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Maru Korean BBQ & Sushi
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Korean Sushi Bars, Korean [Edit]
2025 Village Center CirLas Vegas, NV 89134
Neighborhood: Summerlin
(702) 360-6278
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
49 reviews for Maru Korean BBQ & Sushi
Review Highlights
"...we got personal service and never ending Bulgogi and Sushi."
(in 7 reviews)
"I then had the Sanchae Bibimbap."
(in 8 reviews)
"...flavor of the bbq beef, spicy pork and seafood tofu stew..."
(in 4 reviews)
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Candace W.
Las Vegas, NV
2/4/2012
I'm a big fan of Korean BBQ, and I think overall their marinated beef ribs may be the best in Las Vegas. I see a lot of negative reviews about this place that are focused on their all you can eat sushi. Unfortunately, I think Maru is really supposed to be a Korean BBQ place first, and they probably diversified into Sushi as Korean food could be a little more intimidating experience for those who have not tried it before.
Anyway, stick with Korean BBQ here and you'll enjoy the food. Decor and service is pretty great too :) -
Review from Joey M.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
How the hell can you claim to have all you can eat sushi when you damn selection is only the 10 basic rolls you can get an any other sushi restaurant for nearly the same cost as buying them individually?
I really want to give this place 1 star but I'm pretty much ranting on the AYCE sushi aspect of this restaurant. I only came here because it was the closest sushi place from my buddies house and to be honest, I was PUMPED to come here since I was starving for AYCE sushi and wanted to try some new stuff.
The building is aesthetically pleasing and it does have a warm/cozy feel to it. But the service was lacking (mainly since the waitress seemed to forget that I existed).
Anyways, I look at all the stuff on the menu then come to find out every single thing I planned on ordering from the AYCE sushi was not on the AYCE sushi menu.
Fuck.That.Noise
I have never been so tilted after eating sushi, it fucking defies the laws of physics.
#Hungry
#Ripoff
#HorribleSelection
#WelcomeToSheetySushi -
Review from Dani S.
Rowland Heights, CA
12/25/2011
Some of the worst sushi I've had in my life, AND horrible service!
My friend and I did the AYCE sushi lunch special $21.95, drinks not included, that means, hot tea is extra at $2.50/each. Not cool! Other AYCE places does not charge. Then, the selection is horrible, no uni, or sweet shrimp. We decided to suck it up and order anyways. After we marked our page, the waitress had the audacity to point out to both of us the "RULES" on the bottom of the page, and told us with a very mean attitude that we will have to pay full-price for left overs. WOW, sushi NAZI alert! AND she just called us pigs for ordering so much food.
Food came out SUPER slow, no excuse b/c there was only 4 other customers in the entire restaurant! Sushi orders were basically a gaint ball of COLD, tasteless rice, with a paper thin, tiny, piece of dried up, not fresh "fish" on top. The rolls were all rice, and no substance, and every single one tasted like horse's ass (and that's an understatement).
I heard their Korean dishes are better, but unfortunately, this experience was soooo bad, that I will NEVER come back to try it. -
Review from Bill C.
Las Vegas, NV
12/9/2011
Love this place! Maru is a classy place to enjoy some good Korean food in a great location in Summerlin. The beef ribs are very tasty and the Bibimbop is a hearty hot stone bowl! Very clean and well done decor in the dining area.
What I really like is the husband/wife couple who own Maru's often oversee the food and service there along with stopping by the tables to ensure everything is good. -
Review from Marisa G.
Las Vegas, NV
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I almost don't want to write a review about this place, because I don't want to say anything bad.
First off, the staff is so so nice. I really enjoy them.
The dining room is beautiful- I love the decor.
The food that I've tried just isn't that great. I've been 3 times, and only once was it good. But the staff is soooo incredibly nice, that I would consider going back to try some of the more adventurous dishes- and I would just stay away from the sushi. I just have so many other sushi places I enjoy more. -
Review from Jadira R.
12/13/2011 7 photos
It's all about the bibimbap.
I came here for lunch with a $30 Groupon. The first thing I noticed was the modern and trendy ambiance. All of the walls seemed to be made out of glass, the tables and booths were made out of a dark wood that went well with all the bamboo lined up in the center of the dining area, and there was a colorful bar area in the other half of the restaurant near the restrooms. Since we came at 11am, there were only a few other parties, so it made for a very chill environment.
After perusing the menu, we decided upon the Dolsot Bibimbap, Yokgajang, Jogi Gui, and chicken wings. The Jogi Gui was a lunch special so it came with rice, tempura, salad, and gyoza. We got our chicken wings first. They were pretty mediocre with nothing standing out about them besides the vibrant color. The Yokgajang came out in a giant bowl and it was more than enough for the both of us. I'm not a fan of anything spicy, but I actually enjoyed this (as much as my taste buds could handle). It was very flavorful and the spice definitely added a nice kick. The bibimbap came in a very large stone pot that took up almost the entire space in front of me. I've been craving bibimbap, so I dug in right away. It was hearty and delicious! I was so distracted by it that I just stopped eating anything else that we ordered and gave the bibimbap all of my attention. My favorite part was the crunchy bits of rice and egg that got stuck on the bottom of the pot. The dish went perfectly with all the banchan they gave us. If I didn't live so far, I'd probably come here twice a week just for the bibimbap.
Overall, the presentation of all the food was perfect, the ambiance was very relaxing, and the food was tasty. I'd probably save this place for a nice lunch or dinner date though because you're definitely paying for the ambiance and I'm sure you'd want to enjoy it with someone ;)Listed in: Vegas Favorites, A Good Mid-day Meal
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Review from Hootie B.
