Ok. I think I've been here for more than 20times in the last year. I live right cross the street. Most time I came here to a quick lunch. (They serve lunch specials from 11am - 3pm) And I always choose ramen($10) from their lunch menu. it comes with salad, fried dumplings and soup. Recently I came twice in the late afternoon. I tried spicy garlic pork ramen and winter ramen with sliced ribeye. Both are very very good! I slightly prefer the winter ramen. Also ordered the grapefruit beer($7) once. It was very good too. This place is getting more and more popular. Try to make reservation before you visit. read more

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I was not sure whether to give 3 or 4 stars. Loved the ambiance - really relaxing inside area and refreshing outdoor seating area. Thankfully only waited for a few minutes when arriving for a Friday night dinner. Absolutely loved the spicy edamame. All meals should be ordered with this gem of an appetizer. Also ordered the veggie shumai. It was tasty, especially with the sauce, but was no match for the spicy garlic edamame. For my entree I got the Dynamite Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll. Both were excellent quality and I was very pleased. The prices were reasonable. The service was where I was debating 3 stars. While friendly, water refills were not always done timely. Then, at one point they took my water glass and they didn't come back with a new glass for nearly 15 minutes (despite my asking). I'd go there again, just hope the service is a step higher. read more

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It may be more healthful to live a life without Tonkotsu ramen, but I wouldn't advise it. Consisting of a thick stock made from boiling pork bones, fat, and collagen over high heat for many hours, which suffuses the broth with a hearty pork flavor and a creamy consistency that rivals milk, melted butter or gravy (wiki), Tonkotsu is the most comforting variety of Ramen [or soup in general for that matter]. Umai, a newly opened Japanese Restaurant in the South Loop of Chi-Town, puts out what many claim is the best bowl of ramen in the city. Typically, I assume that, the less items on a ramen-ya menu, the better. Yet, Umai has proven otherwise. With a diverse menu including maki rolls, soups and stews, yakitori and donburis, Umai offers a broad spectrum of Japanese cuisine. While the chef's attention may be spread in many directions, the ramen projects a high-level of focus and refinement. Deconstructed Review [Scale of 1 to 5]: Broth - While not the most hearty I've ever had, the Tonkotsu-style broth @ Umai is unique and memorable. The char from the pork chashu added a smoke quality which, when combined with the fatty/creamy elements, made for quite a balanced slurp. Score: 4/5 Condiments - I must say that Umai provided more condiments than I am use to seeing. While they did not disrupt overall flavor, the toppings may have gotten a bit excessive. The addition of corn I have come to expect of Hokkaido-style miso ramen and I don't think it was necessary in this case. The soft-boiled egg was slightly over-cooked in the center but was still tasty. Score: 2.5/5 Pork - Holy Umami! This Chashu style preparation of pork was on another level! These tender slices of pork belly had an even char on the exterior and an infusion of charcoal flavor which extended throughout the entire soup. Score: 5/5 Finishing the entire bowl was definitely my seal of approval...for what it's worth. read more

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Service: Depending on who you get, your experience can be totally different. We had a lady that, although polite, was way less awesome than the guy waiter that waited the table next to ours. He introduced himself, explained the specials of the day, etc. Our lady, not very good at English, just asked, "You know what you want?". What we ordered: Kaki Fried (Fried Oyster): Appetizer. I wish that the breading was more flaky and light than crunchy. Since it was crunchy, the breading fell apart very easily as we ate it. Taste-wise, it wasn't bad. Katsu Kare: Came in a humongous bowl. We were taken back by the portion. Felt like there was 5 lbs of rice in the bowl. The curry is a smooth curry with a light kick. The katsu wasn't bad. Pretty good. Tsukemen: This was very mediocre. I am used to tsukemen broth being thick so that when you dip the ramen into it, it will coat the noodles. The broth was too watery for me. It was salty and just meh. The noodles were hot in the bowl, so they all stuck together and was quite difficult to eat. The pork belly, however, was amazing. Nice layer of fat and had nice grill marks with great charred flavor. Overall, I wasn't pissed about coming here, but I'm not sure I would go back. read more

