i saw umami burger’s (u-mini) location in westwood yesterday so when i went looking for a lunch spot today, i didn’t have to look far. i ordered the ALT burger because i didn’t want cheese. i didn’t want grilled onions either but it’s not that kind of burger place so i played by the rules.

the place has good seating and a small menu and the burgers come out tattooed with the umami burger logo (nice touch), but my burger was very (very) raw on the inside. i tested it, the meat was warm…now what? i really don’t mind undercooked meat – depends on how i feel about the establishment. i mean, c’mon, i eat raw meat at sunnin. sunnin!!!

i took the burger inside and let them know it was cooked irregularly. they offered me another one but i turned them down. i said i’d eat it but thought they should know because many people won’t eat it looking like that.

i returned outside with my burger, already satisfied that i would test my iron stomach and my luck. i didn’t want a second burger – i would puke from too much food. the cashier came to my table offering me another burger – again. or a shake. i turned down the burger – again (!) citing the same argument i just outlined above. i deliberated about the shake and ultimately accepted, choosing the chocolate over the salted caramel.

i now am carefully monitoring my stomach and slowly sipping my shake which tastes like a mix of the two flavors. oh, umami, you have been open for 5 weeks and you need to iron out quite a few kinks…