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Nagato Sukiyaki
Category: Restaurants Sushi Bars Sushi Bars [Edit]
2874 Fulton AveSacramento, CA 95821
Neighborhood: Arden-Arcade
(916) 489-8230
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
84 reviews for Nagato Sukiyaki
Review Highlights
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"...the restaurant seems authentically homestyle Japanese food." In 8 reviews -
"The tempura is crispy and not overly oily." In 17 reviews
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"NAGATO SUKIYAKI restaurant has the BEST MISO soup ever." In 6 reviews
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84 reviews in English
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Review from Alex K.
North Highlands, CA
5/2/2012
The oldest Japanese restaurant in Sacramento. Most people do not know the esteemed history of this place; it has been around forever. I have honestly been eating here since I was in a high chair.
My favorite dish by far is the "Katsu Don." I personally get it without white onions & I add extra sauce. I seriously order this one to two times a week for takeout when I am too busy to cook. Some other dishes of note are as follows: "Katsu Curry," "Chicken Bento Box," & the always popular "Combination Dinners" are a great way to end the day.
There sushi menu has changed to be more "modern" with "newer" rolls with all that saucy sauce and other "modern" appeal. It is not my style of sushi but as they say "whatevers clever." Seasonally they have an amazing "Asparagus Tempura" & "Oysters On The Half Shell" so if you see them order them.
This is by far my number one Japanese restaurant in all of the Sacramento area. -
Review from Dave K.
5/9/2012
Great find! I never would have stopped here if not for Yelp. Despite being a legitimate dive next to a fairly scary looking bar, this place was wonderful.
Family-owned for 40 years, great sushi at great prices.
But, it's no fancy place. The carpet's stained and the booths bottoms are all broken up (hey, can someone at least put some duct tape on them).
The food is wonderful and the service great. As mentioned by others, the gyoza were yummy. -
Review from Rainy D.
Sacramento, CA
3/11/2012
Don't skip the gyoza. You will want more no matter how many you eat. They are unique, chewy, crispy, and tender at the same time.
Sunomono was saltier than others, but it cut the sweetness nicely.
The Hokkaido roll - one star off due to skimping on the scallops. The roll was also half the size of the other roll. Don't get it. The scallop, singular was the equivalent of maybe one sliced very thinly. Tasty, though.
The Omega roll was huge, with salmon and a subtle lemon sauce. I would definitely order this again. -
Review from Hai N.
Sacramento, CA
5/20/2012
This is small restaurant giving off a warm and friendly vibe. I was immediately welcomed by the cool jazz music playing in the background. I ordered the Pork Udon Soup which had a generous pork portion served in a delicious broth. I was a bit disappointed about the noodle; the diameter of the noodles were smaller than normal and did not have a rich texture like the ones made from scratch. I also ordered a side of Tempura which complimented the soup nicely.
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Review from Mayumi O.
Sacramento, CA
2/27/2012
I just recently returned from a three week trip in Japan and while, admittedly, it's pretty difficult to rival the food I had in Tokyo, I found myself craving equally delicious Japanese cuisine at home in Sacramento the other night. I've been pretty fed up with being disappointed at the the Japanese places in midtown and downtown Sacramento, so I decided to try Nagato Sukiyaki at the recommendation of a stranger who I randomly had a drink with at Golden Bear on Friday night. Somehow we got on the topic of Japanese food and he basically called me a poser-of-a-Japanese person for never eating at Nagato before. Big words random stranger man. Big words. But really, I should be thanking this guy for bullying me into trying this place.
If you're looking for some serious no nonsense home style Japanese food, this is the place. They aren't going to make your sushi rolls with a bunch of fancy sauces and mayonnaise based concoctions, and if that's the kind of food you are looking for, then you're better off going to Mikuni's or Tex Wasabi. I ordered the niku tofu, a hearty steaming hot pot of deliciously savory broth with tender pieces of beef, tofu, napa cabbage, and onions. It comes with rice and a side of clear soup, that isnt' miso based, with somen noodles in it. My friend ordered a combination dinner of sesame chicken with veggie tempura, which comes with a side of soup, sunamono, and rice. The tempura was perfectly battered and cooked, not to heavy in panko, and not too greasy. Same with the sesame chicken. It was nicely battered and didn't leave us feeling like we had a rock in our stomachs.
I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Lisa W.
