Umami Burger

Very poor service, food was mediocre, got our order wrong, gave us a thing of free french fries that’s why I gave them a second star

This was my first visit to Umami Burger, and it was a genuinely good experience. It was my birthday, and we ducked I about 2 hours before the Giants game. The place was busy, but not crowded. We ordered the truffle fries and onion rings, which both came quickly and were nice and hot I arrival. The fries were delicious, and we had to remind the kids to slow down a bit as their plates would also have fries. The onion rings were above average, but nothing extraordinary. I ordered the Hatch Burger, and was really happy with the juiciness and flavors. The meat was quality, with a great consistency and flavor. The hatch was well made with a subtle, minimal spiciness that never overwhelmed the other flavors. My wife had the half beef, half mushroom burger, and the bite I had was great. The clovers of the beef and mushrooms blended well, and the other ingredients all got a turn to make their statement. The children’s meals were appropriately sized, and well cooked.
Service was good, and about as attentive as Id expect give the number of occupied tables.

Finally taking the time to write a review for the place.
I came here with a friend since we both wanted to check out the umami burger hype.
Ambiance: The place had a really open and clean design which we liked. It’s near the ballpark and other soma shops so it had a modern design. We were seated inside since it wasn’t too packed and got a huge table.
Service: The servers were really attentive from the moment from when we walked in to when we left. It was our first time here so our server gave us recommendations of what their favorite burger/​fries were. We only actually ordered two fries but I think when we were ordering the server got confused so when we got our food we actually had 3 orders of fries. We told them that we only ordered two and they said it was their bad so they gave us our 3^rd one for free which they didn’t have to.
Food:
— Umami Burger: I liked how they had a parmesan frico on the burger. I thought the flavors went really well together but I think that the roasted tomato was a little overpowering especially with the ketchup on it as well.
— Truffle Burger: My fave! SO GOOD. Might be a truffle overload for some though.
— Truffle Fries: I was always a fan of truffle essence, etc so I was happy that they didn’t skimp out on the truffle sauce and actually covered all of the fries.
— Sweet potato fries: Can’t really go wrong with them!
— Maple bacon fries: MMM bacon. Definitely worth a try if you’re not too full. Wouldn’t be my go to fries since I liked the other two more but it was still yummy.
Place definitely met my expectations.

After three disappointing experiences in a row, and renewed sticker shock after what seems to be an increase in prices, I’m shaving off another star — down to 2.
I live directly above Umami Burger in the Beacon, so I (used to) eat here frequently. It’s consistently a disappointment. And every time, I’m shocked at how expensive it can be — $ 25 for a burger and fries.
What’s more, I’ve ordered food several times on Order Ahead, and frequently they mess up the order. Just this past Monday (May 30), I ordered burgers for 4 people during the Warriors game. When I ran downstairs to pick up the food they told me: «We received your order, but meant to cancel it.» It turns out they hadn’t even started my food and didn’t think they should call to alert me. I had to go back home to the party without food to a group of hungry friends — and I missed 10 minutes of Game 7. When I returned 30 minutes later to pick up the food, it was just bad — all the fries were soggy, and the burgers were cold.
I do like the truffle fries when they are hot and fresh — but less than half the time I order them are they fresh. Most of the time, the fries are warm and soggy.
I also like the Ahi Tuna Burger with a seared ahi patty, daikon sprouts, crushed avocado, gingered carrots, wasabi flake, and wasabi tartar. But the bun is too doughy and think, and it’s really not worth the price. Of the actual burgers, the K-​BBQ is probably my favorite — gochujang glaze, caramelized kimchi, sesame aioli, Korean ketchup, with scallion-​cilantro salad.

Don’t get me wrong, the service was on point and the burger was excellent but the prices are not for me. Burger was $ 14, side of sweet potatoes fries $ 5 and if I wanted a salad it would have been another $ 5 and a drink $ 3. The burger and service were good but not good enough for almost $ 30 for a burger. I will not be coming back.

