By Sarah Irie
Cleveland Park has a new spot on Connecticut Avenue! Haru Wok & Roll opened July 25, and owner ZengChun Lin is excited to make it part of the neighborhood.
Located at 3419 Connecticut Ave NW, in the space formerly occupied by Mr. Chen’s, Haru is Lin’s first restaurant concept of his own after nearly 20 years in the restaurant business. He also owns two Akira Ramen franchise locations, in Adams Morgan and Hyattsville, Maryland.
A Menu Designed for Cleveland Park
Before opening Haru, Lin took the time to learn about Cleveland Park and what local diners were looking for. That helped inspire the menu, including an entire page dedicated to vegan Chinese dishes, along with daily dim sum.
Lin is particularly focused on fresh, high-quality ingredients, using organic ingredients whenever possible, and preparing food in-house. The toro tuna comes from Spain each week, with each fish weighing around 400 pounds, while the salmon comes from Norway.
The sushi is prepared by Jacky, who previously worked as a chef at Akira and spent about 10 years working in Tokyo.
During my visit, Lin brought over a sautéed snow pea leaf dish and explained that it was the season for the young leaves. He was excited for me to try them while they were at their best – a small moment that captured Lin’s enthusiasm for sharing ingredients and dishes he loves.
Wondering what to order? We asked Lin what he recommends for a first visit, and he had plenty of ideas:
- Orange Chicken — Lin’s pick from the Chinese menu.
- Salmon Sushi Dinner — 8 pieces of salmon sushi plus a salmon avocado roll, with your choice of miso soup or salad. For something a little more indulgent, Lin recommends the Toro Fatty Tuna, available as sushi or sashimi.
- Okonomiyaki — a Japanese savory pancake made with shrimp, crab sticks, rice cake, eggs and cabbage, topped with bonito flakes.
- Chicken Soup Dumplings — a favorite from the dim sum menu.
Come for the Food, Stay for the Hospitality
Customer service and creating a welcoming, friendly atmosphere are clearly among Lin’s top priorities. He moves around the restaurant with a huge smile, often bringing complimentary dishes to tables that he’s excited for people to try.
Inside, Haru has a bright, modern and welcoming feel – polished but comfortable, with an atmosphere that works just as well for a quick bite as it does for settling in with friends or family.
Lin wants Haru to feel “very local” – a place where customers know the owner and staff, staff recognize their regulars, and people feel comfortable coming back again and again.
And if you spot a little robot helping deliver food around the restaurant, that’s Haru’s new Dreame Smart Delivery Robot, which helps transport food from the kitchen to the dining room during busy periods so staff can spend more time with customers.
Need something to take home? Haru offers easy takeout ordering online or right from the restaurant, making it a convenient option for lunch or dinner on the go or at home.
A Little Something Extra
As I was getting ready to leave, Lin excitedly showed me some of the customer appreciation gifts he had custom ordered for Haru’s opening. He’d already sent hundreds home with some of the restaurant’s first visitors, including reusable metal chopsticks in cases, mugs, and Labubu toys.
It was another fun glimpse of how much thought Lin is putting into creating a memorable experience for his Cleveland Park customers.
Getting to Know the Neighborhood
Haru is still brand new, but Lin is already working to introduce the restaurant to nearby residents with flyers and menus right in our mailboxes!
And Haru may be just the beginning, with hopes in the future to eventually bring the concept to other communities throughout the DMV.
New businesses like Haru are an important part of what makes Cleveland Park such a special place to live, work and visit. Cleveland Park Main Street is proud to welcome new businesses to the neighborhood and share the stories of the local owners, chefs and teams who help make our community what it is.
Stop by, say hello to Lin and the Haru team, and welcome Haru Wok & Roll to Cleveland Park!
3419 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
Mon – Thu: 11:30am – 9:30pm
Fri & Sat: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Sun: Noon – 9:00pm