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    Umami Japanese Barbeque

    4.4 (231 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    UMAMI JAPANESE BARBEQUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Lindsey Kanani B.

    We love Umami! We've come here multiple times over the years but tonight was the best so far. I love all you can eat bbq and this one is amazing! There's so many cuts and flavors and they were all great. My favorite was the wagyu and spicy pork belly. The other sides were all so tasty. They offer rice free now instead of needing to buy a bowl on the side. The California roll was tasty. There was some poke that was surprisingly so yummy! Poke is Fridays only though. I'm from Hawaii so I'm quite picky with poke and sushi. There were some ginger-y noodles that were tasty. The spring rolls were great with the sweet and sour sauce. I loved making lettuce rolls with the meat and kimchi and garlic. Even the fruit were so sweet and juicy. They had something new which was yuzu yogurt. It was divine to dip the fruit in and the flavor was epic! Everything was so good. The service was great and friendly. We would come back here again and again!

    Salad bar
    Sarah W.

    I loved Umami! This was my first Japanese BBQ in a while and I forgot how good it is! The staff here are so sweet and attentive. Our first server gave us a whole run down of how their menu works. There are signs everywhere that mark exactly what each item is and what meats/items are included for which AYCE menu option. They have a premium and then a regular menu. I opted for the premium and I think it was worth the $10 up charge. With the premium you have more meat options and it's just fun to try some of their more exotic options (beef tongue). The salad bar area was well stocked with options like sushi, edamame, and tuna poke. I do not recommend any of the rice or stir fry noodles. The rice was poorly cooked and the noodles were devoid of any flavor. They do have sauces stationed all around as well as sauce bottles at your table if you feel like you need it. The pork gyozas and spring rolls were good, but nothing special. I enjoyed most cuts of meat and really loved the garlic marinade in particular. I couldn't really tell the difference between the New York strip and the ribeye cuts, but pretty much everything else had a good distinct flavor. My reservation was at 7 and around 8pm I noticed some of the meat and salad bar options remained empty. I know they stop taking tables at 9, but felt like 8 was a bit early to stop restocking. Or maybe they were just backed up I'm not sure, but multiple meat, fruit, and their potstickers remained empty for the remainder of my dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's not a super big restaurant and it's split into two levels. I was thankful to be seated on the upper level because on the floor level is where all the food is located so it's a high traffic area. I enjoyed that upstairs was a bit more private.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Umami and I will definitely be visiting again!

    Meats
    Shannon L.

    A taste pf ayce around pleasant grove utah. This place has a good selection of meats for dinner. Tasty soup, curry, and sauces. Really loved the sauces. Wagyu beef and beef tongue were the highlights. Dinner also has ribeye available, cut th icker like a steak. Pro tip, get a little bit of the hokkaido miso apple sauce on the veggies and pineapple and then grill them up, it's a gamechanger!

    fruits
    Si L.

    I never was a big fan of ayce bbq, but my experience this time exceeded expectations! I went with some friends on a Thursday for lunch and there weren't very many people. I liked that they have some cooked food like yakisoba noodles and gyoza for me to start filling my stomach right away. The miso soup was good, too. However, I wished they had more options. As for the meat, they are of good quality. Some of my favorites were the New York strip, cow tongue, shrimp, and grilled pineapple! I was really excited to see that they have Japanese pumpkin, but maybe I just didn't know how to cook it properly; it turned out very dry, which was a bummer. I was really glad they had a fruit bar. You can get filled up quickly eating ayce bbq and having fruits make the experience so much better. It was also nice that most fruits (cantaloupe, pineapple, and orange) were sweet. The strawberries were towards the sour side. They also had this yuzu yogurt for you to dip the fruits in. I liked eating it by itself more. The yuzu flavor was unique, but I would rather not have poppy seed in it. I really wished they would have some desserts as part of the ayce instead of making them cost extra. I love desserts, but I wouldn't pay more for them when I'm already paying so much for an ayce. The service was great. The staff members were all very friendly and helpful. One thing that made me like this ayce more than the others was that I got to get whatever I wanted myself, so I had control over the quantity I was getting. A lot of the times, I would just like to try one of everything, and in other restaurants, they would give you a whole plate of it. And, you never know when they will bring out the meat, and so you could be waiting for a long time and then all of a sudden they would bring out four plates of meat and now your table is really full and have the pressure to finish the food quickly. However, it was stress-free eating at this restaurant, and I was able to enjoy my time with friends. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

    Spicy pork belly, short ribs, ribeye
    K S.

    My favorite AYCE BBQ in Utah, been coming for a couple years now, and I just really love how consistent the experience is everytime while bringing family and friends here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Staff is always friendly and helpful, produce fresh, and the restaurant clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also, the grills are hot! Its so frustrating going to other places and leaving hungry after 2 hours because the food takes forever to cook, you won't have that problem here! But let's be real, the meats are the star here, I love their selection, as there is something for everyone and they don't mess around on the portions as you can grab whatever you want yourself! The cuts are great as well, they don't take chuck and slice it real thin and pretend it's waygu like a lot of other places. The marinades always hit as well (the Korean short ribs and spicy pork belly are fire), the meats absorb the flavors well, also unlike other places that just slabs it on before bringing it to your table. I will definitely be back!

    a variety of meats and vegetables
    Bekah C.

