Sagami, the Japanese restaurant long regarded by South Jersey’s Korean American community as one of the region’s leading sushi destinations, is opening a second location in Philadelphia. After more than 50 years serving traditional Japanese food in Collingswood, New Jersey, the restaurant plans to take over the former Pod space near the University of Pennsylvania in University City. The new restaurant will be inside the Inn at Penn at 3636 Sansom Street, with an opening targeted for summer 2027.
Sagami has long been a favorite across Philadelphia and South Jersey, particularly for its fresh sushi, sashimi and traditional Japanese cooking. Korean diners also know it as a place for special occasions and family gatherings. Its reputation rests on food quality and traditional preparation rather than elaborate decor. The Philadelphia expansion will be welcome news to Korean customers who have enjoyed the original restaurant.
Sagami’s story began in 1974, when Japanese-born husband and wife Shigeru and Chizuko Fukuyoshi opened a small restaurant on New Jersey’s Route 130, at a time when sushi was still unfamiliar to many Americans. Over the next five decades, traditional cooking and consistent quality earned a loyal following and established Sagami as a defining Japanese restaurant in the Philadelphia region. It was a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2017 and 2019, and Shigeru Fukuyoshi was a semifinalist in the Best Chef category in 2023. In 2024, The Philadelphia Inquirer included Sagami among the region’s 76 most influential restaurants.
Change came after Chizuko Fukuyoshi, who had long managed the restaurant, died in July 2024 at age 79. Shigeru continued operating for a time before deciding to retire. Restaurateur Alan Su, who had visited Sagami for roughly 30 years and developed a friendship with the couple, took over on January 1, 2025. Shigeru said he considered Su like a son, while Su promised to preserve Sagami’s menu, traditions and distinctive atmosphere. Su also operates several Asian restaurants in the Philadelphia area, including Nom Nom Ramen, Umami and Shiso.
The Philadelphia restaurant will preserve Sagami’s traditions while operating on a much larger scale than the Collingswood location. The space previously housed Stephen Starr’s Asian fusion restaurant Pod, which closed in February 2025 after approximately 25 years. Three of its distinctive semi-private dining pods—one large and two small—will remain. The rest of the interior will be redesigned with a traditional Japanese atmosphere, and a large sushi counter will replace the former conveyor-belt sushi area. Su envisions as many as eight sushi chefs working simultaneously during busy evenings, creating one of Philadelphia’s largest sushi counters.
The menu will retain Sagami favorites while adding new dishes. Specialized equipment imported from Japan will allow the restaurant to make ramen, udon and soba noodles in-house. Izakaya-style offerings will include yakitori cooked over binchotan, a traditional Japanese charcoal. Unlike the Collingswood location, the Philadelphia restaurant will serve lunch and offer lunch specials. Su says his goal is an approachable restaurant for Penn students, neighborhood residents and families, rather than an expensive omakase destination. The focus will be on maintaining the quality of ingredients and preparation while welcoming a broad range of diners.
