Umami Burger

06/19/11

A deliciously dangerous threat to your waistline.

by shaunna424

Please disregard the snark pouring from L.A's particularly brutal burger core. Any burger joint that goes from one measly La Brea outpost in 2009 to five prime L.A. locations and a GQ Burger of the Year nod in 2011 is worth a shot. Adam Fleischman's experimental chain has some of the juiciest, most savory burgers in this burger n' dogs-crazy town. Try the truffle burger for the house-made cheese, or the Hatch for its perfectly spicy green chilies. Umami sets itself apart with its endless array of fresh ingredients, and its focus on achieving umami, which literally translates to a 'pleasant savory taste.' The sweet potato fries and onion rings are crispy and yummy, but the burger itself is usually plenty enough to satisfy my smaller frame. Try the garlic aioli on the burger or the sides, and be sure to indulge in a $4 house beer. Don't be deterred by a long line - it usually moves pretty quickly, and you can munch on some sides or have a drink or two by their little bar while you wait. The Urban location also allows for outdoor seating, or a little bit of hipster shopping when you're not chowing down.

07/21/10

REALLY GROSS IF YOU ARE VEGETARIAN

by finn416

I recently went to Umami burger and ordered their veggie burger. While I waited I could not take my eyes off the piles of bloody meat they had out. Their kitchen is totally visible and I could see slabs and bags of bloody piles of meat everywhere. It seemed like a mess and really wasn't what I wanted to be looking at while waiting for my food. Further the veggie burger is disgusting--the grossest one I've ever had! It's main ingredient is beets and let the burger patty looked just like all the uncooked raw red meat on the counter. The burger was impossible to eat without it falling apart, tasted nasty and looked like bloody raw beef mess. If you don't eat red meat, I would avoid this place!

• Cons: Veggie burger is vile & bloody meat in plain sight

04/30/10

Mmmmm beef!

by LaLaLady

Unami Urban is my favorite location. The staff is a lot of fun. They have great drinks, both alcoholic and non. I don't have a negative thing to say.

• Pros: The burgers are delicious, fresh, perfectly cooked!
• Cons: Nothing... ?

04/12/10

Best Burger In Hollywood

by runcty

I love this place, the burgers are amazing. Always cooked perfectly.

• Pros: Food!
• Cons: I little expensive

01/14/10

Savor the Umami

by Erin W Davis

If you’re bored with the same old four tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, then Umami Burger is the place for you! Head to this burger joint to discover the “fifth taste,” or savoriness, as it’s more commonly called. With so many burgers options in LA (Father’s Office, 8oz, In-N-Out, The Counter), it’s hard to set oneself apart, but Umami Burger manages this task with ease. While this is not their original location (that one is on La Brea), their “Umami Urban” location offers up much more. For starters, unlike the La Brea location that is yet to receive a liquor license, this Umami location has a full bar which features an espresso stout beer float. Yum! They also have a larger selection of sides, but it’s the Kombu Meals that really earns this location a gold star. These “combo” meals include a burger, a side, and a wine or beer for a fraction of the price if ordered separately. And trust me, you’ll want to try their sides, if for no other reason than to have something to dip in their umami ketchup. The only draw back to Umami is the size of their burgers. For ten bucks you’d hope to get more bite for your buck, but the quality really does make up for the quantity. A smaller burger might also entice you to order a second round. With choices like the Manly Burger (beer-cheddar cheese, smoked salt onion strings, and bacon lardoons) and the Truffle Burger (truffle cheese and truffle glaze), they’d be hard to resist even if they were jumbo size. Make sure not to stuff yourself too full though because they carry a selection of Cake Monkey desserts that are worth the trip themselves. You wont be about to stop at just one- seriously! Located inside the Space 15 Twenty retail location, afterwards you can work off all those calories by doing some shopping.

• Pros: unique burgers and excellent desserts