Maru Japanese Restaurant

We were actually gonna try the new place nearby, and there was waiting, so we looked for a good place on Google. I saw lotta good reviews on this place, so we walked in. The server guy and the lady were very nice and gave us some recommendations. Nigiri pieces were huge, as you can see in the picture. The shop has its own vibe, very warm and house / home feeling kinda restaurant! Will definitely be back!!

This is a very cute little sushi spot. We couldn't get into some of the "swankier" modern sushi places nearby, but honestly, I'm so glad we didn't. It seems to be run by an older Japanese couple, husband working primarily in the kitchen, and wife is primarily running the floor. We ordered the beef teriyaki platter to share, but I think there was some confusion, and we ended up with the bulgogi platter instead. But it was very tasty regardless. It came with miso soup, a salad, half a California roll, rice, and tempura. We also ordered edamame and gyoza and two sushi rolls: the Philadelphia and the dragon (I think). The fish was fresh, and I was impressed by the thickness of the salmon in the Philadelphia roll. They gave us little cheesecake bites with our check, and they were very yummy. The check was about $75 (before tip), and we were both satisfied. The whole vibe is intimate, and I'd recommend stopping by.

Loved it! Authentic. Fresh, abundant and affordable. Long time neighborhood sushi restaurant on Burnet Road. Charming husband and wife team holding down the fort, making the sushi, engaging with the entire clientele with an attentive waiter taking care of us throughout. Tonight was wait-free and casual. The intimate size and generous portions combined for a truly pleasant and delicious dining experience.

This a very small, cute place to get sushi. It did take roughly 30 to 40 minutes to get food BUT the sushi is some of the best the sushi was the texture of BUTTER and was honestly some of the best sushi ever.

A family owned and operated place. The food was amazing and the sushi was high quality without the high price. Some of the best sushi I've had in a minute. Gave us a bite of dessert when they brought us the check.

This is an amazing sushi restaurant. The atmosphere is very unique and the small vibe is really great. The overall quantity of sushi for the price is awesome. This is the perfect place for a hole in the wall experience.

Small and cozy sushi restaurant that really needs to hire more people. We made a reservation at 6:30 and the place was full but it looked like there were only two people working. It look 10minutes to get seated and then it look an hour for them to take our order, people that got seated after us got helped before we did. There was a speck floating around in my water cup. The sushi itself was good, we got the tiger roll, j-bomb (the favorite), and the rock n’ roll. the calamari wasn’t worth it for the price. Service was not good at all. I was disappointed with my experience. I was really hoping that this place would be great.

It's a small family restaurant. There are various dishes, but it's traditional and modern sushi, alone more mixed. I ordered the Sashimi Deluxe. Fresh fish with very nice verity. It was delicious. Also had the Snow roll, which wasn't bad at all! I will be back!

Very local, mom and pop vibes! Large portions at a reasonable price, sushi is delicious as well

Fish is fresh so fresh it melts in your mouth. Tiny hole in the wall run by a wife and husband - and that's it. Please be patient with them because how much can 2 people actually do. I came in near the end of the night and we were the only table left but the wife was super friendly trying to make conversation with us. I must recommend this spot because it is definitely a hidden gem with an excellent combo deal. All the more boujee spots around Austin can't compete with this mom and pop authentic feel of a sushi restaurant!

Really cute mom and pop sushi restaurant. Prices are expensive but the portion sizes are massive for rolls and you definitely get what you paid for. Dinner gets kind of crowded and since it's only a few people running the restaurant, be prepared for slow service. It's a cozy store that's perfect for conversation if you aren't in a rush. Parking in front may be a struggle but there's plenty of street parking available that's probably easier to back out of than the ones on burnet.

Nice family run, old school Japanese restaurant with great sushi and cooked Japanese dishes and combo plates. Food was very good and service was prompt and friendly. Decor is a little dated, definitely not the fancy decor of Uchi, but the bill won't break the bank

I just call them to try to place a to go order and a lady picked up and said rudely "we are too busy to do to go orders." SMH ‍ It was abruptly and as if I was a bothered to them for calling. I have no problem if they are too busy for to go orders but it's the way it was handled that was unprofessional. Even if your business is busy, treating others with respect is a must so that when you are no longer busy, they would come back to visit. In this case, I do not recommend this place and would never try this place.

Excellent local sushi establishment This is not fancy/upscale sushi , and neither is it strip-mall genera-sushi. It's run by a couple who've been here for a while, the fish is prepared with live, the quality is good, the owners give a damn, and all in all, you will always leave happy. So yeah, recommended!

First time ordering rolls for to go! Usually eating sushis here, J.J bomb has a quite a kick! I loved the spiciness! Also rainbow roll and a shrimp crunchy roll were good as well ;) Such a good deal with good service! The packaging was very stable and secure too. Recommended!

One of my favorite restaurants in austin. The quality of the fish is fantastic. Service can be slower at busier times, but it's worth it. Definitely recommend!!

Delicious sushi at a lovely mom and pop neighborhood spot. Would definitely go back. It was not busy at the time we went, but service as quick.

Went for my anniversary and the food was incredible! Generous cuts of fish for the price and the service was great. We went on a weekday so it wasn't too crowded, because of that it wasn't too noisy! The food in the pic was all we got and we were so full. Planning on going back soon

mom and pop sushi spot that gets busy around dinner but was relatively empty around 3pm the couple who runs it is really nice and the restaurant is small and cute :) while a bit pricey, i really think you get what you pay for; the portions are generously sized and the fish is very fresh and delicious marinated mackerel: 8.1/10 | yummy! it's a bit sour which can be overwhelming in taste but the texture of the fish was delicious sushi platter: 8.2/10 | really good sizes and i enjoyed most of the selection :))

This place is soo good. The food was fresh and flavorful. The inside was cozy and clean. And the service was like we were in a friend's home. Best Japanese restaurant I've been to in a really long time. You'd never know it from seeing this place on the outside.. total hidden gem

Love this place from the sweet couple to run it to the amazing J Bomb to the complimentary mini cheesecake bites for dessert. In an industry that has all but forgotten about the little things, this place makes it a point to make each visit warm & memorable. And that isn't to take away from their sushi, which I'll even occasionally grab to go (which is generally a no go for me anywhere else).

This place is super underrated!!! This is definitely a must go! I will be back! They are run by an old couple that care about their quality and are super generous with the amount of fish they give in each bite!! I absolutely loveeeee this place and will definitely be back!!!

This is such a cute mom and pop restaurant. It's hard to find authentic Japanese food and Austin so it's nice to have found this place. The lady there was super sweet and even offered to watch my baby while we ate. We ordered a chirashi bowl and it was pricey ($39) but it was GIANT! Could probably feed 2. Quality of the fish was also decent. The Age Tofu appetizer is good but nothing to rave about. Will come back again and try some rolls next time.

A hidden gem in Austin. A cute, family run store with the vibes to match. Make sure to check the hours beforehand and get a reservation if you can because they fill up quickly on most days. It's well worth a visit as the sushi and sashimi are amazing, and the portions generous. Try the plum wine :)

Called to place a to-go order and they out right said "No.... we're busy." Too busy for one to go roll, but sure, keep taking walk ins.

Hidden gem!!! Slower service but it's because it is a husband and wife duo but the food is excellent and I always love coming here.

If you have a movie or a show to get to after dinner I suggest you skip this place and go elsewhere. Our "quick" dinner turned into little over 2 hours. We sat for almost 45 mins before getting our 1 beer and 2 waters and this was WITHOUT ordering ANY food. I'm here to give yall asses the 100 percent truth so ya'll know what to expect of this place. This place has about 9 tables. no music. tables are very close together. There is no privacy!! You can hear everyone's conversation! awkward! There are no servers, just mom and pop. Mom running the ENTIRE FOH plus to go, answering phones, cooking food orders and pops doing sushi. We received our appetizer at exactly 1 hour and 30 mins after arriving. The agedashi tofu was fried fine BUT the sauce was too sour, very much missing the sugar in the recipe. Our rolls, sashimi and hand rolls were all lukewarm. My wife said it was fine but I could not eat any of it! tbh I was grossed out. I had to spit in my napkin. well, Basically mom runs to the back when you order hot items and entrees to cook it herself while we all wait to be served and wait for her. It's ridiculous, not cool at all. They are simply greedy. Very greedy. They had 7 occupied tables with either no menus, no water, no alcoholic drinks, no food YET kept sitting every couple that walked thru the door and answering every (to go orders) phone calls. simply greedy greedy greedy. If this were my shop , id rather serve 4 tables and make them happy then fill up the entire restaurant and have mad- annoyed customers waiting for waters after 45 mins. Then to top it all off, we had missing items , served wrong items AND the wrong beer but mom wants to be rude and tell us "thats what you ordered , you're wrong". lol. ridiculous. This place is not cheap. 200 bucks later for 2 people, and everything sucked. All I am left with is how greedy these people are. I couldn't believe it.

I've been here multiple times because I really do love their sushi, the cute ambience and the fact that it is a family run small business however, the wait times are incredibly exhausting. I understand that everything is freshly made to order, which can take time, but I always have to remind someone that I ordered miso and an appetizer because they usually forget to bring it. I can't bring myself to give them 3 stars for this but I also cannot give 5 stars with sincerity so 4 stars it is. I recommend going here but just be mindful about the wait and try not to go too hungry or be ready to ask for water and appetizers while you wait for your food. Will I go again? Yes? Will I complain about the wait time to whoever I'm with? Absolutely! But will I simultaneously be sweet on the owners and staff? lol

The fish was so fresh and delicious and so filling. Very cute hole in the wall restaurant and worth the wait, just plan your event accordingly around it because it is just a husband and wife and 1 server-- take your time and enjoy the space. Excellent menu options and I cannot stress enough how fresh the food is. Very generous fish-to-rice Worth the trip-- love this spot and will be back again soon!

I'm always searching for great sushi in Austin and Maru Japanese Restaurant came through. The rolls were good but the pricing was a bit steep. It was a quiet place and a great evening. Thanks Maru.

HIDDEN GEM!!! Quality sushi at a good price I've been here at least 5 times in the past few months. This is my go-to sushi place. Never a wait and owned/run by the sweetest, cutest old Asian couple. Sushi is always fresh and portions are generous! Thickest slices of fish I've ever seen for nigiri. Seriously. Udon is solid and soothing on a cold day (or even a hot one tbh). Eel Don is good and is also generously portioned. Everything here is wonderful. The atmosphere, the service, the food. It's a local business I'm proud to support and one I will continuously come back to.

It's been too long since coming back here. I heart Maru! (PS: Don't expect/ask for heart rolls...this was one of those magical, universal moments).

I have been here twice this past year and I truly enjoyed my meal both times. From katsu to Sashimi and udon the food is excellent. The staff is always nice too. I enjoy the artwork on the walls and the service is very good. Not a fancy place but it soothes the heart. The price is also pretty good for Japanese restaurants. One recommendation though is to park on the side it is much easier getting out then parking in front and backing onto Burnett. If you are in the mood for some nice Japanese food with great service, then give Maru a try. I think you will enjoy the experience.

I'm pretty sad to write this review :( I've been here twice. The first time was a pretty good experience, we came on a busy-ish night where almost all the tables were full. We were seated immediately and order was taken quickly. The food took a very long time to come out but we were okay with it since it was so busy (seemed like there was 1 person taking orders and 1 person making the sushi, don't know about kitchen). The rolls were huge and delicious! The shrimp and vegetable tempura was so crunchy and hot and a good quantity for the price. We tipped well and left pretty satisfied. However, we came back on a Monday night around dinner time and were excited to see there was only one couple sitting at a table. We were seated and given waters. We sat there for 20 minutes and no one returned that entire time even though we were close to the other couple in the restaurant. Two more couples were sat 5 minutes after us and were asked what they wanted to drink. We simply left. I think it could be worth going again but beware of a potentially long wait.

Maru has a home style feel and is truly a mom & pop shop. If you're used to Asian fusion sushi or more Americanized sushi, it's probably a safe bet to stick to the special rolls. Otherwise, the generous portions of nigiri and cut rolls were delicious and felt very classic Japanese. Light on flavor but in a purposeful way.

Stopped by on a weeknight around 8 PM and the restaurant was super empty. Only four other tables had parties of two, this probably should have been the first red flag. We should've left immediately at this point. First off, the service was super slow. We ordered fairly quickly since they provide a sheet of paper for you to check off the sushi you'd like to order which is super convenient. But, we waited another 30 minutes to get our food. OWe ordered a variety of rolls & nigiri pieces that were all questionable and practically inedible. The raw fish tasted fishy - not in the way that's melt in your mouth, delicious, saltiness. The bad kind - the kind that tastes like it wasn't fresh, thawed correctly, or just plain old. We bought up our concerns with the waitress letting her know that the pieces just didn't taste right. Her response was questionable as well, making us feel even more concerned that they don't actually know how to properly prepare fish or source it correctly. The only edible pieces of sushi were the California rolls...So if you're looking for a spot to eat anything but raw fish, then this is the spot. Otherwise, steer clear of this place. It's quite expensive for gambling on potentially getting sick from eating the food.

So cute! Everything about it! This family run restaurant is a little gem hidden in ATX. The husband makes the sushi and the wife runs front of the house. The service is a bit slow (due to someone calling out for the day) but worth the wait. The fish portions are perfectly matched with the perfectly cooked rice. The fish was fresh and cold. And the crispy soft shell crab was amazing. Can't wait to come back. Simple good traditional food.

best sushi I've had so far in austin. the portions are great, tuna and salmon nigiri was super thick and such a soft, buttery texture. Clearly a family owned business, so service may be slow but I don't mind. They're so friendly and nice, feels so authentic! Just go, but don't go if you're in a rush. Savor it :)

Went on a Friday evening. There was one busser, the mother was the only one taking orders, serving food, seating, and cashing people out for takeout and bills. The father was the only chef. Yucky fishy: - We waited 10 minutes before she took our order - Our nigiri and unagi don arrived 50 minutes later, a full hour after we ordered. I finally had to ask where our food was and she laughed and said something, then eventually it arrived. We were starving. - A party of 5 sat down after us yet they got their food and finished before we even got our food. I had my suspicions as to WHY they were served first but I won't put it down in this review. - She forgot my seaweed salad - We had to go to the register to get our bill - A first-ever for me... there was a 1/2 long and 1/4 inch wide bone in a piece of my nigiri. NOT GOOD. Tasty fishy: - The assortment of nigiri was tasty - The house plum wine was good I hate leaving a negative review for a local family-run business, but this was unacceptable.

Maru is a local family restaurant. The menu at Maru is extensive and offers a wide range of authentic Japanese dishes. If you're a sushi lover, you won't be disappointed with the fresh and delicious sushi offerings. The sashimi is particularly noteworthy, with the fish being incredibly fresh and beautifully presented. Maru is an excellent Japanese restaurant that offers an authentic dining experience. With delicious food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere, Maru is a must-visit for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine--highly recommended!

Great service and great food from a locally owned sushi bar. We enjoy coming here and love the. J bomb and First love rolls!

Had the crunchy Shrimp roll and caterpillar roll. Loved the shrimp roll and would recommend. Didn't so much like the caterpillar roll - eel was super mushy vs other eel I've had. Got my order to go and it was ready on time - love that! Would recommend trying!

