If you have been following Vancouver’s Peruvian food scene, you already know Chef Ricardo Valverde.
His Mount Pleasant restaurant, SUYO, earned a Michelin recommendation and became one of the toughest reservations in the city.
Now he is doing it again, this time with a modern Peruvian cevicheria seafood concept in the heart of Chinatown.
UCHU Cevicheria and Raw Bar grand opens on Feb 6 at 158 East Pender Street, in the very space that previously housed Kosoo Pocha & Sai Woo.
The 68-seater is built around a central raw bar and an open kitchen, which immediately tells you where the focus is.
Chef Valverde grew up along the coast of Peru, and the menu here reflects that.
You will find vibrant ceviches, delicate tiraditos, Nikkei-style sushi, and cevicheria classics with a modern approach.
If you want a full experience, the Torre del Mar is a two-course seafood tower that takes you from northern to southern Peru.
There are bigger plates too.
The Jalea Mixta is a generous platter featuring a whole fried sea bream, prawns, calamari, yuca, and smoked aioli.
The Tallarin Saltado is a wok-fired noodle dish with beef tenderloin, rooted in Chifa cuisine, the celebrated fusion of Peruvian and Chinese cooking traditions.
That last dish feels especially fitting given that UCHU sits right in Chinatown.
“This is food that’s bold, fresh, and deeply rooted in Peru’s coastal cooking,” says Chef Ricardo Valverde to Noms Magazine.
“Lots of acid, heat, clean seafood, and vibrant textures. No specific dish to highlight, they will all be great.”
For dessert, there is Arroz con Leche with White Rabbit ice cream and Picarones, which are classic Peruvian street food donuts.
The cocktail program leans into pisco with drinks like the Pisco Sour, the toasted-coconut Agridulce, and the earthy Emolienteros.
There are spirit-free options as well.
The wine list focuses on the Americas, starting with British Columbia and stretching through Peru to the southern reaches of the continent.
The space itself still carries on the original Chinatown details, like exposed beams and red brick, which have been preserved.
The upholstery comes in layered ocean blues, and sand-toned tiles brighten the room.
It is a warm, intimate space that manages to feel coastal without trying too hard.
UCHU now joins other recently opened food spots in Vancouver, like Nine Bar Coffee, Tayybeh, Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 158 East Pender Street, Vancouver, BC