Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Umai

    4.1 (1.2k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 10:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Umai Takeout or Delivery

    Umai Photos

    Business Info

    UMAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Umai

    Recommended Reviews - Umai

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Asahi, Japan
    Betty U.

    I know I should try other Japanese cuisine vendors by me, but I always seem to return to Umai because I just know what I like and I always get what I expect from them. Call me crazy, but I had to get a repeat of the fresh delectable dragon roll, indulgent age dashi tofu, gomae, and pretty & diverse omakase sushi.

    Linh L.

    Was craving something warm and soupy and thankfully this was around the corner from our Airbnb. We ordered beef tongue skewers and the curry udon. First set of skewers were good but second set was ungodly salty. Udon was a little too light for my liking but it satisfied my craving for the time being. Servers were quick and friendly. Cute and cozy spot for some Japanese food.

    Katsu Don
    Jonathan B.

    My family loves going to Umai; however, I'm usually busy when they go, so I finally got to go with them. The food was amazing! I'm usually skeptical of going to sushi places, outside of AYCE, but I got their katsu don and it was delicious! It had crispy pork, egg, mushroom, and tons of flavor. We also got individual nigiri pieces, and they were so fresh. My katsu don came with miso soup and a salad as well; both tasted very fresh. The service was very good. They always checked up on us and made sure our drinks were filled. The ambiance was very clean and looked fancy. I love how you can see the chefs prepare the sushi as well!

    Amy D.

    Cute patio, but definitely at the corner of a bustling (sometimes rowdy) intersection. Our service was good and they never rushed us after we finished our meal, which I appreciate! Overall, Umai's food was average. But I think it's still a good option if you're in the south loop and looking for reliable Japanese food! Hyunjin approves. - AD

    Ariane M.

    My family and I were in the area and saw great reviews about this place and decided to eat here. It was confusing to find at first because there was no sign above their restaurant, but our gps said we were in the right location. Anyways, we were immediately greeted and seated. The restaurant is a decent size, with modern decor. Our waiters were very nice, attentive, and knowledgeable of the menu. All of us ordered different things to share and everything tasted great, leaving us happy and full. Would definitely return whenever visiting Chicago.

    Winter soup and Nabukoyi soup.
    Delmy M.

    Beautiful ambiance, excellent service, and consistently delicious sushi and ramen. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the food comes out fast without feeling rushed. Perfect spot for a pre-concert dinner or a cozy night out. Highly recommend.

    Katsu Kare
    Ves S.

    We came late on a cold weekday and the food hit the spot! It was about 9p and there was still plenty of people. We called ahead just in case but they said reservations are only accepted for parties of 6 or more. We still were seated quickly. We got some ika karaage and white truffle roll to start and also ordered katsu kare and tsukemen both with extra egg. Food came quick! Both the noodles and katsu were "dry" but that was what the sauce is for! The Yelp page said no Apple Pay but they were able to accept at the front.

    Tempura Plate
    Pa Zao L.

    The special rolls can be overwhelming with their unique ingredients so I tend to stray away. Maybe it's because I'm not too adventurous with my sushi special rolls. Their regular/typical sushi rolls are good. Noodle dishes are always a hit. One of my favorite tonkotsu ramen in the city. My friends ordered the karage and it was a generous amount. Umai is always busy. Wait time can vary but I've never waited more than 20 minutes for a table.

    Udon Kare
    David Y.

    food: decent/a little below average in food department. Nothing special & luckily the prices aren't high enough for it to be an issue. A good casual restaurant to bring friends or family to Service: average, a guy puke outside & they still sat him down inside which I feel like the business has the right & should've turned him down in case he was sick Ambiance: I liked the interior, gets busy & loud

    Brooke S.

    There's a reason this place is highly rated! Service was friendly and the restaurant itself was nice. The menu has plenty of options which is nice. We split garlic pork ramen and the broth was so good! The sushi was fresh and good too! Overall, really tasty food!

