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Sagami Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
37 W Crescent BlvdCollingswood, NJ 08108
(856) 854-9773
- 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:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
128 reviews for Sagami Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
"dessert: MMMMM green tea ice cream the real stuff."
(in 7 reviews)
"Its BYOB so bring your favorite sake."
(in 18 reviews)
"The spicy tuna handroll was amazing."
(in 11 reviews)
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128 reviews in English
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Review from Robert C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/6/2012
I lived in Japan for four years, and this is where I go to eat good Japanese food at a reasonable price. The food is always fresh. The menu is straightforward. This is not Morimoto - it's the place down the street in Japan. My favorites:
* Hijiki
* Hiya-yakko
* Agedashi-dofu
* Unagi
This is BYOB, so make sure you bring sake, beer or wine. You should make reservations as this place is busy most nights. -
Review from Katrina C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Friday night. Reservation for 9 people at 8:00. We weren't seated until 8:45. This is the first problem. I realize you have to wait for people to get up, but do not overbook yourself.
The food was good (see below) ... but .... we didn't get our food until 10:00. Seriously, an hour and 15 minutes after we sat down and 2 hours after our reservation time. If you know me at all, you probably know that when I am not fed regularly - I'm cranky. Let's just say that I was holding it all in on Friday.
The menu is pretty basic and is reportedly more "authentic". My sister and I shared a Sushi A dinner entree (a tuna roll with about 8 pieces of sushi - the kind with the fish over rice). It was about $24 and came with miso soup, salad, and a side which was a type of noodle with vinegar dressing. Tasty. Then we also shared a sashimi app for $13 which had about 10-12 pieces of sashimi. The fish was all very fresh and delicious. The food was really solid.
A few people in my group ordered the Chirashi bowl - which is different fish and seafood over rice. If you want to be more adventurous, order it "J style".
Oh, and you can seriously almost miss the entrance, it sneaks up on you. Be careful. -
Review from Brian C.
Philadelphia, PA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really do think this is the best sushi place in the Philadelphia area, and it's in New Jersey! It's a short drive away but totally worth it. First of all, it's a BYOB. So bring your drink of choice (scotch with sushi is not that bad... from experience).
There are a couple things I always get here:
- Chirashi - This is what you should get if you can't make up your mind. It offers a great array of different fresh seafood including surf clam, squid, octopus, tuna, salmon, red snapper, sweet egg, shrimp, yellowtail, and roe. All topped on some delicious vinegar-y sushi rice. It's a great amount of food.
- Tuna donburi - the tuna is deliciously marinated in a sweet/savory marinade and it pairs perfectly with the creamy avocado it comes with, again all on perfectly done sushi rice.
- Eggplant appetizer (nasu). Miso, meat, and piping hot eggplant. What a great combination.
The seafood is always fresh. One disclaimer is that you should be prepared to wait a bit for your food. It takes the chefs awhile to prepare the food, so order an appetizer or bring some drinks while you're waiting.
They can also get pretty full especially on the weekends, so call ahead and make a reservation if you can. -
Review from Robert W.
Cherry Hill, NJ
2/9/2012
Good luck ever getting a seat here without a reservation. I guess that means the food is good though. When I'm looking to get some legit Japanese, this is the place in NJ, for sure.
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Review from Ashley B.
Doylestown, PA
2/6/2012
Absolutely, positively worth an hour and a half drive. Just hope there's a place to park because the lot is miniscule.
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Review from Daniel B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/28/2011
Quite simply, I'm ashamed that I never made it over the bridge from Philly to this badass spot while working in Philly during my 20s. I'll excuse myself for the past 4-5 years while I lived in New Zealand. But while home for the holidays I stopped in for dinner and was very impressed. Rivals any spot in Philly and must be the best in the burbs. Value is absurd as well. Being a winemaker, BYOB makes it even more alluring. Having Chef Tod Wentz, an experienced Sagami eater, with me for the meal also helped with the ordering and descriptions.
