Day 74 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland took us to my favorite sushi spot in Ellicott City: UMI Sushi. Tucked onto historic Main Street in Old Ellicott City with a lovely patio out back, this place is my go-to for fresh rolls and omakase in Ellicott City.
You can’t really go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Ruby Toro roll and the chef’s-choice omakase nigiri are what keep me coming back. The fish is air-shipped from spots like California, Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market, Norway, and Spain, and you can taste that freshness in every piece. If you’re anywhere near Old Ellicott City and you love sushi, UMI’s a must, Nomsters. Let me put you on.
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What Makes UMI Sushi A Local Favorite
UMI Sushi sits right in the heart of Old Ellicott City, that historic, walkable stretch of Main Street lined with shops and creekside views. The family-owned spot’s been slinging sushi here since 2019, and the patio out back, covered and overlooking the creek, is honestly one of the nicer places to eat outside in Howard County.
What sets UMI apart is the quality of the fish. They air-ship it in from the coasts of California, Tsukiji Market in Japan, Norway, and Spain, so the sashimi and nigiri taste clean and fresh every single time. The menu runs deep too, from creative specialty rolls to hot entrees and the omakase, so it works whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or settling in for a full sushi dinner. For another Howard County sushi option, Takumi over in Columbia is worth knowing, but UMI’s my Ellicott City pick.
What to Order at UMI Sushi
Little Red Riding Hood Roll ($16.50)
This is a yum roll and a solid starting point if you like a little of everything going on. Inside there’s shrimp tempura and grilled eel, and it’s topped with spicy tuna, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and a special crunch. With all those sauces and the tempura, it leans rich and saucy, more of a crowd-pleaser than a minimalist roll, and a solid pick if you like your rolls layered up. If you’re bringing someone who’s newer to sushi, this is an easy one to start them on.
Ruby Toro Roll ($18.50)
This is one of my favorite rolls ever, no exaggeration. It’s built on fatty tuna belly (toro) with jalapeno and cucumber, then topped with even more toro, avocado, and a citrus yuzu sauce. The toro’s buttery and rich, the jalapeno adds a little kick, and the citrus yuzu sauce rounds the whole thing out. If you only order one roll at UMI, make it this one. It’s a splurge at $18.50, but toro this good is worth it.
UMI Omakase Nigiri-Sushi ($46.95)
For a treat, the omakase nigiri is the move. You get 10 pieces of chef’s-choice nigiri made from that air-shipped fish, and every piece I had was super fresh. The presentation was SO good, almost too pretty to eat (almost). At $46.95 it’s the priciest thing I ordered, but for 10 pieces of high-quality nigiri picked by the chef, it’s a fair deal, and it’s a fun way to try cuts you might not reach for on your own. If you want to go even deeper on omakase in Ellicott City, Yama Sushi does a longer set for around $60.
A few other things worth knowing when you’re looking at the menu:
- The specialty roll list is long, with fan favorites like the Maryland roll, American Dream, Black Dragon, and Volcano roll (most in the $16 to $20 range).
- Beyond sushi, they do hot entrees like hibachi, katsu, tempura, and yaki udon, plus bento lunch specials that come with soup, salad, and a small roll.
- Vegetarians have options too, with veggie rolls, edamame, and vegetable tempura.
What’s An Omakase?!
If you’ve seen omakase on a menu and weren’t sure what you were signing up for, it basically means “I’ll leave it up to you,” as in you trust the chef to choose and serve the best fish they’ve got that day. Instead of picking pieces yourself, the chef builds the lineup, usually one nigiri at a time. At UMI that’s the 10-piece nigiri set, and it’s a low-pressure way to eat like a regular and try whatever’s freshest. You don’t need to know a thing about sushi to enjoy it.
The Vibe and Experience
The vibe at UMI’s relaxed but a little special, which fits the Old Ellicott City setting. The service has always been great every time I’ve gone, and that covered patio over the creek is the spot to grab if the weather’s nice. It works for a lot of occasions: a date night, a family sushi dinner, or a solo lunch at the bar. Just know it gets packed on weekends, so either go early or be ready to wait a bit for a table. It’s worth it.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 8167 Main St, Ellicott City, MD, on historic Main Street in Old Ellicott City.
- Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11AM to 9:30PM, Friday and Saturday 11AM to 10:30PM.
- Reservations: they take reservations by phone only (410-480-1888), and walk-ins are welcome, but expect a wait on weekend nights.
- Seating: dine-in, a covered creekside patio, and carryout. No delivery.
- Parking: Old Ellicott City parking’s tight, but there are free public lots around town. Heads up, Main Street’s Lot B is closed through 2027 for flood-mitigation construction, so give yourself extra time to find a spot.
- Prices: mid-range. Specialty rolls run about $16 to $20, hot entrees $16 to $28, and the omakase nigiri is $46.95.
- Dietary: vegetarian-friendly, with veggie rolls, edamame, and vegetable tempura.
Is UMI Sushi Worth A Try?
UMI Sushi’s my favorite sushi spot in Ellicott City for a reason: the fish is consistently fresh, the rolls (that Ruby Toro especially) are creative and done right, and the omakase’s a fun splurge. It’s not the most budget-friendly sushi around, but you’re paying for quality, and it delivers. If you’re making a day of Old Ellicott City, pair it with a sweet stop at Sugar Plum down the street, and you’ve got a solid little Main Street outing.
Have you guys been to UMI yet, or is there an Ellicott City sushi spot you think beats it? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters, and save this one for the next time you’re craving toro. On to the next stop in the 100 restaurants journey.