New Japanese rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant coming to Plaza Midwood
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Uchibā will open in early 2026 with a rooftop bar and restaurant.
Why it matters: It'll be located above the previously announced Japanese restaurant Uchi in Plaza Midwood's new Commonwealth development.
Context: Uchibā, the sister restaurant of Uchi, has locations in Dallas and Austin and takes inspiration from Japanese izakaya bars, which are casual dives where patrons eat, drink, gather and socialize.
- Uchi is an Austin-based Japanese restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole. It has locations in Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, Philly, West Hollywood and Scottsdale, Arizona, with anticipated openings as well in Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and Newport Beach, California.
Between the lines: Another Charlotte izakaya-style bar is DŌZO, which got so popular its owners are expanding to a larger spot in Dilworth next year.
Dig in: Chef de cuisine Shaun King will lead the kitchen at both Uchibā and Uchi. Uchibā's menu will have small plates like baos, buns, and other shareables. Its Dallas menu, for example, features dumplings, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori skewers.
- Uchi's menu is more sushi-focused with traditional Japanese fare.
What to expect: Uchibā's 2,200-square-foot dining room will seat 38 people, plus another 24 at the bar. Its 1,500-square-foot rooftop seats 60.
- CEO of Hai Hospitality, Tony Montero, describes Uchibā as "more approachable," where diners can choose to sit on the "spacious rooftop or right in front of the action at the bar."
- Hai Hospitality's in-house design team is working with local interior designer Mother Studio to create the izakaya-style.
Stop by: Uchi and Uchibā will open at 1720 Commonwealth Ave., in one of the two revitalized, 100-year-old buildings on site.
Go deeper: The most anticipated new restaurants and bars in Charlotte