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Just order what you like, be adventurous and let them do their thing. Service was excellent as well.
Only heads up is to NOT sit in the side room. Doesn't have the cavernous ambiance of the main room. Expect tight seating, but that's the feel of the place. If possible, sit at the bar and be prepared to have your world rocked by these sushi magicians.
Bring some aromatic white wine, Viognier, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling or maybe a nice round Sauvignon blanc from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.......dB -
Review from Jia Z.
Cherry Hill, NJ
12/27/2011
Can't tell from the outside, but once you go inside, it's a low ceiling Japanesey (not a word) restaurant. The sushi/sashimi are all fresh and they have a good selection if you are into raw fish. Their futomaki is THE BEST I've ever had anywhere. Their green tea and red bean ice cream is also very good. I like everything on their menu but if you order a lot it can get pricey... but worth it! If you are going for dinner or for weekends definitely call for reservation because they are not that big. I'd say this is the closest to authentic Jap food around south jersey area!
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Review from Christian M.
Philadelphia, PA
10/25/2011
Though I reside in Philly, I am deciding to post my first "Yelp" review about a sushi joint in Collingswood, NJ called Sagami. Sushi, in my humble opinion is perhaps one of the world's most perfect foods and too often perfectly destroyed. It is similar to Italian food in that it continues to be abused by chain restaurants and shelfs in your local Acme. Really good sushi is fresh, it's simple, it's often art.
Sagami in Collingswood rates high above so many places, even daresay in Philadelphia. It's worth the bridge into Jersey. The location isn't great, in fact as many times as I've ventured here I still wind up going in a circle. But, once you enter this low-ceiling, darkly lit, wooden table venue, all is forgiven. The service, the food, and the price. it's worth it kids. Oh, and bring a bottle with you. It's BYOB.
Dough: $
Liquor: BYOB
Plastic: Yes -
Review from Rosalita A.
Wilmington, NC
12/23/2011
Above and beyond sushi! Stragglers who cry they are not sushi fans can still find something delightful here. The agashi dofu, edamame, and udons are also highly addictive. The flavors do not compete and the sauces are not over-the-top fusion. A meal here is worth maneuvering through that crazy traffic circle.
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Review from Zeynep G.
Haddonfield, NJ
8/23/2011
My favorite sushi restaurant. Very authentic; you won't find Godzilla or King Kong rolls here (not that there's anything wrong with them, just not that kind of place). The sushi simply melts in your mouth... we're huge fans of the unagi-avocado roll and salmon nigiri, although everything is superb, from the miso soup to the salad, appetizers, tempura, down to the green tea ice cream (if you even have room for it by the end). One appetizer I would highly recommend is the nasu dengaku, which is grilled eggplant with sweet miso & minced chicken paste on top.
The atmosphere is also very authentic. The ceilings are low, the room is small, somewhat crowded and can get loud, and the waitresses are all in kimono. We have not eaten very often in the back room; that room has less personality and we prefer to sit in the main room.
Another reviewer mentioned the "unassuming" price tag and I think that's a great way to describe the price of dinner here. The price is right on the mark for the delicious food. Whenever we go here, we have nothing short of a feast. I can't recommend this place enough! -
Review from Stephen C.
Philadelphia, PA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best sushi hands down!!!
Nothing more needs to be said. If you go on the weekends make sure you make a reservation! They will be packed!!
Happy Eatings!! -
Review from Dan C.
8/14/2011
Wow, I did not expect this place to be....(string of positive praises) in such an unassuming place.
Let me explain.
I drive up with a few friends. It's about 7:00p, and this place looks like a normal restaurant, but located right off of the freeway so it's not exactly "the place to be" if we're going by looks. We walk in and it's FULL. GREAT SIGN. We are seated within 10 minutes which was absolutely lovely on their part, and wait....and wait.... My friend and I got the sushi B combo, so at least we have salads and soups while our two other dining-mates are waiting for what must have been 30-45 minutes. But oh god, it was totally worth it.
Fresh fish that melts in your mouth (or is appropriately chewy). Amazing wasabi that is soft and remains that way and spicy as all hell. A great waitstaff. Rice is perfectly seasoned with vinegar and baby strips of nori. We are given nori upon request. Seriously, this is Asian hospitality at its very best and we tipped appropriately. I know food snobs who would go gaga over this place, and for good reason. There is so much to love!
I'm really excited to come here again (with someone who has a car!) -
Review from Eva H.
6/20/2011
Really a 4.5, but I'm feeling generous.
Sagami is out of the way, packed, loud, and hectic. You should go anyway.
NOM NOM NOM NOM...
So, I hate when I arrive at a restaurant for a reservation and am made to wait far outside of my given reservation time (in this case, about 20 minutes, plus another 5 or so before our server arrived). This irritates the stew out of me. However, I'm not going to quibble too much because the place was freakin' PACKED and the servers were really, really overwhelmed.
End rant.
So, we ordered a ton of food.
We started with the edamame (perfectly cooked) and the shumai (perfectly cooked shrimp inside delicate dumplings). Both were lovely and light, though a bit unnecessary given that we both got "dinners" which include a ton more food than two people should ever consume if they're not on Man Versus Food.
Anyway...
Out comes soup and salad and more salad. Now, I see a lot of reviews calling the soup "clear soup," but what we were served was definitely miso soup. Maybe they mix it up some days? Regardless, the soup was some of the best I've had--very flavorful, very delicate, very yum even on a hot day.
The house salad was more meh than delicious, but still passable. Iceberg, carrots, radishes, and a good 1/4 cup of flavorful dressing piled on top. It was all fresh, don't get me wrong, but the overwhelming amount of dressing--plus the fact that, over the time it sat waiting to be delivered, half the dressing made a huge watery puddle at the bottom of the bowl--just didn't win me over.
We also got a lovely concoction of glass noodles (I think?), cucumbers, and vinegar--very refreshing, and a nice flavor contrast to the heavier dumplings and soup.
But we've got mains to discuss. And they were good.
The sashimi dinner was ample and included some of the best octopus ever on it--seriously top notch. The accompanying rice was well made, and my man was shoveling it in faster than I could keep up.
I got sushi b. I'm not sure what the difference is from sushi a (too long since I've visited), but it was really good--and huge. I ended up putting several pieces into the boy's place for him to inhale. Regardless, there was a lovely tuna roll in the mix, plenty of roe filled delights, many things I can't remember due to the fast pace of my intake, and a (sorry) really awful bean curd/tofu/who knows mushy thing that was really sweet and I couldn't eat. But, over all, it was plentiful, huge, and a killer deal. The sushi tray alone was worth the $24 we paid (particularly if we were in Philly) but the addition of side, salad, soup, and dessert made it an uber steal. You can get teriyaki and the like here, but why?
Onto dessert. It was good. I got the green tea ice cream. It was, as always, refreshing heaven. The boy got some totally inauthentic banana chocolate concoction that was surprisingly tasty.
Though service is top notch, you should expect plenty of Jersey beefcakes/spray tanned big hair when you go. There was an incredibly drunk birthday party beside us that nearly drove me to tears. I won't fault the restaurant for that, but be warned.
Upshot: I like Sagami. If you don't need ambiance, don't mind a wait, and can handle low ceilings and loud noise, you will too. The chefs are obviously top notch, and the fish is unbelievably fresh and tasty.
BYOB, accepts credit cards, and reservations are a must. -
Review from TW S.
Arlington, VA
11/13/2011
I don't mean to post a negative review. I think this was hyped up by yelp but i wasn't overly impressed. The location isn't great, the atmosphere isn't great and the food was just ok. I don't know if i'd recommend to friends.
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Review from Eric S.