Sacramento, CA
3/5/2012
Pleasantly surprised. Hubs and I sat at the sushi bar and was immediately greeted by Mike the sushi maker. We were also totally taken care of by the main sushi maker Don. My hubs use to frequent this joint when he use to work in the area. It was so cool, Don totally remembered my hubs and made us feel welcomed. Don took our orders and checked on us frequently. I recommend sitting at the bar because Don will totally take care of you! He gave us complementary soup and Hawaiian cookies for dessert.
We ordered:
MIXED TEMPURA - Included a mix of eggplant, yam, shrimp, broccoli and onion. The tempura came out hot and fresh! The batter was so crispy and tasty!
HOUSEMADE POTSTICKERS (GYOZA) - I wish I ordered two plates! These were lightly pan fried. The taste was just right. I believe it was a mix of chopped pork with cabbage. It was so good! I will order these again the next time I come back!
SALMON SKIN HAND ROLL - OMG! The best I've ever had! Don used salmon skin with some meat still stuck on the skin. He either baked or deep fried the whole skin. Don was very generous on the amount of salmon he put in the rolls! The first bite I took was CRUNCH! It was so good!
KRAZY MARY ROLL - It came with fried salmon, cucumber, avocado and a creamy garlic sauce. SO good! I like the fact that these sushi rolls weren't slathered with a crazy amount of sauce!
The only thing I regret is not coming here earlier (I blame the hubs)! But thank you yelpers for letting me know about this joint! You guys never let me down! -
Review from Summer M.
1/30/2012 1 photo
Take the June's Cafe experience (see my other review) but put it in a slightly larger restaurant with exclusively Japanese food, and you have Nagato.
I was first drawn to this place because of the "Sukiyaki" in the title... I'm always interested in a Japanese place that has more than the standard sushi and bento boxes. I was not disappointed!
VENUE: A little small, it can probably seat 40-ish people. It may not be a shiny and new restaurant, but it's a comfortable lived-in atmosphere. In amusing contrast, in the corner is a tiny sushi bar that can maybe seat 4, which is usually populated by the young talkative sushi chef and his young talkative customers. Nagato seems like a family place- the older people who have been coming for years may sit at a table while their kids (or grandkids) sit at the sushi bar and talk sports with the chef.
SERVICE: I'm not gonna lie, on average it's a bit slow. All the waitresses I've seen are older Japanese women so they're obviously not sprinting around the place. I'm told there can be a language barrier... no bother for me since I've got a Japanese grandmother, so I do the "translating" for the table ;)
FOOD: Solidly good Japanese food across the board, just like Nana used to make! The titular sukiyaki is great, the udon is great, the donduri is fantastic (my favorite is the oyakodon, YUM!), and the assorted sushi I've had was pretty good too. I've liked everything I've consumed there.
If you're looking for sushi or traditional Japanese fare but don't want to deal with the massive crowds at the local sushi spot, try Nagato! -
Review from Jeff K.
Elk Grove, CA
2/11/2012 3 Check-ins Here
My friend recommended i come here after i asked for their opinion a spot that offers home-cooked type of Japanese food. This place absolutely does not disappoint.
The sukiyaki here is very good. Broth is not too salty and doesn't overpower your taste-buds. There isn't an excess of oil from the meat, and vegetables are cooked just right.
This place also offers delicious oyakodon, cooked perfectly. They managed to perfect this dish to the point there is just enough rice to soak up all that great flavor without the dish swimming in excess broth. The flavor is awesome, definitely different than the Japanese food that is typically offered around Sacramento.
The place is not too small, but not so big either, and very simple. The staff there is also very polite and chat with you. Feels just like home =]
I was so happy when i looked into the soup bowl, expecting miso....and finding it was clear soup!! Reminded me of all those times when i was a kid at my grandparents house.
This place is definitely one of the go to spots for good quality Japanese food. -
Review from Julie E.
12/10/2011
I really, really, really wanted to like this place! Having lived in Japan, I have a certain fondness for family-owned, Japanese restaurants, especially ones that send out a little old lady waitress who looks so much like my Japanese host mom. But unfortunately, for me, it didn't click last night.
Service was SLOW. Just inexcusably slow. Everyone else around us was getting served right and left, but anything for us took twice as long as it should've. Also - it must've just been what I ordered, because my friend's was good - my chicken tofu nabe broth tasted like bad, strong French onion soup and had a cluster of sauteed onions, slabs of tofu, and a little bit of chicken at the bottom - and that was about it. Where were the noodles? Vegetables? After a few bites, I couldn't handle the broth anymore and started dipping my tofu into my friend's delicious nabe. Hers was excellent and I became instantly jealous that I hadn't ordered the same!
We also ordered a genki roll, which was pretty good. I prefer my rolls with fish on the outside to be cold, not room-temperature, so something didn't quite sit right with me.
The wait for the check was FOREVER long, and also for someone to finally realize that we put money on top of it. We had at least four different servers help us over the night, so I think our table just wasn't assigned to any one of them, so we were forgotten.
I'm definitely coming back here and hope that the service and food improves so I can boost their rating! Warm, filling soup in the winter is just about as good as it gets. -
Review from Alan T.
Roseville, CA
3/27/2012
I got the niku dofu; it was pretty darn good. Admittedly this was my first time with niku dofu, so I have no reference to compare it against, but I'd happily order it again. There were several other options on the menu that I'd loved to have tried as well so I definitely will be returning.
I may have given this restaurant 5 stars if not for the slow service. When you get to see someone from the wait staff they are very polite, they are way understaffed however at the moment. Next time I go here, I will probably try sitting at the bar instead for quicker lunch-time service.
Still - check it out, it's good stuff. -
Review from Andrea S.
Sacramento, CA
1/9/2012
Last night I went to an old-school, homestyle Japanese joint up in a part of town that I don't often frequent. The no-frills family-feel of the place was just what the doctor ordered. The Spider handroll was soft shell crab and avocado perfection. I also enjoyed the pickled cabbage appetizer (what is the Japanese word for "amuse bouche"?) and the interesting, non-miso soup. For my entree, I went to a tried and true (some would call if "safe") selection and ordered tonkatsu and tempura combo. Yes to deep-fried goodness done like my Japanese mama would have made if I had a Japanese mama.
I didn't miss the flashy, saucy sushi style of Mikuni or Nishiki, Next time I'll sit and the bar and order sushi only. -
Review from Wesley Y.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 1/16/2012
Still pretty damn good.
Came here for lunch and ordered the 10 piece nigiri again along with a bowl of Katsudon. My gf also ordered a maki roll and some bento sushi box (comes with sashimi, some maki roll, and a few nigiri.)
The 10 piece nigiri is still my favorite, and the salmon here is tasty. The fish is excellent here - fresh and correct temperature (it's not ice cold.)
Portions for lunch are pretty small though - I wouldn't have been satisfied with just the Katsudon (which comes in a miniature bowl, with maybe five slices of meat?). I've been lucky enough to have tried donburi home cooked by my mom, so rating the katsudon here will be biased. It's alright, but nothing special. The maki roll was alright too, but I think the real gem here is their nigiri. Without the nigiri, I would have given this place 3 stars.
ORDER THE NIGIRI.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/6/2012
I ordered the 10 piece Nigiri and my gf tried the tonkatsu. The meal started out with a small plate… Read more »
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Review from Brian D.
Sacramento, CA
11/29/2011
It blows my mind when I find little hole in the wall mom and pops like Nagato. I had a serious case of crappy Japanese food in Sac and took to the yelp lines for help. The moment I walked into this place I knew I had found real Japanese food. It was lunch and all of the diners were retired Japanese men and women. Bingo!! No way in hell you'd find any of this crowd at the other local Japanese restaurants other than Hana Tsubaki in East Sac.
I always order the chicken or beef teriyaki which are serves in multiple course style with soup, tempura, and salad. The flavor and quality of the ingredients speak for themselves and the regulars in this restaurant are always happy filling the place with love and laughter.
Should you be brave enough to venture outside the bubble of midtown and drive out to the Arden Arcade area, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised, just make sure you have good directions as the place is hard to see from the road. -
Review from David F.
Elk Grove, CA
1/30/2012
This place is awesome! Try the Katsu Curry.
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Review from Corazon D.
Los Angeles, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I loved this place. I wish I were a local only so I could eat here more often.
I stumbled upon this place when I was up in Sac for work and was looking for a place to grab dinner. I sat at the bar and met the owner, Don, who is extremely friendly and welcoming. He took the time to ask me what I like and used my preferences to gauge a suggestion for me.
I enjoyed watching him prepare the sushi rolls that were ordered by myself and other customers. He puts great care into the preparation to ensure that the customer is satisfied.
I left with a happy stomach!
