Hollywood-Favorite Japanese Restaurant UMI Expands to New York City

UMI Japanese Modern, Atlanta’s hot restaurant combining classic and contemporary Japanese cuisine, is heading to New York. The restaurant opens this fall at 63 Madison Avenue, just one block from Madison Square Park. This location marks a new journey for the restaurant by bringing the brand’s philosophy of redefined craftsmanship, imaginative food and modern luxury to the city that never sleeps.

UMI NYC will feature a main dining room, sushi bar, private dining room and intimate omakase room, all created by French design firm Gilles & Boissier. Restaurant details will include burned wood, a nod to traditional Japanese yaki-sugi wood-charring technique; decorative moldings to bring texture and depth to the materials; and a rich palette to bring a unique character. Guests can also find a custom painting by New York-based multidisciplinary artist Daniel Arsham, known for blurring the lines between art, architecture and pop culture.

Spearheading the sushi program and omakase room is Chef Kazuo Yoshida, while Todd Dae Kulper leads the kitchen. Chef Yoshida grew up in Nagasaki, Japan, and is often known as the “Uni King.” He has been a staple in omakase-style restaurants in the United States for more than 30 years. He brings a creative side to sushi and always uses fresh, quality fish flown in daily from Tokyo Fish Market.

“We’re humbled to plant roots steps from Madison Square Park alongside some of the city’s most forward-thinking and admired restaurants and hotels like Eleven Madison Park and The Ned Nomad,” said Farshid Arshid, co-founder, UMI. “After 12 years in Atlanta, New York feels like a natural evolution – UMI was always envisioned as a gathering place for the creative community across art, music, fashion, and film, and there is no greater crossroads of culture and creative energy than this city. With Gilles & Boissier, Daniel Arsham, and Chefs Yoshida and Dae Kulper, we look forward to building something truly special and creating a dynamic dining experience that embraces contemporary design while honoring the essence of Japanese cuisine.”

Charlie Hendon and Farshid Arshid created UMI in 2012, and now it has become a staple in Atlanta’s culinary scene. The restaurant has since earned national recognition and gained a loyal customer base featuring Hollywood A-listers and tastemakers, as well as named to best lists from high-end publications such as The New York Times, USA Today and Eater Atlanta.