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    Maru San

    4.4 (17 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    MARU SAN ATMOSPHERE

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    Austin G.

    With a lot of hype, Maru San opened in a tiny space with 25 bar seats in Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. A month in, there's usually a line to get into this no-reservations spot. I walked in on a Thursday at 6 p.m. and got a seat right away. Here's my experience. 1) Food: The hand rolls are made before your eyes. My server recommended five hand rolls since I was medium hungry. Each hand roll is meant to be eaten right away in 2-3 bites. I ordered the mushroom, avocado, shrimp, scallops, and crab ones. All were tasty, but the stand outs were the scallop and shrimp ones. Soy sauce and a hot sauce from Peru are along the bar. 2) Drinks: The menu includes wine, beer, high balls, and other drinks. I ordered the passionfruit lemonade. It's sweet, but very tasty. I ordered two. They also bring water out to you. 3) Space: It's beautifully decorated with murals and simple design. It's stunning!

    12 March 2026 menu
    Ryan S.

    Maru San dropped onto the DC food scene with so much hype I almost thought they couldn't live up to it. That was before I actually went and had dinner there and it completely blew me away. The hottest new restaurant in DC is sure to be around for a long while with many accolades to follow. I arrived at 340pm on a Thursday and there was already a line. Seems like people were just excited as I was. The host brings you in as individual parties, escorts you to your seats, and gives you a detailed explanation of how everything works. You then fill out your menu, hand it back to him, he places your order for you then you sit back and wait for the magic to happen. All the hype becomes evident as soon as you take that first bite. Super simple handrolls where the fish is the main attraction. No other fillers or fluff just simple ingredients that are absolutely delicious. My absolute favorite was the Spicy tuna and the hamachi. Don't miss out on these rolls. The interior is perfect in every sense of the word. It's sleek, it's simple and intimate in the sense that you feel right in the action as you see the chefs prepare your food. 25 seats, first come first serve. This place is quickly going to become a DC institution. Don't miss out, guaranteed to fall in love at first bite.

    Anh T.

    The handrolls were very salty. The ingredients tasted fresh and seemed like good quality, but the overall flavor was overwhelmingly oversalted. We ended up drinking so much water just to balance it out. The ambiance was nice, and the space itself was well done. However, the wait outside in the cold was pretty absurd, even if that's somewhat expected for a new spot in DC. Unfortunately, the food didn't justify the wait, which made the experience disappointing overall.

    Sherly H.

    I visited Maru San on a Friday evening around 5:20 pm, the wait was about an hour. Food and service were definitely worth the wait and I plan to come back frequently. I really enjoyed the Japanese and Peruvian fusion. We ordered the 6 hand roll set! Absolutely no negative feedback! My favorite were the spicy tuna and acevecheria hand roll. We also ordered the Chicha morada and hojicha lemon grass hot tea. Service was great and the seating was spacious. The interior provided a good vibe. All in all, no negative notes.

    Pisco and ginger ale
    Cameron B.

    Coming out the gate swinging!!! You can tell this place was envisioned and executed by industry folks with years of experience. From the greeting and seating to the check, everything was perfectly choreographed, never feeling rushed, looked after but hyper efficient. I think I was in and out in under an hour! Perfect!! Hand rolls are the name of the game and can be ordered a la carte or as part of 3, 4, 5 or 6 preset menus. The classic spicy tuna and crab are done exceptionally well while stand outs like octopus and scallops are embedded with South American spices that meld two food cultures seemlesly. Plenty of non-roll options which are a bit bulkier are also available. Rolls come out at a good pace and are 2 or 3 bites large. Crispy nori snaps yielding perfectly flavored fish. Some pepper sauce, pickles and soy sauce are available for dipping if you want to punch your dish up a notch (none of my rolls needed anything added but it was fun to play with flavors). The 6 roll was perfect to fill me up and at under $40 felt like a steal! For drinks, highballs made with pisco and ginger were light and bright to complement the fish. Saké (including a sparkling) are available in 4oz pours. This place has "it". I hope DC folks can adapt to the hand roll counter "culture". This isn't the place for a slow catch-up meal. It's a 'leta grab a quick bite and drink' vibe means don't keep folks outside waiting. No reservations means this place is going to take off and have long lines. Don't worry. It's worth it!

    Kelsii D.

    First off, Simon (one of the owners) took amazing care of us! We did the number 2 combo (each) and added a Madai roll with some sake and a beer! It was perfect! The dishes was amazing and the service was amazing! I don't want it to get too busy so I can go back all the time! Also- if you aren't in a hurry, it's all the better because space is limited and they don't rush you out!