Philadelphia, PA
9/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hallelujah! Thanks for steering me right, Yelp. After two years in the Philly area, I've finally found an honest, casual, Japanese-owned (yes, it matters a lot) sushi place. Odd, funky location and atmosphere (the low-ceilinged main dining room is something else), but the fresh, simple sushi makes it worth the drive out to NJ and the toll on the way back.
Tried the seaweed salad (tasty and cheap), the chirashi sushi (ditto), a piece of hotate (okay, not as great as it could've been), a piece of flounder muscle (who knew? pretty good), and a piece of unagi (the most gigantic piece of eel I've ever seen at a sushi place). Service a bit slow, but friendly. And who cares about slow service when you're drinking the booze that you brought?
This place is not the best sushi place in the world, but in the Philly area, it's a lifesaver. I don't have to wait for trips to California to eat sushi. -
Review from Jessica M.
Woodbury, NJ
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sagami, for me, was just okay. It has taken me awhile to write this review because I felt like I was doing something wrong by not loving it, especially since so many of the previous reviewers claim that if you want a "REAL JAPANESE EXPERIENCE," Sagami is tops.
The atmosphere at Sagami is a little strange. I don't need fancy decorations or anything, but I just found the wall lined with spider monkey pictures... kind of disconcerting to look at while I ate. Also, because of the low ceilings and paneling in the back room, voices echo and it is very loud.
Service was good. Food came out at a decent pace, despite the fact that there only appeared to be two sushi chefs working and the restaurant was packed. Our server was very nice, and empty dishes were cleared quickly.
We ordered the beef nega maki for our appetizer, and it was really, really good. I've had this dish at a couple other places, and this was definitely the best I've tried. The beef was juicy and flavorful, and despite the fact that it was cut into a little more than a mouthful for me, it was my favorite part of the meal.
I ordered the Sushi dinner, which included soup, salad, 6 pieces of negiri sushi, and a tuna roll. My clear soup was lacking a flavor, and ditto on the salad's ginger dressing. The sushi was definitely fresh, but the chef put wasabi on each piece, between the rice and the fish. Even though this might be the more traditional way for serve it, I just didn't appreciate it. I do add a little wasabi to my soy, and sometimes I'll add a little extra to a stronger fish; I like to be able to control my own heat, and that wasn't an option with this dish. Also, I felt that the wasabi flavor overpowered a couple of the more delicate fishes.
The meal did end on a good note, as the pricing was fair and the scoop of green tea ice cream that came with my meal was quite good.
Since I really liked the nega maki, I'm actually interested to go back to Sagami for more of their hot dishes. I'll probably just stay away from the sushi.Listed in: Swim For Your Supper
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Review from Emma N.
Dover, DE
8/22/2011
I didn't understand what the hype was about until I came for myself and ate the food. I was here for a friend's b-day. She insisted on coming to this place. She's a regular here. She told me to keep my mind open. When i got to this place, it looks like it was in a basement of a house (warning this place has low ceilings). I was thinking "thank god I always carry Imodium, just in case, my dinner dates decide to get adventurous" at a shady place.
After 20 min wait, even with the reservation, we got to the table. This place is BYOB, so we brought our own sake, which they gladly warmed up for us too. We order the Chirashi, Sushi B, Sukiyaki, and the Tempura. We just wind up sharing our meals with each other. And I must say. WOW! The fish was so fresh it melts in your mouth. Maybe it's high turnover rate they have. I look over to the front door and there was still a long line to be seated. It's like their customers are eager to get a seat in this restaurant and they are willing to wait for as long as need.
I saw that the chef has a stack of Uni boxes next to him and I told myself that I should take advantage of this, they look fresh. So I order 3 pieces of Uni Sushi, and I must say it's worth every penny of the $5/per piece. The uni couldn't get any fresher than that. It's reminded me of the time I ate fresh uni out of the shell. Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!
I wouldn't hesitate to go again but I must warn it's not cheap. If you're a foodie like me, who's willing to pay ridiculous price for great food, I would say Sagami is worth every cent. Sagami reminds me of traditional looking Japanese "hole in the wall" restaurant, no gimmicks, they just let the food do the talking. -
Review from Ray L.