Las Vegas, NV
9/16/2011
It's sad that a restaurant with the most beautiful dining rooms serves quite possible the worst Korean/Japanese food that we've ever had. I even had trouble finding this restaurant not realizing that it was in the middle of the roundabout!!
Of course this gentleman owns Korean Gardens in Chinatown and my wife tells me that years ago he owned a Korean eatery somewhere on east Tropicana. We actually like Korean Gardens it just seems that he toned down the food at Maru while increasing the prices.
We came here for an early lunch, I like trying any new restaurant at lunch because the cost are usually less. If lunch is good, probably dinner will be of the same quality.
We started with some nigiri for an appetizer and explained that we would want our entrees after we had completed our apps. For the main course my wife ordered the Emyeunsu Gui and I opted for the dae ji (bul)gogi. Since I was only one BBQ item I thought it would be alright if they prepared my dae ji in the kitchen and bring it to me on one of those cast iron skillets rather than going through the whole smokey Korean BBQ experience.
For the nigiri I ordered Blue Fin Tuna, Mirugai and Anago. At this point the waitress brings our ban-chan, with one look and taste my Korean wife says let's go!! WHAT?? Is it that bad, the wife says YES!!
At this point the waitress brings out my sizzling skillet with the dae ji bulgogi. I haven't even received my appetizer yet?? Why are they rushing me, the restaurant is empty??
And to make matter worse now I'm told both Blue Fin and Mirugai are not available, so I just had them substitute maguro and albacore. This arrived fairly quickly but what I saw looked worse than the sushi you would see at the Albertson's deli section. Who cut this fish... a blind man with a dull butter knife?? Extra wasabi PLEASE!!!!
At this point my wife's Emyeunsu Gui arrives, instead of that dark caramelized grilled piece of fish it looks as if it was boiled. The whole enjoyment of the dish is the caramelization. My wife didn't even want to take one bite, she was so angry!! Now I start eating my dae ji (bul)gogi with her, and it's already ice cold!! Cold Korean BBQ..YUM!!
And the kicker for us was that all this inedible food cost us $80.00 for lunch. I don't mind paying any amount but this food was absolutely horrible.
I do want to go back and give Maru another try but the Korean wife proclaims that she will divorce me if I ever take her back to Maru!! -
Review from joshua s.
Las Vegas, NV
7/11/2011
An incredibly classy restaurant that I drove by on my way home for two years before I recognized its existence. It's plotted in front of a small business complex and is relatively indistinguishable from its surroundings. This, in combination with the lack of advertisement, is probably the reason why the place has been dead the three times i've visited. Each time I came for the all-you-can-eat sushi which they've recently implemented (probably to bolster business), and it was pretty decent. Their ice cream tastes amazing.
A real shame this place doesn't see more people - it deserves it! -
Review from Jeremy C.
Las Vegas, NV
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I tired this place after the reccomendation of a friend.
The restaurant was very nice and I liked the setup despite the uptight snooty atmosphere but hey its Summerlin so what do you expect. The AYCE menu was very dismal in selection and was not impressed by the little they did offer. The quality of the fish was good but they should ditch the AYCE and keep it old school and just offer specials on the rolls.
The service was ok but seeing how we went early before the lunch rush..its should have been better. We never actually got sushi plates which was rather annoying as well.
They did have the Korean BBQ setups at the table so perhaps the wife and I will return and give that a shot when it cools down but til then this is on my no go list. -
Review from James M.
Las Vegas, NV
8/16/2011
Maru was all in all a very pleasant and rewarding dinner location for me and my girlfriend.
First impression: Incredible curb appeal, very upscale, hip and classy decor and presentation. In a good neighborhood. Other Korean Restaurants in Vegas are in the part of town where you're concerned about leaving your belongings in your car... NOT MARU! Its tucked away in a business section of Summerlin with plenty of parking. There is plenty of room for waiting though we didn't have to.
Main Points: The restaurant is an authentic, Korean BBQ. It is one of the few places in vegas you can get genuine Korean food prepared on a stove at your table or in a hot pot, served raw, etc. Those reviewers criticizing the AYCE Sushi menu should bear in mind that this is not the primary focus of the establishment, but rather another offering to appeal to a wider audience, as Korean food tends to be extremely esoteric. Service gripes seem to frequent some of the other reviews, but I have none. Our hostess, waitress, and busser were all pleasant, helpful, and happy.
Food: I ordered four of the traditional, served raw Korean entrees and cooked them at the table for the full experience. I was not displeased. The quality of the ingredients was top-notch, and the facilities and atmosphere as well as the assistance from the wait staff was very helpful.
The AYCE sushi was ordered by another in our party. If there is a scale for measuring Sushi quality, it would have grocery store sushi as a 1, and high quality a'la carte as a 10. This sushi would have to be considered around a 4. It was definitely good quality fish, and some of the specialty rolls are incredibly good, with interesting flavor combinations. Some of the nagiri sushi, however, was a bit disappointing when compared with some other AYCE sushi restaurants in Vegas. I am readily prepared to forgive this though, for the reason mentioned earlier in the review. The Korean food was superb.
Bottom Line: If looking for a night out at a classy Asian food restaurant with friends in Vegas, and you're off the strip, this is a very satisfying location. Summerlin community, give them a try! -
Review from Joonho U.
Las Vegas, NV
6/18/2011
Good food, good decor, bad service. Simple yet clear summary of the place.
