Salt Lake City is ‘amazed’ by this restaurant. A second one is opening soon in Meridian

If you visit the latest restaurant coming to the Pine 43 development in Meridian, bring two things: A full wallet and an empty stomach.

You won’t escape without spending a few bucks. But you won’t leave hungry, either. In fact, depending on your self control, you might end up carted out on a stretcher.

Umi Japanese Shabu Shabu is bringing all-you-can-eat dining to 2325 E. Fairview Ave., suite 160. (For reference, it’s near the recently opened Marie Callender’s.) Umi is a cook-at-your-table, hot pot experience.

No opening date has been revealed, but Umi indicated on Facebook in March that it’s “coming soon.” The brand operates another location in Salt Lake City, which it opened in late 2022. The price there is $32.99. You get appetizers, broth, meat, seafood — the works. Kids 6 to 10 cost their age in dollars. 5 and under? Free.

Utah basically loves this place. Umi rates a 4.8 out of 5.0 stars from 333 reviews on Google. Diners rave about the “cute” robot server, the “delicious” food and, well, the sheer quantity of it all.

“It’s a whole lot of food,” a recent reviewer wrote. “I was amazed at everything included in the price. Go hungry but definitely go.”

“Wow,” wrote another, “this is honestly the best Japanese shabu-shabu I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to tons)! The meat quality, the appetizers, food bar AND drinks choices are incredible — for only $32.99 AYCE is such an amazing deal!!! The inside looked aesthetically pleasing and service was quick.”

As Umi explains on its website, the first thing you do is choose from several broths. Then you order meat from your server, hit the food bar and pile up seafood and vegetables to quick-boil in the broth at your table. Dip them in sauces and start scarfing.

Want more? Order more. Cook more. Feast more.

Meats include pork shoulder, beef brisket, beef eye of round, beef chunk, beef rib-eye, wagyu and Australian lamb leg. Seafood options? Shrimp, mussels, baby octopus, crab meat, fish ball, lobster ball and more.

Customers also can enjoy yakitori (skewered meats) and sushi.

Lunch is not part of the deal most weekdays at Umi in Salt Lake City. But it opens for dinner early. Hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

As long as Idahoans understand what they’re in for, Umi sounds like it could be a Meridian hit.

Especially for cheerfully gluttonous diners.

“We got chicken wings, edamame, egg rolls, chicken gyoza, wagyu beef, shrimp, fish, calamari, noodles, corn, broccoli, sushi and more,” wrote a Google reviewer. “If you’re celebrating or just super hungry, you just come here.”