Atlanta's Umi Restaurant to Open Manhattan Location This Summer

Sushi-focused eatery with celebrity following plans Flatiron District debut

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:37pm

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Umi, a popular Japanese restaurant from Atlanta, is set to open a new location in Manhattan's Flatiron District this June. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a dedicated omakase counter led by chef Kazuo Yoshida, as well as a broader menu of Japanese fusion dishes that have defined Umi's 12-year run in Atlanta. The New York outpost aims to offer a polished, high-end dining experience in a gilded corridor, in contrast to the ultra-expensive omakase-only restaurants that have proliferated in the city.

Why it matters

The opening of Umi in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood signals the continued evolution of the city's dining scene, with the area emerging as a new center of gravity for high-end restaurants. Umi's model of offering both a formal dining room and a specialized sushi counter aims to cater to a range of dining preferences, in contrast to the increasingly rarefied omakase experiences that have become the norm.

The details

Umi's New York location will be designed by the French firm Gilles & Boissier, known for their work on the Baccarat Hotel. The restaurant will offer a variety of signature dishes from the Atlanta original, including lobster toban-yaki, wagyu steak, and uni risotto. The drinks menu will also expand, with a broader selection of sake available compared to the Atlanta outpost. Umi's owners, Farshid Arshid and Charlie Hendon, say they've been eyeing the Flatiron-Nomad area for years, convinced it is the city's new restaurant hub.

  • Umi is slated to open in June 2026 at 63 Madison Avenue near East 27th Street.
  • Umi has operated in Atlanta for the past 12 years.

The players

Umi

A Japanese restaurant with a celebrity following that is opening a new location in Manhattan's Flatiron District.

Farshid Arshid

One of the co-owners of Umi, who has been scouting the Flatiron-Nomad area for a potential New York expansion for the past four years.

Charlie Hendon

One of the co-owners of Umi, who says the restaurant aims to offer both formal dining and specialized sushi experiences, in contrast to the increasingly expensive omakase-only restaurants in New York.

Kazuo Yoshida

The chef who will lead the sushi program at Umi's new Manhattan location, with previous experience at restaurants like Juku, 1 or 8, and Jewel Bako.

Gilles & Boissier

The French design firm that will be responsible for the interior design of Umi's new Flatiron District location.

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What they’re saying

“Dining should not be like that. You should be able to go out and dine at the best place the way you want, when you want.”

— Farshid Arshid, Co-owner, Umi

“New York's omakase scene has become stratospheric, 'where dinner started at $125, then $175, then $250 ... now it's $750 plus add-ons.”

— Charlie Hendon, Co-owner, Umi

What’s next

Umi's new Manhattan location is slated to open in June 2026, bringing the popular Atlanta restaurant's blend of formal dining and specialized sushi experiences to the Flatiron District.

The takeaway

Umi's expansion to New York City reflects the continued evolution of the city's dining scene, with the Flatiron-Nomad area emerging as a new hub for high-end restaurants seeking to offer a polished, hospitality-driven experience that contrasts with the increasingly rarefied omakase-only establishments that have proliferated in recent years.