UMA Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Houston

I recently visited UMA Japanese Restaurant, and overall, the experience was disappointing. I had hoped for a fresh, authentic sushi meal, but it fell short in several important ways.

First and most concerning — the sushi didn’t seem fresh. The fish lacked the clean, vibrant taste and texture you expect from good sushi. Instead, it tasted dull and a bit off, which immediately raised red flags about the quality and handling of the seafood. Freshness is non-negotiable when it comes to sushi, and UMA simply didn’t deliver.

Another odd thing I noticed: they had a sushi bar set up inside the restaurant, but it was completely empty. No sushi chef behind the counter, no visible fish or seafood on display — just an abandoned sushi bar that seemed forgotten. It gave off a very strange and unprofessional impression, almost like they had given up on maintaining that part of the restaurant altogether. It definitely did not inspire any confidence about the food being served.

The ambiance overall felt very dated and worn out. From the decor to the furniture to the general atmosphere, everything about the place felt old and neglected. Instead of feeling cozy or traditionally Japanese, it just felt tired and forgotten. In a restaurant, ambiance matters — and here, it only added to the overall sense that the place wasn’t being taken care of.

While the service itself was fine — polite but nothing memorable — it wasn’t enough to make up for the disappointing food and the uncomfortable environment.

With so many better Japanese and sushi options available, I really can’t recommend UMA based on my experience. It’s hard to justify returning when both the food quality and the atmosphere fall so short of...

One evening, my friends and I decided to try a new Japanese restaurant that was open late and had excellent reviews. We arrived around 9:10 PM and were greeted by a friendly host who provided us with menus. The prices were higher than average, but not alarmingly so.

We ordered Chicken Karaage and a bowl of ramen. Given the restaurant's high rating, we had high hopes. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. The chicken was tough and over-spiced, leading us to suspect it wasn't fresh. The ramen was equally disappointing, with a strong unpleasant odor. While I've had good and bad ramen experiences, and Chicken Karaage is a favorite, this was undeniably terrible.

We barely touched the food, and I informed the host that we couldn't eat it. I wish we had taken photos, as we only ate two pieces of chicken and a spoonful of ramen. The food was truly inedible.

However, the real issue arose afterward. A man approached our table and began yelling at us, calling us a disgrace and accusing us of being disrespectful. His aggressive behavior was shocking and unprofessional. He even directed his anger towards my female friend.

I believe the restaurant's emptiness may have contributed to the staff's attitude. To avoid any dispute, I insisted on paying the full amount, even though we hadn't eaten much.

It's important to note that we consumed less than 10% of the food due to its poor quality. I want to be clear about this to prevent any false accusations from the restaurant owner. Despite knowing the truth, he may resort to dishonest tactics to maintain a positive...

Restaurant Review: UMA Japanese Restaurant – Energy Corridor, Houston

As a devoted Japanese cuisine enthusiast who’s dined across Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore, I approached UMA Japanese Restaurant with hopeful curiosity. Unfortunately, that hope quickly turned into disappointment.

Let’s start with the positives. The service was very attentive—arguably over-attentive. While it’s nice to receive attention, the staff’s lack of accurate knowledge—especially about the sake selection—was glaring. Misinformation about a core element of Japanese dining is hard to overlook.

Now, onto the food. The sushi display looked uninviting—some of the fish lacked the vibrant color and sheen that indicate freshness. We ordered two dinner salads, only to find them swimming in liquid at the bottom. It was unappetizing and hard to finish. We gave their Philadelphia roll a shot. While the flavor was passable, the rice was poorly prepared—clumpy and off in texture, which for sushi, is unforgivable.

I rarely leave negative reviews unless an experience leaves me genuinely dissatisfied. This was one of those cases. I left neither satisfied nor impressed. Had we not been in the neighborhood and craving sushi, I wouldn’t have given this spot a try. Lesson learned: sometimes it’s worth driving a little farther for quality you can trust.

Final verdict: If you know great sushi, UMA is unlikely to meet your expectations....