Maru is a Japanese restaurant at the Valencia Town Center serving well-prepared fusion fare, including sushi, steaks, lamb, duck and seafood cooked with vegetables from the Santa Monica Farmers' Market. Offering fresh fish, immaculate design and unique desserts, this eatery stands above traditional shopping mall food.
Most people here in Santa Clarita haven't had authentic Japanese sushi. I'm Japanese-American and grew up eating sushi at a time when most people didn't know what sushi was. Like most of the sushi places in Santa Clarita, this restaurant caters to those who eat California rolls and sushi that resembles California cuisine more than Japanese cuisine. Maru is better than most of the sushi places in Santa Clarita, but you still need to drive to LA for the real thing.
Posted 01/25/09 | Report Abuse
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Maru is probably the best restaurant in the SCV. Took my wife there for Valentine's day. I felt as if I was in some trendy west side restaurant in Santa Monica. Excellent sushi, interesting presentation, nice atmosphere.
Posted 07/28/08 | Report Abuse
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This was a formerly great restaurant
by Anonymous
We have raved about this place in the past to friends. We always told people that this was the only good restaurant in the Santa Clarita Valley which is chock full of corporate "box" restaurants. Quality and service along with terrific and innovative sushi presentation were hallmarks. Unfortunately, this place has really slipped and it seems they are trying to cut back on staff and portion size; maybe because the economy is slowing down. We went on a sunday evening with friends and our meal took 3 hours--no joke. We arrived at 6pm and left at 9pm. It took 2 hours before our main course showed up. The server said Sundays are usually slow and the kitchen was working with two fewer workers. We went on Sunday all the time and it's always been busy. I don't like being lied to. We did complain to the owner and I guess he thought that an appropriate gesture for our $200 meal was to give us a free scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was rather appropriate that we received "vanilla." We will not be going back. This place has always had a reputation of being very expensive but we excused it because it was the only game in town and was good. Not anymore. And their wine prices have just gone crazy. $16 for Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc--are you kidding me?
Posted 04/27/08 | Report Abuse
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This is, by far, the stand-out sushi bar here in Santa Clarita. This is no all-you-can-eat place...this is fresh beautifully prepared fish. This is the real thing. For non-sushi eaters, the dinner menu has some absolutely fabulous dishs which are presented perfectly. On a cold day, try the Beef Sukiyaki or Seafood Yosenabe delivered to your table in a steaming cast iron pot and just loaded with a variety of seafood. Save room for dessert; here everything is homemade, including the ice cream (try the banana chocolate chip - to die for!!) and the peach cobbler which comes in a large ramekin and is delicious. We've been eating here since it first opened and have never been disappointed! ps This is a great place for couples or a small family with well-behaved children as it is somewhat small with close tables - really not a "family restaurant" per se.
Posted 06/11/07 | Report Abuse
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Maru is a small nice sushi place by Valencia Town Center, the sushi I had tried is very good, also the hot entrees, and the desserts are also very good. I have been there more than a couple of times. Only problem service most of the time has been bad, you would see the bus boy beeing very helpful, but the waitress just forget about your table. Try it for the food, and let's just hope that the service gets better.
PROS: Nice Place, Good Food
CONS: Bad Service
Posted 06/13/05 | Report Abuse
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terrible service
by johnboy67
waiting for 15minutes for drinks, 45 for meal and the check could not be any longer. this place was tidy but the service droped this place down to a one star. ordering was a pain because the waitresses didnt care if plates were left on and if drinks were half empty. maru sushi was very disappointing and i will never come back again!!!!!!!
