Wichita’s newest Japanese steakhouse and its performing hibachi chefs are ready to go
Wichita will finally get to try the restaurant that’s taking over the longtime Sumo by Nambara space starting this weekend.
Umi Japanese Steakhouse, which like Sumo will also offer teppanyaki meals cooked live on the hibachi grill as well as sushi, will open to the public on Sunday at 11233 E. 13th St.. Its official grand opening is scheduled for Monday with a ceremony at 5 p.m.
After that, its hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11:30 am. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays; noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Diners can request reservations at www.umiwichita.com/reservations
The menu, which is posted on the restaurant’s website, includes a long list of sushi options including rolls and sashimi, several donburi bowls — which are rice bowls with fish and other sushi toppings — and hibachi meals that at dinner range from $18 for veggie only to $43 for lobster tail. Chicken, mahi mahi, calamari, shrimp, salmon, swordfish, ahi tuna and New York Strip steak are among the many other protein options for hibachi meals, which come with soup, salad, vegetables and rice.
Umi also serves noodle and fried rice dishes as well as stir fries. It has a separate lunch menu with lower prices, and customers can even get lunchtime hibachi meals for as little as $13.95. There’s also a full bar.
The owners of Wichita’s Umi — Frank Chan and Billy Wong — also have UMI restaurants in Manhattan and in Billings, Montana. They performed an extensive cleaning of the Sumo space, both inside and out, Chan said. Some decorations that are being shipped from overseas are delayed, but the interior is about 90% complete, he said, adding that the owners replaced all the equipment in the kitchen.
Though the restaurant will look similar to Sumo — which closed earlier this year after 17 years — Chan said people will have a much different experience.
“I want people to come see what’s changed,” he said. “It’s going to be a completely different style.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 10:41 AM.
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