Ramen term
Umami 旨味
Umami is the "fifth taste" — the deep, savory, mouth-filling quality that sits alongside sweet, sour, salty and bitter. It was identified in Japan, and Japanese cooking is arguably the world's most deliberate exploration of it.
A Japanese discovery
In 1908 chemist Kikunae Ikeda isolated glutamate from kombu and named the taste umami ("deliciousness"). It was formally recognized as a basic taste only decades later, once its receptors were found.
Where you meet it
Dashi, soy sauce, miso, aged and cured fish, mushrooms and ripe tomatoes are all rich in umami. Combining two umami sources multiplies the effect — the principle behind kombu-plus-bonito dashi.
Insider tip. Once you can name umami, you'll taste it everywhere — it's why a spoon of dashi or a dash of soy makes almost anything taste more complete.
Where to try Umami near you
Top-rated ramen spots on Yes Ichiban with real, orderable online menus:
Yoshi Sushi Ramen
Pearland, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9
Flame RamenMemphis, TN · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8
Kawa Ramen & SushiMilwaukee, WI · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5
Airi Poke & RamenNew Caney, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5
Airi RamenCypress, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6
Airi RamenBaytown, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6