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Hatorando combines sushi and sports in Hartland, and it’s perfect

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Hatorando combines sushi and sports in Hartland, and it’s perfect

M. Alan Scott
 |  Special to The Daily

HARTLAND TWP. — Imagine sitting at a sports bar in Hartland, watching your favorite team play an important game. Suddenly your food and drink order arrive. It’s … a California sushi roll and saké?

Welcome to Hatorando Sushi Sports Bar at 10586 Highland Road. The combination of sports and sushi might seem like an odd mix. But step inside, and the dedication to the sports theme — and a deep menu filled with fresh sushi, rolls and fusion appetizers — is clear.

Hatorando opened in February 2020, one month before COVID-19 shut down restaurants across Michigan. The concept was developed by owners and local Randy Palermo and Joe Torrence, who share a love of sushi, sports and classic rock.

Customers get all three in a contemporary, spacious atmosphere at Hatorando, complete with nine big-screen TVs, over two dozen NFL helmets signed by former players, and other autographed sports memorabilia that adorn the tables and walls, from Charles Woodson and Magic Johnson to Barry Sanders and Muhammad Ali.

While the sports on the TVs and rock-and-roll music on the speakers are part of the theme, the focus is on the food, according to manager Heather McCoy-Smith. Traditional sushi, sushi rolls, rice and noodles, and teriyaki bowls are all available for dine-in, take-out or catering — or even delivery through DoorDash.

“We like to say we’re a sushi restaurant that offers (fusion) bar food,” McCoy-Smith said. She points to sticky wings, jalapeno poppers stuffed with tuna, and an array of burgers as options. But for sushi lovers, cooked rolls are favorites.

Sports-themed sushi rolls like the Detroit Tiger, Detroit Lion, MSU and Wolverine are go-tos for many sports fans, while the Hartland Eagle — a cooked roll with crab salad, cream cheese and steamed shrimp topped with avocado, sweet chili, spicy mayo and tempura crunch — is a local favorite. McCoy-Smith has fresh tuna flown in weekly from Hawaii, and even gets calls from her supplier 3,000 miles away about other fresh catches.

Despite the uniqueness of the restaurant, it hasn’t always been easy. Finding employees continues to be a challenge, even four years after COVID, according to McCoy-Smith. Hatorando has 18 employees, including specially schooled and trained sushi chefs from overseas. The restaurant is set back from Highland Road near the US-23 intersection in the Hartland Plaza Shopping Center.

Yet Hatorando is increasingly pulling in new customers from areas in and around Livingston County, helped by advertisements, billboards and an active social media presence. Nothing works as well as a personal referral though.

“We’ve tried just about every type of advertisement out there,” McCoy-Smith said.

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McCoy-Smith and her team, including head chefs Angelo and Jake, are always looking for new ideas to present to customers. Weekly trivia starts Oct. 17 and new menu options will be available through the end of the year before a menu change takes place at the start of 2025.

“It’s been the most challenging but rewarding job in this industry I’ve had,” said McCoy-Smith, who’s been in the restaurant business for about three decades. “It helps to have great owners and great food. It’s a grind but we’re making it work.”

Hatorando is open seven days a week. Learn more at hatorandosushi.com.

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

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