    Dry aged fish - amazing!
    Nhu F.

    I had one of the most memorable dining experiences last night at Maru San, DC's newest Nikkei-style hand roll bar--and I'm still thinking about it. From the moment we sat down, it was clear this wasn't going to be a typical meal. We were incredibly lucky to be personally served by Chef Carlos Delgado, one of the executive chefs (alongside Chef Simon Lam), who prepared a special omakase tasting menu for us. Watching him work up close added a whole different level of appreciation--there's real intention, precision, and creativity behind every bite. The food? Honestly, exceptional across the board. Every dish felt thoughtful, balanced, and just inventive enough to keep you surprised. Standouts for me: - The caviar hand roll was pure luxury--rich, briny, and perfectly composed. - The Amazonian hand roll was completely transportive--bright, complex, and easily one of the most unique bites of the night. - The chawanmushi was silky and deeply savory, comforting yet elevated. - The iberico pork hand roll was a standout--tender, flavorful, and unexpected in the best way. - The eel on an anchovy cracker (shaped like a fish skeleton!) was playful, crispy, and packed with umami. - The chirashi with toro and uni was indulgent and pristine--top-tier fish. - And the Wagyu a lo pobre (A5 wagyu) was unreal--rich, decadent, and perfectly executed. What makes this even more impressive is the setup: they don't even have a full kitchen--just a rice cooker, toaster oven, and a Thermomix--and somehow they're producing food at this level. It's a testament to the chefs' skill and vision. And just when I thought the experience couldn't go any higher--they surprised us with desserts (not even on the menu!). The strawberry matcha shave ice was refreshing and beautifully balanced. But the real showstopper featured Chef Delgado's signature ingredient: macambo. If you haven't heard of it, it's an Amazonian cacao relative that he's been championing and bringing into the spotlight. The macambo, copoazu dessert featuring hojicha ice cream encased in a macambo shell, set over crushed macambo--and it was incredible. It's honestly everything white chocolate wishes it could be: nutty, aromatic, complex, and not overly sweet. I've had a macambo dessert at his Michelin-starred Causa before, and this one was just as memorable. Maru San is doing something really special. Creative, intimate, and full of surprises--it's easily one of the most exciting new openings in DC. Already planning my next visit.

    Kyle O.

    From the folks at Causa/Amazonia, Maru San is a great addition to the neighborhood. The fusion of Peruvian heat and fresh Japanese fish is a great combination. The fish is fresh, and the nori is some of the crispest I've ever had. Modern, sleek, and high-energy vibe. If you're looking for elevated hand roll, this is the spot!

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    Ask the Community - Maru San

    Review Highlights - Maru San

    Having been to Causa/Amazonia previously, Maru San has been on my list of restaurants to try since their opening this year.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(557 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$$

    Hi, so I was at Makoto Love for dinner. It was a dinner for a birthday party for an 11-year-old…read moregreeting. Staff was very friendly management. Staff was very commentating put my issue is that the service staff upon arriving we received it and we were told that a group of Aiden More would be obviously more but Moving forward skip past we seated in our server. I forget the name and I will find out again. A game moving forward were accommodated as two different seats. There was a kids table, and there was an adult table. All the initial orders came from the adult table, but the server decided to ring in from the children's table when initially that was not how the order method rolled Anything ordered from the adult table, but this server decides to go to the children's table and orders takes in orders from the kids and as a parent very concerning one because said there had been an allergy that we did not know about and said that, but anyhow, the food orders that were coming from the children's table were rang in I just so happened to look up and I see the server at the kids table and she's reading stuff for the children when that's not how it goes if the initial order came in. From the pants table then only the parents should be ordering food so at the end of the night we received the bill and there are items that the kids ordered that the server did not check with the adult. Who initially did to order God forbid that there were any allergies that were not taking any consideration. God forbid there were any intolerance that were taken into consideration. God forbid that anyone gotten sick because the server did not Come to the parents table but automatically and we're not talking oh one order or two order we're talking about multiple orders of things that these children don't know it was a lovely experience. Truly, it was but for this to happen and for us to get a bill that the server decided on her own that it's OK to take a Orders from a child when the initiating ordering party was from the adult table is my issue at a lot of mission star places we do not allow children or servers to make an or place orders. I am writing this review and I plan antennal going to the next platform to write the same review because this cannot happen one of the children from the party that was not even the party one of the initial children from the gathering has so many allergenic red flags where we need the server to confirm verify first and confirm orders with the adults

    Really enjoyed going to this place for was for the sushi brunch which was great I thought the…read moreselection of food was good and the drinks were great value. Sushi is definitely the star of the show and there are a bunch of options. Service was very nice and quick. Inside the restaurant looks great normally it's more of a food hall except on Sunday.

