Umi Japanese Cuisine in Edinburgh, City of

My partner and I visited for my birthday meal and we weren’t disappointed. Having returned from an amazing trip to Japan last year, we’re currently trying to find authentic Japanese food in Edinburgh and Umi is a top contender! The styling of the restaurant is like stepping into a little Izakaya which we loved. The vibe is very relaxed and the service was very quick. We ordered some small plates to share. We had the chicken gyoza, chicken karaage, wagyu croquette, mushroom and soft shell crab gyoza and the UMI Dragon rolls and everything was delicious and beautifully created. The dragon rolls were some of the best I’ve tasted in Edinburgh! The pricing is reasonable despite the portion sizes and the quality of ingredients used. With 6 dishes and a bottle of wine being under £100. We’re excited to come back to try some of the ramen and rice dishes 😍

Excellent food and service! Waiter was kind to let us know he didn't have a full bottle of sake left so gave us a discount price 😄

Was such a lovely place! Had amazing decor and furniture on the inside and I thought it was very unique compared to most restaurants in edinburgh. The food was fabulous as well - best ramen i’ve had in edinburgh. We also got the roasted aubergine dish - would highly recommend, it went very well with the ramen as well! Service was great, when our aubergine arrived we were informed that our portion was too small so an extra half was added, lovely to see chefs with such integrity not wanting to cheap us out on a small portion.

Fantastic restaurant. Only a 10 to 15m walk from Waverly. Great atmosphere and even more amazing food. Delicious.

Tasteless, and expensive; the ramen soup boiled for “10 hours” tastes like under-salted warm water with a lot of chili oil. From a scale of 1 to 10 I’d give a 2 for the taste of food. The interior of the restaurant looks fabulous though, with attention to detail such as the menu being made from wood and most tables look like a private booth. Note there will be a 10% service surcharge added to the bill. Despite the great looks and atmosphere, I endeavour to maintain a 2/10 rating for this restaurant for the tasteless food which comes in a ration incommensurate to the price, and an automatic service charge that’s either not advertised or barely noticeable. I would’ve adjusted the rating had the tip not been automatically applied. After all, this should be a restaurant, not a staging room, and its food defeats the very purpose upon which the establishment is designed for.

I've been twice already and I totally recommend this place if you're looking for a special, delicate, particular Japanese cuisine. ✨️ and also the atmosphere is so quite, calm, the waitress always paying attention when you finish the water, really a good service.

Incredible food. With fantastic and quick service. The Unagi was the best I have had outside of Japan. Amazing flavours.

Best ramen I've ever had, amazing service, even though the place was nearly full, we didn't wait long at all for food. Highly recommend😊

very cosy restaurant with good food and friendly staff

Wonderful food and great service

Nice range of starters to be bunched as main if needed and nice Japanese beers.

I have been having dinner with my beloved boyfriend, everything was delicious, the sushi is the most delicious I have ever eaten. The place and its atmosphere are really charming, as if we were in Japan, the manager was very respectful, kind and friendly, we felt very well taken care of by him. We will repeat sushi at UMI on our next trip to Edinburgh.

Beautiful and creative food, made with real care

Excellent place, great service, quality food finished with precision, couldn't fault it..

Fresh and plump sashimi👍 The ramen is refreshing and chewy👍 Fried food is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside👍

The interior design of the restaurant is very cool and cozy. We liked the kind service, the wide selection of meals, and the elegant tableware. Our ramen, takoyaki, and dumplings were really tasty, and we finished our dinner with a glass of nice plum wine.

Feels like being in Japan! Amazing food 😋

The food is so good that I visited this restaurant three times during my 10-day stay in Edinburgh. However, the racist and rude service from the male manager made my last visit a very unpleasant experience. I will never return again.

Foods were good. However, the service provided by the manager was not pleased and uncomfortable. When he served the food, he throws the spoon to me and it was not great experience.

Fantastic restaurant, highly recommend if you’re into a Japanese diner. Very friendly staff, absolutely great food and surprisingly tasty sushi. Cozy vibes, would love to come back.

The best sushi I have ever tasted! Must try the Midori Dragon Rolls 10/10. Also, if your pookie likes it hot, you must try the Spicy Karaage Ramen 🥵🥵

The food here is quite good and it surprises me a lot haha As an Asian, criticizing Asian food is the nature. Tho the rolls served here are not disappointing

Decent menu, lots of choice. Quality and tasty food. Great service. 4 person seating is a bit tight but otherwise a lovely restaurant.

A wonderful Place. Food was perfect, service very friendly. The Place is very cozy, recommended!

Maybe the best Japanese in Edinburgh. Karaage, tempura, raw tuna and rolls are all fantastic. Couldn’t recommend the ramen more. Delicious cocktails and excellent service.

A lovely little place with such a pleasant atmosphere. The staff are attentive and friendly. We got a lovely window seat, didn't feel rushed and perfect place to chill and catch up with friends The menu has a great selection. I had the Chicken Gyoza, Crunchy Soy Rolls and Karaage Paitian Ramen. Stunning, lots of flavour, delicious and filling. Would thoroughly recommend.

Great restaurant. Simple but beautiful decor. Delicious food excellent service and a cool atmosphere.

Immersive atmosphere within the place. The environment was warm and comforting with welcoming staff. I got the tofu curry, which was well presented. The tofu was nicely fried and crispy with silky tenderness on the inside. Could use a bit more vegetables in the curry but the rich sauce helps to compensate.

I ate a lot by myself. The miso soup is served first, so it tends to get cold.

Best sushi restaurant we have ever tried. Food was spectacular and made us feel like we were in Japan. Very friendly staff and dog friendly.

Lovely staff and food. The drinks prices are however the most expensive I have paid in a restaurant. £6.50 for a 330ml Ashasi beer. Saki starts at £13 for a small fizzy 330ml bottle.

Good, sensibly-priced Japanese food. Service reflected the fact that the staff were very busy

My partner and I were so impressed that we went again the next day for dinner! Day 1: My partner had the Umi Signature Paitan Ramen and I had the Spicy Paitan Ramen. Both were delicious! I had a taste of the broth for the Umi Signature Paitan, and wow! The broth was so flavourful. The same can be said for my dish, and it was also spicy! Another great thing is the portion. There was a good amount of noodles and pork! We also had the grilled teriyaki salmon avocado maki. It was so good! Day 2: My partner has the Salmon Stonebowl Fried Rice and I had the Eel Stonebowl Fried Rice. Again, the portions were great! And the taste was amazing! I liked mine a lot more than my partner’s (his was good too) because 1) mine came with a beautifully poached egg and 2) the sauce was a bit sweeter. We were blown away - again. We also tried the Wagyu Potato Croquette! It was also yummy. Honestly I feel like a broken record because I keep saying delicious or yummy! But it’s true! My partner and I really enjoyed the food at UMI. Portions are great, tastes delicious, great service… nothing to complain about!

Excellent Japanese! Very authentic flavour and wide options. Super quick serve after ordering. Overall impressive service and value.

Amazing food, insanely fast service and lovely peaceful atmosphere. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Highly highly recommend

High quality fresh sushi. Nice calm environment and good service.

This is quite a late review but a few friends and I came to Edinburgh from London in July to visit a friend who was studying there. We were craving sushi and were so indecisive on where to eat so I decided to scroll through TikTok and found this gem of a place. It was probably one of the most beautiful sushi restaurants I have ever been to and the atmosphere replicates what I believe an authentic place in Japan would feel like. We came right after the lunch rush so it was quieter than it would have usually been. The customer was service was amazing and was worth the service charge in my opinion. It was not too much and not too little. Just perfect. As a self proclaimed sushi fanatic I would agree that the sushi itself was probably some of THE BEST sushi I have ever eaten and it’s something that my friends and I often talk about. We ordered a few rolls but I have forgotten which ones were specifically ordered. We are always anticipating the next time we will visit and hope that it will be soon. This place is truly our Roman Empire😹. 5 stars all around!!