Later on, during the week, my co-workers and I were working in town when Don and his family happened to run into us! He recognized me and went up to say hi! What a great owner to take the time to remember their customers even when they're not at the restaurant!
Definitely stopping by if I'm ever in the area again, and I recommend it for all the locals looking for a good sushi joint! -
Review from Matty K.
6/28/2011
Hate to be the odd one out here, but while nothing was particularly bad here, nothing blew my socks away either. We came here on a random rainy summer day craving sukiyaki.
Service: Japanese ladies serving are nice and prompt.
Food: Tsukemono: Yes it's complimentary, but did it have to be old and dry?
Avo-kyu roll: My favorite part of the meal. Fresh avocado, crunchy cucumber and tasty rice.
Vegetable Sukiyaki: Good broth, light and tasty. Very little noodles, I'm used to more I guess. The vegetables were okay, some of the napa cabbage seemed old, the carrots and onions made up the majority of veggies, there also seemed to be some sort of yam and eggplant in there as well. I thought it was pretty dull, I've had better sukiyaki.
Beef Udon Sukiyaki: My boyfriend liked it, it had a lot more noodles than mine, and a little bit of beef in it.
Overall: I don't think I'd come back with all the other Japanese places in town that is better. I'm wondering if people are rating it high because it is run by Japanese people? Well, I don't rate my food by the race of the person who makes it or serves it. I rate the food on how it tastes and I honestly think it's mediocre. Maybe sushi is their thing here. I feel a bit misled with the name. -
Review from sarah l.
Sacramento, CA
12/21/2011
I absolutely love Nagato's. I eat there at least once a week and enjoy every minute of it. Don and Tak (I think that's how you spell his name) are the 2 major sushi masters behind the bar. Don is always so talkative and friendly and makes sure to make me happy. I am very particular about how I like my sushi prepared and Don and Tak always get it right. If I am in the mood to try something new I will tell Don and he will come up with some new amazing roll for me. This place has great customer service and really good prices for the wonderful food and experience you get while visiting there. It is a beautiful family restaurant you can take your kids to and not have to worry about them. Heck there's even a couple days a week where you might see Don's kids in there. If you love great customer service and awesome authentic Japanese food then you will love this place.
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Review from Sharon W.
Sacramento, CA
4/1/2012
Just had an early dinner there and was very pleased. I work in the area and will be back. Pork ter was very tender, and the sauce was not overly sweet, which is so often the case... Check them out.
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Review from Cerra K.
Sacramento, CA
1/1/2012
After consulting not only yelp, but the Sacramento County health inspectors website, I decided that Nagato Sukiyaki had what I was looking for in sushi, decent prices and no significant major health code violations (unlike many other sushi restaurants in Sacramento- seriously it wasn't pretty). I didn't want to take my toddlers in so I decided to order to go. They said it would take 40-45 minutes and it was ready when we got there at about 45 minutes. I ordered all sushi rolls (yeah I know its American).
-Tempura Roll
-Nagato Roll
-Modern Rock and 'Roll
-Krazy Mary Roll
-Hiroko Roll
It was delicious, I liked the Modern Rock and Roll and the Nagato Rolls the best. I have heard from regulars that the Omega Roll is very tasty too, and plan to try it next time, because there will be a next time. The prices are super reasonable, the most expensive rolls were $10 and most are $9.
The man working the sushi bar was super friendly and said that he has two young children and would've understood us bringing in our children. While he would have understood, I don't think some of the other patrons would. I am not really sure what a five star sushi yelp would be like, it it was really close. Thank you Nagato Sukiyaki! -
Review from Josh D.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 6/5/2011 61 Check-ins Here
This restaurant is why I like to Yelp. Don, the sushi chef, and the rest of the staff here are very friendly and the food is really exceptional. When I first came here I thought wow they have really good fish and Id have given 5 stars just for that but what makes this place great is how deep the menu is.
The Sukiyaki is incredibly flavorful, the broth they use is made in house and its immediately apparent they aren't using some pre-made store bought junk. If Tempura is your thing, Nagato makes my favorite at least here on the mainland, its light and crunchy with none of the greasiness that you sometimes get at other places. The Gyoza is also made in house and is delicious.
But don't let me forget the Sushi. All the standard stuff is here but the quality of the fish and rice stands Nagato apart from other sushi joints. Try the Chirashi its one of my favorite dishes.
