Merced’s oldest Japanese restaurant saying ‘sayonara’ after four decades in business

Another long-standing restaurant in Merced is closing its doors after decades in business. 

The Japanese eatery Nagame, considered a hidden gem by locals in the community, will be serving its last dish on July 31, one of the restaurant’s owners has confirmed.

“It’s time,” Amy Mochihashi, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, said, explaining that the couple is growing older and 12-hour work days are no longer sustainable. Mochihashi declined further comment with The Merced FOCUS, emphasizing a desire to leave quietly.  

Opened in 1984, the restaurant sits on the outskirts of downtown, tucked into a spot off the northbound side of Highway 99 at 2650 W 16th Street. 

Over the years, locals have enjoyed the restaurant’s chicken teriyaki and other Japanese dishes. Although Merced now boasts a handful of Japanese restaurants to choose from, that wasn’t the case when Nagame opened its doors. 

In terms of Japanese restaurants in Merced, it’s the oldest kid on the block. 

“Nagame has been here for a very long time,” District 1 councilmember Darin DuPont said Wednesday after having lunch with his wife. 

“It’s a staple of the community, even though it’s in this precarious spot in Merced. There’s something about the family feel, the owners are always here cooking. I mean, the owner, he’s been cooking in the back for a very long time.”

DuPont and other satisfied customers say they value Nagame for its delicious food, attentive service and cozy ambiance. 

“We’ve been coming here for decades,” said Tammy Fischer, a teacher who was leaving a lunch appointment at Nagame on Wednesday with her mother and daughter. “It’s kind of a tradition.” 

Fischer said her favorite waitress – the one who knows her order without having to ask – broke the news during the meal. 

“She asked us if we knew that it was closing and we were super sad,” Fischer said. “So very sad to see it go, but she said the owners are ready to retire. So happy for them, but sad for us.”

Nagame survived the COVID-19 pandemic with its loyal fan base, despite the pressures placed on local restaurants during that time. 

Traffic in Nagame’s parking lot is constantly bustling. Even before restaurant doors open, cars are already stationed on site with hungry customers patiently waiting to eat. “Sad to see it go, but everything kind of has its time,” Dupont said. 

News of Nagame’s closure comes after another longstanding restaurant closed its doors. Taste of Little India on Main Street closed in mid April after operating for 24 years.