*****update******different ownership since I wrote review*******Haru Sushi & Grill recently opened in a strip mall in the Arrowhead section of North Glendale. You might think that this is an average sushi restaurant because it’s in a strip mall but you would be wrong. Once you step inside you see that the decor is modern, sleek and very clean. My pictures here don’t do justice. Natural light comes in from the large windows on one side but the bright light makes the room look darker than it truly is….

I didn’t try everything or everything I want to try yet but in four visits I tried many things.

This special order of Asian Style Poppers were incredibly delicious! They were filled with cream cheese and had a light crunchy coating….But it was the sauce that made it….The sauce was especially delicious with the cream cheese and everything. I don’t know what it was but it tasted like Gochujang (fermented Korean Spicy Chili Paste), Rice Wine, Soy Sauce, garlic and Ginger….It was just SCRUMPTIOUS!

We also tried Korean Style Wings….another winner….Really yummy with delicious flavors. It seemed a little BBQ-y, Gochujang-ee, a little sweet but not too sweet and other flavors. Also that  tender yummy moist scrumptious chicken…..

Here’s Tuna Tataki! This is so clean tasting and melts in the mouth. It lightly seared and seasoned.

I’m not big on most sushi rolls…..I usually just go for something like a basic spicy tuna….But I have to admit this one….The Spicy Awesome Blossom Roll was one of the most delicious Sushi Rolls I ever tried anywhere. It was spicy tuna, cucumber, spicy seared albacore, a mountain of the tastiest crisp fried onions you ever tried and yummy sauces to jazz it up more. You keep going back and forth between the tasty roll and the crisp tasty onion puffs..The puffed up onion crisps are tastier than popcorn…..This Spicy Awesome Blossom Roll is really like attending an event…..It has so much going on.

Tried a lunch Bento Box with Beef Bulgogi, a Spicy Tuna Roll, Tempura Vegetables and Rice. The beef was tender like butter and delicious. Spicy tuna roll was very good and most important to me…I learned from Masaharu Morimoto that the rolls shouldn’t have too much rice…(I’m kicking myself for not photographing  actual Morimoto sushi (YES MADE BY IRON CHEF MORIMOTO HIMSELF)….they were very unique and looked like thick small coins….like dime sized but really beautiful and filled with sushi that had a design.  Morimoto’s sushi rolls had just enough rice like the way the rolls are made here. Masaharu Moromoto used to be an actual working chef at his namesake restaurant in Philadelphia in China Town. I went there often enough that he would wave to me when I came in. Back then the only sushi I ate were the beautiful small rolls and I liked all the Japanese small plates. Getting back to the bento box I should add that the Tempura vegetables were delicious and seemed free of oil.

But Sushi is Forking Amazing Here at Haru Sushi and Grill!

On this visit we had Nigiri in Ocean Trout (on left that looks similar to salmon) Toro and Blue Fin….Behind the Nigiri Plate is the Spicy Forbidden Roll. All the sushi was the freshest tasting I ever had and just melted in my mouth….It doesn’t feel or taste like sushi from the surrounding sushi places. This sushi has a certain smoothest to it and clean tasting like no other…….After eating this sushi I don’t need to go to any other sushi restaurant. I can’t settle for less now.

******UPDATE*****A change in ownership since this was written

Haru Sushi and Grill is Worth a Fork!

I haven’t found a website for Haru Sushi & Grill but they are on Facebook.

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.