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    Umami

    4.3 (506 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Umami Photos

    Business Info

    UMAMI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Umami

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    Reviews With Photos

    ramen
    Vinnie R.

    Oh man, I'm not gonna lie, Umami is probably hands down one of my favorite spots for sushi, ramen, and gyoza. I went here with one of my good friends who came to visit me from the city and we enjoyed literally everything about this place. At first I was a little sketched out because you have to go up a couple flights of stairs. I was confused like... are we even in the right spot? But yes, you just keep walking up the stairs and eventually you pop out into the restaurant. And once you walk in you're like okay yeah this is a whole vibe. They have a DJ playing in the back and if you sit at the bar in front of the grill it's super fun. I got to watch them grill the skewers, dip the skewers, make the sushi... all of it. That alone made the experience so cool. We started with drinks and got lychee martinis and OMG we could not stop drinking them. When we order food we like to try a bunch of different things so we went in. We got edamame, gyoza, miso soup, and the fried chicken. I wasn't really a fan of the fried chicken because it tasted like chicken thigh meat and I'm just not a dark-meat girl, but the gyoza was amazing. I've never seen it made like that. It came out pan-seared and fried in a way where it was connected so you had to break it apart. The edamame was great too. We also got ramen. I wasn't a huge fan because it tasted a little burnt to me, but my friend loved hers so that might just be a me thing. Then we saw people ordering these stuffed sushi triangles, asked about them, and found out it was from the secret menu. So of course we got one. It was filled with spicy tuna and pretty good overall. We tried different skewers too - shrimp, steak, salmon, and chicken - and they were all amazing. The glaze they use is crazy good. Sweet, tangy, a little like sweet and sour but better. And shoutout to our server Dominique because she was bomb. She had us laughing the whole night and explained everything on the menu perfectly, especially the things we had no idea about. Overall this is definitely a go-to spot whether I'm with friends, by myself, or on a date night. Total vibe from start to finish.

    Asahi
    Roy A.

    I highly recommend making reservations, as this place gets busy. Also, give yourself extra time to find parking, as many spaces are reserved for residents. The entrance can be a little tricky to find. Once you find the door, just keep going up a couple of flights of dark stairs. When you arrive at the top, you'll find the lively bar and a great setup. We got a table near a window and arrived just in time for happy hour. We tried almost every dish on that menu and loved it all. We then ordered a delicious mix of skewers, sushi, and torched salmon. The staff were super friendly. This place is highly recommended.

    Jennifer A.

    Where do I start? Such a unique little place! I'll admit, as I was walking up the stairs, I wondered if I was even in the right spot--but as soon as I reached the top, I was greeted by the most welcoming host. You could immediately feel the energy and liveliness in the air. Once we were seated, our server was right there with menus, ready to take our drink order. She immediately asked about allergies and knew exactly what I could eat being gluten-free. She even reminded my dinner partner that one of the dishes he ordered wouldn't be shareable with me--which I thought was incredibly kind and conscientious. The service and ambiance? Top notch. Now, the food and drinks--OMG. I didn't try any of the sake (even though they have a huge sake menu), but I could tell if I'd wanted to explore it, they would've happily walked me through each one. There was plenty of food for sharing, and every single piece of fish I tried was fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Don't sleep on the bacon-wrapped quail eggs. I really appreciated how thoughtful they were about my allergy, and between the amazing service, lively atmosphere, and incredible food, I'll definitely be back. The whole experience was so good, I'm already planning my next reservation.

    Sashimi Plate
    Angela Y.

    Went here on a date and it was wonderful! The restaurant is on the third floor with an unassuming entrance but it's tucked away behind the Corner Cantina. Once you get into the restaurant, it's a nice little spot. They even have floor seating in a nook but I think those you have to reserve much ahead of time. We tried a little of everything. The staff was very attentive and regularly checked on us. Skewers - the shrimp is good but there's only one piece per order which is steep. The salmon was rlly good though and we got two of them, each has 4 pieces on it. The wagyu was good but not particularly special. They are all dipped in this pork sauce so I think they're all about the same flavor and depends on what medium you prefer. Also, everything is dipped in the same sauce so the skewers aren't a good option if you have a shrimp allergy. We got the sashimi plate which came with two pieces of each fish which was perfect for us to sample a little of everything. Once we tried a bit of everything, it helped us decide what we wanted in a handroll. The handroll had a good amount of fish as well as the amount of rice was good and seasoned with furikake. Hands down our favorite one was this seared salmon with miso paste that they apparently have on their secret menu. We ordered several of these. We also got the takoyaki which was yummy with no chewy bits inside which happens sometimes and can give me the ick. But this one was gloriously absent of chewiness and was just yummy. The matcha creme brulee was good, nothing in particular to write home about just a lot of matcha cream once you break through the sugar shell. Overall, quite an enjoyable and yummy meal. We came to dinner after we already ate less than 3 hours previously so we didn't think we would get much, especially knowing that it was a pricy place. However, we did end up eating a lot more than we expected because it was so yummy. Would definitely return for the seared salmon and maybe a handroll, I think the sashimi plate was good to have the first time just to try everything but would skip on a return visit since it is so pricy and so we can just eat our faves.

