Excellent enough that despite our issues we came back later in the week. Jess wasn't there, so we got Xander and she also took excellent care of us! We explored some new tastes and sat on the patio, enjoying the view. Definitely a place we will return to, next time we are in Asheville. read more

Ukiah - View from the patio - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Ukiah is a gem, its no wonder they got the Michelin recognition for 2025. The eife and I stopped in for our 15th anniversary and had an amazing meal. It's Bourbon Thyme is a fantastic cocktail that paired really well with every item we ate too. We started with the wedge salad, which had. A lovely ginger dressing. The Tuna Tataki is a must, really nice rolled slices or raw tuna with the peppers and the ponzu sauce, truly amazing. The shishito peppers were wonderful and nicely charred with a great dipping sauce. The seabass may have been the tastiest item, the butter sauce and roasted lemon sauce was exceptional. We finished up with the carrots and bbq ribs, which were crispy on the outside but tender as you bit into the rib meat. Service was stellar as expected for any Michelin rated restaurant. I'm def coming back here soon, the bar looks nice and they have nice Ramen bowls and other items I want to try. read more

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Ukiah (or Haiku spelled backwards) is a fusion Japanese smokehouse, so that means you can get sashimi as well as brisket or drink whiskey as well as sake. Since this was our first visit, the tasting menu at $85 seemed like a no brainer. We started off with some salmon sashimi which were cut well but also one of the weaker courses (then again my standards for sashimi are pretty high). The iceberg lettuce salad was simply but also very refreshing and light. Hamachi crispy rice though was a bit heavy. The gyoza was one of the standout courses - the meat filling is smoked and it was one of the most flavorful and delicious dumplings I have had. The fried mushrooms was also very well prepared, while the carrots were ok. The wagyu skewers were another stand out course - perfectly grilled, so tender and flavorful. The scallops skewers were divisive - they were smoked which also seemed to change the texture, so it may not be to everyone's liking, although I really enjoyed it. And the smoked brisket which should have been the star was a bit too salty for my tastes (I would love to try the pork shoulder next time). They gave us 2 desserts for 3 people which was a lot, and the coconut cake was our fave. Drink wise, the sake sampler was a hit, and my rye Manhattan was solid. Overall, Ukiah is a very interesting concept and definitely worth checking out. Some of the dishes could be better, but the standouts were really awesome and made the visit worthwhile! Service is also flawless and the place has a great vibe. read more

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This was a special meal. Every single piece of food and drink they suggested to us was amazing. The ribs were tender and juicy paired with an excellent sake selection. The staff were super helpful and kind. I will be back. read more

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Really enjoyed it, we had the chefs tasting menu, which was amazing value for what you pay. We received ten dishes for a table of two. Overall cocktails were fantastic and the coconut cake was DELICIOUS. the food in the tasting menu varied, we loved the salmon, salad, skewers, mushrooms etc, but the rest was OK. I would come here again, and it is Michelin rated! The food was presented in a beautiful way. Our server was the kindest! read more

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If you're ok with over priced unremarkable food and being treated like crap this is the perfect restaurant for you! The hostess is completely rude and unhinged with her communication skills. I witnessed her treat guests as if they were gum stuck on the bottom of her shoe. For the prices here you think the staff would be kind and courteous to guests. read more

My wife and I travelled to Asheville for 5 nights and ate at restaurants such as Curate, Chestnut, Luminosa, etc... Ukiah was my favoriate out of all of them. The food is the highlight. Everything we had was amazing. The Seabass skewers is FIRE. So good. Service was excellent and the restaurant is very nice. Go to Ukiah! read more

With an unusual menu for food and cocktails, this spot drew us in!! Karaage Chicken, a trendy fried chicken plate of deliciousness is always a must try...and Ukiah did it well. The sliced Hanachi in in ponzu with Serrano peppers was creamy, fresh, with a bit of heat..amazing. Almost everything we had was over the top delicious except for the Pork Belly stick. It was dry and overcooked. The cocktail menu is equally unique and my gin 'So Fresh So Green' was divine..gin, green pea ginger, lemon and scallion tincture. Fresh, bright, and earthy all in one. Perfection!!! read more

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We couldn't reach Ukiah by phone but I was obsessed after reading their reviews so we came in person and luckily they seated us. Great success!! Our waiter Alex is HOT and super sweet and extremely accommodating!! I love my sake flight and it pairs so well with the prawn and the hamachi is awesome with all the herbs. They have plenty of gluten free options as well!! It's SOLID. This sweet potato was tasty enough without parmesan which would ruin it. Alex has the best personality and he is a GREAT server. read more