Although the service was okay here, I didn’t find the burger THAT revolutionizing. The space is pretty big and open. At the night I ate there, there was a graduation that just finished nearby. So understandably, service was a little slow.
I got the umami burger just to see try the signature dish. In my mind, umami is the concept of freshness and savoriness. I expected something super meaty and fresh but let me be honest and say that Umami ketchup is basically… pasta sauce. I was really disappointed by the burger even though the buns were great. Bottom line is I will probably not come back here again… sorry!

Cody M. has been our waiter the past two times and he is our favorite. Umami is the perfect place to watch the game and have a decent burger in SF. The sweet potato fries are a must. Onion rings are pretty good too. BF likes the Coney Island root beer. Umami has a great drink selection. Thanks Umami!

Review 900 is finally here, and it’s fitting that it’s a Umami location. I used to say that Umami’s made the best burgers in the world. While I now think that title goes to Moo Creamery in Bakersfield, Umami’s is no slouch.
This location is right across for AT&T park, the home of the SF Giants. So if you’re going to watch a game and want burgers, get your booty over here. This location is probably their largest location in the bay, which feels odd as I’m used to Umami’s being a smaller establishment. Hmm.
Burgers are still amazing, but service was pretty bad this time around. The restaurant was pretty empty and I had to get up to serve myself my own water and ketchup. Didn’t make much sense why the service was slow. Still, the food made up for it. Umami’s is probably close to being the best burger in SF though. There was a BBQ place that had a mighty fine burger as well, but I need to try it again to see if holds the SF burger crown. Still, no matter how you look at it, the burger here is mighty fine.

What a great place to hang out before heading to the Giant’s Game! The location is really convenient and they also offer a nice selection of beer. Who can complain?
I ordered the Truffle Burger with Shiitake Mushrooms and it was absolutely amazing. The cheese on the burger was melted to perfection and the bun was just so soft and heavenly. Don’t forget to add the Shiitake Mushrooms because it will make your burger taste 100% better! I devoured my burger within minutes and wish I can eat another one right now!
They also have an impressive beer selection including Allagash White on Tap, which is my absolute favorite! I recommend coming here if you’re looking for a place to hang out and eat good food before the Giant’s Game. It’s literally across the street and in a great location!

Came here during happy hour and was able to get seated rather quickly. However, it took a while to get my order taken as I sat by the bar area. Ordered the truffle fries (good price during happy hour!) as well as the Manly Burger. Food tasted great and it came out rather quickly. It was just the service that lagged in the beginning and even at the end to get my check. But other than that, it was good

Came here before the Giants game, and was early enough where there was no wait. Service, like many have said before, seems a tad slow even in an empty restaurant. I had to ask a couple of times to get water, although they did refill my glass on the way out
Food came out at a reasonable pace. Since I’ve never been here, I ordered their Umami Burger with a half order of thin fries, to see what the big fuss and hype is all about. The burger was quite juicy and tender, it felt as if it almost melted in my mouth (along with the grease that came with it). It would be hard to say for me that it was the best burger I’ve ever had, but it was pretty good and up there at the top of the list. It was a tad different, but very enjoyable.
The problem comes with the price. The whole bill for burger, half order of fries, a water, which is free, tax and tips was $ 19.75, which is quite steep for a burger. The restaurant doesn’t have the ambiance of a more upscale place, so I think the price is just a tad high for what it gives you. Being from the Napa Valley, I’m used to being overcharged and know it when it’s happening, this does seem, price wise, a tad high.
There are many placesto eat around the park and I’m going to try different ones over the years and see what’s the best. First time wasn’t bad.

Meh… not great but not terrible. Not worth the price you pay. Close to AT&T Park so it’s convenient if you want to grab some grub before a Giants game. Kind of strange that there wasn’t a lot of people there when there was a game that night.
The service was good but the food just didn’t WOW me. I really don’t like that the burgers arn’t served with choice of fries or a salad or something. You have to pay extra for fries. Just felt like this place is trying to be «trendy» and it’s just not working in their favor.

