Umami Burger may not be a familiar name to us here in Miami, but the California chain has been named "Burger of the Year" by GQ magazine. It is also frequented by celebrities and has even been featured on a Saturday Night Live skit.
Umami's founder and CEO has been looking into expanding the brand into Miami for almost two years now. Short Order reported back in February 2011 that the burger restaurant would be opening a Miami location in the Design District sometime in 2012.
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Today, Umami announced plans to open Umami SoBe at 1080 Alton Road, in the former 8 oz. Burger Bar location. Fleischman is anticipating a warm welcome from Miami.
"Since we opened our first location in Los Angeles, people have been asking us to open in Miami. Miami has a diverse food culture, blending together a lot of different genres, but nothing like us. South Beach is going to love our burgers."
The chain, named after the "fifth taste", grinds their own Wagyu meat in-house daily in addition to producing their own condiments and cheeses. In keeping with the restaurant's philosophy of taking cues from the community, Umami will offer a curated selection of their burgers in addition to an exclusive South Beach burger, which is still in the works.
Umami South Beach might be the first in Miami, but it won't be the last. According to a spokesperson for the burger chain, Umami Restaurant group is looking for additional location in Miami, and ideally would like to have a cluster of three to four locations in Miami.
The Alton Road location happened by chance, by the way. Fleischman was in town for the opening of the SLS Hotel when he spotted the for rent sign outside the vacant restaurant on 10th Street and Alton. The Umami on South Beach will actually open faster than the New York location which was recently announced.
As for that previously reported Design District location? The SoBe spot is the only confirmed location with a signed lease.
Check out the reference to Umami in this SNL skit:
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