Ive been here a handful of times and i really liked it. We had lunch today and the service was lacking as well as the food today. My son that eats basically anything was disappointed at the taste of the food. He also pointed out there is never any music. Listening to men talk about how fat their wives are is not lunch talk when Im with my kiddos and I definitely think some music could drown out the conversation we heard about a ladys colonoscopy that was across the restaurant...just saying.
This place is amazing! I came here on a date with my husband the other day. We definitely enjoyed it! Im making this review from my car in front of the restaurant (I just got a to go order) but the waitresses are very nice. They take the time to help you and offer great suggestions. This is one of my new favorite spots. 😍 Love it!!!
The service was excellent, but the teriyaki sauce was very thick and not very appetizing.
My wife and I enjoyed it! Loved every dish we had, especially the dumplings and katsudon. This is definitely one of my new favorite restaurants here in Merced. Cant wait for another trip.
Japanese restaurants are few and far between, and this one is exceptional. The food and service are superb, the dining room is clean and uncluttered, and the atmosphere is nice with very tasteful Japanese art and lanterns. The outside looks like an old coffee shop and the grounds are sterile, but don’t let that dissuade you from entering and enjoying a delicious meal.
Been coming here ever since I was a kid with my mom and dad. Their food has never changed, and always reminds me of home. Wholesome, authentic food with an atmospheric restaurant that hasnt changed at all over the years that makes the place feel like a time capsule. If you ever try this place, I can promise you that you will love their Sesame Chicken dinner. Been a family favorite choice of ours. Everything on their menu is excellent. Dont be afraid to try something new.
Awesome as always. Ive been coming to this restaurant for over 27 years and have never been disappointed. The servers are always nice & polite, the food is always great & the servings large. If you leave hungry its your fault.
Nagames is always good. Always clean. Server was very sweet. Brought me surprise candlenlit green tea icecream for my birthday.
Nagames!! Excellent choice! First class Japanese food ! My wife and I have been patrons for 32 years, never a bad experience ! Their food is always consistent, and amazing delicious! Cheers ! Stay healthy !
I have been going here for 5 years now. I have never had rude service. Nor, has my food every been made wrong. They take their time to prepare my order to my liking. I only wish their hours were more open. Seems like they are closed at times I want to go there to eat.
Still great! One of my favorite places to eat. Service is always good, food delicious. A little hard to find, but worth it!
The best Japanese food in town. Friendly staff and great ambience in the resturant. They package their to-go order so they are still hot and fresh when you get home.
Lunch time at this restaurant is one of my favorite places to go. Check out the lunch menu not one thing doesnt taste fantastic. Youre waiting on hand and foot and not one request is not granted. These individuals are grateful to provide excellent customer service in the food is top of the line.
Delicious gyoza, chicken katsu, and vegetable tempura. Friendly service. Dont let the buildings exterior fool you. This is hands down some of the best Japanese food in CAs Central Valley. I recommend calling for a reservation since they are still spacing out diners even though restrictions have been lifted.
The food here is amazing,The sesame chicken and shrimp tempura combo has been my go to plate for many years.Great atmosphere, the staff is super friendly and again the food is amazing.
Food is still excellent! This establishment is now only taking reservations for frid & sat so it looks as though business is limiting, but the service is still 1st rate! They are, however, open for lunch without a reservation.
Absolutely Fantastic!My all time favorite place for a pretty close to accurate experience of japanese dining and food since my visit to Japan.Going at lunch its the best in my opinion. My favorite dish is the sesame chicken. I get the teriyaki sauce on the side due its thick & rich nature. It comes with rice and bean sprout veggie mix, along with the other treats you encounter before hand.If your extra hungry, their Tempura fried anything is an awesome appetizer. Or if your just chatting with a friend and need a bite.Evening meals lead to more authentic style dishes, and experience. Best for parties of 2+.No matter what you decide, its well worth the stop! Just make sure you bring your chopstick skills. 😁 Otherwise you need to ask for silverware.Enjoy!PS. (Im doing the happy dance Knowing your back at it! I missed you guys...)
Not terrible, but not impressive, either. The first time we attempted to eat here, they had a handwritten sign in their window that they were closed on a day and time they shouldve been open. Not sure what that was about... When we did eat there, the menu wasnt very big and they did not have sushi. I had the sashimi and it was not bad, but I had to ask for ginger. The tempura was ok, but lacked flavor. Would I return? Likely not.
Weve been dining here for years, the owners being friends of mine from my college years. My wife loves the tempura and teriyaki chicken and Im always delighted by the food. The waitress, Stacy, made some excellent suggestions for entrees that I hadnt tried and they really were great. This restaurant doesnt have fancy decor or haute cuisine, but if youre looking for something different thats reasonably priced and tasty, then this may be your place!