    Dakota P.

    We celebrated my birthday dinner at Umami, and it was absolutely perfect. They seated us in the tatami room, which is ideal for a larger dinner party and made the night feel extra special and intimate. Reservations do book out quickly, so I definitely recommend booking in advance. Every single dish and drink we ordered was outstanding, truly no misses. The atmosphere and flavors reminded me so much of restaurants in Tokyo, which made the experience even better. Everyone in our group had an amazing time, and the staff surprised us with complimentary birthday sake shots, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch. Overall, Umami is 100% worth the hype and a must-visit for a special occasion.

    Ashley F.

    If I could have packed this lil spot up and taken it back to Charlotte with me I would have. Umami was the absolute highlight of my quick trip to Pittsburgh last weekend. I came off of the recommendation of a good friend and it did not disappoint. I came alone on a busy Friday and asked to sit at the bar, and it was packed in there. The host was SO kind to literally grab a stool from who knows where and squeeze me in at the bar. Truly so kind and so appreciated. I was perfectly happy to sit elbow to elbow with some really nice folks at the bar. Someone gave me some recommendations on food and the bartender was amazing too! For drinks, I ordered the "old osaka" which is their take on an old fashioned with tori whisky, china china and shiso honey. This drink was phenomenal!!! So flavor forward, but so well balanced. I also tried one of their rare liquors called "cor cor red" it's an Okinawa molasses rum and it was pretty dang strong and tasty. I had to try it because it's something I've never seen on a menu. The drinks were amazing and so was the food!!! For food I ordered spicy pickled cucumbers, and these skewers: wagyu beef, brussel sprouts and shisito peppers. They were all delicious! The absolute STAR OF THE SHOW though, was the "takoyaki" which are fried octopus balls. My goodness! These were so good I almost ordered a second helping. Seriously delicious! My entree was the gyudon which is a beef rice bowl and it was also really good!! The funny thing is I ate ALL of this food, all of it. I can't express enough how fun of a culinary experience this was. From great food and drinks to awesome service and ambiance. This was truly a dinner to remember and I'll visit this place every time I'm in Pittsburgh!!! Truly a 5 star experience!

    Okonomiyaki
    Janine M.

    Everything was amazing from the food to the friendly, attentive service to the atmosphere.

    Whole Branzino Robatayaki
    Sarah J.

    I really enjoyed my experience at Umami from the food to the drinks, everything was on point. I started with the Snow Angel sake, which was light, smooth, and very easy to sip. For sushi, we tried the fatty tuna, lean tuna sashimi, salmon, octopus, and tuna nigiri all fresh and flavorful. The miso ramen was comforting and delicious, and the market-price fish of the day, branzino, came out perfectly crispy with a house chimichurri that tied it all together beautifully. The skewers were easily a highlight the wagyu practically melted in my mouth, and the chicken skin had that perfect crispy bite. Drinks were strong and well-made, and our bartender was fantastic. The only downside was the wait. Even with a reservation, we had to wait about 30-45 minutes before being seated, which was a little confusing. Still, once we sat down, the quality of the food and drinks made the night well worth it.

    Chirashi Bowl
    leshanda d.

    If you're looking for a spot that's actually worth the money... Umami Japanese Restaurant did NOT disappoint. We ordered a mix of everything Blood orange Pork Chop, nigiri, chirashi, pork belly & chicken thigh skewers and cocktails‍ every single plate was top tier! The flavors were super fresh, well-balanced, & you can tell they really care about quality. The pork chop was juicy with that perfect char on a bed of funnel & pear shreds. The chirashi bowl was BEAUTIFUL, fresh cuts of fish, generous portions, and just overall chef's kiss Even the smaller bites like nigiri were done perfectly. Cocktails were just as good (and fun names too ). Everything came out looking like a full experience, not just a meal. Not to mention the dj was Total was about $220 for everything we got, and honestly... worth it! If you're debating it: YES, go! This is one of those places where you leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. Follow me on TikTok to see more reviews on Umami: @ Lala.Miyagi & @ Taste.It.Lala

    Yaki Udon
    Tiffany T.

