The staff is fast and welcoming. We ordered edamame, avocado maki, veggie sumono salad, yam tempura and tofu don bowl. The serving sizes were great. We had tons of leftovers. Downsides: Both times we've been the table size is hilariously small. Like a polly pocket sized table. Not ideal for more than 1. I also had a mild allergic reaction after dining. So worth noting for the sake of safety. Despite ordering all veg. Fish definitely was on a knife or a cutting board somewhere. As a regular veg sushi orderer this is always a risk, but only the second time it's happened to me. read more

Umai Sushi - Wall art - Japanese Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

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Nice little Japanese place in Nanaimo. I've been coming to Nanaimo for work in the past few months and have tried a couple Japanese places. This one is definitely one of my favourite. The lunch bentos are great value! The food is made well. And the service is great. Food comes fairly quickly. Definitely come here for lunch. read more

Umai Sushi - Nabe udon - Japanese Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Excellent in every aspect. Not a single complaint Portion Service Value Quality All top notch! Definitely visit again! read more

Waitress gave me attitude when I called to tell her my sushi came without sauce. Never in 1 years have I ever had my roll made without it and now there's an upcharge to have sauce apparently. She could have told me that when I was in there. She told me the dude that made my rolls is the owner and I said well the other chef that I'm used to ordering from is much better. read more

Really bad food, really terrible customer service. They box their food in a way that everything gets mixed. When I called to complain they hung up on me. read more

Umai Sushi - a close up of a meal in a styrofoam container - Japanese Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Delicious. Light tempura. Generous lunch box. I would come back!! The food arrives quickly. The servers are attentive. We also had sizzling hot teriyaki, and vwry tasty udon bowls. read more

Umai Sushi - Lunch boxes - Japanese Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Tasty, attentive service, and reasonable prices. We had the BBQ rib bento and deluxe sushi lunch. Fresh tasting and delicious all around.

Service was fast, staff are kind, and the food was SO good. I would highly recommend their veggie yaki udon -- There are some options for vegetarians and vegans, and there are gluten-free options as well. I would like to see more veggie-friendly options though, and it is unfortunate that their miso soup is made with fish broth (Or so I believe). But damn is the food ever good... I'll be coming back here often! read more

This is one of my favourites in town! They are reasonably priced and very quick. My go-to is negitoro with half rice and extra green onions and it's always perfect. They use more tuna that most places and it's great quality. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing selection of sushi! The food is fresh and delicious every time. Service is consistently friendly and efficient. This is our family's favourite place to go for sushi! read more

Very disappointed with this restaurant. Food was ok but when we walked in we were told the food was going to take a very long time. We were ok with this so after 10 mins got a drink and ordered food. It was new years eve and when we looked online it said normally closes at 9 but hours could differ. No biggie... it was 6 when we ordered and got food at 6:45pm again no big deal. Waitress asked when we ordered if we wanted to keep menu so we could order more...but no one came back. Went to counter to order more food and were told they were closing!!?? Everyone was rushing around and wanted to leave but sushi chef allowed us to order one type of sushi and the front end staff told us no we couldn't order more when asked if we could get to go. Will not ever go back, this was their second chance as first time i went i got food poisoning. read more

Terrible service, stood there awkwardly at the please wait to be seated sign with servers right there. Nobody even acknowledged us, ended up leaving, will not return. Went to Nori instead read more

Consistently get orders wrong and staff will argue with you instead of giving you the right order.

Visited Sun June 26 party of 10 at 2pm Pros - They took reservations and were able to accommodate my group even though they were very busy -I love bento boxes :) You get a choice of chicken or beef, sashimi or sushi, tempura and an interesting cold noodle dish (don't drink the sour liquid) - Excellent fresh food no complaints - Seating for about 20 people, no booths. -There is a bench along one wall. Cons -They forgot to make my rolls brown rice, and they even put the $1 charge on the bill. They removed this item after I informed them of their oversight. -Their credit card machine was down today, this wasn't their fault though. -They list a lunch bento box on their website, yet this wasn't on their menu and we went during lunchtime. I should have asked them if there was a lunch menu. - The server wasn't very attentive, and didn't make eye contact with our group Protip -They have a chef's special inside out roll, didn't get to try it though. Damage - $19.94 pre tip read more

This was the 3rd time I have attempted this restaurant, the last time I went I said I would never go back but was convinced otherwise by my boyfriend. The food the last time was terrible and super small rolls. This time we were seated by someone who said not a word to us, then left. No one came back to ask If we wanted water or tea and proceeded to seat and take orders from 2 other tables. No one returned to our table. After 15 minutes we walked out. I will never be going back. read more

Thoroughly enjoy the décor, the food, and the servers here. It's always super fast and excellent quality.

