Grilled meat is not what it used to be

My “Love-Hate” with Nagomi – From 80+ Meals to Disappointment Let me tell you about my complicated history with Nagomi: I’ve been eating here since 2021, and I must’ve visited over 80 times—at one point, I even ate here twice a day! I’ve spent so much money here, and I watched firsthand how this once-favorite spot slowly cut corners, skimped on ingredients, and let its quality slide. I’ve been meaning to write this for ages, but I just didn’t know where to start… until now 😔. 🕒 The “Love” Phase: When Nagomi Was My Go-To Once upon a time, Nagomi was like an old friend. They served Korean BBQ, Japanese dishes (sashimi, nigiri), and Korean hot pot—with solid value to boot. Back then: Pricing: BBQ and hot pot were pricier (~$40–$50 per person), but other dishes were cheap ($20–$30 per person)—total steal for the quality. Sashimi (My Obsession!): This was the star. The fish was so fresh—they had tons of white fish, including my favorites: white tuna and yellowtail (rich, fatty, and melt-in-your-mouth 🐟). Red fish like salmon were great too. The only miss? Snapper—it had a strong earthy taste, not suited for sashimi at all. Sweet Shrimp: We had to ask the owner specially to get this (no clue if it’s still on offer now!). The shrimp were sweet and plump, and they’d fry the heads in batter—delicious, but pricey ($18 for two). Nebayaki Udon: Simple but so satisfying. I could eat this over and over—chewy udon in a savory broth, with a soft, stuffed tofu pouch. Total comfort food. Seafood Pancake: Fragrant, crispy, and packed with seafood—perfect for sharing. BBQ Picks: We stuck to non-marinated cuts: kalbi sar (beef short ribs) and cha dong (beef brisket end). The marinated ones (bulgogi, kalbi) were way too sweet—one bite and I never ordered them again. Bonus: Grilled Beef Intestines: For a while, they had this dish—chopped intestines grilled with onions, smoky and savory. I was obsessed! 😞 The “Hate” Phase: Watching Quality Slip Slowly but surely, things changed. The cost-cutting became impossible to ignore: Shrinking Seafood: That once-loaded seafood pancake? Now it has barely any seafood—just a lot of batter and veggies. MIA Favorites: The grilled beef intestines disappeared from the menu. No warning, no replacement. Questionable Portions: I didn’t check lately, but back when I started noticing, even the “generous” galbi (grilled short ribs) felt smaller. Hit-or-Miss Basics: Dishes that were “just okay” got worse: Unagi don (eel rice bowl): Tiny pieces of eel, drowning in overly sweet sauce. Katsu don (fried pork rice bowl): (same thing)—too sweet, greasy, and boring. Raw beef salad: The beef was fresh (shoutout to that!), but it was marinated to death (way too sweet), not fully thawed (weird texture), and paired with just pear/cucumber strips. One bite, done. 💭 Final Thought: I Miss the Old Nagomi I don’t go much anymore. It’s sad to see a spot that once felt special turn into just another “meh” restaurant—all because of cutting corners. Maybe it’s still okay for a quick meal, but it’s not the Nagomi I fell for. If they ever bring back the fresh sashimi, sweet shrimp, and beef intestines? I might give it another shot. But for now, my 80+ meals are just happy (and sad) memories. #UniversityOfMichiganAnnArbor #AnnArbor #MichiganFood #KoreanBBQ #AnnArborFood #AnnArborEats #MichiganEats #MichiganLife #Michigan #MichiganSurroundings