Umai Reviews

was really impressed w/ everything here!!! Menu was unique and many options!!! Drinks were strong & of great quality!!! service outstanding and also an option to sit outside!!!

Tasty and fresh. A lovely variety of sushi. Nice sized helpings. The atmosphere was clean and pleasant. A reservation might be wise. Try the Umai salad - it's big, delicious and I loved that dressing.

We really enjoyed our meal here. No complaints on the service and the sushi was pretty good as well. It's a good option if you're looking to have dinner in Printer's Row.

Delicious meal! My group of 3 of us showed up early in the evening for dinner and we’re very happy with the service, atmosphere, and most importantly the food. Two had sushi and one a beef dish. All were delicious! The spicy tuna roll I had was outstanding with just the right amount of spice. Miso soup and salad were also very good with a creamy garlic salad dressing. Service prompt without rushing. Space seemed clean. We will return.

That day they had sea urchin as one of their specials and it was gigantic. It was pricy($6/1) but it was good!

First visits always leave a little room for improvement. While the address is 730 S Clark, it is more easily found on the corner of S Clark and Polk, with a nod to the blue awnings for outdoor seating. The decor is warm and comfortable, small tables and a few larger ones plus a sushi bar. Our waitress, May, was helpful and efficient. Gyoza are really good, as was the umai crunchi roll. We give high ratings to the mushroom chowder. The shrimp roll was good, missing great. We also tried a ramen noodle dish we expected to be lightly spicy. It was a bit more than we can handle. Finished with a machta ice cream. Sometimes you try something that does not work. That happened tonight. They were so nice that we will return to try some other intriguing dishes.

In winter Chicago is very windy and very cold city, specially this year, where it has been extremely cold. Then, if it is cold outside, what better to eat than a hot soup, specially when this soup is a Japaneese Ramen. Umai restaurant has like 8 different of them and I tried 3 different ones which were very good, and spicy. They also have rolls or Maki which are very good as well as their handrools. The menu also includes sashimi and chef's specialities. The restaurant is very nice, and always full. I went there 4 times. Maybe a good explication to this is that there prices are not to high, as usually you find in japaneese restaurants, and the quality of their food is awsome. Their wine list is short but they have what is needed, this is 4 to 5 differnet brands by wine strain. Prices of wine bootles are absolutely afordable. They have like 5 or 6 brands of japaneese beer also at very affordable prices. If you are in Chicago and you want to have a goood japaneese meal, and pay an affordable bill for it, this is your restaurant. They have another location in Chicago besides this one.

I’m very happy & satisfied with the quality of the food, the speed of service & beautiful atmosphere decoration in Umai Chicago. It’s absolutely wonderful and highly recommended for everyone who is Japanese fan. I got the Umai Salad, the sesame sauce is so delicious, the seafood are fresh & ramen is yummy. Love it & would like to come back !

The place was crowded and vibrant. When the storm hit the neighborhood, the staff evacuated the small patio very efficiently. Good, very fresh sashimi, tasty teriyaki beef. Decent choice of wine. No bar to wait for a table.

This is hidden in the South Loop and is superb.. I travelled in Japan before and this is the real deal. Wine a bit poor but hey you should be drinking the excellent dry sake. Forget such the chefs special are superb.

I enjoyed an evening alone, and chose this location from Ken at Hana Sushi in Rohnert Park, Ca. He is my go to guy when traveling, and so far he is SPOT on! I started with a Classic Gin Martini, $10, with the Hamachi Kama, $12, beautifully grilled with a generous sprinkling of sea salt. The quality of the fish shined through the light char on the outside, but the sea salt sent it into the stratosphere. This is one of the best executed Hamachi Kana I have ever had. Now for the Ramen, $13, I chose the traditional miso ramen with bamboo shoots and 1/2 cooked soft on the middle egg with pork belly. The broth was rich, aromatic and flavorful. each spoonful was a treasure. I will be back to try the spicy ramen soon! Down side...as good as my server was..and she was good if not GREAT..as soon as I took the first mouthful of the Hamachi Kana, my starter dish, the ramen was being served. It just so happens I was in the middle of telling my server to make sure I was not served the ramen until I was completely through with my starter. She promptly caught the dish coming up to my table, and told them to take it back to the kitchen. When I was done with the luscious Hamachi Kama...my ramen was brought to me, but it was NOT hot, I asked the server if the dish was supposed to be served 'not hot' and she picked it up and took it back to the kitchen. This whole process put me off, did they create a new ramen bowl twice? was it heated in a micro (I suspect this is the case as the bowl when returned was TOO hot) or did they dump out the broth and fill the dish with hot broth. I will return, but give explicit instructions when I order.

We went for dinner with some friends, I found that the food quality was really average and the prizes far to high for such a service. We won't come back, that's sure.

Umai is our favorite Japanese restaurant in the south loop. The sushi is great, so is the ramen. I also love their small BBQ items. Bright and modern atmosphere. Friendly staff. Tip: The lunch specials are a great deal, especially the ramen and the bento box.

A pleasant surprise. This cozy new place has a calm atmosphere and fresh, delicious sushi. The presentation and the menu are a pleasant surprise. The chicken wings, yakitory style, are reminiscent of Tokyo. Portions are perfect.

This is def one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago! Not the best sushi or ramen I've ever had, but def good and high quality with consistently good Service. One of my faves as its one of the few non fast food restaurants in the Southloop. Tough to find good Southloop restaurants, aside from brunch spots, so was glad I found this place. The black garlic ramen is one of the best and all the rolls are good too. Def visit!

