Reviews for Umana Yana in Albany, NY
So happy we decided to go here! The Garlic Ginger Steak Satay appetizer was fantastic! The meat was perfectly cooked and very... flavorful. I ordered the Red Curry Fish Tacos without the aoli and they were fabulous! The fish was moist and tasted amazing.Will definitely have them again and soon! The Ethiopian Injera Plate with Chicken doro way was special, definitely a must try.The different items on the plate were extremely flavorful with a rich depth of flavor. There was a little heat, but not to muchat all. Very much looking forward to many returns, including trying their weekend Brunch! Read more
It’s a local eatery that relocated a door or two down the road from a former location. I do like the idea they have… the... ethnic foods in this less than ethnic area. However, they run out of food often and that’s annoying. I went a few days agofor brunch and they closed early for a staff meeting. Like ok.. y’all close early on Sunday anyway- you could have waiteduntil after hours to hold that meeting. I found it to be unprofessional to me. I also ordered takeout here and the bagsripped. Luckily I was at my front door or my $35 plate of food would have been on the concrete. Unfortunately they do haveroaches roaming around their establishment, so keep that in mind. The drinks are ok. I’m a champagne/wine kinda woman.. I didenjoy their tropical mimosas during lunch. Lunchtime they have drinks half off, however this is only on Saturdays and I’m notsure if this is a limited time deal or not. We went to brunch a few weeks back… my honey said the French toast wasundercooked. So he didn’t finish it. I felt the biscuits were too thick as well as dry. The gravy wasn’t flavorful enoughto cover up the ignore the thickness. It is relatively cozy inside so call ahead if you’re planning to sit down and eat withmore than 2 people. The seating is a little odd as well. They do offer outdoor seating if you’re into that. The food is goodfor the most part. I do miss their old menu, but I understand change happens from time to time. Overall, I would recommend youat least try their food. Idk about sitting down to eat though... I‘ve done it. But it’s your choice. Happy eating my loves! Read more
We were passing through Albany NY - and stayed downtown. We decided on dinner at Umana Yana since it had several vegetarian... dishes on the menu. We had the tofu satay and it was delicious. The tofu was nicely seasoned and lightly fried so that it had aslightly crisp exterior. It was served on kebabs over a bed of rice. Clearly a lot of love went into the making of this dish!Yum. Read more
My table of 2 ordered the yucca puffs as an appetizer, which were well seasoned, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.... For our main dishes we ordered the red curry fish tacos and the injera plate with chicken. Everything was super tasty, and funto eat. I think my favorite part of the meal was the fish tacos. This was a great experience because everything tasted amazingwhile also being easy to share. The servers were very kind and attentive as well. I enjoyed the experience of eating here andwill be back again for sure! Read more
One star to any restaurant which takes the time to read their reviews and respond. Another star for responses that show they... care. But it's an automatic 5 when they serve food as good as it is at Umana Yana! We just moved into the neighborhood and havebeen eager to try this restaurant. Umana Yana exceeded our every expectation. My husband ordered the Chicken and Waffle. Whilethe menu states chicken on the bone, it was served boneless (my preference always!). He said the waffle was cooked perfectly andhad a hint of...cardamon perhaps? Whatever it was, he liked it. The chicken seems to have been marinated before being batteredand fried which added a nice depth of flavor to the poultry. The spicy, syrupy sauce was the perfect match for the chicken,while he opted for standard syrup for his waffle. I chose Shrimp and Grits. Tail-on shrimp lay atop a large bowl of creamygrits with chunky chorizo and tender peppers and onions piled high in the middle. I added hot sauce only because I like a bit ofspice but the dish has enough flavor to stand on its own. Wheat Ale with Earl Grey Tea (beer)...it's a winner too! The staffwas most pleasant and helpful. The dining room and bar provide a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Staff wore masks as didpatrons while they were away from their tables. We're excited to have found this gem of a restaurant in our neighborhood. It'sdefinitely worth a visit. UPDATE: Valentine's Day Dinner w/ pictures Another winning meal at Umana Yana with live music madeour Valentine's Day a memorable one. Check out the creative menu they came up with for their prix fixe evening. Read more
Food is pretty good and it was fairly easy to get a last minute reservation on a Sunday morning for brunch. The name of the... restaurant has its roots in Guyana, but it’s not a Guyanese restaurant. Instead, the menu draws from the foreign historicalconnections of its namesake. The art work on the walls are so beautiful, including a creative portrait of the owner’s (Dale)mother. I would definitely recommend trying the food if you’re looking for something different. Read more
Cannot recommend more highly. We had the yucca scallion puffs, the shrimp appetizer, the goat entree, and two desserts.... Everything was delicious and had a perfect spice level. Service was great, decor was lovely. Will definitely be back. They havea large vegan menu, photo attached, and easily accommodate those with peanut allergies. Could not be happier with our experience Read more
The key to this place is takeout. Excellent food, both in quality and uniqueness. The injera bread platter with veggies and/or... tofu is so popular they sell out almost daily. Since moving to their new location just one door up, however, the ambiance isnonexistent— atrocious lighting so bad I almost insisted we leave, hard chairs with no cushions, cramped seating, and anoverall stark & cold atmosphere that reminded me of a grade school cafeteria that just threw up some africana decor on the wallsto seem cool. I will probably be ordering injera from this joint but it will most definitely be delivery. Read more