On previous visit(s) experience(s): Food always fresh, visually pleasing, great tasting, served by attending and great staff. Pleasant atmosphere and vibe. Outdoor seating. My favorites, Kama, Sashimi, Steamed Veggies. Friday nights can be busy because there's a weekly farmers market venue that includes outdoor vendors, and music. (4pm - 8pm). Wish the restaurant operators would put grilled Tako on the menu. read more

Decided to stop by on a whim while we were in the city. They are located within apartment complex's right on the street where the San Marcos Farmer market takes place. Our party of two waited about 20 minutes on a Friday night with no reservation. It was quite busy that day with many other tables waiting to be sat. There are a lot of options on the menu, ranging from cooked items to sushi and rolls. After placing our order, it took only about 10 minutes before we received the first dish and everything else followed. We ordered a roll the sashimi set a hand roll and also a bowl of ramen. Their salmon and engawa was tasty, but I wouldn't say their fish is the freshest or have much flavor to them. Unfortunately, we had an issue with our spicy tuna roll (there was a piece of metal found inside). I'm sure it was just overlooked. But service was very friendly and accommodating. They immediately remade our roll and also provided some complementary dessert. The service here was quick and friendly. I appreciated it given how busy the restaurant was. read more

Umami Japanese - SASHIMI B Set (18 Pcs.) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Came here with my husband and mother in law from out of town as we were craving sushi. My mother in law ordered 2 rolls, my husband ordered a rainbow roll and 2 hand rolls, and I ordered the B set sushi plate. I thought the rolls were bland despite them being a combo of good ingredients or sauced up (crunch salmon and the dynamite roll). The best thing was the baked dynamite roll. Maybe I'm a bit biased but if the best thing at sushi place includes baked cheese, it's not giving quality ingredients or talent for the cuisine category. The biggest letdown was my sushi plate. The fish didn't have much flavor and the texture was off. It almost seemed like someone rinsed the pieces of fish thoroughly under cold water. Also the 3 salads it came with were NOT fresh tasting and you could tell they'd been sitting all day (and not in a 'oh it marinating' good way). Service was also lacking, but it was a busy Saturday night. The ambiance is a 10 out of 10. I'll give it that. Plus they had plum wine which not many places do, and my mother in law loves. read more

See all

A late night group found their way to Umami Japanese looking for sushi and other miscellaneous Japanese fare. And they found what they were looking for. Nigiri of multiple types, various assorted rolls, and sundry eats like hamachi kama, pork buns, deep brothy ramen, miso soup and salad, and their signature sushi cones and sushi muffins. Fun and delicious for everyone, including two young children! If you're looking for good Japanese food for everyone, give Umami Japanese a try! read more

See all

Food great! Service not as great. The good: sushi quality is great. Unique offerings like the sushi cones and muffins. It is a sit down but more casual vibes than most in the area and kid friendly. The sushi chefs were smiling and joking and seemed to enjoy their work. Staff was friendly but not as attentive. The bad: came here for dinner with our kid, and ordered his meal first. It comes with a miso but his food arrived without the miso, so I had to ask about it. We ordered a small carafe of cold sake and it never showed up! Our kid accidentally elbowed his bowl of miso and it spilled all over. We cleaned it up and one of the servers came over at the end with a clean rag to wipe our kid, but 80% of the soup was lost and they did not offer to replace or refill for the accidental spill. Which I felt they had no obligation but would have been nice! And lastly other tables got orange slices as a finisher so our kid was looking forward to a piece of orange... but it never came. Maybe it was the end of everyone's shift and they were tired or maybe it was a one off night, but I feel service was lacking. If service was better, it would easily be 5 stars. read more

See all

This restaurant never disappoints when it comes to quality of food and flavor. Happy we got a table immediately on a Saturday night for 5 of us. Portions are great. I only dock points because the server brought my dad a draft beer originally when he asked for the bottle, which gives more for the same price. They also came by our table with a roll we didn't order. read more

Umami Japanese - eel hand roll and salmon hand roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Perfect! I love the service and the food is phenomenal!! Must eat!! I'm visiting from Portland and nothing comes close to this in the northwest. read more