Always great food and service. Weve been going to Nagame for 35 or so years. Still the best place to go.
The food is so salty. The sauce on sesame chicken tastes like straight up soy sauce. Would never eat here again
We were turned away at the door of a virtually half empty restaurant.We were driving home from Yosemite and the kids say how about sushi for dinner. So we googled and saw this place had four stars.So it must be decent right? Wrong!!!We walk in the door and the waitress says Im sorry you shouldve called and made a reservation we cant take care of big parties we have a group of eight and a group of nine coming in who made a reservation they are a priority, and we cant handle a LARGE group of five people. We only have a booth available that seats 4 people. (actually they had seven booths open). I said wed be happy to sit at the sushi bar which had 5 chairs and no one was there. The waitresses response, NOPE. Next time you should call ahead and make a reservation.Making a reservation would be like making a reservation at Taco Bell. Are you kidding me?
We used to be regulars but have not stopped by for a while. Tonight we decided to go but the service was snail-paced. I was told there were only two cooks working. We were also told that only one cook knew how to fix our fairly simple dish. Not once did the waitress check on us. I wasnt even asked if I wanted something else to drink after finishing my diet soda. The restaurant was surely a disappointment this evening.
Wait staff was awesome. Food not so much. The tempura had a burnt flavor to it. Its to bad to it was my birthday dinner. I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and sad to say but it will be the one and only time we go there.
Good as always! We were lucky to walk in and have a table. Best to reserve a table. With covid, theyre down a few tables. Staff was excellent. A true Merced diamond in the rough.
We love going there. The food is great and so are the people that work there. They are very friendly. The Teriyaki Chicken is my husbands favorite and I usually get the Sesame Chicken with a little wasabi on the side. Carolyn from Atwater, CA
Food was really good at a decent price! However it was kind of sad they had no music at all and in an easy to miss place.
Nagame is our go to place for Japanese style food. Simple menu but the food is real good. It can get packed during dinner time so go early.
My family and I have been going to this restaurant for years and we have never experienced a bad meal. The food is always delicious and the staff is always kind and polite. I would suggest this place to everyone.
Our family’s go to resturaunt! A great place to dine. The food is always delicious.
Food is delicious and always consistent. Portions satisfy. The staff is outstanding. I highly recommend this establishment.
My Family and I have been enjoying dinner at Nagames for many, many, years. The owners and staff are like Family! Anything Tempura is absolutely fantastic!!! Always a special treat!!
Food is always good. Have been going there since I was 16 and am nearing 60 now. Same owners and we have grown old together!
The food is amazing along with great service! Ive never been disappointed the many times Ive been there!!
Best restaurant in Merced. Food is always delicious and consistent, since the chef never changes, and the staff is friendly and fast. No better place to eat, just make sure to make a reservation on the weekends!
Four stars for weirdness? It was an experience. Ive never had Japanese food like this. I had the vegetable Sokiyaki with tofu & my bf had chicken Sokiyaki. The only vegetables I found in there were some pieces of lettuce & bamboo shoots, although glancing at other tables, it looked like they were well supplied with broccoli & other veggies. The broth was unusually sweet and just plain weird. My bf agreed it was nothing like wed tasted before. When I asked the chef/owner why it was so sweet she said just sugar & sweet wine (weird!) Im a big fan of glass noodles but even those couldnt save the day. The rice was done well though, so I should have just had that with soy sauce. Also, green tea was listed on the list of items dinner came with, but didnt arrive until I asked for it. On a brighter note, the cucumber salad served as an appetizer was delicious and so was the kimchi. The edamame was served cold :( Needless to say, we ate everything because we were hungry... Conclusion: when else do you get to go to a Japanese place in the middle of nowhere next to a factory??? Maybe try the tempura next time?
Great food, really enjoyed my Sesame Chicken lunch. Light crispy outside and juicy cooked inside. Great flavor and sauce.
Nagame is a delicious local institution, and just about the only thing I like in this wasteland.Ive seen reviews complaining that Nagame is not a sushi restaurant. This disappointment is somewhat understandable, as the current restaurant description on Google Maps is Sushi, chicken teriyaki & other Japanese classics offered in an unpretentious setting. I would edit this description if I could. While Nagame does have some such options, it is generally NOT a sushi place. If you want primo sushi, look elsewhere, like, a different part of the nation. But if you want many other forms of Japanese cuisine prepared with baller execution, I recommend Nagame as much as humanly possible. It is a phenomenal *Japanese restaurant.*Ive seen other reviews complaining that diners were turned away because the restaurant was booked solid and these diners didnt have a reservation. Isnt that how every restaurant in the universe works?! I myself was turned away once because I showed up on Valentines Day at dinnertime without a reservation. So I thought oh duh and pursued some other dining option. Nagame *generally* doesnt require a reservation, but if you want to be sure, pick up the dang phone.Anyway, Nagame rules.