Philadelphia, PA
8/13/2011
This is my favorite sushi place in Philadelphia. Well, it's not really in Philadelphia--but if I want sushi in Philadelphia, I cross the bridge and eat at Sagami.
Good sushi is never cheap, so I won't say that Sagami is a great place to get cheap sushi. But, for the quality--and certainly the QUANTITY of food that you get, this place is very reasonably priced.
I almost always get the chirashi (raw fish over a bed of sushi rice). It's a LOT of food and certainly worth what you pay for it.
I would just say that for some inexplicable reason, it takes forever for food to come to your table. Waiting 40 minutes is not uncommon. So if you're hungry, order appetizers. Despite the long wait, I'm still a huge fan. And really, if I want sushi, I won't get it in Philly. I'd rather go to Sagami. -
Review from Thuy N.
Philadelphia, PA
7/26/2011
This is an authentic authentic sushi house! loved everything we ordered. Appetizers are small, fish (super fresh), sushi rice (perfect), green tea and red bean ice cream for dessert...OMG!
I definitely see myself coming back here. This place is small tho, so be sure to make reservations. Best thing it's BYOB!!! Crazy right?!
Can't wait to come back! -
Review from Kristin G.
Folsom, PA
11/11/2011
Best sushi I've had, their yellowtail avocado roll Is amazing. Defiantly a great place to get fresh authentic sushi
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Review from Alyssa M.
Philadelphia, PA
11/5/2011
Let me start by saying that I had never tasted Japanese food prior to my visit and now I know that I am not a big Japanese food fan. I decided to take my boyfriend here because he LOVES sushi. Although he enjoyed to sushi, I didn't enjoy the meal. The atmosphere is very dark and the dining room had a funny smell. I didn't like the soup because it had tofu cubes that were very soft and "mushy". Next was the salad and that had a ginger dressing which my boyfriend liked but I was not fond of. I just ate the lettuce without the dressing. I ordered the teriakyi chicken and it appeared that they kept the skin on it and one side was hard. The staff was very friendly but I still wouldn't return. If you like authentic Japanese food, maybe you should give it a try. I was not impressed.
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Review from Allen G.
Philadelphia, PA
10/26/2011
The best!!
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Review from Wailun C.
New York, NY
6/10/2011
So where do you have to go in Philly to find a decent spot for fresh sushi???
... why Jersey of course!
This sushi shack across the river might not look like impressive by its exterior, but believe me serves up some of the better and fresher fish in the Philly area. Thier decent sized cuts of sushi were simply delicious and die not have any sort of "just got out of the refrigerator" texture that some local joints have. This place BYOB, so pick up a bottle of your favorite brew before venturing in. Decor was also quaint in the main dining area where it's dimmer, as opposed to the back room which was fully lit.
This place might be a tad out of the way, but worth the drive if you're craving some fresh fish. -
Review from Kelly C.
Thorofare, NJ
12/23/2011
Simply the best sushi I have ever had. Yes the location is not the best, and the interior can be noisy/ have low ceilings but it is worth it! The ingredients taste fresh and of better quality.
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Review from David A.
Philadelphia, PA
6/3/2011
This is my favorite place for sushi in the greater Philadelphia area. The fact that its BYO just makes it better.
Go with the "Sushi A". It's a great selection of nigiri with a tuna roll. The fish here is so delicious and fresh. The fried oyster appetizer is also fantastic.
This may not be the destination for the creative sushi roll seeker. You may be hard pressed to find something more modern than the California roll.
The menu at Sagami is very traditional in the Edomae style of sushi, which I enjoy tremendously. I also love the atmosphere, especially when seated in the main room. I love the character of the low ceiling along with the dim lighting. It feels like you could actually dining somewhere in Japan! -
Review from Nancy P.
5/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Feels almost too out of the way for me to come here regularly. But Sagami is definitely a cute spot for a sushi date. The dining area is dim and almost romantic (aside from the room full of strangers). We went a a weeknight and it was pretty crowded. So reservations are a good thing to have before coming here.