I remember the days when Nanaimo boasted a single sushi restaurant downtown and the average resident couldn't tell their sashimi from their sunomono. Oh, how things have changed! Now the competition is fierce and the expectations high among my Islander brethren, and however not when the sea spits up some of the world's best salmon? No longer will basmati rice stuffed in a dry husk of a nori sheet from the back corner of a Vancouver grocery store satisfy our palates, and all the better. With all this choice, Umai Sushi stints on service to stand out with very pretty decor. The restaurant sits between Tim Horton's and a financial agency adjacent to Nanaimo North Mall (or whatever they're calling Rutherford nowadays). Behind thin wooden screens is a surprisingly large dining area, whereas the front door opens onto a refrigerated container with several standard rolls (like California and kappa [cucumber] maki) and their roll of the day for purchase. Also, pickup deliveries at the register can be completed easily. I give a star for the cleanliness and elegance of the dining area. It's hip and chic, tables not too close together, and a variety of seating options to accommodate single diners up to large groups. Definitely call ahead if you need more than a six-top, though, as seating is somewhat limited. The menu, though full of typos, has a good array of hand rolls, sashimi (fish on rice), and sushi. Prices are definitely on point for Nanaimo: kappa maki and other veggie rolls ran around $3, whereas the spicy tuna and salmon, dynamite, and California rolls were closer to $6. Considering what I pay in Michigan and Illinois, I consider these a deal. From a look at our fellow diners' plates, the rolls are just the right size: not too big to stuff in your mouth, not too small to feel like a trip to McDonald's is forthcoming just to feel satiated. Umai Sushi loses a star for not having any kind of children's seating. Come on, guys, you're in the north end adjacent to several thousand family homes and literally have an elementary school over the ridge. How do you not have a single booster seat or highchair? Do Nanaimoites banish their children to the babysitter while Mom and Dad dine? With my tall toddler in one of their modern, low seats, he barely reached the tabletop. The server looked shocked I'd even ask. Two more stars lost for service. Our drink orders were taken quickly, and then the server promptly disappeared never to return. Not entirely true: she went to every other table but ours in the corner prominently by the window. Our menus were folded and we waited 18 minutes for attention. I time these things. By the time she reappeared, our glasses were empty and our patience out. We hadn't shown up at a prime time, though there were several tables occupied. We cut our losses and left because no server means not a reasonable dining experience with a child. I'm not here to admire the ceiling, kids. I purchased a mango sushi roll to go ($8), atop the $3 for pop and green tea. The roll was quite good, though obviously had been sitting in the case for a bit because the rice was fairly dry. On that front I'd give them three stars for sushi; better than Superstore, but no where near the quality Nanaimo has. read more

Very good sushi, some of the best I've had in Nanaimo. The staff was kind and place was clean. Five stars.

Excellent Sashimi! I always find the rolls and sashimi a cut above the other nanaimo sushi places. The servers are friendly too. It can get busy some nights, so be prepared to wait a little during peak time. Overall I recommend this sushi joint. read more

The food was great, we had a great dining experience but after I had paid (& I had seen the "approved" come up on the debit machine) we went to leave the store & were asked to pay again as the first transaction "didn't go through". No problem, I didn't argue & paid again, saw the "approved" once more pop up on the machine, & we were on our way. Checked my bank statement days later to see that, in fact, they charged me twice. Tried calling the restaurant about it, a server told me that she couldn't help me but a manager would be calling me back to resolve the issue. No phone call. I went in to the restaurant once more & told them the situation to which the manager still refused to reimburse me unless I bring in a statement from my actual bank to prove it... ridiculous. Let's hope I can get my money back but this whole run-around has left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

We order from here often as it is by far the best sushi we have had from all our travels to over 45 countries! So fresh and fast. Huge rolls that are unique and beautiful to look at, not to mention DELICIOUS. Healthy too! Don't miss out on the Bowser Scallop Roll, the Baked Seafood Roll, or the West Coast Tuna Roll. read more

We moved to Nanaimo last Summer and have been to a few sushi restaurants and this one by far is the best. The service is always good with friendly staff, the food is top quality and the atmosphere is very calm as we like to sit in. All in all, we eat here twice a week simply because the overall experience is enjoyable. Thank you all at Umai Sushi! read more

