Maru - Murfreesboro — Restaurant in Murfreesboro

They are located mere minutes from my apartment and after checking the reviews decided to give it a try this past Sunday. The previous reviewers are not mistaken.

I was greeted promptly by a very nice server who seated me. While checking over the menu she came back with my drink order, very fast. After giving me some time to look over everything I went with the Katsu (Pork), Fried Calamari, and a Philadelphia roll.

The roll came with the obligatory salad with ginger dressing. The dressing was very good and the ginger, while very obviously present, was not overpowering as I find with some sushi restaurants.

The fried calamari were not your typical small rings fried into oblivion, but large pieces cooked to perfection. Great flavor, still tender, and the dipping sauce that came with it was wonderful. I could have eaten a few more plates of it to be honest. Did I mention it was tender enough to cut with my fork yet? Very, very good.

The Philadelphia roll was just as good. The fish was fresh, tender, the rice was not overcooked, and the flavors really came together [due to the wonderful balance of ingredients. Some places really get ham-handed on cream cheese but not Maru. Spectacular.

The pork katsu was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was spot on. It was tender enough to cut with my fork, just like the calamari appetizer. The curry sauce that came with it was very flavorful and you didn’t need much to add to the katsu. Perhaps there could have been a slightly larger portion but that is not a complaint, just a personal preference. Lest I forget, the steamed rice that came with the dish was superb. I rarely eat white rice as most of the time it is overdone, flavorless, little globs of starch. Something Maru did, whether on purpose or accident, added a nice flavor to it and I ended up eating all that was served. Overall, really loved every aspect of the dish.

The cost wasn’t too bad really. All that I ordered for around $42. The service was some of the best I have ever had at a sit-down restaurant and the server was very pleasant and attentive. All the dishes came out very fast. There were not a lot of people so I can’t speak for the speed when they do get busy, but I am guessing Maru will be up to the task.

A rare 5 star in every category for me. If you have not gone, highly recommend it. I am also guessing they will be getting a regular cut of my paycheck because I want to try so many of their dishes and their...

Came to Maru in Murfreesboro for my buddy’s birthday. The place has a modern Korean café vibe—light colors, natural light, spotless, and minimalist. If I didn’t know better, I’d expect lattes and croissants instead of sushi and noodles. But this is a food review, so décor doesn’t earn or lose points.

I ordered the Pirate’s Treasure roll and the Yaki Udon. The Pirate’s Treasure was a knockout. Every bite hit that perfect balance of flavor and texture, and I was wishing for an encore when it was gone.

The Yaki Udon was a different story. I can’t claim to be a Yaki Udon expert, so I judged it purely on taste. It leaned too salty, and I’m pretty sure soy sauce was the culprit. I cook with the stuff often enough to know that if you over-reduce it in a stir-fry, you’re in for a sodium spike. The chicken was diced so small it lost some juiciness—bigger chunks might have kept it tender.

Now, the part no restaurant wants in a review: there was a large piece of clear plastic wrap in the noodles. I flagged it to the waitress, told her I was fine and didn’t need a replacement, but she passed it to the chef anyway. They remade the dish to-go and comped it completely. That’s top-tier service and earns them serious points back.

Would I return? Yes. The sushi alone makes it worth the trip, and the customer service was solid. Next time, I’ll test their Korean dishes and see which side of the menu really...

First, the atmosphere is absolutely refreshing. It's pretty, green, and very open. I will say there needs to be a sign and lighting on the outside, though, because we almost drove right by it.

Second, there are tons of options available on the menu. They're all Japanese themed, so nothing seems off the book, and the menu isn't gigantic, but enough options to please everyone.

I loved having different options that other Japanese restaurants in the area don't offer. The jalapeño bomb is fantastic! Don't sleep on the edamame with garlic either. I wanted to try the spicy edamame, but was worried our children wouldn't try it.

For the entrees, we ended up with two Bimimbap Hot Stones with Beef - absolutely fantastic. There could have definitely had more beef for the price, but it isn't a deal breaker. One child got a pork ramen and said the broth was great, but the noodles weren't. The other child got a sushi roll (Sunomono) and fried rice. She loved both.

Our guest had Spicy Tuna Roll, Toro Sashimi, and ramen. He liked the sushi but said the ramen noodles lacked something. The broth was great, but the noodles themselves were just missing the mark.

Over all, this place is fantastic. The service was great, the atmosphere is gorgeous, and the food definitely was wonderful. The fact that the menu offers a variety of...