A BYOB and you can tell there's a bunch of regulars that know about this. The servers are friendly and fast.
I ordered the spicy tuna and the California roll. Both were good and 'no frills'. I also got a side of the soba noodles. This was boring and not something I would order again. My friends got the Chirashi and it looked wonderful. I had a piece of the tamago and it was super yummy. Light and fluffy and perfectly sweet.
A good experience but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here. -
Review from Sook K.
Cherry Hill, NJ
4/1/2011
Can it be true?? Actual Japanese people waiting on me and making my sushi?!?! I loved it, from the delicious chirashi, to our beautiful tiny waitress, to the tight squeeze into our table, and to the owner/sushi chef that lightened up and started talking a mile a minute as soon as I gave him a beer!!!
In these parts (south jerz and Philly) where almost all the sushi joints are owned and operated by Koreans or Chinese, this place was refreshingly...JAPANESE!! Cheers to my first rating on YELP and my first 5 stars! -
Review from Hans H.
3/31/2011
Here on a business trip, so was looking for someplace that wasn't fast food. Kurumaya in Arlington Hts, IL is still my standard, so here we go.
Got the sashimi dinner--very good deal for the money. They have to work on their salad dressing though, as it was rather bland and plentiful. Their soup was only so-so as well. You don't let miso soup boil, friends!
A major plus are their sushi chefs, however. They really know how to cut their fish. Red snapper was cut thin, and other more tender cuts of tuna and salmon cut thicker. Great cuts of hamachi the night I was there. Unfortunately, the tuna was quite cold and grainy, but still above average. Dessert coming with the set is a great plus!
My recommendation is to skip the extras and go for the fish. -
Review from Superfly T.
Moorestown, NJ
4/4/2011
Sagami is still the best in the metro Philadelphia area, it's a true Japanese Sushi Restaurant so don't even think about asking for cream cheese on your salmon roll! However, this is one of the few Sushi restaurants that uses real king crab in their California rolls.
Great, fresh Sashimi, excellent salads and appetizers, and an excellent Japanese kitchen serving some of the best cooked Japanese such as Udon, Soba, Sukiyaki or Teriyaki, and probably the best Tempura around! The Negimaki (Steak & Scallion) is superb and the best I have ever had. So even if you don't eat Sushi - you will have an outstanding traditional meal unmatched by any other Japanese restaurant in the South Jersey/Phila. region.
We went there recently with some vegan friends and they have many menu items to satisfy even the most picky non-carnivores.
A few cold appetizers are particularly appealing; try the side-dish clear noodle salad, or the Asparagus with Sesame sauce.
Sure, it's crowded and feels a little cramped. But this adds to the authenticity and the atmosphere is very cozy with a great staff that is extremely attentive. -
Review from Julie K.
Cherry Hill, NJ
9/4/2011
The good:
-negimaki (beef +scallion)
-udon
-tempura
The decent:
-uni (can't justify $5 per piece unless it is mouth watering good)
-etc sushi (inconsistency with the rice...some were mushy)
The meh:
-all the rolls
First off, I really love the ambiance of this restaurant. The ceilings are low, the lights are dim, and it feels very cozy inside! I know that this is not one of those crazy rolls-focused sushi joints, but really, the rolls that they do have, I would not recommend. The sushi in general was decent, but still overpriced for the quality. For the ikura, we were disappointed by the rice as it was mushy, almost to the point of watery...really gross. It's all about the rice people! My husband wanted to complain, but I told him that it was fine and to continue eating. We then had the uni where the rice was perfect and the quality of the uni was good, but not the best I ever had. I kept thinking to myself how much I missed sushi restaurants like Sushi Gen, Urasawa, Asenabo, or Matsuhisa back in LA, because the sushi was off the hooook! I have yet to find that in this area, but regardless, this restaurant is still a gem as the entrees are authentic and delightful as is the service. We were surprised by how simple, yet delicious the udon broth was and the tempura batter was perfect. -
Review from Syndie K.
