Pictures: Umami Burger
![Waitress Winslow Corbett serves burgers to patrons at Umami Burger in Los Feliz.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/447b265/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x404+0+0/resize/586x404!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fbe%2F500a257e264a4798fb1820b80a80%2Fla-fo-review01-ku3a1jnc.jpg)
Waitress Winslow Corbett serves burgers to patrons at Umami Burger in Los Feliz. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b2f6664/2147483647/strip/true/crop/338x425+0+0/resize/338x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2F39%2Fb7318c8240f03138841358d35db6%2Fla-fo-review02-ku3a2cnc.jpg)
What gives the Manly Burger its manliness? Probably the bacon lardons. It’s also topped with cheddar cheese, fried onion strings and smoked salt. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d06e43a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x327+0+0/resize/586x327!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F36%2Fbaa3023ddd11fe76ff001b8e5352%2Fla-fo-review03-ksceghnc.jpg)
Umami Burger takes its name from the Japanese term used for the “fifth taste,” often described as “savory.” Japanese artworks decorate the restaurant. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99494cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/291x425+0+0/resize/291x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd2%2F00%2F2593121c72b5a83235106f676945%2Fla-fo-review04-ksceevnc.jpg)
Israel Meca prepares beef patties in the kitchen. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
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The beef patties are prepared medium-rare. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/708c0c1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x425+0+0/resize/300x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2F38%2Fd8984f487ae0ed4dac76fa4abd91%2Fla-fo-review06-kscedwnc.jpg)
The sweet potato fries are restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila’s pick for the best of the three fry types at Umami. The other two are thick-cut and thinner versions of regular potato fries. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5f7afaa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/295x425+0+0/resize/295x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc1%2F9a%2F2a76b7a0c2ed2949ca05a66a5a53%2Fla-fo-review07-kscedlnc.jpg)
Non-fry sides include the market salad, shown, tempura onion rings and house pickles. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
![Umami Burger](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/52c2a1a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x383+0+0/resize/586x383!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa3%2F8c%2F7979d57458f4f5cd064ca5976ad3%2Fla-fo-review08-ksceejnc.jpg)
The basic Umami burger is topped with cheese, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms. This one came with stylishly stacked, thick, hand-cut fries. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)
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Japanese characters cover the blackboard, but don’t worry -- you won’t need to be able to read them to order. (Ringo H. W. Chiu / For The Times)