UMAMI BURGER - Fantastic!

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

Our EWG met last night at the Los Feliz Umami Burger. I just wanted to put out some love for this place. The burgers, as well as the rest of the food, was really good. There are numerous choices for burgers and I have sampled quite a few. They have one of the most thoughtful and dedicated concepts I’ve seen at this price level. The menu is well priced with burgers ranging from $9-13. The quality is very high and I couldn’t have been more happy with my food last night. There are several locations in the LA area with more to come: downtown LA and Studio City as well as future plans for CA and national expansion (non-franchized). So if you are in the LA area and crave a killer burger, just do it! Oh yeah-very wine friendly. As I was told last night the corkage policy is bring something good-no charge. Bring in crap, like $2 chuck and you get charged. Take that!

2

I had heard mixed things but I was impressed. Very tasty. I really want to try some of the creations they have on the menu as they seem more in my wheelhouse than many places like that will do. The Port and Stilton must be done I’m thinking. The apps were all kinds of comfort food goodness.

I’ll post some wine notes this afternoon.

3

I tried the one at the original La Brea location and thought it was just OK. Kind of small and the burger was not cooked to my liking (asked for medium rare but got medium-medium well). I also found the overwhelming butter flavor a distraction. Oh well, to each his own!

4

I’m with you. It’s a “like don’t love” with me. Call me a glutton, but I want a man-sized burger for $12. Luckily Mary gives me a bit of hers or I wouldn’t be full. We’ve had a variety of selections and some are tasty, some are not as good. I actually think the signature “Umami” is not as good as some of the others. The no substitutions and charging for a second condiment rub me the wrong way. Especially when our last meal of two burgers, 1 each fries and rings, and two beers cost over $55 out the door. That’s for a place with minimal decor, plastic water “glasses”.

I’ve never brought wine, but have heard they are good to winos.

5

John -
I admit it’s no Sunset Grill, so the prices are a bit elevated. But it really is a well thought out concept. They also have burger, fries, and a beer meals (in different combos) for around $15, which may not have been available at the time you went. That all said, I went to hot dog place a few weeks ago. Two chili dogs and a beer cost me $20 and there was no table service. In any case, I can see why some might not feel Umami is all that.

6

I am in the same “school” as John and Paul…Nice experience, fun to try, but I don’t love it. For the $$$ the burger, although of obvious high quality, should be a bit larger. I am glad I tried it, but I am not running back.

Cheers!
Marshall [cheers.gif]

7

I should also add that the La Brea location does not serve alcohol. So if you want a beer with your burger, don’t go there.