If you think you love sushi, but you have not been to Tokyo, save yourself $9,000 and a 22 hour flight, and just come to Nagomi. Besides superb sushi, the agedashi tofu and soups are divine. Serene ambiance, attentive service. It is a cultural experience of the highest order. read more

First of all I may have not been the star patron and I understand the work that servers do. I was in Cincinnati for the first time and wanted the best sushi experience I could find. I passed up all the local places because I want toro and uni. We accidentally discovered this place and it seemed like I might expect if I went to Japan and found a brick building with Sushi. There was no one in it nor did anyone come in the entire time. I figured the price may be high but for a true Japanese experience I would do it. I know the Japanese like to serve their sushi their way and I get it they don't provide sauces. They had no spicy sauce. I was excited though they had fresh fish flow in from Japan. I have been to a number of top quality sushi places and have an expectation of good sushi. I ordered 2 orders of toro, 2 uni, 2 sweet shrimp, 2 fatty salmon, 2 fatty yellowtail, 1 founder, 1 mackeral, 1 tuna. plus two salads 2 soups and a couple appetizers and 3 rolls and vegetable tempura. Maybe 3 teas. A pretty long list, but ready for the best. The soup was good, the salad was barely 3 bites though good dressing. The appetizers were fairly tasty but bland without some spice. The tea and tempura were good. Must have been 45 minutes before sushi arrived and another 20 for the 3 rolls. The sushi expectation was high but the fish was unremarkable. Fatty salmon for 10 dollars was the same as the salmon I get for 4 dollars, not fatty, no evidence of skin, not very big. The yellowtail belly for 15 was barely different than the prefrozen kind at my local place. The toro was ok, but not OMG! The Uni was tasty but very small. The flounder had not to much flavor, the mackerel was pretty good but small and the sweet shrimp was pre frozen. I ordered and paid for a dragon roll and received a rainbow roll which was 9 dollars cheaper. The salmon skin roll was tiny and the rainbow roll had nothing in it, just rice rolled up with basic fish. The softshell crab roll was pretty good but was a heavy in rice. The base price of this meal was 348 dollars. The last time I order this much from a really good japanese restaurant with excellent fish and rolls it cost 250 and I left a 20% tip. I asked for extra wasabi since they gave me enough to put on my toothbrush. The brought a tiny bit more very watered down and charged me for it. I also paid for a tiny but of eel sauce. I normally don't do this but I was a bad tipper. 350 for what I got I figured they could be happy with the sales. But, then, we were out at our car and the wife who did the serving, came across the street to find us. She said I need to sign and we forgot to leave a tip. I told her the food was ok and we spent far more than I had for dinner so I apologized and signed the paper. She said do I think its right to not tip her, I said no but this is where i have decided to leave it. She than insisted I leave a tip and tried to hand me the papers to write it in. Then, the sushi chef showed up. He demanded we leave a tip. We said we would like to but under the circumstances I was losing my patience and said we were sorry but we were going to leave. He stepped into the door and handed the paper to the driver and said we must write down an 18% tip and would not accept no. She said ok we will go to the atm and get a tip. He demanded we leave our driver license. About this time, I was at my end, I said look its not a requirement to leave a tip and the feeling of being slighted by the food was driving my decision to not tip. He said he would not let us leave and would call the cops. I then stepped out of the car and said your going to have to step back from the door so I can close it. He said he would not. I then stepped against the door and started to push him away, he pushed back but I was stronger and cleared him of the door and closed it. His wife then ran to the back of the car and was trying to open the trunk. To what end I don't know but she took our license plate. Then she stood behind the car and wouldn't let us leave. The driver then called the police, and when he saw we were talking to them he left. The police showed up and I explained my point of view and the result. He said. The other officer went to get the story from the sushi chef. When she came back, she said he had written in a tip and was getting ready to charge my card. I get that they felt slighted, but so did I. I paid the bill but I did not try to steal anything. I wonder why there is no one in the place. read more

I walked into this establishment about 10 minutes ago. It was open so I walked right in. I went to the dining room and stood there for the better part of 5 minutes and no one showed up to seat me or anything like that so I left. Not sure what's going on here but not good... read more

Thought this place was going to be a gem but it took them 45 minutes to bring out our food and there was only 2 tables. Their selection is very small and the rolls can fit in your hand . Half of my dragon roll didn't even have fish . Sushi places should not be in this state period read more

Delicious food and fresh fish, service was kind and very personal! The owners came out and talked to us, asked us where we were from, and other questions. They were very sweet. Ambiance is nice as well, good lighting and cool photos and paintings. A little pricey, but that is what to expect from authentic fresh fish/ food! Will be returning for. read more

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We were so happy to find this place! The food was so good and the service was wonderful. It is in the cutest pink building.

Always feel like family when you come here.! The location is the little pink house on mainstrausse! If you're looking for modern sushi rolls this isn't the place for you. This is real Japanese food and it is worth every penny! It is on the pricier side but again for the great service, the clean environment, and phenomenal food it's worth every penny!! We almost always get the sushi dinner when we come and I've never been disappointed. Paired with sake or a kirin you cannot go wrong! They do have very limited seating so please be sure to try to plan ahead, they love when you call for a reservation in advance! read more

After years of searching for a good Japanese restaurant in Cincinnati, I feel like I have found it! This is a very charming Japanese restaurant. We almost did not come here because the day we visited, their card machine was not working so we had to go to an ATM. It did not seem to be an every day occurrence that their card machine went down, but would definitely bring cash in case it was. It also is a little on the pricier side, but the quality and care that goes into making the food is worth it. Every dish we ordered was a work of art and you could tell immediately a lot of thought went into the placement and arrangement of each dish. The nigiri was extremely fresh and the salmon in the dinner box was seasoned perfectly. I felt that this was plenty of food for a group of 4. The waitress gave us great recommendations and even taught us a bit about the origins of the food we ordered. Before you go, I would call ahead if you can to make a reservation. The interior is also very cozy and small so this is probably not the best place for large groups. The portions are also on the smaller side compared to a lot of the other Japanese restaurants in the US, so plan accordingly. The pictures in my review actually fed all 4 of us with enough space to try two dessert orders. Dango and Dorayaki (not pictured here). read more

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Small mom and pop owned traditional Japanese restaurant. Great food and service but very overpriced for portions served. Unfortunately left hungry, it's a one a time experience for me. read more

Love this place. Quaint and clean with very friendly service and fantastic flavors Each dish came out and was presented beautifully. We each tried an appetizer and we liked both of them. He got the picked vegetables and I got the shrimp shusami. I didn't like being able to see the vein in a shrimp but the flavors were terrific. For the main dish I ordered the chicken katsu rice bowl and he ordered chicken curry dish. I tried his dish first and LOVED it. The flavors were just so good. I'm from San Diego and I have struggled to find a lot of flavor in the food in this area..... well if you love Japanese food you have to try this place! I also loved the little side salad and I am just not a soup person so I can't judge the Miso that came with the meal. Definitely try! The experience is very personal as well.. i had called to make reservations about a week ago and they called me ahead of time to let me know they wouldn't be open... due to some personal medical thing. We were seeing a play after the meal so if we hadn't gotten that call it would have been a real pain. I think most places would just put up a sign... i love that they took the time to call! Loved everything about our experience. read more

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I have passed Nagomi a million times as a resident of Covington, but hadn't stopped by until today. I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box from their lunch menu. The Bento Box was $15, which felt a little high for lunch, and worse, I was definitely still hungry after the meal. Nagomi called me when my order was ready for pickup and specified on the phone that they would prefer cash for the transaction. I happened to have cash on me, but it was unclear if this was a necessity or just a preference. The description on their menu online also isn't accurate, as the bento box was not served with any rice (either that or it was just forgotten for my meal). The salad was VERY small, and I was surprised to open the box and see only what appeared to be a few pieces of greens (see photo), though the salad dressing was tasty. The salmon felt rather flavorless. I did enjoy the noodles, perhaps these were the substitute for the rice? Their the vegetables and other bento sides were tasty. Overall, I think I would opt for another meal the next time I visit. The staff/family operating the business were super nice and friendly. Perhaps next time I'll dive into some of their sushi options. read more

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First time to this establishment. Great outdoor seating. There was no one outside so great social distancing. Their maguro is from japan from per the sushi chef from Tsukiji fish market in japan. We ordered the nigiri and also the hamachi nigiri. For an appetizer we ordered the karaage. Overpriced unfortunately imho. 4 pieces of nigiri and a fried chicken appetizer came out to 25. read more

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Very excited to have an authentic Japanese restaurant down in Mainstrasse. Placed a carryout order today for a Salmon Bento Box. Quick service and friendly staff. Bento came with Salmon (you can also choose Chicken), pickled veggies, tamagoyaki, and more. The Bento Box also comes with Miso Soup, Side Salad and Rice (super tasty - cooked with the miso soup and added veggies). Definitely coming back soon to try the Don-Buri, Yakitori, and other awesome menu items read more

