Diana Martinez, Chef de Cuisine, Uchi Miami
Uchi Miami’s Chef de Cuisine Diana Martinez is a homegrown force, rising from prep cook to the helm of one of the city’s most beloved restaurants. Born to a Honduran mother and Mexican father and raised in Downtown Miami, Martinez developed a culinary voice rooted in connection and community. She joined Uchi Miami at 19 while studying culinary arts at Miami Dade College and quickly moved through the ranks, mentored by the restaurant’s former chef de cuisine and inspired by the culture of collaboration around her. Today, Martinez leads the kitchen with a focus on precision, creativity and warmth, overseeing the execution and evolution of the restaurant’s nontraditional approach to Japanese cuisine. Whether collaborating with celebrated chefs like Ghee Indian Kitchen’s Niven Patel or putting the final touches on a sizzling Kinoko Nabe for a packed house, Martinez is at the forefront of delivering the thoughtful, elevated experience that defines Uchi.