Noodles · Practical guide
Sagami Japan Guide for Tourists: Nagoya Miso Nikomi Udon & Hall of Fame Wings
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Dining / Tokai Japanese Dining, Miso Nikomi Udon, Tebasaki & Soba (Sagami Official Website) |
| Store Count | Approximately 130–140 locations across Japan (headquartered in Nagoya, holding massive dominance in Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka, with branches in Kansai, Hokuriku, and Tokyo/Kanto), operated by Sagami Restaurants Co., Ltd. (Sagami Holdings Group) (Store Locator) |
| Ordering Style | Private room, table, or raised tatami (Zashiki) seating in spacious roadside Japanese architecture; order all noodles, hot pots, and Nagoya delicacies via tabletop multilingual digital touchscreen tablets or verbally with staff; pay at cashier with bill |
| Membership Required? | No reservation or membership required for dining (walk-ins welcomed) |
| Approximate Price Range | Daytime lunch sets ~¥1,100–¥1,800; evening spend ~¥1,500–¥2,800; signature bubbling Miso Nikomi Udon ~¥1,100–¥1,500; Hall of Fame Tebasaki Wings (5 pcs) ~¥650; all tax-included (as of September 30, 2026; subject to revision) |
| Payment Methods | Cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, manaca, etc.), electronic money (iD, 楽天Edy, QUICPay), smartphone QR code apps (PayPay, d-barai, 楽天ペイ, au PAY, LINE Pay, Merpay), and Jeff Gourmet Cards |
| Multilingual Support | Tabletop touchscreen ordering tablets feature multilingual language toggles (English, etc.) with full-color photos |
What it is
Sagami (Washoku Mendokoro Sagami), headquartered in Nagoya, is the grand ambassador of central Japan's vibrant *Nagoya Cuisine (Nagoya Meshi). For decades, Sagami has been celebrated for three culinary treasures: its stone-milled, freshly extruded "Ni-Hachi Soba" (80% buckwheat, 20% wheat), its fiery-hot clay pot "Miso Nikomi Udon" (thick, rustic handmade udon noodles simmered in deep, rich Hatcho red miso broth), and its legendary "Hall of Fame Tebasaki Wings"* (crispy chicken wings that won first place at Japan's national Tebasaki Summit). Operating spacious roadside Japanese pavilions with tranquil private tatami dining suites, Sagami allows travelers to experience all of Nagoya's iconic soul foods under one serene roof.
How to order
Dining at Sagami is welcoming, scenic, and authentic:
- Enter and take a seat: Walk inside. Staff will guide your party to a private wooden dining booth, a wide table, or an elevated tatami room (Zashiki).
- NO Otoshi cover charge: Enjoy honest family pricing—Sagami charges zero table fee and zero cover charge (¥0)!
- Switch tablet to English: Pick up the tabletop touchscreen ordering tablet and tap the language toggle for English.
- Order Nagoya signature specialties:
- Miso Nikomi Udon (みそ煮込うどん): The #1 must-order dish! Sizzling, bubbling red miso hot pot with thick chewy udon, chicken, egg, and mushrooms served in a heavy earthen clay pot.
- *Hall of Fame Tebasaki Wings (Jiman no Tebasaki)*: Crispy fried chicken wings coated in sweet-savory glaze and aromatic pepper (available in Sauce or Salt flavors).
- *In-House Milled Soba (Ni-Hachi Soba)*: Cold soba noodles served on bamboo trays with dashi dipping broth and wasabi.
- Nagoya Cochin Chicken Rice Bowl: Premium local free-range chicken and egg over rice.
- How to eat Miso Nikomi Udon: Notice the earthen lid on your clay pot—traditional Nagoya pots have no steam hole in the lid! Take the lid off, turn it upside down, and use it as a cooling dish to transfer hot noodles and broth before eating!
- Notice the firm noodle texture: Nagoya-style Miso Nikomi noodles are kneaded with pure water without salt and cooked directly in the thick red miso soup, giving them an authentic, firm, dense chew (Koshi).
