Umami must hate the dreaded "W" word. You know, "W***m**a." But then, seeing as the restaurant seems to be almost entirely modelled on the famous Japanese noodle chain, they can't really complain. Sitting in an underground premises on Oxford Road, Umami reflects the students swarming all around the local area. A slightly budget w***m**a but with same bench tables, open kitchen and scribbling-down-your-order-on-your-paper-place-mat kind of vibe. They do great lunch deals, which include a starter and a main for just £4.95, which really is a steal. I went to Umami with two friends for a quick lunch and we all taken in by the lunch deal. For my appetiser I had the king prawn gyoza dumplings. They came with a tasty dipping sauce and were served really quickly. For the main course, I chose the ngaulam gaeng keow wan (I wrote it down!) which is basically a thai green curry. It came with lots of cucumber which isn't really my thing, but it was hot both in a spicy and temperature way so it really did the job for me as it was freezing outside! At times, I did feel that it was so spicy the taste of the dish was lost, but I guess that depends on individuals' tastes. Umami is just fine if you're a student and fancy a quick, cheap bite to eat. It's not as good as Wagamama though. Oops. I said it. Wagamama. And again. read more

Umami - Website Photo - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

Service here is at times physically as well as verbally aggressive which is...disconcerting. Express means express. It will not be acceptable if you are not ready to order. It will be acceptable to serve your main course before you have finished your starter. Lunch deal - £5.95 for 2 courses is good value and I had decent gyoza (3 pcs) and what was essentially won ton soup which wasn't particularly flavourful except I thought the dumplings themselves were quite good. There is a full menu too and basically this place is pretty good, overall though I do prefer eatGoody (it's Korean food though) which is also marginally closer to my office. read more

This is a great place for quick individual meals of Asian noodles or rice! It's my go to for a lunch treat or a quick dinner catch up after work. The menu is big so you can try something different every time you're here. The lunch deal is 2 course for less than a fiver and changes daily. For that I would recommend the ngua lam ho fun - flat rice noodles stir fried with braised beef in this beautiful sauce. In fact, if you like beef, anything else with this ngau lam braised beef is a winner (e.g. The Malaysian Rendang curry)! For starters, we've tried many of the items in the menu but a firm favourite with all our friends is the pork gyoza - you get five dumplings and they're all pan fried to perfection! I'm a fan of their noodle soups but their chicken katsu curry and seafood udon stir fry are also what I'd recommend. For dinner, there're two combo options (meat or veggie) on the menu: you get three gyoza dumplings and a ramen noodle soup for less than £7.50. I'm not a salad fan and a friend ordered a king prawn salad once - I wouldn't recommend it was just grilled prawns on some leaves, nothing special. All in all, it's a great place to grab a quick bite as the service is quick and the kitchen is even quicker! The service could be alright to great but I've never had any problems. If you check in on Yelp you get 10% off your bill, if you book through an online booking page you get 20% off your bill, or if you have student cards you get 10% off! Seriously, for such a bargain, what's not to love?! read more

See all

I have been meaning to try this place for ages, so finally it was my lucky chance. The walk from town felt endless due to the weather, eventually we climbed down the stairs to enter a very clear cut place. Lots of benches and tables were laden out in rows ready to go , and a kind waitress let us choose where we wanted to sit. I have read previous reviews that the service is typically aggressive. The majority of waiters were young chirpy females who were bright and accomodating, however the one guy with the tattoos...yeesh he needed to really cheer up. Anyway on to the food...wow I thought I had died and gone to sushi heaven. The sashimi was really well priced at £3.50 for tuna ( I normally pay at least a fiver) and the sake...£.3.50 for a flask!....and it was good sake..cheapest sake ever. We ordered lots of tuna maki, salmon nigiri and temaki handroll for starters , and a spicy ramen noodle dish for mains. The sushi was really nice quality espcially for the price, the main meal i thought let it down. I love udon noodles but these were like the ones you buy as student ..those cheap supernoodles for 10p.. Normally I would lower my rating, but the price of the sushi and sake is soo good that i know when I come back for the sushi I will not be disappointed. I think if all the waiters had the same ethusiasm this would be a great place..oh and there is 10 % off your food when you check in on yelp in the evenings. But anyway I wouldn't come here for dinner again as its not posh enough, but for a quick sushi fix it is, I might risk a main again.. read more

