Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Umi Nom, Kuma Inn's Brooklyn Counterpart, Opens Tonight
By
Hugh Merwin
Published Jul 28, 2009
Modified Jul 28, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 4
By
Hugh Merwin
Published Jul 28, 2009
Modified Jul 28, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Umi Nom, the Brooklyn outpost of the Lower East Side's popular Kuma Inn (one of Tyra Banks' favorite spots, incidentally), opens tonight on DeKalb Avenue, along the border of Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant. The pile of bricks, broken concrete and odd bits of old electrical conduit have now become an open kitchen. Chef/owner King Phojanakong and co-chef Soulayphet “Phet” Schwader have gotten rid of the washing machines in the former laundromat, but managed to salvage many of old building's interior details, including its exposed brick and an old skylight that was uncovered during the renovations.
The 50-seat restaurant follows a small plates format with dishes like wok roasted manila clams with spicy black bean sauce ($11), pork chops with house made pickles, and immense bowls of rice. The menu dotes on variations of traditional Filipino and Thai dishes for the most part, so there's a lot of grilled meat, but there are a few vegetarian friendly dishes here, too, like crimini mushroom tofu skewers with scallions ($10) and sauteed Asian market greens ($9).
Umi Nom's liquor license is still hung up somewhere in the system, but once that paper is signed, sealed, and delivered behind the bar, the restaurant will specialize in wine and sakes by the glass and the bottle, including 1-2 aged sakes. The price point of most menu items hovers between $8-$12; sides of rice are $2 and $3 each. Full menu after the jump.
Umi Nom, 433 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn; (718) 789-8806
small plates
house pickles $8
shitake mushrooms, soy mirin glaze $10
crimini mushroom tofu skewers, scallions $10
panko crusted vegetables, soy vinegar dipping sauce $10
asian market greens: sautéed greens & garlic $9
pan roasted salmon, coconut basil green curry $11
chili glazed wok prawn $11
crab and cream cheese wontons, sweet chili aioli $9
wok roasted manila clams, spicy black bean sauce $11
whole grilled orata, atchara $21
crispy calamari, sweet & sour sauce $11
fried tilapia, wasabi tobiko aioli $10
grilled mackerel toasted rice, cherry tomato, jicama, garlic-chili lime dressing $11
spicy seared beef salad, green papaya, long beans, cherry tomatoes, peanuts $12
sautéed chinese sausage, thai chili-lime sauce $11.50
salt and pepper lollipop chicken wings, anaheim peppers $10
ma-banh’s beef jerky smoked chili sauce $11
grilled pork chops, pickled vegetables $10
fried spring rolls with shrimp, pork & glass noodles $8
grilled skirt steak roasted tomatoes & onions $12
bbq ribs garlic, ginger, lemongrass, oyster sauce marinade $11
griddled beef patties, house pickles (with a little pork thrown in, too) $10
noodles & rice
chicken pad see ew: broad flat rice noodles, soy, garlic $10
shrimp pad thai: rice noodles, tamarind, fish sauce, peanuts $10
pancit canton: sausage, chicken, egg noodles, soy, fish sauce $10
charred beef rice vermicelli: cold rice sticks, herbs, cucumbers $10
garden vegetable fried rice: stir fried rice, soy, garlic $8
chicken fried rice: stir fried rice, egg, soy, garlic $9
bahaykubo fried rice: chicken, sausage and shrimp stir fried rice, egg, soy, garlic $11
sticky rice $2
coconut rice $3
long grain rice $2
garlic rice $3
dessert
warm thai chili chocolate cake $8
chilled summer fruit soup $8
assorted sorbets & ice cream $8
Tagged
chefs
Chinese sausage
king Phojanakong
Kuma Inn
Soulayphet Schwader
Umi Nom
Hugh Merwin
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .