Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar

“Graduation 2026 Pri Fixe $40/pp dinner was exceptional. Delicious food. Large servings. Tasty innovative drinks and an amazing server.”

“Honestly, I'd been sleeping on this place for far too long. We ate at the bar and everything was fantastic from the apps, to the dumplings to the Ramen. The brussel sprouts were a standout app. The dumplings were beautifully handmade. The Tonkatsu Ramen was so solid- sumptuous, perfectly salty, gorgeous hand pulled noodles. Lastly, the price was really affordable. Three people ate really well with drinks and we got of there for under $120. Bravo, Umami! We can't wait to go back.”

“Our waitress was excellent at her job! Party of 4 and our first time there. We wanted something new with good reviews and close enough to the Sylvee, we were off to a concert after dinner. We had a 5:15 reservation and were sat at our table right away. Cozy atmosphere with a really nice atmosphere. The menu is clean and easy to follow. We tried the fried dumplings and wow. I'm glad we got two orders. So crispy yet juicy and full of flavor and the sauce that is came with them was amazing. We ordered the beef buns and spicy pork buns. As someone who has never had an Asian bun, I was apprehensive. They are so white and pillowy. I expected them to be chewy, sweet, gummy, or totally bland. No, not the case at all. Please try them, so good. So much flavor was packed into that tiny bun. Pulled pork and pickled carrot with a delightful sauce tucked inside of the light and perfectly cooked bun. My mouth was happy. Then our entrees appeared. I got the spicy salmon rice bowl and everyone else got ramen. My rice bowl was awesome. Seaweed salad, edamame, toasted sesame seeds, pickled cucumber, bright and super fresh salmon, wasabi aioli and sliced jalapenos. Really good, and filling. Everyone seemed happy with their ramen, although the overall feelings were the broth seemed lacking in flavor depth. It was good but they wanted more intensity. They offer many add on options like flavored egg, corn, garlic bomb, bean sprouts, etc. Overall, I'm happy we went.”

“As a Japanese person living in Tokyo and someone who regularly eats ramen in Japan, I wanted to share an honest review from that perspective. The restaurant had a lively atmosphere, and the service was very friendly and welcoming, which made for an enjoyable experience overall. The gyoza was juicy and very delicious. The pork buns were okay, though the sweet sauce was not quite to my personal taste. Regarding the ramen, there were a few points that stood out. The miso ramen was quite salty for my preference, and the tonkotsu ramen felt a bit lighter in flavor than expected in terms of richness and depth. One thing I personally noticed was that both soups were served on the lukewarm side. I understand this may be adjusted for local preferences, but I think ramen is especially enjoyable when served piping hot, so an option for extra hot broth would be great. The noodles were hot, which was good, but some portions were already clumped together in a dumpling-like shape from the start, which affected the texture. The broth portion also felt a bit small, although I’m not sure if the noodles absorbed it or if that was the intended amount. That said, my husband (American) really enjoyed the tonkotsu ramen, especially the chashu, even though he also noticed the temperature of the soup. It seems like it may appeal well to local tastes in some aspects. Since the restaurant uses a Japanese name and serves Japanese-style ramen, I would personally love to see a bit more refinement to better reflect traditional Japanese ramen, as it is such a highly refined and well-developed cuisine. Overall, this was still one of the better Japanese food experiences I’ve had in Wisconsin, and I would definitely consider coming back. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves in the future.”

“It’s a cute little spot! Definitely was festive—they had Halloween decor up. Our waitress was dope. Super nice and friendly and attentive. Overall, the vibes were good here. The food was fine, but it just didn’t wow us. We got the pork & chive dumplings w/ spicy sauce, pork buns, spicy pulled pork buns, miso carbonara, and tonkotsu ramen. The pork buns were good. We really liked how tender, yet crispy, the pork belly was. The spicy pork buns and dumplings were okay in comparison. The ramen was enjoyable! I would say that this place makes really great meats. The least favorite was the miso carbonara. The chicken was delicious, but my partner and I were indifferent about the sauce. The noodles in the carbonara were a little tough as well. We couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be that way or undercooked. Overall, not a bad stop! To be fair, we’ve eaten at many ramen spots, both fusion and traditional, so the bar has been set high for us personally.”