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Delicious! Loved it all. Drinks, food, ambience. We would certainly eat here again when visiting the area. read more

Ukiah - Edamame starter - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Food was great, especially the wagyu. The cake itself was worth the visit. Everything was fresh and our server was very personable and helpful with recommendations. It's kinda upscale, but many people wore comfortable clothes too so you can dress up or be casual. Worth the visit! read more

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Did not expect to find such a tasty hidden gem in the North Carolina mountains! From the pastrami brisket to the pork belly ramen and shishito peppers, each item on the menu is memorable. Waitstaff are very helpful at sharing honest recommendations and pacing items out throughout the meal. True southern hospitality! read more

Jill was our waitress and she was outstanding! Everything we ordered was fabulous. I wish that there were more Shishido peppers but the we ordered several different things. The roasted cauliflower was amazing. The spicy vegetable Ramen was fantastic. We also got the Karaagi chicken. And we also got some crispy shrimp with blue cheese that was outstanding! For dessert we got the apple tart with the Ube smear, and that was also delicious. Nothing not to like! All of the wait staff was very, very thoughtful, attentive, helpful. They explained each dish! You felt like you were in a Michelin star restaurant. Prices were very reasonable for what we got. As usual, I forgot to take pictures before we devoured everything! But I'm sure there are pictures on the Internet if you wanna see. read more

This was an interesting meal filled with unique flavors that I had not tasted anywhere else. So, it was a good experience/meal. The waiter was great, explained the menu well, and answered all our questions. I ordered the bok choy for my appetizer and the local trout for my entree. The bok choy was incredibly smoky and tasty. The local trout was doused in a buttermilk dashi, a broth that was bursting with flavors that, although new, was extremely delicious. The mushrooms that accompanied the trout were a bit salty but not overpowering so. I ordered a side of rice because I felt that the meal was missing it. Overall, the meal was good. I would revisit to try other dishes! read more

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The last time I went to Ukiah, my friend got the Ramen and I have thought about it many times since. So when I got a craving for Ramen, I knew the destination was Ukiah. It did not disappoint. Large portion filled with pork belly, mushrooms, bok choy, eggs, etc. Great service & cozy ambiance. Cocktails were delicious! read more

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Finally visited after months of walking by all the incredible smells you catch from the sidewalk. The chef tasting menu was outstanding. We were blown away by every course. I appreciate that they were easily able to accommodate my dietary restrictions. You can tell this restaurant has range! Service was excellent and they maintained a great pace through the meal. My favorites were the scallops, hamachi, and brisket. read more

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My favorite thing was the moody vibes of the place. The food was good but everything was either too salty or too citris-y. I think its pretty overpriced but ill support any WNC business happily. Best bang for your buck are the ribs. Service was kinda odd, the sides of veggies we ordered were the very last thing to get delivered to the table ... and at that point we had been done with the main entrees for awhile... read more

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Came here for my birthday dinner and absolutely loved the ambience of their outdoor dining space and creative Asian fusion menu! Dish presentation was definitely a highlight - everything we tried was fantastic and looked stunning! Highly recommend the crispy shrimp with chili butter and gorgonzola, as well as their local burrata with yuzu honey marmalade and grilled roast - yum!! read more

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Our second time here & they did not disappoint. Our favorite dishes were the hamachi, prime rib (10oz), wagyu skewers, and the grilled snapper skewer! The wagyu and snapper skewers specifically is must order! So tender and flavorful. We also got the duck Ramen however I probably would skip that next time just because the other dishes out performed it. We also tried the mushroom dish under vegetables and thought it was just okay. It did taste unique I think I just didn't like that specific type of mushroom. Ambiance here is so nice. Great for date night or family meal and staff is super friendly and helpful. read more

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Japanese and bbq? What more could you want?! Our experience here was wonderful! Let's start with ambiance and service: the ambiance was truly delightful. We were lucky to get a booth that made the feel a little more private; plus they were totally comfy! The service was fantastic. Our server, Michael, was knowledgeable, personable, and helpful. On to the food: we ordered the ribs, spicy vegetable ramen (for me), and the duck ramen (for my husband). The ribs came out first and made for a great first bite! They were tender, sticky, and had those charred pieces that I look for in good bbq! The spicy vegetable ramen was absolutely fantastic and would have warranted 5 stars by itself! I love spicy, especially with pho or ramen. It was the perfect amount of spice! The broth was almost peanut-y. It reminded me of my favorite peanut noodles! On the other hand, my husband's ramen left a lot to be desired. The broth flavor was not fully developed and just lacked depth. Had we not had mine to compare it to, it may have not seemed as bland. Overall, we loved our experience and would certainly come back for the ribs and veggie ramen! read more

