The second store of Ume Burger has opened at the harbourfront dining precinct Barangaroo. Ume is a casual dining venue with alfresco (covered over) dining space. The chef Kerby Craig recently converting efforts from fine dining to burgers much like Neil Perry and the Burger Project. Serving up top notch burgers, Japanese inspired bites and beverages.

We began with some sodas, made in store – delicious flavours. We tried the passionfruit ginger soda, the strawberry vanilla soda and my favourite the yuzu brown sugar. You can also get it with a shot of whiskey or shochu if you so desire. They had a good selection of whiskey’s and the guys in the party tried the Hibiki harmony. They also sell a range of beers and ciders, umeshu and yuzushu, sake and shoshu.

We ordered some side dishes including fries and onion rings with umami salt, a special Japanese salt that is so morish. We also got ‘Renkon’ or Lotus chips, house made kimchi, Koji fried chicken and a couple some oishi(delicious) dipping sauces: nori mayo, spicy cod mayo a Japanese version of taramasalata to accompany the meal.

The Japanese influenced burgers are different than your standard burger, and we thoroughly enjoyed them. We decided to order four different types, and all four member of the party favouring different burgers.
All burgers had really fresh, custom made “Hokkaido mild buns” (brioche style) buns with different fillings.

Their signature burger of a beef pattie, wagyu mince with sauce drizzling off the side, filled with tomato, onion, mayo and American cheese, this Burger was incredible! No wonder it is their signature burger and one of the most popular sellers. The classic cheeseburger, my personal favourite had a delicious “Ume’s special sauce” and melting cheese, just delicious, as well as rice wine vinegar pickles, lettuce and onion

The Ebi (prawn) was another great burger. This burger was filled with handmade prawn katsu (like a prawn filled pattie) with Japanese tartare sauce and shredded cabbage.

We also downed the special, a juicy Japanese fried chicken burger with cheese, lettuce and onion. 

One of the token gimmicks (which I loved) was the Hokkaido self-serve soft serve. A strawberry shoshu flavor, certainly very tasty. Although I pretty much let the machine out of control, and ended up eating mine with a spoon, however they come in a waffle cone.
If you love Japanese food, and burgers and water views Ume is the go.

http://www.umeburger.com/barangaroo/