We recently ate here 3 times over the course of 3 weeks on a visit back to Chicago. We were looking for a sushi restaurant close by where we were staying and this Umai fit the bill! We were always greeted promptly and seated immediately upon arrival. Service was great and we never had to look for our waiter or waitress as they were visible but not obtrusive throughout each dining experiences. On our first visit the waiter gave us some excellent suggestions for appetizers. We came to love the gyoza, Mexicana and Chicago rolls and the sashimi was excellent. Definitely will head back there next time we are in town! read more

The service was good and attentive, the fried tofu appetizer was good, the little bit of sushi I had was of pretty high quality, the only problem was the ramen was quite salty! I don't mind salty food in general and even I thought it was pretty salty, and overpowered some of the other really good flavors. Perhaps it was just my dish (which was a special, wasn't on the regular menu) so I'll be back at some point to try another main dish. Otherwise I'd easily give it 4 or potentially 5 stars. read more

Awesome! I have been here about 8 times now. It has been excellent every time. I took my kids and they loved it as well. Wife raved about the sushi. You get a lot of food, more than you would expect, so be ready for leftovers. The only con is if you are looking for privacy. I sat at the main long table and you share a table top with other patrons. I do not mind just be forewarned. read more

This restaurant may not be good for sushi (from other guys reviews, I haven't tried) but if you want to have other Japanese foods with a reasonable price, this restaurant would be a good choice. I like their Katsu Kare and ramen. read more

Great atmosphere, great food. There's a reason this place is busy every day of the week! Nigiri is fresh and generous in portions. Udon and noodles are very tasty. Most importantly, wifey loves it so I can always bring her on a winning date and look awesome. Everyone I know loves it, I love it. Share the love. read more

Love this spot! Great ramen & sushi in one spot. Menu is big and never disappoints. Prices are reasonable for dine in and carry out. My favorite is the spicy scallop hand roll or the super white with scallions. Delicious! read more

We had a great dinner tonight at Umai. The sushi was delicious, with very reasonable prices for specialty rolls the portions were awesome! We couldn't help but look at the ramen dishes others around us ordered so we will be back to try that next time! read more

I like this restaurant. I went here on the first day of my chicago trip and the ramen ajimi was prefect. Not salty!!! Well the service was just soso and the location is little but far from downtown i guess. Also the broth was not hot!! You need to make sure order hot broth.. The noodle was enough to eat and chasu was also enough! I love this place haha read more

Umai - It was umai chasu ramen which is about $10 - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Prices are reasonable, staff members are friendly and the atmosphere sits perfectly in between classy but not pretentious. Perfect place for a small birthday celebration or just a quick bite. My go to dishes are the sake don and the pork tenderloin with curry. read more

Umai - Delicious Sake Don - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Outstanding Sushi and service. We live close by but never ate here. We are so glad we have it a try. The beef Tataki was Delish as was the spicy tuna, edamame and all the other dishes. The service was fast and friendly and very good atmosphere. I think we found out new favorite Sushi restaurant. read more

The ramen soup was so salty that made you kept drinking water... The service was not so good too..the bus boy wasn't even serving us for the whole time.. read more

Fast delivery - fresh product - scrumptious - affordable Even their soy sauce was fresh. I'm a huge fan of pickled ginger and they hit the nail on the head with even the thickness. read more

I come here to eat a lot but after my latest experience, I decided its time to write a review. The food and decor are above average and reasonably priced. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if you plan to eat there during the evening. The thing that gets me is the service. It seems to have gotten worse over the last few months. The service is hit or miss depending on who you get. I know that the place is busy, but the atmosphere seems like that of a fast food place. Everything seems rushed. The food doesnt come out in the right order (entrees before appetizers and sushi, etc.). Our server (female, forgot name) just seemed very insincere and would not check back on our table for long periods of time. Also, one of the hosts came to our table and asked us if we were almost done because there were reservations coming in and we had wanted dessert but felt like we were being kicked out. Just plain rude. I expect more from a place located in Printer's Row south loop and I really hope that the restaurant can train their workers better. read more