Ukiah - Ribs - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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If you give this place anything lower than 5-stars, I'm convinced you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to food. Came here for the V-day tasting menu and it blew my mind! Every single item was excellent, but I particularly enjoyed the crispy rice salmon, the salad, the cauliflower and the mushrooms. Our server, Alex (what a great name), was attentive and knowledgeable and the whole vibe of the place is just cool. 10/10 will go back again read more

Cauliflower was a great option for vegetarians and vegans it's flavorful, light, not too salty and highly recommend it read more

Ukiah - Cauliflower - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Down in Asheville for my 50th and as a foodie wanted to choose a hot spot for dinner. Boy was Ukiah the right spot, everything was top notch. Very quaint ambience, and friendly knowledgeable staff. The food was incredible, best smoked brisket I've ever tasted, to go along with a smoked mushroom kitchen. Crispy mushroom bao and goyza were also . Great dinner for any foodie, especially for a date night. read more

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Quite literally the best food we've ever had! Everything was extremely flavorful, bold, and balanced. The service from Michael was quick and attentive. We also love the laid-back atmosphere. Looking forward to returning someday! read more

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We had a nice evening on the patio by the fire. The wagyu skewers were delicious and tender. The Japanese street corn was next level yummy. The service was excellent. Thanks Zander read more

Ukiah - Upgraded Japanese fusion - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Elegant dining experience with a ton of flavor! The ramen is what we came for, the small plates is what we will be back for. Very large patio for the whole squad to come. The chef gave us a free Toro Crispy Rice because he didn't like how the first one looked. That gives you a sample of the quality you are dealing with. read more

All I can say is wow, wow, wow! My son & his wife took me to Ukiah last night for dinner. It was the greatest treat. I admittedly do not have much experience in Japanese food, but after eating here I want to move to Japan, lol. They ordered so many things, each having multiple layers of complexity & taste. We had Bao pork buns, gyoza wrapped meat, unbelievable sweet potato, decadent ribs, pho, & so on. The food was not cheap, but it felt like I was in 20-star Michelin restaurant, hahaha. This place would be a go to place for super special occasions. read more

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We did the sets tasting menu and it didn't disappoint!! Completely stuffed and went home with plenty of leftovers. Chef and team were amazing! read more

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Pork shoulder with kimchi and rye toast points was really good. Wagyu skewer was fatty and chewy - not good. Unagi was exceptional. Bbq carrots and scallop skewers were good, too.Fairly crowded on Saturday night. Multiple servers with quick delivery of items after ordering. read more

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I couldn't recommend Ukiah highly enough. We came with a large party and had a great time. The food was all delicious - we ordered pastrami, vegetable gyoza, edamame, pork belly skewers, and a bunch of different sushi/sashimi. Our server was Daniel who went above and beyond - we were celebrating a special occasion and he took the time to take, like, 10 photos of us at different angles to make sure we got a good one. read more

Kudos to the staff for being super attentive...they were spot on! Food was pretty darn tasty as well :-)

Superb food served beautifully. Perhaps the best morsels of pork belly I have ever eaten. I'm still thinking about the spicy tuna re-imagined slightly crispy sushi a week after I ate there. We thought about returning to Asheville after hiking in the mountains the next day. I kinda wish we had decided to go back instead of pressing on with our trip. Don't miss this gem of a restaurant. Also, is it a coincidence that the new 2025 King of the Hill's Bobby Hill owns a remarkably similar Japanese/BBQ fusion restaurant? I think not! read more

Ukiah - Bobby Hill has a similar restaurant. He HOPES it's as good as UKIAH. - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Had a delightful meal at this new to me restaurant. The service was a little slow, but very kind and polite. The noise level inside was moderate. Due to some issues we ended up sitting at the bar, which was nice. We were able to order a full meal at the bar. Started with the Hamachi, which was absolutely delicious. The flavors were wonderful. The fresh herbs were stunning, all around the perfect balance. The pork belly buns very good. The individual flavors in the sauce worked very well together. Then we moved onto the skewers. The wagyu was a bit overcooked, even though we asked ahead of time if it would be medium rare. The Seabass was perfectly cooked. The brown butter sauce was delicious and I really appreciated the roasted lemon that came alongside the dish. Finally, the dessert, fried mochi with caramelized banana and ice cream, was very well prepared and delicious . read more