See all

I got a sushi craving... I looked in yelp... I avoided a few chain sushi joints and ended up at Umami. Being a bit of a sushi novice... I kind of guessed at the menu a bit and thought that sashimi meant raw and nigiri by process of elimination meant cooked... How wrong I was... Umami offers a mix of sushi, noodle and soups which I thought was great and we ordered a mix of Sushi and Ramen with some side dishes. The Char Sui pork Ramen was great... needed a little soy sauce, but that was available on all the tables. The sushi... well the whole plate came raw with the exception of Smoked eel and prawns. Raw octopus - not for me(difficult texture) Raw tuna - really good Salmon - great! Smoked Eel - to die for! Prawn When you enter the restaurant your greeted by large wooden tables with benches either side. It's quite basic and a bit too bright for my liking. If i'm honest I don't think I'll be returning as it didn't have the atmosphere or vibe that I like from a japanese Sushu House. Overall - It's not a bad place to get sushi & Ramen. Top Tips - All the sushi is raw except (eel & Prawns) asked the waiter. 10% Off evening bill with Yelp Checkin read more

Umami - Beki loving the char sui ramen... - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Not sure what to make of this place....on one hand it's cheap but on the other hand I felt a little unwelcome. I arrived at 14:55 knowing that they served a lucnh menu until 3pm...It had to be authorised by a 'manager' who allowed it...bit of fuss over nothing really as most places alow you on set menus as long as you arrive before the stated times. Not really a friendly welcome. The selection is quite limited but adeqaute for lunch. The price of about a fiver for 2 courses is pretty amazin really. I ordered fried king prawns to start with. These were ok but lacking a little salad to accompany them. For main I ordered a chicken thai curry which was suprisingly very good. The portions aren't massive but qhat do you expect for less than a fiver? I will probably only go back if i'm in the area. read more

Umami - King prawn starter - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

When you need a spice hit to get through the day this is the place. The lunch time deal is always really good and I'm left feeling full. The serivce is super quick but if your any later the 12 noon you might have to wait for for a few mintues. The food is also healthy so if your looking for something that fits in to your healthy eating plan this is the place. read more

Umami - This week's lunch menu! - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Umami's best marketing strategy is their location! They are right in the cent re of Oxford road amidst the University attracting all the students there. When you are a student in Oxford road and want to have something different besides subway and MacDonald, Umami definitely is your best bet. Their food is decent but I cant say the same about the service because the staff look so annoyed and irritated all the time. You always feel like they are doing a massive favor by even coming to take your order. Having said that, their lunch deal is actually pretty awesome for less than 6 pounds you can have a good meal. Despite the not so good service I used to frequent this place ever so often when I was bored of studying in the library and cluster of Manchester Business School! The seating arrangement is more like a fast food joint and boy they dont let you sit for even one extra minute after you are done with your food. They also have a 20% discount if you opt for take away (I guess they just don't like people :p) Things to try: 1. Thai Green/Red Curry 2. Sushi Palate 3. Tom Yum Soup Verdict: Cheap and good food but not ideal for dining in! read more

See all

Great little place to eat on oxford road near to the universities. Very similar to wagamama / tampopo, but if you go at lunch time, you get two courses for less than £6!! The layout is bench style as in similar restaurants, so be prepared to be sat next to some strangers ! The decor is simple but modern, and there is a large open kitchen where you can see the chefs at work. I quite often go here with vegetarian friends and they always have a good selection on the menu. I tend to get whatever their ramen of the day is, and meat or vegetable gyozo or tempura to start. Always well cooked and comes out of the kitchen very quickly! Although it can get very busy at lunchtime and I've heard the staff can get a little pushy to keep the turnover on their tables, I've never had a bad experience. I think for £5.95, you can't go wrong !! read more

I've been here a few times now and they serve good quality asian food quickly and relatively inexpensively. Certainly better than wagamama. Unami is set underground in what feels like an authentic inner city quick eat asian restaurant. They have a fantastic small but ever changing lunchtime menu which for £5 you can get a starter and a main. They also do a substantial 20% discount on takeaways which makes this a very good option. I won't say this is the best wagamama alternative around but I will certainly recommend it for a quick lunch or takeaway read more