We were thinking of having dinner elsewhere when our daughter suggested we try this new place in our neighborhood. Am I glad we did. Umai is a perfect place for a pleasant dinner with friends or family. The ambience is very typical understated Japanese - easy on the senses and pleasant. The service we got was very good - attentive without being intrusive, efficient yet fun and friendly. But it is the food that will keep us coming back to Umai. The taste of the food matched the elegance of the presentation. None of the things we ordered disappointed - from the maki, the tempura, the noodles and the sushi - all were delicious and prepared well. We left properly sated and resolved to return as soon as possible. I should add that comparatively speaking, Umai's menu is competitively priced.

1st - I had a Lychee martini: delicious. I wanted another but knew better -- no stingy pour here! Advanced to the Maitake Mushroom Chowder -- loaded with mushrooms in a discreet and delicate sauce... Followed by veggie Gyoza and edamame. Followed by a full Goosebumps roll: shrimp tempura, asparagus, cilantro, sriracha sauce, topped with seared-calamari and honey miso sauce. The food and drink = plentiful and mouthwatering. The staff was kind and welcoming and comforting: this was one of the lasts times we (or anyone) was able to move very freely before COVID-19. So THANK YOU Umai for delivering a diversity to meet our needs!

This is right below where my friends live, so we stopped in for a quick dinner on Friday night. We did make reservations and were seated fairly quickly. It is not a huge restaurant so I can see how it would get crowded and there could be a long wait. We sat at a community table in the center, it was a long table with benches for chairs. They do also have normal tables around the sides. We were greeted immediately and ordered our drinks and dinner very quickly. I had the chicken Teriyaki, I was going to try a Ramen bowl, but most of them had either Beef or Pork and I don't eat either. The chicken teriyaki was very filling and came with a huge amount of chicken. My hubby had a Ramen bowl and it was huge, enough to take home for leftovers. We also shared a California roll which is not very easy to mess up and theirs was perfect. I didn't try the sake so can't comment but my hubby and friend shared the warm and they loved it. I would go back again for more sushi!

‘Umai’ means ,very delicious’ or ‘outstanding’. As like name, the meal was great. Also, draft sake was excellent. Staff were very kind. Wonderful taste and reasonable price. Absolutely recommendable Japanese restaurant!!

Went here for lunch and got 2 sushi rolls. They have a nice out door seating. The service was good. I would go back.

Outstandingly fresh salmon. Very understanding staff when I called to explain a discrepancy between the uber eats app and their menu. I will continue to give this place business.

We were visiting for the weekend and staying at a nearby hotel when we found this place on google. We said hey what the heck let’s try it for one of our parties birthday dinner and we loved it! The staff was great. Food was really good and very traditional. Had a great time. Tira was amazing!

We really enjoyed eating at Umai. Their Japanese barbecue skewers were delicious-I got the beef and my husband tried the pork shoulder. He also really loved the mushroom soup. The sushi wasn't the best sushi I have ever had, but I still liked it. We will definitely be returning here in the future.

We both had ramen bowls and they were wonderful and filling. Good service too. Not the cheapest place in town, but the food is worth it.

Two of us ate a very early dinner (~ 5 pm) on a Thursday due to evening plans. It was almost empty when we arrived but starting to fill up when we left. We shared an Unagi Avo Crunchy roll (eel/avacado/crunch) that was light and tasty, pretty to look at and even better to eat. I had the Miso Ramen which was extremely good and filling, without being heavy. My dinner companion had the Tempura Dinner, which included miso soup, salad, generous portions of super fresh shrimp and veggie tempura cooked perfectly. With a shared bottle of iced sake, our bill came to less than $70. This highly Zagat-rated restaurant was pleasant in ambience, had very good service, and delivered excellent food at a reasonable price.

Modern little Asian that offers many good options. I went in thinking sushi but saw how good the Udon noodle bowls looked and made a change. I ended up starting with a salmon skin hand roll as an appetizer and then the tempura udon noodle bowl. Both were very good. Nice crispy salmon in the roll and delicious broth in the noodles. They also have Korean BBQ options and rice bowls if you need more choices. The service was great. Prices reasonable. I would go here regularly if it was in my neighborhood.

Everything I have ever ordered here has been impeccable and this was no different. Fantastic maki rolls, delicious ramen and I love their spicy edamame as an appetiser. Service is always polite, prompt and efficient - especially for making everything fresh to order. Exceptional every time - I will keep coming!

We really loved this place and wished we had been more adventurous but we’d only arrived in Chicago that afternoon from London. We chickened out and opted for a couple of set menus, both of which were excellent. Fresh, well presented, good service. The only downside is that the resauarant lacks atmosphere but this is a good place to sample Japanese cuisine American style.

Went here with my husband on a Thursday night - pretty busy. Had a cosmo martini - excellent - not too strong, not too weak! We originally ordered spicy edamame - we sent back because it was waaaay too spicy, we ordered the regular edamame - was great. We also ordered the tofu appetizer - wouldn't really recommend. Too soft and the glaze on it was too gelatin like. We both had sushi and sashimi which we both enjoyed. Dessert was excellent! Atmosphere - great, contemporary, variety of people Service - EXCELLENT. Value - Great! Would return if in area.

We ordered age dashi tofu, fried oyster, ton kotsu ramen, and katsu don. The tofu and katsu don are okay, taste like in other Japanese restaurants. The fried oyster is not fresh at all. Ramen is not so good either -- the soup tastes like instant noodle soap and the egg is too raw. Only chashu is delicious.

Took my son for his first ramen tasting. Love this place. Our server Aidyn was great. We had spicy tuna rolls and the tempura and then each of us ordered the Ramen. Taste was great. Two thumbs up at this place in Chicago.