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This would have been a 3-star review but we had food poisoning afterwards. Upon further inspection, it seems like others have experienced food poisoning in recent months too after eating here. Overall, the restaurant advertises itself as a Japanese smokehouse, blending Japanese cuisine and southern BBQ. However, I felt it was much heavier on the latter and what it did infuse with Japanese cuisine/techniques was not impressive. We had the hamachi which was fine, but the flavors were nothing to write home about. The karaage chicken was executed well -- liked having both the kewpie mayo and carolina bbq sauce as dipping options. While the mushroom tempura had good flavor - it felt very heavy and greasy - not like the light and airy Japanese tempura I know. The smoked pork shoulder was average - I've had more tender pork. The grilled trout had an unusual grill taste on the skin. It may have been the wood they were using, perhaps, but I wasn't a fan as it really overpowered the fish. And lastly the coconut cake - this was a 5-star dessert - very dense like a pound cake with a hint of cream cheese flavor. Definitely can share for 3-4 people but very good. The service was excellent and the ambience felt cozy. read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Ukiah for my husband's birthday dinner! Excellent vibes, food and service. Alex was our server and he was incredibly attentive and personable. He made sure our dinner felt like a luxury experience. The edamame was fresh and delicious, I loved the vegetable gyoza, and my husband really enjoyed the wagyu skewers, crispy shrimp and tuna tataki. The cocktails were perfect as well. However, the Coconut Cake. Oh my GOD. It was potentially the best dessert we've ever had. It changed us. We haven't stopped talking about it and this was 2 weeks ago. They also made sure to acknowledge our birthday celebrations. We will definitely be returning and dreaming about the Coconut Cake until then! read more

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Absolutely amazing! We came in from out of town and wanted to try as many dishes as we could so we opted for their Valentine's Day tasting menu. We were a little worried about the portions but by the end of the meal we were pleasantly full. From the avocado salad to the wagyu bites, each dish was unique and delicious in its own way. We had a few of the cocktails (my favorite was the Staff Drink) and they did not disappoint! The ambiance was cozy and even though they had a packed house, it didn't feel crowded. The service was impeccable. Our server, Alex, was kind, attentive and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. I cannot recommend Ukiah enough and I cannot wait to go again! read more

Beware When Dining with a Large Group... A group of 10 friends and I - longtime foodies who regularly explore Asheville's restaurant scene - recently dined at Ukiah. While the food and cocktails were enjoyable, the overall experience was frustratingly marred by poor communication and surprisingly rigid customer service. When the reservation was made (and later confirmed twice to add guests), there was no mention of any special payment policies for large parties. As is customary at nearly every restaurant in Asheville, the group expected to split the bill individually. However, when the check arrived, it was presented as a single total to one person. The server informed them that the restaurant has a "special way" of handling large parties and offered to get the manager. Unfortunately, the manager arrived with a dismissive attitude and little willingness to find a reasonable solution. She insisted we had been informed about the policy in advance; we had not; and offered only two options: remove the 3% kitchen appreciation fee (added on top of the 20% gratuity for large groups), or split the bill evenly among all 11 diners. This created an obvious issue: those who had only a light meal or no drinks would be paying the same as those who enjoyed full entrées and multiple cocktails. Eventually, the manager agreed to remove any meals that could be paid for with cash before dividing the rest evenly - a compromise that only came after unnecessary stress and friction. As only two of us were able to pay in cash, this resulted in some of the remaining nine women paying considerably more than the price of what they had actually ordered. We were disappointed the inflexible policy, and even more so by the lack of empathy and professionalism displayed by the manager. After dining out together for decades, this was the first time we've ever been treated with such indifference. Sadly, this experience has left a sour taste. We, and I, will not be returning. read more

Was in the Asheville area for a couple days, decide to try Ukiah that has been on my list for sometime. Walk in at 5pm on weekday, no line. Venkman Highball is a nice twist to Japanese Highball cocktail, I like the house made citrus base soda. Sliced hamachi is good, nice thick cut. It comes with mint, cilantro, and celery leaves! The surprise for me is celery leaf, such an underrated herb that gives so much flavor. Anyone that is used to traditional Japanese sashimi, this dish may not come with wow factor, in fact I may say its ponzu is overpowering, however I do think it is a good dish for anyone that is open to carpaccio type sashimi. I also ordered duck hot pot. Packed with mushrooms, bak choy, slice of duck. Consider the duck dumpling is smaller than regular dumpling size, I would prefer it came with thinner wrap, it is a bit gluey for my taste. Overall it is a nice fusion restaurant, I should be back for its tasting menu. read more

Ukiah - Duck hot pot - Japanese Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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My wife and I went here for dinner while staying in Weaverville. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The food and drinks are well worth the price point. We both had excellent cocktails to start. The crispy rice salmon and tuna tataki were delicious. Maybe best of all was the s'mores cake. That was one of the best desserts I've had in years. read more