Pros: food was good and it was tidy
Cons: service was as bad as kabuki
Posted 08/17/09
Excellent fresh fish in high energy environment
by rmotoo
The sushi and sashimi is fresh and attractively prepared. The server kept up with our ordering pattern, but seemed a little distracted (overworked?) and it took a few reminders to keep the drinks coming in concert with the food. In general, I would give the thumbs up for taking a date or a small number of guests
Posted 07/10/09
WORST RESTAURANT EVER!!!!!!!
by edgar123
me and my wife wanted to have a nice dinner but this is what happened: waiting for the table for 20 minutes when no body was in the restaurant, listening to slow quiet music that should be taken out if you cant even hear it, and horrible service. i felt like a ghost in the restaurant. the servers and managers simply walked past us without saying hello or what would you like to drink. the drinks took 15 minutes to get to our table, the food that we ordered took 45 minutes to get done, and the all the glasses, dishes, and silverware were left right on our table. when we got the food it was also cold and disgusting. when we got the check we did not want to pay tip just the check itself. i would advise for everybody not to come to this restaurant!
Pros: it was clean
Cons: everything else
Posted 06/20/09
terriblefood, bad service, and annoying owner
by jennyblake
me and my friends just order two dishes. a roast duck and a scallop cone that was about an hour wait. the servers did not apologize or say anything about what was going on in the kitchen. i had about 3 iced teas before i asked," where's my food!?" the owner also didn't make things any bit better. constantly coming to our table and asking us stupid questions and thought her restaurant was the best. and when we got our food the food was horrifically salty and cooked too much. thank god i was with my friends to pass time but not all of the time. and when we paid the check and left the owner came out with us and said goodbye. she opened the door and followed us out and waved goodbye while we turned around a corner. this really was the worst service i have ever had in my life.
Pros: its tidy
Cons: the same as the headline
Posted 06/20/09
mediocre food, poor ownership, slow service
by jet78
Very poor service. The manager sat us down after people that came later than us. Terrible attitude all throughout our meal.
Waitress 'forgot' about me and my date. Did not even bring water over to our table. 15 minutes later, she realizes that we havent ordered.
The fish itself is only decent at best. I've had sushi from all the world and for this place to get 4 stars out of 5 is pretty generous of all the reviewers.
If you want snobby management and mediocre food this place works since there are not many sushi places in the scv. Otherwise, I'd rather take the time to drive to little tokyo or southbay for real sushi with good prices and great fish selection.
Pros: plenty of parking in near by structure
Cons: see below
Posted 06/14/09
must go
by spearbearer
Terrific menue and great sushi. The owner considers his menu and service a ministry. If you are a Uni fan, this is the only place to get it. gotta try the desserts
Pros: best sushi
Cons: expensive
Posted 02/18/09
One of the Best in Valencia!
by ieatz
When we visit family in Valencia, we go to Maru and I always have a hard time deciding what to order. It is between the sushi and kitchen menu. The kitchen menu is very good and have not been disappointed in anything that I've ordered. This is one of the best places in Valencia/Canyon Country, trust me I've tried most of them. The head chef knows about sushi and Japanese cooking and does a great job. The service has been wonderful and is great for special occasions.
Pros: sushi, service, kitchen menu
Posted 09/30/08
Shorts Ribs are the bomb!!
by berkl33
It's the best food North of L.A. There are some good sushi spots in the valley, however your not going to find the perfect combo of sushi and French/Japanese food anywhere.
Pros: food is awesome and quality is always there.
Posted 09/22/08
One of Santa Clarita's two best restaurants
by EdCB
I took my wife for our first ever time at Maru for her birthday dinner last night and we were both delighted with the experience. She thought the sushi and sushimi were excellent and the flavorful tempura combination was the best I've ever had. The service by a personable young woman who studies at CSUN was very good. Maru is one of only one of two Santa Clarita restaurants we would consider to be a better than the average Santa Clarita restaurant. Maru is a bit pricey ($75 for dinner & drinks for two), but worth it for special occasions.