Message to manager: hire the best servers asap or your place is not going to get four to five stars reviews often.
That's all I gotta say. -
Review from My T.
Las Vegas, NV
12/17/2010 3 Check-ins Here
My favorite Shabu-Shabu place in Las Vegas to date (I've only been to two in my whole life). I also rate this place as the best place to eat do it yourself Korean BBQ. This is a trendy Asian spot in the Summerlin area. I get that the number one complaint about Maru is that the food here is not as tasty compared to places on Spring Mountain. Also the cost might be slightly higher, but "C'mon people! Give this place a chance. "
I mean, I love good food as much as anyone but I love great ambiance and service also. At other Korean BBQ in town, I always end up smelling like the food I eat there. Not date-friendly at all.
Pros:
Fantastic Ambiance
Great assortment of drinks/cocktails.
Shabu-Shabu order is enough for 4 people
Great assortment of meat to bbq
Bimbimbap is fantastic
You won't need to re-apply Old Spice after eating
Cons:
not as tasty
Solid 4 stars! -
Review from Leosdianto L.
Las Vegas, NV
10/6/2010
I always believe a good sushi place really depends on the chef. The chef that knows how to get the right fish, keeping it fresh and making it before serving it to the customers.
This 5 star reviews is purely based on the sushi made ONLY by Chef Andy the legendary sushi chef.
For a long time I've been admiring on how chef Andy does his magic in making sushi. Anyone that has ever see how he works will know what I'm talking about. My expectation toward sushi has been always at a higher bar because of chef Andy. It always make me laugh when some youngster think they know everything about sushi. Go work next to him, and you'll look like a fool.
Most people grew up with the environment of AYCE sushi atmosphere. Do they even know what is a good sushi? They think they do, but trust me they don't!
Does it mean that his sushi is the best?
A good chef like Andy, has his own pride. Most other chef probably is not even born yet when Andy start making his first sushi. He is not used to making cheap quality sushi, but the competition for sushi plus the economy force him to make the best quality sushi with a low given budget.
If chef A is given a budget of $100 to make one good dish, and chef B given a budget of $25 to make one extraordinary dish. Chef A is able to make a better dish because he has more money to spend, but chef B still make a very good dish even only using 1/4 of the budget, does that make chef A a better chef?
A chef, like any artist, has to work within his limitations. The measure of the chef should be what he is able to do with what he has, not with the quality of materials he's working with.
I believe if Chef Andy given the same budget, he is definitely one of the best sushi chef in Vegas.
Yes, they do have limitations with their AYCE menu. Some of the rolls that need extra work are not included in the AYCE. Yes, of course they could offer you 30 extra menu like you can get at other place. But what you get at other place is NOT a good quality rolls/sushi, most of the chef at other AYCE are either put too much sauce, too much rice, rice fell apart while trying to pick it up, bad bad bad tasting sauce, I can go on and on.
Would you pick quantity over quality? If you pick quantity, then please don't even bother to see him. Most AYCE are set up for people that pick quantity over quality. But Chef Andy has his own standard, even at his lowest standard, for most people it will still be a really good sushi.
I can bet you $100 for those saying "I could eat all of the items from their 1 page menu in 2 breathes".that you will NOT eat all the items, your eyes are just hungrier than your stomach. I bet I eat more than average people, I eat average 2 cups of rice (before cooked) in my each meal everyday, and I barely go 1/3 of their sushi menu.
It's really not fair to give a one star to this place because, they don't have enough item in their AYCE menu, or their dessert/appetizers do not have enough selection.
I go to eat at sushi place for their sushi, PERIOD! i don't give a s***t for some stupid appetizers, or dessert. If you come to this AYCE for their appetizers and desserts, then you'll be seriously disappointed. But if you want to have a good sushi, but don't really want to pay the full price. Then you should come here on the night when Andy works. I'm sure you'll come hungry and leave happy. -
Review from Camille G.
Las Vegas, NV
12/31/2010
The first time I went to Maru, I went with a large group as a guest of a family member of the owners. So we got personal service and never ending Bulgogi and Sushi. It was my first Korean BBQ experience and I was hooked!
The salad is addicting and sushi is good (not huge like many places, but nice manageable pieces) and Bulgogi is heavenly. The decor is so nice and you feel like you should be on The Strip and not in a business park.
Since then I have been to Korean Gardens, but decided to give Maru a shot with my own wallet (Ok, my Boyfriends) because we didn't want to go down to China-Town. I might say that Korean Garden might be a bit better, but I would never turn down a dinner at Maru. I prefer that Salad at Maru over KG! hah.
We went on a Friday night and were suprised how few other patrons were there. It made me kind of sad :(
It deserves a shot! -
Review from Maria L.
Las Vegas, NV
Updated - 2/19/2011
This place has gone way down hill since we last visited. We went here for lunch yesterday. It was very quiet. The hostess was very unfriendly, couldn't break a smile the whole time we were there and when we said we didn't understand the menu she just walked away. The waitress told us that the lunch menu came with rice and a salad. So we were surprised when she bought us miso soup and tempura dipping sauce. My hubby got his meal first and surprise it came with tempura! Then we waited ........ and waited and waited. We heard the buzzer from the kitchen and then I saw the chef come out looking for a waitress, no one in sight! Finally got my meal and it was just ok.
Overall we were very disappointed we were there for an hour and hubby had to get back to work. As we left we said thanks to the hostess and she just ignored us. Maybe shes stressed because of the lack of business? Well step it up lady!!!!