Highly recommend. One of the best Philadelphia rolls I have ever had. Had a work dinner here. The staff was extremely courteous and friendly. Very attentive.

Had the chashu ramen for lunch. Great broth flavor and noodle texture. Did not skimp on the pork belly.

Awesome sushi, try the goosebump. Japanese bbq- I had the beef tongue & pork shoulder. Tempura, broiled salmon. Diverse menu and everything I've ordered was excellent. Decor is bright and clean. Service is attentive

Food was excellent. Ramen noodle bowl was flavorful with great textures. We had the spicy roasted pork ramen, amazing. Service was delightful and attentive. Go here! You won’t be disappointed.

Order the Chicago roll. It has tuna, salmon, white fish, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, and honey miso sauce. So good and VERY filling! I wish I would have ordered the half portion (5 pieces) because I was stuffed after that meal! Service was fantastic. Got my food very quickly, as they were closing soon (they close from 3-4:30).

This comfortable, lively restaurant had an unsually large menu for a Japanese restaurant that accommodated my vegan daughter, my love of sushi, and my wife who does not like fish. All ordered items were delicious and fresh. Portions were very adequate. The staff were friendly and helpful. We were late for our reservation having been caught in traffic. They called before we could contact them and were very understanding and accommodating. Waitstaff were attentive and cheerful. Prices were very reasonable as well. Highly recommend. Outdoor seating available as well.

This is one of the best Sushi restaurants we have experienced! Very tasteful, fresh rolls and green tea creme brûlée for dessert YUM! Be sure to reserve.

Comfortable dining room. The sushi is quite good and the service is good. The problem with this restaurant is that they don't take reservations for parties less than 4. If you arrive as a party of two, they will tell you there is a 20 minute wait even thought there might be 3, 4 or even more tables open. It makes dining here unpleasant as it feels as though they don't welcome the business/try to make the customer feel valued. I visit this restaurant fairly frequent (convenient location and the food is good), and this behavior has been consistent.

Excellent food, great environment and nice team!!! Authentic Japanese food, amazing taste, the green tea is really good as well!

Short wait 15 minutes for a table for two, quick and polite service, not imposing. Each dish was fresh and nicely prepared with no excess salt or fat. Every diner had a plate in front of them that I would want to try.

On the recommendation of some sushi experts, we ordered a variety of sushi, rolls, appetizers and hot dishes. All were excellent, the price was reasonable and service was speedy.

My son and I wanted a lighter meal after going to Wrigleyville for burgers and wings in the afternoon. Sushi fit the bill and we hadn't tried Umai in the past. We didn't know what we were missing. Our waitress explained the whole menu and we ordered the dishes she recommended. Wow! The sushi was incredibly fresh, the meal out of this world, and the restaurant chic. We'll be going back the next time we're in Chicago.

I had the chef's recommended tonkatsu ramen and goma-ae. Food is authentic here. There was absolutely no Japanese sushi chef and wait staff, but I felt like I was in Tokyo. I will try the outdoor table next time.

This small, attractive restaurant has a nice ambiance and the food is wonderful. The prices are fair and portions are excellent. The only problem is if you do not have a reservation, and there is not a table available right away, there is no place really to sit and wait, so you sort of stand in the middle of the walkway by the bar and are generally in the way. It's absolutely worth going for the food but call ahead for a reservation so you don't have to stand in the way and wait. Try the grapefruit beer!

I walked over from my hotel and was really glad I did - even in the rain. The service was great - seated quickly - and the waiter was attentive and helpful. The atmosphere is modern and fun without being to large or noisy. The food was very fresh and well presented. It all tasted great and portions were large on the rolls and sushi. I recommend the rainbow roll - one of the best I have had - and the sushi/roll combo.

garlic spicy with great meat one. the atmosphere is chill. crowed all day but you can find one on the bar.

We went here after seeing Dear Evan Hansen. It was about 10 minute walk. The restaurant is small and cosy. The waitress we had was wonderful and energetic. The food was amazing. My husband and I had sushi and it was delicious. The spicy tuna had just enough spicyness! The dumplings were out of this world!! My friends had the ramen bowls and they said they were fantastic. Do yourself a favor and grab a bite here!

Definitely not Japanese, despite the name. Apparently run by a Thai owner. Looks good - youngish, fun, and from the first glance at the menu it's apparent that there are a mixture of cultural influences. That would be great if the dishes were executed well, but everything we had was pretty mediocre, especially the Sushi and beef donburi, Two appetizers - goma ai (spinach with sesame dressing) and nasu dengaku (grilled eggplant with miso) were decidedly un-japanese; sesame dressing drowning out the delicate spinach and huge beefsteak one inch thick rounds of american eggplant uncooked and oily, in place of the usual melt in your mouth juicy dish. Grilled hamachi was pretty fishy and dried out. Wouldn't go again.

I was in the city for the weekend for grad school and my daughter and her friend joined me for the night and we chose UMAI for a nice Saturday night dinner. The food is fantastic, the service knowledgeable and helpful, and I will definitely be back.

Like that you get a percent off if you order online. Wonderful sushi and maki. I thought the Agadashi Tofu had a weird coating that turns into slime after it's put into the sauce. I'm used to a crisp coating. But other than that, everything I've had there has been very tasty. Service and take out is a little slow because they get very busy, which isn't a bad thing. Just plan ahead.

We had a great meal. Fresh and gorgeous sushi, sashimi, edamame, gyoza. We were with a largish group (7 persons) and asked the waitress if she could recommend a few dishes so that all of us could share. She gave great recommendations. The evening was complete and the cost was reasonable.

