UMI Japanese Cuisine

This is quite a late review but a few friends and I came to Edinburgh from London in July to visit a friend who was studying there. We were craving sushi and were so indecisive on where to eat so I decided to scroll through TikTok and found this gem of a place. It was probably one of the most beautiful sushi restaurants I have ever been to and the atmosphere replicates what I believe an authentic place in Japan would feel like. We came right after the lunch rush so it was quieter than it would have usually been. The customer was service was amazing and was worth the service charge in my opinion. It was not too much and not too little. Just perfect. As a self proclaimed sushi fanatic I would agree that the sushi itself was probably some of THE BEST sushi I have ever eaten and it’s something that my friends and I often talk about. We ordered a few rolls but I have forgotten which ones were specifically ordered. We are always anticipating the next time we will visit and hope that it will be soon. This place is truly our Roman Empire😹. 5 stars all around!!

Was here solo for dinner on a weekday, it seemed busy but there was some tables for walk-ins. The decor was interesting. I tried their stone bowl fried rice. Remember to pour the sauce in and get mixing when it arrives. Was nice. Soft drinks don't necessarily come with a relevant can or glass bottle. Staff were pleasant and helpful. I am never a fan of places that aren't up front about all of their charges. There isn't really an issue with a 10% service charge being added to the bill - however, this was not stated anywhere on the menu shown outside the restaurant, and was not mentioned when the order was made.

The interior design of the restaurant is very cool and cozy. We liked the kind service, the wide selection of meals, and the elegant tableware. Our ramen, takoyaki, and dumplings were really tasty, and we finished our dinner with a glass of nice plum wine.

Was such a lovely place! Had amazing decor and furniture on the inside and I thought it was very unique compared to most restaurants in edinburgh. The food was fabulous as well - best ramen i’ve had in edinburgh. We also got the roasted aubergine dish - would highly recommend, it went very well with the ramen as well! Service was great, when our aubergine arrived we were informed that our portion was too small so an extra half was added, lovely to see chefs with such integrity not wanting to cheap us out on a small portion.

My partner and I visited for my birthday meal and we weren’t disappointed. Having returned from an amazing trip to Japan last year, we’re currently trying to find authentic Japanese food in Edinburgh and Umi is a top contender! The styling of the restaurant is like stepping into a little Izakaya which we loved. The vibe is very relaxed and the service was very quick. We ordered some small plates to share. We had the chicken gyoza, chicken karaage, wagyu croquette, mushroom and soft shell crab gyoza and the UMI Dragon rolls and everything was delicious and beautifully created. The dragon rolls were some of the best I’ve tasted in Edinburgh! The pricing is reasonable despite the portion sizes and the quality of ingredients used. With 6 dishes and a bottle of wine being under £100. We’re excited to come back to try some of the ramen and rice dishes 😍

Immersive atmosphere within the place. The environment was warm and comforting with welcoming staff. I got the tofu curry, which was well presented. The tofu was nicely fried and crispy with silky tenderness on the inside. Could use a bit more vegetables in the curry but the rich sauce helps to compensate.

My partner and I were so impressed that we went again the next day for dinner! Day 1: My partner had the Umi Signature Paitan Ramen and I had the Spicy Paitan Ramen. Both were delicious! I had a taste of the broth for the Umi Signature Paitan, and wow! The broth was so flavourful. The same can be said for my dish, and it was also spicy! Another great thing is the portion. There was a good amount of noodles and pork! We also had the grilled teriyaki salmon avocado maki. It was so good! Day 2: My partner has the Salmon Stonebowl Fried Rice and I had the Eel Stonebowl Fried Rice. Again, the portions were great! And the taste was amazing! I liked mine a lot more than my partner’s (his was good too) because 1) mine came with a beautifully poached egg and 2) the sauce was a bit sweeter. We were blown away - again. We also tried the Wagyu Potato Croquette! It was also yummy. Honestly I feel like a broken record because I keep saying delicious or yummy! But it’s true! My partner and I really enjoyed the food at UMI. Portions are great, tastes delicious, great service… nothing to complain about!

Fantastic restaurant, highly recommend if you’re into a Japanese diner. Very friendly staff, absolutely great food and surprisingly tasty sushi. Cozy vibes, would love to come back.