This is a hidden gem out here in the Arden. Some of the best Japanese food that Ive ever had, and well worth a trip off the grid.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/27/2009
First, I have been driving by this place for almost a year, the front is unassuming and you can… Read more »
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Review from Paula G.
West Sacramento, CA
3/25/2012
Went in during my lunch hour. They were not busy when I got there. They greated me at the door and I ordered to go. They service was very slow and the prices where a little out there. Paid over $12 for lunch and for a roll that was not very good. I will not be going back.
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Review from Dominic C.
Rancho Cordova, CA
7/9/2011
I really enjoyed my experience here. It's a little ma and pa shop with what appears to be mostly regulars. It seems that the second generation has taken over and added some trend to it but at the root of it you still have good sukiyaki. Where else can you find some good sukiyaki? Not that many places in Sacramento....
BTW the one you get at Korean owned places is not sukiyaki, it's dolsot (ttupaeggi) bulgogi. When it comes in a stone pot they add noodles, veggies, and more soup.
Now... off to find okonomiyaki. -
Review from Kai L.
3/27/2011
I was sick last week. With the stomach flu. The kind of sick where you're like "umm, I'll just live in the bathroom thankyouverymuch" and when I recovered enough to want food, I wanted udon. I sent the boyfriend out to do my bidding and he came back with tempura udon from this place along with several different varieties of sushi. The udon was PERFECTION. So flavorful, just the right amount of salty and the shrimp tempura on top added another dimension of crispy, lightly battered goodness. I will swear that this place is the reasoned I recovered the next day. I haven't had the udon again because it's kinda far away from where I live, but I think about it often.
The sushi was okay. I'm used to the large, unauthentic, slashed in sauce rolls that are available at other places that it was kind of hard for me to appreciate the sushi here which is well put together but more subtle. But the quality was apparent and I'm definitely interested in trying more food in the future. -
Review from Jeremy H.
Sacramento, CA
7/28/2011 18 Check-ins Here
Seriously the most amazing Japanese Restaurant I've been to in my life... and because that I've been going there almost my entire life... over 20 years.
The only bad part is it's so good that it makes you hate other Japanese restaurants... ok, not hate, but definitely not appreciate as much.
If you like 'Real' Japanese food and have a taste for QUALITY grade meats then don't waste your time with anywhere else in Sac. -
Review from Jay Z.
Campbell, CA
9/2/2011
Very good experience. What I really remember was the excellent value. Food was very good and prices were about as reasonable as I remember. For the price, this was probably the best quality sushi I can remember. At least in California.
Couldn't quite give it 5 stars as I was't blown away by anything in particular, but a solid recommend and I will be back the next time I'm in Sacramento craving sushi. -
Review from Kayla I.
San Francisco, CA
I am 19, and my parents/grandparents have been going here even before I was born.
If you want real, AUTHENTIC Japanese food, this is the place to go to. It's run by family, not some urbanized Japanese-American restaurant like Mikunis. Pretty sure it's a lot cheaper than those "fancy" sushi places...Nothing better than to pay less for a better meal. You can tell how good this restaurant is by its patrons; almost everyone is a regular here and are friends with the sushi chef Don. Don is amazing. Sit at the sushi bar, he'll make you any special order or if you can't decide what you want he'll surprise you with something delicious. You will also have great conversation, and I see many regulars take shots with him. I'm not old enough, but he promises me 3 sake bombs on my 21st birthday. By the way, your meal is free + dessert/sake bomb on your birthday.
More about the food, Nagato has the freshest fish I've ever had and the most unique rolls. My favorite things to order are pepperfin, modern rock and roll, allll kinds of sashimi (but you have to try the butterfish!), and agedashi tofu. EVERYTHING on the menu is good though. I can't eat at any other Japanese restaurants anymore, they are all disgusting compared to Nagato...and this really makes me sad because I moved away for college. Even a crazy city like San Francisco does not have sushi as good as this restaurant...trust me I've tried so many times to find a good Japanese restaurant that I finally had to just give up.
The only complaint I have for this restaurant is that it can get EXTREMELY busy on Friday and Saturday nights...I highly recommend coming on a weeknight to get the best experience. -
Review from Kevin T.
1/29/2011
It took a couple passes of driving by this place before I finally found it. While others may see the grungy bar located next door and decide to take off, the more fearless foodies among us will definitely be rewarded for their courage.
Nagato's definitely has the family sushi house vibe going for it. Upon entering, you are greeted by a sign requesting you to find your own seats (this prevented me from having to request for a booth after being ushered to a table). Two Oba-Chan's scuttle around the restaurant taking orders and dishing out food all the while carrying friendly grins on their faces. While the dining space isn't huge, you feel cozy rather than cramped.
None of the options on the menu can be considered exotic. Nagato's carries your typical nigiri selection, Americanized maki (AKA "specialty" rolls), udons, tempura, etc. We decided to order the Seared Ahi, Gyoza, and Tako Sunomono to start dinner off (hey we were pretty hungry). I was DELIGHTED to find that neither the Tako (Octopus) nor the Ahi came out overcooked. My partner commented on the how excited they were to find homemade Gyoza.
I had almost forgotten what it felt like to go out to dinner and have a good home-cooked dinner experience.
Thank you Nagato's!Listed in: Banzai!
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Review from Diane L.
Berkeley, CA
9/26/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Came out here for a date on a Friday night and the food here was amazing, the service was great, the restaurant was nice and cozy and it had a very homey feel to it. The light soup that they gave out, which wasn't miso, was a great start to our meal. We ordered the beef sukiyaki with tempura, which was not too oily and just plain delicious, and oyakodon. so much food for only about $20.
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Review from Everett L.
Sacramento, CA
On the corner of Fulton and Marconi you are likely to find many tragedies. Among these, the heavy congestion on the streets that makes the late Jerry Falwell's arteries look like the Autobahn. Coming in at a close second, the unwashed masses of zombie-like meth laden characters who seem to be in a state of perpetual audition for the next George Romero flick. However, as if to serve as refuge from all of this, a last bastion of humanity in an area rife with discontent, Nagato Sukiyaki stands alone.
One of the first things you'll notice about this place upon entering is that it has a small and simple interior. With the modern sushi joint often riding the line between a Vegas style club and a Six Flags theme park, it's refreshing to see that not all places have given in to the excesses of decor.
After all, it's really about the food and Nagato delivers.
The rolls here are nothing short of amazing. The freshness of their ingredients becomes really apparent. I'd recommend the house special, the Nagato roll. The Omega roll was my favorite though. The beef teriyaki that I sampled from my daughter's plate was of the kind that melts in your mouth. It was hardly the rawhide you find other places.
The only downside to this place is that you'll wait a bit for the food. It's probably not the place to grab a meal if you have to be at a show in 30 minutes. Come when you have a bit of time to waste and come hungry. On the plus side you can always watch a little baseball at the bar while you wait.
Domo Arigato Nagato Sukiyaki. -
Review from nate j.
Sacramento, CA
4/22/2011
ok.. i love sushi, and pho and most authentic asian foods i've had(there are exceptions i wont go into here or now) this place is on the top shelf!!SO FN good i had to go tell the chef.. Sukiyaki is AWSOME!!!!
Now for the record I didn't get anything free for my birthday, but I had NO problem paying every last cent plus big tip!! "So..Good!" I'm a fan for life, this family knows how to make Awsome Food!!
cant wait to go back! -
Review from Rodel R.
3/17/2011
I wouldn't have stumbled upon this jewel of a hole in the wall had my friend not taken me out to dinner :-)
The lady taking our order, and probably the owner spoke very little English, but was very friendly when taking our order and serving us. I highly suggest the Chicken Katsu with the Tempura. Instead of using the Katsu sauce (which is naturally sour), I suggest dipping it in the teriyaki sauce! The tempura tasted very fresh and had to be one of the best tempura I have ever tasted!
All in all I spent about $15 for my meal, which is normally a bit pricey for my taste, but this restaurant made it well worth the buck. -
Review from Jason W.
Sacramento, CA
10/26/2010
So I went to try this place since it was ranked number 2 for sushi in Sacramento. After reading the reviews, I was excited to try their food! I ordered the katsu don $8, nabeyaki udon $9, agedashi tofu $4.50, seaweed salad $4.00, and the rice krispie roll $10.
The agedashi tofu was freshly fried and drizzled in the right amount of ginger and soy sauce. It was pretty good. The seaweed salad came in container about 2 x 2....I was a bit disappointed since I paid $4. It cost 7.95 per pound at the korean market...The rice krispie roll was unique and tasty, but for 4 pieces...I don't know if it was actually worth $10. Finally on to the main dishes, the katsu don came in a medium sized bowl. The pork cutlets were fried but since the egg cooks in it with the rice, it gets mushy. The cutlets were flavorful along with the rice. The nabeyaki udon came in a pot like bowl. It had one tempura shrimp and a few pieces of chicken. The udon noodle itself was very mushy and soft. It was actually thinner than the usual udon I buy at the market in the frozen package (which I prefer way more). The broth was a little on the salty side for me.
