Umami Burger Went Through A Rapid Rise And Fall

Umami Burger is an upscale burger chain founded in Los Angeles in 2009. At its peak, it was something of a status symbol, but as it expanded, its reputation went downhill.

Founder Adam Fleischman developed the concept for Umami Burger when he realized that the flavor that made these burgers so irresistible was umami, a staple of Asian cuisine.

The resulting burgers used ingredients like soy sauce, porcini mushrooms, and Parmesan to enhance their umami palette, attracting the attention of high-profile chefs and stars.

Despite this early success, Umami Burger locations are now scarce. Former customers blame the brand's decline on overexpansion and a resulting drop in quality.

In early years, Fleischman told LA Magazine that he didn't want to "take any shortcuts." However, with rapid expansion, it's nearly impossible to maintain this level of commitment.

Changing trends in the food industry also played a role. Some food writers have noted in recent years that the popular burger style has moved away from fancy, gourmet delicacies.