Truly, truly love this place. I've come here a thousand times both by myself for lunch as well as on dates or with friends at dinner, and it never disappoints. I've worked at a nice sushi restaurant, so I can be a little judgmental at times, but I have nothing to complain about here. Staff is incredibly sweet and caring and never messes up any orders. They have a good sake list, as well as great quality sashimi. Prices are fair and food is great. So sad that I'm moving across town, but they've made every experience here very enjoyable. They will be missed! read more

Definitely love the Katsu Don and Katsu Kare btw their udon so soft and chewy...couldn't love it more they're just so very good

The food was so good. The inside is very chic and small. The wait was a bit long for a Monday since it was so small but the food was definitely worth it. I would go again as the food was delicious and the waiter was good looking as well :P. read more

I was starving after traveling. Delivery was scheduled for 1 hour but they arrive 30 mins early and the food was still hot. It was yummy!

I came here several times because its very close to where I live. I was never impressed by the food but it was alright. I also ordered several times for delivery. Recently, I placed an order for deliver but when I received it, it was missing one item. I called to let them know and the guy said he would send it over. I said no need as I do not want to wait another 45 min for just a single item but asked to leave a credit. He apologized and said he would. 15 min later I get a call saying he asked all his staff and they were absolutely positive the item was in the bag when it left. My thought was is it really necessary to call and attempt to prove a paying customer wrong? I know I didn't receive it so are they calling me a liar? It was for an item that costs $10. I'm not going to try and rip off a restaurant I frequent over a measly $10! I thought it was completely unprofessional and uncalled for. I'm also in the food industry and mistakes happen, but don't call your paying customer who tips well and imply I'm lying. I will never order or eat at Umai again. I may go in, order my credit item and leave but I will never use these cheap arse people again. If you ever eat here or order delivery from Umai, be sure to check that all items have arrived before the driver leaves. This is a service driven industry. Don't make your customers feel unappreciated. read more

Really nice food. I had udon and katsu kare (hope that is right name). i really liked it because I thought it was pretty authentic comfort food in Japan. Ive never seen a place where they sell Japanese curry. Also the food is good so if you live near that place or really miss something Japanese or even Asian, go to this place. read more

I went for lunch. Service was attentive, fish was really good quality (Chirashi Lunch Special) and got in and out in about 40 minutes. Definitely will be coming here again. read more

I've been here twice now and had a very solid experience both times. I had sushi the first time and then shared some sushi and miso Ramen the second time. FYI, apparently you can split Ramen with someone but not udon. Overall the sushi is pretty solid and the Ramen is delicious! Value wise, I would recommend the miso Ramen for sure, but I would also not dissuade someone who wants to get a few rolls. read more

This was a great place for a leisurely lunch. The food was good (surprisingly, the salad dressing was my favorite thing) - the service is excellent! read more

The food was amazing. The ambiance, art and music gives you a comfortable lounge feel. Minus $2 for a canned soda and added gratuity to your bill, the prices were decent. The service- more so the server- was not. We, a group of 5, came in around 9pm. All of us are tourists and were just looking for a place to chill for a bit and found Umai via Yelp. After our waitress came, we ordered multiple rolls- nothing outlandish and were weren't loud or behaving gaudily. The waitress was rude and upset because two of us asked her for a breakdown of a few rolls. She was reluctant to help us and was visibly frustrated. We stayed until closing but weren't the last to leave. She was upset by this as well. Maybe come during the day. read more

This restaurant serves amazing food with awesome service and is cozy & intimate which makes it a perfect date night restaurant! Their sushi is great but I am a fan of their Ramen.. their spicy winter Ramen is out of this world! I also, love their small plates (Japanese BBQ)with the shishito peppers and the pork shoulders being my absolute favorites. Last but not the least..definitely try the green tea creme brûlée. Love this place.. read more