In a city with tons of great burger options, Umami might not seem like an obvious choice but, I gotta tell ya, I like this burger a lot! There are a couple locations in the city (SOMA, Cow Hollow) and they are both nicely consistent. Point being, you’re going to get the same experience and burger at each location.
Yesterday, I opted for the Umami Burger. It’s has: a great patty of beef, parmesan frico, shiitake mushroom, roasted tomato, caramelized onions, and Umami ketchup. Not gonna lie, it’s a super juicy burger and the one I order most frequently. Best part is the bun, it’s amazing. It’s also a bit on the smaller side, but, I’m cool with that. I also ordered some sweet potato fries (forgot to take a picture) and was rather disappointed because they had so much brown sugar on them. I always forget they do that here and need to remember to opt out of the sugar next time. It’s unnecessary.
All in all, it’s a good quick stop. It’s not a mind bending burger but, it totally gets the job done and is different than your standard American burger. So for that, I applaud you Umami.

The umami burger hype has died down over the years. When it was brand new on the scene (location on union st) it was hard to get in. I’m not sure if it’s just this location but I didn’t think it was as good as the original. It could be possible that after the hype died so did the flavor. Today I got a truffle burger and some fries. The truffle burger was under flavored, the side salad was way over powered and drenched in dresing.
The one good things is that they have great beer to pair with the burgers.

I felt like the only person on Earth who hadn’t tried Umami Burger so when it was suggested this past weekend, I was all for it. In theory, any place that has fries and burgers is right up my alley but in practice, that’s not always the case. Everything about Umami Burger sounds great on paper but there was something that left me wanting more.
Overall, the menu is very thoughtful and complimentary but there was just something about the combination of flavors that didn’t sit well with me. I ordered the Cali burger, a half order of sweet potato fries, and a pale ale. I was really excited about the Cali burger, which comes with roasted tomatoes, carmelized onions, Cali cheese, and their house spread. I liked all of the toppings but together something was just off. The sweet potato fries were good though, although don’t know how you could mess those up. I also tried the truffle fries and those were amazing — definitely a must-​try.
Service was easily 5 STARS — our server was kind, explained the menu, and he gave tons of recommendations. Thanks for checking about my food allergies!
I don’t want to completely write off Umami Burger and definitely want to try out some of their other burgers, but since it was so expensive per person ($ 25 for a burger, fries, and drink), I don’t know if I will anytime soon.

Legitimately satisfying burgers — I enjoy stopping by Umami Burger before a Giants game or for a relaxing lunch when work allows.
I enjoy the namesake Umami Burger with the parmesan tuile, shitake mushrooms, and umami ketchup for the flavor combinations and juicy patty but I thoroughly enjoy the straightforward Throwback Burger. It’s a slight twist on the classic double cheeseburger with aforementioned umami ketchup, miso mustard, and white cheddar. It’s very satisfying to have that familiar cheddar and moist beef patty combination with a slight kick from the condiments. Didn’t care too much for the truffle fries but enjoyed the unadulterated thin fries and sweet potato fries. Wash all this down with really great beers on tap including many Californian craft brews. They also have a happy hour which makes it a nice stop before heading over to AT&T park.
Service can be a little slow as they seem a little understaffed but they try to get to you as quickly as they can and explain the menu and specials. The manager in particular made extra effort to ensure folks were happy with their food and drinks. Can’t always spare the time for lunch, but happy to pop by here when I can.

This place had a ridiculous wait time and bad customer service. After looking around for a different place to eat, we decided to bounce.
Found a different restaurant where we took our business somewhere else.

