Best sushi in Ottawa. I've been going to Sushi Umi since it first opened. Owner (Chris) pays great attention to detail. He is also just a real nice guy. read more

Our group of five went in to dine in, and we were the only ones there in the evening. The party trays that we ordered were hence served fairly quickly and it turned out to be quite fresh; definitely one of the better ones out there in Ottawa. My only gripe with the platters is the price that I've noticed has been steadily increasing, but it's filled us well enough to not complain too much. I appreciated the friendly service and their commitment to social distancing guidelines. Dining in was also a nice extra touch, as we got to bathe in the chic decor. Perhaps if I come here another time, I'll give a go at the special rolls that this restaurant serves here. read more

I've been to Sushi Umi a few times now. Most of my visits were from when they just opened many years ago. My most recent visit was for lunch on a weekday. Overall, it's good there. They have lunch specials between 11am and 3pm. I got the Lunch Special #2 which was $12.95 and included 8 Dynamite rolls, 6 California rolls and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri. I liked that the rolls didn't have too much rice, but since they also didn't have too much filling, they were pretty small. The Dynamite rolls had tempura shrimp and avocado in them. They were topped with tempura bits and black tobiko. The California rolls had imitation crab and avocado in them and were topped with masago. I asked for the rolls to be made without sesame seeds and that wasn't a problem. The rolls tasted good, but I feel they would have benefited from having more ingredients in them. Now I usually don't eat raw fish, and I did contemplate asking them to substitute the salmon nigiri for something cooked, like ebi or tamago, but I figured what the heck, I'll have the salmon and see how good it is. I have to say, the salmon was excellent. It was very fresh and I got a sizable piece. The thing is, even after eating 16 pieces of sushi, I was still hungry. So while the salmon nigiri was a good size, the rolls were rather small. I was the only person in the restaurant the whole time I was there (maybe between 11:15am and 12 noon). I was greeted right away and brought complimentary tea. My food also came out really quickly. The man serving me was also the man who made the sushi. He was very nice. The place is quite small and narrow with just a few tables for 2 and a few tables for 4. I don't think that it would be able to accommodate a large group. The place is clean and decor is fairly simple, not cluttered. Sushi Umi is in Wellington West, so street parking only (no parking lot). read more

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Had a great experience here. Great quality, fresh food. There was a little mix up with our order but they resolved it professionally, and we were very satisfied. We'll be back. read more

I said I will try this since my other go to place use streofom so I can go there anymore. My kid ordered 3 different types of nigiri and I had 3 different maki's. The makis where ok but not amazing, I had much better. Now the big issue was with the nigiri, under each fish there was a chunk of wasabi...not a spread a chunk. Obviously it completely destroyed my kid experience. I never saw a place that does that and they didnt write or told us about that so I have no idea why they serve it like that but we wont be coming back. read more

This place. Ohhhh this place. I just know It's about to be one of my favourite places in the city. Note how I didn't just say "favourite SUSHI places"? While this place serves up some of the city's best raw fish, the fact is this spot is about more than just the sushi. A small spot with about 8-10 tables, the walls are a bright, cheery, red and there's local artwork for sale on the walls. I love the casual and cool vibe here. We strolled in around noon the week before Christmas and were greeted by Chris, a friendly and efficient staff (owner?) member who took our orders and chatted with us. My friend and I had an 18 month and three year old accompanying us on what the three year old dubbed our "sushli" adventure. I wasn't sure what kind of reaction we'd get with the wee ones in tow but it was positively accommodating and lovely. Chris brought over water with straws in plastic kid cups and "junior" chopsticks connected at the top with rubber bands so they could feel uber cool. He hardly even blinked when the three year old spilled a puddle of soy sauce in the table, and swiped it up before it became an issue. What a guy. Now, for the food. This is definitely in competition for the best sushi in the city. Fresh, decently priced and beautifully presented, I couldn't ask for more. We ordered two of the lunch specials ($10 each!), edamame and a miso soup and it was plenty. The salmon rolls were divine and I loved the flavor of the miso soup - not nearly as salty as what I've had elsewhere. Every morsel I tried was wonderful and I really can't wait to return. Thank you Sushi Umi for bringing Ottawa great sushi and amazing service :) read more