Disappointing to be honest. Whenever I see the bright neon signs offering sushi and noodles in a tucked away restaurant I always want to go in. I came at 12.30 which is clearly peak time as it was rammed. I went for the lunchtime express, 2 courses for £5.95. I went for chicken skewers in satay sauce which were okay. I also got hokkien fried rice which was disappointing as the last time I had this it was yum. That wasn't here though. To be fair it was quick and cheap, as promised. The staff were a mixed bag, from very smiley to the grumpy staff other people have mentioned. Service was very quick but almost too quick. The second you put down your fork your plate is whisked away, all the better to get the next paying customer in. I feel in this case that location, location, location explains their success. read more

I really wanted to like this place. But on my first experience I got take out and it all went bad. I got a veggie soup and took it home. I asked the girl numerous times if there were any nuts in it because I am severely allergic. She assured me several times it was nut free. At home, in my first few bites, I found a peanut and had an allergic reaction. Needless to say I spent the evening with an ambulance and will never go back. read more

Has sushi here last week and have also been here lots with the lunch deals in the past. Sushi was..... Not so great for me :( it may be that I just don't like sushi or raw fish however my partner who came with me, who does like sushi wasn't Wowed by it unfortunately! It was lovingly made I'm sure but just dismt have enough Taste for me! We also had the roast pork ramen noodles which was lovely and very tasty. Lots of juicy noodles and pork in a broth with lots of pak choi! The pork dumplings that came with it were also delicious! You have to get prawn toast and Thai spicy crackers they are just divine!! The lunch meal deal is great value and cheaper than the evening meals tho it's lovely any time of day! There are lots of long benches and communal tables so if you're looking for a romantic dinner perhaps here isn't the place! Good selection of beers and wine though not particularly cheap! House rose was lovely :) read more

This restaurant offers great position (right next to the aquatic centre) and a large menu with fusion asian cuisine. Price is in line with the average asian restaurant, but you can save some money with takeaway or lunch deals (ideal for students). Food isn't bad but it's not memorable either. I had ramen udon which was quite lacking, but my partner had a pretty tasty pat-thai. One major downside is the location: a basement with no windows. Avoid if you're looking for some nice atmosphere. read more

I was introduced to to Umami by a colleague and would probably have walked straight past it otherwise. The door on Oxford Road is fairly anonymous, and the staircase down to this basement restaurant is completely bare which gives you doubts about whether you're supposed to be here. In short, Umami is like an independent and authentic Wagamama or Tampopo. The service is fast and friendly and the food is fresh and tasty. Their lunch menu is incredibly good value, but arrive early or else you won't stand a chance of getting a table. They also offer sushi and do sushi to take out for lunch. read more

Angela is spot on, Umami is hidden away, and it would be heaving all the time if it was in a different location. Its very much like Wagamumas, and as good, but its got the bonus of feeling a little more authentic and less like a large faceless (British) company. Its got long sharing benches which is nice, but only a couple as it's a very small room, making it charming and intimate. The food is really good, and the lunch deal is remarkably cheap for both a starter and a main (under £5). I had the red Thai curry, which was excellent, but not as good as the pepper prawn wanton that I started with. I've once had the Ramen, which was good, but I'd have to say not a patch on the Wagamumas version, especially if you like your steaks cooked rare. Overall I'd say it was better, and well worth a visit. If you're really into Thai food you might think it's a bit cheap and cheerful, but if it's a good cheap lunch you're after, then I couldn't recommend it more. read more

I'll give this place one thing. They've definitely got patience, and I am very appreciative of that. With a large group, with so many lollygaggers, the staff here were definitely good to us. I know I would have been unhappy with us. The restaurant is a good size, with a lot of seating. A nice modern-ish interior. My Grosvenor Hall pals definitely loved the location! Our group ordered a variety of dishes. I had the fried noodle dish, it was nice. Nothing too special. Someone else at the table ordered sushi, definitely pricey and not filling at all. Rice was there and... honestly, nothing really stood out. But I am glad I had the noodles, looked the most appealing compared to the others. At the end of the night, we were all able to have a good time at Umami, probably because we overstayed our welcome, and you weren't too fussy about it. So much thanks to that! If it weren't for the nice location and understanding staff, I wouldn't have much else to say. =/ read more