See all

I've driven by Umami a few times but never stopped to try it until today. Restaurant had a pretty big crowd with majority of the tables full. Was greeted at the door by a very nice staff and she took my order for togo. Got the Hulk (absolutely delicious), the Takoyaki (nice and crisp outside, chewy inside), and the Piggy Bao (Super flavorful and the bao is so fluffy). My togo order was completed pretty fast and I noticed service for other tables were speedy as well. Restaurant is really cute and the food and menu variety is great. I definitely want to come back and dine in next time. Overall rating: Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Menu: 10/10 Restaurant Vibes: 10/10 Price to Overall Dining (POD): 10/10 read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Fantastic as always! I used to be a regular here, but recently came back with a big group of coworkers. The server remembered me which was sweet :) the spicy garlic edamame, the pork bao buns, and the salmon crunch rolls are a must. The prices are decent, parking is available at the garage for free, and the service is always friendly. They have both lunch and dinner specials to mix and match different rolls, ramen, or sides. Highly recommend for the quality! read more

I recently stopped by Umami Japanese in the North City area of San Marcos, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots for sushi and Japanese cuisine in the region. From the moment I walked in, the place felt modern, welcoming, and impeccably clean--including the restrooms, which gave me real confidence in the overall hygiene and safety of the kitchen. The food was outstanding and lived up to the name "umami" perfectly--rich, savory, and bursting with flavor. I ordered a variety of sushi rolls and a chicken dish, and everything was executed flawlessly. The rolls had incredible texture: fresh, perfectly seasoned rice, crisp vegetables, and melt-in-your-mouth fish with just the right balance of flavors. The chicken was tender, juicy, and full of that deep, satisfying taste that makes you want to keep eating. Presentation was beautiful too--everything looked as good as it tasted, like it was plated with care. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive without feeling rushed. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations. Prices struck me as extremely fair for the quality and portion sizes--great value in today's market, especially for fresh sushi. The only minor drawback is the parking situation in the North City development; it can be tricky to find a spot, especially during busier times, but it's absolutely worth the short walk. If you're in the San Marcos area and craving authentic, flavorful Japanese food--whether sushi rolls, ramen, poke, or bento boxes--definitely give Umami a try. You won't regret it; it's a standout spot that blends traditional techniques with fresh, inventive touches. Highly recommended! Would I go again? Absolutely--it's now on my regular rotation for sushi nights. Enjoy! read more

See all

Came here for a quick lunch, husband wanted some sushi. It's in North City. My husband got some sushi and I got the chicken teriyaki bento box. It comes with teriyaki chicken, California roll, salad, rice, miso soup, veggies and some pickles. The teriyaki chicken was pretty good and plentiful, and so was everything except the steamed veggies. The steamed veggies were extremely salty, I think they blanch it in too much salt water. My husband's sushi was pretty good, he said they were bigger in size than normal. Overall a good quick lunch. Decently priced but a lot of food. read more

See all

Cozy, intimate atmosphere combined with attentive service made for a great evening out. The fish was fresh and each plate that came out looked great. Perfect spot for a date night. read more

See all

Passed through the area and spotted Umami for lunch. The location had plenty of parking and restaurant was easily accessible. Inside was very clean and spacious and had holiday music playing. Servers were attentive kind. We ordered some of their top specials and it was very unique and cute. Food presentation looked really good but it somehow lacked flavor for me. read more

Umami Japanese - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

This spot is hands down one of the most reliable places for sushi. Whenever I'm in San Diego, I always make sure to stop by this location. My favorite roll is the Cougar Roll. I hope they open more locations in the future because this place is truly a 10/10. read more

Umami Japanese - Cougar Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Great place for sushi in a super cute and trendy area adjacent to CSUSM. My daughter and I stopped in for dinner. The staff was attentive and informative. Dinner was delish. They have an option to include real crab with any roll instead of the typical "krab". The "protein" roll was recommended by the server, which I ordered and do not regret. Yummy. They have inside or outside seating. Outside was lovely. It wasn't packed when we went (July) though the weather was great for outside dining. I suspect it'll be busier when CSUSM is in session. read more

Moved close by to this place and finally came for dinner. Definitely a fan! All 3 rolls we got were great and the staff were all so friendly. They were even giving complimentary small desserts (half an orange) to every table. We got the freshman, spicy crunchy, and lemon rolls(not pictured). Will be back! read more

Umami Japanese - Freshman and Spicy Crunchy - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Umami Japanese is a not so hidden gem and know we know why! The atmosphere is warm and stylish, perfect for a casual meal or a date day, my preference now. The sushi is incredibly fresh and beautifully presented, especially the Lemon and Fireball rolls. We also enjoyed the ramen; the broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had just the right texture. Our food was made fresh to order and even included our custom additions, which we really appreciated. The shashimi was by far the best! The service was outstanding, attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable without being too overbearing. Prices were fair for the quality, and portions were pretty generous. The only downside is the limited parking, due to the busy complex and its proximity to the college. There is a large parking structure nearby, I know. Indoor seating is also limited, though there's plenty of outdoor seating available. The restaurant was a bit loud, but that's understandable given how popular and busy it was. If you're looking for excellent Japanese food in North County, this spot should be at the top of your list. We'll definitely be back! I'll probably order takeout. read more