Philadelphia, PA
11/15/2011
I can't say enough about this restaurant. I have been eating Japanese food for most of my life and Sagami has some of the freshest sushi I have ever eaten. They are always very accomindating no matter the size of the group we go with. I have been with groups of 4 up to groups of 20. You can make reservations and you table is always ready when you get there. The service is very prompt and all the servers are very helpful. It is BYOB and if you bring Sake they heat will ask if you would like it heated. I live in Philadelphia and there are many places I could go to have sushi but I will still make the trip across the bridge everytime for the best.
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Review from Karl P.
New York, NY
2/1/2011
Authentic Japanese Food. Raw Fish goodness!!!! Get the Chirashi!
Sagami's is a true Japanese Restaurant. People from all areas travel here to eat, from Philadelphia to Delaware.
The raw fish is extremely fresh, as well as the Agedashi Tofu and Miso Soup. That is one way to really judge a Japanese restaurant, taste the tofu! If the tofu is really good and presented well, you know you have a place to return to. Their ginger salad dressing is the best, not too sweet, with hints of ginger goodness!
Now, I must also say that since Sagami's is a true Japanese restaurant, you will NOT find crazy looking rolls and or fried rice, typically served by Chinese/Korean owned Japanese restaurants. That is unfortunately the cuisine that some people would associate Sushi with.
Try Sagami's Tuna rolls. The presentation is perfect and the taste is simple and enjoyable. Also, try California rolls here--you'll find subtle tastes that you won't find from the regular-round-the-corner-type place.
The Chirashi is their top dish here, and Rue-san cuts the fish himself. He is the owner. Chirashi is a bowl of sushi rice, topped with pieces of raw fish, selected by the sushi cooks. Sagamis portion is gigantic and tasty. The presentation, indescribable. You almost have to take a minute to reflect and stare at the wide array of colors and flavors in front of you.
The white rice is perfect and does not need soy sauce.
If you ever get a chance, sit at the sushi bar, (make sure you bring a beer for him), and await for some funny jokes and interaction. He is the best!
Of course the ceilings are low and it is a tight place to sit in. That is authentically Japanese, so if you're a *bigger* person, you might not enjoy the amenities. It is also loud and busy most of the time, so please don't bring crying kids lol.
I always crave going back here, and the prices are also what you would expect to eat at a good Japanese restaurant. Again, if you are a person who likes the "half-lotus, crazy pink lady, sex roll", this is not for you.
Sagami's is BYOB, so make sure you bring a good bottle of Sake, Wine, and or Beer. And, bring an extra for Rue-san! You service will be heightened even more, and he will remember you for the next visit! If you really enjoyed everything, make sure to finish the plates with no morsel left on the dish!
Now I'm hungry... -
Review from Michael K.
Northborough, MA
9/15/2011
Great Japanese cuisine. Beef Negimaki was great, as was all the sushi. Service was perfect. The ceiling is low and the place is crowded and loud is about the biggest knocks on this place. Great great value considering the quality. They don't have crazy American sushi rolls, so if you're looking for something like that, try the very good Mikado in Cherry Hill.
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Review from Elena E.
Mt Laurel, NJ
8/9/2010
Sagami is the best,
We 've been going there for 15 years. Very authentic, nice atmosphere, great waitresses in the Japanese clad attire. What for sushi and sashimi, the freshest always. Their fried eggplant (nasu misu) is the best, I always compare to other restaurants i visit and measure if they have eggplant on the menu at all and what quality.
Shirashi is a great variety and quality, also always compare when visit other restaurants. And we've been a lot of places in US and Canada.
So, don't hesitate, go if lucky to make a reservation and enjoy a unique experience. -
Review from k w.