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3.5 stars, if I could. I have to say that we were greeted warmly on this cold blustery day, by the owner or manager who promptly brought us nice warm green tea. Kudos to him, he was wearing a short sleeved kimono - and every time the door opened on this small place, WHOOSH! He got a blast of cold air! The kitchen is open for all to view, and there were two people preparing the sushi, working steadily the whole time we were there. The food was tasty enough, and well presented. One little funny thing: my friend was served her meal on a plate that had sushi pictures on it! It was confusing at first. There's very limited seating here; I'm sure they do a booming take out business. Our food came out quick enough, and for about $25.00 it filled us sufficiently. On the unusual side: my friend gets around with a walker, and managed to get up the one kerb at the entrance. We didn't see washrooms inside although there may have been something down in the basement, but we didn't look. So, the restaurant is somewhat wheelchair accessible, but apparently not the washroom. Bear in mind that these are older and narrower buildings. Other restaurants in this area have restrooms in the basements. And while we were there, a woman came in with her 3 or 4 year old daughter, and it was transparent that they come in here on a regular basis. So the restaurant really is suitable for family. Lastly, my favourite sushi still remains in Orleans (Sawa Sushi), so far away that unfortunately I don't get there often. read more

Everything was very fresh and exceptional quality. My favorite was the spicy tuna. I love that you can watch the chef prepare your meal. The decor is contemporary and is quite cute. There aren't very many dine-in tables so make sure to get there early at peak lunch and dinner times. The service was excellent. My husband and I would definitely have sushi here again. read more

Stopped in for a quick fix of sushi. Cute store - long and narrow with shocking red walls (fun!) and black tables. Pop Asian music (think animi music scores) playing in the background ad a fun feel to the atmostphere. Menu was fairly standard for sushi in Ottawa. Ordered some rolls and nigiri - all were delicious, as was the miso soup. Would I return: Yes Would I recommend: Yes - it's a great place to stop if you are in the neighborhood and want sushi. Each neighborhood has its own spot like this with equal quality, so nothing to go out of the way for. read more

I've only tried a sushi boat from here, so I need to try some other items, but the boat itself was very fresh and presented beautifully. It came pretty quickly too. Service was a bit slow though, and the space itself was very small. But you can taste the freshness! read more

Sushi Umi - Beautifully presented sushi! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I have been to Umi multiple times and they always deliver fresh and tasty sushi at reasonable prices. I can't say much more than that. Their space is small and limits the amount of seats for dine-in, but that's totally okay. Just be aware of that if you're planning on going with a group of friends on a busy night. Give it a shot! read more

Food Quality & Presentation (15 out of 10) Yes really! 15 out of 10 Ambiance (9 out of 10) Easy-going Service (10 out of 10) Conscientious and Friendly Price (10 out of 10) Fair Market Rate Venue (10 out of 10 ) Recently Expanded---Pleasing to the eye / Clean & Comfortable Based on Yelp reviews, my daughter and I made a special trip after our shopping trip to Mountain Equipment CO-OP for some outdoor gear---a short drive away. Both of us tried a broad range of Sushi Umi's menu items---Soup, Sushi, Sashimi and more. We were really hungry--and portion sizes were just right. The freshness, quality and taste ---simply put---were second to none! Sushi Umi's sushi chef / specialist was welcoming, approachable, friendly and was conscientious with every detail of the meal that was prepared for us. His efforts were commendable! The server was very knowledgeable and helpful when called upon for recommendations from the menu. If you haven't yet been to Sushi Umi--plan to get over there as soon as you can! Visitors to the National Capital Region will be happy to know that Sushi Umi is a ten minute drive from Parliament Hill and that it is located in one of Ottawa's pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods surrounded by trendy stores---a thriving community with a lively street scene. read more

This neighbourhood is so lucky to have a sushi takeout and restaurant as good as Sushi Umi. Prices are great and the sushi is very good. The service is down home and friendly, and the restaurant is cozy and welcoming. It is reminiscent of a neighbourhood sushi restaurant you might see on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and it has the same quality and familiarity. read more

Sushi Umi - Sushi Umi at the corner of Wellington West and Grange - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

For the last couple of years, my wife and I have been visiting the various sushi restaurants around Ottawa. We recently started using Yelp, and saw the excellent reviews for Sushi Umi. We went for dinner and were both highly impressed. This restaurant blows those all-you-can-eat type places out of the water! It costs a bit more, but it is well worth it. The food is fantastic! read more

I arrived at Sushi Umi at around 6:45pm on a Wednesday evening... It was dead.. Not a soul in there. I was nearly put off but I entered. Service was friendly, the menu looked like it had seen better days but was well stocked. I ordered the tempura and the Umi combo.. The miso soup was one of the best I've had in sometime and the food was amazingly presented... People started to pour in.. Including a woman on a guitar singing Christmas songs which was bad to put it politely the manager spoke to them as he left saying "one time only" and for that I was thankful! The tempura was truly enjoyable, light batter and the vegetables were crisp still... The sushi was of a high standard, no wasabi available with the dish or on the table. I did not ask for any from the staff. The sushi to taste was superb and fresh... So over look a few small things and you get a good meal. read more