Before ever trying Umami Burger, I was just as excited to try their «secret» menu of sides as I was their burgers. Truffle Fries? Cheesy Tater Tots? Sold. More importantly, whether it be the burgers or the sides, nothing ever left me feeling all that disappointed by the end of my meal. This time? It was almost like eating at an entirely different place!
Compared to the Marina location (which I’ve been to several times now), this Umami Burger is quite a bit larger, with a wealth of seating inside to go along with their tables out front. The menu also seems slightly more extensive now, although that seems to be true of all of their locations. The bulk of their offerings appear largely the same, but it looks like a few burgers and sides having been shuttled in and out (e.g. the previously «secret» truffle fries are now listed).
– MAPLE BACON FRIES — Sweet Potato Fries, Maple-​Braised Bacon Lardons, and Rosemary Aleppo Salt topped with Chives…$ 6
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Pretty unique and done fairly well, as the fries were crispy and not overdressed. After a while though, the combined sweetness of the fries and maple got to be a bit much. The lardons’ saltiness helped balance it out, but their fattiness and the glaze made for an unusual texture.
– TEMPURA ONION RINGS — Thick Cut and Malt Battered…$ 4.50
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Quite simply, this just wasn’t good. Not only was it ridiculously bland (it literally tasted like nothing), but the texture was off-​putting — mealy, soft batter coating soggy onions. It’s not like they can’t be good either; I’ve had tempura battered onions before that were great. These? Pass.
– SUNNY SIDE BURGER — Parmesan Frico, Fried Egg, Truffle Thyme Compound Butter, Truffle Arugula, Truffled Aioli…$ 14
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The Truffle Burger has long been one of my go-​to picks, but no more. Not only is it just as «truffled» (yet not overly so), but this one also has actual condiments (and a fried egg!). Also, it’s nice that the patties are still well seasoned and juicy and that the buns are as soft as ever.
While it sucks that the burgers are still rather petite in size and served a la carte, it’s comforting that they’re as good as the ones I’ve tried in the past (unlike the sides). In fact, it’s the only thing that saved Umami Burger from getting less then three stars. Plus points for nary a wait on a (non-​Giants game) Thursday, as well as the relatively easy parking compared to Union St., but it’s hard to get any more excited than that given the sides and relatively lax service.

The BFF and I decided to eat here for dinner because it was close by to where one of my other friend lives (he lives right across from AT&T Park). The interior of the place is really nice… a little bit on the fancy side to my surprised but I liked it :) I thought it was a bit weird that it took us a while to be seated even though there were like a bajillion seats everywhere… whatever.
Service here was alright. I just didn’t like how we had to ask for our water’s to be refilled and that it took us a while to get our order in when it wasn’t busy at all during the time we went (around 5pm on a Saturday).
We both ended up getting the Manly Burger $ 12 (Medium Rare) and sharing a side of their Maple Bacon Fries $ 6 (damn…sounds pretty good yeah?). Both the burger and the fries were good, but I probably wouldn’t say it’s worth the price. For about $ 12, you get a really small burger that isn’t packed with as much stuff but it was able to satisfy my stomach for the night. The Manly Burger consisted of decent pieces of bacon though and a tasty toasted bun! :P Our Maple Bacon Fries were pretty good but I didn’t like how most of my taste buds just tasted the maple syrup rather than any bacon :’(Though I did like how they used sweet potato fries for it.
We both devoured our burgers but didn’t end up finishing our fries cause we thought it was too much.
Sorry to say that I probably won’t be coming back to this place just cause it’s really expensive for what you get. I think the only time I’d come back is if one of my friends wants to try this place: P I think I’d rather spend my money on making my own burger at the Counter.
Try this place if your curious, but it’s not worth your money.

I haven’t had Umami Burger since it was only in LA over 5 years ago, but I’ve noticed that it’s blown up and made it’s way to many other cities all the way to NYC.
I remember having the KBBQ BURGER, which was seasonal at the time, and loving it. Seeing it at this location’s menu, I was so excited! However, I think the quality of Umami has really gone down ever since they have expanded. The bun was way too thick and doughy, masking a lot of the tastes that should have been more prominent — like the kimchi and Korean beef marinade on the patty. The kimchi itself was not pickled or cooked enough, so it was really sour and did not have that usual savory taste once it is cooked. The patty did not even have Asian flavors, which really disappointed me. Overall, this burger really wasn’t satisfying.
Their fries are definitely good. They’re thin and perfectly crispy. They also are presented with so many sauces, many of which you will probably not eat.
+ SERVICE
The staff here is great. They kept checking on us to see how we liked it, and made sure we were well taken care of. There was even a man falling asleep in a booth (probably because he was drunk) and the waiters were trying to make sure he was alright.
I’m sure this is a great spot for groups to gather before a game at the AT&T Park with some beers, though.