TLDR : Good but not mind blowing ramen. Came for brunch and got their brunch ramen. A Kanbu dashi and soy milk based broth with pork belly, bacon crumbling and various other veggies. The pork belly was very tender and had great taste. I was a little disappointed in the broth which felt a little weak. It had good flavor but the richness wasn't quite there. Several of my other friends ordered the vegetable brunch ramens and thought their meal was amazing. I'd like to come back for dinner and see if they have a pork based ramen. Until then I'll keep my review at 4 stars. read more

We visited Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar on Martin Luther King Day as part of restaurant week. The atmosphere was inviting. The restaurant is in a house built during the 1800s which has been renovated into a chic space. The entrance is on the side. There is street parking in front and a small parking lot in back. The decor was inviting and interesting. There are a couple of different rooms in addition to the kitchen. It's not a big space and the waiting area always had patrons waiting for a table. The bar was packed. The clientele was mainly 20 somethings. The drink menu includes a variety of good beers, a few wines, saki, and a variety of Vietnamese inspired beverages including some excellent cocktails. The menu is composed primarily of various varieties of dumplings, steamed buns and ramen. Our waitress was prompt and polite. Originally we were all planning to do the Restaurant Week menu: pick a bun, a dumpling, a ramen, and a mochi for $25. Based on the menu we originally guessed the main advantage was getting the mochi included in the price. However, after close inspection of the menu and questioning the waitress, it turns out the Restaurant Week meal was only 1/2 the bun and 2/3 of the dumpling. There is no savings for Restaurant Week. The waitress explained it as a chance to try a little of everything. I guess my expectations for Restaurant Week were that you were getting a discount for going out in the middle of Winter but that was not the case here. The sweet buns were all excellent. Chewy sweet buns, tangy fresh insides. We tried 3 different types. I thought the BBQ was the best, but all were tasty. We also enjoyed 3 types of dumplings. All were best with the soy vinegar sauce. The spicy sauce didn't add much flavor, nor spice. The ramen was the biggest disappointment for me. The broth was bland. The texture of the noodles was good, but although I ordered the tonkotsu which was described as a rich pork broth, it really tasted more like miso but with very little depth. Although I would return to Umami Ramen for drinks, I think you can get as good of buns and dumplings elsewhere and as for the ramen, I've had much better elsewhere. read more

I had a bowl of shoyu (soy-based) ramen with thinly slicked pork and I also added a portion of extra pork belly. They certainly know what to do with the pork. It was very delicious. What I didn't do was adding an extra shot of spicy bomb. The noodle soup wasn't very hot, like pho usually is. I am not sure whether that's the way it is with Japanese soup or mine just wasn't heated right. Sitting in the patio was a treat. Although my table was very close to our neighbors, but the noise level was comfortable. Will definitely go back again. read more

Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Umami used to be somewhere I frequented often. It's prime location, intimate seating and trendy atmosphere make it a perfect date spot. However, I think Ill only visit their food cart from now on. The spicy tofu bun is the best vegetarian option here, and I only have positive things to say about it. The reason I won't be visiting their restaurant anymore is because their service is reliably bad and their other menu options are just so okay it hurts. **disclaimer** i have not had brunch here and I have heard their brunch is good. read more

The atmosphere is very cute, we got the chive dumplings, which were alright, I wasnt sure if they were freshly made. The ramen was very yummy. Decent size. Mainly the drop in stars is the service, the waitstaff were not attentive at all. It was very disappointing. read more

MMMMM Umami! When this place opened, it took me a long time to try it. Not sure why. Maybe the location and parking? Maybe because it's in what appears to be an old single family home converted to a restaurant? Who knows. All I do know is, I should have just gone because when I finally did, I was so impressed. First visit we sat at the bar for dinner. Our bartender was great. Chatty and attentive but not in your face. We both ordered ramen, different kinds. SO. GOOD. I am pretty picky with ramen. Texture of eggs, ingredients thrown in, the flavoring - it was all perfect. I was really happy with my selection. My second visit was for brunch. I wasn't sure what the menu would have for brunch as I typically only associate ramen and the like with dinner. We had bacon dumplings, the omurice (rice omelette) and the biscuits and tonkotsu gravy. Everything was really good! I definitely recommend Umami! read more

