Now bigger and classier, Haru Sushi deserves to be discovered in Rio de Janeiro

Set up in an unpretentious way in a small gallery in Copacabana O Haru Sushi It built its fame on word-of-mouth. With tables on the sidewalk and the appearance of a bar, it has become a cult among Rio insiders and became frequented by chefs, foodies, artists and musicians.

The reason? the great Japanese cuisine offered there, made with an admirable variety of fish and seafood — all of great freshness.

At the end of September, something new made Haru an even better place. Without abandoning the informality of the ground floor, the house debuted a classy hall with 55 seats on the upper floor of the gallery – fifteen of them at the balcony.

Expansion was an old dream of the homeowner, Menandro Rodrigues , the Nandro. Enthusiast of traditional Japanese cuisine, he opened Haru after working at wine importer Winebrands and restaurants Sushi Leblon and Nakombi where he was maître d’ and sommelier.

Born in Lorena, in the Paraíba Valley, in São Paulo, and living in Rio for over 30 years, he says that he personally chooses the raw materials in Niterói, directly from the fishermen, at least twice a week.

In addition, he is an expert in sake and studies the Japanese language with a private teacher. His plan in the second half of 2023 is to meet the Japan 🇧🇷

Among the starters to share, the diced tuna served with free-range egg yolk and ponzu sauce (R$ 52) and the shrimp tempura roll with seared salmon and capelin roe (R$ 42) are great.

The house also joined the trend of buns, oriental sandwiches on fluffy steamed bread. Haru’s version features breaded pork loin with Japanese cucumber, pickled red onion and wasabi aïoli (R$39).

Save your appetite to taste some of the more than 30 sushi and sashimi suggestions in generous cuts, also offered in combinations.

It is worth betting on the selection called omakase hitori (R$ 125), with 19 pieces, which brings together the best fish of the day and delicacies such as uni (hedgehog roe), foie gras, toro tuna and scallop (with noisette butter and maldon salt).

For those who can’t do without a sake to go with it and like to taste different labels in the same visit, Haru offers eight suggestions by the glass. The bottles are packed in a newly arrived machine that preserves and cools the drinks.

Stay tuned: the house is closed every first Sunday of the month.

Haru Sushi: Rua Raimundo Corrêa, 10, Copacabana – Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Phone: (21) 2547-6867 and 96732-2668 / Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 12h to 23h30. Not open on Mondays.

Journalist from São Paulo who commutes weekly between São Paulo and Rio, he has written about gastronomy for major vehicles, such as Veja São Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo and Época São Paulo. Over the past ten years, he has visited eighteen countries in search of good places to eat, drink, party and exercise bohemia. He also shares his discoveries on the site and Instagram Taste and Fly🇧🇷