"An Unforgettable Experience at UMI, Honolulu

Our evening at UMI in Honolulu was simply outstanding. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by an incredible aroma that immediately heightened our anticipation for the meal. But what followed exceeded all expectations: The host had tailored a special tasting menu just for us, which was not only creative but also perfectly balanced in flavor.

Every single component on the plates was harmoniously arranged – from the freshness of the ingredients to the chef’s masterful combinations. The flavors complemented each other in a way we had rarely experienced before. What impressed us the most was how traditional Japanese and indian elements seamlessly merged with modern, surprising notes.

If you're looking for a culinary highlight in Honolulu where both the food and hospitality are top-notch, UMI is an absolute must-visit!"

Markus Tipotsch

"Where do I even begin? My experience at Umi by Vikram Garg was terrible. I wish I could rate this place zero stars, but unfortunately, I had to give it one because of our “helper” Juliette, who was actually great. However, that’s the only positive part of this night.

To start, the owner's wife came out and said she was our server for the evening. She was nice, but you could tell she was more of a manager than an actual server. In reality, it was Juliette who served us, which was confusing from the get-go. The restaurant seems set up for either a tasting or à la carte menu, which we were fine with. I ordered the caviar (an expensive side), which was the only thing that was actually delicious. The scallops were the other item we tried, and while they weren’t bad, they were off-balance with a high acidity level.

The wait, however, was absolutely ridiculous. After waiting for over an hour and twenty minutes for our second course, we asked for our tab. Another 15 minutes passed before the owner’s wife came to apologize.

She didn’t offer to take care of the tab, cover our drinks, or even offer a reasonable solution. Instead, she promised to buy us dinner the next time we visited (which, given that we’re not locals in Hawaii, was laughable). The least she could have done was take care of our meal or drinks that evening, but no—just empty promises. She also mentioned they have another 14-year lease on the business and that, hopefully, next time we visit, they can afford to have more help. Very interesting thing to say to a customer, and it’s probably the reason they didn’t take care of the tab.

By the time we gave up and decided to leave, we were still hungry. We had already spent $240 and were starving, so we ended up going to another restaurant. For our 10-year anniversary, this was a complete disaster. Oh, and the abalone was so overcooked it was inedible. I’ve had abalone before, and this was nowhere near the quality I expected.

Do yourself a favor and skip this place. The experience was terrible, and I won’t be back. Not worth it, especially for the price."

Bre

"We went to UMI as apart of our included breakfast at staying at Halepuna. Amazed is an under statement! The breakfast selections is a course meal with options. It’s so flavorful and amazing! If you like hot sauce request their secret hot sauce it’s to dieeee for! The servers were amazing - although you don’t have to tip we are from the east coast and know what it’s like so we left something for them each time because we just had such an awesome experience! Attentive and kind ! The views in the morning are relaxing and calming! Highly reccomend - we did not go for dinner so this is just a breakfast which starts @ 7 am review but folks in the hotel did say it’s so good! Keep in mind it is pricey!"

Amber Norton