Will not be back!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/25/2010
This is good Korean BBQ but very expensive, you can get just as good food much cheaper in Chinatown.… Read more »
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Review from Danna C.
We went here a week or so ago after purchasing a Groupon.We got the bulgogi ($25) and kimchee soup ($10). The food was fine but over-priced. I don't think I would go back. There are better Korean restaurants that are more reasonably priced.
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Review from Trina T.
Las Vegas, NV
Let's say you have no other option but to eat somewhere near home, and home is in the Summerlin area of Town Center Drive. You are craving Asian food and don't want the typical sushi bar experience. Where would you go? I know! MARU!
Maru is a place filled with Asian options and boasts a seating area designed for Korean table BBQ. If you've never tried it, now would be a good time to give it a shot. Not only is it fun to watch your food cook at the table, but you get to control how well done your meats are. Still, they offer the BBQ dishes to be cooked in the back, which is what we do every time we visit.
Since the last dinner experience I honestly found THE place to eat Korean BBQ, but Maru, for the location, is good. It's decent Korean fair with all the fixings and is marinated well. You may be wondering "why the 3 stars if you say it's good" and I'll tell you why--because it's fair, not incredible.
Korean BBQ preferences are like American BBQ--you either love the sauce or hate it. Korean BBQ, although there is a standard marination for each type, can vary from restaurant to restaurant. The one thing that makes a Korean restaurant truly authentic and not city korean food is one side dish that is offered with the meal--radish beef soup.
The person who owns Maru also owns the other Korean restaurant I truly love, but for some reason they don't share the same flavored marinations for their meat and Maru doesn't offer the traditional soup but it's sister restaurant does. Still, this place is good for the location if you don't want to drive to Chinatown for your fix, so give it a try.
I will come back again once in a blue moon, but I prefer Maru's sister restaurant for al my Korean BBQ needs. -
Review from Misti Y.
5/24/2010
Maru is the perfect place to take your borderline adventurous eater friends--you know those people who might be up for trying a different cuisine as long as it is delivered in a trendy setting. I love trendy settings, but I also love tasty food served in less than fashionable surroundings. If I had to choose, I would take food over fashion any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
I went to Maru for a loner lunch and ordered vegetable sundubu. The ingredients are fresh, and the banchan kept me happy. However, the sundubu was mild and, sadly, bland. I hate sad sundubu days.
From reading the other reviews, perhaps the real star at Maru is the BBQ or bibimbap. Maybe they are so excited about meat that they forget about the timid tofu. I give them an A+ for interior.
Right after my meal, I thought I would be giving Maru 2-stars, and solely for sundbu it may be 2-stars, despite the super fresh ingredients. Now, I am giving them a little bump for maintaining a clean, attractive restaurant that can serve as a gateway for adventurous eats. And lovebirds be advised: These are definitely date-quality surroundings (as long as you don't get the kid playing cymbals on the grill cover as your dining neighbor).Listed in: First Date Ideas, Patio Eating, Kimchi Please!, Pretty On The Inside
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Review from Reggie D.
Las Vegas, NV
7/11/2011
Friendly service + great food - My fiance and I go here often. I like the peaceful atmosphere and obviously great tasting food. Try the Galbi!
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Review from Natalie L.
Las Vegas, NV
Maru brings back the pride in Korean cuisine which has been downgraded in AYCE korean bbq joints with a profusion of lesser quality meats.
Maru's Dolsot Bibimbap is in an authentic dolsot (stone bowl) making the rice crispy and chewy. They serve it sizzling hot and mix it tableside for you, if you wish. All of their meats are of superior quality. You can actually taste the different inherent flavors of beef and pork so you dont have to drown non-marinated meats in sauce. The Galbi has a tasty marinade and does not have an excess of fat. The Black Pork Belly and Jumuluk (sliced beef in marinade) are also my favorites.
They serve a variety of appetizers including a generous portion of their house salad. The first time I tried Maru, they had seaweed chips which were crispy strips of seaweed sprinkled with sugar and sea salt. Yummy! I never saw it again though...
I give Maru 4 stars for setting the bar in Korean food, cleanliness, and for the owners, an old couple with a sense of humor, who makes it a point to make their rounds and talk to the customers.
PS:
Beware of Maru's specials like the AYCE sushi and $9.95 korean bbq dishes. There are a lot of fine prints. So if you have the moola to splurge on quality and not quantity of Korean food, this is the place to be! -
Review from Honey T.
Las Vegas, NV
3/19/2010 1 photo
Attention Yelpers: The following review is only based on Maru's AYCE (All You Can Eat) sushi.
As an avid AYCE or any buffet eating tasmanian devil, I expect the best quality, variety, service, experience in keeping the food coming and it better be rapidly fresh!
We had plans to go to Xtreme Sushi at Southern Highlands, but some friends wanted to try Maru in Summerlin because they opened their new AYCE sushi.
Going into the restaurant was pleasing, venue was clean and plenty of space. The atmosphere was beautifully designed, however I am reviewing strictly for the AYCE sushi experience...so here it goes.
I must be spoiled from Xtreme Sushi because their AYCE sushi is EVERYTHING on the menu, except for Sashimi (read my review for Xtreme Sushi http://www.yelp.com/us...)!
Contrary to my Xtreme appetite, Maru's AYCE sushi was only for selected items! Their regular Sushi menu looked very good and had a variety of appetizers, nigiris and special rolls. Although going into the restaurant I already knew their regular menu merely did not have as much as Xtreme Sushi; but I went anyway with an open mind to try this out.