Came here for restaurant week after wanting to try it for a while now. We got seated at the bar, and were attended to regularly. The menu was nice in size (both for restaurant week and regular menu). I was happy to see everything I got in the special menu was also on the regular menu. The food was absolutely delicious. I'm so excited to come back here! It got busy the later the dinner went on, but arriving at 5:30 on a Friday, we had no problems. I do recommend making a reservation ahead of time though. We were asked if we had one, and that's why we sat at the bar. read more

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The ramen was nothing to write home about--that being said, the pork belly buns and bulgogi buns we ordered as our appetizer were AMAZING. I'm talking melt-in-your-mouth-oh-my-god-do-i-want-twenty-more amazing! They were marinated to perfection and the meat was tender. Minus 1 star only because of the "meh" ramen and sticky tables. (+) Pork belly & bulgogi buns A MUST (+) Small yet cozy with outdoor seating (-) Sticky tables (-) Ramen was just ok read more

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Restaurant week review: I've known of Umami for years but just never really gotten around to trying it, so I figured this would be the time. I started with a pork belly bun, and it was pretty standard in that the pork belly was fatty, the scallions were fresh, and the pickled vegetables were present, too. The bun itself, however, was strangely dried at the edges and wasn't super pillowy like other baos I've had. Dumplings were yummy; I had the shrimp and pork, and these were something I would consider coming back for. Not too oily, good filling, and crispy. For my main, I went for the tonkatsu ramen, which I felt was underwhelming compared to the other bowls of ramen I've had in Madison: the broth was too salty, the noodle texture was kind of mushy, and the bamboo was tough to chew. The fermented egg was my winner in this bowl. I ended my meal with green tea mochi; it was the right amount of sweet and a nice way to end the meal. I probably won't come back because of my preferences of buns, ramen, and dumplings elsewhere. read more

This was the very first date I went on with my now husband and we go back to celebrate that first date every year during restaurant week! The food is always great, we request the same table and the staff is always so thoughtful! The buns and dumplings are where it's at on the menu but the fun in restaurant week is that you can try a nice variety all in one meal. Definitely give her a try, she's a great little restaurant in a great neighborhood...we love to take a walk up and down Willy St after. ;) read more

I've been here twice, and both times I thought the ramen was just alright. But I love this place simply for the drinks and the beef and pork buns and dumplings. I could go just to eat appetizers. I do wish the ramen was a little more flavorful, but overall it's a cool place and the inside has a very nice and hip atmosphere. read more

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Take-out experience: Overall ambience - The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. It is a very trendy and hippie place. Food - I had tonkotsu ramen and it definitely has the umami taste to it. The broth is very rich but sadly not as flavorful as I expected. The umami flavor was the main and almost only flavor to the ramen. read more

Service was impeccable last night. I got the Vegan Dumplings. They were recommended by the person who seated us. Super tasty with their hot sauce! I also ordered some of their Sake. Very good too. They always came by and refilled our waters, too. That was very nice. Definitely coming back to this place read more

I would give this place a 2 if it wasn't for the first two times I got the hot buns. Even though the hot buns are nice and tasty it is not the best I've ever had. There should be more stuffed inside. The bun overpowers any deliciousness that is inside the bun. Tonight I got Miso Ramen. It is the worst I have ever had! It is bitter and just fails on so many different levels. The ramen noodles are subpar and the Miso wasn't even hot. I actually had to microwave it once I got home and I only live five minute walk away. I do believe this is my last attempt at this place I will be moving on which is sad because of how close it is. Plus I got a view of the kitchen and how people worked as I waited for my food. :-( read more

Loved everything about this place. The noodles were amazing and the drinks as well. I enjoyed the mango mojito, it was fresh and just prepared to perfection. Next time I am in Madison I will definitely hot this place up. Service was also great!!! read more

Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Came in as a walk-in on a rainy Thursday night and it seems like everyone else had the same hankering for ramen as me. I had to wait about 25 minutes for a table but the host was really good about keeping me updated with how soon a table would come free, which I thought was really helpful. I ordered a glass of the house sake, an order of pork buns, and the tonkatsu ramen. The sake was fairly bland. I was told that the pork buns were award winning. I have to admit that I am always surprised to know that there is such a competition. But as such an award might suggest they were really delicious. The pork was nice and tender. And the bun went really well together with a nice hoisin sauce as well as a fresh crunch from the cucumbers. As for the main reason I was here, the ramen was just okay. I was hoping for a little bit of a richer broth. Instead it was a little salty. The noodles, egg, bamboo shoots, and seaweed were all fine but to me the broth is the key to ramen greatness and it came up short in that area. read more

Despite my dietary restrictions of soy and egg, Umami still allowed me to have a very enjoyable dinner! Now, that being said, i was very limited with items on the menu. I was impressed with their flexibility. My boyfriend raves about their pork buns. This was something i was unable to try, but worth noting. We shared an order of spring rolls (minus tofu) with peanut sauce. Awesome! I had the pork/shrimp dumplings (favorite thing), chicken/mushroom dumplings and the original ramen with pork belly added. YUM YUM YUM! Most items on there menu are $5-$12 each. For a date night with 2 drinks, 1 app, pork buns, 2 dumplings and a shared order of ramen...with tip, or our total was $90. I would recommend coming here, but i will not be back for a while...too many other cool places to try in the area first! read more

This place is a completely solid 3.5 stars, but I'm going to round up because it has a small parking lot! It's pretty hard to find parking there (I guess only 6-7 cars could fit there), but it's better than nothing. The ramen here is relatively good, the dumplings are relatively good, but nothing spectacular. I'm very confused when I see reviews about this being the best ramen they've had - it's certainly nothing special, but it will satisfy your ramen/dumpling craving! It's honestly quite a small establishment, I was surprised! It's probably not good if you have a group of 5 or more...but you CAN make reservations for a group of 5 or more which is pretty cool! I would say that this place is pretty great for a date night. The service was fine, relatively fast at getting the food out and refilling drinks, but otherwise it's just another ramen place. read more

This gets a full on YAAAASSSSS KWEEEEEEEEN! from me. We started out with the tuna poke and the pork dumplings. The poke was really nice and fresh, and all the flavors melded together so nicely. The wonton chips tasted homemade, and the slaw and the seaweed salad were so good together. The dumplings were your standard pork dumplings. They didn't really stand out for me, but they were good. The plan was to try multiple items on the menu, but we got hung up on the pork buns. THE PORK BUNS, GANG!! I actually cashed out my 401K to buy more pork buns. So good. The bun itself has a marvelous texture. Light and fluffy, and a perfect vehicle for the filling. The pork and hoisin combined with the cucumbers and scallions was beautiful. So beautiful that I changed my son's name to Pork Bun the next day. And then brought him here for a pork bun, so he could experience the gloriousness for himself. I could eat myself sick on these pork buns. And that's all you need to know. read more

Good ramen, great (and adorable!!) atmosphere. This ramen place is in an old house with inside seating, and a lovely outdoor patio. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the bowl of ramen as it was too dark, but I was happy with it. I had the tonkotsu ramen with pork belly - the broth was thick and flavorful, noodles were good, the egg was prepared and seasoned well. The seaweed appetizer was surprisingly good and unusual with the addition of tasty shiitake mushrooms. One thing that I didn't really enjoy was the spring roll appetizer which was rather bland. read more

Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar - Seaweed appetizer. - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The beef bun is great. Really nice and stylish ramen bar with great service and staff. Very interesting asian fused drinks, like reiko saki mixed with Ramen. Pricey, like 50 bucks for 2 people. Nice outdoor setting that looks out on Williamson street. Yuppie crowd mostly read more

Pretty good overall. There's a reason they have won awards for their pork buns. My entire meal could have consisted of multiple orders of pork buns and I would have been satisfied. Girlfriend and I split an order of dumplings, which ended up being closer to potstickers than my previous encounters with dumplings, but were still quite nice. Not the best potstickers/dumplings I've had, but definitely worth the money. Got the chicken miso ramen, and it was exactly what it was supposed to be - hot, salty, and loaded up with green onions and chicken, along with half of a boiled egg. Personally I prefer fried eggs in my ramen, but it was still nice. The restaurant itself is pretty bland, but you're going there for the food, so I wasn't bothered. Staff was overwhelmed on a Sunday night, and I was a bit miffed that the hostess couldn't give us even an estimate of how long we would be waiting. It ended up being only a few minutes, but I considered leaving for someplace else since it seemed so random as to when we'd actually be seated. I think even one more person would have given them some reprieve. Overall a good place for Japanese food that is actually pretty accurate to what you'd find within the actual country. read more