Just had a superb meal. Top class sashimi, perfect seaweed salad, light tempura (I ordered too much and the waitress deducted the price of one beer to compensate, even though it was entirely my fault). Service was 10/10 - friendly and efficient. I really can’t praise this place enough. Thanks!

Nice dinner at Umai last night. The lady is a sushi aficionado, and suggested it. The cafe is festive, upbeat, a bit less austere and more comfortable than most Japanese restaurants. Not much of a red meat guy, I tried the beef teriyaki and it was delicious, tender and tasty, served with rice and vegetables that were as fresh as you'll find anywhere, and soup. The teriyaki sauce was delicious, if not made from scratch, it certainly tasted like it was. The waitress was delightful. People seated nearby ordered the tempura, and it looked delicious, a generous serving. One would expect the neighborhood to support a welcoming cafe like Umai, and they had a good crowd on a Tuesday night. The only problem is finding parking, and of course, that's not Umai's fault. A nice experience on a cold, windy night. Recommended.

I have recently eaten a lot of autumn and winter dishes mostly Chinese! In fact, Japanese cuisine is also a very good choice, and on this day you can try a Japanese lunch with friends. The restaurant selected the UMAI dance favorite to eat here because it is really very convenient to come out of the East, and of course the good food quality is also the reason to like it. Winter is an appetite so pick up a table of food to share! There are hot tubs, sunbathers, pots and ready-to-eat really rich. Cayman Island Sharks $128! I have never had any resistance to sharks I look forward to this guest sharks! Sky Woman's smooth pulp is as thin as the shark's soft-slip-fork flavor, plus a little peanut powder and Wasabi to taste more level. Apollo chicken wings $42/piece! Here the method of coal-burning to fire naturally is the scent of the nose, chicken skin burning very fragrancy in the chicken is also full of elasticity, simple salt burning can already eat the fresh taste of apoptosis chicken. Hokkaido hard snowman milk pot $188! It is a dish full of snow, which sells very good. The snowman made of chickpeas and chickpeas is very cute, immersed in the snow-white Hokkaido milk soup, along with fresh salmon fish and plenty of sweet vegetables, this pot is very healthy and warm body is best for winter enjoyment, but only five servings per day are limited. Apocalypse Chicken Woman Food $188! Super-rich dining includes white meals, butter soup, baked dishes, Japanese steamed eggs and pre-feeds, servings excessive appetite friends remember to share with friends. In the salad there is my favorite butterfly, the taste of the bite and taste is really delicious, in addition to the front dish and peanut soybeans used to eat with white meal are quite delicious. Sugar soup is definitely a part of Japanese cuisine that cannot be missed! The soup is not too salty to drink very comfortable, and most importantly, I can be safe to drink. Japanese steam eggs are very smooth to eat and slide over snow, and there are many materials such as mushrooms, almonds, crabs and Japanese fish eggs. Come to the main character Apollo Chicken Chicken! There are four large dishes in one can overcome addiction, the skulls are delicious and not a bit oily, and the flexible full of fresh chicken taste is sweet. Another serving is a monthly buffet buffet meal $178! Similarly follow the white meal, bread sauce, dried dishes, Japanese steamed eggs and pre-cooked dishes, in addition to pumpkin butterfly and a lot of spicy beef tongue to explode to see that aroma, see friends eat the taste of Zinzing is quite unusual. In winter is to eat ice cream so dessert point this and the wind fresh $65! With Nagasaki Cake, Red Bean, White Peanuts, Cakes and Siem Reap Ice Cream in it, this combination will definitely satisfy the desire of sweet teeth. Eating a very full lunch and winter food made me feel warm and satisfied.

We arrived there following a trip advisor recommendation. I ordered ramen and it was absolutely perfect. We will come back.

I was visiting in Chicago and my friends ordered a take away. This was officially the best nigiri with tuna and salmon l have ever had. Amazing fresh juicy fish. A must try when l am back to Chicago! Highly recommended!

I ordered delivery from Umai to try it out and what a pleasant surprise. The squid with mushrooms appetizer was really good, and the miso soup well balanced. I tried the Chicago roll and loved it, and the presentation was nice, even on the delivery box. Can't wait to try it at the restaurant.

This restaurant is located in the base of Burnham Pointe Apartments but don't let that be a negative. The food is great. Really good sushi. Delicious Japanese barbecue. Everything from the appetizers to dessert are fresh and delicious. True sign it is good food look around and Asian customers everywhere. The only negative for this restaurant is a bit expensive and poor parking.

Umai did not disappoint! Large portions for starters/salad and even the sushi rolls were on the large size from my experience. I do often get eel as a side, but that wasn’t an option there. Service was great. Would recommend!

I have not been here in a couple of years. This visit left me with the same impressions of the past. This time I decided to sit at the sushi bar thinking that the chefs would interact with me or other patrons. I was mistaken. They really don't talk to you even if you make an attempt to interact. They prefer you place your order with a waitress. By doing this, you have different chefs prepare your meal, no one is invested in you or your meal. Having said that, the food was average but so was the pricing. Nothing stood out except for the wine. They even have Gruner Vetliner. There are many other sushi places in the city that are much better than Umai but you may have to pay more.

The environment is good and staff are nice, but will not come back again for food. I ordered gyu don, it’s too salty and the meat is too dry. I prefer smoother meat. Also I’m usually like intense flavors but do not like the dishes tonight.