Having reserved our table for two, we arrived on 15.Oct.2024, at 8 pm. We were seated at the entrance and enjoyed our first ordering: Umi Plum Tea for two, which is a cold drink composed of (japanese) plum wine and (scottish)whiskey, delicately served on two chique ice cubes (22£). The whiskey quite present, tasted nicely, but after the melting of the ice the whole tended a bit watery. Around 21:00 (we had finished our orderings but still hungry), we thought best to order somewhat more (an extra roll and some scallops). There we were told this was to be the last ordering. I was surprised, as the website mentions 22:30 as closing time. My daughter made me understand that we were the last guests present and that we probably should leave by 21:30. This was probably true, as the waiters started sweeping the floor at around 21:10 and opening the entrance door for letting the fresh air in (around +3 degrees C). This is probably "couleur locale". After this refreshing Zen-experience, I asked for the bill, which was at 188 £. Being surprised by the amount, I checked and it turned out that it was "only" 133£. And was swiftly corrected by the waitress, handing over the proper bill. Funnely, this also happened to me two years ago in an italian restaurant, then also accompagnied by a very young lady (actually my daughter). I come to think that older men, accompagnied by a young lady, do not tend to check their bill and pay whatever? But, we were able to leave at 21:25 h. Ah, yes, almost forgot; normally I tip around 10%; This time I did not, since I did not feel particularly well treated. Anyhow, upon re-checking the bill at home, it turned out that 10% "service charge" were added, "ex officio". As I said before, charming "couleur locale". By the way, I believe, when floor sweeping, it is best to put the chairs on the tables. All the best for this little japanese restaurant!

Habiendo reservado nuestra mesa para dos, Llegamos el 15. Octubre. 2024 , a las 8 pm. Estábamos sentados en la entrada y disfrutamos de nuestro primer pedido: Té Umi Plum para dos, que es una bebida fría compuesta de vino de ciruela (japonés) y whisky (escocés), servido delicadamente en dos cubitos de hielo chique (22 £). El whisky bastante presente, sabía bien, pero después del derretimiento del hielo el conjunto tendió un poco acuoso. Alrededor del 21 : 00 (habíamos terminado nuestros pedidos, pero todavía con hambre) , pensamos mejor pedir algo más (un rollo extra y algunas vieiras) . Allí nos dijeron que este sería el último pedido. Me sorprendió, ya que la página web menciona 22 : 30 como hora de cierre. Mi hija me hizo entender que éramos los últimos invitados presentes y que probablemente deberíamos irnos antes del 21 : 30 . Probablemente esto fue cierto, ya que los camareros comenzaron a barrer el piso alrededor de las 21 : 10 y abriendo la puerta de entrada para dejar entrar el aire fresco (alrededor de + 3 grados C). Esto es probablemente "couleur locale". Después de esta refrescante experiencia Zen, pedí la factura, que estaba en 188 libras. Al sorprenderme por la cantidad, comprobé y resultó que era "solo" 133 £. Y fue rápidamente corregido por la camarera, entregando la cuenta adecuada. Curiosamente, esto también me pasó hace dos años en un restaurante italiano, entonces también acompañado por una señora muy joven (mi sobrina). ¿Llego a pensar que los hombres mayores, acompañados por una jovencita, no tienden a revisar su factura y pagar lo que sea? Pero, pudimos salir a las 21: 25 h. Ah, sí, casi lo olvido; normalmente doy propinas alrededor del 10 %; Esta vez no lo hice, ya que no me sentí particularmente bien tratada. De todos modos, al volver a comprobar la factura en casa, resultó que se añadió un 10 % de "cargo por servicio", "de oficio". Como dije antes, encantador "couleur locale". Por cierto, creo, cuando se barre el suelo, lo mejor es poner las sillas sobre las mesas. Todo lo mejor para este pequeño restaurante japonés!

Delicious ramen with very good service !

Beautiful restaurant with a really nice menu of Japanese foods, I got the sushi and the cuts were expertly done, I wasn’t able to try the ramens but my friends foods looked incredible and they sang nothing but praise for the food here, really recommend to all

The food was super delicious! Please do try the salmon belly,salmon Aburi and salmon crudo and grilled toro nigiri..it’s to die for :)..also don’t miss out on their signature UMI roll..spot on 🥺🥺 there is also the salmon dish which I can’t

La comida es muy buena. ¡El mejor ramen que he probado! Me gustaría intentarlo una vez más. La camarera parece un poco fría y distante, pero la comida es muy muy buena!

