Do not—repeat, do not—read this entry aloud. The mere mention of Umami Burger can trigger a stampede among the Yelp crowd. The catnip is a secret house sauce that’s blended into the hand-formed, ground-on-premise burgers, adding a pinch of Japanese mysticism to the fast-casual chain’s specialty. It supposedly packs umami, a sixth, indeterminate taste in Asian lore. A hip ambience also is an intended lure for the dressed-in-black set.
| Location | Los Angeles, Calif. |
|---|---|
| 2013 Systemwide Sales ($000) | $37,400,000* |
| YOY Sales Change | 70.0% |
| 2013 U.S. Units | 22 |
| YOY Unit Change | 57.1% |
| 2013 Average Unit Volume ($000) | $2,100,000* |
| Future 50 Year | 2014 |
| Franchising | No |
*Technomic estimate
For more insights from Technomic as well as Technomic’s analysis, growth forecast and more: