Setting the Record Straight: Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar

Posted: August 19th, 2011 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene | Tags: Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar, Hatsune, Japanese food, Kagen Teppanyaki, Sanlitun Village North, sushi, Tairyo Teppanyaki, 铁板烧餐厅 | No Comments »

I’d like to set the record straight – Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar is absolutely not affiliated with the Hatsune Restaurant Group in any way, shape or form.  There have been a few rumors spreading that Haru was telling its customers that their restaurant is associated with Hatsune and I would like take this opportunity to dispel all false rumors and make it crystal clear: these two restaurants are not related AT ALL.

That being said, these rumors instigated my curiosity to come and check out this Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar and see just how similar it really compares to my beloved Hatsune.  I hear their original restaurant out in Shunyi is excellent, but for convenience sake, I opted instead to venture to their recently opened second branch located just north of Sanlitun Village to an area rather unexplored by me – Sanlitun Village North. There, I went up the third floor of the West Building 西楼 and walked into Haru without a reservation during what I presume to be peak dining time - 8:30PM on a Friday night.

Enclosed in glass, the restaurant is very sleek and modern and I was warmly welcomed in Japanese by three staff.  Not having made a reservation, I was told the wait would only be a few minutes as they were clearing up a table that just left.  With a few minutes to spare, I began to explore and snap, snap away.

Other than a completely empty sushi bar with not even one sushi chef, the restaurant is mostly filled out with 6 private teppanyaki rooms ranging from rooms for two up to rooms for 12 pax.

Is it primarily just a teppanyaki restaurant? Confused, I asked for their menu and the first half is entirely filled with sushi options from sushi rolls (all named after people I presume) and then followed by both a la carte and set teppanyaki meal options.

Not wanting to sit at the deserted sushi bar, I opted for a two person private room where we ordered a few items off their sushi menu and a teppanyaki set to share.  Without a photo menu, I ordered based on my dining experiences at Hatsune and Kagen Teppanyaki.

Haru’s Sushi Roll Menu (offering 25 different rolls)

Trying to pick a roll off their sushi menu, I wasn’t quite sure what to order since there were no photos and there were 25 different rolls to choose from with more than half with basically the same three ingredients- tempura shrimp, snow crab and avocado. Most rolls ranged from RMB 60 (vegetarian roll options) to RMB 92 with the exception of their Toro roll, priced at RMB 185.

After much avail, I finally just randomly ordered the Kevin Roll (RMB 72) with avocado, cucumber and crab meat topped with a rainbow of assorted seafood: shrimp, salmon, tuna, and flounder.  The roll was nicely presented, very clean and neat, but without any sauces or many ingredients for that matter, it didn’t impress me.

*Reader, take note – I openly admit to being a total sushi snob. As the #1 fan of Hatsune’s sushi rolls, I tend to be overly critical when it comes to Japanese food, and especially when it comes to sushi rolls.

That being said, I was more than excited to discover their Nigiri Cucumber Rolls.  With each roll priced around RMB 30, I ordered their Uni and Salmon Roe (RMB 30), Sweet Shrimp (RMB 30) and their Foie Gras Roll (RMB 30). The cucumber wrap is beautiful and these fresh tasting mini rolls were all winners.

Haru’s AMAZING Cucumber Nigiri Rolls (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

Thinking another two orders of Teppanyaki sets would be over-the-top, we decided to share one set between the two of us.  They had a range of steaks and seafood options and I wanted both so we ordered their Filet Mignon and Ocean Scallops Grilled with Garlic Butter Sauce Set (RMB 305).

Similar to Kagen Teppanyaki’s set dinner menus, each set includes appetizers, Miso Soup, Salad, Sashimi and teppanyaki shrimp, vegetables, fried rice and fruit for dessert.

Small Appetizer Platter

Salad & Sashimi

With the portions being a little smaller than expected, we still had room for more and decided to give it to more dessert! Teppanyaki banana is quite possibly one of the best inventions ever created so I ordered each of us an order at RMB 18 for one.

Bananas Simmering in buttery Sweetness…

Haru Dessert: Melon Slices, Taro Crepe Balls and our additional Teppanyaki Bananas!

Overall:

Haru is obviously much more of a teppanyaki restaurant than it is a sushi bar so rumors of Haru being related to Hatsune seem to be a stretch. If anything, Haru is more similar to Kagen Teppanyaki as both restaurants feature elegant private rooms and both a la carte and set teppanyaki menus.

For the past 3 years in a row, I’ve celebrated my birthday in Kagen Teppanyaki so that just goes to show much I love the restaurant.  I know many of you may consider my opinion to be biased or swayed in Kagen’s favor, but I can confidently say that the portions are bigger and prices are lower at Kagen Teppanyaki and I also prefer the decor of Kagen over Haru.  But Haru does win points for offering both teppanyaki and sushi rolls together in one place.

Verdict:

Haru’s Teppanyaki is  a million times better than Taiyro Teppanyaki (it’s Sanlitun competitor for Japanese Teppanyaki), but still pales in comparison to Kagen Teppanyaki.

Review of Haru Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar 铁板烧餐厅: 30, Bldg N4, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Rd, 三里屯路11号院N4楼30号商铺 Tel: 6415-2112

Best Part:

• High-Quality Japanese teppanyaki and sushi
• Sleek, elegant design of space featuring 6 different private rooms ranging in size from 2 pax to 12 pax.
• Teppanyaki Business Set Lunch priced between RMB 85-RMB 225.

• They offer an extensive wine list and a range of sake and cocktail drinks.
• Two branches: One in Shunyi as well!  Address here: 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, 京顺路荣祥广场902. Tel: 8046-5112

Comments:

• Haru’s quality ingredients and sleek, modern decor wins hands-down over the ever-popular Tairyo Teppanyaki (in Sanlitun Village), but pales in comparison to both Hatsune’s legendary sushi rolls and Kagen Teppanyaki’s teppanyaki sets.
• Pricer than Kagen teppanyaki, a dinner for two (excluding alcohol) will be RMB 300-350 per person.
• Service was polite and very professional.

Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 7

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