Best ramen place in Edinburgh! No jokes their ramen is so goood

Nice restaurant, you have peace and quiet. The food is fine and the staff is friendly.

Always come for their chicken broth ramen whenever I'm under the weather. Some of the better ramen in Edinburgh

Was here solo for dinner on a weekday, it seemed busy but there was some tables for walk-ins. The decor was interesting. I tried their stone bowl fried rice. Remember to pour the sauce in and get mixing when it arrives. Was nice. Soft drinks don't necessarily come with a relevant can or glass bottle. Staff were pleasant and helpful. I am never a fan of places that aren't up front about all of their charges. There isn't really an issue with a 10% service charge being added to the bill - however, this was not stated anywhere on the menu shown outside the restaurant, and was not mentioned when the order was made.

Unagi Ube Rolls is good. The Japanese food is authentic and delicious. Food is served very speedy but to me, I prefer a bit slower to let me enjoy the food, but their service is excellent and very friendly.

El boca a boca nos trajo a un amigo y a mí a Umi, pero desafortunadamente, no estuvo a la altura de las expectativas. Al entrar, nos encontramos con un olor bastante picante a pescado que, por experiencia pasada, suele indicar que el sushi que estás a punto de consumir no es el más fresco que puede ser. A pesar de esto, decidimos probarlo ya que eso es lo que habíamos venido a buscar y pedimos una selección de rollos y sashimi junto con un tazón de ramen cada uno. Lamentablemente, nuestras sospechas iniciales se confirmaron cuando llegó el sushi – era comestible, pero definitivamente no tan fresco como he tenido en otros lugares. En una nota más brillante, mi amigo disfrutó de su ramen, aunque yo personalmente no, pero eso fue más sobre mis preferencias de sabor que la calidad del plato en sí. En general, Umi tuvo sus momentos – la decoración es evocadora de los restaurantes de la calle lateral en Tokio con la madera clara y pancartas de tela – pero me encantaría ver mejoras en la frescura del sushi para que coincida con los comentarios positivos que habíamos escuchado. Basándome en mi experiencia, no creo que vuelva ni recomendar.

Ordered Iberico katsu and spider roll. The tuna inside The spider roll taste fishy and seem not right. After back hmI got diarrhea all night Avoid this place

My favourite Japanese restaurant. We have sampled gyoza, sushi, spicy tofu ramen (photo). All absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Everything is in the details: the “tea” eggs (so much tastier than regular cooked eggs), the beautiful crispy lace on the gyozas, the lovely earthenware for the warm sake. The service is professional, swift and discreet.

FINALLY reviews on Google that did not lead me astray! When I tell you everything was DELICIOUS, I'm not exaggerating. We got Chicken Goyza for an appetizer (OMG the flavor), husband got Soft shell crab tempura and loved it, and I got 2 rolls: Midori dragon roll & Crunchy soy roll. Both rolls were phenomenal and I can't believe I'm going to say it, but the vegetarian Midori dragon roll is possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Something about the sweet potatoe with the sauce on top....I can't recommend it enough. It's a MUST try.

Great food and atmosphere, although downstairs less nice. Service could be better but it was very busy at the time. Minced Wagyu stone bowl was excellent.

Great food and excellent service! Really authentic experience

Such a beautiful place with friendly staff. Amazing and authentic food, we loved the tuna tataki and the fresh wasabi melts in your mouth!! Would definitely visit again.

It is always busy, but you never feel rushed! The food is amazingly tasty and we keep visiting over and over as they became one of the favourite places to eat out. Friendly staff and always accommodating!

Very good ramen and not very expensive. Really recommended.

