Umami Cafe Reviews

Was visiting the Japanese Garden with family and were getting peckish. Fairly long wait, very friendly server/host got our phone number. Had yakitori,, the matcha-hana combo, miso soup with mugicha. All really, really good and unusual. Delightful visit!

last month 4/21 they were closed and vaccant due to covid you may want to call before hand or go to web site.

The café is situated above the uphill, circuitous path to the main area of the Portland Japanese Garden. The café design is beautiful, with glass on three sides so one can enjoy the scenery. While I expected the limited menu to be overpriced, the greater disappointment was in the “prepackaged” fare. Fourteen dollars for my husband’s tea set: one piece of mochi, three tiny sugar candies (no taste), and a half-filled bowl of tea! I had ordered flavorless onigiri, served with…rice crackers!? Very disappointing, if not a little insulting. Alas, the exorbitant prices for boxed items presented in pretty dishes may have had something to do with eliciting donations from patrons without their knowledge. In reading reviews elsewhere, some people mentioned that Umami Café was a gratuity-free establishment. That was news to me! Upon looking at the menu online (after our visit), I read in the back of the menu in small print that, following custom in Japan, the prices were inclusive of service and that any tips would go towards the Garden as a donation. The hostess nor the servers (we had 2 or 3 – not sure why) made no mention of this, but of course there was a typical line in our bill for tip. So, we tipped. I find Umami Café’s “policy” very deceptive. Someone should’ve mentioned it. There’s nothing wrong – in fact, it would be honest and transparent – to say that all tips would go towards the Garden since it was a nonprofit organization. If there’s some reason they can’t actually state this, then how the organization is handling tips and serving silly food still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Just ask for donations – don’t “decorate” it behind cute language in the back of the menu. The 2-star rating goes to the staff (I’m glad they still provided good service even when they’re supposedly “fully compensated by their wages”) and for the building’s design.

Umami Cafe is a tea room in the Portland Japanese Garden. They serve traditional Japanese tea room fare, and it’s lovely. I have absolutely never had a better bowl of green tea, which they make in the traditional way with a bamboo (I think) whisk. The plates are small, but I was able to make a light lunch out of the rice in green tea dish. I sat at the counter, so I was able to watch them make the tea, which is it’s own beauty. There are tables on the outdoor deck as well, so there’s something for everyone to see.

Umami Cafe is worth the price of admission to the gardens just to go to the cafe. The castella cake was perfection, I love cake but this cake was like no other, it was so soft and light, I could have eaten it all day! Then I had the matcha brownie and that wasn't so much for me. Next time I will just order 5 portions of Castella Cake. The tea was very good too, they explained to me how best to drink it and they kept on refilling. I had such a wonderful experience here and I will go back very soon

I went with a savory dish, Ochazuke with Genmaicha, and it did not disappoint. If the weather permits, recom sitting outside. The staff is friendly, and the surroundings are peaceful. Make a reservation!

We had to wait quite a while to get a table, it was a very busy day. It was an interesting experience, the tea was good and the surroundings are beautiful

This is the lone food option, at least that I had found while at the garden. It was a restaurant or cafe at the main entrance at the top of the hill. It is not overly big, but with the number of staff they had on hand there, it has to be all about quick table turn around getting you in and out. They offered both indoor and outside seating. The outside was particularly nice with the balcony and views. However, it was almost all glass, which gives you a decent view no matter where you sit. The menu is Japanese food fare. I had ordered the Sencha Yek rice + green tea = $14.00. While I feel the price was on the higher end for the offering, it was what I would expect for a place like this. The food was good, so you did get your money's worth.

Glass encased tea room and very Japanese feel to it. Hard to get in at busy times at the garden so make a reservation as soon as you get to the top.

More of a snakc place than a meal place. There are 'tea service' choices-- a cup of Japanese tea with accompanying Japanese snack such as a red bean paste roll-- at about $12. A couple of meal choices of fried rice if you are hungry.

