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    Umami

    3.8 (133 reviews)
    ModerateAsian Fusion, Pizza

    Umami Photos

    UMAMI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Umami

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    Chicken noodle with udon
    Miranda N.

    I remember going to Umami for the first time several years ago and I remember it being SO salty. I was not a fan. A few months ago, my friend wanted to grab dinner here. I knew it had previously closed down, but I saw that it reopened at Shady Park. My friend really likes Umami so I figured I would give it a try. It had been several years and I felt like that was ample time to improve. First of all, I knew parking might be tricky, so I looked into where I could park. I saw there was a small lot behind the building that seemed promising, especially for dinner during the week. When I was about to make the turn, I saw that the entrance for the street to get into that lot was under construction. Ugh, just my luck. So we had to park further away and pay for parking. We had to walk all the way around the building to get to Umami, and let me tell you, it was COLD that night. It was so unpleasant. I was ready to be inside and get warmed up by my ramen. We walked inside and the only comfortable open seating was at the 2nd booth from the entrance. We quickly realized this was a mistake because they kept the door open the entire time and anytime there was a gust of wind...we definitely felt it. By this time though, other spots got taken, so we were stuck. I ordered the chicken noodle house bowl. My friend ordered the vegan fish tacos and the vegan ramen with some extra toppings. We waited for our food....waited.....waited....and waited. Did I mention it was cold? It was the worse combination: cold and hungry. It took about 45 min from ordering to actually get our food. It took about 25 min of waiting for our server to notify us that there was an issue in the kitchen that was delaying the ramen. Our server told us she appreciated our patience and that other tables were not so patient. While we understood that things happen, it's best to let the customer know asap. Once we got our food, I was disappointed yet again. The broth was as salty as I remembered. It was not enjoyable at all. The chicken was also very overcooked and dry. Other than the taste, I felt like the portion size was also small. After finishing my ramen, I was still hungry. I would definitely not come back. If someone suggested this place, I would steer them in another direction.

    Spicy Shoyu Pork Ramen.
    Zacharias P.

    This is a very popular place. I stopped by on a Sunday evening at 7.30 pm and the place was popping. I really like the indoor-outdoor vibe with bar seating too. I order a spicy ramen bowl which was absolutely delicious -- one of the best I've best I've ever had. The broth had a wonderful depth of flavor, the egg was beautifully soft and the shiitake mushroom were so good. They get an A grade on the ramen. It took a while for it to come out so I think they could be a little better organized. But definitely a great little place.

    Ramen with pork belly
    Nicole B.

    My sister-in-law is an ASU student and has been coming here regularly. She knew we love ramen and wanted us to check it out. The Build Your Own Ramen starts at $9. This includes noodles, some veggies (spinach/bamboo shoots/scallions), and a naruto (fish cake). You pick your flavor of broth, which only has one is a vegan option. Then you add more toppings. I went with the Spicy Tan Tan Men, which is chicken/pork broth with house spices. I then added the pork belly and spicy garlic paste. My husband ordered a very similar ramen bowl except he added a soft egg. The total price tag for my bowl was $13.25 (plus tax). My husband's was $15 (plus tax). The broth itself was very good. I liked what comes with the standard $9 ramen and was disappointed with the pork belly. It wasn't very crispy to begin with and as it sat in the broth it became softer and softer. For the added $3.50, I wouldn't get it again. It'd be better to go with the roasted pork, if you wanted a meat option. The spicy garlic paste was a nice addition but almost unnecessary with the spicy broth I chose. Overall, the service was fast and friendly. The food was pretty tasty and very filling. Not the best bowl of ramen I've had, but if you are in the area, it's definitely a cool spot to check out and enjoy!

    Aude O.