My anaconda don't want none unless you got umami buns hun. Their buns are outrageously good here. I always get the pork buns but I have tried their Ramen before. It's okay, lots of flavor but the noodles are harder than what I'm used to. The servers are super nice and they have a lot of specialty drinks here. But for real though you should try the buns here. read more

Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar - Pork buns - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great addition to the Madison outdoor cafe scene. Casual and friendly. Must order the pork belly steamed buns with chef-made hoisin sauce - we ordered two and were so impressed, ordered two more. Yum! House-made gyoza have ample filling and the ramen is decent. I would recommend the tonkotsu style for its savory broth. A perfect Asian comfort food for a rainy afternoon. Beer and wine selection pretty good. read more

I think the best way to do Umami is family-style with a group of friends. Order everything, share it all, and split the bill evenly. That's what I did on a cool fall night. We sat out on the deck and ordered the following: pork buns, spicy pulled pork buns (the special), beef buns, pork dumplings, the ramen special (served cold with raw veggies), and the pork ramen. Out waiter, Spike, was incredibly helpful in guiding us along. He suggested that if we wanted to split ramen, they could separate the order into two bowls and add a bit more meat and noodles for a slight up charge. It was the perfect amount this way! He also was nice about informing us about he intriguing things on the menu that we weren't familiar with, such as the "garlic bomb" (puréed fresh garlic blended with butter... Add a touch to your pork ramen! Soooooo good!) My favorites were definitely the spicy pulled pork buns and the pork ramen, but everything was delicious. I loved the fluffy buns and the tender meat, with just the right amount of heat to everything. The warm, flavorful ramen was just what I needed outside on a night with a bit of a chill. I definitely was feeling the high salt content later, but it was so worth it. Just be sure to wash it down with some water and/or a pint! I'll definitely be returning with my crew for a no-fuss feast! read more

I agree with the general consensus, it's a happy 3 1/2 star place. We got the beef buns, pork and vegetable pot stickers, and tonkatsu ramen. The beef buns (2) were flavorful and good portion, I just wish they were a tad bit warmer. With the pot stickers (9), you get a choice of one of the sauces. We mistakenly chose the sirracha, expecting it to be soy sauce based, instead it was a paste. I'd go with the soy sauce next time. The filings were fair but the wrapper was too thick. We split the ramen and we're glad we did because it was a huge bowl. There was sufficient ramen, bamboo shoots and thin pork slices. It's definitely not your traditional ramen in the sense that they did not use juicy pork belly, and the soup base was very light. Did not have the deep flavor of a true tonkatsu ramen. read more

First off, I love ramen and would take the chance to visit every ramen shop I ran into. Because of this, I've been able to experience many different types of ramen around the country. This doesn't make me a ramen expert by no means but I know what I like. Umami is hidden away in a little "house" right off of Willy street. The sign is very small and you can easily miss it, but it's located pretty much across from "Plan B". They sell ramen and dumplings just like the name suggests. We ended up order 2 types: $12 for a bowl of Tonkatsu Ramen and $10 for the miso ramen. We also ordered the pork and chives dumplings, 6 for $6. Now ramen prices are usually pricey like this, so we didn't think too much of it. We received the dumplings first. They were small, pan friend on the outside, and came with a soy-ginger dipping sauce. These dumplings were tasty, but I wish there was more to it. More meat, more chives, more anything. The ramen came next. This was maybe 30 minutes after we received the dumplings. With that said, the service there was reallllllll slow. For a place that only sells ramen, you'd expect to get your food a little faster. The ramen tasted good, but like the dumplings, there wasn't much to it. You got half an egg, a couple pieces of chasu pork, and some of the pickled bamboo shoot. I wouldn't say I'm a gluten, but I wish there was MORE food, especially since it was a 45-60 min wait since we made our order...I was hungry. Overall, very good food, but not necessarily for the price. You can add extra ingrediants to you noodles, but that would make a bowl of noodles cost upwards of $20, something I'm not willing to pay. read more

Hailing from LA/OC, I have pretty high standards when it comes to ramen and I eagerly awaited the opening of Umami. I made it for a weekday lunch. As other reviewers have already stated, the space is very nice/New York chic with a completely new interior and classy bar. The dinner menu looked very similar to the lunch menu and I am assuming that the only difference is really the portion size of the ramen. The cocktail (sake-tini) menu looked quite impressive with classic and original sake-tini recipes. I can't say anything about how they tasted though since it was not quite yet noon when I dropped by, but I will have to return to taste them. The sake list had a nice selection with reasonable price points for glasses/350/500 mL bottles. It's nice to know that there is another place to get good sake in town that is not Sushi Muramoto or Restaurant Muramoto. What I ordered was the salad (mushroom and arugula) and ramen (tonkotsu) lunch portion. They came out quite promptly and the ramen was steaming hot. The salad was fresh and crisp, but a bit overdressed. All in all it was somewhat forgettable. The bowl of ramen was quite inviting, but I was left a bit wanting. First the positive: The noodles had a hearty and toothsome chew and were cooked well. Their "flavor infused egg" had a delightful texture and custardy interior. The chashu was well prepared, but with two very thin (almost deli-meat thickness) cuts, the flavor of roast pork didn't quite shine in comparison with the rich broth. This brings me to the broth...Don't get me wrong, their version of tonkotsu is rich, but richness from the fat/collagen of high temperature boiled bones can not make up for a lack of well...umami...At times I had thought that I accidentally ordered shio (salt) ramen. I did not have an issue with the level of saltiness with this broth. The flavors were just too clean for me to be a tonkotsu. Perhaps next time I would recommend the "garlic bomb" extra for their tonkotsu. Additionally for the reviewers that are commenting on the lack of umami perhaps, try out their miso-ramen, that's what I'm going to do as miso paste should add quite a bit of umami and deepness to the broth. The staff are quite friendly and young. Also the service was attentive and prompt. Overall I would give Umami a 3/5 for lunch, but I will return for dinner service and try out their cocktails, sake, and smaller bites and give an updated review. We all deserve second chances right? read more

Update, having been a few more times I think the staff have gotten their sea legs and quality is much more consistent. In fact the very thin waiter we have had the last few times has been really good and professional. We have had much less trouble getting a seat in a reasonable time and have not been treated snootily. The pork buns are always good, several other places in town have them now but Umamis are the best. The dumplings still underwhelm, I stopped getting them. But the Ramen... I would eat it several times a week if I could. Miso+garlic Bomb, Pork+ spicy, both amazing. Have had the veggie and it was great too. So good, I just finished dinner and I still want to eat their Ramen right now! It seems much more consistent though it has settled on the non-salty side, personally I liked it pretty salty. They will not sell it for take-out, or at least they would not when I last asked, which is a disappointment when you live down the street. read more

Umami and I got off on the wrong foot from the very beginning. I live just a few doors down from this place, and have watched the restaurant take shape from the time they bought their house, renovated it, and opened their doors. The Willy St. neighborhood is a pretty friendly community. We're used to living in a mixed-use area of commercial and residential buildings. We are proud of our thriving local businesses, and strive to support them. We have a long tradition of residents and businesses working together on this street. But Umami hasn't shown itself to be anything approaching a local citizen. I have yet to meet the owners, I received no forewarnings or apologizes for the endless construction traffic impeding flow on Willy street during their renovation process. I received no invitation to an opening night, no neighborly olive branch. As far as I know, Umami's owners are out-of-towners unfamiliar with Madison's culture and just looking to make a buck. As a few others have commented, Umami's sign, like it's building, is hidden and nondescript. Most patrons don't find their parking lot - meaning that people who actually live on Willy St and rely on street parking are starting to become accustomed to not being able to find parking in the evenings. But all this is local stuff, right? For most of you, how Umami treats it's neighbors is small beans. A month after Umami opened, I decided to let go of my resentments and give it a go. Friends from Japan were visiting from out of town, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Contrary to what many have said here, I found the service was the highlight of the experience. If anything, this place is overstaffed- and the owners have obviously gone to great lengths to maintain Asian appearances! My first shock came when I walked in the door. The exterior of the building fails completely to capture what the owners are apparently going for. I was hoping for a homey and comfortable noodle joint. Walking in, I was blasted with a decor scheme that screamed "Chic New York Asian-Fusion." The sparse menu was a disappointing mix of the two. I got the vegetarian dumplings, and my companions ordered ramen. Both were shockingly unremarkable. The high prices and trying-very-hard decor tried to overshadow the menu's bland least-common-denominator approach to Japanese food. But the result felt out of touch with Madison. Where's the taste? Where's the fun? Where's the palate bursting with unexpected flavor combinations? At the very least- where's the careful and delicate ritual and presentation that makes Japanese food so famous? The menu seems optimized instead for ease and profitability. read more

So as it turns out, Umami's beef buns are some of the best things to eat in the WHOLE WORLD! I very much believe that is not an exaggeration. Truly amazing beef buns - so amazing, in fact, that we requested a second order after just 3 bites (2 buns per order). Let me dig down to the delicious details for you. The Korean BBQ beef used in the bun is incredibly tender with delightfully crispy edges and a wonderful, deep flavor. The spicy mayo has a nice, creamy heat, but not at all overpowering (I'm fairly sensitive to spice) because the thinly sliced cucumbers combined with a soft bun enveloping it all creates a lovely balancing effect. I will crave these buns until the next time I'm there, which I hope is very soon. The edamame appetizer was exactly what we wanted - nice & warm topped with lots of course salt. And the pork & chive dumplings were also very good with a sweet, tangy dipping sauce. But the beef buns just stole the show, so there it is. Brittany was our server and she was nothing, but helpful, fun and fabulous. You'll know her by her height, her blonde hair and her adorable dance moves. I was a first timer at Umami and she was full of great info and suggestions. She was attentive and yet knew when to let my friend and I just chat away. The last piece of goodness is that we were there for happy hour so our mixed drinks were 2 for 1. Hooray! Now be good and go get some beef buns immediately! read more

Design/Interior: they killed it. They turned an unassuming, regular house on Willy St. into a stylish, modern, roomy restaurant. I felt really good being in the restaurant. As the owner described - they wanted you to feel like you're not in Madison anymore. Cocktails: The cocktail craze has caught on and it seems like every restaurant is upping their game, with the unfortunate side effect of driving up drink prices.Their cocktail menu is diverse and creative with prices ($6-7) that are fair. I only tried two, and they both were yummy. The sake seems fairly solid, but I don't know what I'm talking about. Food: Overall very good. The taco-style bbq pork buns were neat and tasty. The pickled veggies were good, but a small portion. The dumplings were top notch. The sauces were decent, could use a bit more pow. The ramen needs some work - I know they can do better. Mix in's and more diverse flavors would be a good start. The green tea brulee was a pleasant surprise. Overall - I can't wait to go again. The owners seem passionate and have some good ideas for improving, like a patio for summer and a late night pork-only menu (sorry veggies!). read more

Overall, an enjoyable dinner in a nice atmosphere. The variety of dinner offerings are quite vast for a rather small menu. Known for dumplings, buns, and ramen, you might have a hard time deciding on which one to choose; so get one of each! That's what we did and were rather pleased. The buns have a pretty weird texture (they look like raw dough?) but are tasty nonetheless. Don't let the grandma's house appearance from the outside fool you. Inside is done up quite nice with orange walls and soft lighting. Oh, and the booze. Although this isn't a place I would come running back for a Friday night out, the lychee saketini was a wonderful compliment to the conglomerate of Asian dishes we ordered. Highly recommend. read more