See all

Food, Service and Ambiance were amazing. This might be our new fave sushi. The fish was impeccable! read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Stepped in here yesterday to celebrate a special occasion. The establishment is located on a block of other restaurants and a nice place to walk around. There's a bunch of construction right across diagonally so we asked if they were new but they told us they've been here since 2018. The restaurant seemed clean, hip, and all the servers and sushi chefs behind the bar greet you as you come in. The service was great. Everything was prompt and the menu options had such a wide range. We got the chicken teriyaki dinner bento (comes with miso soup and salad), Michael's choice roll, c-set sashimi (28 pieces), the mini sushi cone, and the piggy bao buns. The raw fish to me was not mindblowing but it was solid. It didn't blow my mind but it was good. The piggy bao buns were good. The pork was savory and tender and there was a smoky taste to it. The c-set was nice because of the variety and love the different salads they put in too. The chicken teriyaki was good- portions were good. The mini sushi cone was beautiful but underwhelming for me in terms of taste. Michael's choice was good with a slight kick. In my head, the restaurant was a 4 star. The vibe was a 5 for North County. The thing that really pushed it up was the service-- we got this amazing tender juicy grilled/baked salmon belly on the house and they noticed we had a two year old and also sent over the cutest orange sliced up in the shape of a bear holding an umbrella. That kind of service really made this dinner special and we'll definitely be back. read more

See all

I've been coming here for years but my most recent visit reminded why I love Umami so much! They honestly just have the freshest fish. You can tell in every bite, no matter what fish dish you order, whether it's poke, sushi specialty rolls, hand rolls, etc. I also love that they offer a vegetarian and gluten free menu. They really cater to all! Again they have so many options, you can't go wrong with whatever you choose. Their ramen options are especially exceptional too. During my last visit, I ordered their poke salmon bowl (mild) and the Freshman (spicy tuna/regular salmon) roll. My husband had the lunch special bento box with teriyaki chicken, miso broth, and the spicy tuna roll. We both agreed the freshman roll was delicious. The spicy mayo and spicy tuna definitely gave it a kick, but the all star was the buttery salmon on top of each roll. Just melts in your mouth it was so good. I had the same salmon in my poke bowl which was marinated in a mild sauce. Again so buttery it was delicious. Also the rice in the poke bowl was perfectly sticky and fresh. Everything about the poke bowl and Freshman roll were perfect. My husband really enjoyed the bento box too! We both thought the chicken teriyaki was good, but the spicy tuna rolls were the best part, besides the yummy miso broth. Just a great spicy yet fresh flavor in every spicy tuna roll. I wanted to give a special shoutout to the great service we received! Both of our waitresses (and host) were all very attentive! After ordering, our food came out quickly and we were asked multiple times how we were doing and how the food was, along with asking us if we needed anything. Our waters were never empty. Again just great service all around. I know that finding parking can be difficult here (and even more so with construction nearby limiting parking), but we have always lucked out to find the 1-hr street parking. There is the garage parking as well. read more

See all

I hate leaving less than 5 star reviews but, I don't get the hype. Maybe because San Marcos was lacking, for years, in the restaurant department that now the new places we have, people love them just because they exist. Came in to Umami Sushi after reading so many positive reviews. I have to say that my husband's and my experience was mediocre at best. I ordered a lunch bento with teriyaki chicken and a spicy tuna roll, and he ordered 2 sushi rolls. First up: the miso soup was hella bland. It was definitely made with water and not dashi stock. As well, there wasn't enough actual miso in the "soup" either. I added a little soy sauce to try and perk it up, but it didn't help. I left it 1/4 of the way finished. The tuna in my spicy tuna roll was indeed spicy, but the color of the tuna was a bright, over-the-top red that can only be achieved with food coloring. I'm talking neon RED. The chicken teriyaki was ok, but just ok. It was nothing to write my Obaasan in Tokyo about. My husband's sushi rolls were not all that either. His Couger's roll and rainbow roll were both stuffed with that shredded fake krab and mayo mixture, and the rice was not properly seasoned. The "su" in sushi means vinegar. Sushi rice is seasoned with a mix of rice wine vinegar, salt, and sugar. The rice should actually have a flavor that accentuates the fish. This was just plain, dry, bland rice. I guess the people of San Marcos don't know any better...sigh. Our service was average. And the dining room was very chique and modern. But that's about all. Our overall dining experience left us feeling very let down. We won't be returning. read more

My friend introduced me to this nice sushi restaurant next to CSU San Marcos campus. There's a lot of construction in the area right now and we parked in the large parking structure a block away. The restaurant was pretty empty while we were there for lunch on a weekday. We all chose to order their bento lunch specials. They were about $17-$19 depending on the main dish. We were all pretty happy with our orders. Service was good. We ordered hot teas since it was a cold day and our tea cups were kept full throughout our lunch. We appreciated it! read more

See all

best sushi rice I have ever had. The interior is very nice and the sushi rice is really good. the sushi rice is really really good.

Umami Japanese offers fresh seafood in interesting yet tasty ways. Funnily enough, I placed an order for the fish tower online and was promptly called regarding how that wouldn't be possible. Even so, I would recommend the dish despite it's daunting presentation. Service was spotty but the food came out quickly. *Fish Tower: a layered tower made of yellowtail, crab salad, spicy tuna, avocado and sushi rice. There were spots of spicy mayo at the base but the ratio of sauce to fish and rice was comical. However, the yellowtail was marinaded in a savory sauce that made it tasty independent of the spicy mayo. The crab salad was creamy and sweet. The spicy tuna had some heat and it was extremely soft. The avocado was fresh and the sushi rice was pleasantly starchy and tangy. This was a fun alternative to a sushi roll. *Scallop Nigiri: tender scallop atop of the tasty sushi rice. However, the temperature was a bit too cold for my liking and it took away from the natural sweetness. The fish quality and flavors were great. Service was meh but at least everything tasted good. Lesson learned, eat the fish tower there. read more

Umami Japanese - scallop nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Went back to this place and it's as amazing as always!! Highly recommend trying everything! read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

The food was plentiful and tasty. The sushi rolls were fresh and perfect in size. The service was fast and the servers were nice. We arrived around 11:30 AM on a Sunday and we beat the rush. As we were leaving, 1:00 PM, the line was out the door. read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

My partner and I dined outside tonight. There were some minor hiccups with the heater but the servers were accommodating. Umami is my family's go to local sushi place but I was disappointed by the food tonight. We ordered garlic edamame, shio ramen, philadelphia roll, and a protein roll. The garlic edamame and philadelphia roll were good! However, the shio ramen was lacking and the chicken itself was not flavorful or unique. The broth did not impress me either. My family and I always get the protein roll but today's protein roll tasted a little off. This was concerning since the roll itself contains many different types of raw fish. I'm not sure what it was but the quality was not there for me tonight. Hopefully it was just an off night. read more

Umami Japanese - Garlic Edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Took my bestie here for sushi after she had her baby. The restaurant was very clean, in a hip location, and moderately sized. We were warmly greeted and seated right away. Our servers were both kind, attentive, and got our orders perfectly. For food we ordered: Garlic edamame 9/10 super delicious. I got the lunch (11:30-3pm) roll combo b with a yellowtail roll and the freshman roll with added jalapeños. That was a smart choice. For $21 that's a steal. Fresh fish, tasty rolls, great value. 10/10 My girlfriend got a super albacore roll and a fireball roll which I had bites of that were also delicious. Overall, I'm impressed. Great value, great flavor, great service. I'll be back again! read more

Umami Japanese - Lunch special - Roll Combo B - yellowtail roll & freshman roll with jalapeños added on. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

We love Umami! The food is amazing! Service is always great! We love their sushi... very fresh and always delicious! Try the Ninja, Freshman, and Gina's Choice rolls. The tempura, kimchi cucumber salad and ramen are just a few of our other favorite things here! This is one of our favorite sushi spots to go to! Side note: There is a parking structure close by so there is ample parking!. read more

Hands down the best sushi I e ever had. This will definitely be my spot when I'm passing through San Marcos. They have a sunshine roll and it's exquisite. Perfect combo of flavors. You taste each one and they meld together perfectly. I wish I could remember the names of the other rolls (I waited too long to review). Show these pix to the server. I'm sure they can identify them! read more

See all

Was in the area and saw this sushi place that was highly rated on Yelp, and the reviews did not lead us astray. This location is behind the Pima Medical Institute within a row of food places of various variety. The interior is quite spacious with a lot of tables and some really interesting decoration pieces within the restaurant, they also have a gigantic multi screen panel display on one of the back walls which I thought looked really cool. Service is a little odd since we didn't have a specific "waiter" when we came in during a slow period on a Sunday. The guy who seated us said we would have someone come to us but after several minutes of looking over the menu and deciding on options, nobody came by for us. Eventually someone came by after finishing their rounds of cleaning to place our order, they then checked out for the day without any mention of a new waiter change or notifying us at all. I then had to ask the host who seated us if we had a specific waiter to call over and he said we can call over "anyone". A little disorganized in this sense but he was able to take the rest of our order and check in with us here and there but not quite as often as we would've liked considering how slow it was for that day. Luckily, the food came out quickly and the presentation was really well done. The prices also weren't too bad for the portions and amount we received and seemed on par with other sushi places. The taste was pretty fresh and the items we ordered were varied in flavor profiles. Only potential downside was the cost of the real wasabi we ordered which was $4 for a small chunk of it on the side. After everything that was said, I definitely enjoyed what this place had to offer and would definitely consider coming back to try out their other offerings, but hopefully with a more attentive specific waiter for us to work with. read more

