Grand Opening Of Umami Japanese In San Marcos’ North City

Umami Japanese is the newest restaurant to open in San Marcos’ North City culinary corridor, which also includes Grit Coffee, Prep Kitchen, Newtopia Cyder and Urge Gastropub.

The Cuisine

Featuring sushi and Japanese cuisine, Umami Japanese is rooted in traditional Asian flavors that come alive with artfully stunning presentation that is a welcome surprise for a casual, neighborhood restaurant serving North City and the surrounding areas’ vast ranging demographic of families, college students and faculty.

The People Behind It

Backing the family-owned restaurant is investor David Sasuga, CEO of Escondido based Fresh Origins Microgreens, a purveyor respected by chefs worldwide for its selection of hundreds of microgreens and edible flowers his family has farmed since 1995.

But the vision and creative direction for Umami Japanese comes from Sasuga’s brother-in-law, co-owner and chef Eric Lee. (Blue Ocean, Ototo). The day-to-day kitchen operations will include Chef Lee behind the sushi bar with Executive Chef James Han managing the kitchen.

Han has made his stateside return after 10 years of experience in Guam and Saipan, most recently as Chef de Cuisine of VIP Services at Imperial Palace Resort in Saipan and Chef de Cuisine at the Hyatt Regency in Guam.

A Peek At The Menu

The vast menu of Japanese and Asian specialties includes appetizers like Chicken Karage and Spicy Tuna Canape, traditional salads including Ika Sansai and Salmon Skin Salad, and unique rolls like the Ninja with spicy tuna, krab, cilantro, jalapenos, sesame seed and fire sauce.