Pros: Great food, nice ambiance, easy nearby parking
Cons: A bit pricey
Posted 07/18/08
Expensive, but finest restaurant in Santa Clarita
by sonnysats
Service and sushi are excellent. I go there more often than my wallet would like to admit, but it's the best sushi and fine dining establishment in all of Santa Clarita. Start out with the spicy tuna meatball; simple, but tasty and good for sharing. The hama-toro and saba nigiri are great. My friends like the chirashi very much.
Pros: Great service, great sushi, relaxing atmosphere
Cons: Expensive
Posted 07/10/08
Very Disappointing
by topcatwawa
Very Disappointing...based on the other reviews, we expected a lot better food. Curry lamb was suppose to be lamb chop, but it was not lamb chop and it was quite tough. At the price of $27, one would expect a lot better quality of lamb. The $12 crab salad was not fresh and uninteresting. The beef and wild mushroom ravioli tasted like canned beef stew that's roughly chopped with non existence wild mushroom for $27. The Tempura Udon noodles were fine, except we had to request the Tempura on the side. Otherwise the Tempura would be swimming the Udon broth and be soggy.
The wine was priced outrageously high. A small glass of Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc was $16. A whole bottle of the Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc costs $17 at the winery and the prices at the wineries are almost always higher than retail stores. Ridiculous....
The service was adequate and the Hamachi Sashimi was very fresh and tasty. The best dish we had was the seared sea scallops with English pea ravioli.
We would not return even if someone else is picking up the tab.
Pros: None
Cons: Bad food with high prices
Posted 04/20/08
Disappointed
by oktony
I went to there with my wife .order some kitchen appetizer and sushi.
appetizer was good , I like it.
but, sushi wasn't good as review.
1,sushi rice wasn't good(almost no taste,and too sweet )
2,We order Yari-Ika (squid), But came out different kind squid( Mongo-Ika),we can buy it at
Japanease market.
3,Tamago(sweet egg) wasn't homemade,They just bought it and served.
Tamago is important item at sushi restaurant,They should make it own.
server was polite but slow
result, Kitchen foods and wine are good! highly recomend.
sushi is OK, average.
Posted 02/21/08
The best of the best sushi
by MellowMarcy
This is truly the best sushi restaurant in the Santa Clarita Valley. The tuna and yellowtail are exceptional. The house salad is amazing and the filet never disappoints. Bento boxes are excellent for lunch (chicken teriyaki, beef or sushi). The desserts are great and not overpowering. Berries on the tarts are always fresh. The service has always been wonderful. Even though you can walk-in and usually get a table, it's smart to make reservations for lunch or dinner. Great romantic ambience for birthday or anniversary dinners. Yes, yes it's a little pricey but you get what you pay for. Mondays are closed.
Note of advice: If you're a parent, be wise and leave the kids at home. This is not a place let your kids scream and run amuck while you relax and dine on excellent food while disturbing other fellow diners. This isn't your local Applebee's people. Be courteous.
P.S. I do NOT believe that the person who left the review before me had to wait 40min for their food. That's ridiculous. We go there 3x a week and this has NEVER happened! I guess she/he just had somehting to complain about.
Pros: Ambience, Service, Friendliness
Cons: Parking around the mall can be stressful
Posted 02/03/08
worth the wait
by sikegami
My husband and I dined her on a weeknight and LOVED it! Their busy time is between 8-8:30pm. We were there at 6:30pm and though it wasn't their busy time, it wasn't dead like some sushi places can be at "normal" dinner hours. I admit, we waited a really long time for our sushi to arrive (40 minutes), but it was delicious! The yellowtail was my husband's favorite. He described it as the best yellow tail he has ever had because it was so tender and buttery (and he has tried ALOT of yellowtail). The corn soup was also delicious. Everything was fresh. The service was very polite...I highly recommend this sushi if you are in the Valencia area. It cost a few extra dollars but is worth it!
Pros: fresh, flavorful, clean!
Cons: slow service but polite!