Overall, the food is ok. Would I return? If rolls were 50% off I would...for anything else, I doubt it....I would rather go to Blue Nami or Arigatos...maybe even Makunis~ -
Review from Tiffany K.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 7/29/2010
4.5 stars. I upped a half a star.
Came here for lunch on a weekday and had the bento box. It came with miso soup, rice, tempura and I wanted to try out their sashimi. I don't recall the price, but the total with tax came to $8.56. It's not a heck of a lot of food, if you're really hungry best to get a tonkatsu or sesame chicken.
Man oh man, the sashimi here melts in your mouth. Finally! Something worthy of my patronage. The color alone was beautiful. Almost like a cross between red and magenta - just glowing. I wish I could have a dress made in that color, I'd call it "Maguro Love".
My dining companion, work colleague Y who still gets freaked out by the appearance of miso soup, even commented on how fresh the ingredients were.
Lucky for me this place is not too far from work! I'll be back fo sho.Listed in: Turning Japanese
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2010
On a mission to find good Japanese as well as check off bookmarked spots, I came here for lunch on a… Read more »
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Review from Hannah U.
Elk Grove, CA
11/21/2010
I went here with friends for my 21st birthday with friends and reserved a table. I really like how homey it is here, and how it's not overly decorated like other sushi places (think dim lights, loud music, "fusion" vibe) like an authentic Japanese restaurant. The food is pretty sweet too; I got the Mama san roll and it tasted just right. I wanna come back and try an udon soup or something...ohhh would that be perfect for a cold winter night!
It is very reasonably priced for a Japanese restaurant, as most tend to be on the pricier side.
The only thing I didn't like too much was when they took a really long time to make my friend's spider roll (but it wasn't their fault because they ran out of rice) only to have it taste "mushy" (according to my friend). Oh well it happens. I will be very forgiving since everything else tasted really good. -
Review from Jenna B.
12/9/2010
I went to Nagato to celebrate a career accomplishment! I have been to this restaurant before, back when I didn't like sushi. Their seating area is small, but the menu is rather extensive and the service is friendly.
We ordered the Nagato Roll which really knocked my socks off. The salmon on top was the perfect consistency, and very thick and fresh. It tasted just how sushi grade fish should taste, and the sauce was unlike anything I ever tried! It was like a mayo sauce but much creamier and richer.
We also ordered the Tear Gas, which satiated my spicy cravings, however, I felt it couldve used some mayo sauce or something to moisten it other than soy to dip it in.
But my ultimate favorite that night was the Rice Krispie Roll! There was lots of fresh avocado, the panko on the outside gave it the perfect crunch, but the sauce it was served on top of was fruity and sweet, had fresh chiles in it (so it was very spicey) but had mayo sauce mixed in!
I would have given five stars if the service was faster, but there was hardly anyone in the restaurant and we were still served a little too slowly for my taste. Not only that but they didnt leave us with a menu when they took our first order... and its not like they were packed. Never the less the prices are really fair, the roll sizes are just right (not too big or too small) and the ingredient freshness is off the hook... and I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with the variations of sauces that go far beyond more typical sauces Ive ever had on any House Rolls before! The food alone is 5 stars :)
Oh, and parking was a little annoying... there hardly was any for my tiny car, and other stores in the shopping center were already closed.Listed in: Faves
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Review from Jessica S.
Sacramento, CA
Updated - 9/29/2010
Thank you, Nagato, for letting me stay a little past 2:30. :)
The food, as always, is tasty and satisfying--I cannot even come close to replicating the broth in the tofu and vegetable yasaimono at home. Delicious.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2009
Love it here. Love love love love. Intimate and unassuming, with good quality fish at the sushi bar.… Read more »
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Review from Elizabeth C.
Sacramento, CA
10/21/2010 1 photo
I'm having a hard time deciding what kind of rating I should give this place. The sushi we ordered was bomb (spicy tuna handroll and the mama san sushi roll). The fish was incredibly tasty and fresh and by far one of the best sushi rolls I've eaten.
