Comforting ramen
The ramen is praised for hot, balanced broth, springy noodles, tender meat and a soft-boiled egg.
Umami
Al Barsha
Umami is a fast Japanese kitchen in Al Barsha, with a menu built around quick, casual meals. Reviews point to the ramen—especially the Chili Garlic Ramen—and Japanese comfort dishes such as chicken katsu, making it a practical Mall of the Emirates food-court stop when you want flavour without a long sit-down meal.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
509 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Helpful service
Staff have helped diners choose suitable meals, including one customer managing a chicken allergy.
Quick preparation
One customer received freshly cooked Chili Garlic Ramen even when ordering shortly before closing.
Strong salmon
Salmon dishes, including the salmon rice bowl, receive specific praise for freshness, flavour and preparation.
Crisp katsu
The chicken katsu was described as crisp outside, juicy inside and finished with a savoury sauce.
Fair pricing
Customers describe the food prices as reasonable for the quality and suitable for a quick Japanese meal.
What to Eat at Umami How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Umami, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Umami, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
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Ramen Net +5
“I’m at Mall of Emirates and my 7 year old decided to try Umami’s ramen for the first time. And she loved it so much.”
Positive 6Negative 1
Review excerpts
“I’m at Mall of Emirates and my 7 year old decided to try Umami’s ramen for the first time. And she loved it so much.”November 2025
“Tried this Japanese place recently, and it was awesome! The katsu and ramen were so good, and the prices didn’t break the bank. Definitely going back for more!”November 2024
-
Beef teriyaki Net +1
“Salama egyptian and norwin from phylippino is good in service and , i eat beef teriyaki , very tasty but ask them to cook beef more .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Salama egyptian and norwin from phylippino is good in service and , i eat beef teriyaki , very tasty but ask them to cook beef more .”December 2025
-
Chicken gyoza Net +1
“The chicken gyoza were pan-fried just right, with a golden base and soft, flavorful filling.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken gyoza were pan-fried just right, with a golden base and soft, flavorful filling.”March 2026
-
Chicken katsu Net +1
“The chicken katsu was wonderfully crisp on the outside while remaining juicy inside, finished with a rich savory sauce that complemented it perfectly.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken katsu was wonderfully crisp on the outside while remaining juicy inside, finished with a rich savory sauce that complemented it perfectly.”March 2026
-
Chili garlic ramen mixed of chicken and beef Net +1
“I love Chili Garlic Ramen Mixed of Chicken and Beef. Ive ordered before closing time, and yet I still got a freshly cooked and perfect taste!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love Chili Garlic Ramen Mixed of Chicken and Beef. Ive ordered before closing time, and yet I still got a freshly cooked and perfect taste!”July 2025
-
Grilled salmon bento Net +1
“I have ordered Grilled salmon bento in Umami MOE. The food was great and the same as shown on the menu. The price waa affordable for the menu set as it contains various japanese delicacies such as maki, shrimp and veg tempura, and salad. The grilled salmon was cooked well, tempura was also crunchy and tasty, maki was fine but the wasabi and veg salad a little dry. Overall the food was great for the price.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I have ordered Grilled salmon bento in Umami MOE. The food was great and the same as shown on the menu. The price waa affordable for the menu set as it contains various japanese delicacies such as maki, shrimp and veg tempura, and salad. The grilled salmon was cooked well, tempura was also crunchy and tasty, maki was fine but the wasabi and veg salad a little dry. Overall the food was great for the price.”May 2022
-
Homemade limonade Net +1
“Nice Japanese food with various options in the mall of the emirates :) try also their homemade limonade !”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Nice Japanese food with various options in the mall of the emirates :) try also their homemade limonade !”April 2024
-
Miso soup Net +1
“Miso soup is super tasty and the perfect quick meal—light, comforting, and ready in no time! You can find it at Umami restaurant in Mall of the Emirates.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Miso soup is super tasty and the perfect quick meal—light, comforting, and ready in no time! You can find it at Umami restaurant in Mall of the Emirates.”May 2025
-
Salmon rice bowl Net +1
“I especially enjoyed Salmon rice bowl which stood out for its taste and authenticity.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I especially enjoyed Salmon rice bowl which stood out for its taste and authenticity.”August 2025
-
Sushi Net +1
“The sushi 🍱 and chicken gyoka something were just the best.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sushi 🍱 and chicken gyoka something were just the best.”April 2025
Honorable mentions (1)
-
Chicken garlic ramen Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Chicken Garlic Ramen was ok.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 1
-
