Uchiko Announces Official February 2026 Opening in Cherry Creek North
DENVER, CO – Uchiko, the fire-centric Japanese restaurant concept from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, has officially announced plans to open in Cherry Creek North in February 2026.
Rendering Provided by Uchiko
The restaurant will be located at 299 Fillmore Street inside the iconic black building that previously housed the Ginny Williams Gallery. The adaptive reuse of the former gallery brings Uchiko’s bold culinary approach into a space long associated with boundary-pushing art and design in Denver.
The reimagined space spans more than 7,400 square feet, including a 2,300 square-foot addition with a sunroom defined by timber beams and expressed columns. Seating will total approximately 163 guests across multiple environments, including an intimate bar, a 14-seat sushi bar, a private dining room with a stone fireplace, and a light-filled main dining area. Custom furniture and leather details crafted by Colorado artisans complete the interior.
Uchiko, meaning “child of Uchi,” is Chef Cole’s creative counterpart to his acclaimed Uchi restaurant. While rooted in Japanese technique, the concept places live fire at the center of the experience, with a wood-fired hearth anchoring both the kitchen and the dining room. The Cherry Creek location will introduce this fire-driven approach to Denver in a setting that blends historic character with contemporary design.
Leading the Cherry Creek kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Andres Araujo, who brings a global culinary background shaped by experience at Pujol in Mexico City, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, and Aska in Brooklyn. Araujo also spent five years with the Uchi RiNo team, where he developed the hearth-focused techniques that define Uchiko’s menu. Together, Cole and Araujo aim to balance bold, smoky flavors with clean, precise execution.
The dining experience at Uchiko is designed to feel immersive and tailored. From the moment guests enter the former gallery space, the environment shifts, with fire, movement, and materiality setting the tone. Rough-cut stone, warm walnut, custom leather details, and curated artwork create a space that honors the building’s past while establishing a distinctly modern identity.
The menu is built around exploration and discovery. Imaginative small plates lead into tableside experiences, while hot and cold tastings highlight the hearth’s role through smoking and curing techniques applied to dishes ranging from oysters and sea bass to premium cuts of beef. Each plate is engineered for balance, with careful attention to salt, fat, acid, and heat.
Uchiko’s beverage program will feature Japanese whisky alongside an extensive wine list, sake, spirits, beer, and a rotating selection of seasonal craft cocktails. The cocktail and spirits offerings are designed to complement the bold flavors of the hearth while providing lighter pairings for raw and chilled dishes. A daily happy hour is planned to offer a more approachable entry point into the menu.
With its February 2026 opening, Uchiko’s arrival adds to a growing list of nationally recognized restaurant concepts choosing Cherry Creek North, reflecting continued investment in design-forward hospitality projects across the neighborhood.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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