    I haven't been to Umami since they were in the Brickyard, but I was seeing a show at Gammage so I thought why not. I got their Ramen and decided to add the fried chicken. Big mistake. The chicken tasted like it was friend an hour ago. Barely warm and not good. The rest of the Ramen was solid tho. The location is very open. Had to sit inside with the fans to cool off a little. I'll try them again, but stay away from the fried chicken addition to their Ramen. They have a lot more options as well (small plates and sushi) if you are in the mood for that as well.

    Spicy tan tan with pork belly, spicy garlic paste and soft egg. Pretty legit.
    Tammy L.

    With Myrtle being shut down, it was somewhat of an ordeal to locate Umami. We finally called and walked about a 1/4 mile from where we parked. Oh well! We were slightly confused but our server later confirmed this place Shady Park is really three places in one...two restaurants and one bar/lounge. Interesting...hope it works out for them! We were here for the noodles (as were most of the patrons, it seemed). It'd been a while since we had Asian food (like two WHOLE days) so we were excited. However, given where we were, we went in cautiously... Ultimately, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of both Damato's and Umami's offerings with the exception of a couple things. In the lineup: Vegan Chop Salad: REALLY good. Can't even notice the "veganess" of it. The breaded vegan chicken was delightfully meaty and moist. Shoyu Ramen: Broth was good. However, the fried chicken topping hubby got was THE WORST. It was stale and dry and hubby ended up picking it all out of his bowl to not eat. They're better off using the vegan chicken. Spicy Tan Tan: This was my choice. I got it with the pork belly which they confidently nicknamed "crack" as well as the soft boiled egg. I also paid for the spicy garlic paste. This dish was probably the best out of all we ordered. The soft boiled egg was done well and the spicy garlic paste even had a little kick to it. The pork belly was pretty good, too. (Not "crack-like" addictive, though.) Squid Salad: Not sure if this is house-made; it generally isn't at most places so I don't hold it against them. However, it seemed to be fishier than usual. Wonder if it was old?? Our server was super nice and friendly, cute to boot. She checked in on us regularly and got us everything we wanted. Bonus points for having an Addams Family pinball machine...50 cents per play ended up being actually 5 full games. Only complaint: It was warm. It was a warm day and it wasn't super pleasant eating ramen in such a warm room. We weren't sweating through our clothes but they need to have more air in there. Totally hit the spot so we were happy.

    Shio ramen with pork belly and garlic paste added for extra
    Yuko H.

    I bookmarked Umami while at previous location but never went and since they re-opened at new location, I've been looking forward to try here someday. Parking is in the back but limited. Street meter parking is free on Sunday. Located at Shady Park, they share space with two other restaurants. Dive bar will be appropriate word to describe their ambiance. They serve ice cold Japanese beer, they looked really good. Only if I came on lazy weekend, I would have tried their beer but I had too much things to do on that day. Seat yourself here. Server came fairly quick and he was very friendly. No complaints to their service. Ramen, spinach wasn't traditional ramen topping and pork belly I added was cut in a dice size. It made it easier to eat but I would have preferred larger size. Noodle was cooked perfectly. I added garlic paste and my soup tasted so good, or that's what I thought initially. Soup had nice umami taste to it, really enjoyed in the beginning. For some reasons I started developing headache. Not sure why. Headache went away a few hours later as I kept drinking a lot of water. Broth got too salty about a half way into it. I've been on low sodium diet for a while, I thought my body became too sensitive to too much salt? Not sure what it was as initially soup tasted very good.

    christin f.

    Not sure how this place has such good ratings. The service and beer was good, but the food was a real disappointment. The pork belly comes out as tiny cubes that are fatty and completely overcooked. I didn't get my shoots either. The broth and noodles were okay but the whole meal was overly salty. Try koi in Phoenix to see what the food SHOULD taste like. I will say the atmosphere was chill and it looked like a fun place to enjoy a few beverages. Just skip the food.

    Shoyu ramen with seared tofu and pork belly
    Karen W.

