This Meridian restaurant just closed to rebrand. The reason? ‘Popular demand’
If you’re in the mood for hot pot, count out one popular Meridian restaurant for now.
Umi Japanese Shabu Shabu, 2325 E. Fairview Ave., has closed for the rest of May.
A well-reviewed destination for all-you-can-eat Asian cuisine, Umi is shutting down to — get this — add more food.
“Due to popular demand and as part of our rebranding process, we are excited to expand our offerings into a premium Japanese sushi AYCE dining experience,” a note on the door explains. “To make these improvements, we will be temporarily closed starting May 20.”
The transition is expected to wrap up relatively quickly, the note says, adding that “we plan to reopen June 1.”
Hot pot is a cook-at-your-table adventure. Diners are served appetizers, broth, meat, seafood — the works. As part of the experience, Umi already offered all-you-can eat sushi. But it was secondary to the meat-dipping hot-pot experience. Reviews of the restaurant are strong: 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google. But one recent review complains about Umi’s policy of only serving two sushi rolls at a time per table, depending on group size.
Describing the overhauled all-you-can-eat sushi, the word “premium” provides a clue as to where Umi’s rebrand is probably headed. Morphing into a twin-concept restaurant — specializing in all-you-can-eat hot pot and all-you-can-eat sushi (but more of it) — could make Umi more competitive. All-inclusive-focused sushi restaurants in Boise such as Sushi Bros and Yoi Tomo Sushi & Grill definitely have a following.
Will Umi’s quality will match those types of raw-fish rivals as it strives to do two things at once? That remains to be seen.
Umi Japanese Shabu Shabu arrived in Meridian in 2024. Its only other location is in Salt Lake City.
This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 2:19 PM.