My husband and I live just a block away and had enjoyed our experience at this restaurant on two previous occasions, both as walk-ins. However, on the evening of Friday, December 4, 2015, when I committed the grave sin of not making a phone/online reservation, I got more than just the dreaded (but expected) wait. I walked into the restaurant at about 6:15pm. When I arrived, no patrons were standing by waiting. I walked up to the hostess. She asked me if I had made a reservation and I said no and asked if they took walk-ins. She said yes and informed me that the wait was about 30 minutes and asked me if I still wanted her to put down my name to which I said yes. As I waited to be called (and for my party to arrive), I noticed that a few walk-ins came by and NONE of them decided to wait, presumably discouraged by the wait. People with reservations also started pouring in and accumulating in the "waiting area" (it's just standing room at the entrance). 20 minutes had elapsed, several parties with reservations had been seated and my party had arrived, so I approached the hostess to inquire about my status on the "wait list." She responded that I was next in line. I said okay and went back to patiently waiting. 10 more minutes elapsed, it's 6:45, and when the hostess approaches us I'm excited thinking she will offer us a table. Little did I know she was about to offer us a CONDITIONAL table. The hostess informed me in front of a group of recent arrivals (presumably with reservations) that she had a table available for us but that it was meant for a reservation that was coming in at 7:30, that if we would be okay being seated at this table with this understanding. Why was my party of 3 being offered a table with a 45-minute time frame* when I had come in, essentially made an in-person reservation, and waited 30 minutes for a table to become available? Why is it that phone or online reservations receive greater deference than in-person reservations? I was so shocked that I almost instinctively asked "what the hell kind of service is that?" and asked her to explain how this 45-minute limitation would work--would we be kicked out if we didn't leave before the 45 minutes were up? She responded first by scolding me for using profanity (sorry), then she said that of course we would not be kicked out, that she only mentioned this detail because some people eat faster than others (yes, she actually said this!) and that leaving before 7:30 was just a matter of COURTESY on our part, should I accept this table. I asked the hostess if offering this table with this caveat was a matter of standard policy, and asked for a manager to clarify the matter. She pointed to a young man who had been standing at the hostess post while all this played out and said he was the manager. Though he was very apologetic, he was ultimately unpersuasive as to his supposed supervisory role. The fact that he had neither interfered in this matter nor offered to help in any way to resolve the "misunderstanding" was the most telling. Having worked in the HOSPITALITY industry as a teenager and later as a law student, I understand that this hostess's behavior is completely unacceptable. One of the hostess's main duties is to manage seating, not to push that responsibility onto the paying client! As a restaurant, you either take walk-ins or you don't. If you do, walk-ins should get treated exactly like any other patron who made a reservation by phone or online. I felt so horrible, especially after some random clueless douchebag with a hero complex interjected on behalf of the hostess saying "she's just trying to be nice!" Soon it dawned on me that, to the surrounding demographic, we just looked like Hispanic delinquents harassing this poor hostess, and felt so embarrassed by the whole situation that we just walked away. The fact that my party was composed of only Hispanics cannot be left unsaid. The reality is that these microagressions are all too familiar and I can't help but think that implicit (if not conscious) biases are the main drivers. The hostess even asked me in front of everyone if we were just ordering entrees, and I responded we didn't know what we were ordering, that we were planning on eating and having a few drinks as well. Was she trying to determine how much money we were worth? This is just unacceptable. *I subsequently learned after doing some research on the matter that some restaurants (mostly in NY) do place time restrictions on reservations, but they do so in explicit terms at the time of the reservation. Also the standard time frame is 90 minutes for a party of 2. read more

If I could give a 0/5 like a bad day of hitting at Wrigley Field I would. Service indifferent. Eating at the bar was like being fed at a pig trough. No sushi chef might as well gone to Mickey Ds. The sashimi was average and selection poor. The Unagi hand roll was cold and the nori soggy and disgusting. We insisted it be taken back. Do not go here even if someone else is paying. read more

Ramen was great, spider roll was great, salads were great and service was great! Highly recommend!

I was visiting and needed delivery pretty late after my flight got in. The delivery was quicker than expected and the food was delicious!

Make a reservation if you can, otherwise there will probably be a significant wait. Great service & delicious sushi rolls. We loved every bite! read more

I've been to Umai at least 5 times now. The teriyaki salmon is delicious. The pork belly ramen noodle bowl is amazing. The sushi rolls are fresh but some have been bland. I've preferred the ones that have sauces in them. I have to take off a star because I was there on Valentine's Day (made a reservation and everything) and service was terrible. They sat my husband and me at a 6 person table with another couple at the other end, right by the door so we felt the freezing gusts of wind. We asked to be moved and shockingly there was a 2 person table open far away from the door. Why would you seat us with another random couple by the door when there was a great table available?! That's my only complaint about this place. read more

nabeyaki udon was so good. the tsukemen was just ok. good place for probably the most authentic japanese ramen you will find in the city.

Fabulous restaurant...everyone was nice, efficient and helpful. The food was great! I recommend it.

This location is close to my hotel. The staff are friendly and the food is spectacularly droolworthy. I tried the salmon teriyaki. It's sweet but not too sweet. Ambiance is great and it doesn't feel as if you are in a small space. Try the sushi rolls as well. read more

Great sushi and hot dishes in the South Loop. My only regret is that they seem to have become more popular!

Winter ramen and the maki are amazing. I'm pretty sure I had a dream about this Ramen after I had it for the first time~

I've been here about 5 times now. REALLY good. All of the signature maki rolls are delicious. Zaru Soba, really good. DEFINITELY try the Japanese barbecue. Beef Hangar Tender and the Shitaki mushrooms are my favorite barbecue items. Melon cream soda is awesome as well. The spicy chicken wings were surprisingly really good. Only thing is, they are very very sticky and the sauce will stick on your hands even after using a napkin. I wish they'd give wet wipes for those. Otherwise, I'm satisfied with Umai every time and I will be back. YUM! read more

Delicious and extremely clean! By far the cleanest sushi establishment in Chicago. The sushi Bar is a must!!!

Had lunch here with my client and we were pleasantly impressed with the service and the quality of foods. I will be in Chicago the next four days I definitely will come back couple more times! read more

i've been here twice. this is some of the best sushi i've had, and i've had a lot of sushi! service is also great!

OK, I'm sure many people will not agree with me, but this is just my opinion, but I think this place is over rated. Yes, the decor is nice, yes, the service was good, yes, we got in without waiting and yes a plus for outdoor seating.... but the ramen was not "all that"... I did not find the broth to be as deeply flavored as I have had in other ramen focused restaurants. I did however Loved the soft boiled egg here and not only did it have the soy sauce flavoring to it, it was perfectly cooked... the presentation was nice and the portion was HUGE. Seriously... I felt like I didn't make a dent in it and the server was kind enough to pack it to go with separating the noodles... always try to remove your noodles from your soup if you're taking it to go... its just not worth eating it as left overs then. We also ordered the fried lollipop chicken. Watch Out! It's super Hot (temperature)... however, although piping hot, you have to eat something like this a bit quick and not leaving it to cool down too long or the juiciness of the chicken kind of dries out and the fried chicken skin isn't as crunchy. We also had the Ika Butter (squid in butter and lemon)... this was cooked very nicely, not perfectly, but almost. The butter and lemon combination was just right. Not too strong and was garnished with assorted mushrooms and bell pepper slivers. I think its a great place and I'm sure they have other amazing dishes or even sushi, but as for ramen, it's not my go to. I would definitely come back, but to try some other dishes. read more