Umami is easily overlooked as it's sandwiched between The Footage pub and Subway in a basement space. Serving the University, the prices are always enticingly low in this noodle bar, but the food is still tasty and plentiful. It's similar to Wagamama in its model and layout, but perhaps even nicer. There's Sushi, Ramen, wonderful Pork gyozas and the best of Thai cuisine. There's unusual, innovative choices too, like Organic Salmon Ramen and Sirloin Steak Salad. I love the fact that you can also buy ginger and lemon as well as elderflower presse to compliment your dishes, or a choice of four Asian beers at just £2.60 a bottle. I suggest the 2 course lunch menu for only £4.95. You can't get a better deal than that at any other noodle bar in town. read more

Umami is the fat man's (aka me) choice for a fancy lunch. This place is great with simple decor and bucket loads of noodles it hits the nail on the head over and over again. Think Wagamama's then tone down the price and you can see it all clearly in your mind. Umami do a wide range of eastern dishes from sushi to ramen. Students get a 10% off and a 2 course lunch can be snapped up for a superb £4.95. The seats are the typical bench malarkey with chip stocks and all. The food is constantly good whatever you order being fresh and quick, they do takeaway as well! read more

Umami - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Here's a fact that I learned from QI: umami is the word for what most of your tongue tastes. I think it roughly translates to savoury, or something. I dunno, even thoug I have seen that episode of QI a hundred times, I can't remember. Anyway, Umami is great. Though I don't often eat at Umami, I would say we get takeout from there quite often. It's pretty lush, and it's always nice to eat proper Japanese cuisine at home without having to faff around inexpertly with tempura batter. We like to order a huge amount of starters, and have like a Japanese tapas meal. Our faves are: gyoza, chicken yakitori, king prawn katsu. I can also vouch for the pad thai and the fokkien fried rice. It's a nice place to eat, with its low lighting and hushed air, it'd be a good date place. read more

Umami: I don't know quite how to pronounce it, quite what it means (perhaps a little shamedly) but I know that it's quality bargainous noodles and for now I'm content. Located on Oxford Road, making it a prime location for students, it may seem oddly situated as what's a Japanese/sushi/noodle fusion type place doing around here amongst the take away masses as well as Subway of course. But those with the beady, curious eye gain pleasure from the knowledge that on entry to this establishment comes £4.95 for two courses between 12-3, EVERYDAY. Yes including weekends and if you're lucky enough to be in lectures right across the way with a torturous hour break between these hours, then you are lucky enough to be able to just nip in, consume and nip back out, fuelled for more learning. I do often approach these noodle places with caution as nothing ever compares to my dad's homemade specialities. But this place hasn't seen a semi-forced visit from me like the usual dare I say Wagamamas. The lunch menus change, that is the beauty. I've sampled prawn dishes, salads, noodles, tofu, duck, all gorgeous, quickly made and most of the time delivered with a smile. One day I'd like to uncover the whole dining experience and venture away from the bargain lunch menu and the hoards of minds alike. Umami has been one of the few establishments that I've come across that have Westernized it's tastes, even down to its problematic pronunciation! Fresh sushi beckons next I reckon. read more

Umami - website logo - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Umami is a great place to go and grab a bite to eat on Oxford Road. Strategically situated between the city centre and the university, it has a fairly big turnover of customers, and whenever I eat there, is quite full. The food is superb. As with many of the East-Asian restaurants in Manchester, Umami serves simple food, which has been cooked and prepared very well. The prices are reasonable, and the portion sizes more than ample for someone with a big appetite. Umami seems to be following in the vein of the behemoth Wagamama, but the food here is much higher quality, and the restaurant feels more friendly and welcoming, as opposed to corporate and faceless. The venue is slightly unsual, as it is underground, and entered by going down a staircase which opens directly onto the road. It can feel a bit claustrophobic as there is no natural light or windows, especially if eating there during the day, but in the evening, it is cosy, friendly and relaxed, so a perfectly enjoyable place to eat a meal with friends. I would definitely recommend a meal at Umami before, say, a performance at the RNCM or Martin Harris Centre, as it is ideally located for easy access to both! read more