Fui con un amigo a cenar. Muy ocupado durante la hora de la cena, así que un poco lleno de gente, ya que es un lugar acogedor. Linda decoración. muy buenos servicios. 剩下的想說的話都在圖中了

Absolutely incredible! Even the soy sauce was the best we've ever had

Could not really taste the pork bone flavour in the ramen, and charsiu was a little too tough. Service was good though

Aubergine dish overly sweet, tempura a little greasy, we had a 45 minute slot, which we agreed to, it was during the fringe, however our order wasn't taken for 20 minutes, so it was very rushed, our plates were cleared before we had finished, there were two other tables empty at this stage, the manager (I assume) made a charade out of looking for the diners for our table, going outside twice to get them as we were leaving, needless to say they weren't anywhere in sight, which he seemed to find amusing, along with a waitress. Silly, unprofessional, disappointing

Expensive but genuine high grade ramen

Super cool authentic Japanese place with options for all. The tempura was cooked perfectly and the ramen was insane. The staff were all friendly and we were able to get a table for two on Saturday without a reservation at 9pm. I would recommend this place for high quality food in a uniquely styled restaurant.

The quality of the food was excellent, well worth the price.

What an amazing place. Great "rooms" for dining. lovely staff. The chicken ramen was delicious. Like a giant hug. Sushi also great.

Really delicious japanese and great decor. Staff were kind. Ask to sit upstairs for the best atmosphere 🙂

Some of the best Japanese food I've had. Authentic wooden booths to sit in, served by friendly and helpful staff, but above all, delicious food. We could tell that the ingredients were of the finest quality and the preparation and presentation were absolutely top class. Portion sizes were very good and the food was very filling and satisfying. We had lunch here and were only able to manage a light dinner later. If you like Japanese food and are in Edinburgh, don't miss this place! Highly Recommended

Great food great service and kindly staff. I like the waitress’s (from Malaysia) suggestion on food and answers to my traveller’s question about where to buy the best butter cookies in Edinburgh (M&S!) A pleasant dinner experience especially for a traveler from south England.

Good food, good service. Please order the fatty tuna and the salmon aburi nigiri, well worth it.

The best Japanese restaurant in Edinburgh. Their ramen is incredible. The broth is absolutely delicious. I also enjoyed the corn fritters. The decor is so cool, too. I'd recommend booking in advance, especially if visiting during the festival.

During my travels through Edinburgh, I stumbled upon Umi, a restaurant that stays open all afternoon, making it a convenient choice for a late lunch. I opted for takeout and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sushi. The ingredients were fresh, and the variety of rolls offered both creativity and flavor. The value for money was not bad; for just £60, the two of us enjoyed a filling and satisfying meal.

One of the best ramen and sushi restaurant in Edinburgh city centre, nice armosphere, friendly staffs. The foods are tasty and quite flavourful.

Fantastic food, really well flavoured and some unusual dishes. Best Japanese I’ve had for some time. My only suggestion for improvement, add alcohol free beer to the drinks menu.

I came across this Japanese restaurant. It has a nice environment and authentic noodle soup. I met a working girl from Fujian, China who is studying here. She is youthful, generous and friendly. I highly recommend it.

During our holiday we visited Edinburgh and wanted to eat in one Japanese restaurant because our children love everything Japanese :). Luckily we found UMI. Excellent choice! Tasty food, friendly service Highly recommended

Amazing experience, felt very traditional, gorgeous waitress Overall great night

Giving 3/5 simply cuz this place is just next to the campus and dare to charge so high for that small amount of food, absolutely does not worth the money unless you want a fancy little place to chat or to date instead of walking out of it with a full stomach. Atmosphere I give 5/5 cuz I can indeed see quite a lot of effort in the decors, service are really nice and serving time is fast. Food tastes all right, the sauce for each Donburi is perfect and authentic. Fun thing was I went back home had two croissants afterwards cuz I was completely underfed😒

Excellent Ramen, service and price!

Claire and the team were amazing! Food was wonderful as usual. Would always recommend this place ❤️❤️

A great Japanese restaurant, welcoming and efficient staff. The eggplant was outstanding!! They were also so helpful to make sushi that suited my 3 year old!!

Fish was good except the Toro??? The wasabi wasn’t…. Strong at all. And the rice wasn’t seasoned. At all. I had to dunk everything in the soy sauce. But the regular tuna and the salmon and the scallops were good.