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My continued hunt for great Ramen in Chicago brought me here. Joined by my grouchy friend after a terrible day at work, a plethora of appetizers and cocktails turned his day around. This place was recommended by him and a few others I know, and I've had it bookmarked for ages now. Overall the meal and the service was great. The food: Wasabi Shumai - definitely has a kick to it... which I should have guessed by the name alone. Loved it. Age Dashi Tofu - interesting textures. As a chopstick novice it was a bit difficult for me, but the pieces I did end up getting in my mouth were great. Pork Shoulder - Definitely recommend this one. Just sad that there were only 2 pieces. The Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen was, of course, great. Not the best I've had but probably the best I've had here in town. I only wish there was a little more of everything in it, the bowl looked a bit bare when it arrived. I totally recommend my fellow Ramen-addicts to try it out. My only complaint were that the cocktails were a little too sweet, but that's probably our fault for ordering the girliest, most colorful cocktails on the menu (Sex and the City style). The service was great, and the outdoor seating was much appreciated on a perfect summer day (which are rare these days). I'll definitely come back! read more

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I'm gluten free and this place went above and beyond to accommodate my gf allergy for takeout. 10/10 food was fresh, good and the price was right. read more

I was brought here by a friend during my stay in Chicago, and this restaurant, hands down, is a new favorite for sushi and noodles. Our dinner started off with "LOLLIPOPS CHICKEN" as the appetizer. They were near perfectly fried and the accompanying mayo dipping sauce was spectacular as it complimented them so well. Following the appetizer, we were given our sushi orders, "NAKED," "MEXICANA," and "DYNAMITE." Their presentation for each dish was brilliant. The Naked was unique as it was not wrapped in traditional rice or seaweed, but cucumbers that offered a slimy and soft texture and taste. The Dynamite, with its sweet potato tempura and kani kana, offered perfect texture and heat. The Mexicana was beautifully decorated as the avocados and fish were an unbeatable combination. After sushi were the noodles. I ordered the Winter Ramen while my accompanying party ordered the Ton Kotsu and Spicy Garlic Pork Ramen. The Winter Ramen was great with soup that looked red but not spicy. It had a mild or close to no heat along with, perfect for my taste buds. I had a spoonful of the Spicy Garlic soup too, and the soup of that was even better than the Winter. I never had a taste of the Ton Kotsu, but according to my friend, she claims it's the best one of all. Umai is a great getaway restaurant for a date, family, or friends. It offers beautiful sushi and the ramen and udon is an extra bonus. The waiters and waitresses are all great. Although there were a couple parties present in addition to the other groups seated at tables, our waitress was always there when needed. Good time. Good vibes. read more

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Full disclosure--two members of our five-person group thought Umai was just good, not great, but the dishes I tried were all excellent. First, I tried the Goosebumps specialty maki roll...the fish was tasty, the sauce on the plate (sriracha) was light but added just a little spice, and each bite was filling. Then my tempura platter showed up, excellent. The shrimp were large and the platter was legitimately a platter...a lot of times Japanese restaurants in the US will give you maybe one shrimp, a few battered onions, a pepper, nothing really large. Umai didn't make that mistake! But my udon kare (pork base) was the winner this fine evening. I recently had a similar dish at Arami in West Town and was greatly disappointed by the flavor of the broth. At Umai, I have found a hearty bowl of noodles to go with enough pork to fill me up, in a bowl that isn't bottomless for only $10 (sorry, I don't like it when the bowl is so massive I have to decide on leftovers when I'm going out after dinner!). Also, I listen to a lot of soulful house music, and I recognized a ton of the music playing inside on this past Saturday night. A couple of folks in my group thought the same udon bowls were just good, but I thought it was great and can't wait to go back! read more

When food is so good that you brave the slush and wind of a winter storm, when it's so stellar that you're thinking about your next bite before you're even done chewing the one before it, when you don't speak because your brain is overloaded with flavor endorphins and you're silently composing a love letter to the chefs... you know you're in the right spot. Umai is not cheap. Know this up front. Paying good money for great sushi however, is not something that I even think too much about because as anyone that's paid a lot for mediocre sushi knows, that's a night ruiner. We ate a lot. One seaweed salad (fresh, tart), two miso soups (steamy, salty), one order of pork dumplings (hot, savory), an order of salmon skin sushi (excellent), spicy tuna, spicy salmon and a spicy eel (all excellent but varying in spice), an order of wonderfully fresh salmon sashimi and splendid tuna sashimi. Add two green teas and you're looking at about $75 before tip. Like I said, not cheap but truly very worth it. The service was so friendly from the hosts to the smiling sushi chefs who bid us sayōnara (see what I did there). Seating is banquette around the perimeter, a sushi bar and a communal table in the middle that would seat a group of say, 10. Next time we go, we're sitting at the sushi bar and If their ramen is as good as Urban Belly's, my wallet is in big, big trouble. read more

Umai - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai is great the food is excellent and the price matches. It's like okay I'll pay that price because it worth it. I liked their Ramen, I wish their broth was a tab it hotter. The flavor of the broth was spot on like what you expect from a pork bone based miso broth. I felt they gave me more than enough noodles to eat and i love their sushi rolls. I liked their Chicago Roll it was wonderful a little salmon, a little white fish and honey miso sauce delicious! I would totally bring a friend there and visit and eat there it was great place to eat. read more

We came here while we were in Chicago (visiting from Milwaukee, WI) and the menu looked good when we were looking for places to eat in Chicago. We walked in right when they opened and there wasn't a wait. We were greeted & seated immediately. I had looked at the menu beforehand so I kind of knew what I was going to order. I had the Japanese BBQ (the Beef Hanger Tender and Shitake Mushroom). I also ordered rice to eat with the Japanese BBQ. I got the tempura shrimp roll also. My husband got the Uni Sashimi and the special (fried ramen with bacon & some other things I can't remember). The food came out fairly quickly. The sushi came out first and it was very good. Then came out the other food - it was fantastic! The Beef Hanger Tender was super tender and the mushrooms were done just right (I ate the mushroom with the rice with the sauce that it came with). It was sooo good...I could kept on eating it day after day. My husband really liked his food as well. I would definitely go back in a heartbeat. read more

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Wide variety of tasty Japanese fare in a beautifully designed and decorated space! They have options from sushi to ramen to Japanese grill items to dipping noodles! There is something for everyone here. My table ordered the Beef a Tongue Skewers, Shrimp ShuMai, and the Shrimp Tempura Roll for starters. Then the Miso Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Dipping Ramen, Winter Melon Ramen, and the Sukiyaki for entrees. To finish off this wonderful meal we got the Green Tea Creme Brûlée and the Black Sesame Ice cream. The Shrimp Tempura and ShuMai were both very fresh, the Beef Tongue Skewers were tender and came with a great sauce! All of the ramen broths were very delicious and the noodles had a wonderful texture. The Sukiyaki was big enough for two people and was very filling! The Green Tea Creme Brûlée had such a great green tea flavor and the sesame in the ice cream was incredible! read more

Umai - Sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tsukemen Ramen. Yes! Spicy Pork Ramen. Yes! Pork Belly...don't leave without it. It melts in your mouth. Sushi. yes! Make reservations, parking is somewhat tight. Staff is friendly and attentive. Cool spot, deff and great date night or friends dinner. Can't wait to eat here next time I'm in town! read more

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Solid sushi spot in South Loop! Been here 3 times and no complaints as the sushi is pretty good and service has been stellar. I've had the following and they are all good! Spicy Tuna Naked Maki Caterpillar Roll Spicy Shrimp Tempura Seaweed Salad Spicy Hamachi Escolar (sashimi) Unagi (sashimi) Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen Ton Kotsu Ramen (Chef Recommended) They get pretty packed around noon and later in the evenings so to be on the safe side you may want to reserve. If you live in the building, they will deliver to you. read more

Bad service waitress,wait a dragon roll for 20mins and no apologies.no soy sauce for the sushi until I ask

Absolutely love Umai. Friendly service and great food at decent prices for the city. I like my food spicy, so one of my favorite things to order is the spicy roasted garlic pork ramen! Definitely will clear up any sinus or congestion on a cold day! Big portion, generous with noodles and toppings and love the fat ratio on the pork belly. When I'm craving sashimi, I order the chirashi donburi bowl. Generous amount of different types sashimi with side toppings sitting atop a bowl of rice. Awesome deal for the buck! Stay away from the surf n' turf sushi roll. The raw beef in conjunction with the raw fish just does not work. read more

Umai - Chirashi Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai is a perfect little date night spot in the South Loop area. I've been here twice after walking around the city all day. The first time I was here it was raining really hard and it was incredibly cozy looking out into the world while eating delicious food. My second time here was a couple of weeks ago and we had a chance to sit outside on their patio - probably one of our last outdoor dining experiences this year :( I forgot what I had my first time around, but after looking through my Yelp photos I realized that I ordered the same thing both times, which I find hilarious. I had one of Chef's specialities - SukiYaki which is thinly sliced beef loin, with shirataki noodles, mushroom, grilled tofu, and a delicious sukiyaki sauce. It's so good that I might have to order it again when I go back to Umai. We also had a couple simple but very fresh sushi rolls that are priced fairly good. I like everything about this place - from the food/service to the nice decor that's not overdone or boring. As I said before, the prices are fair, considering Umai's location and how excellent their food tastes. My fiancé loved the food as well and we both agree that it's full of flavor and different than most Japanese restaurants we've been to. I love exploring and checking out new cafes and restaurants, but it's also nice to have a place you can go back to over and over again and know that it will be consistent and enjoyable. Umai happens to be that one place for me and I can't wait to eat there again! read more

Umai - Sukiyaki - SO GOOD! - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A lovely slice of Japan just south of LaSalle station...Umai is Oh my! From Tako Su (Octopus) appetizer to Ton Katsu (pork broth, pork belly ramen) and Katsu Kare (pork cutlet and curry sauce over rice, a delightful treat. And so much more to explore on the menu. read more

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Umai has become a go to spot for sushi in the south loop! I'm a bit of a sushi snob (hate sushi loaded w sauces or anything that involves cream cheese w/ sushi) so I was pleased with the menu choices at Umai. Both times I've been here I've ordered the tekka don (tuna sashimi over sushi rice). The tuna sashimi is very fresh and sliced perfectly, unlike some places where the slices are a bit mushy. The sushi rice has just the perfect amount of rice wine vinegar accompanied with Japanese veggies. They also serve uni here which is also very fresh but a lil on the pricier side $6/piece for nigiri or sashimi...but uni is so damn tasty I gotta order it whenever I get the chance! They also serve some hot dishes as well. My sister ordered the ramen and they also offer the usual kitchen items such as tempura and chicken teriyaki. I recommend making your reservation via open table to get some extra points as well. Great place to go for dinner! If you typically head to south coast for sushi I'd recommend trying Umai bc I think their overall quality in sushi is better than south coast. read more

Umai - uni aka sea urchin nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been here twice and both times had a good experience. It's a great restaurant to go to if you're watching a movie at Showplace Icon and looking for a place to eat since there aren't many food options near the theater. The first time I went there, I ordered the Katsu Kare. The portion was huge; I could only finish half of it. Hardly any of the Japanese restaurants I've been to serve Katsu Kare so I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the menu. I thought the curry had good flavor. It's definitely a comfort dish. Most recently, I ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen - spicy miso ground pork, wakame seaweed, fish cake, half boiled egg, Japanese leeks, braised pork belly and garlic chips. The broth had great flavor and the pork was cooked perfectly. I highly recommend it for people that love ramen. Overall, Umai has great food. It's a good option if you're in the area and craving Japanese food. read more

Umai - Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately I don't. Asked for entree vegetarian options and they could only scramble up one which wasn't good. The curry was very potent with lack of flavor, more just spices dumped into one to make brown sauce. I really wanted ramen or noodles but they don't have miso broth or noodles available. The only think i really liked was the potstickers! I would want more veggie options or atleast miso base without meat read more