In all honesty I was trying to find something to make it so I didn't give this place a five star rating because I give every place a five star rating. But I could not find a single reason! Everything about this place is wonderful. The staff is very good. From giving great recommendations, to coming to the table often but not too much. It is also nice that they have so many options for vegetarians and vegans. It is surprisingly hard to find a lot of vegetarian options in a city with so many restaurants. It is nice to have vegetarian options that don't end at salad. Their collection of cocktails is also wonderful. Every one that I have tried so far is delicious. Light and refreshing with enough flavor that it doesn't taste like I'm drinking straight rubbing alcohol. If there was anything I would take away a star for, it would be that they aren't open long enough! I can't wait to try their brunch sometime because I have heard amazing things. read more

Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar - Super simple menu at umami. Not over complicated and easy to read and follow! - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Picture your perfect day...blue skies, a walk near the lake, you want a shady spot in the afternoon to eat with excellent people-watching. Step right up to Umami and enjoy the spicy pork buns and classic pork dumplings on their front patio. Wash it all down with some delicious mango mojitos...you're set! read more

I was pretty underwhelmed by Umami. Yes, they serve dumplings. They're no better or worse than dumplings I've eaten at a Chinese restaurant, or even those that I've bought that were made fresh with the sushi at the grocery store. The pork buns were not bad, but again, nothing spectacular. A little overpriced for what you get. Good specialty cocktails but nothing super amazing. Some friends ordered other dishes and everyone was pleased, but not ecstatic. Been there, done that, probably won't return. read more

After reading my 2 star yelp review, the owner contacted me and offered to comp drink&dessert if I came back. I came back two months later and the service was very good. However, the food was still disappointing. The dumplings: I wish they didn't charge for having more than 1 flavor of dipping sauce, and to me, honestly, they didn't taste much better than frozen dumplings and reheating them at home. The ramen was also disappointing, mostly tasting of salt. I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't very good. Desserts were OK--they offered creme brulee or an ice cream sandwich. The drinks, however, were good, I ordered one of the cocktails they have featured on the menu. I would go back here for drinks if I was in the area, but nothing else. read more

I am not a ramen fanatic, but I ate it regularly while living in Japan, which I did for many years. I've also had ramen in U.S. restaurants a handful of times. The good news is that the pork buns and gyoza were very good (but not stellar). The bad news is that the miso ramen really missed the mark. The soup tasted to me like they just dumped some miso into another soup base. I didn't catch any sweetness or toban-jan flavor...very, very far away from any miso ramen I have had in the U.S. or Japan. It wasn't bad per se, but they shouldn't call it miso ramen either. Also, I got a clump of uncooked noodles in my bowl. Really. Y'know how sometimes noodles settle a little early and get stuck? This was not that. This was a large knot (about the size of an egg, but slimmer) that could not be teased apart. I pulled it out of my bowl and put it on a plate. When I cut it open with my spoon, I saw that the clump was still raw in the middle. I have never had that happen before, anywhere. The only reason I give them two stars and not one is that the pork buns and gyoza countered some of the damage that the ramen did. read more

Need to update after having better experiences. In particular, Umami offers an awesome restaurant week special. Even my favorite restaurants tend to disappoint me during restaurant week. The portions are small, not nearly as good as usual and often aren't what the restaurant usually serves. They're dishes designed to be made in bulk, and probably cost less to make. Umami's restaurant week is superior in that they serve the most popular dishes on the menu, unchanged, for a great price - at $25, it's amongst the cheaper restaurant week meals. The buns are phenomenal. I got the Korean beef and ate it in about two bites. The pork dumplings were very good and the Tonkotsu ramen was amazing. I don't remember it being so good! Definitely worth purchasing a spicy bomb. Enough food in there for two meals. Took awhile to seat us but both the hostess and our waitress were friendly and smiled. Glad to see the improvement! read more

The food is good, but the brunette, plain-faced hostess ruined it. After the bartender informed me that my order had been misread by the kitchen and I was given a small and not my large order of dumpling, large to follow when ready, he asked her if he should comp me on the large upcharge, or $2. She snarkily replied in a nasally and uptalking way, in direct earshot halfway down the bar, "no way, absolutely not!" I hope she's not a manager. She then proceeded to trash talk previous customers and generally create an intolerably annoying atmosphere for those customers unfortunate enough to be inside and in hearing distance. When I received my bill, no accommodation of the fact that I had been inconvenienced or forced to endure that woman. Umami, you have good food, but get your staff straightened out. Don't hire these rude prima donnas. read more