Burbank Drive has plenty of quick bites, but UMAMI Japanese Bistro is the kind of place you plan an evening around.

The name comes from the Japanese word for a pleasant savory taste, one of the five basic tastes, and the menu leans into it. You'll find classic sushi and ramen, plus a list of luxury bites for nights when you want to splurge. A5 wagyu is served by the piece with kosher salt and black pepper, and wagyu bites come on toasted brioche with pecorino romano and black truffle. Bluefin toro shows up as nigiri, sashimi, a tartare with uni and caviar, and a toro and foie gras nigiri.

Louisiana flavors run through the roll list too. The Cajun roll is topped with Louisiana crawfish and a spicy creole sauce, the Fat Tuesday roll gets cajun-seared tuna, and the LSU roll is panko fried and stuffed with tempura shrimp, snow crab and spicy crawfish. Seasonal oyster shooters use fresh Louisiana oysters with a Tabasco vinaigrette.

From the kitchen, look for lollipop lamb chops, chargrilled oysters, takoyaki, UMAMI JFC Japanese fried chicken and a Kanpeki ramen with tonkotsu broth and pork belly.

Want to skip the decisions? UMAMI offers an omakase chef's tasting experience Monday through Thursday. Reservations are preferred, and your server can walk you through the details.

Happy hour runs 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Wine Down Wednesday brings two-for-one glasses of house wine all day. The restaurant is also booking holiday parties and caters birthdays, corporate events and weddings.

UMAMI is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It's closed Sunday. Call (225) 768-8808 to reserve, and let the chef take it from there.

Photo courtesy of UMAMI Japanese Bistro.