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Best curry Katsu for a cheap price I've had. Ambient and modern atmosphere, efficient waiters, lots of options for food. Ramen is also decent. read more

Maybe I was just insanely hungry when I went, but I wanted to try everything on the menu. They have all my favorite winter comfort Japanese food dishes and the prices are extremely reasonable. Some things they offer here are kind of hard to find in Chicago elsewhere, like katsu don. On my first visit, my friend wanted to come explicitly so we could split katsudon (and y'know, whatever else on the menu). But as soon as I saw the list of homey specialty dishes, I was so torn on our other choices... Buta no kakuni! Sukiyaki! Ramens! Tsukemen! We ended up with lollipop chicken app, katsudon of course, and the winter ramen. I've really lowered my expectation of ramen in Chicago after trying most of the specialty shops known for it... but this was damn good ramen. The ribeye was tender, and the broth was bold and rich and full of deep flavor. Good chewy noodles, too, which shouldn't be hard to find but ...sighhh Chicago... Lollipop chicken is like karaage (usually fried nuggets of thigh meat or something), but they were cleaned lollipop drumsticks instead. Really well marinated and tender, fried to a nice crisp. Good appetizer. Katsudon was kind of a letdown... the sauce was just not the right kind of dashi-based soy that makes the dish so homey to us. And there were mushrooms in it that seemed like would add a ton of the umami, but were really bland and ...mushy in texture. Idk. Not a winner, unfortunately. Going elsewhere to satisfy our katsudon cravings, but I really would love to come back and try more harder to find homey Japanese dishes. read more

This place is one of the best authentic Japanese food restaurant in the states. I went there alone which was a terrible mistake since they had so many menus I that wanted to try out. Kat su don, sa ke don, advocado&salmon rolls, ramen...all my favorites... I chose sa ke don which is a bowl of rice with fresh salmon on top along with a tb of wasabi, ginger and radish. It was actually as good as the one I tried in Japan! It would've been tastier if the rice was seasoned as they used plain white rice whereas the other sa ke dons I tried had seasoned rice. However the salmon was amazingly fresh and thick! And it was also aesthetically pleasing which I haven't expected at all. A little over priced but still worth it. read more

Umai - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Umai doesn't limit itself to sushi, so they have some interesting menu options that set them apart from other Chicago restaurants with sushi offerings. The three rolls we tried were really good and the Udon Kare, a heaping bowl of curry udon noodles, was unique and delicious. Just be sure to wear a bib! ;) To drink, I had the St Germain Martini, delicious with a perfect lemon twist. Great service. Everyone was all smiles. And I love the design choices! I commented on almost every aspect, from the light fixtures to the dinnerware. read more

Umai - Umai interior: equal parts rustic and contemporary. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's three pieces to this review. I hate to one star, but... 1) The ramen was really bland. Really bland. Chicago has a lot of boring ramen, but this tops it. 2) Sushi. The sushi was phenomenal. Some of the best in the south loop...until the next day...when... 3) It turned out we got a lot of Escolar and not tuna and spent the next day leaking oils unexpectedly. That's not fun. Neither is spending the day on the toilet. I've never run into this anywhere and it seems like they may need to find a new supplier. Boring ramen, great sushi of you're willing to risk it... read more

One of the best sushi and Japanese meals. Good sushi, Tempura, and ramen noodle. Very good service s well. read more

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This is a nice place to get a filling lunch (Bento Box) at a really nice price. I had no idea what I was ordering but surprisingly a nice assortment arrived at my table. Salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi, a variety of rolls, miso soup and ginger salad in addition to teriyaki chicken and rice came in the "box". Everything was extremely fresh and filling. The waitress was attentive and refilled by hot tea without me having to ask. I've eaten dinner here too but they didn't have the Bento box. I had the salmon which was also very delicious. I'm going to make this my regular go to lunch spot because of the selection. read more