I eat here once a week. The staff are very nice and I love the tempura yam roll. The prices are good and I am always offered free tea while I wait. A perfect portion and enjoyable lunch. read more

Sushi Umi - Tempura Yam & Vegetable Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Tried this place for take out based on the high reviews so maybe was expecting too much. I would say it's average to maybe just slightly just above. Prices are higher than your average joint, particularly when you take in the ambiance/decor. The food was crammed as tightly as it could be into a small plastic tray instead of being spread out a little for presentation. The rolls were large but overweight with rice, not a ton of actual ingredients. They were good for fairly standard. Their most expensive roll, the lobster roll, was just so-so. Finally, just packets of soya sauce instead of a container which was a pain and no wasabi included so had to go without. Oh well, lots of choice in the hood. read more

I have been at Sushi Umi several times and the food and the service was just excellent!!! They always do their best for the customer. I just love their small and very welcome ambiance. read more

First timers and was a great experience. Best part is, even though they were "closed", they still allowed us to dine in and the sushi was awesome! We ordered a few different types of rolls, which came beautifully arranged on the plate, as well as veggie gyoza dumplings. read more

The beef bento box was quite sad with its cut of meat and portions for price. The roll was mediocre. But then again, there is not much competition around. Service and decor was decent for a small takeout place. read more

Just visiting Ottawa for the weekend. Randomly stumbled upon this place while doing a search for Japanese Restos in the area to have dinner. For a table of 6 we ordered a variety of dishes: Tofu, Dynamite roll, California roll, Tempura apps, Fried chicken popcorn, Salmon combo, Sushi pizza, fried banana split (green tea and mango ice cream). I liked the Japanese/Asian fusion in each dish. Nice presentation and subtle fusion taste which was pleasant. The store front is definitely not noticeable but the inside was clean, neat and cozy for a quiet meal. I've b een to a couple of Japanese restos in the area and this is by far the best and most trusted place to go for friendly service and great food. Recommended!!! read more

The food is excellent and the chef is accomodating but the decor has lots of room for improvement. Surprisingly there wasn't any plain hotate nigiri sushi on the menu only spicy but when we asked the chef....no problem. The result was excellent as was the rest of our order (spider roll, inari, unagi, salmon skin roll, spicy tuna, hamachi with green onion roll). The only one that could have used a little improvement was the saba nigiri sushi; the topping could have used a little grated lemon rind. read more

I really enjoyed the sushi at this restaurant, I would even say it might be the best in Ottawa. Sushi is simple, but the ingredients and execution are key. The ingredients were correct, in the correct proportions, and presented well. The rice was of a decent consistency (not too vinegary or compressed), and above all the seafood was FRESH! I like that this is a SUSHI restaurant run by someone who knows good sushi, not some franchise riding the wave of popularity and catering to individuals who wouldn't know the difference between decent sushi and a ham sandwich. More importantly, I have been back several times and it has been consistently good each time. Now if I can only find a decent Ramen shop! read more

Average to slightly above average sushi. Unfortunately not the greatest service. Were told half an hour for pick up. Ended up taking 1.5 hours instead. It's one thing to take a long time. Much worse to be off by that much. read more

Awesome sushi, great service and very well priced!

This tiny sushi bar offers great sushi and Japanese food. I've eaten there three times since they opened a few weeks ago, and I've been very pleased every time. Take-out is also available. Prices are quite reasonable for such tasty sushi. The sushi rice is perfectly cooked, and the rolls are well-prepared and have always been filled with tasty and fresh ingredients. Note that the restaurant only has four or five tables, so if you go at a busy time you might want to call ahead. Also, the service can be slow and inattentive, but if you ask for something you'll get it eventually. Strongly recommended. read more

I felt liking eating sushi during my visit to Ottawa. I looked places up in Yelp and I decided on this one 'cause the decent reviews. I had the spider roll and the Boston roll. They weren't that tasty; the food was pretty much average, just enough to satisfy my craving. read more

Simply one of the best sushi places in town. Favorites include sushi pizza, spicy octopus dumplings and dragon roll.