We stopped in for a quick bite, and when in a new Japanese restaurant, I'm never sure what quite to expect. The restaurant has an area for prepared dishes when you enter and I initially thought we entered a takeout/fast food joint, but there was a seating area that we chose. We didn't come for the ambiance, but found it to be comfortable and ordered a bento box lunch for each of us. We had both a chicken and a beef teriyaki dish, that came with miso soup, mixed tempura, salad, rice and tiny spring rolls. Sit down table service of a healthy and delicious meal for a couple of bucks more than a burger chain joint, it was well worth it! read more

Love Umai's sushi! I go here once a week. Chef Sam is no longer there which is really sad as he is amazing. Even though he is gone, the products are still fresh and flavourful. The recipes were kept the same. Not to mention, the selection here is great! So many different rolls and noodle dishes. There is a wonderful young server there that is always there when I come in. She is always pleasant and happy and makes you feel welcome. Very bubbly and kind. The only negative so far is a lady that could use a smile (I haven't seen her smile once in the 30+ times I've stopped in to eat or take out). Regardless, I highly recommend trying Umai if you love sushi/seafood. Addicted to the Deep Fried Unagi roll. I will continue to be a regular customer here :) read more

I have been to Umai before and it was decent, but this time service was attrocious. I have been in food service as a manager and a worker, never in my life have I seen service this bad. My wife and I were seated at the sushi bar, which I love, and waited 10 minutes at which point we were never acknowledged by staff for even water or menus, I had to ask for menus. After this we waited 5 more minutes again not acknowledged by any staff, we watched staff clear 3 tables and again never look at us, by this point we were fed up. Personally I understand that sometimes there can be a wait when busy and/or short staffed but at least acknowledging a customer is important, it should happen with in 2 to 3 minutes of seating even if it is a brief "hello" or "I will be right with you". This is something that needs to be addressed immediately by management. read more

Came here for a weekday lunch. Here's our order: - Shrimp and yam tempura. The tempura batter was coated on the shrimp as a thick layer, making it more like a fried shrimp than a tempura. This worked out somewhat better for the yam than for the shrimp. - Spicy salmon roll. I still have to get used to the West Coast concept of spicy salmon roll without crunchiness inside, but otherwise the execution is fine. Unlike other versions of spicy salmon rolls, this one only has a big piece of salmon on the inside. - Salmon sashimi (Atlantic). The fish is not very fatty, thus its texture is very even compared to other salmon sashimi I've had, and also slightly tighter. - House roll. I like the concept of this incredibly big and flavorful roll, but dipping it in soy sauce is virtually impossible without using one's hands, and since this is a fried roll it's not very pleasant to use one's hands. (Or maybe I'm just not very good with chopsticks.) Generally speaking, nothing spectacular, but the execution was decent. Our waitress was also incredibly helpful. read more

Quite frankly the best Sushi on Vancouver Island! The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous! Chef Sammy is a legend in Japanese cuisine. Hard to believe a place of this quality and calibre exists in Nanaimo. If you want the best possible Sushi experience go to Umai! read more

A fantastic place for sushi! The quality is great and it's reasonably priced. Depending on how you feel, it's a lovely place to sit down for a quick meal or it's super simple to grab a fresh roll to go. They definitely have their lunch and dinner rushes and such, but in my experience their service has always been efficient. I definitely recommend their Mt. Benson roll--it's a favourite of mine! read more

Some of the best sushi I've had! Decent pricing but it definitely racks up when you keep ordering their delicious dishes. Staff are friendly and it is extremely cute place to eat at. Love the atmosphere and the food, definitely going back whenever I'm on the island! read more

Umai sushi is my goto sushi place in town. I like their variety of selections. I like that I can still find dishes that don't contain any raw fish too. Their grab and go take out sushi is also great when you are in rush for your lunchtime. read more

My complaint is not about the food or the staff which are both excellent, but concerns the management policies. I love the Tofu lunch special, but unlike the other specials, they don't allow you to choose another Shushi roll and pay the difference. We have been able to do it a couple of times, and then told we can't on the other visits. The reason given is that the Tofu is vegetarian and by me being able to choose a fish based Shushi to go with it, that would mean they don't have a vegetarian item on the menu and they have to look after those other customers. So basically they have said goodbye to me as a customer, because they won't let me have the tofu special with me paying more for the extra cost of the Shushi. There are other great places to have Japanese food, and they will serve me what I want. John Pritchard, Parksville BC. read more

Best sushi in nanaimo and better than lots of ones in Vancouver. Staff is friendly and service is timely. Prices very reasonable. Always a good selection of ready to go available and takeout orders are ready quickly. So glad to find a great sushi restaurant close to home read more

A large menu with decent prices! So much to choose from and very timely preparation. I always order a head of time and pickup.