Cafe Umami Uptown

Cafe Umami Uptown is a casual eatery that focuses on Asian inspired whole foods fare with lots of bold flavors. They do this by offering dishes with a lot of fermented ingredients to utilize the taste “umami.” Umami is one of the five basic tastes, which also includes sweet, sour, salt, and bitter. Umami adds the rich, savory taste that is associated with aged meats, mushrooms, and miso.

Cafe Umami’s founder, Sungsoon, is of South Korean descent and has a doctorate in microbiology. He opened the original Cafe Umami in the Dimond District in 2017 shortly after completing culinary school. The Uptown location opened July of 2019 and quickly became a popular lunch spot.

The type of fare served is Asian-fusion with Californian influences. Popular lunch dishes include the Veggie Power Bowl, which includes tempeh, avocado, and sauerkraut, as well as the Pulled Pork Bowl. Regulars also rave about the jook, which is a Korean porridge offered in both savory and sweet preparations. Another “must try” is their avocado toast with miso brown butter. They also sell some of their fermented creations that feature local and organic produce.

Want to learn how to use umami in your own cooking? Check out one of Café Umami’s events! They host a variety of classes and mixers that bring the community together and educate them on how to prepare food that tastes amazing and is full of health benefits.

Stop in today for an experience your taste buds will never forget. Want to share this gem of a cafe with your loved ones or co-workers? Have them cater your next event!

This business speaks English, Korean, Spanish, and Japanese.