When we got up to the garden we were sorry we didn’t bring water. I went into the café to see about drinks and was told that the wait was 45 minutes. We left our name and came back in :45 and we were very happy to sit down and have a cold drink and snack in the air conditioning. It was very cool, our waitress brought over what looked like a white tablet which we put in water and it opened up into a hand towel. I enjoyed my Matcha iced tea & brownies. The Unami Popcorn, Yuzo soda & cheesecake didn’t disappoint. The cafe felt like we were in Kyoto. Service was on point. When we arrived we were told that there was not availability for three hours and when we left it was completely booked for the day. I’m so glad we got in and enjoyed

I’m in Portland on business with the weekend off. The weather was unseasonably mild for February. The staff at The River’s Edge Hotel where I’m staying recommended the visit to the Japanese Gardens. A scenic, twisting road which snakes it’s way to a mountain top, sets the visit in motion. The entrance fee of $14.95 is well worth it. Be prepared for an uphill walk up to the main gardens. Even this is beautiful with bamboo water features and towering pines. Bring your camera. You will want to capture every detail of nature at her finest. Take a tour of the five gardens and the spend 20 minutes at the tea demonstration ( short version ) which was informative and just long enough for the average attention span. TIP: make a reservation at Umami Cafe for a beautiful bowl of Matcha and sweet or savory afternoon treat in a cliffside cafe with glass walls. Then, end your day with a visit to the gift shop. Gifts from $3.00 up, so very affordable. TIP: Become a member. The helpful young man in the gift shop suggested selecting the $55 basic membership and immediately deducted my entrance fee and offered a 20% gift shop discount on my purchase. There is also a discount at a Japanese restaurant. WEAR WALKING SHOES AND BUNDLE UP. ITS WINDY.

The Portland Japanese tea garden is a very beautiful place and I feel like I can spend hours there, enjoying the beauty of the garden. Getting to sit in a very beautiful cafe and sipping tea while enjoying this garden makes it even better. The cafe is so beautiful - with all the sliding glass doors and the balcony and simple Japanese style interiors. We got the package with fried rice and sencha tea. The fried rice was so full of flavors and delicious. Every spoonful was a delight. Tea was very good and balanced - as expected. We also tried the yuzu tart and Michu ice cream- both were amazing. The service was very prompt and efficient and warm as well. What a great experience!

A cafe at the garden is a great idea, but this one does not deliver,. I ordered tea and an accompaniment. The macha tea was excellent, but there were about four swallows: I've never experienced a stingier tea service. The accompaniment was too sweet; indeed, most everything on the menu is in the realm of "sweet", which is both unhealthful and nonsustaining. In other words, for an extended visit over several hours to these wonderful gardens, the offerings here fail to be restorative. And the value/cost ratio is poort.

So luckily I had called up about the time it takes to get through the Japanese gardens and the person who returned my call mentioned the café. When I looked it up it said they only except reservations so I immediately made one on open table. This is a very calming experience and set you up for a great walk through the gardens afterwards. We tried several different tees and desserts and shared them all. It was totally worth the experience.

The waitress was incredibly rude to myself and my boyfriend. She was short and abrupt in her speaking. However, there were other patrons of a different race who she was incredibly polite and welcoming to. So I'm not sure what the real problem was. She attempted to bring us our check only moments after our food was brought to us. The food was okay, however, the prices were outragous for what was being offered. We both ordered the chicken fried rice which I was hesitant to order seeing as how there was no stovetop to cook anything on. I kept wondering how they were preparing the food. I figured out why the food was just okay. The food they served is from the brand Ajinmoto. And so is the frozen fried rice from the brand Tai Pei, which you can find at any local Kroger or Walmart for about $2.50 per serving. It's the exact same fried rice. So why are they charging $9 for it at the gardens? I recommend eating elsewhere if you are visiting Portland before or after stopping at the gardens. It's not worth eating here. (Also note: many of the "Japanese" items in the gift shops are actually made in China.)

This was part of my Japanese Garden visit. Thoroughly enjoyed the tea, food and the entire atmosphere.

The cafe is a new building that has been added to the garden. After visiting the garden I had tea in the cafe. It is well worth the visit.

In the beautiful Portland Japanese Garden, this was augmented by An incredible village is at the top designed by world famous Kengo Kuma. This is in the true GEM of Portland - spend at least 2 hours here and walk slowly, breathe and soak in a most healing and stunning garde that is considered one of the very best in the world.

I made a reservation for the cafe beforehand after reading online that it was recommended, so i got seating right away. The building itself makes the whole experience very relaxing and peaceful, since you feel like you're sitting in a treehouse surrounded by the forest. I had the matcha and white bean sweet set. The staff was super attentive and good at explaining everything on the menu. They were having appliance issues so some items were unavailable and they served the food on paper plates (which is normally not the case).

It was a nice place to go but I wasn't too impressed with the vegetarian options for my one son who is allergic to certain meats. other than that, it was a great place.

The tea is excellent. The choice of food, however, is rather limited. Don't come here hungry and expect to walk away satiated. The prices are too high for the amount and types of foods that are offered. This place could best be described as a place to get an expensive snack in a very nice Americanized tea house. It works only because it's situated inside the Japanese garden. It really needs to be able to stand on its own feet independent of the garden in order to earn a higher rating.