    Umami: "A taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (as glutamate and aspartate)" (From Merriam-Webster.com). Combine those amino acids and nucleotides in a bowl, add some ramen noodles and mix ins and BAM! You have yourself a "taste sensation" at Umami restaurant. The location is in the Shady Park building which houses both Umami and a pizza place/bar. The seating at Shady Park is for both businesses so your menu will have both pizza/bar options as well as ramen options, and while you slurp your noodles at your table your neighbor might be enjoying a slice of pepperoni with bread sticks. The interior itself is very retro. It has a cavernous, '70s vibe to it. The ramen menu itself has a set base price of $8 that includes your choice of broth, and will include pickled bamboo shoots, scallions, naruto (Fish cake), carrot flower, nori (Seaweed) and spinach. There are a multitude of add-ins you can have for an extra charge. I had the paitan broth and added soft egg ($1.50) and seared tofu ($1). The paitan broth was full flavored and rich and I loved the soft egg and tofu with the other included add-ins. I was disappointed that they only give you one naruto piece and one carrot flower for your bowl. It's definitely not enough for the bowl they give you! The noodles themselves were the typical curly ramen noodle shape and texture. I do prefer the noodles at Tampopo ramen more though because they are freshly made in house and have a good "bite" to them. Next time I'm in the ASU area again I'll be back to try more ramen!

    Heather M.

    My return visit included another dose of exceptional spicy ramen. Also tried the Lord of the Wings sushi roll. Service was great, too! Oh, and happy hour is all day on Mondays. I refrained because I was driving, but next time I might carshare to enjoy their great cocktail specials!

    Katie M.

    Umami is been in my bookmarks for a long time it seems. It's just hard to go anywhere with a newborn and another child. But we came out to Tempe to look at some chairs for our living room. Starving and a sleeping child why not finally get the chance to come here and eat some ramen. Parking sucks and there is a ton of construction going on so it's just a pain but whatever I didn't care I wanted some food. We walk in and it was seat where ever. Let me say I don't like fusion places at all. But this this was actually ok. I didn't get pizza or wings or a sandwich. We got sushi and ramen. The guy who was our waiter was pretty awesome he told us the history of how they got into the Asian side of the menu. Which was pretty cool and he was very helpless to my mom for ordering (she likes to act brand new ). So we got a rainbow roll and a spam roll. And duh ramen!! I did the build ur own. Miso broth, whatever it came with and added pork belly and corn. Holy crap it was delish !!!!! I'll eat ramen any time of the day.i will be back that was way to good.

    Huge ramen bowl
    Janice B.

    BIGGEST RAMEN BOWLS Conveniently located across from the ASU campus green space. On the sunniest of days this was a darkened, cool haven. Came here during the hugely popular and crowded arts festival but as this was off the beaten path we were able to secure a table, no problem. The ramen bowls are huge and the seaweed salad is terrific. Someone in our party got the soft tacos an he loved them. They had a huge bar with lots of televisions. Come here when you want to beat the heat or the hangry. You want be disappointed. Great portions, taste AND value. The waitress and service couldn't have been any better.

    Alex L.

    Umami for is is the best ramen spot so far that I have tried. I honestly miss their old location and they atmosphere, but when the disappeared for a long time I was sad. I'm very happy that they became apart of shady park with other great foods to try! The paitan ramen is my all time favorite. I love the variety of toppings you get get here. I recommend getting an egg and corn on top!

    The Shoyu Ramen with the pork belly added. The ramen was the best I've had! The flavor was Amazing! I'd pass on the pork belly.

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    When I got my food it was a little burnt, but my server was very helpful and helped me get another meal, it was very good

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    Ask the Community - Umami

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    $$

    This place is very yummy. They have an amazing atmosphere and ambiance. Great place for a cute…read moredinner or lunch date. Every time i go i have never had a bad experience and enjoy my time. The servers are always nice and glad to serve with a smile. They have really good calamari and ramen. It is a amazing and cute place.