To my surprise and huge disappointment, they gave us a separate AYCE menu with (as mentioned) selected items and I couldn't stomach the fact that I knew I could eat all of the items from their 1 page menu in 2 breathes! Additionally, you had to pencil in what you wanted and advertising with ordering in 2 rounds! WTF??!??!!! I could not believe the fact that I have limitations to my AYCE SUSHI??
We sucked it up, stayed and gave it a chance.
Fish Quality -
The nigiri sushi was good, but inconsistent. We had the following items:
Escalor (White Tuna) - The first round was very fresh & buttery, but the last round it was a bit fishy almost rancid.
Unagi - A little soft and dainty, I prefer mine crispy & well done
Salmon - was a bit too orange and with a hard layer
Uni (Sea Urchin)- My first time trying Uni in 10 years! I didn't like it 10 years ago but it was very good!
Hamachi (Yellowtail) - I was pleased. Tasted fresh with good quality.
Kanpachi (Amber Jack) - this was part of the special item which you can only order 1 at a time & only in the 1st round. My friend ordered and so I wanted to try but at the end, they said they ran out of it! (yeah, right!)
Hokkigai (surf clam) - this was actually one of my favorites.
Red Snapper - it was better than bad
Garlic Tuna - I've had better
Amaebi (sweet shrimp) - It was good
Rolls - We only ordered a couple of items, because you can't request 1/2 order rolls like some other AYCE places.
Philadelphia Roll (salmon, cream cheese & avocado) - It was decent, perhaps too much sauce
Summerlin Crunch Roll (vegetables, crab, shrimp tempura, masago topped w/ tempura flakes) - This was also one of my favorites
Unagi Roll (fresh water eel & cucumber) - Not bad
Appetizers - Very disappointing, Xtremely limited items and small portions!
Chuka Salad (Spicy seaweed salad) - Very small and I can't even fathom to review the taste because it wasn't enough.
Salmon Skin Salad - okay
Another green salad that they made up - okay
Mussels - the first round it came out warm to cold, as if it was sitting around for a while. The 2nd round was tolerable.
Gyoza - not bad
Tempura - 2 pieces of shrimp and 4 pieces of mixed vegetables. We asked if we can have all shrimp and they said "NO!"
Dessert - They only had a choice of green tea and vanilla
Green Tea Ice Cream - Normal. They also refused to serve the ice cream to my friends who were done eating with their AYCE sushi, because they were still waiting for our last few items that we ordered! Weird!
Service - I am perplexed why they were Xtremely slow because they were not even busy. Furthermore, servers were hawking at us to ensure that we didn't share with our other friend who didn't have the AYCE and only ordered Bibimbap, which she said was very good.
One of the servers also blocked and pushed my other friend's hands away because server insisted that one of the sushi she ordered was for her only since they were going by our individual paper menu that we had to pencil in. They also didn't give some of our order at the end and said that they ran out of it. Towards the end, the sushi portion became smaller and smaller! Very disappointing indeed!
I give Maru 1/2 star for some of the fish quality and another 1/2 star for the owners greeting us out as we were leaving. The owners were very nice and said to come back again. I advised them that I couldn't come back because your servers cut me off in my AYCE sushi. She said that she will spank them, so owner well deserved another 1/2 star!
Would I come back here again? Perhaps and only for the korean bbq which I have been told is really good!
Other than that, I will only go to Xtreme sushi because they guarantee to satisfy my Xtreme appetite without any limitations and I get my $26 worth!Listed in: Fresh or not so fresh AYCE…
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Review from Samantha A.
Las Vegas, NV
3/9/2011
I came here for the first time many months ago. I had never tried Korean BBQ before and I wanted to give it a try. It was amazing. The food portions were more than enough and it was all delicious. The staff couldn't speak English very well but they were very helpful and considerate despite that fact. We have also been here for their sushi which I was weary at first because it was a Korean place. It was excellent as well. The sushi lasagna is absolutely amazing. I have never had anything so delicious.
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Review from Rex K.
Las Vegas, NV
3/30/2008
I haven't reviewed any restaurants lately, because there haven't been any that have moved me...good or bad...until now.
I'm Korean and live two minutes from Maru, so I was excited about the prospect of good Korean food close to home. I've been to their other restaurant in Chinatown, Korean Garden, so I assumed that the food would be as good.
For starters, the menu is more expensive than in Chinatown. I know it's in Summerlin, but many businesses make the mistake of thinking they can arbitrarily charge more because the people in Summerlin can afford it. I would pay more if the quality was better...or the service was better...but not just because it's in Summerlin. And the prices aren't higher due to higher rent...the owners bought the building, so there is NO RENT!
The menu is a mix of various Asian cuisine. Sorry...but sushi and teriyaki is not Korean.
The decor was well designed. It looked like they spent good money on the build out. The food, however, was horrible.
The pahn-chan (complimentary appetizer small dishes) came out and everything was a little bland. I ordered the spicy pork and it came out luke warm. At traditional Korean restaurants, the dish comes out sizzling. The pork tasted undercooked and had no spice. I took two bites and told the server that it didn't taste right. He chuckled and called for the manager.
The manager (I think his name was Ben) came over and asked what was wrong. I told him that my entree did not taste right, so he asked me if I wanted to replace it with another dish. I said okay and he had this look of..."another Korean complaining about the food." They definitely have tweaked the formula to cater to a non-Korean palate.
I ordered Yu-Kwe-Jhang (a spicy beef broth soup with beef and scallions) and that too was flavorless. I didn't have the desire to send that dish back so I ate enough to fill my appetite and left.