    Ika karaage and spicy tuna roll
    Cendy H.

    Cute and vibey spot just a few mins from south loop if you don't want the tourist restaurants. The food is pretty reasonably priced and service is attentive. The spicy tuna roll is actually SPICY, beware? It's pretty good though.

    Chicago (half)
    Mark T.

    Oh, Umai... you had a good thing going, but then you went a couple steps too far. Namely on the sugar and salt. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen with black garlic oil and half a Chicago maki roll. The Tonkotsu was solid. The broth was savory, the noodles pleasant, and it was well balanced in terms of veggies. The Chashu pork was middle-of-the-pack, though I do appreciate the layers of meaty and fatty. Overall, it wasn't melt-in-your-mouth, but also wasn't an uninspired piece of boiled meat. Where this bowl of ramen goes wrong is the salt content. Look, I fully understand and realize that by its very nature ramen is salty. However, this specific bowl took is a step too far. When finishing a bowl of ramen, I ordinarily happily slurp up whatever broth remains. In the case of Umai's Tonkotsu, this was impossible. Now, let's talk about the sushi. This Chicago roll had a lot going for it: a generous amount of fish, the stalwart classic avocado and cucumber, and some tempura(ish) stuff for crunch. Unfortunately, they took this classic and ruined it was a heavy handed use of the honey miso sauce. Sweetness in a sushi roll isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it must be done carefully. Here, the overly generous use of an extremely saccharine sauce clashed with anything the roll had going on and overpowered everything. To be fair, I would be open to ordering this one again, providing I can get the honey-miso on the side, or excluded entirely. Finally, the vibe is modern with black, wood, and just the right amount of splashes of color. The service was also appropriately fast and reasonably attentive. Thus, while I am curious to try the spicy ramen, and the Chicago roll without sweet sauce, given the size of Chicago's dining scene - I do not necessarily feel a pull to return.

    Shitake roll and Asparagus tempura roll
    Kirthi D.

    Nice service, great decor (pretty plates) and fresh tasting sushi, sushi rice especially. My friend got the spicy tuna roll and one other. This and the takoyaki had a larger amount of fish than we expected, which we appreciated. Veggie rolls were just ok. Veggie sushi sounds silly but it can be really well done. I've had better. But I'd come back if friends wanted to. I do really want to try the lychee ice cream

    Miso Soup

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 9
    Love this 17
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Delmy M.
    22
    62
    78

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cendy H.
    415
    85
    55

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Peanut B.
    0
    155
    358

    1 year ago

    Had a great first meal in Chicago. Loved the Nabeyaki udon with its variety of fish and veggies. Recommend the sushi here too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah C.
    22
    102
    94

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 30

    Umai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Umai

    Are they all you can eat?

    Nope

    Do they have vegetarian entrees? If so what do you recommend?

    Sweet potato roll is amazing

    Do they serve shirataki noodles/ carb free noodles?

    They do not.

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Japanese 5,167 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Bisous - interior

    Bisous

    4.3(117 reviews)
    1.5 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

    The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

    Photos
    Bisous - Interior bar

    Interior bar

    Bisous - Inside

    Inside

    Bisous - Interior

    See all

    Interior

    Gilt Bar - Chicken parmigiana

    Gilt Bar

    4.3(2.4k reviews)
    1.2 miRiver North, Near North Side
    $$$

    exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

    (Kari's Rating 710)…read more Although I've been here many times before, guilt bar rarely disappoints. It is extremely dark when you're inside almost like a dining room parlor so if you have bad eyes, bring a flashlight. It's relatively loud and the servers are very attentive, refilling water, and checking in on your needs. We started with a round of drinks, including an espresso martini, as well as a Hugo spritz. The espresso martini was nice because it was made for cold brew, which made it actually creamer, which was really great. It's good I mean we also proceed to order the Bronzino as well as the French dip with the side brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts were tangy and sweet with a vinaigrette finish, but they were delightfully, smoky as well. The Bronzino was delicious and very filling, however, I did end up getting a decent amount of tiny bones in the first half which kind of made me slow down in the second half. The French tip was also very large, with four pieces as well as a warm au jus. However, the ratio of meat to bread was slightly off with a little extra, toasted bread, being a little too much. Overall, it was a pretty great dinner, I would definitely come back in a group, but I'm not sure if I would come back alone.

