Japanese in Jersey

Who would have thunk? The best chirashi I've had so far is in Collingswood, New Jersey. The restaurant is called Sagami and it's located next to a lonely stretch of highway with a hidden sign and is surprisingly always packed with people who know about this neighborhood gem. 


Pauline and I shared a scallop salad to start ($7). Great value for the amount of fresh scallops!

We sat at the bar, so could watch the chefs prepare our dish. It was great that we had such fresh fish and a great variety as well, but it literally took more than half an hour for the chefs to meticulously assemble the bowl (it was like a work of art). The business school person in me kept wondering whether this was the most efficient process. HOWEVER, the chirashi was as fresh and delicious as I remembered, with thickly sliced, plump pieces of juicy sashimi with a healthy dose of fish roe, pinch of wasabi, and one of the tastiest tamago preparations I remember (it tastes very home cooked with just the right balance of sweet and saltiness). All of this was for $25. Only in NJ? Perhaps...

Sagami Restaurant
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sagami-japanese-restaurant-collingswood


Food: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5