But I didn't feel the same about the meal I ordered and I know my boyfriend didn't feel too great about his either. I ordered the katsu curry and he ordered the chicken terriyaki. His chicken had a lot of gristle in it. My curry was bland. I've definitely had better Japanese food.
All in all, I would go back but I would only order off the sushi menu. -
Review from Miika m.
9/20/2008 3 photos
Oishii!!
My good friend was craving sushi and I had yet to try a good place since most of the joints downtown had either gotten taken over, sold, or upgraded (ie, prices went up as well as the personable aspect of it). She volunteered this place because she knew the sushi chef and the minute we walked in, I heard in friendly Nihongo:
"Ahh, Whole Foods no ne-chan"
I would have missed this spot in a second. Located in a strip mall next to the odd bar, the only differentiation were the traditional shoji screens in the window. It is definitely the eatery where time came and stayed for several dishes of sushi and relaxation. It was so late, we were the only customers left.
Since I speak Nihongo, it was pleasant to share a few wisps of the language with the nice lady (must be the mother) of the sushi chef, also fluent.
I was not hungry, but after I checked out the menu, I ordered the Nagato Special. When the platter came out, I almost fell over. 5 choices of the chef's nigiri (Hamachi, Maguro, Snapper, Salmon, Unagi), seaweed salad, and 6 smaller rolls of the spicy tuna. All for $13.
I have to say, I've had my share of sushi on all parts of the US, but wow, the Hamachi and Maguro here were excellent. Fresh, clear, and it melted in my mouth.
It was so good, I decided at the last minute to order another roll to take home to my sister and her boyfriend.
Now I have a sushi place when I'm back in my town to escape the reality of ugly ex issues ;) -
Review from Drew T.
4/3/2008
It's a small but true Japanese family style restaurant. They always hook me up with extra sushis when I tell them that I am vegetarian because they say that I need to eat more. I haven't been in a while, but the son used to be the head sushi chef and is very personable. He graduated from college and came home to help the family run the biz (not that this makes the food taste any better, but it plays to the homeyness of the joint).
Fresh food, iffy service, but they'll make anything you want. The location is kind of crappy, but they've been there forever and so they have a loyal neighborhood crowd that keeps them busy.
check out the pics on kcra http://kcra.cityvoter.... -
Review from Mark S.
Keller, TX
12/31/2009
Been here twice for dinner now. First time was in the April/2009 and then recently again several weekends ago. Seems like the younger caucasian crowd heads straight to the sushi bar, while those who are older or of ethnic descent sit at a table and order the cooked dishes. I'm a sucker for being tended to by a mature Japanese woman and choose a table or booth.
The first time eating here I wasn't that impressed, but I'm glad that a review wasn't written then because my heart is more welcoming and accepting of this Japanese-style eating establishment. The servers here are adoring in a "being taken care of by Obachan" sort of way. On one hand my heart is heavy to see them working so hard at their age. On the other hand, they seem to enjoy being a part of the scene, meeting and talking to the various customers who are either regulars, acquaintances, or friends.
There's nothing fancy or pretentious about Nagato Sukiyaki. It's a simple, clean, family run operation where people work hard to scrape out a meager life for themselves. As such, the prices are pretty reasonable for what you get in return. If you come with this expectation level you won't be disappointed.
Can't say much about the sushi because that's not my thing, but do have one related comment. I did order the amaebi on the first visit and was disappointed. Seemed like I received a pair of jumbo sized fried ebi heads with smallish 40 count sushi tails. I also recall having the beef sukiyaki that first time and it having a wonderful flavor.
On my more recent second visit, I went straight for a pair of appetizers; natto ($3) and nagaimo ($5). Be forewarned that most Americans probably won't be able to stomach either of these two dishes. Natto being fermented soy beans that appear to have been mixed up with sticky snot and slightly pungent (the fermented bacterium) and the nagaimo being grated Japanese yam, but looking like a bowl of white slimy snot with not mush taste. Both are very healthy and have excellent nutritional value if you have the mental capacity to not be psyched out by something so foreign to the usual American palate.
I also ordered the yosenabe hot pot dish for my entree ($10), and like the sukiyaki from my first trip it had an excellent flavor that warmed by soul on this chilly, raining evening as much as Obachan did by being patient at my feeble attempts to speak some Japanese. The pot dishes here are served in a prepared state, not cooked at the table. No complaints about the service, the prices, the quantities (except for the amaebi tails), etc. I'll enjoy eating here again some day.
