Nagomi
Highlights
About Nagomi
Nagomi (和) — Chef Satoru left Melbourne, found Cuppage Plaza, spent 20 years building a 25-seat izakaya that became the Japanese community's most trusted gathering place.
Shoes off at the door. Dim lighting, dark wood, 1980s Tokyo atmosphere. 8 counter + 4 tatami tables. Japanese-only menu — deliberate. Staff explain in English.
Walls lined with shochu aging pots (甕). Some belong to regulars. Chef Satoru's shochu programme is Cuppage's most extensive. Omakase changes daily — seasonal, air-flown, fine-dining technique, izakaya soul.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Omakase (Peak Hours)
| Seasonal Omakase (chef's choice, ~7-10 courses) | ~S$80–150++ |
À La Carte (After Midnight)
| À la carte items (ask staff) | Varies |
Drinks
| Shochu (aged, 15+ varieties) | From ~S$12++ |
| Sake (curated) | From ~S$15++ |
| Plum Wine / Umeshu | From ~S$12++ |
Prices approximate. Omakase varies by season. No English menu. Reservation essential.
Practical Info
- Mon–Sat: 6pm–late
- Sun: Check with restaurant
Dietary Info
Photos
Location
5 Koek Road, #02-22, Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
📍 Open in Google MapsYour Evening at Nagomi
Remove Your Shoes
2F Cuppage, same level as car park. Shoes off. Dark wood, dim light, shochu pots glowing. Counter or table. Hot tea, warm oshibori. Japanese rhythms.
The Omakase Unfolds
Chef asks preferences. Then: snow crab, sashimi 5+ kinds, tempura, wagyu (barely needs chewing), grilled fish brined in mirin — crispy skin, impossibly sweet flesh. Unhurried. Generous.
The Shochu Education
Between courses: ask about the pots. Shochu — Japan's most consumed spirit, misunderstood outside Japan. Barley, sweet potato, rice varieties. Some aged years. Pots with customers' names. Chef Satoru: one of Singapore's most knowledgeable guides.
Congee & Departure
Congee closing — comforting, simple. Bill: S$100-200 with drinks. Retrieve shoes. Wonder how this existed 20 years without you knowing. Chef Satoru never sought attention — he sought regulars. Got them for two decades.
Editor's Note
Nagomi is the real thing — nearly 20 years, genuine izakaya, exceptional shochu. Honest caveats: Japanese-only menu (staff explain); tatami can be uncomfortable; Cuppage 2F corridor not glamorous; omakase pricing opaque. Compared to Kemuri or Kazu Sumiyaki, Nagomi is the most intimate and traditional. Least like a restaurant, most like a Japanese home. That's why it lasted 20 years.