Boba drink with 7up Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The Boba drink with 7up was just ok.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
-
Beef bento Net −1
“My food is beef bento, but the beef is not that tender. The sauce they have for tempura is not for my taste. Maybe it is for others but absolutely not mine. Even the sushi sauce tastes different. The rice is not suitable i guess for bento. Or maybe because it is wet (in a sense that they put sauce in the rice) thats why it is not sticky.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“My food is beef bento, but the beef is not that tender. The sauce they have for tempura is not for my taste. Maybe it is for others but absolutely not mine. Even the sushi sauce tastes different. The rice is not suitable i guess for bento. Or maybe because it is wet (in a sense that they put sauce in the rice) thats why it is not sticky.”August 2020
-
Chicken katsu don Net −1
“Ordered Chicken Katsu Don. Chicken was crispy, rice were bland. Overall, it was below average, dry, almost no taste. Not recommended.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered Chicken Katsu Don. Chicken was crispy, rice were bland. Overall, it was below average, dry, almost no taste. Not recommended.”June 2024
-
Chili garlic ramen Net −1
“You have to imagine that a restaurant which is telling japanese is selling chili garlic ramen and they don’t have fresh chili! After i asked for they only put an oily paste like chili oil. The whole food was oily and not eatable anymore. They don’t know about health or anything. This is the destruction of japanese amazing cuisine.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“You have to imagine that a restaurant which is telling japanese is selling chili garlic ramen and they don’t have fresh chili! After i asked for they only put an oily paste like chili oil. The whole food was oily and not eatable anymore. They don’t know about health or anything. This is the destruction of japanese amazing cuisine.”June 2024
-
Classic poke bawl Net −1
“It was a disappointing experience. I ordered a classic poke bawl and it doesn't have all the ingredients it was supposed to have, it's a bowl with tuna and too much quinoa. The rest of the ingredients are minimal, too insignificant.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“It was a disappointing experience. I ordered a classic poke bawl and it doesn't have all the ingredients it was supposed to have, it's a bowl with tuna and too much quinoa. The rest of the ingredients are minimal, too insignificant.”September 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Check opening. If visiting early, confirm the counter is operating first; one 10:30am arrival found no cashier ready.
Confirm combos. Ask whether your preferred ramen is available solo before ordering, as a customer was offered only a 40 AED meal.
Mention allergies. Tell the counter about allergies before choosing; a staff member helped one diner select a suitable meal.
Request doneness. If ordering beef teriyaki, ask for the beef to be cooked more if you prefer it less rare or firmer.
Check toppings. For Chili Garlic Ramen, clarify the chilli option if fresh chilli matters to you; one review found an oily paste instead.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Mall of the Emirates - Food Court Level 1
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Opening confusion
A customer arriving at 10:30am found the counter unready and could not get a response from the kitchen.
Sushi inconsistency
Sushi quality and menu matching have disappointed some customers, including a set that differed from its photo.
Combo restriction
Some diners report being unable to order ramen or soup à la carte and being directed to a combo instead.
Broth variation
One customer found the shoyu dashi ramen broth had a strong fish smell and could not finish it.
Uneven sides
The Chicken Katsu Don received criticism for bland rice and a dry overall result.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
40 aed
Chili Garlic Ramen meal
“I want to order alacart of chili garlic ramen but the staff kadijeliu and other lady said its not available for solo order only the meal of 40 aed which is i dont like coz i want to get it solo”Google review · June 2024
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Umami is a fast Japanese kitchen in Al Barsha, with reviews largely referring to its Mall of the Emirates food-court branch. It suits a quick, casual meal rather than a formal Japanese dining experience. Ramen is the strongest recurring choice: the Chili Garlic Ramen is a favourite, while one detailed review praised a steaming bowl with balanced broth, springy noodles, tender meat and a soft-boiled egg.
Other useful orders include chicken katsu, grilled salmon bento, salmon rice bowl and chicken gyoza. The katsu has been praised for staying juicy beneath a crisp coating, and salmon dishes are repeatedly described as fresh and well prepared. Bento sets can be appealing for variety, with one review mentioning salmon, maki, shrimp and vegetable tempura at an affordable price.
Staff are often described as polite and helpful, including when guiding a customer with a chicken allergy or recommending ramen. There are a few things to check before paying. An early-morning customer found the counter unready at 10:30am, while several reviews mention restrictions on ordering some ramen dishes solo.
Sushi feedback is mixed, and one shoyu dashi bowl had an unpleasant fish smell. If you want chilli rather than just chilli oil, ask what is available.