FOOD:
Crab Sushi
I guess it was silly of me to ask if they use imitation or real crab meat, but I didn't want any surprises. The two pieces were piled high with shredded, genuine crustacean meat. Absolutely delish.
Crispy Calamari
The mix of rings and tentacles were coated in a smooth, light, crunchy batter and drizzled with a tasty aioli. Very nice version.
Spicy Tempura Roll
You get the best of three worlds in this one: Sushi, shrimp tempura and spicy ahi pokē! Artfully presented, it was sprinkled with a pebble-like topping which was actually dark-colored bits of tempura batter that not only gave the dish a bold visual appeal, but also provided for a delectable crunch. Recommended.
Gyokotsu Ramen
I'm pretty sure this is a hybrid word as the Japanese character "gyo" translates to "fish" and the word "kotsu" to "pork bones". Voila! A fish/pork-based broth? What the... Yes, puhhhlease! The deep-hued broth was searing hot, slightly rich yet not thick, very bold in flavors and not fishy. Ocean-based toppings such as two types of fresh seaweed, shrimp tempura and nori flakes complimented the dish well. They used thin, non-eggy noodles that were cooked a tad past chewy, something I can forgive as the dashi made up for it. Thankfully they know how to do an excellent medium tamago; an arduous task on this island. Hana hou! Kanpai! Bravo! Highly recommended.
Ramen
The broth was a very subtle tonkotsu base and tan in color (thankfully NOT white like milk which is so unappetizing to me). Sparse drops of black garlic oil gave the slightly creamy broth smoky and garlicky notes here and there but not throughout the dish. The lack of sodium and depth was disheartening, but most disappointing was that it wasn't searing hot which always kills it for me. I'm still on the fence about the noodles which I feel are too thin for ramen. They had an odd texture like buckwheat and felt a bit slimy on the palate. I prefer an eggy, chewy, thicker noodle. Toppings were paper thin slices of chewy pork belly, nori shavings, fresh seaweed, green onions and a whole gooey egg cut in half. Sorry, pass for me.
Spicy Ahi Roll
The fish was very fresh, lathered in a traditional spicy mixture, drizzled with a creamy aioli and sprinkled with crushed tempura and green onions. The spouse liked it but prefers a plain version without all the bells and whistles on top. Me? I'm not a sushi fan but enjoyed a single piece.
Cheeseburge
Maui "mom & pop" eateries really serve up some tasty burgers, no exception here. The simple burger is topped with just American cheese and what tasted like a thousand island-mayo mixture. The patty was homemade, very thick and super juicy. Fries are not included. Highly recommended!
Mentaiko Pasta
This was a nightly special (7.12.18) that really should be added to their regular menu. While I've never had this Japanese-inspired spaghetti dish before, it was extremely delicious. The al dente pasta was coated in a thick sauce of creamy and savory flavors yet wasn't heavy like an alfredo-based dish. There was no shortage of seafood either with lots of tender scallops and crunchy shrimp, along with local alii mushrooms. The herb shiso is used in this dish but I couldn't detect its usual pungency. Highly recommended.
Isabelle
-
April 11, 2021
This restaurant exceeded expectations! Although the menu did not have a lot of options, everything we ordered was great. Especially the truffle fries and baked salmon. The service was moderately quick as well. Currently, it is all indoor dining and plastic sheets hang between each table with only the front doors open. If you are not comfortable sitting with so many people inside, this is something you should consider.
Side note: The bathroom was very small and the floor was sticky.
Janny Huang
-
October 06, 2021
Our waitress (Eepo) deserves 5 stars. She was the only server waiting on 13 tables at one point. She still managed to refill our waters 3 times and was very friendly. (Usually when a restaurant is busy, you get a rushed feeling from your server but Eepo was not that way.)
Our food was good. The ramen was flavorful. Though the broth was a little bit greasy - I would recommend straining it at least one time through a cheesecloth or something to get a slightly cleaner broth. My husband ordered the sashimi platter and we enjoyed everything on there though the salmon didn’t taste as fresh as the other items on the platter. Same with my salmon nigiri - it was just alright. We also ordered the shiso dragon roll, and it was definitely very innovative with the chips on top and had a slight kick towards the end.
Ambiance was ok. It was a quaint little restaurant with COVID precautions in place. However, because they were understaffed, tables were mainly getting cleaned as customers were showing up. At one point we looked around to empty tables but dirty dishes still piled on the tables.
We did get free dessert (ube and vanilla ice cream - it was delicious) and a small little souvenir gift. Overall would still recommend this place.
Parking was scarce but still able to find a spot.
T D
-
February 05, 2022
This place was recommended to me by a bartender at a very famous Maui restaurant. I had to check it out because they serve nabeta. I had only learned about this type of fish on this trip. Many of the locals love this fish and it’s not often on restaurant menus.
I called Umi when they opened, they told me they had 4 small and 2 large nabetas left. They’re first come first serve but I think you can order to go as well.
I got a small nabeta and let me tell you; it is sooooo good!!!
The rice is the same they use for sushi. The fish is fried perfectly and the ginger sauce is amazing. I am in love with this dish.
The staff is also extremely nice. I sat at the sushi bar and they chef was awesome to talk to! Highly recommend this place!!! Try the nabeta
Susan Mattinson
-
February 11, 2020
Nice local place, good food. Sushi was fresh and delicious. Excellent service, decent prices.
Interesting dichotomy: Sushi restaurant, large screen playing Country Western music, BYOB all on Maui!
Parking could be limited. Wheelchair accessible.
Our Address
1951 E Vineyard St #1714, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
Claim Listing: Umi Maui
Please Login or Register an Account to Claim Listing
FOOD: Crab Sushi I guess it was silly of me to ask if they use imitation or real crab meat, but I didn't want any surprises. The two pieces were piled high with shredded, genuine crustacean meat. Absolutely delish. Crispy Calamari The mix of rings and tentacles were coated in a smooth, light, crunchy batter and drizzled with a tasty aioli. Very nice version. Spicy Tempura Roll You get the best of three worlds in this one: Sushi, shrimp tempura and spicy ahi pokē! Artfully presented, it was sprinkled with a pebble-like topping which was actually dark-colored bits of tempura batter that not only gave the dish a bold visual appeal, but also provided for a delectable crunch. Recommended. Gyokotsu Ramen I'm pretty sure this is a hybrid word as the Japanese character "gyo" translates to "fish" and the word "kotsu" to "pork bones". Voila! A fish/pork-based broth? What the... Yes, puhhhlease! The deep-hued broth was searing hot, slightly rich yet not thick, very bold in flavors and not fishy. Ocean-based toppings such as two types of fresh seaweed, shrimp tempura and nori flakes complimented the dish well. They used thin, non-eggy noodles that were cooked a tad past chewy, something I can forgive as the dashi made up for it. Thankfully they know how to do an excellent medium tamago; an arduous task on this island. Hana hou! Kanpai! Bravo! Highly recommended. Ramen The broth was a very subtle tonkotsu base and tan in color (thankfully NOT white like milk which is so unappetizing to me). Sparse drops of black garlic oil gave the slightly creamy broth smoky and garlicky notes here and there but not throughout the dish. The lack of sodium and depth was disheartening, but most disappointing was that it wasn't searing hot which always kills it for me. I'm still on the fence about the noodles which I feel are too thin for ramen. They had an odd texture like buckwheat and felt a bit slimy on the palate. I prefer an eggy, chewy, thicker noodle. Toppings were paper thin slices of chewy pork belly, nori shavings, fresh seaweed, green onions and a whole gooey egg cut in half. Sorry, pass for me. Spicy Ahi Roll The fish was very fresh, lathered in a traditional spicy mixture, drizzled with a creamy aioli and sprinkled with crushed tempura and green onions. The spouse liked it but prefers a plain version without all the bells and whistles on top. Me? I'm not a sushi fan but enjoyed a single piece. Cheeseburge Maui "mom & pop" eateries really serve up some tasty burgers, no exception here. The simple burger is topped with just American cheese and what tasted like a thousand island-mayo mixture. The patty was homemade, very thick and super juicy. Fries are not included. Highly recommended! Mentaiko Pasta This was a nightly special (7.12.18) that really should be added to their regular menu. While I've never had this Japanese-inspired spaghetti dish before, it was extremely delicious. The al dente pasta was coated in a thick sauce of creamy and savory flavors yet wasn't heavy like an alfredo-based dish. There was no shortage of seafood either with lots of tender scallops and crunchy shrimp, along with local alii mushrooms. The herb shiso is used in this dish but I couldn't detect its usual pungency. Highly recommended.
This restaurant exceeded expectations! Although the menu did not have a lot of options, everything we ordered was great. Especially the truffle fries and baked salmon. The service was moderately quick as well. Currently, it is all indoor dining and plastic sheets hang between each table with only the front doors open. If you are not comfortable sitting with so many people inside, this is something you should consider. Side note: The bathroom was very small and the floor was sticky.
Our waitress (Eepo) deserves 5 stars. She was the only server waiting on 13 tables at one point. She still managed to refill our waters 3 times and was very friendly. (Usually when a restaurant is busy, you get a rushed feeling from your server but Eepo was not that way.) Our food was good. The ramen was flavorful. Though the broth was a little bit greasy - I would recommend straining it at least one time through a cheesecloth or something to get a slightly cleaner broth. My husband ordered the sashimi platter and we enjoyed everything on there though the salmon didn’t taste as fresh as the other items on the platter. Same with my salmon nigiri - it was just alright. We also ordered the shiso dragon roll, and it was definitely very innovative with the chips on top and had a slight kick towards the end. Ambiance was ok. It was a quaint little restaurant with COVID precautions in place. However, because they were understaffed, tables were mainly getting cleaned as customers were showing up. At one point we looked around to empty tables but dirty dishes still piled on the tables. We did get free dessert (ube and vanilla ice cream - it was delicious) and a small little souvenir gift. Overall would still recommend this place. Parking was scarce but still able to find a spot.
This place was recommended to me by a bartender at a very famous Maui restaurant. I had to check it out because they serve nabeta. I had only learned about this type of fish on this trip. Many of the locals love this fish and it’s not often on restaurant menus. I called Umi when they opened, they told me they had 4 small and 2 large nabetas left. They’re first come first serve but I think you can order to go as well. I got a small nabeta and let me tell you; it is sooooo good!!! The rice is the same they use for sushi. The fish is fried perfectly and the ginger sauce is amazing. I am in love with this dish. The staff is also extremely nice. I sat at the sushi bar and they chef was awesome to talk to! Highly recommend this place!!! Try the nabeta
Nice local place, good food. Sushi was fresh and delicious. Excellent service, decent prices. Interesting dichotomy: Sushi restaurant, large screen playing Country Western music, BYOB all on Maui! Parking could be limited. Wheelchair accessible.