USA TODAY Network food journalists joined forces to select restaurants they personally know and wholeheartedly recommend and have announced their top picks for best Restaurants of the Year 2026.
While these places are undeniably amazing, Brevard County has a few we wish had made the list — and Umami Restaurant & Sushi Bar is our top pick this year.
When it comes to standout dining on the Space Coast, Umami Restaurant & Sushi Bar, located at 971 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. in Indian Harbour Beach, has continued to earn loyal fans and glowing praise since its inception in 2024.
A menu that goes beyond the expected
Guests step into a bright, modern dining room that reviewers frequently describe as warm, friendly and polished. But, Umami offers far more than stylish ambience.
This beachside standout pairs traditional Japanese technique with a modern, creative edge, turning out sushi and composed dishes that routinely impress patrons.
The kitchen is known for exceptionally fresh seafood, top-of-the-line quality ingredients and a menu that showcases both inventive rolls and refined classics under the direction of Chef Chris Chern.
Chern’s favorite dishes to make? Bluefin Toro tartare, made with the fattier part of the tuna, known for its richness. Or the Wagyu Ishiyaki, thinly sliced A-5 Wagyu beef, served with vegetables and tableside on a hot stone.
With a wide range of nigiri, sashimi, noodles and small plates, Umami offers one of the most thoughtfully curated Japanese menus in Brevard, blending creativity with craftsmanship in every category.
More about Umami
They also have a second location, with the same technique and menu, that opened in 2014 in Melbourne, at 3042 W. New Haven Ave., in West Melbourne.
Whether for its Wagyu-on-stone showstopper, its meticulously crafted sushi or its reputation for warmth and quality, Umami is exactly the kind of restaurant that deserves national recognition.
How are USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year chosen?
USA TODAY selects its Restaurants of the Year through nominations from food journalists who live in the communities they cover, drawing on deep local knowledge rather than quick visits.
To qualify, restaurants have been open for more than a year, provide consistently excellent food and great service, in an inviting atmosphere.
The final picks also emphasize geographic and stylistic diversity, highlighting standout dining in cities large and small across the country.
Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY’s food and dining reporter. Reach her at aolesen@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard restaurant we wish made USA TODAY’s Restaurants of the Year list
Reporting by Amber Olesen, Florida Today / Florida Today
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