One of the neatest dining experiences ever! Delicious Japanese food! One of Hickory's hidden gems. Never disappointed.

We were planning to spend our Anniversary weekend in Hickory, so like always, I searched on Yelp for the best restaurants & reading the reviews on Umi, had my attention! I called & l/m 5 days ahead & the owner clearly states what times are available each day that week since they only have 5 tables. The owner called me back within an hour & confirmed our reservation. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the owner & she immediately wished us a Happy Anniversary & had 2 roses in a vase for us to keep. Very romantic & quiet setting. The Bibb salad with the soy & Yuzu dressing was delicious & so fresh! We had the smoked salmon roll, steamed lobster roll & tuna tataki and all were delicious! This husband & wife team restaurant is a hidden gem (it's tucked in a plaza behind a gas station, so at night, it may be easy to miss!). If you're a sushi lover & will be in Hickory, call in advance & make your reservation! We are already looking forward to our next visit in the spring when our daughter's lacrosse team plays LR! read more

What an experience. Only four tables in the restaurant, but the atmosphere is absolutely relaxing and romantic. Went here for an anniversary meal and I've never had better sashimi or sushi. You can tell everything is fresh and taste great. read more

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What a hidden gem! I was visiting my mother-in-law and needed my sushi fix. I drove here to get a table but they only take reservations unless you're lucky enough to find a free table. I wasn't lucky enough to get a table the first night. So, I called then left a message for a reservation and got one two days later. I still needed my sushi fix and I went to another restaurant that had 4 stars on Yelp and it was horrible. Don't go waste your time or money on sushi anywhere else. There's no bar seating here and only 4 tables total. This is a small husband and wife duo that is turning out amazing quality food and perfect service. Starting with the apps I had a miso soup that was perfect. It wasn't too salty, and had the perfect amount of tofu with the most perfect texture. Their Ikayaki (grilled squid) was amazing. I'm a sucker for squid and there's tasted like I was in Japan again. I think they use butter and soy sauce. Again it was perfect! The tempura appetizer was light battered to perfection and included a variety of asparagus, sweet potato, zucchini and eggplant. Not sure if they use the same veggies every time but they were all delicious. For sushi I got the sashimi plate that included beautiful cuts of tuna, yellowtail, salmon, octopus, squid and roe and yellowtail roll. Excellent presentation and taste. Everything I had was excellent! I will definitely be making reservations in the future when I come back. Eating here is the closest experience to being served in Japan and I live in Hawaii. I feel like that is saying a lot. Hickory y'all have a hidden gem here! 10/10 would recommend to any sushi lover or traditional Japanese food. Tips: * Make reservations, will probably have to leave a message * To go orders need to be called in before they open * Try and eat everything that you can read more

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Food is great. Owners are outstanding. Small place. Hard to get into without reservations way ahead of desired date.

Whenever my husband is in Hickory for a business trip, he makes reservations here. I was able to join him for two of the visits! This is the most delicious Japanese food I've had! I try to order a different dish each time and every dish has been made with the best of quality and freshness. Umi is owned and ran by a husband and wife. The husband is the chef and the wife provides the table service. I hope they keep the restaurant open for many more years! read more

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Excellent food and service! We will definitely be returning! The Bento Box was amazing!

This place is one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to and I've been to a 3 Michelin star sushi restaurant in Japan. We had the nigiris and 2 rolls and I must say the nigiris were amazing. The restaurant is owned by a sweet lady and her husband. They are both from Japan and you can taste the love in their food. I can't believe I found this place and the reviews don't lie. This place is amazing and the quality of fish is some of the best. read more

Umi - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

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This place is awesome their pink lady sushi is on point. The servers are friendly and the atmosphere is good. It's a little close for comfort but it's overall a great place to eat. read more

My son and I had a special night out together, and we wanted to find the best sushi in town. We found that in spades!!! This place is one of the best sushi dinners I've ever had. This place is tiny. I read this place was small and then I walked in and realized, "oh ok, I get it. Small." It is a husband and a wife team. The fish is amazing. The sushi rice is addicting. The water is through a filter, and cold. (And the company was awesome.) So many people walk in and say they don't have a reservation, and the wife apologizes profusely and it makes you feel bad for her she doesn't have another table for you!! But when you've made a reservation like we did, you feel so special that you knew to do that, and now you get the delicious food. Just go. Enjoy. read more

Food was outstanding from presentation to freshness to taste top-of-the-line all the way. Service was swift and she was kind and sweet inside its so cute tiny warm inviting dining area with 4 tables truly a hidden gem total recommend and I will definitely be dining here again. read more

Umi - Snow crap roll , lobster roll and spicy tune roll - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Small bit amazing. Have reservations and enjoy the food. The staff was very accommodating too. You can't go wrong. This place lends to a nice night out. read more

Hands down the best sushi for miles around, and they serve authentic Japanese food. Nothing against the "hibachi style Japanese" most people are familiar with, but Umi is the real deal. Reservations are required, this is a small family-owned restaurant run by a husband/wife duo. You are treated like a guest in the home. If you call ahead, you can get party sushi platters made to go - but otherwise not a takeout place! read more

Phenomenal experience! I had never eaten at an authentic Japanese restaurant before. The waitress was super nice and patient. She ensured we ordered an appropriate amount of food for our table. We ordered 2 appetizers and 5 sushi rolls to share between 3 people. She offered to take our group picture at the end of our meal. I'll definitely be back! read more

Umi - Sake - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

The absolute best ever!!!! Resturant is small Owners are wonderful!! Food is the best sushi around read more

Outstanding place. Quiet and peaceful and amazing food! Take your time and enjoy a truly special meal.

Made a reservation for a special occasion dinner. We enjoyed a selection of nigiri and roll sushi as appetizers as well as dinner entrees. Everything was excellent. The limited seating made for a soothing atmosphere with very attentive service. read more

The best sushi in town. Always very fresh. Service is exceptional Quick to respond to voicemail requesting reservations read more

Amazing food, great service, incredibly authentic. One of the best restaurants you'll find in Hickory.

I have to say I'm so happy to have found this place. It's definitely little Japan in Hickory. If you're looking for an authentic Japanese spot this is the place to go. So don't expect "shrimp sauce" or your westernized hibachi. - Reserve ahead of time : this small little spot only has 5 tables. Not good for big groups but the biggest table could hold about 4-5 people. - Service : there's only one waitress and I believe she was the wife of the chef. She's kind and very sweet. She's thorough and very genuine. Dirty dishes always replaced with fresh new plates. Everything on par! - Food : My boyfriend and I had the bento box with the eel and yellowtail! Omgeee so amazing. It's been two days and I'm still thinking about how the eel just melted in my mouth. The yellowtail was seasoned to perfection. The tempura was fresh with the perfect amount of batter. The organic greens were crispy. We also had the Katsu Pork curry. In love with the taste. Completely satisfied...I want to try the sushi next time. Oh and for appetizer we tried the tuna tataki. Seared to perfection but not seasoned as I've usually had it before. This place has the best ambiance because it's truly about the food and your company. Hurry and check out this hidden gem! read more

Umi - Half eaten bento box! $24 worth of deliciousness! - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

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MORE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE POSTED ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT. They only do take out from 5-5:30 even though hours are listed to open at 5:30. So if you get there when they open you can't order take out. Also it's reservation only. They were already booked up for the night on a Wednesday at 5:32pm. Don't plan to get take out unless you read the hours and don't plan to get here unless you make a reservation well in advance even during the week. read more

Simply the best! Don't hesitate. Just go and enjoy unbelievably quality in an amazing small and comfortable setting. read more

My favorite restaurant in Hickory. Before COVID, we enjoyed many high quality meals with top notch service in their small dining area. During COVID, we've enjoyed the same high quality meals for take out. Very safe and personal service. Call in your order and they call back to verify. Easy socially distanced pickup at your designated pickup time. Some of our favorites at Umi are: Ocean's Wink roll, spicy tuna roll, Yaki Niku dinner, Tekka don dinner, and Ikura don dinner. read more

Been going here for years now and have nothing but good things to say! Food is always fresh and top notch, service is nothing but amazing and the atmosphere is perfect! Best sushi in town and best locally owned business in my opinion! Keep up the great work! read more

Very cute and intimate. Definitely authentic. Portion is small, price, I suppose not outrageous but on the expensive side. The salmon I had was very fresh. Wish they have a couple More tables. You need to make a reservation if you want to dine here read more

Umi - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Came to the place while on a business trip. Really neat place, authentic and good quality food. Owner was nice, definitely will come again. read more

Umi - Interior decorations - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Very fresh ingredients used, owners are so kind and welcoming. Only a few tables so plan ahead with a reservation.

Incredible Restaraunt with oiishi authentic Japanese cuisine. The owners are wonderful people who strive to make your dining experience wonderful. Great nigiri sushi and a variety of tasty hand rolls. Not sure what to order? Try the Bento box; there's a little bit of everything in there! And it's all delicious. read more

Great food and wonderful service! Everyone was very polite and friendly! Very cozy and perfect for a date night dinner!

Very intimate dining experience. I am not an oficiando of Japanese food but what my husband and I had seemed very authentic. The owner hostess recognized some of the guests and welcomed them by name. All I can say is it was wonderful. We had the sampler dinner to try everything and enjoyed the flavors and textures. read more

Best Japanese restaurant in Hickory. They are so authentic with both traditional meals and then their sushi, nigiri, sashimi. They have a lovely dining room although small but quaint. Their Saki and wine list is perfect. We just love Umi. Reservations are a must...we haven't tried the take out yet, but understand it's awesome as well and look forward to giving it a try. read more

Amazing sushi and even more amazing service. The first time we came here our 1 year old was acting up which can be super awkward since the restaurant is only 4 tables. Well, the owner comes out, makes sure the rest of the tables are doing well and entertains our baby by walking around with him while my husband and I ate. I just had take out tonight, and so appreciated all the COVID measures they are taking without compromising service. I didn't take a picture of the food I ordered (ate it ‍) but it was excellent! read more

Umi - COVID measures- so appreciated! - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Umi is honestly our family's FAVORITE restaurant in all of Hickory! It is such a decadent, beautiful experience for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries! The owner is so sweet! The atmosphere is so relaxing and therapeutic. It's pricey and you have to make reservations ahead of time, but every penny is worth it. At Umi, I've had the highest quality sushi dishes I've ever tasted! Some of our favorites are the Ocean's Wink, Nohara no Roll, and the Rainbow Roll. But I've also had the Tonkatsu Dinner, which is amazing as well. Always a journey into Japan and a delightful experience. read more

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Hands down best sushi I have ever had! The rice is cooked perfectly and the fish is so fresh that it melts in your mouth. The service is always so warm and welcoming. This is in an intimate setting with beautiful photography art pieces on the wall and about 4-5 tables. Reservations required. Both the cuisine and service are consistently excellent. A true gem in Hickory! read more

Umi - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Umi is a rather surprising find on the backroads of Hickory, NC. It boasts a truly Japanese menu in a truly Japanese atmosphere with appropriate amounts of American culture and flavor intermingled. Owned and staffed by Japanese speaking Japanese folks this restaurant is unarguably authentic. If you've ever spent a moment in Japan and a moment in Hickory the influences of both are obvious first off in the interior decor and design here. The restaurant features it's fair share of natural zen influenced materials with the hard wood tables and chairs. The entryway is marked by simple shoji-like partition screens and the back corner features an unmistakably Japanese alcove. However, the wall hangings utter their 2 cents of modernity and IKEA-ism with fractal and floral curls on fabrics in vibrant yet subtle color. The menu is by all accounts Japanese at first glance. Japanese curry rice with tonkatsu chicken or pork, true ramen, soba and udon imported and hand prepared - take that instant ramen back to the store because this is a different world. Only when you get your meal do you realize the American flavor that seems to seep in seamlessly for you to savor without being scared off by unusual Japanese flavors. The ramen I enjoyed with pork and a typical assortment of fresh veggies boiled only slightly by the heat of the broth. And despite all that true Yamato flavor within it there was a certain amount of Hickory, NC representing itself. Even though the owner's wife - coincidentally also the waitress - claims all ingredients are imported, something, somewhere within that soup, spoke of a unique and balancing southern American pallet. One thing is without a doubt though - the hot green tea is straight from Japan and perfect for sipping quietly on a cold winter day. read more

For Hickory, this may be the only authentic Japanese restaurant. But this is more of Japanese comfort food and nothing fancy. But I'm from NYC where you have all the fancy sushi and all kinds of food of every kind and have sushi chef friends. The couple who owns the restaurant is nice but like I said this is more of home made food type of place, not master sushi chef kind of restaurant. Also the sushi type is very limited. I wanted Uni and they were surprised that I even asked. read more

Authentic, friendly staff. It does not have many tables. We went as soon as it opened, and didn't have to wait. There are total 5 tables, with maximum capacity of 20 people. Quiet place that is great for dates or interviews. Not recommended for loud children... Every dish was cooked with heart, they were perfect in so many ways. I had some of their plum wine, and it was absolutely heavenly. read more

Umi - Grilled squid, delicious appetizer! - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

This place was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to locate on a Saturday night. There are no streetlights, no lit sign, and the parking lot is off to the side. Nonetheless, I am very glad I took the effort to get out of the car to take a closer look at the neon "open" sign I thought I saw. First thought when I walked inside was TINY. This place only has 5 available tables so I recommend getting a reservation. I just returned from a trip from Tokyo so I have some high expectations with Japanese food and this place exceeded my expectation. I even made a request to get hamachi kama (which wasn't on the menu) and they happily made it! The menu is very large with affordable items like their delicious ramen for less than $9 to the sashimi dinner for ~$21 which I'd say is cheaper than most other nice sushi restaurants. Even more impressive, this is a two man operation run a Japanese couple. read more

Umi - Hands down the best Japanese place in the area - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

There's a reason this place is Hickory's only 5 star yelp rated restaurant. Simply put food and service. A husband and wife team cooking and serving real Japanese food. Best and freshest ingredients they can find. There is only room for about 20 people. So reservations are a must! They seat only whom they can feed for that night. Never anymore. Each time I've been here, someone without a reservation is turned away. They also discourage doggie boxes for fear the food will not taste proper reheated the next day! We've eaten here about a dozen times and each time it gets better. I am finally writing a review because last night was over the top good! Thanks to a fellow yelper putting up the pic of the grilled squid! A freakin mazing. If you like "real" Japanese food and impeccable service, UMI is a must go to! read more

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Visiting here found this place on yelp! Very peaceful ambiance, nice people working, and the food was beyond expectations!!! Will come here again before we leave! The miso soup is one of the best I've ever had, so I had to have two bowls!! This place is perfect for date night or special serine dine in experience. read more

Umi - Rainbow Rolls tempera roll tuna roll - Japanese Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina