Umi

Without a doubt, the best sushi in Panama. Traditional, exquisitely and immaculately prepared. No weird rolls filled with mango and cream cheese. This is nagiri and sashimi made with fish that was in the ocean this morning. Caught locally, for the most part. It's pricey but worth every penny. Highly recommended.

We enjoyed our dinner at Umi. The sushi is so fresh, melts in your mouth! The rolls are delicious. We tried the mushroom curry and it was also so good! The only thing I did not like is that they charge you for the bowl of rice. The atmosphere is amazing , they have a live DJ playing. The drinks are great!!

Wow! Umi is nothing short of excellent. The food, the service, the vibe and music. Sit at the bar and watch the chefs prepare your food and have the waiters tell you about their cocktails and wine. Can’t wait to come back!

From my point of view, UMI is a bar that happens to roll sushi. The atmosphere is loud—so loud that having a normal conversation was practically impossible. My wife and I are used to dining in world-renowned Japanese restaurants across LA, HK, NY, and Miami, so we’re no strangers to paying a high bill for an exceptional experience. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of those times. The food quality was decent, but the hefty bill we received didn’t match the experience. Funny enough, in top-tier Japanese spots, the best seats are usually at the bar where you can appreciate the art of sushi-making up close. At UMI, however, the “bar” seemed dedicated to drinks, and the restaurant’s layout felt cluttered, with tables packed tightly. Service was also below par, adding to the list of disappointments. To put it plainly, we left UMI feeling short-changed for a restaurant in Panama. In fact, after paying the bill, we made a quick stop at a Wendy’s drive-through just to feel satisfied. In summary: A small, crowded space with overly loud music and an equally loud crowd. Service fell short, the food was decent but not exceptional, and the cost was excessively high ($191) given the overall experience. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for authentic Japanese dining.

Everything was outstanding! Very fresh, simple and delicious! Can’t recommend it more, thank you so much!

This place is spectacular. From the top not ch service to the high end drinks and highly creative food, we had a blast! We are visiting the city from Coronado and we don't go out that often and when we do, we want a premium experience. We got it here. Great atmosphere, service was impeccable and prices were reasonable for such a nice place. 10/10 will be back! Also, don't be a slob like me and stroll in wearing a baseball cap and shorts, this is a fancier place.

At first you would think that since it is close to Albrook mall the atmosphere would not be so different from that of the food court, but the service and the atmosphere are so unique that you will not notice anything of the mall and the staff are always happy to have you there.

Umi is undoubtedly one of the best, non teppanyaki, Japanese restaurants I've experienced. The food is beautifully prepared and presented, with notable highlights being the Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, and Hamachi hand rolls. The chicken wontons were perfectly fried, offering great taste, and the Kimchi edamame struck a perfect balance of spicy heat and mellow texture. The nigiris were also excellent.** However, there are some significant caveats. The drinks, including the Blossom Negroni and Maracuya Rum Cocktail, were just average—nothing extraordinary. More importantly, be prepared: Umi is one of the most expensive places I've dined at, and we both left hungry. Despite the quality, the portions were small, and the service was so fast that there was no time to savor the food. We were finished with our meal in under 30 minutes and had to visit another restaurant afterward to feel satisfied. Additionally, the atmosphere had its downsides. The music was too loud to have a decent conversation, and the seating was quite cramped. While the food was outstanding, these factors significantly detracted from the overall experience.