UMI Japanese Restaurant

First time here for our anniversary. Very nice atmosphere. Sushi was clean, fresh, and delicious. Miso soup and edamame were also very good. We were gifted two roses, and the service was perfect.

This restaurant is absolutely amazing, I think the best in Hickory, NC. They have only four tables, and reservations are required for this hidden gem, but if you love food and are in Hickory, they are not to be missed.

We have been to many many sushi restaurants in California and Phoenix and this is THE BEST!!! Great sushi! Big, thick slices of fresh yellowtail!Trempura was light and crisp - the best I have ever had ! Warm atmosphere, attentive service, basically an all round wonderful experience!

This place is absolutely amazing. All our plates were incredible, starting with the salad which was very tasty, delicious miso soup, perfect tuna tataki, sashimi was really really fresh, presentation and flavor of our sushi was phenomenal. The music and atmosphere are amazing. We thought we could not find a good Japanese restaurant in Hickory, well this is one of the best we have ever had and very authentic. We highly recommend it. It is a gem 💎

The BEST authentic Japanese food in North Carolina. Make a reservation and brace your taste buds for incredibly delicious nigiri & unique rolls. Best salad dressing and miso soup I have ever tasted. Small, tranquil and comfortable setting. The service is beyond anything you can imagine. We have celebrated every birthday, anniversary and special occasion here since 2009. Only tell people you love about Umi!

My family took me here for my 69th birthday. I always like trying new places and this one did not disappoint. I had the tempura appetizer and also tried the snow crab and cucumber salad, both were delicious! We shared 2 bento boxes and a rainbow roll, also delicious! Our grandson, who is nine, said it was the best sushi he ever had. The owners had a vase of 2 roses on our table, just for me! We will be back!

This place has a very special vibe. It is quiet, intimate, and peaceful. The food is outstanding and the one and only waitress is lovely. We come about once a month, and reservations are a must. Seating is extremely limited. I am a native Californian and a big foodie. This place is amazing.

Umi Japanese restaurant is by far the best Japanese restaurant I have ever visited outside of Japan!
The sushi is out of this world!
The atmosphere is very intimate and inviting!
Service is outstanding!
I cannot say enough about the quality of the food and service!
This is a must go to restaurant!

Great place for sushi! Small unassuming place, but highly recommend it. Service was exceptional! I would definitely recommend calling for reservations, the place is limited in seating. Was our grandson's birthday, and they brought out a balloon with roses

We have been coming here for years, and have enjoyed every visit immensely! If you are in the area, I could not recommend UMI enough. Everything is amazing, we particularly love getting the Bento boxes so that we can have a little bit of everything. You’ll feel very welcome here! I’d recommend making reservations, because they don’t always have an open table.

Very intimate and cozy. The waitress was very kind and patient. I came here with a friend and the food was very delicious and nicely priced. I got the unagi nigiri, the amaebi, and the katsu curry. My friend got the miso soup and the katsu dinner. We enjoyed the salad that came with the meal and the water was very refreshing and nicely filtered.

Me and my family love visiting this hidden gem of a japanese restaurant, this place is as close as your going to get for real authentic Japanese food. The people who run it are very polite and deliver outstanding service. The food is delicious, we went there last Saturday night, I got the bento (box) meal with eel and salmon plus squid salad, it was terrific. This place is probably not for someone who usually is a (steak and potato only) kind of person because the menu can be intimidating for some people. If you love sushi and authentic Japanese food plus enjoy being in a quiet dining environment, this is the place for you! Be sure to call ahead at least a week in advance for reservations, seating is very limited!

Tiny intimate restaurant. Literally only has 4 tables. Only run by the husband and wife who are the cook and waitress. Most authentic Japanese food and sushi you’ll find. Amazing flavors. This is the only place I’ll order sashimi from bc it’s fresh fish that’s buttery and tender. Not rubber like most places you get raw fish from. The eel is so flakey and juicy. Rice is done right! Rice is so easily under appreciated in America. Each grain is bursting with satisfaction. Definitely try the dragon and spider roll. Really appreciated the art on the wall and the small descriptions of the master pieces that was located in the menus.

Umi is the place to go for authentic Japanese food in our area!

Pros: The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy and welcoming. Umi is a great place for a dinner date or to take a small dinner party. The service is outstanding. The food is both delicious and beautifully presented. Prices are amazingly reasonable for the quality and the freshness of the food.

If you plan to visit Umi definitely make a reservation because seating is very limited and you don't want to be turned away. I am looking forward to dining there again soon!

Cons - None

We had delicious food here the other night, it was amazing, you can feel the omotenashi, great service! I enjoyed bringing my family and friends there to eat!

This was honestly hands down, in 38 years of life, the best sushi and experience at a Japanese restaurant I have ever had. Definitely recommend. But make a reservation! I got lucky and happened to pop in on an evening they had an open table, but I will definitely be making a reservation myself and be back again! ☺

My wife and I come here every year for our anniversary. We love it! I think they have live eels in the back bc the dragon rolls are to die for.
Tonight we also had a spider roll, my wife got a bento box with salmon, tempura shrimp with veggies, grilled eel on top of rice. And i got tonkatsu like always. With a bottle of sake of course.
The price is good considering little tokyo is brought to us. This place is small and quiet. The feel is relaxing and intimate.
Fyi, I eat rice almost everyday and their rice is so good.

Love this place! We go for birthday celebrations every year and enjoy it immensely. I always get the Yaki Niku dinner and edamame appetizer. The couple who own and run it are so sweet and the food is authentic Japanese cuisine. Best place around for the real deal!

Love this place was the best sushi that we had in a long time. Was a great experience for my husband’s birthday dinner we will definitely be back!

We didn’t get to eat there because our group was big but I hear the food is amazing. You have to make reservations. But the server was so nice she came outside and recommended another restaurant to us. She went over and beyond! We will definitely visit again.