+ Umami Burger

Long before arriving, I had wanted to try Umami Burger to see if it really did live up to the hype. And following the opening of the most recent location at Fred Segal, sooner or later I would get my way.


Umami takes its cue from the Japanese concept of the fifth taste that we experience (loosely "savouriness"), making a distinction in particular to saltiness by a more meatier, brothier sensation (in the way a mushroom can be). That said, the burgers themselves were pretty heavy on the salt. They were super tasty nonetheless and I'm already keen to go back for more.


I had the Earth burger - a mushroom and edamame patty with a white soy and truffle aioli, caramelised onions and lettuce.


Benj chose the Hatch, which is meant to have 6 types of chillis but none of them were very spicy at all, but again deliciously greasy anyway. Tempura onion rings made a nice companion.

Update 26/06/10: We ended up at Umami again for a well-earnt calorie-laden lunch following our Temescal Canyon Loop hike.


I had the triple pork burger, which was tasty but disappointing to find the three porks combined in a patty.


Whilst Ben's classic Umami burger looked plain but was well tasty for all its simplicity.



Umami Burger @ Fred Segal, cnr of 5th and Broadway, Santa Monica.

+ Main Street

Main St is less tourist-orientated than the Third St Promenade precinct of Santa Monica, but still a nice walkable area (especially from the apartment). There are decent cafes, some boutiques and a whole bunch of council buildings.


Like City Hall.


And the Civic Auditorium.


This lovely art deco mural was rather unfortunately painted over in parts with white paint. What a shame. Also, a large mobile home was inconveniently parked in front of it so I couldn't take a wider shot.


I don't know if this is the real deal from the movie, but the store window it was sitting in suggests it could be. It was kept company by an array of vintage tin toys and novelties.


Main St is also an easy distance to the beach.


By the end of the shops in the drag, I found myself on the border of Venice and Santa Monica, though I didn't venture any further south. If cheap, crappy trinkets and airbrushed artworks of reggae artists are your thing, look no further!


These ladies caught my eye though.