Umami is a cute little noodle bar situated right next to a branch of Subway's on Oxford Road. You'd be forgiven for walking right past it as it's not exactly conspicuous - but there's usually a few students making a beeline for the place whenever I've been. Follow them down the rabbit hole staircase, and you'll find yourself in noodle heaven. A lot of other reviewers on Qype have likened this place to Wagamamas, and whilst the food they serve here is quite similar to that dished up by the Asian chain restaurant, I'd argue that this place has bags more atmosphere. For one thing, you're sat at a table with your partner rather than being shoved onto a hard bench with a bunch of complete strangers - which also means you're able to indulge in an intimate conversation without the world and its wife listening in. However, the best thing about Umami is their delicious (and plentiful) food which is scandalously cheap. For example, they do a superb 2 courses for £4.95 lunchtime offer which is certainly one of the best I've seen in Central Manchester. All of their food tastes fresh and bursts with flavour - I particularly recommend their Pork Gyoza's which tickle your tastebuds with flavour. And if that wasn't enough, they also serve an excellent range of sushi. If you're a skint student (or just a skinflint) looking for a slap up feed for a low low price, then you should definitely pay Umami a visit. Both your belly and your wallet will thank you. read more

The Umami noodle bar on Oxford Road will immediately remind you of Wagamama, and that is exactly the type of restaurant and food it is going for, albeit at cheaper prices. There is an extensive menu featuring ramen, rice, noodle, sushi and other Japanese dishes, as well as interesting desserts containing bean paste and wasabi. This place is great for students, not just because you receive a student discount but also because of their amazing £5 lunch deal (choose 2 dishes from a set menu). The service is quick and the food tasty, and I would go again. Definitely give it a go! read more

Umami - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Agree with all my previous reviewers - this is a wagamama style restaurant (with cheaper prices). Located v near the Universities for all those lucky students, who also get a 10% student discount! Usually any wait to get seats, but it also does take-away. Food is consistently tasty & very fresh, and menu wide enough to suite most folks - from pad thai to spicy curries and a selection of sushi. Cannot recommend the gyoza enough - delicious! Oh & the wine is reasonably priced, with a white & a red at just under a tenner. read more

Great little Japanese noodle bar that will remind you a lot of Wagamamas. The layout is very similar, with the bench style seating. Quite a small restaurant but it never seems overly busy whenever I've been. The food is fantastic, they also over some thai/chinese style dishes as well as ramen and sushi. Not overly expensive and they do a great deal at lunchtimes (£4.95 for a noodle dish) read more

Good for: humorous menu spelling mistakes, the Wagamama's lover who wants to stick it to the man, the best tofu this side of the Great Wall Bad for: the unobservant passer by, interior designers read more

Well, no need to say they've misspelt Wagamama. The slight price drop is welcome an if u take away u get another 20% off. Can't knock that. The booze is cheaper than the other noodle chains an it's certainly loads more chilled out. If u like noodles, here they are, come get them. read more

Umami - Japanese Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I go to Umami because the food is quite nice and it's not too expensive. However, I definitely do not go for the service, and recently, I've had enough of their poor service. With consistently rude staff that are allergic to smiling and serve you as though it is a chore and favor for you is one thing, but to have the phone shut on you twice whilst enquiring about a takeaway order is another (I couldn't even get a word out before he shut the phone saying it closed 5 minutes earlier). In particular, the man who usually serves the main floor is terribly rude and doesn't understand that customer service and the overall dining experience is as, if not more important than the food. It's safe to say I will never be going back. Avoid at all costs if you expect a nice dining experience. The food is also pretty greasy and they use packet noodles (like those you see in Super Noodles) in their main soup noodle dishes... read more