The worst part of the experience is that the manager didn't even stop back at the table to see if the replacement dish was any better. In fact, he was standing by the front as we left and he conveniently turned his back to us as we left.
As a foodie who loves trying new restaurants, I've always had a rule of trying a new restaurant at least twice. You just never know if the chef had a bad night...or if several of the servers called in sick so they were short-staffed...or the multitude of other reasons why the food or service was not perfect. However, when the manager shows such disregard for the satisfaction of the customer, it's my sign never to return. In my experience, this lack of concern trickles down to the rest of the staff and restaurants like this do not deserve my hard-earned money. -
Review from Scott W.
Las Vegas, NV
6/16/2011
OMG.... By far the best food I have ever had.
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Review from Michael W.
Gold River, CA
1/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ok, another stop during my convention stay in Vegas (paid for by one of my suppliers). Since I wasn't paying I was able to order pretty much anything I wanted, which was absolutely fantastic. I would highly recommend going to dinner when you're not paying!!! But I was there with about 100 other people. It must have been a doozy.
I alone ordered 2 orders of unmarinated dung-shim (certified angus beef steaks), 6 orders of marinated galbi bbq short ribs, 2 sashimi platters, 2 orders of uni, a sushi platter, and muhl naeng myun (cold buckwheat noodles soup). Ok, I didn't eat this all by myself. I was sharing with 4 other people. We also did have a bunch of alcohol too.
The dung-shim was very good. The steaks were nicely marbled so they came out oh so tender. The galbi's marinated was pretty good (not too sweet or too salty and also tender). All of the fish came out very fresh, even the uni. Do NOT I repeat do NOT EVER EVER EVER order the muhl naeng myun. Horrible. WAY TOO SWEET. I heard the bibim naeng myun was pretty good. They brought out around 12 side dishes (banchan) which all were very, for lack of a better word, yummy. After this FEAST, I was VERY thankful I wasn't paying. I was estimating the bill came out to around $7000($50/person + alcohol).
Service was good considering they got slammed with 100 people all at once on top of their normal dinner crowd. The price was not so good. Looking at the menu brought fear to my wallet. The owner did spend a pretty penny on this restaurant. Considering the neighborhood, she had to in order to make it fit the area, I mean she even put til on the stall walls! But it does look really nice. Very chic.
I would recommend it, even at that price. It is a bit far from the strip though, so get ready for a trek! -
Review from Lura P.
Las Vegas, NV
7/6/2010
Our first visit here was quite enjoyable. Neither my fiance or I are familiar with Korean food, but we'd seen a lot of good reviews, and while we realized it was probably not that authentic, we thought it would be a good place to start. We both enjoyed our meals very much. He had the bbq ribs, which they snipped off the bone for him tableside, a nice touch, I thought, and I had the Dolsot Bibimbap. It was served with raw yolk (which cooked with the other ingredients when it came in contact with the hot stone bowl) and a delicious assortment of veggies.
My only complaint would be that the menu was simply overwhelming. It seems like this place wants to be all things to all people and should really just focus on the things it does best.
We will definitely be coming back for the BBQ! -
Review from Shannon L.
Las Vegas, NV
3/4/2011
What was fresh about this place? The waitresses' bad attitude and poor service. 3 of us did the AYCE for $26, and 1 person ordered a korean dish.
First off, when we got seated, the waitress took 3 out of the 4 drink orders, and then walked away. We had to shout the 4th drink order. After we ordered our AYCE sushi items (limited to one order of sea urchin (uni) and 1 order of sweet shrimp, we waited... and waited... for our food. The appetizers like the tempura and gyoza were fine, although I had to ask for tempura sauce. What place does not bring tempura sauce with tempura? This should have been a red flag, as I had to ask for it. The rest of the sushi came out very very slow, especially for being nearly empty on a friday night at 7pm.
Finally the first sushi order (tuna) came out. It's one thing if the sushi looks like it got rolled over by a car and died 2 weeks ago, but it actually tasted like it died 2 weeks ago and got rolled over by a car, and then sliced and put on top a very hefty wad of mushy rice. It was tasteless. The lack of flavor was attempted to be hidden by the sushi chef adding a clump of wasabi underneath.
The rice quality was nothing that great either. It was a step above the quality of rice found at the supermarket.
Everything else that came out had no flavor and there was a lack of excitement about the food.
We had to wait 90 minutes before we finally got fed up, and said, where is our uni?! The manager in charge said he would go check. He came back a couple minutes later saying it would be out in a couple minutes as they just opened up a new box. (Really? they couldn't have opened up the new box when we ordered the food?) The uni was fine, nothing horrible, but nothing that great either.
The last sushi order they brought out was the white tuna which I usually like, but it was just horrible. It was warm, melted in your mouth (not because it was good quality, but because it was just so waterlogged), and it had a weird almost alcoholic flavor to it. I spit it out and sent it back via the waitress who plainly ignored me until another waitress came by. They were also very slow at servicing our table as we would stack our own plates to make room. We also had to constantly ask for tea, but at least they kept my friend's soda cup full.
My korean friend told me that her korean dish was awful as well. She only ate half of it.
Overall, this restaurant is horrible. The korean food is not good, and neither is the sushi. 1 star was given because that's the bare minimum that must be given and inside the restaurant looked very nice and modern. This place does not deserve to serve sushi. -
Review from Melissa J.
Honolulu, HI
3/26/2010
My husband and I normally go here during happy hour. The normal prices isn't something we'd pay for what they serve. I absolutely love the sushi lasagna and I always order it. My husband really enjoyed the kalbi, and says the meat is "delicious".