Posted 10/10/06
Best restaurant in Santa Clarita Valley
by nektir
Excellent food, service and atmosphere. The sushi is extremely fresh and the filet minon is excellent. A bit on the pricey side but it was well worth it!
Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Service
Cons: Bit Pricey
Posted 08/08/06
All It's Cracked Up to Be
by eversince
Am not at all familiar with this area, but needed a place to take my boyfriend for his birthday out there. We loved it. The service was a bit slow and distracted, but the food and saki were so fabulous that we barely noticed. A bit on the pricey side, but the excellent-quality seafood, ingenious preperations, and lovely presentations are well worth it. Don't miss this one.
Pros: Brilliant Food
Cons: So-so Service
Posted 05/18/06
best kept secret
by jksc
This is, without a doubt, one of the best kept secrets in/around the LA area. The food is excellent, the quality is top-notch, and the sushi is absolutely delicious. I honestly believe that if this restaurant were located in West LA, you wouldn't be able to get a table.
Posted 04/21/06
palate perfection!
by mommyfoodie
The food at Maru is incredible. Chef Jason Park creates daily menus based on the freshest fish, meat and produce that are seasonally available. If you want to experience sushi nirvana, sit at the sushi bar in front of Kimura-san, the head sushi chef. His "omakase" (chef's choice) will knock your taste buds out of the world.
For entrees out of the kitchen, try the filet mignon. The sauce is incredible. Lastly, the desserts are all made on-site and should not be skipped. My favorite is the cheesecake. It will literally melt in your mouth. You won't be disappointed. The best in SCV, let alone anywhere north of the westside.
Pros: Fresh food, Desserts
Cons: Pricey, Cramped seating
Posted 04/17/06
what the hell?
by climbingtreesindia
all i have to say is.. what the hell is a restaurant of such sophistication doing in the santa clarita valley? scv doesn't deserve this restaurant. rarely do i venture off to the land of sterile shopping centers and cookie cutter houses where the only merging that takes place are moms in minivans deferring to other moms in minivans for a parking space in the vast plentiful lots. maru doesn't belong on town center dr. it belongs on third street or beverly or la cienega in LA! the dishes are thoughtfully composed and impeccably executed amounting to a warm and delicious meal for diners. the sushi is generous (impressive selection is fresh and the slabs so beautifully rest over the rice hidden underneath)and complements the entrees for a melt-in-your mouth experience. save room for the last course.. tempting selections that are made in-house! this chef is definitely in the know...
Pros: free parking!, a foodie joint in scv
Posted 02/02/06
Fine dining in the Santa Clarita Valley
by shinfucius
One of the finest restaurants in the SCV. Both the taste and quality of the dishes are excellent. Restaurant standards are very high: only the finest ingredients are used (which is reflected in the price). Let the sushi chefs choose your sushi. Not in the mood for Japanese? Try their mouth-watering filet mignon. Finish off with their sweet tasting (but not overpowering) desserts.
Pros: quality, parking
Posted 01/02/06
Great Restaurant
by addies
Excellent sushi & filet mignon. I don't even like sushi or filet mignon. My favorite dishes were the desserts.
Pros: Food, Ambience
Posted 07/15/05
mnnsoul
by mnnsoul
Everything in this restaruant was delicious. The filet mignon was one of best I ever had, the sushi was very fresh, the deserts are to die for and the service was great. I had such a terrific experince there. Maru is one of my favorite restaruants.
Pros: delicious
Posted 07/10/04
My thoughts
by ristorantecritic
The overall design and open space of the restaurant is a plus - located in the heart of Valencia. In addition the food is great, and marrying Filet Mignon and cooked chilean seabass with sushi in one menu is quite eclectic. I must recommend you try the sushi specials - they are very fresh and tantalizing to the tongue. Service needs some work though - the buzz around the restaurant seemed to be forgotten orders.
Pros: Great tasting food, Variety, Good parking
Cons: , Unfriendly host, Poor food timing
Posted 05/22/04
