Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is the place to be for good japanese cuisine and real Sushi very thin, we agree with many sushi lovers and Japanese chefs. And not because there is so much good competition - but unfortunately a lot of bad.
Among the restaurants we can generally recommend is Haguruma in Munich's Gärtnerplatz district. Here's our take on it.
Haguruma - Iazakya in the Gärtnerplatz district
Parallel to the Isar near Frauenhoferstrasse, where one of the two Sushi Zen used to be, the small Japanese restaurant Haguruma (cogwheel) is hidden.
Was run for many years by a Japanese lady who was always cheerful - a small rustic restaurant, always worth a visit for the hot food, although fluctuating quality in the sushi department.
Clearly, these restaurants also depend on whether they are owned by a sushi master or whether the owner manages to ensure consistent sushi quality across multiple employees.
Today (as of August 2022), Haguruma is run by the cute Japanese chef Yuzo Hirata, who also worked for us on a temporary basis for a short time, then got some inspiration at the Mizu Sushi Bar in the Hotel Bachmair and now runs Haguruma himself.
Simple ambience, small chairs and tables
As before, Haguruma is very simple in ambience, not a fine dining restaurant, but for a chat with your best friend or a little neighborhood meal. The walls are currently very bare, the outdoor area is a bit improvised, but you can sit here in the sun at lunchtime and in the evening on a one-way street that is not too bumpy.
Sushi & hot cuisine
We found the nigiri quality really ok, especially for the price!
There are also a few creative rolls, but they should be treated with caution, depending on the version. The Sakekawa Maki loses the crunchiness of the grilled salmon skin, the Red Hot Chili Roll looks more like an attempt to tie in with Vietnamese sushi concoctions, and the Dragon Green Roll is ultimately only effective via the sauce.
Even though we all always want to try something new, something special: try classic sushi and sashimi at Haguruma, it's not bad and that's saying something when we say that!
The hot cuisine is - quite tradition from the Haguruma also from the past - a little salty, a little strong, but we like it very much.
For example, the daily recommendation "Shake Harasu" was a decent portion, arranged in a modern way and quite tasty.
Japan expert Axel Schwab also knew to praise us the Chirashizushi, lovingly arranged and at a fair price.
Reinforcement in the service wanted!
There are currently weaknesses in the service, which is also due to the fact that reinforcements are urgently needed. At lunchtime, therefore, the boss himself has to jump between service and sushi bar.
If you want to work at Haguruma as a temporary or permanent employee - write Hirata-san directly on WhatsApp - number you see in the picture below!
✺ Opening hours ✺
Visitable at noon and in the evening.
Conclusion: Give Haguruma a chance & try it out!
Haguruma is something like an izakaya in the middle of the Gärtnerplatz district. It could use a bit more flair and ambience, but at least there's a Japanese working there who offers more in terms of taste than many a glitzy, styled store in Munich.
From us there is a recommendation for sashimi, nigirizushi, chirashizushi and hot food for the small restaurant Haguruma! Taste, support & keep an eye on!
Contact: Hagaruma | Baaderstraße 62, 80469 Munich | Tel. 089 13939926 | no website
