Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar

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 po

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 o

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.

Umami is such a vibe in the winter. We grabbed a table inside the old house and it was actually chill enough to have a real conversation without shouting, which I appreciated. I ended up going for two of the specials—the nachos and the carbonara—and both were killer. It’s definitely not your standard ramen shop fare; the flavors were super unique and unlike anything I’ve had in Madison. The staff were great—really friendly and didn't make us feel rushed. I also tried an imported beer I’d never seen before that hit the spot. For the price, the portions were solid. I didn't feel like I was getting overcharged for "fancy" ramen; it just felt like a fair deal for a really good, creative meal. Definitely worth a stop if you’re on Willy Street.

I have now eaten here 3 times and appreciated the food every time. What stands out beyond very tasty food is their attention to detail and service. We ordered a gluten free entree and added mushrooms (marinated so not gluten free) - they labeled the dish identifying what was gluten free and what wasn’t and just in case packaged the mushrooms separately. I called multiple times with questions and they were always kind, patient, and provided genuine recommendations and insights. It is a pet peeve of mine when restaurants/servers don’t feel comfortable providing an opinion. I would highly recommend. Also, my two children tried three different items and provided their approval as well (not a typical experience as of late). Addendum 7/10/2025 I ate here with friends and tried the Dan Dan