We arrived on a Monday around 1:30 pm. We were able to get right in and sit at the counter. Everything is made as you order it so it takes a little bit of time to get your order. But it is a calming atmosphere so sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. I had the Matcha tea and Mochi ice cream. The tea was slightly bitter which is to be expected but just be aware if you aren’t sure what kind of tea you like. When we left there was a 40 min wait but they took your cell phone number and you were free to explore the gardens while you wait. So might be good to check in when you get to the gardens.

Had lunch at Umami, which is in the Japanese Garden near the Gift Shop. Menu is limited but seems authentic. Not cheap, but reasonable. Tasteful and understated. Good service.

i love Umami cafe because they are so fast to deliver your order and their meals are made perfect both local and international test .

No long waits and a nice peaceful stop at the garden. I enjoyed a fried rice dish and water but there are some delicious looking teas and desserts to try too. If you need a quick snack while walking, this is a nice stopover. Enjoy!

I love the atmosphere and menu available at the Cafe. The colorful photos and explanation was great for even those who had never experienced mochi or traditional green tea before, like my mother. She was able to enjoy something new and not be overwhelmed. The service was good and it was a nice location considering you can be indoor or outdoor and even if you're seated indoors you can view the gardens. I would definitely visit there again. The prices if I recall correctly mostly ranged between $6-$13

I decided to have tea and a treat at Umani Cafe while visiting the Portland Japanese gardens. The staff does an excellent job of explaining all of the options. I had the Hojicha & Chikara Cake and both were lovely. The cafe itself lets you feel like you're sitting in the middle of a tree house - so peaceful and relaxing. If you're touring the gardens, make a reservation and enjoy some Japanese culture.

Anticipating a late lunch, we came here mid-morning looking for something to tide us over. We split a Sencha and Fried Rice dish, and I can't say enough good things about it. The flavors in the rice were subtle and filling, and the tea was wholesome. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, quiet, a good place to enjoy a meal slowly.

This is a small, modern-style Japanese restaurant located at the entrance to the beautiful Japanese Gardens of Portland, Oregon. The food was authentic Japanese cuisine, but I was totally blown away when I asked for chopsticks and was told that they don't have any! Eating Japanese food with a fork and spoon definitely takes away from the experience for me....

I love coming to this authentic Japanese garden, have been here several times. This was the first time I tried the Umami Cafe. I think if all you want is a cup of tea and a relaxing, beautiful spot to enjoy it, this is your place. I ordered the chicken fried rice and a tart. The rice was on the dry, unflavorful side, I asked the server for some soy or teriyaki sauce. She said they didn't have any, "We are very minimalist." The tart was good but very small. I only had water. My bill for a bowl of dry fried rice and a tart came to $18.00. I added a $4 tip which brought it to $22, because the service was very good, not the servers fault that the food failed to deliver. I highly recommend the garden but skip the cafe unless you just want a cup of tea and a view.

The Umami was the low point of our afternoon in Washington Park. We were the first group in a cluster to be told accurately that there were no more tables. We agreed to sit at the bar. When the slow service and high prices caused one couple to leave their table, we asked to move to the table and the hostess refused indicating that someone (one person) who had just walked up was taking that table. When I indicated that we had asked for a table an seated at the bar for some time, the hostess (Melina) indicated "That is not my Problem.." I decided that the goal was to have a relaxing tea and more discussion would not accomplish that. I think she realized her mistake quickly after another employee indicated that we could move to that table. The hostess then approached us ain almost confrontationally inquired if we wanted a table. We did move, but by then the experience was ruined. So this place obviously has a management problem and I can not recommend it without serious restructuring.

On a cold day in the fall, it was tempting to duck into this cozy environment for a snack. We signed up on the wait list, we were told it would be an hour or less, and they texted us to say a table was ready. Although we ended up with an outside table, the design of the terrace made it feel protected and private, with a beautiful view of the adjacent woods. We had the ochazuke and the takikomigohan, and we loved both dishes. The hojicha that came with the dishes was perfect, and so in harmony with the season. This is a spectacular garden for strolling, and the new cafe and gift shop and education spaces are extremely well done. A must see in Portland!

This is the new restaurant at the Portland Japanese Garden. Views of the garden from terrace tables (weather permitting) and some of the indoor tables. Authentic food, quick service, no sake or wine however.

