Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Just perfect---the meat to bun ratio is ideal to the last bite. I had the Manly Burger, and the porkbelly was a perfect addition. The ketchup was heavy on the anise, but the burger didn't need it. This is my favorite burger next to the one at Olives in Las Vegas at the Bellagio and the one at the Left Bank at the On The Ave hotel in NYC's Upper West Side. Umami is my new "go to" burger in LA.

Great review but I disagree about the So Cal burger. My wife had the Umami and I thought my So Cal burger was way better after tasting hers. She liked mine better too. Killer onion rings, but not a fan of the house ketchup with anchovies. I think I'll sneak in some good old Heinz ketchup on my next visit!

Here are my totally amateurish pics from today's jaunt to Umami:

Umami Burger and Fries:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/3363682793/

Umami Burger, sans top bun:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/3363683063/

Mexican Coke and Abita Root Beer (both with real sugar, I think--yum!):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/3364503980/

Market Salad with Manchego (by request), Mandarin Oranges (that or baby tangerines, I don't recall which), and Chili-Chipotle Dressing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/3363683091

Just arrived in LA for the first time in 3 years, and the first place I go? Umami Burger, just as any devoted Gambuto reader might. It was really superb.

I still say it's a regrettably named restaurant with a product that, while it may be very tasty, likely has little more umami than any other burger. It's like calling your restaurant "Glutamate Receptor-Pleasing Burger," "Delicious Burger," "Savory Burger," etc. The word "umami" is no more unique to their restaurant and burger than "sweet," "salty," "sour" or "bitter."

@pthom: Yeah, that was so incredibly confusing. "Words" are so hard to make out sometimes.
@serious1: People who draw analogies from "Dharma and Greg" episodes (yeah, I searched your commenting past, punk) really have no business commenting on the literary prowess of others.

Nice post, Damon.

I ended up coming in on Sunday, just before they ran out of hamburger meat (oh no!) Me and the partner ordered a blue cheese burger and their house specialty Umami Burger, with the intentions of sharing. He liked his so much, he refused to share though, which is a pretty high recommendation.

The bun was absolutely incredible, just a little sweet, soft, but with enough heft that it absorbed the juices without falling apart. And that was important, because that was the juiciest hamburger I'd ever had! A crispy, caramelized outside had a wonderful, medium well interior that just leaked meaty, perfectly seasoned juiciness. I thought I cooked good burgers at home, but now I have to go back to the drawing board: this place entirely redefined what a good hamburger is to me.

Really wanted a chocolate malt afterwards. :-) That would be just divine.

They just opened an 8 oz. Burger Bar here in South Beach. Hopefully it is a little better. Problem for them is that there is a great neighborhood dive bar called Dewey's a block away that makes a fantastic burger.

@pthom: The So Cal burger was good, but not as good as the Umami burger..?

@Lorenzo,

Umami is imamu backwards. Imamu is Swahili for "spiritual leader". That should clear it up for ya.

So where does the umami come into play?

It's like calling your restaurant "Delicious Burger."

Ok, i gotta try this very very soon. I'm hearing good things about the onion rings too. Can't decide whether to go w/ the house burger or the Stilton. And how cool that the owner is on SE! Oh and someone please explain the kogi joke to themangiatoilgatto :)

I went there last night with three friends and we all agreed it was incredible. I had the SoCal burger and was completely floored from the first bite. It was really really really really good. From the first bite to the last morsel on my plate. I am not being hyperbolic. The burger is better than that Father's Office burger which is currently the populist king of gourmet burgers in Los Angeles. One friend got the SoCal and agreed, and the other got the 3xPork and insisted I try some, but I was too full.

That being said, I agree with the general feeling about the fries. They taste good, but are more steak fry-ish than burger place fries. It just goes against what I was expecting. Furthermore, while the homemade ketchup provides a good rich tomatoey flavor, I was expecting ketchup and not something as natural. However, the onion rings are nice and light and tasty (which I think are a new addition to the menu, which I took with me to boast).

Overall, considering they've been open for a month, the truly biggest grip I have is their parking lot is too small! I was still thinking about the meal up until I went to sleep and I cannot offer enough praise. Also, above, when I say what I was "expecting," I was not expecting the burger to be so good, but I was very pleasantly surprised. With the fries and ketchup, it was different and made me think about how it was different, rather than the burger which made me think about how AWESOME it was.

In a town where there are so many eating establishments that strive for mediocrity, it is always refreshing when a place attempts to be great and achieves it. I want to bath in umami (if that's possible).