Three words: live lobster sushi. it was a special order for a special occasion, but Chef Chris is no stranger to sushi delicacies (for the not-so-faint of heart, as the de-tailed crustacean waved its claws at us in protest). But even though Chris' kitchen skills are on par with big city chefs, you will not have to dig deep into your pockets to enjoy a meal at his joint. What you will get from Sushi Umi is consistently tasty sushi at a very reasonable price. True, the place is small, they don't serve bevvies, and service can be slow at times, but when your awesomely hot and spicy bowl of seafood miso soup arrives, and you dig in to your plate of Wellington rolls, you will find yourself coming back for more. Again. And again. And... read more

I am a big fan of japanese cuisine and always have my eye out to look for new sushi places to try. I recently have moved to the Wellington Village area and of course had to locate the nearest sushi joint to get my fix. I spotted sushi umi and decided to give it a try. On first impression from the decor an ambiance alone I quite liked the quaintness of it. A bit dim inside but nothing too fancy. I would deem it as trendy and relaxed. The chefs prepare your order right behind the cash, which I like as you are able to see exactly how your food is made. I also enjoy paying attention the technique that which the chefs use. I'd only hope one day I may master the same. All kidding aside the owner/chef I found and is very friendly, informative and accommodating. I can be a little a picky about my rolls as I am not a fan of the mayo, bits, and tempura. Each time he has custom made my order and I'm thoroughly impressed by the quality of ingredients and preparation. He even remembers what I like from my last order and puts extra ginger in me without me even asking. . Fantastic! I would recommend all sushi lovers to try this place. read more

Wow what a pleasure to stumble across this place. The Owner/Chef was omnipresent and he was certainly capable of far more than the palate of his knuckle dragging wellington Hipsters. When even the miso takes you to Japan you know you are in good hands. I would unreservedly simply lay your card down and ask the Chef to pick/build you what he believes is his best (today). Remember this is Japanese cuisine so if you come up eel, sea urchin or octopus -- no winging. (did not remember seeing sea cucumber-- but never say never). The fresh fish and composition is so good I actually recommend you make your first pilgrimage alone (perhaps lunch) and take the time to enjoy and learn. This Chef is so sophisticated I would probably make 2-3 more visits before trying to entertain guests. Not because it is necessary,... but because he really is that good, and I would want to show off the highlights which might best stretch more Canadian palates. FANTASTIC. read more

After a long time of wondering how the sushi was, last night I finally decided to enter. The server brought me a cup of green tea as I was taking off my jacket and this was appreciated after coming in from the first really cold day this winter. I had the Alaska Maki and Unagi sushi and it was all fresh and very tasty. The ginger and wasabi were just what the doctor ordered to help clear out the cold I have been fighting for weeks. I'll be back! read more

I've been a fan of Sushi Umi almost since the place has opened and their sushi has become my Friday nights' treat for having worked so hard all week long. Once in a while I will also sit in the tiny place, well not so tiny any more since Sushi Umi has expanded, taking over the homeopathic shop that has closed last summer. There is now about 10 more tables, and last time I went they had also added ready to go sushi, so no need to call in advance or wait on site to get your sushi fix. About the food now. The fish is always fresh and tasty and the choice is not limited to the usual tuna and salmon. Of course you can choose from a variety of rolls, but they also prepare a nice sashimi dish and a crisp sushi pizza. You can start with some edamame, gyoza, or sea weed salad. I would recommend this place "sans prétention". Let's hope that with the recent increase in space, they will be able to keep up with the taste and quality. read more

A quiet, simple restaurant. The fish was high quality and nicely presented. The service was prompt and friendly. I'll go again for sure.

If you're looking for quality sushi definitely give Sushi Umi a try, it will be your new favourite. The main chef is fantastic and very friendly. The restaurant is exceptionally clean and very transparent as you can see where the sushi is being made. The price you would pay at an all you can eat place is similar, you can get a very full and delicious meal under 25$ easily. I would highly recommend this place. After eating here I can barely stomach buffet style sushi. read more

Came on a weekend, mid-afternoon to celebrate a somewhat special occasion, given the good ratings here. Service was sub par to non existent. Our server distributed tea and took our orders after a long-ish wait considering there was only 1 other table occupied. Then the server left the building. One of the employees in the back brought out our food and from that point forward there was no server. The wait for our food was quite long. Again, approx. 1-2 other tables occupied, and 2-3 people came in to pick up take out orders. We waited about a half hour. Portions were small / the price paid was steep compared to other sushi places I've visited. I can accept the portions if the food was exceptional, but it was merely decent - nothing special. After we left the place I bought some take out from a supermarket to fill up because of the small portions. Overall a very disappointing experience, given poor service, poor value, long wait. Debated giving this a 2 on the Yelp scale, but given magnitude of disappointment, the 1 is well deserved. read more