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Welcome to Umami Japanese

At Umami Japanese, the art of ramen embraces both tradition and innovation. Nestled in San Marcos, this vibrant eatery specializes in house-made broth-based ramen, featuring rich flavors that delight the palate. From the comforting Tonkotsu to the vegetarian Miso options, there’s something for everyone, including an array of sushi and bento plates. The inviting atmosphere blends hipster vibes with casual dining, making it the perfect spot for groups or families. Committed to inclusivity, Umami provides vegan choices, accessible amenities, and eco-friendly practices. Each dish showcases fresh, high-quality ingredients, ensuring a delightful culinary journey that celebrates Japanese cuisine's umami essence.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to Umami Japanese, a vibrant haven for ramen and sushi enthusiasts located at 251 North City Dr Ste 122, San Marcos, CA 92078. This Asian-owned gem seamlessly blends trendy ambiance with delectable cuisine, making it a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike. With its hip casual atmosphere and moderate noise level, it's suited for everything from brunch with friends to cozy family dinners.

At Umami Japanese, the menu showcases an array of ramen options that cater to diverse dietary preferences. From the rich and savory Shio Ramen featuring house-made chicken broth, to the earthy and hearty Tonkotsu Ramen with succulent chashu, there’s something to satisfy every palate. For the health-conscious or those opting for a meatless meal, the Vegetarian Miso Ramen stands out with its carefully crafted flavors:

  • Shio Ramen: House-made chicken broth, bok choy, bamboo shoots, and green onion for just $16.95.
  • Tonkotsu Ramen: A traditional pork broth delight with spices, priced at $16.50.
  • Vegetarian Miso Ramen: A wholesome option at $15.50, made from a vegetarian miso broth.

But the offerings don’t stop at ramen. The Lunch Bento meals are a delightful way to experience multiple flavors in one sitting, with crowd-favorites like the Chicken Teriyaki Bento and Grilled Salmon Bento. Each dish is prepared with fresh ingredients and garnished beautifully, showcasing their attention to detail.

Customer experiences speak volumes about Umami Japanese. With glowing reviews about their fresh sushi and friendly service, patrons emphasize how the quality of the fish, like the Fish Tower, showcases not just creativity but a dedication to craftsmanship. The atmosphere is described as lively and welcoming, making it perfect for a young crowd and families alike.

And for those who appreciate convenience, Umami Japanese goes the extra mile by offering:

  • Delivery and Takeout options
  • Compostable containers for eco-conscious diners
  • Seating areas that are wheelchair accessible, with ADA-compliant restrooms
  • Outdoor heated seating for those sunny days

Additionally, for tech-savvy diners, they accept a multitude of payment options including Apple Pay and Android Pay, ensuring that your dining experience is as streamlined as possible.

In conclusion, whether you're indulging in a warm bowl of ramen or sharing innovative sushi rolls with a friend, Umami Japanese is a culinary delight that promises a feast for the senses. With such a diverse menu and welcoming atmosphere, it’s not just a meal; it’s an experience. Grab a seat at this trendy eatery and let your taste buds explore the flavorful depths of Japanese cuisine!

START YOUR REVIEW OF Umami Japanese
Tina K.
Tina K.

Umami Sushi in San Marcos is a great spot for fresh and delicious sushi! The fish was high quality, the rolls were flavorful, and the service was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was nice, and the prices were reasonable. Definitely a place I'd visit again!

Evelyn L.
Evelyn L.

my go-to sushi spot in san marcos! lively atmosphere fast service lots of vegetarian options i went here for my birthday dinner and they gave me a special treat recommended dishes: - lemon roll: i love citrus! this roll is served w lemon slices on top, which is refreshing and pairs well with the base roll - dragon roll: for all the eel sauce lovers - protein roll: no rice (which is a plus depending on your dietary preferences) but still just as delicious compared to the other rolls

Lam B.
Lam B.

Umami Japanese offers fresh seafood in interesting yet tasty ways. Funnily enough, I placed an order for the fish tower online and was promptly called regarding how that wouldn't be possible. Even so, I would recommend the dish despite it's daunting presentation. Service was spotty but the food came out quickly. *Fish Tower: a layered tower made of yellowtail, crab salad, spicy tuna, avocado and sushi rice. There were spots of spicy mayo at the base but the ratio of sauce to fish and rice was comical. However, the yellowtail was marinaded in a savory sauce that made it tasty independent of the spicy mayo. The crab salad was creamy and sweet. The spicy tuna had some heat and it was extremely soft. The avocado was fresh and the sushi rice was pleasantly starchy and tangy. This was a fun alternative to a sushi roll. *Scallop Nigiri: tender scallop atop of the tasty sushi rice. However, the temperature was a bit too cold for my liking and it took away from the natural sweetness. The fish quality and flavors were great. Service was meh but at least everything tasted good. Lesson learned, eat the fish tower there.

Olivia S.
Olivia S.

Took my bestie here for sushi after she had her baby. The restaurant was very clean, in a hip location, and moderately sized. We were warmly greeted and seated right away. Our servers were both kind, attentive, and got our orders perfectly. For food we ordered: Garlic edamame 9/10 super delicious. I got the lunch (11:30-3pm) roll combo b with a yellowtail roll and the freshman roll with added jalapeños. That was a smart choice. For $21 that's a steal. Fresh fish, tasty rolls, great value. 10/10 My girlfriend got a super albacore roll and a fireball roll which I had bites of that were also delicious. Overall, I'm impressed. Great value, great flavor, great service. I'll be back again!

Emma B.
Emma B.

This place was great, super cute inside and the service was awesome. Sushi rolls were fresh and they had a great selection, their lunch specials were a great deal too. Parking in the garage is a little bit of a walk away unless you can snag a street spot but there's no charge for the first two hours. I will definitely be back!

Dylan D.
Dylan D.

Was in the area and saw this sushi place that was highly rated on Yelp, and the reviews did not lead us astray. This location is behind the Pima Medical Institute within a row of food places of various variety. The interior is quite spacious with a lot of tables and some really interesting decoration pieces within the restaurant, they also have a gigantic multi screen panel display on one of the back walls which I thought looked really cool. Service is a little odd since we didn't have a specific "waiter" when we came in during a slow period on a Sunday. The guy who seated us said we would have someone come to us but after several minutes of looking over the menu and deciding on options, nobody came by for us. Eventually someone came by after finishing their rounds of cleaning to place our order, they then checked out for the day without any mention of a new waiter change or notifying us at all. I then had to ask the host who seated us if we had a specific waiter to call over and he said we can call over "anyone". A little disorganized in this sense but he was able to take the rest of our order and check in with us here and there but not quite as often as we would've liked considering how slow it was for that day. Luckily, the food came out quickly and the presentation was really well done. The prices also weren't too bad for the portions and amount we received and seemed on par with other sushi places. The taste was pretty fresh and the items we ordered were varied in flavor profiles. Only potential downside was the cost of the real wasabi we ordered which was $4 for a small chunk of it on the side. After everything that was said, I definitely enjoyed what this place had to offer and would definitely consider coming back to try out their other offerings, but hopefully with a more attentive specific waiter for us to work with.

Vesta B.
Vesta B.

I recently visited Umami Japanese with a friend while we were visiting her sister in college. We were hungry and wanted to find somewhere close by, so we decided to give this place a try. I opted for the ramen instead of sushi. The portion size was impressive--definitely big enough to satisfy my appetite. The ramen itself was flavorful and tasted really good. However, I wasn't a fan of the mushrooms; they had a vinaigrette-like taste that didn't quite match the rest of the dish for me. My friend ordered sushi and said it was delicious, so I think I'll give that a try next time.

Felina V.
Felina V.

Gorgeous presentation and tasty bites @umaminorthcity Fresh, unique, and delicious! Super cute spot with lots of amazing options. Quick, attentive service! Mini Sushi Cones ~ Taste of San Marcos 2019 Golden Fork Award ~ spicy tuna, salmon, avocado, creamy sauce in a crispy cone Sushi Muffins ~ Taste of San Marcos 2018 Golden Fork Award ~ IN: seasame seed, seaweed, krab meat, massago TOP: salmon, black tobiko, micro green salad, edible flowers, fresh wasabi SAUCE: house dressing, mayo, eel sauce Spicy Lemon Roll ~ IN: spicy scallop, spicy tuna, cilantro TOP: yellowtail, salmon, lemon slices, green onion, masago SAUCE: spicy mayo, eel sauce @yelpsandiego @yelp #yelp #yelpsandiego #yelpsd #umaminorthcity #umami #umamisushi #sanmarcos #sandiegodining #sandiegofood #sandiegofoodie #sandiegofoodies #sdfood #sdfoodie #sdfoodies #foodblog #foodblogger #foodbloggers #foodiesofig