Umami Burger lands in NYC

This West Coast chain maximizes glutamates in its food.

We tried the two burgers with maximum umami impact: Original and Truffle Burger. I can't remember the last time I had something this well balanced and flavorful, cooked and assembled with so much care -- not unless I was in a place with at least three times the average bill of this burger joint.

The Smushed Potatoes were good, helped by an aioli that was enhanced with what I think was a mushroom extract (many mushroom varietals are packed with glutamates.)

The Thin Fries weren't anything great, though you do have the option of dressing them up with a combo of either truffle cheese and truffle salt, or beer cheddar, bacon and onion strings.

The house ketchup should be sold by the quart -- with a straw!

They plan on expanding like mad in this part of the country, so hurry to the current location before its dedicated staff is promoted and dispersed.

Umami Burger, Greenwich Village

 

The Manly is next on the list, along with the ground duck/five-spice/apple-pear chutney/crisp duck skin "burger". (I don't think sweet potato fries are on the Greenwich menu.)

 

LoL!

And I screwed up the duck burger description:

 

It's the kind of menu that can easily go to pot if the staff isn't 101% with it. A little too much of this, not enough of that, and the umami balance/advantage is done. At that point you're looking at an expensive, odd tasting burger.