{ the fifth taste }

To my fellow carnivores,

Let me introduce to you a new burger that will treat your taste buds the way they deserve to be treated. Being an avid carnivore, I thought I knew what a good burger was when I tasted one. My standards must have been low if a "decent" burger was smothered in sauce and cooked a few temperatures more than what a real burger could offer me. And then I discovered Umami Burger, high on a pedestal of what a quality burger should be. 

The Japanese word, umami, is popularly referred to as savoriness, or the fifth taste. In Wikipedia, they explain the science behind it using big words like ribonucleotides and glutamates but what caught my attention and my appetite was when they described the word as a "pleasant 'brothy' or 'meaty' taste with a long lasting, mouthwatering and coating sensation over the tongue."

Amazing, right?

The concept of Umami Burger was brought to you by Adam Fleischman, a self-taught chef and food and wine entrepreneur. His burgers are considered "fine-dining fast food" where they grind their own meat, process their own cheese, and pickle their own vegetables. Their prices range from $9-$12, and at the Santa Monica location, they offer a nice selection of craft beers from Belgium, Germany, England, Japan, Canada, and Oregon. There are 5 locations in all, but two of them have their liquor license, although beer and a burger sound like the perfect couple.

{Hitachino Stout}



So what to get when you go? There's always the signature Umami Burger, their Manly Burger {beer-cheddar cheese, smoked-salt onion strings}, and my favorite, a burger so good, every bite you take falls apart in your mouth, the Truffle Burger {house-made truffle cheese and a truffle glaze }. Here, it's all about the quality, not the quantity, so get a side or two with your burger. I'll let you in on a little secret. It's not on the menu, but order their cheesy tater-tots. Large tater-tots with melted cheese in the center, served with their house-made ketchup.You will thank me later.

Alan Richman, of GQ named Umami Burger the Best Burger of the year, calling it "half beef and half beyond belief." So do yourself a favor and check out a burger that will satisfy all five taste buds.

Enjoy your meal!