Marufuji Japanese Market — Restaurant in Tysons

I am both happy and not at the same time about this place. I love that I can buy all the Japanese snacks and food now really close to home. I don't like that I always end up spending wayyyyy too much money.

The prices are jacked up. This is no lie. One Pocari Sweat bottle in Japan was like 120 yen or 90-something cents. It's $4 here. Everything else is probably 4 times jacked up. Is this a formal complaint? Not at all. I already appreciate authentic Japanese stuff is available at all in the area. I paid $30 for 10 of those Amaou strawberries. They tasted exactly like it was in Japan! I didn't have to take a whole trip there to taste it. If I think of it so, they weren't expensive at all.

I do appreciate being able to buy Meiji chocolates and Japanese shampoos, conditioners, and other personal care products. They are in a class of their own. However, Marufuji's selection is tiny and more expensive compared to other places in the area like Teso Life in Rockville.

Food to-go section: The onigiris and rice bowls are a hit-and-miss, unlike the Family Marts and Lawsons in Japan. The first time I tried the onigiri, there was very little meat and too much rice. The next time I tried, there was enough meat again. So, it's inconsistent. The tonkatsu bowl I had was very bland. I really couldn't finish it as is.

If I'm not mistaken, most of the staff are local Japanese or half-Japanese folks. I've always had the same feeling I had checking out at a Family Mart in Japan. It has always been a nice experience at Marufuji. I also noticed that, just like in Japan, even the lights here are respectful. In any other grocery store, the lights are too harsh and cheap, bright white. The lights at Marufuji are soft and warm and easy on your eyes. It makes for a pleasant shopping experience.

On the cafe: it has become a routine for me to have a meal here. The food quality is exactly what you could expect from Japan. The staff works fast and is kind. You're given a number after you order. You'll then pick up your food with that number afterwards. The seats and wooden decor feel as if you're suddenly in Japan, except the crowd around you reminds you otherwise.

The beef gyudons or rice bowls taste great. I love the taste combination. The beef is too sweet for my liking. However, that's how Japanese food tastes, so I get that.

The curry udon's taste was so masterful, and I don't usually order udon! Most curries are thick and heavy for me, so much so that I cannot continue to eat after a few bites. The curries here are light and soupy. The udon noodles also taste just right. I usually don't have them because they are too thick and chewy. Marufuji cafe made me realize all the udon I had before was crap.

I'm getting hungry as I write about their hand rolls. The avocado salmon rolls are stellar. The tuna tastes amazing as well.

I was told by local matcha connoisseurs that Marufuji's matcha isn't the best in the DMV, but it tastes pretty great to me. They usually have seasonal flavors going. I tried both the strawberry and mango versions. I loved them!

The only downside to this cafe for me, just like the whole store itself, is the price. It's expensive. After I order everything I wanted, like curry udon, 3 hand rolls, matcha, and a dessert, it's an easy $40. Ouch! I'm happy with what I'm getting, though. I'll gladly pay it, maybe not as often...

This is a new Japanese store near my house, I went there with my friend to buy some items and then I saw there is a restaurant in this neighborhood market, we ordered two meals and asked for water to drink (while waiting in line, door to kitchen was opened and I saw staff take plastic cups for water in the back and just rinse under water and bring them out again to be used for customers) I asked the staff very politely to give me a paper cup that they have by the register for drinking water, she said no and stated you could only drink water from reusable plastic cups, I told her I saw plastic cups were not washed properly, so i just paid and got our foods, while we were eating our foods, all of a sudden store manager rushed to our table and very arrogantly started yelling at my friend that we were not supposed to ask staff for paper cup. I was shocked by manager’s behavior towards my friend and after manager rudely talked to us and refused to provide us contact information of store owner, we just left our unfinished meals and left the store. Drinking water out of used plastic cups without properly washing is unsanitary and unsafe. I will report this to Fairfax health department in the morning and I will never return to...

I usually go to Marifuji just for meats, and some things I can’t find elsewhere, though prices are often higher than other Asian stores.

This time I tried their matcha drink and some food, and honestly, it wasn’t authentic at all just "average.” What made it worse was the service. Staff at the drink area were rude and seemed to prioritize Japanese-speaking customers, greeting them with smiles and even taking photos together while treating others poorly. The person who made my drink will rushed you and the girl calling numbers was equally unfriendly. Since I understand Japanese, I also caught side comments from staff to customers, which was very unprofessional.

On top of that, many workers were loud, always blocking aisles while restocking, and I even saw someone coughing without covering their mouth and, rubbing nose. Products, are overpriced, and the customer service is far from the polite and clean standard you’d expect from a Japanese store. So sad i had this experience after trying out that food court corner, Hopefully next shopping here will...