LHB/Voice-Tribune: Umai Zushi impresses with bountiful sushi

[Robin Garr]

Voice-Tribune review by LouisvilleHotBytes

I love Asian food, and I'm a big fan of many of the East End's excellent Chinese restaurants, including such quality eateries as Oriental House, Jade Palace, Jasmine, Liang's and the new Peking City Bistro.

I'm less whelmed with storefront chopsticks houses and all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets, though. Not that they won't fill me up when I'm cravin' Asian, but to be quite frank, they're all pretty much the same.

Until now, that is.

The arrival of Umai Zushi Buffet near the outer stretches of Westport Road introduces a new variable to the Asian buffet equation: In addition to the usual Chinese suspects, it offers a bounty of king crab legs and, from the cuisine of Japan, more than 40 sushi and sashimi goodies.

It's pretty good sushi, too, I'm pleased to report.

Read the full review on LouisvilleHotBytes.com:
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/umai- ... shi-spread

A couple of us have been "lone wolves" against the hoards in promoting this place for a while now . . . maybe after seeing a "professional review" more will give it a try!

Now, if the review had only mentioned the magic shell chocolate fountain for sundaes or the hot/spicy cold octopus salad, I'd agree with it more completely. . . and, the Mongolian stir-fry section (or hibachi, whatever) doesn't just have freeze-dried meat and seafood, but 3-4 oz steaks, and large pieces of protein to stir-fry up for you.

We do like the hot food a tad more than you, however - every time we've been there have been at least three fish dishes in addition to the crab legs, and a separate offering of crab claws; while some of the fish is rather overcooked in the steam trays, searching can help you come up with some perfect pieces.

[Robin Garr]

... Now, if the review had only mentioned the magic shell chocolate fountain for sundaes or the hot/spicy cold octopus salad...

Yeah, the Voice-Tribune's dining-review space is more limited than LEO's, not to mention the endless space available for HotBytes-alone articles. I've got to work hard with the butcher knife, alas, and a mention of the chocolate fountain hit the cutting room floor. It appears to be identical to Rivue's, which is impressive, but my wife said the milk chocolate it uses appeared to her to be cheaper product than Rivue provides. The octopus salad wasn't really exciting on the night of our visit - it was a tossup, but it didn't get mentioned before my 600-word allocation ran out, and I had to go with a few highlights and a few lowlights. Bottom line, I think I was complimentary in saying that I'll break my "Avoid Asian Buffets" rule for this one, but for me, when I go back, it will be for the sushi, particularly the nigiri, and the raw bar.

We stopped in last Sunday. I agree with most of what I have read about this place. Like others here, we normally dont do the buffet,especially when it comes to Asian food. That said the sushi was way better than expected. Hard to beat for the price. I also had some really plump raw oysters,about 8, then they ran out.Anne asked them if they would put anymore out,they brought out about four or five. We also had some really good pork and pork/shrimp dumplings from the steamer baskets. Not sure if we just got lucky and had them at the right time or they are just very good about replacing items. We did not do much from the steam tables,but what we had was good. Picked up some spicy garlic clams,a seafood/scallop medley served on a scallop shell,fried dumplings and some pretty good won ton soup. This place seemed much cleaner than many of the buffets we have been to. Food was constantly being replaced. Did not do the desert,we were full, and saw kids putting fingers into the chocolate fountain. The other neg was watching a guy holding his plate and juggling a diaper clad baby in one hand while using the other to fill his plate,sometimes switching back and forth.Gross! Not at all the fault of the restaurant,but none the less,one of the reasons we dont do a buffet often.

Not at all the fault of the restaurant,but none the less,one of the reasons we dont do a buffet often.

I don't care how often they refresh the food...I HATE Buffets and I hate Salad/Sneeze Bars...They positively gross me out.