    Photos
    Gilt Bar - Photo Booth

    Photo Booth

    Gilt Bar - Honey Peppered King Salmon

    Honey Peppered King Salmon

    Gilt Bar - Stairs going down to bathrooms

    See all

    Stairs going down to bathrooms

    Brando's Speakeasy - Karaoke bar

    Brando's Speakeasy

    4.0(659 reviews)
    0.4 miThe Loop
    $$

    Such a fun vibe and a great crowd! I went in on a Sunday evening and it was decently packed. The…read morebar itself is dimly lit and moody. There's plenty of booth seating, as well as tall chairs at the bar. Once it was karaoke hour, I put myself on the list and started singing. Everybody is fun about it, whether the performer is conventionally a great singer or not, and I absolutely love it! There was even a group of 4+ girls who sang together on stage, and the energy was so infectious, it got the whole bar yelling the lyrics along with them. Would highly recommend!

    Stopped in with friends and ended up having a much better night than we expected. The place has…read morethis fun mix of old-school charm and lively energy, and it really comes alive once the crowd settles in. What surprised me most was how welcoming the atmosphere felt -- people were cheering each other on during karaoke, and it created this upbeat, easygoing vibe that made the night even better. Drinks were well-made, the music kept the room energized, and there was always something going on that pulled everyone into the moment. Even with the place getting busier later in the night, the staff stayed attentive and kept everything running smoothly without making anyone feel rushed. I also loved how organized the karaoke setup was. Being able to add songs without waiting around made the experience feel seamless, and it helped keep the energy flowing. It's the kind of spot where you can unwind, have a laugh, grab something tasty, and forget about your week for a while. All in all, it turned out to be one of those unexpectedly great nights out. I'd absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, relaxed place to hang out and enjoy some good music and good company.

    Photos
    Brando's Speakeasy - Bar, decor, karaoke monitor

    Bar, decor, karaoke monitor

    Brando's Speakeasy - Interior

    Interior

    Brando's Speakeasy - Cocktails and Conversation

    See all

    Cocktails and Conversation

    The Alderman

    The Alderman

    4.6(54 reviews)
    1.6 miPilsen

    The Alderman has been on my list for quite some time now. I am so excited that I finally was able…read moreto snag a reservation and check it out. If you didn't know, it is located inside of Pilsen Yards. It's a nice small intimate setting, but I loved every single detail about it. If you are not able to sit at the booth, there are four seats at the bar where you can still enjoy the experience. The ambience was amazing. It was nice and cozy, dimly lit, candles everywhere kind of gave a romantic feel in a sense. The art on the wall was like no other. Very bold, vibrant, and told a story. The selection of music was great, It was a vibe the entire time. My bartender's name was Scotty. Scotty was everything. He was so knowledgeable about the drinks. He had amazing suggestions and he could even put a twist on it if you allowed him. He's also very passionate about his craft and it shows once you a taste of the drinks that he prepared. I had such an amazing time. Not only did he prepare a great drink, but he was so personable and checked on everybody throughout the night and made sure everyone was doing OK. I loved it there. I cannot wait to go back another day. This is hands-down one of my favorite speakeasies. What a hidden gem.

    Looking for a sexy spot? You found it here! Come in and get some fire drinks that's all you'll find…read morethough but you know what that's all you need. Enjoy the atmosphere the music the people lovely get it in.

    Photos
    The Alderman
    The Alderman - Old fashions

    Old fashions

    The Alderman - Yeah, we tried a lot of cocktails

    See all

    Yeah, we tried a lot of cocktails

    Umai - japanese - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...