Suru Restaurant
Restaurant · l'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample ·
Catalan-Japanese fusion yakitori, robata grill, natty wine
Catalan-Japanese fusion yakitori, robata grill, natty wine
"You might mistake Suru Bar for a house of ill repute since there’s no signage and only a red light bulb to mark the spot. However, the only thing sexier than the sultry raspberry-red interior and dimmed lighting is the food. The sharing plates, mostly grilled on a robata, infuse Catalan ingredients with Japanese street food. The yakitoris stand out and go beyond beef fillet or sweet teriyaki chicken thighs. They’re texture bombs loaded up with whack-you-in-the-mouth flavor, like the tangy, citrusy shichimi-infused chicken hearts, or the crunchy chicken skin topped with smooth-as-butter shrimp tartare. The all-natural wine list is almost as impressive as the food menu. It’s sourced from small-scale producers (mostly Catalan, with some interesting French and Spanish labels)." - isabelle kliger
"With no signage or any identifying information visible from the street, the small Suru Bar makes meals in its intimate space feel like serendipity. A row of counter seating gives diners a view into the open kitchen, where chefs prepare star dishes like grilled chicken skin skewers with chilled shrimp tartar, vibrant spring peas with smoked chorizo and cured egg yolks, and a brochette of crunchy pig ear with charred chicken gizzard and tender squid. The cuisine is seasonal, thanks to the prime location just across the street from the famous Ninot market, and the dishes range from yakitori on a traditional Japanese grill to explorations of all things offal. Meals are rounded out with an extensive selection of local and international wines." - Sam Zucker
"You might mistake Suru Bar for a house of ill repute since there's no signage and only a red light bulb to mark the spot. However, the only thing sexier than the sultry raspberry-red interior and dimmed lighting is the food. The sharing plates, mostly grilled on a robata, infuse Catalan ingredients with Japanese street food vibes. The yakitoris stand out, and go beyond beef fillet or sweet teriyaki chicken thighs. They're texture bombs loaded up with whack-you-in-the-mouth flavor, like the meaty eel and dried turnip kimchi or the crunchy chicken skin topped with smooth-as-butter squid tartare. The wine list is almost as impressive as the food menu. It's sourced from small-scale Catalan producers and is all natural, of course." - isabelle kliger
"A consistently crowded favorite that draws patrons every night of the week with Brazilian-inspired cocktails and an energetic, sensational vibe, making it a reliable choice for lively evenings." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"One for the adventurous eaters and drinkers, Suru invites you to step out of your comfort zone. If you're up for it, you are in for a real treat. The three founders had originally intended for Suru only to serve Japanese-style yakitori skewers, but unsure if Barcelona was ready, they decided to expand the menu. The result is an unorthodox Catalan-Japanese fusion packed with exciting flavors and weird and wonderful raw materials–think pork ear, chicken gizzard, and squid yakitori or veal tongue with piparra peppers and ravigotte vinaigrette-mostly prepared on the robata grill. Even if ear, tongue, and heart aren’t your jam, there’s still plenty to snack on, from grilled white asparagus with Basque-style cod pil-pil and the Suru's showstopper, the yakitori of crisp chicken skin topped with buttery squid tartare." - Isabelle Kliger, Gemma Askham