This place is practically a hole in the wall and it does not disappoint!! The amount of fish we got on our sushi and nigiri is more than any sushi place I've ever been to. You definitely get what you pay for, in the best way possible. I've paid more money for less fish sooo many times. Everything was very fresh and delicious!! Coming back ASAP

Fresh sushi and sashimi. Nice ambience. Floor tables make it more authentic. Seated right away with our reservation.

Excellent, simple sushi and sashimi in a charming, homey atmosphere. Our server was lovely and gave us good suggestions

I can't lie, I was nervous when I came in and only saw one other family dining here. But maybe it's because we came in a little before 6PM on a Friday night. They don't have much of a social media presence either. But this was the freshest fish! Had the Hawaiian roll, happy together, and dynamite roll. All delicious! And they gave us little cheesecake bites with the check. Lovely experience! Highly recommend.

Maru is my go-to place for sushi cravings in Austin:) Fish is fresh, and I love the thick cuts. The owners are very cute, and they are really friendly!!

Solid mom and pop shop. Only run by two people it looks like so it may take a bit long understandably.

I go to Maru for the last two years, is my favorite Sushi Restaurant in Austin. Is a family run , wife and husband. The fish always fresh, sashimi and nigiri come with nice slice of fresh fish. And the roll very good to. I love this place, is close from we're I live to

Love the food. We will definitely come back again. We arrived early, at 4:30pm, so the lady had time to help us with our order. She was extremely honest. After our meal, my wife told her that we would order the Maru combo ($75) next time, plus an extra order of roll. She said no no, the combo is definitely enough for two, if not three. We ordered amaebi, a sushi platter and a spicy rainbow roll. Excellent choices. Delicious.

The sushi was amazing , so fresh and an amazing portion . Mom and pop restaurant. Quality food .

I wish I had taken photos. The service and quality of food was so good. My son and I were extremely happy with our meal we both ordered dinner plates which came with many sides. I am very picky when it comes to my Tempura and theirs lived up to my expectations. My son had the Sushi dinner which was fresh and tasty. We'll be coming back next time we are in Austin!

I'm an old customer of Maru's who relocated out of state for 5+ years and recently returned during the ongoing pandemic restrictions. I was really looking forward to dining again in the quaint and classic space of Maru's but fortunately I live close by and can easily order food for pickup. The ordering software that organizes Maru's takeout orders, ChowNow, is smooth and straightforward, and does NOT levy the high fees that are common with other food ordering services. I'm all for supporting the Lees as much as possible, so that is great. My ordering is easy, and I simply swing by during mellow times (like late afternoon) to pop into the lobby and collect orders at the appointed time, with a quick hello and thanks. I HIGHLY recommend the seafood salad (I ask for it spicy) - it's the best in Austin in my experience, and a generous amount. Also love their excellent tempura, tobiko, and crab - and miso soup, and, and, and. May Mr. and Mrs. Lee be happy and healthy!!!

Wonderful authentic Japanese food in a welcoming atmosphere. The spicy beef teriyaki was delicious and the sushi was phenomenal. We were served miniature cheesecakes with the check and will definitely return!

I love the idea that this is an old couple running a sushi restaurant. You walk in and it's very home-y and authentic. Many reviews say it takes a long time, which to that I say it is 2 elderly people working there. Relax a bit. The sushi is way better than expected. I do wish that their nigiri portions were correct, though. There is such a small amount of rice for such a large and thick piece of fish. I could've literally cut the fish in half and it would've been a normal sized nigiri. I don't think I would go back, just because I wasn't able to finish it because of the portions.

I saw someone comment that the prices are a few more dollars more than what is posted online and that is true. I noticed that my dish online was $15 and $19 on the menu so they should probably update that! Anyways, this is such a mom and pop shop and I'm happy to support local! The interior is adorable, dim with Japanese decor. The food was tasty as well! I got the chicken katsu and it came with soup and salad and tempura veggies! I really just loved the atmosphere. I felt like I was in Japan for a late night meal.

Really good fresh fish and service. I really enjoyed the Hawaiian roll and edamame; the fish was flavorful and tender. I would highly recommend!