Umami Fries Review

Dinkytown’s newest restaurant puts a unique spin on Asian dishes Umami Fries Review

Umami Fries is a brand new Asian-American restaurant located in Dinkytown. The Oklahomaborn franchise specializes in American meals with Asian-inspired spices and toppings. BY TOSIN FASEEMO

Those who attend the University of Minnesota know there is no shortage of places to enjoy Asian cuisine near campus. Num-mi, a Vietnamese restaurant formerly located in Dinkytown, was widely appreciated by the U of M community until it closed late in the fall of 2019. Umami Fries has sprung up in its place, adding to the wide variety of Asian restaurants accessible to UMN students.

The menu initially appears to be centered around meat, but vegetarians can request a substitution, like tofu, on each meal. The options range from tacos, to loaded fry dishes, to burgers served with a side of seasoned fries. There is a wide variety of Asian cultures featured on the menu. Customers have the option of ordering the kimchi burger, which showcases Korean toppings, or curry fries, layered with Indian herbs and spices. The menu also features bubble tea, a drink originating from Taiwan, in several flavors.

Prices at Umami Fries are reasonably low, presumably to cater to student budgets. Nothing on the menu exceeds 12 dollars, including the burger-fry combos. The portions of food are quite generous; customers can expect to leave the restaurant with leftovers.

In addition to being plentiful, the food is also loaded with flavor. The Japanese slaw burger was sweet, with creamy slaw packed onto a beef burger. I was initially confused about the use of such a sweet sauce on a burger, something that is usually considered a savory meal. But as I continued eating, I realized that was the point of the entire restaurant: to make you rethink what you think is possible for food.

A Hot Doggery Classic with Hints of Chaos and Character

Vienna beef, basketball shorts, and toy dinosaurs—what more could you want at your neighborhood hot dog joint?

Within seconds of walking in the door, I had sensed the overall character of the Wienery. The restaurant has a simultaneous run-down yet wellrun aura to it: toy dinosaurs, an empty maple syrup dispenser, and a “Curious George” coloring book scattered one vacant table. Below that table, two toddlers assumed the role of fire hazards as they played on the floor and blocked the entrance, while above them, the owner took, cooked, and delivered orders expeditiously. Dressed in an old t-shirt and Adidas basketball shorts, he cordially welcomed those old and new, remembering the regulars’ orders and explaining to Wienery virgins how the menu was organized. BY NINA RAEMONT

The plethora of options on the menu accommodates all kinds of dietary restrictive foodies, from vegans to carnivores. At such a classic diner, you wouldn’t expect modern options. I tried the Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, while my friend ordered the vegan version. The dog was delicious; its beef was flavorful, yet the size of the dog was smaller than anticipated. The vegan dog was intensely flavorful but the “snap” of a conventional dog was understandably absent in the meat alternative. Cheap, delicious, and filling, the Wienery Combo offers any style hot dog of your choice, a hefty side of perfectly crisp fries, and a fountain drink, all for $7.50.

This place felt like a hidden gem of West Bank with its welcoming and quirky nature, delicious dogs, and cheap prices. Nested between the Cedar Cultural Center and the Baarakallah Restaurant, the Wienery provides a hole-in-thewall diner experience with all the comfort and customer service of a well-run establishment and effusive character that will leave you with pleasure long after the meal has been finished.