Chicken Karaage (of the Gods)

Haru · 5210 Longley Lane, Suite 500, South Reno · (775) 507-7355

The karaage is the reason to come to Haru— chicken thigh, juicy and lightly seasoned, robed in the thinnest possible crust. Potato starch, wrinkled and dimpled, shattering at the first bite in the way the Japanese call “kari kari”. A garlicky, umami-forward punch that holds up cold — still crisp, still savory, still worth eating straight from a bento box. The gyudon rice bowl, yakitori skewers, and kuro black ramen round out a small menu executed with genuine Japanese spirit. The presentations are beautiful. The flavors are on point. This kitchen would not be out of place in Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe.

Haru is tucked into a nondescript strip mall on the corner of Longley and McCarran — the closest thing to a slice of Japan you'll find in Reno. Haru means "spring" in Japanese, and the kitchen brings that spirit to everything it touches. A painted cherry blossom mural frames the entrance. Shoji screens and blond wood fill the dining room. A small Japanese dry goods and beverage section sits near the door.

A trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, without the jet lag.