One of my best japanesse experiences, outside of Japan, was this amazing restaurant located right in Chicago's downtown area called UMAI. as soon as we arrived noticed that the place is really packed as you have to make a reservation in advance and can take up to 45 minutes to get a table even for 2 persons. I had the oportunity to travel with my daughter and review this restaurant with her as she's a best critique for the foreign food. We ordered a couple of dishes while the udon soup was a must along with some mido soup and a ribeye prepared with onions and peppers. The food was so well fresh and prepared with so much care that you can easily tell that they love to do their job and do it perfectly, the presentation was stunning and the flavors of the meat melting in the mouth were static. I will definitely recomend that if you are in town you come down to visit this beautiful and delicious restaurant, its a bit pricey but totally worth it.

This is very good food. Had the shrimp dumpling appetizer with the Chicago Roll-an amalgam of salmon, avocado, and other vegetables with a sweet sauce. The highlight was the barbecue pork shoulder with a sweet spicy sauce and pepper that was delicious. Extraordinary bargain considering the quality. Will be back!

Eight of us went there to celebrate after completing the Chicago Marathon. The restaurant was very clean and we were seated at a large table. Our waitress was very nice and foods were great. The restaurant was located at a corner and big windows.

The place was nice and the staff very friendly, but unfortunately the Toksido Ramen was really disappointing. The broth lacked flavor and the noodles didn’t have a good texture. Too bad, because the atmosphere was lovely.

The tonkotsu ramen here rocks my socks. It's so good. The broth has enough depth and flavor. Super happy that there's a place in the city and near the loop where I can get good tonkotsu ramen. Even their egg is perfectly executed like the way it should be in ramen-- cooked through egg white with semi runny yolk. The noodles were not overcooked and the chashu pork melted in the mouth.

The Mexican Maki roll was my favorite. The combination of spice and fresh greens was perfect!!!! Enjoyed the caterpillar roll also.

After a week in Chicago it’s all too easy to over eat, especially with the generous portions and most restaurant food being heavy on meat and light on vegetables. As a result we needed something easier of the stomach, Umai was perfect, a little out of town meant we had to walk up an appetite and the menu gave us the choice to eat well or take it easy. I had a beautiful oyster followed by the Katsu Don. A coupe fo beers to wash it down and a walk back and we were ready for the afternoon. Food all looked great and service was nice, would love to go again.

Food was so tasty and well prepared! Good range of options on menu. We also has a couple of cocktails and they were delicious! Would highly recommend.

I am not a sushi expert but boy did I enjoy this place. The atmosphere and service was excellent. We had real ramen. (SOO different that the stuff in the box ;0 ). That in itself was a meal. Of course we ordered sushi rolls. Everything tasted fresh and was well prepared. For being downtown Chicago, I thought the prices were reasonable. I will come here again the next time I'm in the city.

My wife and I have eaten at Umai at least a dozen times, and we have never been disappointed. The dishes are fresh, tasty, ample, well-presented, reasonably-priced, and much more Japanese-authentic than the usual Pan-Asian style The service is always friendly and timely. The restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. It is not located in a high-traffic area, so street parking is almost always available up to 5-6 PM. Of the hundreds of Japanese/Thai/Pan-Asian restaurants in the city and suburbs, I would rank this one in the top five.

I had some excellent sashimi to start, which was well prepared and tasty. On the servers recommendation, i then tried a mexican themes sushi role, not really knowing what to expect. It was actually really creative and a great combination of flavors. And very modestly priced for the quality of food. Also has a ggod ambience and very good service. I look forward to eating there again and will try more of their "non standard" menu

I've been to Umai twice and gotten ramen both times. Both the traditional and the spicy garlic are to die for. I almost wept as the char - grilled pork melted in my mouth. The hand-pulled noodles are perfectly chewy. The interior has a cool vibe and window seats are good for people watching.

Fantastic! The surf and turf roll was good. Need wrapped asparagus was yummy. Sudiyaki was incredible (first time trying it so I do not have a reference). Recommend reservations.

They offer wonderful food, with a wide array of choices, and a very decent wine selection as well. Nice ambiance too.

It was a Friday night and my guests were late. Umai allowed us a 30 minute delay. Then we were even later. They graciously allowed us to be seated. Service was perfect. All dishes were excellent. Really liked the Mexicana roll. The atmosphere is casual and quiet enough to have a conversation.

Second time here, solo this time. Had some of what I had last time and very happy with it. Surf and turf roll and the Sukiyaki.

Family of 5 were recommended by our hotel concierge. Simple decor but amazing quality sushi at reasonable price. Service and the waiter were outstanding trying to accommodate any of our requests. Definitely recommend.

Wonderful menu - so much to choose from, and everything was delicious. Very helpful and friendly staff.

i got the teriyaki chicken and california roll. they were delicious and the server was very friendly. good for a quick lunch spot.

From beginning to end, excellent. The restaurant is cozy, service was friendly and fast and the food was phenomenal. Got teh tempura oyster appetizer and a ramen afterwards, both highly recommended. The sushi plate of my friend also looked (and apparently also tasted) amazing. Will come back for sure.

We decided to give this place a try during our recent visit to Chicago and we had such a great lunch that we came back the second time before leaving the city. Service was good and our waiters were very attentive. Love their luncheon menu selections which were so affordable for the size and varieties. We had the Sashimi Bento Box, Katsu Kare, Gyu Don, Philly Roll and Mochi Ice Cream for dessert and couldn't be happier with those. Will be back again!

We had an excellent meal. Everything we ate was tasty and as promised. The signature asparagus and beef rolls amazing. The ramens bowls we chose for mains were large & tasty. Would definitely return and happily recommend.