The food was not for us. The shrimp shumai was yummy though. However, we came with high expectations for the katsu kare and the udon kare to satisfy some cravings and were mainly disappointed. The rice was dry as if it'd been out for some time before being served. The katsu was not crispy and the vegetables that came on the side contributed nothing to the dish. They had no flavor, and the little texture they added did nothing to complement the katsu. Same with the udon, which had the exact same bland vegetables. The meat in the udon was also overdone and difficult to chew. The curry was not bad, just tasted like curry. Food was not hot, more lukewarm, but I know some people prefer it that way. The real upsetting part was that it felt like very little thought or care was put into the food. Service and ambiance was fine, but I was really hoping to find a good place for katsu and curry and felt let down. read more

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On my never-ending journey to find good ramen in the city, I came to Umai with high hopes. The appetizers (Tempura Plate and Gyoza) were pretty standard but good. Unfortunately, the Ton Katsu Ramen and Spicy Roasted Garlic Pork Ramen was incredibly salty and lacked the rich pork broth I was expecting. The spicy ramen was neither spicy nor garlicky enough (dope!). On the plus side, the service and atmosphere was great and I would consider coming back to try other menu items. So the journey continues... read more

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I was so impressed that Umai serves great sushi, great rolls, AND great Japanese food. Spicy edamame and shishito peppers made fantastic starters. Maitaki mushroom chowder was out of this world (came in an adorable mouse-looking cast-iron bowl, too!). Nabeyaki Udon has a delicious broth, lots of ingredients, and perfect silky and thick udon. Large portions were another bonus (especially the Chicago roll!). Beautiful sashimi plating, great drinks, quick service. read more

Umai - Fantastic dinner for 2! Maitaki chowder, unagi don, sashimi plate, nabeyaki udon - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was in town visiting my bf and decided to treat him out to dinner since he had been such a good host. He had been here before but it was my first time at Umai so I was dying to try it out. Japanese cuisine is my absolute favorite and I loved the ambiance of the place. Modern and authentic all in one. We ordered the salmon shioyaki, tonkotsu ramen, chicago roll, and uni and ama ebi nigiri. The salmon was the perfect amount of flakey and melt-in-your-mouth buttery and came with a side of miso soup and rice. It was also a good size since I know some places like to skimp on the salmon. The ramen was excellent. Generous slabs of pork belly (which I donated to the bf) in a rich broth with all the essential toppings. Definitely pay the extra pocket change to add the black garlic oil because it really gives the broth that necessary kick of flavor! The sushi and nigiri were all fresh and tasty so no complaints there. The portions are pretty big so we left STUFFED. I almost couldn't finish everything...key word being ALMOST. I did not let the food defeat me that night and the $70+ check I paid was definitely worth it. Wish I had room for dessert though. Five words: FRIED GREEN TEA ICE CREAM. Oh man oh man. Lots of other items on the menu that I most certainly want to try the next time I'm given the chance. I also heard that they have awesome lunch specials: an entree + side for approx. $10. Can't beat that! This is actually more of a 4.5 star rating from me but I might just update my rating of Umai after another visit. read more

Umai - Chicago roll - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're looking for a good Japanese restaurant in the South Loop, Umai is THE Place! Ate at Umai twice in 1 week (lunch and for dinner) and both times had exceeded my expectations. Good service, great ambience, easy parking, and of course... good quality food! They have Lunch sets ($10 - $15) & is enough food to put you into a food coma! Their soup noodles are all really good - Beef Sukiyaki, Tempura Udon & Pork belly Ramen are all a must try! The nigiris are very fresh and they are large cut, draping over the rice. The grill selection is not many, but the Beef tongue & Pork shoulders are very tasty. Will definitely come back! read more

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/TL;DR The highlights? Ridiculous wait times and cramped seating. ;-) Food was decent but not memorable. /ATMOSPHERE Maybe we went at the wrong time. I don't know. It was stupid trying to get a table there though. 5-ish doesn't seem that killer. Waited 30 minutes in a non-existent holding pen which was basically a tiny triangle perched between the bathroom/kitchen entrance, the entrance to the restaurant, and table of ladies that I'm sure thought we were being creepy as we observed all the food that went to their table while our stomachs grumbled in aggravation. The food practically passed right under our nose. It was impossible not to look at it. We finally got seated. The place is popular and super-packed. They apologized, said they could get us in but it'd be a tight fit. It was. I was practically eating noodles out of the bowl of the dude next to me. /FOOD Had a few sushi rolls and a bowl of tonkatsu ramen. The ramen was undeniably good. The sushi was fresh ... but nothing special. /SERVICE Average, I guess. I didn't cringe at the thought of writing the full tip amount so I guess I can't complain. Busy place, busy night -- I'm sure there was no time to have a personality. HOW TO READ MY REVIEWS: 1 Star - Does not approach edible. Enter at your own risk. 2 Stars - If I'm in the area, I'd pick something else. 3 Stars - I would stop by if I happen to be in the area. 4 Stars - I would pick this place out of other places nearby. 5 Stars - I would go out of my way to dine here. read more

This place is only okay. I can see why it would be popular because it feels really trendy but the food is just okay and it's a bit expensive. Ginger cinca cocktail: was ridiculously sweet. Couldn't taste the ginger beer at all. Not strong either. Spicy roasted garlic pork ramen: okay until I ate some raw ginger. Also wasn't spicy at all Mexicana roll: meh. No flavors stood out. Wouldn't order again On the upside, the service was really great. Props to the waitresses for being on top of everything and bartending at the same time. read more

Umai - Spicy roasted garlic pork ramen - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was fantastic and had it all. It's a hip and trendy restaurant that is great for date night because you can dress down or up and fit in. The service is wonderful as well. They have a gray cocktail selection. I had the lychee martinis and it was delightful. Not too sweet and it brings actual lychee to be able to eat! The beef hangar appetizer was my favorite!!! It was so tender and it had a great sweet sauce on it. The sashimi was very fresh. I tried the tuna and salmon. My friend and I shared several rolls and sadly I can't remember the names but they were all so good!! My friend had their creams brûlée. The initial Bite was different, interesting. But as she continued to eat she really grew to appreciate the dessert and love it. The only dish that didn't taste like all the flavors went together was their salmon carpaccio. read more

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Good sushi? Convenience? Can't complain. Price? Eh...its just okay. This place is conveniently located within a few blocks of work and where I live. I should start off by saying that I love japanese food, especially sushi, so I have set a pretty high bar from the start. The food is pretty good, nothing extraordinary for a Japanese/sushi restaurant, but it is dependable and consistently good. I've never had a bad experience, but I've also never had a jaw-dropping outstanding one as well. I recommend the hamachi nigiri and the pork ramen. The hamachi (yellowtail) cuts are big and the fish is fresh, and the pork ramen is flavorful and filling. The only downside is that it is a little on the expensive side. The hamachi nigiri is $7 per 2 pieces, and the ramen is ~$14 or so. For a nice meal, you could easily end up spending $30+/head. Not so great in terms of regular casual dining. read more

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The Ramen is kind of expensive but the liquid is so worth the money. I love the liquid. Overall my order was great. I had no disappointment. Yes, I would recommend the place. read more

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Great service; the staff is very attentive in that regard. The ambiance is nice and feels very open and inviting. I had the spicy pork ramen that they were kind enough to divide into two bowls for sharing. At first I didn't think it was flavorful enough but after tasting to well seasoned pork, I realized it was in fact a good bowl of ramen. The mexicana roll was good with a spicy mayo sauce. The butter squid appetizer included a good amount of squid, along with some sautéed veggies that all had a lot of flavor. The green tea creme brûlée wasn't too sweet which was nice. It's as a green tea creme brûlée should be. I recommend this restaurant for a date or catching up with some friends. It's not really great for large groups though. read more

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I came with a girl but it wasn't a date, but I'd definitely bring someone on a date. The atmosphere is very nice, the decor is elegant and cozy. This is the second time I've come and both times I've gotten the spicy pork ramen. I have heard the sushi is great. read more

Umai - Spicy Ramen Pork - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois