“Haru—it means ‘day-by-day’ in Korean, and ‘spring’ in Japanese,” said Ian Kim, co-owner of Madison, Alabama’s newest Korean & Sushi Restaurant, Haru. “I think the sound of the word is beautiful. That’s why we decided to use it for our restaurant.”

Located in the Spencer Square Shopping Center, visitors can now find the city’s newest Korean restaurant serving up everything from noodles and soups to sushi and spicy chicken.

Ian and his mother Koung Kim officially opened the restaurant on March 6th. “We can’t wait for everyone to come try us out,” said Ian. “We are proud of our menu because everything we’re serving is fresh, flavorful, and authentic.”

Steeped in tradition and experience, Koung Kim has been cooking Korean dishes for nearly 30 years and is bringing new ideas and passion to the customers at Haru. “My mother has been cooking Korean food for many years, and it shows,” said Ian. “She has always enjoyed it. Every morning, sometimes at 4 or 5 a.m., she wakes up ready to cook. It’s something she does very well.”

From the moment you enter Haru, it’s easy to see that the restaurant is a labor of love, evidenced by the fact that Ian went so far as to create specific pieces for the restaurant by hand. “I came up with the design myself,” said Ian. “I actually built the sushi bar. It took a lot of time, but it turned out very well.”

As the name suggests, hints of spring can be found throughout the restaurant. Bright blue hues, gold light fixtures, and a decorative mural make it a light and welcoming atmosphere.

“We already know a lot of people in this area will love having a new Korean and sushi restaurant to visit,” said Ian.

Why is Ian so sure people will love Haru? Because this isn’t the first time the Huntsville and Madison area has been able to sink its teeth into the Kim family’s tasty cooking. For the past three years, Huntsville has been able to visit Haru at the family’s food truck. (You may know it as the “Yellow Bus”.) Ian and Koung see this new brick and mortar location as the next step in serving their community with quality Korean fare and sushi.

Never fear, though! According to Ian, patrons of Haru’s “Yellow Bus” will still be able to frequent the food truck. “We have turned over the food truck to my sister. We make the food for her and she runs it. People seem to love it.”

So what can you expect on your visit to Haru? “I assure you, my mom makes wonderful food,” said Ian. “Try it and you will 100% love it!”

Want to give Haru a try? You can find them in Spencer Square Shopping Center. Stay tuned to Crunkleton on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates on Haru.

Haru
8760 Madison Blvd
Madison, AL 35758
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