We ordered several of the sushi dishes and loved them all. They have a good selection and many vegetarian dishes. We all would definitely go back. We liked the California, Philidelphia and Shrimp Tempura.

Had dinner here tonight and was very pleased with the experience. Staff and service were prompt, professional, and friendly, and the food was very good as well. Highly recommend the Ton Katsu. It was excellent.

I went to Umai for lunch. No plans to try the sushi/sashimi this time as I had a hankering for ramen. Umai was and is the right choice. Not too far from work - and the spicy roasted garlic portk ramen hit the spot! Flavorful broth, spicy but not hot, tender grilled pork, perfect portion size! Great service! I will definitely be back to check out the other ramen "flavors"!

The visit to Umai's was a wonderful surprise with the excellent sushi, beef tataki and the extensive sake menu. The place is busy with a fast turn around on tables, yet you never feel rushed. Reservations are highly recommended, but if you forget, I'd still wait!

Nice setting in new building. Great for people watching on the street. Service was excellent though they were not overly busy. We had 3 different rolls and 4 kinds of Nigiri. All were very fresh and good. Good prices. I'll be back.

We love sudhi and are always delighted to find a great place. Umai did not dissapoint for our meal before sightseeing. Luncheon offerings include this sushi Bento box and beautiful Rainbow Roll. Lovely atmosphere and very nice ambience. Yum!

On my first nite in Chicago I visited Umai as it was within easy walking distance of my hotel. The restaurant was busy; but I was quickly seated by a courteous server. I ordered an agadashi tofu appetizer along with some vegetarian sushi - types of which I had not seen in other restaurants. The appetizer was excellent as was the sushi and I was stuffed when I had finished my meal. Very good value, quality, quantity, and service. The restaurant appears to be very popular as customers kept arriving even though it was mainly full. A little more than a week later I visited again and it was again very busy and I was seated at the sushi bar. I had a miso-eggplant appetizer and again the agadashi tofu with a bowl of rice along with a delicious beer. I would highly recommend this restaurant located in the South Loop and would plan on visiting again if I ever return to Chicago.

It was just bad, bad, bad. We had a 10pm reservation on NYE. Showed up at 9:45 and were seated immediately. We had planned on just hanging out - eating and drinking - until around 11:30 and then were doing to watch the ball drop at home. Well weren't we wrong. At 10:30 after we'd ordered a few initial small plates to share, the waiter came over and told us the kitchen was closing so if we wanted anything else to order it now. Clearly we were a little annoyed as they shouldn't have accepted at 10pm reservation on NYE if they were closing the kitchen 30 minutes later but we didn't have a lot of options SO said we would order more and asked the waiter to come back in 5 minutes. 15 minutes later he finally comes back and you can tell, by the look on his face, he completely forgot about us. Nonetheless he takes out order for some sushi and other small bites and FINALLY we were able to order another drink. Around 11 he comes back with 3 of our 6 dishes and informs us that the kitchen can't make the rest of them. We ask if we can order something else since we're still hungry and he has no the kitchen is closed. I'm pretty upset at this point so I asked if we could at least get a drink on the house - he says he'd ask his manager. Brought us two more drinks and then said he couldn't comp them... what the heck?! As we finish our drinks - this is maybe 11:20 - the staff is cleaning the ground around us and other diners and stacking chairs. It was SO unprofessional. I've worked in the service industry. I understand that working on NYE is not ideal, but that doesn't make it appropriate to treat your customers like an after thought. While the good was good, I would never go back out of principle.

My daughter and I each had the lunch special, and it was wonderful. We had sushi, sashimi, spicy tuna roll, two dumplings, salad, fruit, and miso soup. Everything was fantastic, and the service was great. Very inviting atmosphere, and the lunch pricing is very reasonable (I believe all mentioned above was $16 per person.) We’d definitely go back.

I had the spicy pork ramen bowl and half a maki roll, both were excellent. Nice outside patio allowed me to enjoy the weather with friends, and the service was on point.

Went for a late lunch on a Friday. Excellent food, and quite a bit of it, for the price. The sushi chefs know their trade, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.

Stopped in last evening for some sushi after a flight from Las Vegas. Nice restaurant with very welcoming staff, was seated quickly. I perused the menu and ordered some salmon nigiri and a shrimp tempura roll. Both turned out very nice. The salmon was very fresh and went well with my wasabi soy sauce concoction.

Very fresh sushi! I also recommend the teriyaki salmon (large portion!). Everything we ate was excellent, including the grilled calamari and the tempura. Service was excellent as well. The restaurant is not very big, but the atmosphere is comfortable and modern. The only negative is that street parking nearby is very expensive.

I've been coming to Umai ever since it opened about three years ago. Over that time I've watched the people fill in and the food remain consistently fresh and delicious. With some sushi spots you will find a few top notch items on the menu and want to stick with them. But at Umai, everything is good. The sushi is really fresh and really good. And despite how much I love me some sushi, it's hard for me to stray away from the Tempura Udon. Huge portion and huge taste. On top of all the greatness with the food is a modern, chic but down to earth atmosphere. Perfect for dates, friends, or family. Close to the red line and well worth how ever long it might take to get there.

Really good option, fresh and well prepared sushi, besides having great signature rolls. Service is really good as well, one excellent option in Chicago.

I am getting more and more particular about my sushi these days, but booked a table at Umai to see what it was like. The sushi and sashimi was very fresh, well presented, seasoned properly and the rice held together as it should. They also have excellent appetizers that reminded me of being in Japan, such as charcoal grilled asparagus. Perhaps most importantly, they have a decent sake list and presented it appropriately chilled and with an ice bucket, both essential for a junmai sake. Even dessert was more than green tea ice cream. In fact their mochi was excellent. I definitely recommend Umai.