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant - Salmon Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food was subpar. Not great. Way over priced and I'm used to California prices. The older woman who was waiting on tables was extremely rude. And whenI asked a question, she would make weird, twisted faces as if she disapproved. Would never, ever go back. We don't have to give away our money for poor treatment. read more

An absolutely wonderful dinner. Small family owned place. Very nice atmosphere inside plus an outdoor patio. I had the Grilled Eel (Unaju), which came with delicious, hot Miso and a tasty, crisp salad. The eel was fabulous, as were the Tempura Veggies and the other items on the plate. Certainly worth a visit. read more

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Nagomi is amazing! The chef is old-school and I love everything about these wonderful people. The food is cooked with a passion and you can tell when you eat it. We're thankful to have Nagomi in the neighborhood! read more

The sushi here was very good and the food was some of the most authentic Japanese cooking I have had in the area. I did feel that the portion sizes were a little small considering the cost but the quality of ingredient made up for that. The people who run the restaurant were extremely friendly and looked after as well. The only reason I would deduct a star is because the ambience left a lot to be desired. The dining room is quite small so you would have a challenging time seating more than a dozen people in the restaurant and the temperature fluctuated quite a lot. It was a particularly cold day, below freezing, and the room would get really cold before the heat would kick on and then it would get a little too warm. All in all I would highly recommend giving this place a try, especially if you're looking for authentic sushi. read more

I ordered a sushi plate. It come with about 6-8 pieces of sushi and one cut roll (sorry I didn't remember how many pieces exactly, 1 salmon, 1 cooked shrimp, 1 Uni, 1 yellowtail, 1 eel and something else). The sushi are finely crafted, but the the fish are a bit dull. Also I thought it is a bit overpriced for $40+. The air is a bit stuffy inside. But service is good. I will definitely come again next time when I am in town. read more

So unique and authentic. The food is excellent and authentically Japanese. Small intimate restaurant run by a couple with fresh sushi and excellent hot Japanese dishes such as stews. Best service and quiet calm atmosphere. If you love Asian food with great care and personal touch this is your place. Nice unique Sake too. read more

This a great Japanese place. The family is from Tokyo and having lived in Japan I can tell you this is the real deal. They are working on getting their liquor license but you can bring your own beer. The food was fantastic. Pork cutlet was perfect with tomago and spicy potato salad. My husband got the eel which was prepared two ways. It was very tasty. Beautiful presentation as you expect from Japan. They have a small menu and it is worth a visit. Eat here and then go to the bars! read more

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My husband and I have been talking about coming here for a while since we've noticed it a few months back and this is the cutest authentic asian spot I have been to around northern Kentucky/Cincinnati. Our server was very welcoming, the food looked and tasted amazing! We chose the dumplings and fried veggies for our appetizer and had the Bento box and a variety of sashimi and a sushi roll for our main meal. We were not disappointed! The chef even came out and asked how everything was, TWICE! and took our picture. It was the best experience and we are definitely coming back/recommending to friends/family. read more

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant - Sushi and Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Significantly OVERPRICED. We left hungry. We should have gone to a nice steak house for the same price. I was SHOCKED when the bill arrived.

Wonderful food and overall an amazing experience. The waitress was welcoming and helpful. We really enjoyed our lunch here!

This place!! THIS PLACE! I could not get enough of it. Firstly it's owned by the sweets elderly Japanese couple who moved here from Tokyo Japan. The service is run by the wife while the husband is the chef. The entire experience from start to finish is great. My brother who visited Japan on a work trip told me this was the most authentic meal he has had here in Cincinnati. They offer informe and outdoor seating, plus there is a parking garage close by. The Bento box I ordered had a perfect variety of food that made mixing and matching and experience to find the perfect bite. The chicken was perfectly crisp and it laid on top of a beautiful bowl of noodles. I would eat a bowl of those noodles by itself! The fried vegetables where a nice combination of fresh and hearty. The potato salad was delightful as was the pickled vegetables. Very single bite was a hit! Would definitely be going back when I'm in the area. This is a can't miss place! read more

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Smells like a moldy fart. Got the spider roll with soft shell crab and it tasted bad. I mean... bad. Meat was gray and had a wicked bad after taste. When I sent it back, they still made me pay for it even though I had 1 piece. They said I could PURCHASE something else. Do not go here, seriously take your business to somewhere with better food and kinder service. read more

SPECTACULAR FOOD! A TRUE HIDDEN GEM! So authentic to actual food in Japan, per our travels! The flavors were immaculate and so delicate. All the food was beautifully prepared in the moment! The staff was wonderful and so sweet! It seemed like a true Japanese mom and pop shop! read more

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant - Dinner Boxes and Pork Cutlet - Japanese Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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This is average sushi. The owner and his wife run it. They can't handle more than a few small tables.