Great food and traditional decor

Incredible all-round experience, with patient and attentive staff who catered to our food specifications, amazing dishes with delightful flavour combinations and presentations. The stone bowl rice dish was divine.

One of the best starter I had in a while. Very nice atmosphere here you get Japanese style huts with different Japanese city names on they have Orange Japanese Maple 🍁 tree which is artificial I guess but add the feel to place. Food was great especially sushi 🍣 Raman was good too. Nice and friendly staff. Warm and cozy place. Just need to work wee bit on sticky-iky floor.

Took my partner here for our anniversary. We both loved it. The food was incredible and well priced for the quality. The privacy of the booths made for a truly intimate experience and was the perfect end to our night.

Have taken my family here twice in a month it is simply brilliant. Well done team Umi.

An incredible menu that is well priced for what you are getting. The Volcano Rolls were especially incredible.

Good sushi, Wagyu tataki was special, nice atmosphere and good service

High quality of fish within the sushi - especially the Toro (Tuna), which is rare to find. Super fresh and delicious.

A local friend’s children’s favorite restaurant Bring me here specially to give it a try Specializing in Japanese sushi rolls and clay pot rice, as well as grilled body, curry and wagyu dishes Personally, I prefer the stone clay pot rice series. The quality is good. The stone-cooked rice and beef stew are also good, but the price is a bit expensive. The average consumption per person is about 30 pounds if you don’t order Wagyu beef.

This place is a must go. Best ramen and sushi we’ve had for a while. Great service as well, and atmosphere is awesome. Lunch or dinner is a great time

A very pleasant moment; perfect service, delicious meal.

A delight ! We ordered 44 makis and enjoyed them, no need to add sauce, everything is perfectly prepared/seasoned! Small downside on the door which closes poorly (and people are unable to slam it...) and therefore drafts of cold air.

The food was excellent and the flavours were incredible. But the service was abismal. First off we had booked a table for two. When we got there there were several tables for two available so we asked for the one in the window. We were told that that wasn’t possible because it was booked for later on. I hadn’t even sat down that two people came in after us, had no booking and got given that table. We were sat on a small table between two couples. Then they did offer us another small table when the people had left next to us but the point was that we would have preferred the window table that was also bigger to accommodate all our food. The food arrived quickly and was delicious. But because the table was so small they were dumping the plates in front of us with the plates half falling off onto our laps and we were having to scrape the food from the previous plate on the new ones to fit everything on the table. Then when we had finished someone cleared half of the table and then for the next 25 minutes we were left just sitting there, no one offered us anything else, no one came and finished clearing the table. In that laspe of time the table next to us got offered more food, got given the bill, paid, left, the table got cleaned and prepared again. At this point after trying to make eye contact and ask for the bill they sat the next people down, gave them menus, took their order. We managed to ask for the bill and it never came. We then had to stand up and stand in the middle and yet again waiters walked past and barely acknowledged us. Then they had the audacity to ask for a tip! The service was terrible. I feel like maybe we seemed a bit cold but when we get told that the window table is booked for later on and literally ten seconds later you give it to someone without a booking then please try and make the rest of the evening nice. The staff attitude was not professional at all. We are hugely disappointed to have spent £70, then asked to tip you for horrible service that clearly made me want to walk out. Would not recommend.

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Delicious from start to finish. Good service. I've been telling all my friends about it. Go now!

Best sushi in Scotland. I travel to Edinburgh for their sushi. After living in Tokyo, I get sushi craving and Umi is everything I need.

By far, my best dining experience of the year! The place is completely different, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere transports us elsewhere. Let’s talk about the food… We had a hard time choosing because everything seemed so delicious. We opted for ramen, a selection of nigiris and makis, and karaage. The cocktails were also excellent. This is by far my favorite restaurant. Even though I'm not from Scotland, I'm willing to come back just to be able to taste these delicious dishes again!

Authentic Japanese cuisine serving delicious sushi and ramen dishes!

Great food and nice atmosphere. Would come back again

Delicious food at reasonable prices, really efficient service, and the restaurant decor is very pleasant. They also play soft Japanese music that really gives everything a nice vibe. It was so good that we went 2 nights in a row just to try more things off the menu