Umi: The new Japanese hangout in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge
If you’re a fan of Japanese food then Umi Edinburgh, tucked away in one of Stockbridge’s Georgian basements, is the place to go. The menu offers everything from sushi, miso and ramen to tempura, nigiri, sashimi and an array of rice dishes – all with a European twist.
The décor is cosy and intimate, offering tables of varying sizes with enough space between them so you can enjoy your meal in peace whilst still soaking up the atmospheric buzz of the restaurant. The Japanese red paper lanterns and murals create a relaxed Asian vibe, similar to Umi’s sister restaurant, Kenji on nearby St Stephen Street.
As recommended by our waiter, we started with the restaurant’s signature goruden cod fingers (£8.80) and chicken and vegetable gyozas (£4.50) Both were perfectly cooked and guzzled down in seconds. The mango mayo served with the cod fingers added a little something different and worked as the perfect accompaniment.
Next, we went for the Set Umi (£13.90) that features a platter of sashimi, nigiri and salmon avocado maki. From our table, we were able to enjoy watching the chefs prepare our platter of seafood goodies which certainly did not disappoint. All pieces were light, fresh and traditionally prepared.
The star of the show had to be the tonkotsu ramen (£9.90). Cooked for 20 hours, the creamy white broth was perfectly seasoned, and served with Chashu pork belly, a soft boiled egg, leeks, sweetcorn, sesame seeds and a stiff sheet of nori tucked down the side. A vegetarian ramen dish is also available (£9.90) with the pork belly replaced with tofu. We rounded off the evening with matcha ice cream to cleanse the palate.
It’s always a good sign when you leave a restaurant already planning your next visit with friends. It’s fair to say Umi is a welcome addition to Stockbridge’s thriving restaurant scene, and it has now snatched the top spot in Hood’s list of must-visit Japanese restaurants in Edinburgh.