Umami has carved out something distinctly its own in the borderlands of Mile-Ex and Little Italy. Opened in August 2023 by Cédric Charron and Dominique Saint-Laurent, this is Montreal’s only all-vegan ramen spot, but the pitch isn’t just plant-based—it’s precision. Nearly everything is made in-house, from the alkaline noodles to the broths and sauces. The menu moves between lunchtime staples—ramen, tsukemen, wakame salad—and evening izakaya fare like agedashi tofu, vegan karaage, and fried tempeh with panko. The vibe is calm and confident: light-soaked interiors by day, sake bar by night. The drink list follows suit with kombucha on tap, house cocktails featuring umeshu and yuzu, and a sake selection that includes chef-favourite sparkling imports. Umami lives up to its name as a deep, savoury case for vegan Japanese cuisine done right.
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