Canton native bringing unique Japanese cuisine idea to Ford Road

A nearly-life-long resident of Canton, Sean Green has traveled the globe working in the hospitality and food-and-beverage industries — even adding his expertise to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Sometime in mid-February, the ambitious Salem High School graduate and widely-respected restauranteur is about to complete a full-circle professional and personal journey as a key member of a team that is opening House of Umami at 45250 Ford Road in Canton (most recently the location of a National Coney Island).

The Canton location is the first of seven House of Umami locations expected to open in the coming months throughout Michigan, including Novi, Troy and Rochester Hills.

Powered by an All-Star-caliber lineup of Japanese cuisine-disciplined chefs, a menu topped by hearty ramen made from all-natural ingredients, Sushi Rolls, Tapas and a variety of bowls — and an interior-decorating renovation that is stunning — Green is understandably ecstatic about the impact House of Umami will have on food-loving southeast-Michigan residents looking for an alternative to the regular staple of area restaurant offerings.

A unique new culinary experience

“On a personal note, my wife and I have lived in Canton for most of the past 20 years, so when it came time to choose a restaurant for dinner a couple times a week, we’d ask ourselves, ‘Do we want Outback, Chili’s, Fridays?’ — all household brands we grew up with, but we were struggling to find something unique and innovative,” Green explained.

Idea hatched

“Back in 2019, I came up with an idea to start a ramen-themed restaurant. Ramen is hearty, it’s a Japanese comfort food. There is a fried-chicken war going on now in the United States and it’s coming to Canton (a Raising Cane’s is set to open on the former Friday’s property and a Chik-Fil-A location is proposed near Ford Road and I-275).

“I strongly believe this unique concept — built around ramen and a variety of other authentic Japanese cuisine — will be something that, not only Canton Township residents will love, but will be worth the drive for people who live in communities across southeast Michigan.”

Community excited

Green quipped that he has already gotten a taste for the Canton community’s excitement about Umami’s opening.

“A few weeks ago, an inspector walked into our restaurant,” Green recalled. “We were kind of caught off guard because we weren’t expecting an inspection that day. He explained to us that his daughter had been begging him to come in and find out when we were opening, she’s that excited about tasting our food.”

Green explained Umami is a flavoring essence, along the same lines as sourness, sweetness, bitterness and saltiness.

“It’s when you feel an intense savory type of sensation,” he said. “People are becoming more curious about various cuisines through food bloggers, YouTubers.

‘No shortcuts’

“We take no shortcuts when preparing our food. We let the broth simmer for up to 12 hours to get it to where we want it to be. We only use real ingredients. We don’t add bullion or any type of powder to any dish we prepare.”

Umami’s concept is best-described by a passage on its website: “House of Umami’s specialty  is ramen, but we’re far from traditional. Each bowl tells a story of multiple Asian cuisines, harmoniously intertwining ingredients and styles to create something both comfortingly familiar and excitingly novel.

“From the intensity of our broths to the integrity of our noodles, every element is thoughtfully curated to produce an unforgettable dining experience.”

Launching his idea in his hometown is heart-warming for Green, he said.

Hands-on owner

“To combine this concept with my childhood memories of Canton makes me feel, well, honored,” he said.

Green, who has a keen interest in art, tackled the renovation process with a hands-on approach. He helped design everything from the collection of exterior lanterns that hang from the south-facing side of the building, to the ornate carvings that make even the booths eye-catching.

The menu includes 10 tapas meals, eight varieties of ramen, six bowls (three hot, three cold), several sushi offerings, kids meals and desserts.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.

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