Umi Sushi Morro Bay: Fresh and Accessible!

Umi Sushi is a local Morro Bay sushi restaurant that opened about six years ago on the Embarcadero. Umi has other locations in Paso Robles and Pacifica. Umi serves a wide variety of Japanese and Japanese-American dishes, such as sushi, sashimi, soups, fried rice, and more. Umi is popular among tourists and locals alike, with a 4.4 on Google Reviews and a positive review from the general public of San Luis Obispo County.

Umi has a lot of things it does well. Firstly, their raw fish or sashimi is always fresh and high-quality. This can be seen in their Chirashi bowl, sushi, and sashimi, which have a variety of raw white fish, scallop, and salmon. The chirashi bowl in particular is incredibly delicious, with the very fresh raw fish and the perfectly seasoned sushi rice. It also comes with tomago, cooked shrimp, seaweed salad, and octopus.

However, their food is certainly less than authentic. Many of their sushi rolls are overwhelmingly Americanized, with heavy sauces, cream cheese, and unusual ingredients that would not be found in traditional sushi. This makes sense since they are catering to an American audience, but it can be a bit unnerving to see the simple and classic flavors and elements of Japanese cuisine reduced to something covered in spicy mayo and eel sauce.

If cooked fish and meats are more your style, they have sizzling plates and bento boxes, which feature only cooked meat and fish. And if you do not want fish and meat at all, there are salads and fried rice that can be made vegetarian.

Outside of entrees, they have dessert and a variety of appetizers. Their desserts are good, but follow the same problem as some of the entrees, being a bit more Americanized and less authentically Japanese and fresh. The appetizers are actually very standout, with a wide variety of raw, cooked, and vegetarian appetizers. 

Price and customer service-wise, Umi’s price range is inexpensive to moderately expensive. I would say it’s affordable for what you are getting. And the customer service is very good, with friendly waiters.

Umi is a good restaurant that is worth a visit, and is especially nice to visit if you are with a group of friends or family, as everyone can find something they like on the menu regardless of their specific dietary preferences.