See all

Our favorite Japanese spot in all of North County. We love their Miso Soup, Boa Boa, and Yakisoba noodles, in addition to their delicious sushi and specialty rolls. Ambiance and noise level is very good too! read more

Gorgeous presentation and tasty bites @umaminorthcity Fresh, unique, and delicious! Super cute spot with lots of amazing options. Quick, attentive service! Mini Sushi Cones ~ Taste of San Marcos 2019 Golden Fork Award ~ spicy tuna, salmon, avocado, creamy sauce in a crispy cone Sushi Muffins ~ Taste of San Marcos 2018 Golden Fork Award ~ IN: seasame seed, seaweed, krab meat, massago TOP: salmon, black tobiko, micro green salad, edible flowers, fresh wasabi SAUCE: house dressing, mayo, eel sauce Spicy Lemon Roll ~ IN: spicy scallop, spicy tuna, cilantro TOP: yellowtail, salmon, lemon slices, green onion, masago SAUCE: spicy mayo, eel sauce @yelpsandiego @yelp #yelp #yelpsandiego #yelpsd #umaminorthcity #umami #umamisushi #sanmarcos #sandiegodining #sandiegofood #sandiegofoodie #sandiegofoodies #sdfood #sdfoodie #sdfoodies #foodblog #foodblogger #foodbloggers #foodiesofig read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Cones Sushi Muffins - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Definitely one of our favorite sushi restaurants in San Diego county! The staff is super friendly and the food quality is always perfect. The ingredients are always fresh, the preparation is consistent, the presentation is beautiful, and the taste is delicious. Because of dietary choices, we often request modifications. They are always receptive and deliver the dishes exactly as requested. We love this little slice of sushi heaven in San Marcos! read more

Umami Japanese - Grilled Salmon Rice Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

This place was great, super cute inside and the service was awesome. Sushi rolls were fresh and they had a great selection, their lunch specials were a great deal too. Parking in the garage is a little bit of a walk away unless you can snag a street spot but there's no charge for the first two hours. I will definitely be back! read more

Umami Japanese - Super Albacore Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

Food (5/5 stars): Umami Japanese is a great spot for sushi in San Marcos. They have a wide variety of rolls to choose from and I had the Spicy Crunch because it came with spicy tuna and shrimp tempura. It tasted as good as it looked! I enjoyed the freshness of the tuna, and it went well with the spicy mayo and eel sauce. I'll be back to try more rolls! Experience (5/5 stars): * Price: reasonable * Wait Time: minimal on a Friday before 5pm * Service: good and friendly * Parking: there's a parking garage and some street parking * Ambiance: it's a nice, spacious, and modern restaurant read more

Umami Japanese - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Marcos, California

I love the decorations, the food is amazing and the waitresses are nice and amazing! This place is five stars

Great food, great service, great restaurant! I came here on a Tuesday around 5:45pm. I was able to get a table for 2 right away. It's a nice restaurant good for groups of 6 or less. Servers were very friendly and prompt with clearing our completed dishes. In addition, it didn't take long for us to get our orders. I highly recommend trying the sushi cone and sushi muffin... they were delicious! Meal was overall delicious! We also got a free edamame with my Yelp check-in and a delicious orange from the chefs for a little dessert. Parking is around the corner, don't forget to get your ticket validated. read more

See all

I love the sushi here. I got the nigiri and sashimi platter last time I came. Atmosphere is very nice. Thank you Fabian and Harue!!

We had a really disappointing experience at Umami Sushi in San Marcos. My 9 year old ordered tuna and ikura sushi, and she immediately said the tuna was extremely hard to bite through and felt slimy. That alone was concerning. I had an avocado roll, and my son had the chicken teriyaki. Unfortunately, all of the food was bland at best and lacked flavor. Nothing tasted fresh or well seasoned. Shortly after we finished eating, my daughter began complaining of a stomach ache. She ended up throwing up for the rest of the night, which was really upsetting as a parent and made the experience even worse. Overall, the food quality and our experience were not good, and we won't be returning. read more