Okay, lemme tell ya how this whole Umi Japanese thing went down. Real talk, figuring out their menu felt like solving a puzzle sometimes, stuff just sounds fancy, you know? Anyway, saw folks raving about it online, figured gotta try it myself.
Started simple. Walked in on Friday night, place was packed, which I guess is a good sign? Snagged a seat at the counter ’cause I like watching them work. Grabbed the menu, literally bigger than my laptop, and just kinda froze for a sec. So many options, so many names I kinda mispronounced in my head.
The Tasting Begins… Slowly
First mission: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice. Heard it was fire. Pointed at it on the menu like, “That one please.” Saw them make it right there. Looked perfect, little crispy rice cakes piled high with tuna. Took a bite. Bam! That mix of cool tuna, spicy kick, and the crunch? Should of ordered two. Easy number one contender right off the bat.
Next, felt like I needed some warm stuff. Went for the Umi Signature Roll. Description said crab, shrimp, avocado, special sauce. Looked impressive when it came. Digged in. Crab was sweet, shrimp had a nice snap, avocado smooth… but honestly? That “special sauce” was the real MVP. Made everything taste richer. Solid choice, put it high on the list.
Saw Unagi Don (Eel Bowl) sitting there looking comfy on someone else’s table. Always love unagi. Ordered it. Bowl came steaming hot, smelled amazing. Grilled eel glistening, covered in that sweet soy glaze. Mixed it up with the rice. Rice perfectly sticky, eon unbelievably tender and flavorful. Sweet, savory, melt-in-your-mouth. Instant comfort food. Knew this couldn’t miss the top five, probably number two or three.
The Adventures Get Weirder
Okay, feeling bold now. Menu mentioned something called “Toro Takikomi” – sounded fancy, expensive. Waitress explained it’s sea bass steamed with vegetables and rice. Thought, “Why not?” Took ages to come, which had me worried. Finally showed up in this little pot. Opened it up, looked kinda plain honestly. Took a spoonful. Mind blown. The rice soaked up all the fish and veggie juices, sea bass was crazy moist. Simple but super refined taste. Pricey, yeah, but worth it for a splurge. Top five for sure, something different.
Last one, needed something fun. Saw “Firecracker Shrimp”. Sounds exciting, right? Asked for it. Came out sizzling on a hot plate, looked dramatic. Big shrimp covered in this spicy-looking crust. Grabbed one. Crunch was intense! Good heat, nice flavor… but then halfway through, it hit me. Just tasted like… really good spicy fried shrimp. Don’t get me wrong, it was tasty, crispy shrimp is always good. But compared to the others? More standard. Still enjoyed it, good beer food. Probably lands at number five.
So, After All That Forking…
Sat back stuffed, kinda food drunk, thinking about what really stood out. Not everything was perfect, some stuff is pricier than others, service can be slow when packed. But those hits? Major hits. Here’s how my top five shook out after tasting my way through:
- Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice: Absolute killer first bite.
- Unagi Don: That grilled eel and rice combo is pure comfort magic.
- Umi Signature Roll: Packed with flavor, that sauce ties it all together.
- Toro Takikomi: Fancy pot surprise, surprisingly delicious.
- Firecracker Shrimp: Solid, tasty, but more straightforward.
Honestly, the crispy rice and unagi are probably the two things you absolutely cannot skip. The others depend on your mood and wallet. Bottom line? Went in clueless, came out stuffed with opinions. Gotta go back soon, maybe try not to order everything next time… but probably will anyway.
