The story
Located in the Caffarella area, Umami has established itself as a premier destination for authentic Japanese cuisine in Rome. Boasting a 4.5-star rating, the restaurant is celebrated for its technical precision and high-quality ingredients. While it carries a higher price point, the experience is widely considered a worthwhile investment for those seeking a genuine taste of Japan in the heart of the city.
Creator Pratt is a notable fan, awarding the venue a 9 out of 10 and praising it for perfectly capturing the Japanese spirit. He highlights the kitchen's exceptional skill, noting that the quality of the ramen and soba justifies the cost. The menu offers a diverse array of expertly prepared dishes, ranging from the Umami Tsumi Miso Tumen and Nigiri di Cotoro to unique offerings like the Yuniku Kushiyaki and the Saget cocktail.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2024.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 6 dish mentions say about the food
A glass of saget co, likely a signature cocktail, pairs perfectly with Umami's most-praised dish, the Saget, which reviewers call a warm, comforting standout. The overall vibe is cozy and refined, with food that feels both thoughtful and satisfying.
“A glass of saget costs €7. It's a genius drink — cucumber and sesame.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Umami. Most active: Pratt
Umami is a Japanese izakaya in the Caffarella area that serves creative dishes like cotoro nigiri, tsumi miso tumen, and kushi-yaki, with a focus on quality and technique, though it's on the pricier side.
Dishes mentioned
Saget
A glass of saget costs €7. It's a genius drink — cucumber and sesame.
Kishi no Mono
These cucumber sticks have a very strong sesame aroma. I'm going to do something that etiquette doesn't recommend — but who has read etiquette? I'm happy I haven't read it. Stupendous, slimy and crunchy — a joy. Slimy and crunchy like that nice feeling you get on the metro when someone stretches their hands too far and you slap them. It's stupendous, it's right, it's clean, it's in order — it's how it should go.
Yuniku Kushiyaki
These skewers of beef heart in kabayaki sauce cost €9. I'm devouring them — they have the smell of iron, the taste of iron. They are pieces of soft anvil, tasty, genuine. They are like your vulgar but good uncle — he never did you wrong, he always protected you. Your mother scolds him because he takes too many liberties, but deep down he's a good guy, a fair one.
Crocchette di Patate con Maiale e Cipollotto
These croquettes are inspired by French croquettes that arrived in Japan in the 80s, then became more and more popular, and the Japanese modified them, inventing their own croquette. The breading is perfect panko — crunchy, clean, and fragrant. The filling is tasty, just right, good. The pork — what can I tell you. And the 'da un cazzo' sauce lightly wets the breading without soaking it, giving it this greasy but moist characteristic that the panko breading welcomes with gentleness, with joy.
Nigiri di Cotoro
This nigiri of cotoro costs €10. The tuna — we treat it so badly in our cheap sushi places — but here they have special cuts. They have all three: akami, chutoro, and otoro. This is chutoro, the middle ground. I tell you, it's really good. Today otoro is finished — I actually prefer that — but the flavor in the mouth expands, it's a hot air balloon ready to take you around the world in 80 days. It's a journey of flavors, very good, fresh. You recognize the difference compared to both cheap sushi and high-end sushi. Certainly around Rome and Italy there are sushi places that can compete with Japanese sushi — I come here more for the ramen and soba. But that doesn't take away that we have really good sushi in front of us, worthy, with the possibility of spending a bit more than cheap sushi and a bit less than starred sushi, but giving you the joy of good sushi. In this, Umami is the middle ground — it doesn't make me crazy but it makes me feel good.
