Yes, we decided to open a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic.

Our building in Sodo is often full of smiles, music, food, drink, and life; it houses a dj lounge, an events venue, and now a restaurant. We’ve thrived on allowing and encouraging people to gather. Now, we want our food to bring comfort and energy to people. We hope the Saru experience provides a bit of sunshine as we look to the brighter days on the horizon.

Saru is the Japanese word for “monkey”. Ancient mythology describes the monkey as a protector. Saru also happens to mean “to dispel, push away”. We like to think of the food at Saru as pushing away bad vibes and protecting us from anything that comes our way.

Born and raised in Japan, Chef Chris lived in Osaka, Hiroshima, and Nara until he and his family moved to the US when he was 10 years old. His sushi experience includes 15+ years working around the country from Aspen to Maui. Once in Seattle, he worked at two of the finest establishments in the city, Tsukushinbo & Mashiko. Chef Chris’ sushi is firmly rooted in tradition, however he adds a subtly modern touch to his cuisine, inspired by the ingredients of the Pacific Northwest & the adventurous Seattle restaurant scene.

Thank you and enjoy!