We normally have good service. Quick to seat us because it's not packed. If anything, there were a few patrons here and there.
I always raved about this place to my cousins and finally got them to come out with us. I don't know what happened this time, but due to service, I was highly embarrassed that I've recommended this place.
The food took way too long. The waitress almost spilled soup on my cousin's girlfriend. And they've never checked in on us to see how we're doing.
As we were about to leave, I wrote a note and passed it on to the manager (the really young Asian guy). He took the note and ignored us.
On a different day, we bought 2 friends there also. And we've all had a good experience.
We lived in Summerlin, so we'd go there often. Even though, I was quite embarrassed about that one incident, I'd go again. During happy hour, of course. -
Review from Holly C.
2/15/2009
Great Korean BBQ place in Summerlin! We had the Korean BBQ (pork and galbi) and the Soon tofu stew. The BBQ comes with salad, which is delicious. The meat was really tasty and they let us get half order of each so we could try a variety. Comes with all the typical accrutements... kimchi, dried fish, white radish, pickled cucumbers, dried squid, etc. The stew was also great with lots of fresh seafood. We usually get Korean food in San Diego and this place is on par with the best places in San Diego. It's nice to find a good Korean restaurant so close to home! We didn't try the sushi, but we will try it next time and I will do an update.
I also strongly recommend the martinis. I had the pomegranate martini and it was terrific! The service was impeccable and everyone was really nice and attentive. The decor is really nice, too. A lot of glass with bamboo trees in the middle.
If you liked Sea Stone (how long was that place open... two days?), then you will love this place. GO! -
Review from ryan f.
Denver, CO
4/27/2011
This is the best Korean in las vegas as far as we're concerned. It's out of the way in Summerlin, but who cares, it's really good. Notably you want the Braised Galbi JJim. It is so very delicious, unbelievable flavor.
The Dolpan Spicy Pork (for two) is really good, but it's huge. More like a dish for 4 or more and order something else.
Nice place, friendly staff and solid food options. definitely a win if you are looking for Korean in las vegas. -
Review from Rich L.
Salt Lake City, UT
3/9/2009
Modern, spotless, friendly staff & chef's, nice little bar, excellent sashimi.
can't wait to see how the Korean BBQ compares to the places in Buena Park. I know it's not good for their business but I loved how dead it was for 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. Maybe 5 other customers. I hope it makes it because I look forward to becoming a regular. -
Review from Monera M.
12/17/2010
So I know nothing about Korean food but it smells so savory that I wish I knew more. I had a small whole white fish which was clean and tasty. They served it with an array of veggies.
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Review from Marshall T.
Rocklin, CA
2/23/2010
For Summerlin natives, it's easy to take Maru for granted. It's practically in our backyard, we see it everyday taking kids to school, and it seems to always be open. For non-fans of Korean food, it's easy to go there once, then forget about it, but if you like this type of cuisine, there's no reason to think it's any steps lower than a Korean restaurant you'd find in Koreatown (Spring Mtn & Jones) or on the Strip...and certainly no reason to have to drive further.
Maru, although its clientele tends to be mostly non-Asian, has not dumbed down the menu to just the usual staples of the middle-American palate (bulgogi, kalbi, etc.). Those items are definitely available, and are done expertly, but the more authentic array of tripe soups, steamed rice bowls, and very spicy noodle dishes are all on the menu, and I would think the fully-Korean cooks are delighted to get one of these offerings on a ticket once in a while. They're delicious, like everything else here...except...
...for the sushi. As an Asian, I've always contended that the Japanese should run Japanese restaurants, Koreans should run Korean eateries, and the Chinese should stay with Chinese fare. As sushi has exploded in popularity since the 80's, it seems like Asian restauranteurs of every ilk now think they can roll sushi right...but unfortunately, that still isn't the case. A few times, our white tuna or yellowtail have arrived obviously quickly thawed out (and consequently lacking any body or true flavor), and they seem to try to make up for it by putting a gigantic slice of fish on top of an oversized rice cushion. In short, I would not take my Japanese mother here for sushi!
But if you stick with any Korean menu item, you'll be delighted. The matriarch of the family will undoubtedly come by your table at some point in your dinner to offer her gratitude for your visit, and ask you for any special requests. She does this from her heartfelt feeling that you are visiting her home, and not for some marketing or "feelgood" effect. Koreans are a very proud and passionate people...and the food they prepare from their homeland at Maru represents them well!
I almost forgot to mention the kimchi and appetizer assortment that you get with every meal. This, too, is the real deal, and if you see something missing (occasionally, they seem to cycle through their available items and bring out, say, 7 out of the 10 goodies they have in the back), just ask. A few of the more fringe items you may get at a restaurant on Normandie in LA may not be available - maybe a pickled squid, a type of dried fish, or a blanched pearl onion - but almost anything you'd find at any Korean restaurant will gladly be brought to you if you ask.
All in a fabulous, ultra-modern decor with comfortable and expansive tables. Why leave Summerlin? -
Review from Thomas B.
