Umami Sushi & Izakaya — Restaurant in Ocoee

I went alone on a Friday night to a neighborhood restaurant. With a name like Umami, I expected — and got — an Asian fusion restaurant, even though it’s billed as a sushi and “izakaya” establishment. This is not a neighborhood izakaya, in the sense anyone from New York, West Coast or Japan might expect.

The staff including the sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive. That was the best part of the restaurant.

The food menu is, I think, a big mess and is a hodge-podge (sp?) of Asian dishes. I stuck only to the Happy Hour items and a handful of nigiri because I was dining alone and nothing stood out for me.

Of the eight items I tasted, the best item was the chef’s complimentary maguro tataki (seared tuna), which they rolled in sesame.

The spring rolls used the wrong kind of wrapper, and the cabbage filing was the kind you get Panda Express. Not what is expect in an neighborhood izakaya. The scallion pancake (Chinese style) was done very crispy; the texture was like a Singapore roti but the problem was their curry dipping sauce. It seemed like they simply melted one of the Japanese curry roux (one of the S&B or House brands?).

The worst part was the nigiri. Ordered tako, ika and tamago sushi to start off. I chose this to measure the sushi chefs preparation skill. I can make decent tuna or salmon nigiri, but the other stuff actually requires deft skill and experience.

I was able to eat the squid and egg, but the octopus was inedible. I don’t want to be rude but I could not eat all of my food, let alone enjoy it. The rice was correct seasoning and texture but they didn’t let it cool down before using it for sushi preparation.

I am giving three stars overall based on attentive service, low prices, and the food presentation.

I take away two stars because the food taste was mediocre to average.

I think this restaurant enjoys a sizable clientele because they don’t want to pay premium sushi prices for premium quality sushi. Or perhaps they don’t want to drive a little further to better places in Dr Philips or Orlando.

Thank you for a pleasant evening of nice people and dining ambiance. I am very sorry about the...

Visited: August 15, 2019. 7:00pm. Small intimate restaurant with a sushi bar and tables for dining. Language being spoken by the owner/staff is Chinese. I ordered tekka maki zushi (tuna roll) and saba nigiri (mackerel) and a beer. The quality in the preparation and serving of these two sushi items tells me immediately how good a Japanese restaurant is. The waiter had difficulty in understanding what I wanted since I ordered in Japanese. Nothing else caught my eye in the menu. Offerings are limited. Pricing is a bit on the expensive side. The tekka maki zushi did not impress. The nori that is used leaves a strong iodine aftertaste. The saba was very good. While dining I noticed a roach crawling on the cushioned seat where I sat. Upon seeing the roach I asked for my check. I then spoke to the owner telling him what I had seen. The owner apologized. He explained that: (1) A pest control business comes every 2 weeks to treat the restaurant; and, (2) on the other side of the wall where I was seated is the kitchen of another business (i.e. roaches migrate thru the wall). For a roach to be present during the two weeks between treatments tells me: A. There’s the likelihood of more roaches B. The chemicals used by the pest control firm are woefully ineffective. C. There is no chemical barrier to exterminate roaches migrating thru the wall. Conclusion: I was hoping to have a pleasant experience. I do not...

The absolute best sushi I have ever had in my life. Beats every other sushi restaurant in Orlando by far.

Freshest ingredients, great sushi rice, all put together just right with some amazing tastes that are well suited for the ultimate sushi enthusiast.

If you can't decide what to order I can suggest that you try these rolls: Spicy salmon roll - superbly selected cuts of super fresh salmon; Volcano Roll - real scallops atop a fresh California roll; shrimp tempura with eel and avocado on top - the tempura is very crunchy. Unique and well done.

Definitely not a sushi-in-a-box joint. There is artistry and technical excellence here at its best. Truly...