    First of all, I got a little lost. So when you see round corner cantina, along 38th street is a side door that opens up to two more doors and you go up the one that is straight through. After two dark flights of steps, you reach the cutely decorated restaurant. The cuts of fish were thick and the yaki udon was yummy. You might not get full and spend $50 so come ready to spend $$.

    Lis Z.

    Came back again during the evening. This restaurant does not have many seats so it's quite hard to make reservations. You have to check at least a week before the actual meal. The meal was delicious as usual. The lighting is so red that you can't appreciate the natural look of the plates. But I guess they are going for a pub vibe. The servers are so busy and are not given enough time to take care of you. I feel the quality of service doesn't align with the price point they've set.

    Miso Ramen
    Madi N.

    Celebrated an anniversary and got savory pancakes and miso ramen! So very good. Even got a glass of Cava to celebrate! Love this place

    Nicole J.

    My favorite happy hour for good bites! The servers are so kind and guide you through the menu. Such a cool vibe to get drinks with bites with friends. Will always be back for more!

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    3 months ago

    Shrink-flation on the rice in the beef rice bowl and really oily, but overall dj was good this time and the usual good service

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Umami

    Can I get chawanmushi here?

    I have never seen it on the menu or specials before

    When is happy hour?

    Usually 5-6pm on weekdays

    Can this place host for 7 peole?

    Yes! I believe they have a private room that can be booked that you see when you get to the top of the steps.

    Is it inappropriate to bring a kid (13) for an early dinner to this restaurant?

    Just get a table or sit by the sushi making. I think a teenager would have fun.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Teppanyaki Kyoto - Okonomiyaki - Japanese pancake made with wheat flour, egg, cabbage, and topped w/ regular mayonnaise, seaweed powder, and bonito flakes

    Teppanyaki Kyoto

    (238 reviews)

    $$

    Highland Park

    A weekly spot for my family and I! My partner's mom is Japanese and this is the only Japanese…read morerestaurant in pgh she will go to. Reservations are highly recommended - it's on the smaller side. The menu has so many options and an amazing variety. One thing to note is this Japanese food is not like most others. Its focus is on homestyle, also fried/stir fried Japanese dishes. So do not expect Ramen or noodle soups. A couple things that are always ordered is the Kaarage, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki (best in the city), yakisoba or udon, and gyoza. The staff is so sweet and the decorations remind me of Izakaya places in larger cities. They have a bar with cool cocktails and adorable bento boxes they sell during lunch hours throughout the week. Cannot recommend this place enough!!

    I went in a group, and we split a lot of different items. The seaweed salad was good (4/5), and the…read morepork gyoza was all right (3/5). The takoyaki has a crunchy outside and a good flavor (4/5), and the okonomiyaki is pretty filling (4/5); these were the best two. The yaki-udon with shrimp was ok (3/5) but definitely expensive for what it was and the quantity; they also don't add much shrimp, despite the up charge. The sake no shioyaki was below average for salmon (2/5) and very expensive for that amount they give you. Similarly, the onigiri is almost entirely rice if you add salmon (2/5). You order on a tablet, and they bring the food out. Service was ok (3/5); we had empty waters for a while. The restaurant is well-decorated, and you can see the chefs work, which gives it an ambiance somewhat like a hibachi place (4/5). Overall, I think most of the items are pretty expensive for what they are; they don't have the quality or quantity to justify the price.

    Fujiya Ramen - Pork Buns

    Fujiya Ramen

    (332 reviews)

    $$

    Shadyside

    I came to Fujiya before and this second visit really sealed the deal for me. The restaurant is…read morereally cute and does remind me of izakaya / ramen places in Japan a lot. It's all in the details and they have a lot of small little cute details that reminds me of Japan. Their ramen is good. The broth could use a little more depth but the noodle quality is excellent. Today, I tried their pork and chive gyoza, chicken and green onion skewers, pork belly skewer and takoyaki this visit along with miso ramen. The takoyaki is piping hot and moist on the inside, exactly how it should be and the pork chive gyoza is big and plump. The skewers were seasoned SO WELL. I was getting so full but I will be back for more. I Service was good and everyone was so attentive. I will definitely be back for more skewers and small plates!