    Disclaimer: I have been a Clever Koi loyalist since their ramen rewired my brain. So when I say…read morethis visit had some highs and lows, understand that I am coming from a place of love, not grievance. Their ramen alone is worth the trip. This was one meal, not a verdict. We planted ourselves on the patio, which has genuinely great atmosphere. Phoenix in April means you are playing thermal roulette with your will to live, and some misters would not go unappreciated. Service was fantastic: we had what felt like a whole school of staff looking after us, and every single one of them knew the menu, had great recommendations, and seemed personally invested in getting hot food to our table at a speed that bordered on supernatural. Now the drinks: The Overnight is what sophisticated apple juice dreams about when it finally goes to therapy and starts making better choices. Delicate, elegant, with a soft foam that has absolutely no business being that pretty. It arrives with a tiny scoop of green tea ice cream that is subtle and perfect as a chaser. Drink of the night, no contest. The Caipirinha is a genuine unicorn on Phoenix menus because of the specialty spirit, cachaça, in it and it was beautifully done. It is a touch sweet for my lime-forward preferences, but my husband absolutely loved it. The Pornstar Martini is everything the name promises and nothing you would hesitate to recommend to your most judgmental aunt. The passionfruit actually comes through, which sounds like the bare minimum but is apparently a radical act in cocktail culture because of the delicate flavor. Pure summer in a glass and I would order it again without blinking. On to the food, where things get a little more complicated: The Chorizo Wonton special had real potential and great chorizo that was clearly trying its heart out. Unfortunately the wonton wrapper arrived and decided to throw a wet blanket over the entire proceedings. The chorizo had somewhere to go and the wrapper simply would not let it go there. However, the pickled onions served alongside are a 10/10. The 3 for $18 steamed buns were the main event of the evening. The buns themselves are soft, pillowy, and structurally perfect, which makes what I am about to say about some of the fillings all the more tragic: The pork belly bun is just... fine, perhaps the most devastating thing you can say about pork belly, which has no business being merely fine. It runs a little dry, a little too thick, and needs significantly more hoisin to reach anything close to its potential. The sauce exists but it is doing the bare minimum. 6/10 The hot chicken bun redeems the situation considerably. Thigh meat instead of breast and is genuinely flavorful and while the hot sauce is more generic than exciting, it gets the job done without embarrassing itself. A respectable recovery. 8/10. The BBQ plum meatball bun is currently the Bun of the Moment and I need everyone involved in this restaurant's decision making to sit down because I have some things to say. That plum sauce is sweet and slightly smoky and the meatballs are perfectly tender with a ginger note that shows up with confidence. We loved this bun so much that we physically interrupted the table next to us mid-conversation to recommend it. I heard the chef is considering adding it to the permanent menu, and I would like to formally submit my vote, my husband's vote, and the votes of our neighboring diners who received our unsolicited opinion whether they wanted it or not. Add it to the menu. I will not be taking questions. 10/10, perfect, do not touch it. The Char Sui Pork Banh Mi is where I must tread carefully, partly out of fairness and partly because I know in my heart that some of this is personal taste rather than kitchen failure. The flavors ran very sweet with no acidity showing up to mediate, and the whole thing just was not for me. The Thai salad side, however, is a more objective situation. The bang bang dressing was applied with such aggressive restraint that I began to wonder if the kitchen was rationing it for an emergency. What remained was a bowl of cabbage doing a joyless impression of a salad that had given up on itself. Here is where I land: Clever Koi is a genuinely great restaurant having a complicated relationship with a couple of its dishes, which happens to the best of us. The cocktail program is vast and outstanding, the staff is warm and efficient and somehow makes you feel like the most important table in the room, the ramen is the stuff of legend, and the meatball bun is currently the most consequential thing happening in Phoenix. I will be back. I will be ordering the meatball bun in quantities that will concern the kitchen. Five stars, because I have a vested interest in that meatball bun sticking around and I am not above a little strategic encouragement on Yelp.

    Umami - asianfusion - Updated May 2026

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