Friend and I stopped here because we wanted something light during a road trip through Merced... big mistake. Ordered sashimi - it was a large serving of pre-frozen tuna, and the first time I ever sent anything back. Soup was a broth with bean sprouts and egg. Pot stickers were premade but cooked well. I had sesame chicken; the only two good things were that the rice was cooked perfectly, and the tempura batter was well done. The chicken tasted freezer burned, and there was a black sauce scattered with sesame seeds over it. The sauce tasted like reduced soy sauce and super salty, and it tasted badly burned. The veggies were over cooked carrots, celery, onion, and squash - over peppered as well. Never again. Next time through Merced, Ill find a sandwich shop.
Pretty good. Carry out only. Very friendly & helpful staff. No waiting & clean facilities. Will be back
Absolutely love their food. My office calls in a big order every few weeks and the food is always fantastic.
A simple, reasonable Japanese restaurant. Friendly service, not the quickest. I recommend the beef teriyaki and tempura combo dinner. A lot of food for the price. Great value.
This place was a good surprise for us while staying in Merced. Not easy to find especially during sunset but the food was very good and service was great. Prices were reasonable.
My favorite place to go for Japanese food. Everyone is wonderful and the best quality food.
This Places is good I only tried it once had grilled chicken chop suey and steamed rice the dacor inside could use an upgrade probably 50 years old but food was good
Nagames is a mainstay in Merced. Always there but easy to forget because its out of sight. Lunch is a little short on options, but thats also how they make it quick and gets you back to work on time. Always well worth the visit.
Best most consistent food anywhere. Service is always great. Our favorite place.
Its dated, but remains a classic! Calm, quiet atmosphere. Food prices went up...portions should follow. Good quality food + service as always 😉
The food is very delicious the gyoza are my favorite dish, but everything else is great too.
We use to be regular customers until they refused to serve us a simple to go order. Wont be coming back, food is not that great.
They dont have sushi. Need I say more?The lady was really nice when we politely excused ourselves from the restaurant and went out of the way to a sushi cuisine restaurant.
Great little spot! Well off the beaten path this great find screams local treasure. Not a big menu but everything I had was made perfectly!
Best sesame chicken Ive ever eaten in my whole entire life the teriyaki sauce goes with everything you cant go wrong with any plate
The food and service is always good!
Very nice atmosphere waitress was great but the food is different it was okay I guess I miss the old way
This is a great local spot for Japanese cuisine! It is consistently good every time, and their calamari steak is the very best around.
Absolutely love this place and the girls that work there! The Staff is always so friendly & the food is always amazing!
Always wondered what this place was like. Straight forward food was good ambiance was good service was great.
The food here is always great I enjoy this place
Amazing as always.. we have been going to Nagame for over 20 years and the food and service has always been wonderful!!
Delicious! Ordered the Sesame Chicken with an extra side of broccoli and the sauce.
The ladies are soo friendly, food is great, I get takeout on a regular.
Good, quality food at a reasonable price. Hard to see, even though it is next to the 99.
Worst place ever! Walked in on a Saturday at 6pm and they wouldnt seat us without a reservation. Extremely rude. Do not waste your time stopping here
A lot of hype for this place but it was only okay. Great service, very clean and in an interesting location.
Picked up 2 orders of teriyaki and an order of sashimi. Holy moly... It was amazing!
The food is always good and our servers manner was friendly and professional.
Not for those seeking adventure. However, if you are looking for quality Japansese food with delicious, authentic starters and a comfortable environment
My wifes favorite place to eat. Mine to. Food and service are both Incredible
The waitress was so nice! Good was amazing! This was a typical visit.
I love this place. Give you super good picked cucumber with your meal and the vegetarian sukiyaki is amazing!
Amazing Japanese food! A ton of food go hungry. I highly recommend the sashimi (dinner only).
I best place in town to eat Japanese food. Plus dont forget to get your Japanese Beer 🍺..
One of my husbands favorite places to stop for lunch when he is up this way. We stopped in today and once again had a stellar experience.
The food was delicious, if you enjoy Japanese food, you have found the right spot.
Always great food nice people go every two weeks or so
Good food. Friendly people. But only open at varied hours.
The food and service was good, and would like to go there again.
Nice Japanese food but not very many vegan option or very big menu either
The food is fresh and super tasty. The sauce they put on the broccoli is a gift from the gods.
