My favorite local burger spot, Umami Burger, recently opened a deli-style offshoot called Umamicatessen in downtown Los Angeles. Consisting of a multi-part menu, it's like five mini restaurants all in one. In addition to the usual Umami-style burgers, there's Pigg for cured meats, The Cure for deli-style staples, a donut menu, a coffee bar, and a separate liquor bar. Since I've had their burgers on multiple occasions, this visit was meant to taste test the new components of Umamicatessen.
We began with some fried snacks…including french fries {topped with a whole lot of goodness}, pork corn, and cracklin. Then, the highlight of my meal—the Chef's Picks of 8 cured hams. Cured meat is probably one of my favorite things ever {I missed it SO much when I was pregnant}, so I was sitting pretty in some serious ham heaven. I loved sampling some world class hams presented simply on sheets of kraft paper. Needless to say, my salt intake for the day was at an all-time high, but it was worth every penny.
As a finishing touch, we ordered every single donut on the menu. Yep, all six {go big or go home, right?}. My absolute favorite was the version with meyer lemon curd, yogurt glaze, and freeze-dried blueberries. It was sweet and tart, moist and savory…and the perfect ending to a fun meal with friends. — Joy
Umamicatessen / 852 S. Broadway / Los Angeles, CA 90014 / 213.413.8626
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang. Space designed by SO|DA. My outfit: top and shorts by J.Crew, necklace by House of Kami, shoes by Liebling.}
what color nail polish is that? i’ve been looking all over for a color like it!!
Absolute YUM! Those are all of my favorite things.
second the question about the nail polish color!
I secretly LOVE cracklins… I’m sure they were amazing there!
Damn girl. My company is moving my job to LA and I have the opportunity to relocate. I really don’t want to, and the only reason I can think of to move is all these food places you post. Umami Burger is actually opening in Orange County soon, but I will definitely need to make the trip up to Umamicatessan!
this is the best column ever!!! I want to move to LA!!!!!!
Looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it on my next trip to L.A.! Thanks for writing a great review with the awesome pictures!!!
Hi Vania,
Thanks! Its actually a gel nail, so its not the kind you buy in the store, but they only have in the salon. Its like a neon orange color with a touch of pink. Sorry, I cant be more specific. I just picked a swatch and there was no name!
Joy
Hi Alex!
See my response to Vania above!
Joy
OMG. Now I want all these things for breakfast. The cured meats look so yummy & serving them on kraft paper is brilliant! You & your outfit are adorable too!
Oh yay! I’m so glad you featured them–so delicious! If you didn’t try the hoof & mouth sandwich this time around, you gotta next time–it’s reminiscent of a banh-mi, but more delicate and sophisticated. And wasn’t the staff just so sweet and adorable? One of my new favorite places too!
my mom just brought their menu to me the other day.. i thought it was an umami burger imposter, but glad to see they’re just expanding! hehee… your top is so super cute.. love it!
look how cute you are!!
gandacummings.blogspot.com
I just heard about this place on NPR. Definitely going to give it a try. And, what a cute outfit!
http://www.thefrenchtoast.net
note to self, don’t look at your blog before eating lunch. starving up in here.
You. are. darling!
um, yum! Everything looks delicious.
Yum, this looks delicious! The cured meats look amazing! I’d love to try everything on the menu! Loving this column!
Aaaaah I did NOT know that Umami burger opened up a new restaurant!! OMG I have to try that next time I’m in LA! PS I love that you ordered all of their donuts. I might do the same thing haha.
And this is why I plan to base some of my culinary adventures off of your suggestions. This place looks amazing. Can’t wait to try!
Your necklace is adorable as well! Where could one find it…?
ooooo yum! I’ve been wanting to check that place out! Looks so delish 🙂 And that menu design is fantastic! A weekend DTLA trip is in order. Thanks for the post, Joy 🙂
Hi Kristin!
Its from House of Kami (link is at bottom of post). I am not sure if this one is still available but she has other super cute ones!
Joy
I love how you eat. That is all.
Looks DELISH! Also love your outfit and necklace. Where is your blouse from?
Thanks Sarah!
All outfit links are at the bottom of post.
Best!
Joy
That’s quite the feast, but it’s your outfit I love most! Nail polish too for that matter. A very happy colour.
WE LOVE THIS PLACE! We hit it up every time we go to the factory to pick up our suits! http://seeababes.blogspot.com/
Holy MOLY those french fries look amazing!! I’m going to convince myself it’s healthy.
Wow, the cured meat medley looks amazing!!!
– Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
That being the case, it looks like it may be CND Shellac’s Tropix! Hope that helps!
The food at this place looks amazing by the way! I wish it was there before I left LA! Thanks for sharing with us!
can’t wait to go – hopefully with my friend who’s also named joy!
That place looks absolutely perfect! I wish I could go soon…If it wasn’t so far…
When we go there, that’s a ‘must do’ 😉
Joy, you look so cute and that food is seriously tempting me to throw away all my healthy diet commitments. I mean look at that pork crackling!!!! I love this new food column – so lucky to have Bonnie take photos for you!
Ronnie xo
love your outfit! the food looks amazing! would love to visit there one day!
Thanks Ronnie!
And yes, I am very lucky. Bonnie is the best! 😉
-Joy
There seems to be such an amazing variety of different foods in LA. We wish we could come and experience all of these lovely places you find! You’ve inspired us to seek out quirky places in Bristol (England!) to eat!
hey joy, may i ask what size you wear for your top? i have never purchased anything from j crew.. and i believe there’s a petite line as well? i am very short (5 foot)…
Hi Helen,
I usually get a size 0 or 00 in J.Crew tops. They do have a petite line too!
Joy
I love that outfit!!! SO CUTE! Are those J Crew shorts?
Thanks so much guys! For those who asked, all clothing is listed at the bottom of the post. And I’ll always mention where things are from there in future posts as well!
Joy
Everything looks so delicious!!! I also loooove how your outfit pops!! How did you do it? 🙂
I loved the Benton’s 14 month smoked ham… but so pricey. I’ll have to try the pork cracklins next time.
YUMMMM after I had my baby in November I ordered a whole leg or Serrano ham from Spain! Now I am having to diet seriously! I just found your blog today and I am glad to find another woman who appreciates a good cured ham. I don’t find it often here in the US. Most my friends don’t even want to try it. Anyway I love your blog and I am so glad I found it.
You’re just about the cutest thing ever! And now I’m going to have to make a second dinner..
Why, pray tell, can a woman not eat cured meats while pregnant? I’ve never heard of that one (and I’ll bet lots of moms in previous generations never did, either). Hm.
Hi Keeka,
Its one of those newer rules that OBs advise against because cured meats arent really cooked and theres a chance of bacterial infection like listeria. Of course, there are countries and cultures who dont cut this out of their diets during pregnancy and do just fine. Its just one of those things they suggest against in the states.
Joy