Yes, as another reviewer said, what you get for the price is pretty limited. However, the truly Japanese decor, service, perfectly balanced flavor profiles, and setting among the trees with open air and views down to the entrance of the Garden is, in my humble opinion, priceless. Our iced mencha (a matcha and sencha blend I think) was delicious and refreshing. The yakatori fried rice (chicken) and version of miso soup were also very tasty, even though small portions. It was the perfect ending to walking with two out-of-town friends in the Garden. The Portland Japanese Gardens are unique & magical, and I think Umami is just the right addition in its quality, attention to detail, and reverent focus on Japanese tea.

After a somewhat cold day (although not compared to the below zero temps of our home town, Chicago), we decided to warm up in the teahouse. It is authentic and operated by people who have been trained by a Japanese master. We had two types of green tea, one roasted, one not, with a snack of chicken fried rice (nothing like what you are thinking of) and a small piece of cake. It was nothing short of amazing. It took place in a glass sided café overlooking the Japanese garden. Oh my, how wonderful!

Came on a Friday, late morning. We had been in the gardens for about a hour and a half, and needed some refreshment before the trip homeward. We opted for the outside seating, although it was a wee bit chilly for that, even on a June morning. Service was efficient and attentive. I opted for Hojicha with Chikara Cake for eleven dollars, which was a bit on the steep side, but. My sister chose the Hojicha with Fried Rice. Both of us were satisfied with our choices. For additional tea infusions, we were instructed to place the top of our tea pots off, and they'd bring us hot water. Smart idea! Also, we loved the interesting towels they offered us when we arrived to refresh before eating/drinking. I'd come back in a flash!

Great place to experience some nice tea with knowledge, friendly staff. Great if you are new to Japanese tea and tea service or an old hand. Has a few noodle and rice options for a light lunch but mostly focused on the tea itself

I had just walked the Portland Japanese Garden, taking pictures, on a blustery Fall Monday afternoon, and it was a lovely sight and respite to sit down at the counter in this small cafe. The hostess had shown me the menu before I sat down, and the idea of having hot tea and something sweet was perfect. The ambience was lovely, quiet and calming; and the decor was modern, sparse and had a Japanese feel to it without being old-fashioned or traditional. The menu was quite spare, but the first things were photos of plates that combined a small teapot and cup with a plate showing a small tart of some kind. The text said something about 'pairing' your choice of tea with a particular pastry, and there was a price under each photo. I took these illustrations to mean that the tea AND the pastry would be $6 or whatever price was under the photo. The tea was wonderful, the pumpkin tart quite small but delicious, and the whole experience was very refreshing. However.... (and this is where the 'overpriced and misleading' in my title comes in) .... my check for the plate I show in my photo was $14! (Actually, there had been a misunderstanding between the server and me about which tart I wanted, so if she hadn't compensated by discounting the tart, the check would have been for $15.) I'm sorry, but for $15, I could have had a delicious and more substantial meal elsewhere. If I had understood the pricing before I ordered, I probably would not have sat down. I think the menu is misleading. It could be a lot more clear...."Here are your choices of teas...each for $xxx. Here are your choices of pastries.....$xxx each. Mix and match your tea and pastry." Thank you.

The menu is Japanese pure and simple. Two rice dishes as mains can be paired with roasted green tea. I enjoyed Yakitori Chicken Fried Rice with the green tea. Simple but filling. The service was well organized and done very orderly. A nice difference from your typical garden restaurant.

I was looking forward to visiting this cafe. The location was great (inside the Japanese Garden) and the design of the building was beautiful. However, I should have read the menu before making reservations. While some of the older reviews showed pictures and remarked about ordering fried rice and other 'lunch' items, they now only serve sweets and snacks with their tea. The sweets were cute, but probably something that we could have gotten from a Japanese supermarket. We were reminded of this when a server ripped open a store-bought box of mochi ice cream right out in the open. All in all, it was an okay experience. I don't think I would have made the reservation had I known it was only serving sweets and tea.

Make sure you stop at Umami Cafe when visiting the Japanese Garden in Washington Park in Portland. You order pots of tea with a small snack. They bring more hot water so you can re-steep the tea. I loved the experience and the tea! We bought some to take home from the gift shop.

I read menu and made reservation beforehand- so no unpleasant surprises. Great location in beautiful Japanese garden, very friendly experienced staff, nice ceremony. Delicious deserts and tea. Speicific, but my daughters and I liked it. It was the end of June, weekday around 3.30 pm and place was very busy. One couple found place without reservation, other people not.

My wife and I were visiting the Japanese Gardens and decided to have lunch at this restaurant. The atmosphere was delightful and the service was very good. We really did not know what to order, but had the mango nectar and Takikomi (vegetable fried rice dish) and Japanese "brownies". It was a nice lighter meal which we wanted.