- Pair with tea or sake: Sip complimentary hot roasted green tea or order regional Tokai sake.
- Pay at the cashier: Take your check slip to the front cashier desk to complete payment.
What to order first
Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Sagami Official Website and verified row records:
- *Signature Miso Nikomi Udon (Meibutsu Miso Nikomi Udon - みそ煮込うどん)*: Boiling hot clay pot simmered in rich Nagoya Hatcho red miso dashi, with chewy udon, chicken, shiitake, leeks, and a half-cooked egg (~¥1,100–¥1,500 tax-included as of September 2026).
- *Hall of Fame Chicken Wings (Jiman no Tebasaki - 手羽先)*: Winner of Japan's national Tebasaki Summit Hall of Fame; crispy fried chicken wings basted in secret tare glaze (~¥650 for 5 wings).
- *Stone-Milled Ni-Hachi Soba (Jikasei Ni-Hachi Soba)*: Fragrant buckwheat noodles milled and rolled fresh daily in-store.
- Nagoya Cochin Oyakodon: Tender, rich heritage chicken simmered with sweet onions and eggs over steamed rice.
- Hitsumabushi Eel Rice Set: Grilled freshwater eel served Nagoya-style—eaten plain, with wasabi/scallions, and finally drowned in hot dashi tea.
Payment & practical info
Practical dining and payment guidance based on official Sagami policies (consult the Official Store Directory for branch locations):
- Accepted Payment Methods: Accepts cash, international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, manaca, etc.), electronic money (iD, 楽天Edy, QUICPay), smartphone QR code apps (PayPay, d-barai, 楽天ペイ, au PAY, LINE Pay, Merpay), and Jeff Gourmet Cards.
- One-Stop Nagoya Meshi: Perfect for travelers in Tokyo, Kansai, or Nagoya who want to taste Miso Udon, Tebasaki wings, Soba, and Cochin chicken all in one relaxing meal.
- Spacious Highway & Roadside Pavilions: Extensive free parking lots and large private tatami suites make Sagami exceptionally welcoming for rental-car road trips and families.
- Wi-Fi & Power Outlets: Availability varies by branch; dining booths generally do not provide customer power sockets.
- Tax-Free Status: Not eligible for tax-free shopping. Restaurant dining is domestic consumption.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Thinking the udon is undercooked: Authentic Nagoya Miso Nikomi udon noodles are intentionally made without salt and boiled directly in boiling miso broth, resulting in a firm, al dente, dense texture. It is NOT undercooked—that chewy resistance is Nagoya's authentic hallmark!
- Using the clay pot lid as a bowl: Don't be surprised when you see locals eating out of the pot lid! Nagoya clay pot lids lack steam vent holes specifically so they can serve as individual cooling saucers.
- Missing the Tebasaki wings: Don't just eat noodles—Sagami's fried chicken wings are so good they were voted into Japan's national Tebasaki Hall of Fame!
- Tipping staff: Tipping is never accepted in Japan. Settle your exact bill total at the front cashier desk.
FAQ
Q1: What is Miso Nikomi Udon? Miso Nikomi Udon is an iconic Nagoya regional dish where thick, firm wheat noodles are boiled directly inside a lidded earthen clay pot filled with rich, savory Hatcho red miso dashi broth, chicken, egg, and vegetables.
Q2: How much does a meal at Sagami cost? Daytime lunch sets cost around ¥1,100 to ¥1,800, while evening multi-dish feasts with miso udon and wings average between ¥1,500 and ¥2,800 per person (tax-included as of September 2026).
Q3: Can foreign tourists easily order in English? Yes. Every table features a digital touchscreen tablet with English language support and clear, full-color photography of all dishes and combo platters.
Sources
- Sagami Official Website: https://www.sagami.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-09-30)
- Sagami Store Directory: https://www.sagami.co.jp/shop/ (Verified: 2026-09-30)