    All you can eat japanese barbeque! What does that mean? You pick from an assortment of meats and sides and grill it yourself. The price tag is a bit high, but with cuts of wagyu beef, rib eye, and pork belly you can definitely cook your monies worth. I don't love the buffet style selection, strictly because the food is just sitting out in the open for so long. However, all of the food at Umami looked very clean and was properly stored on ice so it put my mind at ease. Our group of four was seated at a table with one grill. This made cooking food a bit tricky because you have to share a small space. Our grill was heated unevenly, so one side cooked faster than the other. Unless you're in no rush, I would recommend staying away from the pork and chicken because it takes much longer to cook than the beef. (And then you don't have to worry about eating undercooked meat.) Overall, Umami was good but it didn't leave me wanting more.

    Kasey Y.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Utah. The spicy pork belly is BY FAR the best meat. The salad bar is good. Rice is excellent. Drinks are good. Desserts are great. My only qualm is it is very expensive and always busy. Last time we went with our two small kids it was $120. That's crazy. It's good, but not THAT good. We don't go very often anymore because they keep raising the prices.

    Authentic Japanese sodas
    Meagan L.

    Come here for the experience of cooking your own food at your table, and be ready to splurge a little! It costs $25 per person, so it's not cheap. I recommend coming for a special occasion and taking your time to enjoy the experience. The food is good but not so good that I want to run and tell all of my friends about it. They have a lot to choose from but I always had a hard time remembering which meats I was cooking and what I liked. It's also a little hard to keep the meat juices off stuff. I love that they have fresh options as well though, and I loved the gyoza! There isn't a ton of service, they only come if you press the button for help. So remember that. Pro tip: Come before 4 and it'll be cheaper!

    Christine H.

    Girls' birthday lunch date, arrived when they opened at 11 am and got great seats. We were just informed that all premier cuts of beef/meat are offered all day, from opening to close, as they serve dinner items all day on Saturdays. What we really came for was Korean short ribs, which we searched for as soon as we got there. They didn't actually have it prepped/ready to serve until closer to 12:30 pm, which was a great disappointment. If we are paying for the "dinner" rate all day Saturday, it is expected/assumed for ALL items to be ready for consumption from opening to close. Korean short ribs, noodles, and sushi didn't even make it out until we were almost finished eating, around 12:30pm/1pm. When we asked for a manager, our server, Choddles (name spelling?) gave us a bit of a facial attitude and yielded to get the manager. Justin, the manager, explained to us that the kitchen didn't have enough time to thaw all the meats out the night before/this morning, before opening at 11am. Sounds like a management/operations issue, not the customers'. I asked Justin if this is an issue every morning they open, that they don't get everything out on time before opening, and he made it sound like it was only this morning that this happened - I wasn't fully convinced. So if you want to be guaranteed that ALL food/ premier meat options are going to be available when you come, DO NOT come when they open right at 11am. You do not get your money's worth for paying the "dinner" rate. Come closer to 1pm. The early bird does NOT get the worm in this scenario.

    The three amigos of flavor
    Kurt J.

    There's a growing trend with all you can eat "cook it yourself at your table" Asian places showing up throughout Utah County. Umami is the gold standard when it comes to these places. They have a wonderful selection of meats and it isn't frozen like some of the other places. The Bulgogi chicken, and the various cuts of steak are perfection. The pre-cooked foods are on a bar self-serve and do not disappoint. They have a great selection, three wonderful sauces, and the price point is much better than some of the other places with less variety. It's definitely on the rotation for me...

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    Review Insights

    1 month ago

    Excellent food and atmosphere. Great cuts of meat and sweet salad bar. Definitely worth it.

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    12 days ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    It's our favorite always been treated amazing [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also super clean place[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Loved there food and the staff

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    The food was delicious, just the prices have really gone up. And the waitress seemed awkward. But other than that it was good.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    So good. Love everything there. The meat selection is amazing. Super good cuts of meat. Sides are perfect. Hits the spot every time

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Excellent food and staff. Incredible selection of ingredients. The quality of the meat was superb, the marinades and sauces were delicious.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food and dips. I like how the food is cooked on fire and not just an electric grill.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Umami Japanese Barbeque Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Umami Japanese Barbeque

    Hello, My family is flying into Provo on Christmas day 2024. Will you guys be open?

    Are there any gluten-free options? I have celiacs, could I eat anything here?

    We have 15 cuts of meat. Most of them are marinated, however our kitchen staff can get you any cut of meat without marinade. We also have two dipping sauces that we make gluten free options of that are available upon request. There are a handful of… 

    Is this place good for big groups? Like 10-15 people?

    Yes we can accommodate groups that size just fine. Definitely call ahead though by an hour or two so that your wait time isn’t extremely long.

