Umami Burger & Pitfire Pizza in OC

[reality check]

Details need to be worked out, but something to look out for.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/an...

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Pitfire Pizza
108 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Umami Burger
850 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[reality check]

Updated info about Umami in OC.

http://fastfood.ocregister.com/2011/0...

[reality check]

Umami is suppose to open in Dec., according to this story.

http://fastfood.ocregister.com/2011/0...

[mikester]

Woo-hoo ! A food hall - this sounds like it could be good.

[swakel]

fast food maven said in June that the Anaheim location of Unami Burger was slated to open Dec. 1. Was planning a trip down to the new joint but can't seem to find any info on the location. Did the open date slip?

[JeffSD]

Yes, the date has been pushed forward. Now, the opening for Umami Burger is said to be after New Year's.

[Das Ubergeek]

Yes. There's still heavy construction going on. Latest from the group is first quarter of 2012. Also, there's another going to be built in Laguna Beach, along N. Coast Highway near the grocery store and Jean-Paul's Goodies. That should be done in late 1Q or early 2Q 2012, barring slippage.

[wienermobile]

Also one is opening around Dec. 8th in Hermosa Beach in the old Sushi Sei location on Hermosa Ave. Word has it they will have a new Baja Burger made with tempura fried cod, crushed avocado, cabbage slaw, fire-roasted salsa, chipotle lime aioli.

[kevin]

jean paul's goodie's sounds interesting, what's that all about? is it a chocolate store?

[Peripatetic]

LMYTFY:

Jean-Paul's Goodies
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jean-pauls-go...

[Das Ubergeek]

Wait until they discover Anaheim has very few hipsters.

[kevin]

really no hipsters? maybe they can open in the artist's village district in santa ana, that would be the closet to hipsters. although i don't think too many are leasing those artists loft's there.

[Das Ubergeek]

I didn't say "no" hipsters, I said very few. The reinvented-burger slot in downtown Santa Ana will be Playground, which opens in August. It's the first brick-and-mortar from Jason Quinn, the founding chef of the Lime Truck.

[kevin]

sorry my bad, i prolly sped read that one.

[Harry Niletti]

"I didn't say 'no' hipsters, I said very few." Yeah, let's be sure to get that straight.

In fact, you'll find a place with very few noticeable hipsters (not counting the cute baby with a tiny hat that I saw last time) at Umami-Studio City in late afternoon. Plenty of opportunity at that hour to eat quietly at the bar and chat with the cooks about the fine points of burgers, onion rings, and fries.

And there's lots to talk about. I went there for a late lunch recently, having avoided Umami from the beginning -- like many been-there, done-that folks, I suspect -- because of its Father's Office-style cult hype. ("Well-curated Kool-Aid, yelpsters, and, you know, they could be right about the spaceship behind that comet!") Imagine my surprise when I found a friendly, human-type staff and the outstandingly juicy-not-greasy, tender-not-crumbly Hatch Burger -- far better than the F.O. burger, which is merely quite decent. One bite, and I saw the error of my biases.

Maybe the Menschly Burger will turn out to be a nebbish fraud and the Turkey Burger a mere recipe, but the Hatch is enough. If Umami can maintain its quality as they grow and not become a Five Tastes, they should be a hit in OC with any audience from hipster to hip-replacement.

[kevin]

hipster to hip-placement good one, niletti.

[Porthos]

Nice heads up. Looking forward to Umami OC.

[JohnnyT]

I saw the unami Burger on the Food Channel last night. Is it as good as it looks?

[wienermobile]

Yes...Small burger....really big taste and flavor.

[ocshooter]

I went on a burger spree a while back and tried Peter's Gourmade, teh Habit and Five Guys over a fairly short span, all for the first time each. Peter's was great in my opinion, the best burger deal for under $10 period. Five Guys was just so-so. The Habit burger was good, but not great.

For my non-gourmet burgers in order: Peter's, In-and-Out, Knowlwood, Fatburger, Habit, Carl's, Five Guys.

So, is umami twice as good as Peter's?

[reality check]

Umami is a gourmet burger. So, you want to compare apples to apples, what is your favorite gourmet burger?

I've been to Peter's 3 times and it's all very average. I would much prefer Knowlwood or The Habit over Peter's. But, TK Burger beats them all.

[ocshooter]

I don't do too many gourmet burgers, but are they twice as good as a the best of the 'better burger' options?

I have not tried TK's and I still need to go try Slater's, but since I don't eat pork, the 50/50 is not an option.

[OCSteve]

Shooter, if you like your burgers medium rare like I do, the all beef burger is the way to go at Slater's anyway. I actually like it better than the 50/50.

[reality check]

Again, you're comparing apples to oranges. A burger from a fast food/diner style place, can't be compared to a gourmet burger.

But, some gourmet burgers are worth the price tag. I like 8oz and 25 Degrees.

I would say Slaters leans toward the gourmet, but the 50/50 is too dry for me. I want to give their all beef burgers a try, soon.

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25 Degrees Restaurant
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[ocshooter]

If Slater's is gourmet, then so is Peter's. And if a real gourmet place like 25 Degrees or umami isn't vastly superior to these 'better burger' chains, then why bother with them?

Is it the joy of eating a burger off a white table cloth napkin with fine china and a selection of esoteric beers and Pinots by the glass? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but if that is the case, then I want to know going in. I will pay more for a burger at a gastropub, but I am going for the gastropub environment and ordering the burger; I am not going to the gastropub simply so I can eat their burger.

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25 Degrees Restaurant
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028