There is nowhere better to find yourself on a wet Wednesday afternoon than sat on a pew in Umami sucking up some noodles. I used to come here for 'revision' all the time when I was a student, wandering in book-laden and bedraggled I'd sit at the bench and chow down on anything from fresh sushi to spicy Singapore noodles. Seriously students, noodles make it all better. If you're looking for a cheap lunch or take away, pop in and take advantage of their set menu or student discount. If you're trying to find somewhere to take the rents which is nice but not too pricey, Umami is perfect. A bit like Fuzion in Fallowfield (without the angry service staff). Umami offers a great selection of freshly cooked East Asian dishes and delicious Sushi to have in or take away. Service is polite and exceptionally fast, and whilst there isn't much of an atmosphere, Umami offers good grub for good prices, and that's about as good as its going to get if you're a humble student who should really be in the library anyway. read more

This is a good deal for lunch. For the lunch special pick one appetizer and one main. They come quick and were pretty good. I had gyoza and curry chicken w/ rice. Service was quick and efficient. This is good deal for a quick lunch. The sign on Oxford road says "Noodle Bar" Head down stairs. read more

Great little Japanese place near the University, Umami is a hidden gem, located in a basement space between The Footage pub and Subway near the Aquatics centre. They have a varied menu at reasonable prices and a superb 2 courses for £4.95 lunchtime offer which is the best I've seen in Manchester. Last time I went in I had the pork gyozas (dumplings) followed by chicken rendang (a Malaysian medium curry) - both were very tasty I look forward to going there again soon! read more

Really love the unique environment. You feel like "everyone's in it together" almost like an elegant cafeteria...if you can imagine that. The food was great I had a red curry entree with duck but I think the best part of the evening was the dessert. The cheese cake was magnificent. The waitress with the piercings was really nice!! read more

Perfectly situated just around the corner from my workplace, Umami is a lovely little japanese noodle bar that I tend to frequent on a regular basis. The food is very fresh and tasty (occasionally a little on the oily side) and generally very enjoyable. I have only visited Umami in the daytime so I cannot comment on the evening services. This is a perfect place to go for mini work-do's like birthdays and leaving parties. From Mon-Fri they offer a 2 course deal for £4.95 which is very worth the dosh! I would highly recommend the duck and curry dishes, and the vegetable starter in rice vinegar is supertasty, YUMARAMA :D read more

Probably the best place for lunch around uni of manchester. The rest is all the same: pizza, kebab, fried chicken, burgers. Well, there is that korean place (forgot its name) which is also good, but a little further from campus. You don't have much choice when being around UM, so this place might be better than it is in reality, but i still take it over the rest of the boring crap any day. Their sushi is just ok, but some of their fusion dishes (noodles, curries) are pretty good. Add 10% student discount to it and we got a clear winner in this area. There are better asian places around town though. read more

The food is not what I expected from the menu, but it tastes quite ok. Lunch deal was good. Thai salad tastes quite Thai, in my opinion.

Go here if you are a student. Right next to unis and super super affordable. I think lunch is 8 quid for 2 course meal which is really decent. The food isn't obviously better than what you would get at a proper nice restaurant but it's still very good. Nice place to hang out for a quick one hour break. read more

Don't go. Rubbish Service. Food is ok but small portions. However the service is disgraceful. Worst of all the manager/owner is rude and arrogant. I went there with a group of friends and the manager/owner talked down to us as well as treating us the whole time with disdain. The bit that really tipped us over the edge was when it came to paying for the bill, he wouldn't even change a £10 note for 2 £5 notes despite us paying in cash (we were a group of 6). When I'd challenged him on the poor customer experience his response was "I don't care, people will still come". Well I for one will not be coming back and I sincerely hope others will follow as there should be no excuse for poor customer service. read more

I agree with D D. below. Their service is very very very poor. They don't smile at you the first step you made into their restaurant. We are Malaysian chinese student here. The short hair lady with spectacles treated us so rudely. But when she was serving the locals (British), she smiled at them and being so polite. What's wrong with her? "Smile" is a simple thing to do especially when you are doing business, specifically dining business. I am gonna go for the second time for the food, but I don't think there will be third time. I really don't mind paying more for a better service. Because if these people are polite and friendly, you feel more than happy to pay the money. I think the China chinese businesses over here are always like this. They treated chinese very rudely but nicely towards the British. I experienced all these attitudes at the chinese area and umami. I am sick of it. read more