    View All 5 Questions

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    The brisket at Bam Bam's was really on another level. Super tender, super flavorful, and basically…read moreeverything you could want from a brisket. The ribs and pulled pork were also amazing. For sides, the cole slaw and beans were on point. You order at the counter, so service is prompt and you get immediate gratification (they make your order on the spot). They've got a simple dining room with a few large tables, that have different kinds of BBQ sauce options. Price-wise it is not the cheapest but, the flavor is worth it. Overall this is a worthy BBQ spot and it is on my shortlist when visiting!

    If you love legit barbecue, Bam Bams BBQ is the spot…read more The brisket is ridiculous. Juicy, smoky, with that perfect crust on the outside and melt in your mouth goodness on the inside. You take one bite and just look at whoever you're with like, yep, this is it. The ribs have that perfect bite where the meat pulls clean but doesn't fall apart. Full flavor, no shortcuts. Pulled pork is loaded with smoke and super tender. The sausage has that snap when you bite into it and just enough kick to keep it interesting. And the sides are not throwaways. The mac and cheese is creamy comfort food. The beans are hearty and flavorful. The cornbread actually tastes homemade. The vibe is easy and welcoming. No hype, no gimmicks, just people who clearly care about making great food. You walk in hungry and leave happy. If you're craving barbecue that actually delivers, this place flat out hits.

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    Brisket (1lb)
    Brisket (1lb)
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    The Smoking Apple

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    The smoking apple has really good food I had slaw dog, really good!!!!…read moreThe smoking apple would be a place I would go to again

    I genuinely don't know how this place has such good reviews. This was our first and only visit…read morehere. My husband ordered take out from in the store. 1. The ribs were smothered in their raspberry bbq sauce which is just not good. Shame because the ribs were tender and cooked well. 2. The brisket. Who taught this person carving tonight how to cut brisket??!?! As someone who lived in central Texas for almost 6 years, the way this meat was cut was offensive. We got a a pound of brisket and they were cut into GIANT chunks almost an inch thick. Brisket is supposed to be SLICED and it's not supposed to be covered in sauce either. Thankfully the classic sauce is actually good but it ruins the bark!! The bark lost its peppery bite being covered in sauce. The point of brisket is it doesn't need sauce if it's done right. The chunks were so thick it made it chewy. Maybe if sliced thinner it would've been better. 3. The potato salad tasted like it was made with dole whip cream it was terribly sweet. The Mac and cheese had no flavor to it at all, and the beans were alright. 4. The sausage was flavorful and juicy. We finished that. I feel so bad for the people of Utah that think this is good bbq. It is not. I don't expect Texas bbq outside of Texas but this was just sad and not worth the $80 we spent. And what's worse is we are still hungry because the ribs were inedible and the brisket was so chewy. And, please please please go over meat carving with whoever was cutting the brisket this evening (4/7).

    Photos
    Dining area with ceiling peeling
    Dining area with ceiling peeling
    Mixed Fries smothered small
    Mixed Fries smothered small
    Loaded nachos / fries

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    Loaded nachos / fries
    The Holy Grill

    The Holy Grill

    4.2
    (344 reviews)
    3.2 mi
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    I love the vibe here! Waitresses are cool! Food is delicious! And they have beer!.. happy happy joy…read morejoy...

    I really wanted to like this place. I really tried to like this place...but I have to be honest…read more Let's start with the good--the bbq vibe was strong (country music, chalkboards with drawings, bbq smell wafting thru the air). Now for the not-so-good. We usually call ahead because we have a few family members with food allergies. We called ahead and everything sounded kopacetic. We arrived and ordered our food. One member of our 6 person party ate a couple of fries (which she asked about ahead of time due to her allergies) and she noticed something different about the fries. We asked one of the workers if they put something on the fries because they were crispy on the outside. The worker said "I don't think so." We asked if he could check to be sure so he went to ask. He came back and said "it's just crispy coating." So again we asked "can you tell us what is in the crispy coating because we are trying to avoid an allergic reaction." He replied "it's just crispy coating I don't know what's in it." So we asked "is there anyway you can find out what's in the crispy coating?" He replied "there is definitely a way to find out." He goes to the back...again. When he returns he says, "we fry the fries in a fryer with our chicken tenders. I would suggest not eating the fries." His suggestion is well-taken but we still don't know what's in the 'crispy coating.' When we were ordering, one member in my group asked for the two meat plate with brisket and pork ribs. The menu says "pork ribs." The worker said "We don't have pork ribs. We have ribs." So ribs it was. Giving a little room for grace, he was a young man who seemed to be new. BUT if you are at the cash register taking orders, you really should know what's on your menu. As for the food, it was disappointing. Portions were small. For the two meat plate with brisket and sausage, I was given one piece of brisket and a small hot link. To be fair, the menu says "8 oz" for the two meat plate so you kind of know what you're getting. When the order comes out, it looks very small. The brisket was a little on the dry side. The hot link was tasty but small. Buyer beware. TLDR; not coming back

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    Decor
    Decor
    Burnt burgers
    Burnt burgers
    The Holy Grill

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    Umami Japanese Barbeque - japanese - Updated July 2026

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