    Amazing Thursday evening dinner at Fujiya! The tables closest to the street are so nice to sit at…read morein the summers since the breeze and weather are so nice :) Went with out classics - Takoyaki (best in pgh), karaage (best spicy mayo in pgh), and sometimes the gyoza but we decided to skip on that this time. I tried the yuzu ramen this time but subbed for the miso broth and wow it was delicious. Super fragrant and the yuzu is such a nice touch to the broth. They just came out with a curry udon and it is DELICIOUS! I wanted to switch entrees with my partner because of it! I will definitely be back. The curry is the perfect consistency and the best Japanese curry I've had in the area. The udon is so well cooked as well! I can't wait to go back and order it

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Spider roll

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

    (212 reviews)

    South Side

    Always enjoy our visits to Kura…read more This is one of our daughter's favorite restaurant. So we try to visit a Kura place for one of our family meals. We enjoyed the idea that every person can order their own dish and it's personal-sized. There's no concern about ordering something that no one else likes and leaving a lot of leftovers. The quality of the food is good. Their kitchen items are always appreciated. We especially like the ramen, scallop. The noodles are better than fast food.

    What an incredibly fun experience! As soon as you enter, you can easily see the conveyor belt of…read moresushi moving throughout the restaurant. It's an immediate feeling of excitement that gets you hooked from the moment you walk in. After a waitress seats you, you're able to order drinks and a lovely robots plays music and delivers your drinks to you. An unexpected sight but a fun one! From that moment on, you're sights are set on thr conveyor belt to choose your suishi. They have everything you can think of to sushi, negri, sides, and desserts. All you have to do is snatch it from the conveyor belt. I tried many different types of sushi and all were delicious. I'm not a huge fan of the raw sushi so I tried popcorn shrimp sushi, golden sushi, crab leg sushi, California crab sushi, spider roll, and beef yankori, and crunchy salmon roll. Everything was delicious and fresh. We ate at the restaurant at a not so busy time so the conveyor belt was a little empty. Nevertheless, you can specially order any of the items from the conveyor belt and they are existed down the upper conveyor belt at lightning speed to arrive to your table! When you're finished with your dish, there is a trash slot right at your table. When you place the dish in the trash slot, your plates are counted and you're charged based on the amount of plates. If you reach 15 plates, a special Kirby ball slides to your table for a prize! This restaurant is so fun and so unique...not to mention absolutely delicious! I will most definitely come back to try some more!

    Space Bar - MoonChata - Cantaloupe Infused Reposado Zumbador, Cantaloupe Juice, Lime, Vanilla Tamarind, Horchata Foam

    Space Bar

    (77 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    If you're looking for something fun and totally different in Pittsburgh, you have to check out…read moreSpace Bar. Such a unique spot. The whole space-themed concept makes it feel like an experience, not just a night out. The vibes are fun, a little quirky, and perfect if you want something outside the usual bar scene. The drinks are delicious, creative, and honestly just as cool to look at as they are to drink. Definitely one of those places I'd go back to again. If you're in Pittsburgh and want something memorable, this is it.

    We I finally made it here after trying to go for a while and just letting time get away from us. We…read moremade reservations for two and went on a Friday night. When we walked in, the host greeted us right away, asked for our name, and seated us pretty quickly. There were actually a good amount of open seats, so I am not sure reservations were completely necessary, but it was still nice to have one. I honestly expected the inside to feel more extravagant and space themed, almost like an outer space vibe with more visual elements and atmosphere. I was hoping for something more immersive and futuristic. It was still cool overall, just not quite as visually dramatic as I imagined. We ordered an espresso martini and the Kiwi Nova. I really enjoyed my drink, especially after talking with the host who explained that they use scientific processes for their cocktails along with fresh purées and fresh ingredients. That is something I really appreciate because I am not a fan of drinks made with a lot of simple syrup or fake additives. He loved his espresso martini and said it was one of the best he has had. My drink was definitely on the sweeter side and I feel like too much of it might lead to a hangover, but it was still really good. Our server was attentive at first, but later on we ended up waiting a while to order another round. After sitting for a bit, we decided to order through the hostess instead and she got us taken care of right away. Overall, it was a cool experience mainly for the drinks. The cocktails were definitely the highlight. Service was okay, and I am not sure if we will return, but I am glad we finally got to check it out.

    Umami - sushi - Updated May 2026

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