Burlington, NJ
11/18/2010
My 5 star rating for this place is strictly on the sushi/sashimi. The fish here is so fresh. I haven't found another Japanese Sushi Place that comes close. And, they are actually Japanese Sushi Chefs working at the restaurant not like those sushi places that are owned by other Asians and have not fully been certified as a sushi chef.
I definitely recommend the Chirashi Bowl. It's definitely the best and most popular dish in this place.
The tempura here is also good. And, I love all their green tea ice cream. It's a BYOB place so bring your drinks with you. The place gets crowded so tried to call for reservations. -
Review from Angela J.
11/17/2010
Apart from the screaming children that for some reason surrounded me at every other table in the establishment.....this place was great!
Fast service, cozy, dark atmosphere, and delicious sushi. The rolls here are small, so we ended up ordering extra, but they are also cheap, so for $34 (including tip) we had our fill of sushi, miso soup, and salad.
I will have to come back here on a non-child infused evening. It was hard to appreciate the freshness when sippy cups were a potential flying hazard.... I mean, really, toddlers at a sushi place? That's what babysitters are for.
I do wish they had more "specialty rolls" here though, I know my way around sushi pretty well, but I love all the fun options at Mikado. Sagami was a list of fish, and that's it. So had I not known to ask for spicy mayo or cucumber to jazz up a roll a bit, I may have been a little lost. -
Review from SF G.
Voorhees, NJ
6/19/2011
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the Philadelphia/South New Jersey area. It is definitely the most authentic place around with the freshest fish. I loved the Chirashi bowl. It had such a wonderful selection of fish with great portions and perfect sushi rice. My date had some type of pork dish that I was not as fond of...it was not bad, but it just was not great.
The ceiling is very low...I am not super tall, but I had heels on and had the sensation that my head was going to hit the ceiling. My date had to lean his head to the side. But overall, it's a cute place.
BYOB love it! I go here as often as possible. :) -
Review from David S.
Oaklyn, NJ
12/23/2010
First, don't be discouraged by the look and the location of the building. Second, if you see an elderly man behind the sushi bar, be sure to say hi and thank you on the way out. He is the original owner of this place and still makes sushi to this day. Don't be scared of the menu, it tends to be very simplistic. They can make anything you want, however don't come here looking for exotic rolls. If you are looking for quality sushi / sashimi to eat, then you are at the right place.
As a hint, be sure to look at the special board when walking into the waiting area. It is hanging on the wall blends in with other art works. This will let you know what is fresh, unique and available that day. -
Review from virginia c.
Berkeley, CA
10/29/2010
Just came from it tonight, and it's a little over rated. However, the ambiance and atmosphere deserves at least 4 stars. It you are over 6 feet tall, this place might be a little difficult- so sit at the bar or the back room. BYOB and the chefs are Japanese- not Chinese, Japanese. This place is therefore def. authentic to my delight.
Pros:
Quality of the Sushi= fresh
1) Spicy tuna
2)Shrimp Tempura
3) Maguro, Salmon, Seabass (It is a little heavy on the wasabi- but overall... delightful).
4) Watercress Salad and seaweed salad are a must
5) Mixed Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura was okay
6) Service-Excellent and the Price was Inexpensive for Sushi
7) Overall, I wanted something more exciting- and the menu wasn't very helpful. Although, I realized you can order off the menu. Maybe I just wasn't creative enough tonight
Cons.
1) Variety of my wannabe special rolls or needed suggestions
2) Location. If you are coming from Cherry Hill- I haven't figured out a way not to have to make a long/pain in the butt u-turn.
Actually, maybe I'm rating this too harshly. I really had a pleasant experience- but it just didn't blow me away and i had higher expectations from other reviews. Yet, I will def. go back and try their set-dinners. -
Review from eddy b.
Bensalem, PA
9/6/2010
The restaurant (building) doesn't match the quality and standard of this place. It is, by far, the best sushi restaurant in the tri-state area.
Except for Hiro Shanoi (in Center City at 15th and Walnut), I wouldn't eat anywhere else when I want good quality sushi.
Bar none.....