The place was closed to my hotel so I stepped in for a quick dinner. I had a delicious starter (asparagus and meat rolls) and after that the ramen 'recommended by the chef' - as the menu says. Actually I didn't like it so much, it was not really tasty. The interior design of the restaurant is simple and nice. I would say it is worth visiting.

We went to Umai for lunch. The place is beautiful and simply decorated with nice atmosphere. We ordered rolls, ramen and seaweed salad. Everything was good, but honestly, nothing outstanding. But desserts are out of this world! We had the mango mochi ice cream, green tea ice cream, and green tea creme brule. Delicious!! Service was great too!

Took my team for dinner while in Chicago. The team voted for sushi and after researching Umai looked like a good choice. That was an understatement....what a great time. The staff was great....the food was excellent. We had a ton of choices for both sushi lovers and those just trying something new. The wine list is small....but what we chose was quite good. Recommend for small and med size groups.

I came here for the first time on 7/13/2016 with one of my colleagues. I ordered the Spicy Garlic Ramen. The noodles were really good and the broth was delicious. Let me warn you that this dish is really really really garlicky and the smell stayed with me for a few hours but it was well worth it. I couldn't finish the whole thing. I will definitely come back

This is a great find! The Ramen were amazing! The Sushi were out of this world! The restaurant is ALWAYS busy. It just says it ALL! If you don't book at the weekend, Forget it!

I’m always crazy indecisive when it comes to trying new rolls and I really like that at this restaurant they cater to that! You can actually order half rolls of their specialty sushi which is exactly what we did and were able to sample many of them! The fish was incredibly fresh. If you are looking for a roll that will literally melt in your mouth then try the white truffle tails!! Sooo good!! Would visit this spot on the regular if I lived in Chicago!!

Very good food and excellent premium organic rice beer. We visited Umai 3 times in just a week in Chicago. We loved the beef tataki - but only for SERIOUS garlic lovers abd definitely not recommended before a romantic or professional encounter as you will feel the taste of garlic in your mouth for at least 24hours! Our favorite makis were Le Bonki, Sloopin and Umai crunch. We also tried the Sukiyaki but we did not like it as much. Plenty of Japanese guests. Definitely a good sign!

This was the perfect place to go on a blustery chicago night, thanks to their ramen bowls! We had to wait an hour to sit though because the restaurant is small considering. Reservations would have been a good idea but it was a last minute idea to go. Like I said already their Ramen bowls were so tasty! You get a lot of the $13 cost of a bowl. The sushi was very fresh as well. They happen to carry one of my favorite drinks to the Stiegl Radler!

Went here on a weeknight for a farewell dinner and the sushi rolls were excellent as were the Japanese grilled items. There is a great variety and selection of Japanese food items. It was wonderful and we left quite sated. The atmosphere was quite nice and the music was pleasant and not overwhelming. Service was fantastic.

You lucky residents of Printer's Row, not only do you have another restaurant, Umai is very good. You will have great service, very good sushi, excellent udon and tonkatsu ramen. Sometimes Japanese restaurants can feel a little cold, but Umai is welcoming and cozy. I can see Umai becoming a local favorite restaurant for family and friends to meet for lunch and dinner.

I stayed close by at Blake Hotel. I was there for 3 nights and searched high and low for a good dinner place. I liked it here very much and with limited choices I went twice. Garlic Ramen was very good loved the egg. I also had the Udon which was also very good. Fun place with a good mix of people and I went a little early and was seated quickly each time.

Excellent Japanese food and good service. The sukiyaki was great and we also had excellent appetizers

Went for lunch and found the whole experience to be a delight. Service was quick without feeling rushed. Food was tasty and portions were large. Cost was very reasonable for the experience. Would go weekly if we lived closer!

Cute Japanese spot in South Loop. Indoor dine-in/takeout available (no outdoor dining options). Credit cards are accepted. Bathrooms are available by the hostess stand. They serve alcohol. Came for dinner around 7 on a Friday in a group of three and there was about a 25 minute wait (we had no reservations). The fish was fresh and the prices were reasonable. I got the nama sake don which came with thick cuts of salmon (yummm) atop ginger, two scoops of wasabi, pineapples, and sushi rice. It also came with a miso soup which was a tad watery but was a nice little appetizer to the meal. The Chicago roll is a great option to split though you could also opt to get a half roll. They do also offer salads, ramen, and other cooked items.

Attended this restaurant solo and was promptly seated. I ordered agadashi tofu which was very good and it had a bit of a smokey taste (yum!). I also enjoyed a Philadelphia roll which I found to be slightly above average in taste and texture. The server was prompt and the food came very fast.

The place is nice and everything you can expect from a sushi place of this price range. The sushi is spectacular and better than that is the salmon and sweet shrimp nigiris do not miss those.

What a wonderful spot--best ramen bowl ever. Get the spicy garlic one; was to die for. I wish we lived closer. Will be back my family also got a sushi roll and was happy with it

Went for a small family dinner a little taken aback by the relatively simple look inside and hard to find as the address given was for the building next door. HOWEVER, got over that in a hurry once greeted by a really lovely waitress who we asked for her favorites. My oh my! From the chicken pop sickles to the Chicago roll we enjoyed some really top cuisine. Modest price and probably the best meal we had in Chicago! I mean 3 star Michelin Sixteen was excellent, but unpretentious UMAI gets a top score!

