마루 Maru Korean Bistro

First of all, let me say that this place seems like a waste, because the food is actually good! But the rest is a disaster... An abandoned bar and counter welcomes you. Restrooms are very dirty (see photos if you feel like it). Service is deplorable. They did not even have a single spoon available when we asked for one... And dont even think of paying cash: they dont have any change to give you. We were told to wait 15 min before we could get a table, though half of the restaurant was empty.

A big disappointment following high hopes. Izumi, the Japanese restaurant occupying this classic beautiful building previously was one of our favorites, and had the best sushi (in addition to many other dishes) in the region. Went in around dinner time and there was only one other table of customers though a few more got seated while there. Our dishes were alright, nothing memorable, but my wife’s tofu entree was a bit hot without much other flavor. We asked if there would be some included side dishes like kimchi, etc., (naturally expected at a Korean place). The waitress explained that normally, there are several included gratis, but that they had “run out”, but that for $3.00, we could purchase a side of kimchi. I shrugged and said OK, add it onto the meal. A 2nd order added another $3.00 which did surprise me. At the end of the meal, I expressed our thoughts on this - why add for kimchi when normally, meals include several side dishes free? She agreed that it was strange but that she was TOLD by the owners to do this. I asked her to tell the owner that a customer thought this was bad hospitality and worse, it was petty, and that this all but assured we would never return. She sympathized and apologized, but I could tell that she wouldn’t out of fear of ticking off the owners. This is not how to build a following and we realized this, the food, an a little bit of a creepy atmosphere might be part of the reason for so many empty tables.

As soon as we walked in, something felt a little off. The bar was bare and we didn't see many people working there. For most of our time there, we only saw our waitress working and she was covering a half full restaurant which made her run too thin and not pay enough attention to her tables. For example, we rarely had water, our appetizer came after our main dishes, and half of our dishes did not come until after half of our table was done eating. When we asked the waitress to stop the other plates from coming since we just wanted to leave, she instructed us that she couldn't since the food was already getting made. I felt that this was something they should have owned and removed it from the bill given we did not want the food at that time. A few of us went to the bathrooms while there and they were some of the worst we have seen. Worse than public bathrooms by a highway. They smelled and must not have been cleaned in weeks if not longer. Their management needs to do better by their staff and by their patrons. The food was amazing and I would highly recommend it but maybe as a takeout option.

It's a very nice, clean place, the service was excellent, but we didn't like the food. It was super sweet and the meat was very bad, completely frozen. The salad was good and very spicy. Very delicious.

I dined (today) at this wonderful Korean restaurant and ordered the Dolsot Beef Bibimbap and the Dolsot Seafood Bibimbap, and I must say, both dishes exceeded my expectations (I am Korean). The Dolsot Beef Bibimbap was a delightful mix of flavors and textures. The beef was tender and well-marinated, complementing the vibrant assortment of fresh vegetables. The crispy rice at the bottom of the hot stone bowl added an enjoyable crunch. It was a satisfying and hearty meal that left me feeling completely satisfied. The Dolsot Seafood Bibimbap was equally impressive. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly, with a lovely blend of shrimp, squid, and other ocean delights. The combination of the seafood with the vegetables and the signature spicy sauce was a taste sensation. I loved how each bite offered a different flavor profile, thanks to the variety of ingredients. In addition to the delicious food, the restaurant itself had excellent service. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring our experience was enjoyable from start to finish. The space was clean and well-maintained, creating a welcoming atmosphere for diners. The food came out quickly, which is always a plus when you're hungry!

The food was so good. Super flavorful and fast, friendly service. We came in around 1:15pm and they close at 2. They got all 3 of us served and fed very quickly. We left right about 2pm. Great flavors!!! Food was about $20 a person. Our bill was not over $70 for 3 people.

The food was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed this chicken and squid bulgogi dish! The staff, Amy, was very attentive and were very friendly which makes my experience with Maru very delightful. I would recommend this place to a friend.

This place is gem hidden in plain sight, somehow had never heard of it here until a recommendation came in, glad I went. Food was top notch, excellent service and who doesn't love Soju? Some of the best Korean I've had in quite some time, can't wait to be back. Got the pork stone bap and the fried spicy pork dumplings, highly recommend.