This place is a hidden gem. One of the best sushi spots outside of NY or Cali. It's pricy so don't expect half price sushi. Come here if you are looking for a real sushi in the Midwest. Service is impeccable too. read more

Best sushi I've had in Cincinnati area!!! It's really hard to find places here that serve true sushi grade fish. This place was phenomenal. I will be coming back quite often. The staff was also so gracious and nice. This is an undiscovered gem!! read more

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Great service, totally authentic, food was immaculate. Will be dreaming about the umekyu maki after my trio ends

They only had 2 Japanese 7ups so we had the iced tea which was good but not what we wanted. The sushi was really good but small portions compared to other sushi places we've been to. The shrimp tempura sushi was our favorite. read more

We went for Sunday lunch and we were very happy with the meal. I ordered Nabeyaki udon and my husband ordered Lunch box. Lunch box came with Tempura, salmon, pickles, fried rice, miso soup and salad. I'm Japanese and very picky with Japanese food but I'm this place was very authentic and amazing! It's little bit slow but Japanese owner and waitress were very friendly! I will def come back!! read more

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Way over priced and the food leaves a lot to be desired. My partner and I ordered the iced tea which tasted like dirty dishwater. The house salad literally was 5 pieces of lettuce. The miso soup was just O.K. But the sushi serving size was insulting especially for the $25 price. The pickled appetizers were not even edible. It's not often that I can't consume food but I couldn't even eat or drink what was served here. Awful experience and we will not be returning. The manager was informed of our dissatisfaction and didn't even come to try to make things right, he quickly ran upstairs instead and had the host take care of us. read more

Nagomi is unassuming and quiet, but delicious. I believe the husband and wife team have been running Japanese restaurants around Cincinnati for many years, and I hope their home in Mainstrasse in Covington is permanent. My wife and I had the box dinner for 2 including a simple salad, sushi and sashimi sampler with some fatty tuna, miso soup, tempura vegetables, kale and eggplant, chicken karaage, teriyaki salmon, braised tuna and ginger, some larger rolled sushi, sweet egg, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. The price is a bit higher than other Covington sushi spots, but the food is super high quality and authentic. read more

My friends and I had the most amazing meal at Nagomi this evening. The sushi was extremely fresh, the service was impeccable and the owner was extremely hospitable. I'm only in the area for a few days, but I cannot wait to return to taste his food again. read more

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant - Sushi for two - Japanese Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Great service and dumplings are amazing! Would definitely suggest it if you are in the Covington area. Mom and pop business with a ton of passion! read more

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant - Great outdoor space and the dumplings alone are worth the trip. Sushi also good. - Japanese Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Went with a friend on a whim and I had quite possibly the worst eating experience of my life. So bad that this is in fact my first ever review. The food was over priced, small in portion, and not good. My sushi rolls had a sliver of fish in them, so if I'm being honest all I tasted was rice and sauce. I can't even judge the quality of the fish there was so little. The worst part is that it took over an hour to get our food after waiting 30 minutes to order. I asked for the check 3 times and waited 30 minutes for her to bring one. My friend was so pissed by the experience he left 50 dollars and dipped before the check made it to the table. So if you're reading this it isn't to late.. don't eat here and don't believe the other reviews because only a masochist would eat here. read more

I can't even give a review about the food because we never made it that far. This is based on first impressions. We have been trying to try this place for so long. We finally made the time to take the family out for dinner at this authentic sushi place. Total party of 5 and a baby. As soon as we walked in the door, the female owner told us that she can't serve us. It was too much for them to handle that night. Looking through the window, there were only 3 tables of 2-4 people. I don't know if they have an upstairs dining or not. She then called her husband out from the kitchen and he looked at us and said no we can't serve you. Too many people. He said you should have called to make a reservation first. The thing is that my wife called the number before going to see if they were open. No one picked up. So my wife tells them that she tried to call and no one answered. Owner then says our phones are working so my wife called the number with the owner standing there. No ring or answer. They then said that she is calling their old number that is no longer in service. How in the world do they expect to stay in business being able to only serve 2-4 tables at a time. So disappointed that we didn't get to try this place that people have raved about. Left a bad impression for us. read more

Excellent food and service!! Sushi is so fresh and delicious ordered the boxed dinner, Philly roll and dragon roll- all amazing!

Really lovely restaurant. We just walked in during a Sunday afternoon and left with happy tummy's and in good spirits. The food is delicate and delicious. The service is so friendly and welcoming. This place has just become my #1 sushi place, can't wait to go back! read more