Las Vegas, NV
8/4/2011
This place is good for lunch because I love their bimbimbop but that's about it. My wife ordered AYCE sushi and I tried a few roles and it tasted like grocery store sushi. Seriously. GROCERY...STORE....SUSHI. That is lame. If you get AYCE (for $25 no less) it better be somewhere in between hi quality Ala cart and grocery store. I'm pretty sure Albertsons has better sushi. I also ordered the Korea BBQ Pork Belly and that was equally as disappointing. The meat had no seasoning and no flavor. I mean seriously didn't the silk road back in the day from east to west involve some kind of spice trade. Somebody better let this Korean BBQ place know because I don't think they realize salt even exists. The worst part about all of this is that this place is horrendously overpriced. I had my daughter with me and I almost had to leave her as a tip. Don't go here. Drive the extra 10 minutes and hit up some of the Korean BBQ place in China Town. So much better.
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Review from Dan H.
Las Vegas, NV
2/26/2009 3 photos
I started with Kimchi. I then had the Sanchae Bibimbap. It is served unmixed, crisp vegetables with a fried egg on top, with a cup of chili sauce dumped on top. I know, right? It doesn't sound that good to me either. BUT, when you mix it together, it becomes one of the tastiest vegetarian dishes I have ever eaten! I Love Bibimbap! And it is fun to say, too.
The restaurant is Kubrikesque. There, I said it. See the attached pictures. -
Review from Roydon W.
Las Vegas, NV
10/5/2010
I like it. We go back again.
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Review from jillian p.
Las Vegas, NV
3/26/2010 2 photos
Yesterday afternoon we dined at Maru, a Korean and Japanese restaurant located off Town Center in Summerlin. I must say Korean food is not one of my favorite cuisines, perhaps because Koreans are very adept at food preservation and I've never been a huge fan of anything fermented, with the exception of alcohol. Something about the little fizz attached to fermented foods makes me a little squeamish. Kimchi is a great example, although it can also be prepared fresh, which I prefer. In any case, I like to expose myself to all cuisines so I still eat Korean food occasionally.
The Korean dish I like the most is bibimbap, which is not only fun to say, but also fun to eat. It is an authentic dish that is accessible to the American pallet, best served in a hot stone pot. It consists of white rice topped with a pretty display of meat, a variety of vegetables, and a raw egg, along with a sweet and spicy sauce. The first time my husband and I had this dish we got it without the egg and started eating the toppings first, dipping them in the sauce. We were corrected by the waitress who came over and poured the sauce over the toppings, then used a long metal spoon to mix all the contents of the pot together into a tasty hodge-podge. After she did so the dish made more sense, and the next time I didn't omit the raw egg since the heat of the rice and the pot cooks it to a state I much prefer. Bibimbap is served at almost all Korean restaurants and usually one pot is enough for two average eaters, so it is as affordable as it is yummy (at Maru it is$9.99).
Korean food is always accompanied by banchan, or little side dishes, so I find this is a good way to try Korean specialties without having to make a whole meal out of them. The side dishes can range from seaweed and fishcakes to cold mashed potatoes and kimchi, and generally you are served about five of them. The banchan at Maru are very good, and I appreciate that they always change so you have a bit different experience each time.
Ian ordered the spicy pork lunch special which wasn't as good as the bibimbap. The flavor was fine but the pork was very oily and it was hard to find the good cuts of meat in the pile. It came with mediocre tempura, an average salad, rice, and a delicious cup of miso soup (one of the better I've had). We agreed we probably wouldn't order it again.
Maru, which has a lovely modern dining room complete with mini atrium, also has a sushi bar. I ordered sashimi here once and thought it was incredibly fresh, though the rolls on the menu aren't as interesting as say, Sushi Fever. It's nice that the restaurant offers two cuisines so you can please all the pallets in your party, but really the bibimbap is the only reason I see to come here. -
Review from Vanessa M.
Houston, TX
1/5/2010 2 photos
It could have been the 2 miles straight up the side of that mountain I just hiked that made this place so amazing but I can't be sure. I am in love. I wish this place was in Texas though my husband surely doesn't based on their high prices. I say the prices may be high but the quantities are HUGE! The flavor of the bbq beef, spicy pork and seafood tofu stew were out of this world!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Try it. You will thank me.
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Review from Derick P.
Chula Vista, CA
8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant is easily one of the best korean bbq spots i've ever been to. How this place averaged 3 stars is bs.
One of the first things that comes to mind with korean food is bulgogi. My coworkers and i ordered the lunch specials of bulgogi, pork bulgogi, stir fried chicken and a fish dish.
The bulgogi beef was my 3rd best ever (1st in san fran 2nd in san diego).
The pork bulgogi blew me away. The flavor was quite tasty but not overpowering.
If you are not a bulgogi fan then get the chicken stir fry and you wont be disappointed.
Bulgogi and pork bulgogi. Its a done deal... -
Review from ashley B.
Las Vegas, NV
7/5/2010
Being new to town I tend to use yelp and urban spoon often to help guide me in a successful direction...... I have never tried Korean BBQ before, however, have heard friends talk about how much they loved it. Came across this place and decided to try it ...late night one Wednesday.
I went around 7 with my boyfriend and we met another friend there. At the time (which I thought was dinner time) we happen to be the ONLY ones in the restaurant AND bar. As the peacefulness was nice I was a bit hesitant on ordering food from what looked like a pricey menu, so we started with drinks.
As our hunger grew we decided to all share and get a few different proteins seeing as we were all first timers. We ordered beef, chicken and pork. I liked how it came with so many sides as you could really create many different dishes. I as a simple eater however I am forced to try everything at least once as my boyfriend in a foodie!! The meat was all very well seasoned and flavorful, the apple mashed potatoes were an interesting pairing but good non the less.... I ended up mostly sticking to the beef and rice. I kept it simple! Although overall the food was good however I would think twice about going back as the bill was overpriced in my eyes for a dinner of rice and beef
