Kru is a contemporary Japanese restaurant in midtown Sacramento. With an extensive menu of grilled and fried small plates, nigiri, and sashimi, it’s perfect for those who love sushi. If you’re more into Maki, don’t worry – Kru has plenty of specialty creations, including a make-it-yourself roll. It’s an enduring Japanese eatery with a sushi bar that infuses classic dishes with international flavors.
The Kru Restaurant Group boasts several culinary hotspots around the city, including a poke bar and a ramen joint. But it’s the namesake — Kru Restaurant — where you’ll find Chef Billy Ngo modern and elevated take on Japanese fare. Ngo opened Kru in 2005 in a small shop in midtown with a kitchen “the size of a closet” and quickly built his reputation. The restaurant now serves up sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese-style dishes.
At Kru, they strive to provide guests with an unforgettable experience through the technique and passion for contemporary Japanese cuisine. The plates and glasses are the vehicles that they use to honor the ingredients, and they deliver the product through single-hearted, two-way engagement and hospitality. The customer is part of the crew, and they are all working towards the same goal: to share in a culinary experience that pushes the envelope of imagination and possibility.
Given Ngo’s extensive sushi history and passion for authenticity, it’s a surprise to learn that he only made his first trip to Japan a few years back. He toured the country, dining in Michelin-starred restaurants and train stations alike, to research concepts for the new Kru and returned with a lot of ideas for Johnson, who kept the reference points from the original location that say “sushi bar,” such as the blond wood tables and bar, while making the room sexier than before, with dark walls and an arched beam ceiling receding in shadow.
At the sushi bar, you can watch the performance artists known as sushi chefs at work. Their brightly illuminated work area is raised for your viewing pleasure. The chairs around the sushi bar are made from luxe caramel leather, and they’re very comfortable. The large wall that has a peony-patterned mural on it divides the dining room from the full bar. This is a new addition, and it’s very momentous.
Ngo gives careful attention to detail to his drink menu just like his cuisine. The traditional beverage to accompany sushi would be a light beer or sake. Kru has sake on tap, including the smooth Momo Kawa organic Junmai Ginjo out of Oregon. Some wines work well too, such as a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. Whatever you like, they’ll find a drink that pairs well.
Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine is committed to using only the best and freshest ingredients. They’re also focused on sustainability and local ingredients when available. Come join the restaurant for Happy Hour or Dinner Monday through Sunday!