Great Japanese Food! Never disappointed always satisfied with food and genuinely great staff!!!
So delicious and beautiful, one of my most favorite dates ever
Excellent food and service. Check hours of operation first. Limited opening.
Excellent service. Delicious food. Family owned
Our favorite Merced Restaurant for years.
Love this place! The food and service is always excellent!
Happened to walk-by while checking out a highway 99 construction site - stepped in to see what they had, it was good.
Great service and good food at a fair price
First time there, it was very good that I would go again especially with good company and I had good company with great service
Food is amazing Prices are reasonable.....Great place to eat!
Best Japanese food in town. I love it.
Very good. Simple comfort. Americanized a bit I think. Still good.
Authentic food, excellent service, excellent dining experience.
Wonderful, quite easily the best restaurant in Merced.
Excellent food and service.
The food needs to be put out when people eat it all I was sad the pot stickers were with old ones hard and stiff
Excellent price for lunch special and very delicious
Ive been going here for years and never been disappointed.
The food is great,get the sesame chicken.
Small, older place, but good Japanese food
Love there Beef Curry on Wed & Fri only.
Good food, excellent service.
No sushi but they have the really goood sashimi ...
Always good eats! Friendly staff
Pretty good 👍
Amazing, the sushi very good.
Friendly staff and delicious food
ALWAYS great food, and great service, ALWAYS!
Consistently excellent food and service
They never take orders always limited.
Good food fast.
Great food and service.
Yummy food and great service
Best teriyaki chicken anywhere!
Best Japanese food in Merced.
Great food!!! Great staff!!
Is it possible to give a zero star rating?
Its good
Great food, great service
Simple but delicious. Do it.
Food was freaking delicious
Best restaurant in merced
Best Japanese food in town
Awesome food!
Good food
Ill give. Them 6 star
Theres no sushi.
Oishi, and the service was nice.
Wonderful as always!
I live their food.
Delicious & traditional.
Great Japanese food
Excellent as always!!!
Always good.
Always outstanding!
Best Japanese in Merced!
Friendly service
Always great.
Delicious
I love this place.
Excellent
Wonderful
Best Japanese food
Good Japanese food
Pleasant:)
Delicious
Delicious
Delicious
I love
My
Total reviews rating 4.5
160 Reviews for Nagame 2024:
Review №1
2023-11-15 03:18:12This place is a hidden gem of Merced. No sushi, but delicious Japanese food. I love the small dishes that come with the plates.Pictured are the sesame and teriyaki chicken lunch specials, an order of edamame, and some green tea. Excellent value!
Review №2
2023-11-19 03:03:02A hidden gem, literally! The food is delicious and the place is spotless clean. Love it! No sushi or ramen, but the teriyaki chicken will do. The green tea is very unique and a must try. We also really liked the green tea ice cream.
Review №3
2023-08-24 00:41:45Shame on me for this being our first visit !!It was excellent in all ways!I had fantastic Sashimi, my wife loved the Tempura and we have already made reservations for next week!
Review №4
2023-06-22 20:46:37Very nice long time, Japenese restaurant in Merced. Generally, its not my food of choice but visited with several friends and they love this place. Have been coming for years. Service was quite good. I will agree they serve plenty of food and my order was quite good. Days and hours are somewhat limited, so check before going.
Review №5
2019-04-05 00:37:21This place is really good, the food is fresh, the taste is so original, and most of the time the service is really comfortable and familiar. But at my last visit our waitress was a little distracted. So hope it gets better
Review №6
2023-08-31 17:44:08Great placeto eat. I stop there every time Im in merced at least 3 to 4 times while Im in town. Love the place and the owners.
Review №7
2023-06-10 21:46:48Been coming here since we were kids. Absolutely the best place to eat in Merced. Always great service and amazing food!
Review №8
2021-08-21 01:42:09This place is a little gem, hidden in merced. Great authentic orginal Japanese food.Once again me and my wife stopped here now that we no longer live in town. Food was just as great as I remember.My advice is try the sukiyaki. Its the best. The temoura and teryarki have there own style and are not the traditional kind.If you thinking about it do yourself a favor this is the best place in merces to get food. It might look run down. But make no mistake, it is open for lunch and dinner. Please stop by. Not to mention prices are more than reasonable. Only spend $35 for two.
Review №9
2019-12-10 00:33:19You can miss it since its on the side of the freeway. Worth the stoo for out of towners. The locals have known about this hidden gem for awhile now.
Review №10
2022-06-02 18:10:25Excellent food. Service has been good every time we go. Last time the waitress was so friendly it was like having dinner with friends. Highly recommend this place. Dont let the location fool you. Its a hidden gem.