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I first heard of Umami Burger a couple years ago from a coworker. Somehow, the thought of paying $10 for just a hamburger seemed ridiculous, so I passed. Oh silly me… If only that person had told me how delicious that burger would be, I wouldn’t have been so resistant to trying Umami Burger.

Umami is the fifth taste (the other four being sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) that enhances flavors, making food delicious. Umami Burger is named after this Japanese concept. I definitely don’t have a palate refined enough to recognize the umami taste, but I can tell you Umami Burger got it down because I devoured my Truffle Burger ($11) in no time. I was really surprised myself by how I couldn’t stop eating this burger. It looked rather plain when it was brought to me on a bare plate, and I thought an In-n-Out burger looks bigger. Trust me when I tell you that looks are deceiving. The Truffle Burger was plenty filling, as the medium-rare patty was quite thick, probably more so than two In-n-Out patties put together. My friend even commented that I must be enjoying the burger because I wasn’t saying a word. I finally understood Carl’s Jr.’s tagline, “Don’t bother me. I’m eating.” I think Umami Burger should be the one to rightfully use this tagline. The meat patty was also pretty coarse, so there was just a bit of meat crumbles that fell on my plate, which I made sure to pick off before my plate was taken away. The Hatch Burger ($9) is also quite flavorful and offers a mild kick, using a 4-chile spread, but I still prefer the Truffle Burger.

Okay, so for those of you who already know all about Umami Burger, here’s something you may or may not know about: Umami Burger’s cheesy tater tots ($4). These are nothing like the hard, dry tater tots you remember from elementary school. They are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Paired with a jalapeno sour cream-based sauce, the tater tots are a much better accompaniment to the burgers than fries or onion rings. You won’t see the cheesy tater tots on the menu though. You just have to be in the know to order these.

Miscellaneous Notes:

Umami Burger has four locations, and the menu will vary at each one. Each location has exclusive items on the menu. The Truffle Burger and Hatch Burger are available at all of them (as well as the Umami Burger - their signature burger - and SoCal Burger). Be sure to check out happy hour, too. The Hollywood location offers a Smash Burger ($5) at the bar weekdays from 3pm-7pm, which mashes pickles, onions, and possibly other items into the patty before cooking. It’s a little smaller than the entree burgers, but you can’t beat $5 for an umami experience.

Umami Burger
Locations at La Brea, Hollywood (two there), and Santa Monica
Click on the link above to find the address, phone number, and hours of operation for the location near you.

By Pauline (see more of her posts).