They have a decent sushi menu with lots of Midwestern varieties for the less adventurous eaters. They also have ramen and other Japanese dishes if you are not a sushi fan as well as a drink menu. They do not take reservations, despite what their website says, so be prepared for a wait if you come at busy times. The restaurant is on the smaller side and there is no social distancing if that is something you are concerned about.

This is one of the best sushi restaurant I've ever visited, I don't know if is one of the best in Chicago but is good . Ramen very good and the quality of the sushi is great . Price is not so high . I'll be back again

Finally decided to give this place a try. It's only a few blocks from the condo. The Sushi was yummy, especially the Beef Tataki and spicy tuna. The service was excellent, the staff friendly and there was great atmosphere. Overall an EXCELLENT experience.

Had a casual business dinner here. Food was served quickly and was above average. The miso soup and edamame were served piping hot. The fish selection for nigiri was more than you’d find in many other sushi joints.

Ton Katsu Ramen is probably the best I've ever had. This little gem in the south loop is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and they always seem busy. Try some of the Sushi and enjoy some of the great areas to walk around the South Loop

Love to order from here, but service at the restaurant can be iffy, especially when it's crowded. Mexicana rolls are the best, and the sashimi is very fresh and decent portion sizes. Chicago roll is great, but much better at the restaurant than ordered as they put the sauce on the side. Basic rolls are pretty good as well.

Excellent atmosphere, super service, and great Japanese food. Looked for simple sushi restaurant, but selection was more than expected. Wife had Zaru Soba which was delicious. Daughter had Katsu Kare which was also superb. I enjoyed a simple Philadelphia roll which left room to try others selections. All agreed would dine here again. Love exploring Chicago's dining places. Staff very pleasant and always there when needed.

We got to go from umai on a Sunday night and we're pleased with our experience. I had the tempura dinner 5hat included shrimp, mushrooms, onions and red pepper. It came with fruit, misogyny soup and a vegetable salad on the side. It was not very crisp since we weren't able to get it straight out of the fryer, as we would of if we would have dined in. My husband got the Katsuya Karen fried pork cutlet with curry sauce. He really enjoyed the sauce over the rice that was included. He also got the naked roll, which was sans rice in a cucumber that was sliced thin. That was really fresh tasting and was served with a pozu sauce on the side.

One of our favorite sushi restaurants in the neighborhood although not most frequently visited because of the cost of sushi grade fish. Although seating is limited inside and obviously in summer the outside seating is at premium

I walked a mile across town after reading some reviews, well and truly worth the walk, fantastic fresh made sushi, exactly what I wanted, beautiful rainbow roll with salmon, tuna, fresh as it comes, delicious and very generous portions to go with my miso soup and wasabi pork dumplings, now for the walk back, I need it, that was immense

My boyfriend and I visited UMAI for NYE. We had a 9pm reservation. The experience was very mixed for me. The ambiance was great, the staff was friendly, and we had two dishes (beef tongue and the ika butter squid) that were amazing. However, the drink service was pretty slow and the waiter couldn't give us any recommendations on the menu. We ordered the Mexicana roll and there was a large fish bone in it. I've never seen such a large bone in a piece of cooked fish before let alone sushi. It stabbed the roof of my mouth hard enough that I bled. We were ordering a few dishes at a time so at 10 our waiter came over and said the kitchen would be closing, would we like to order anything else. We said yes just give us a moment to look at the menu. Within 5 minutes we had placed an order. 5 minutes later the waiter came back and said the kitchen closed before he ordered our last 3 small plates and they were out of a dish we ordered earlier. We left confused, hungry, with a sore mouth but also willing to return to try the ramen which looked amazing. So yes, confusing experience. I think UMAI has a ton of potential to give us a great dining experience, it just didn't happen this time.

Would recommend making a reservation even on weekdays. The place was very busy but very friendly! We were seated immediately and food still came quickly. Had the shrimp shumai, japanese eggplant, naked roll, chicago roll, spicy tuna, beni imo, and shitake japanese bbq. The shumai are made in house and definitely easy to tell, the naked roll is a nice, light roll with no rice but still filling in that the pieces are big. The beni imo and chicago hit the spot. Definitely do not skip the beni. The japanese eggplant and mushroom bbq also had great sauces and were cooked very well. Eggplant and mushrooms can be hard to cook without ruining the texture - definitely worth trying. All of the fish in the rolls was deliciously fresh and had great color. Some of the best sushi in the city, and the best part is the price. The people next to us had the noodles and the portion was huge and looked like it came straight out of a magazine. Definitely need to try that next time!

Cozy sushi place. Took my friends and some of them were having sushi for the first time. All of them loved it and we had a great time. Service was great too.

If you love Ramen and delicious broth with a pork base, look no further. This place rocks! My wife and I were looking for a star rated restaurant in the south loop and settled on the idea of Sushi. The Ramen dish was a complete surprise and the reason we will be back again (the sushi was great as well).

Went here on a whim as I am in town for a running event. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen. I am comparing this to the ones I have had in Toronto (we have good ones there, my Chicago friends will attest). While it didn't blow my mind, I think the food is good. The broth was tasty and the pork belly meat was great. I would go here again if it wasn't so far from the core city. The atmosphere was very calm and I liked it.

Staying for a weekend right near Umai, we came in for a quick, late dinner upon arriving. They have a decent wine selection & great beer and cocktail choices. The menu has a terrific selection of appetizers, sushi, sashimi and entrees -priced quite reasonably. The Chicago Roll was perfect!! Super fresh fish and just the right amount of spice. Service was prompt and courteous.

Great food in a great space. There are a lot of hot and cold choices. All 3 of my dishes were prepared perfectly and I would definitely come here again.