Gourmet Umami flavor with a dab of Asian Fusion: Umami Burger
We all know Asian fusion. From the kimchi tacos to barbeque sushi, this cuisine has been popping up across the nation and is loved by Asians and Americans alike. As a food addict and a Japanese fanatic for Asian fusion cuisine, I thought I saw it all until I experienced Umami Burger.
This restaurant had all sorts of Asian fusion cuisine available for their hungry customers, from the Spicy Tuna Pizza to Tempura Asparagus. However, their burgers all integrated the concept of Umami, a Japanese term that categorizes the savory taste from glutamates. They fuse flavor-packed ingredients such as mushrooms, cheese frico, egg, mustard, etc. to create the ultimate burger experience.
This restaurant chain has been all over social media and various foodies from social media have broadcasted themselves trying their dishes. Their famous items on the menu are the Impossible Burger, which consists of two patties and other delicious condiments, and the Umami Burger that includes parmesan frico, mushrooms, and other flavor-bursting ingredients. I kept seeing this chain all over social media, and I had to try it myself.
Umami Burger has locations in Northern California, Southern California, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Japan, and the Bahamas. The restaurant my family and I visited was on Southern Anaheim Boulevard, Southern California–near Disneyland and other famous attractions. The interior had license plates and yellow-tinted bulbs: a very vintage, trendy feel and a perfect place for a hip Instagram shot. There were bar seats as well as booths, so this location is perfect for a quick beer or a nice dinner with friends, family, or even a date. The pricing was on the higher end, with burgers running from 12 to 14 dollars and appetizers ranging from 8 to 14, but the food really spoke for itself and the wallet did not complain.
Now, the food. I ordered the Sunny Side Burger, which, like its name sounds, had a sunny-side-up egg laid on a bed of a patty, parmesan frico, condiments, and the signature-branded bun. The moment I bit into it, bursts of meaty, juicy goodness filled my mouth, along with, of course, umami. The burger did make a mess with all of the juices and oils inside the secret sauce, the patty, and the runny egg, but it just added to the fun. After that meal of being immersed in burger paradise, I had a simple thought in my mind: That was one of the best burgers I have ever tasted. The meat, the egg, the sauce, the umami–everything came together in a heap of a beautiful burger that has been branded in my head like the bun they served.
Asian fusion never looked better.
Umami Burger has locations in Northern California, Southern California, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Japan, and the Bahamas. The restaurant my family and I visited was on Southern Anaheim Boulevard, Southern California–near Disneyland and other famous attractions. The interior had license plates and yellow-tinted bulbs: a very vintage, trendy feel and a perfect place for a hip Instagram shot. There were bar seats as well as booths, so this location is perfect for a quick beer or a nice dinner with friends, family, or even a date. The pricing was on the higher end, with burgers running from 12 to 14 dollars and appetizers ranging from 8 to 14, but the food really spoke for itself and the wallet did not complain.
Now, the food. I ordered the Sunny Side Burger, which, like its name sounds, had a sunny-side-up egg laid on a bed of a patty, parmesan frico, condiments, and the signature-branded bun. The moment I bit into it, bursts of meaty, juicy goodness filled my mouth, along with, of course, umami. The burger did make a mess with all of the juices and oils inside the secret sauce, the patty, and the runny egg, but it just added to the fun. After that meal of being immersed in burger paradise, I had a simple thought in my mind: That was one of the best burgers I have ever tasted. The meat, the egg, the sauce, the umami–everything came together in a heap of a beautiful burger that has been branded in my head like the bun they served.
Asian fusion never looked better.
