Umai image

Umai

Restaurant Cafe Korean restaurant

😠 RACIST! Avoid at all costs! I was racially profiled at this store by the security guard. He accused me (a black woman) of stealing when I mistook the entry for an exit. I have been a loyal customer of Umai Oriental Street Food Cafe, regularly buying their bubble tea but NEVER AGAIN! The security gua... People often mention meal, bowl, quality, good, time,


Address

Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5JJ, United Kingdom

Website

m.facebook.com

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (34 reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Thursday: 12 to 7 pm
  • Friday: 12 to 7 pm
  • Saturday: 12 to 7 pm
  • Sunday: 12 to 5 pm
  • Monday: 12 to 7 pm
  • Tuesday: 12 to 7 pm
  • Wednesday: 12 to 7 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: meal (8) bowl (7) quality (6) good (6) time (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Amy S. 4 years ago on Google • 137 reviews
    Lovely little cafe at the back of the oriental mart. Food is delicious and served very quickly. Bubble tea is also very tasty. Service is friendly and efficient. It seems to be set up more for takeaway but there are a few comfy stools facing the window for people wanting to eat in.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 London Tum T. 2 years ago on Google • 83 reviews
    had the lunch set meal - iced lemon tea, pork bun, and a rice bowl all for £8!

  • 5/5 Dale C. 2 years ago on Google • 68 reviews
    I was meaning to give this place a go for sometime, and I finally got round to it. Now, this place will be my go to for grabbing some lunch. I went for the beef bowl with pork dumplings and a bbq pork steam bun, all for £8.50. The quality is very reminiscent of meals I had in Japan in both flavour and quality, which I had plenty of whilst there. The quantity of what you get is very decent, especially when you consider othe places you'd consider going for a bite to eat, probably spend the same, and then leave feeling hungry still. Couldn't recommend this place enough if you need a good bite to eat or have a craving for something outside the norm. I'll be back soon!

  • 5/5 CF 1 year ago on Google • 16 reviews
    One of my favourite places to eat in Nottingham. Exceptional food, amazing bubble teas and all great value for money. Nice little team; happy and attentive, cooking and serving great fresh dishes
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Toni P. 1 year ago on Google • 45 reviews
    I absolutely love visiting this little cafe! The food is so fresh and delicious. I've tried a couple of things on the menu and have never been disappointed. There's a good selection of vegetarian options, so something to please everyone. On my last visit, I wanted a little lunch snack so got the vegtable gyoza and a steamed bun. Both were beautiful, but the steamed bun was beyond words. It was so light and fluffy, and was stuffed with a lovely savoury vegetable filling. I've also tried the Yaki Soba and Soy Butter Mushrooms with rice, both these dishes match restaurant quality food, but at an incredibly low price. This is such a little gem in Nottingham and an absolute must visit!

  • 5/5 James S. 2 years ago on Google
    Food was really nice and freshly cooked. Cant complain, especially at the price. Well worth a visit. They have a small seating area to eat in, or an option to take away.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Tylar S. 6 months ago on Google • 3 reviews
    I’ve been a few times this time was terrible I got the Japanese beef meal it was awful and so was my caramel tea it was not nice. Every time I’ve been before the service was great but this time the girls were being rude and dismissive they made my food wrong and giggled about it afterwards but made my daughters food fine it was a very bizarre situation but I won’t be back again it’s a shame as it was a place I’ve regularly gone with my daughter. Not anymore 👎🏽

  • 2/5 Rozz 1 year ago on Google • 3 reviews
    Ordered a Korean fried chicken rice bowl. Had to leave the chicken after the first bite as the chicken tasted off. Rice was dry almost as if it had been reheated numerous times. The salad in the bowl tasted somewhat fresh which was the only positive really. The staff are friendly, and the packaging used was good quality. I would return to try something different as other options on the menu do sound nice. Can't comment on the drinks as I didn't order one. Overall, the meal was not worth the price paid

  • 5/5 Keira R. 2 years ago on Google
    This places food is really nice I tried the steamed buns and Korean chicken curry today and the price is also quite cheap for the meal deals they have a range of drinks and other foods there's also a shop inside which sells loads of foods from Korea and again it's cheap for what you want to buy I highly recommend this shop

  • 5/5 Ruta W. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing food and drinks, and lovely staff. I had combo bowl with strawberry milk tea 😍

  • 5/5 Tyne J. 3 years ago on Google
    TASTY food, great portion size and wonderful service! My partner LOVES the korean curry bowl and I am obsessed with veg okonomiyaki, char siu baos and the shredded beef bowl takes me back to my trip to Japan it has such a delicious flavour! Thank you Umai!!! 😍

  • 5/5 Callum C. 2 years ago on Google
    Fantastic selection of uncommon but delicious asian street food, paired with a great range of sweet teas. Great service and friendly environment.

  • 2/5 Natasha D. 1 year ago on Google
    I would have given 5 stars a year or so ago but the quality of the food has declined and prices have gone up significantly. Do not expect a quick turnaround, more often than not you have to wait at least ten mins for your meal (considering my order doesn't need to be cooked, just portioned out I find this to be a significant wait time). The meal deal 1 is now £8.50, which isn't cheap enough for a work lunch. The beef gyudon is nowhere near as good as it used to be (you get a massive portion of rice and a stingy portion of meat with barely any sauce now). The last time I went I took my tray to the counter once finished and was told I should have disposed of any waste in the bin before handing it in. I know it's a small thing but it irked me as I was trying to be helpful (there were no signs directing me to clean up my waste) and the staff member had a bin less than 1m away from her behind the counter! She could easily of tipped away the waste herself but made me feel awkward/like I was being a pain. It felt really lazy and pedantic of her to ask me, I was trying to be helpful! I've also seen the owner remove pickled ginger from my meal and place it back in to container after it has touched the meat so I'd have concerns eating here if veggie/vegan. It also felt very stingy tbh! The food is tasty here, but not worth the current prices and the service needs to be worked on! I used to use it regularly for work lunches but the price, portion size and turnaround make it an impractical choice now. Shame!

  • 5/5 Kartikeya W. 1 year ago on Google
    Tried the Chinese buns for the first time. Loved them. :)

  • 1/5 E O. 1 year ago on Google • 2 reviews
    RACIST! Avoid at all costs! I was racially profiled at this store by the security guard. He accused me (a black woman) of stealing when I mistook the entry for an exit. I have been a loyal customer of Umai Oriental Street Food Cafe, regularly buying their bubble tea but NEVER AGAIN! The security guard harassed me and shouted obscenities even though he could see my purchases in my hand. Don't bother spending your money here; it is all overpriced tat anyways! Literally, what could you even steal? NOODLES?! I was honestly shocked. I knew something was going on when he walked past me, staring TWICE while I was waiting for my bubble tea to be ready. I walked in, ordered bubble tea, waited for said tea and left the shop, never looking at any product in any aisle! All employees seem to have misdirected their efforts into being racist instead of providing basic customer service. When I called back asking for the security guards' details for my police report, instead of being met with helpfulness and sympathy about the situation. The phone attendant was whispering to what I can only imagine was the racist security guard. He refused to give any details and instead wanted to collect my details to "pass on". He also tried to intimidate me by saying that he would hear the racist security guards "report" of the incident later. AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE. What a terrible start to black history month! *if you delete this review I will continue to repost it everyone deserves to be warned about racism
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 amy c. 1 year ago on Google • 2 reviews
    What can say about this place… heaven on earth. The succulent popping balls to the creamy custard and to top it off the Mayo they use is out of this world. I’ve never have that blue Crystal from breaking bad but that is what I imagine my meal deal would be like that. Bliss
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 n1n p. 10 months ago on Google • 1 review
    Amazing, good quality food. The staff are so sweet and hard working. I had the Korean fried chicken the other day and it was breathtakingly good. Definitely a 10/10 in my books.


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible car park
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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