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    Love Makoto - Pick up area

    Pick up area

    Love Makoto - Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

    Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

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    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(70 reviews)
    3.2 miDupont Circle

    Great authentic homemade Japanese food. Unfortunately they were out of Japanese hamburger and beef…read moretendon curry but everything we ordered was amazing!

    I have had this restaurant bookmarked for the last two years since they opened and finally got a…read morechance to eat dinner there. I was impressed and by the experience and would definitely come back for a Japanese meal that did not focus solely on ramen or sushi. The ambiance is well done, and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and able to answer any of our questions. To share, we got the spicy salmon roll, Karaage appetizer, and eggplant cheese appetizer. The spicy tuna roll was the most lackluster of the dishes, but the fish was fresh and the portion was decent for $12. The karaage appetizer was excellent. The chicken was moist and the coating was crunchy and super hot. The eggplant cheese was a surprise highlight of the meal. Pieces of eggplant in a melted cheese bowl made of eggplant was a simple combination. That was a very pleasant mix of textures. The pork Katsu was a highlight of the meal. Unfortunately forgot to take a picture, but the coding was super crispy and the portion size was pretty solid. The Unagidon or grilled eel bowl was also very well made and tasted great with the pickled ginger and seasoning on the side. The set came with miso soup which was very nice as well. My companions also got drinks which they said were well priced and good quality. Our overall meal cost somewhere in the range of $160 before tip which was reasonable given all of the items that we got. I look forward to my next visit!

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    Ko Japanese Dining - The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    Ko Japanese Dining - Beef Sukiyaki

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    Sushi Hachi - Salmon Avocado roll, Salmon Sashimi, and two special rolls

    Sushi Hachi

    4.3(630 reviews)
    0.4 miCapitol Hill
    $$

    Started with the Red Snapper ceviche. It was so good that I reverted to a fork to clear the bowl. I…read moreaccompanied the meal with the house hot sake that paired well with the fish. It was a nice upgrade to my usual draft beer selection. I had two rolls and both were excellent. The spicy tuna avocado roll was superb and the yellowtail scallion roll was fresh and very tasty. I added a third roll, called the Alaska. It was a great combination and was the perfect way to end a celebratory evening. The service is always the star of the night at Sushi Hachi! My server was attentive and quick while looking calm and zen throughout. The managers/owners each stopped by the table and we talked about the neighborhood and I felt a connection to my Capitol Hill community. All-around it was an outstanding evening. Will return as often as I can!

    For Christmas Eve, my wife, eight-year-old daughter, and I made a reservation at this small sushi…read morespot along Barracks Row. After many accolades and Michelin nods, it was an honor to dine at Sushi Hachi. Here's our experience. 1) Food: To start, we ordered the miso soup and edamame. Both were full of flavor and well prepared, especially the edamame. Sometimes the ones from the grocery store can be slimy. These are not. They are perfect. To eat, I got the shrimp tempura, Chicken Kara-age, and the 8th Street sushi. My wife ordered the Chef's Sushi Platter and swore she will crave the Yellowtail Cilantro Roll. Our daughter enjoyed the California Roll. 2) Drinks: Their cocktails hit each end of the liquor spectrum. My wife enjoyed their Manhattan. The Summer cocktail was a tad sweet, which I found refreshing and unique. 3) Service: It's excellent. The timing, warmth, and attention to our daughter was spot on. 4) Space: It's simple yet inviting inside one long dining room with the sushi counter in the way back. 5) Area: Along Barracks Row, Sushi Hachi is near many other restaurants and local shops. One of the oldest military bases in the country is across the street. There's street parking- paid and free- throughout the neighborhood.

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    Sushi Hachi
    Sushi Hachi - Beef, sweet shrimp, roll

    Beef, sweet shrimp, roll

    Sushi Hachi - Salmon roll, spicy salmon roll, and yellowtail nigiri

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    Toryumon Japanese House

    Toryumon Japanese House

    4.1(404 reviews)
    2.8 miDowntown
    $$

    I'm a huge fan of this place…read more My friend and I had the ACYE option here, and the food was fabulously good. I didn't have many of their rolls, so I can't comment on that. Their appetizer game was fire though. I did several rounds of the ceviche, maguro avocado, pepper tuna tatami, yellowtail jalapeño, and everything was absolutely delicious. The ceviche was a standout--the mango added just the right touch of sweetness to balance everything out. Overall, the apps were super fresh and light, so I never felt weighed down even after multiple rounds. Honestly, I wish I lived closer to DC--I'd be here all the time.

    My friends and I decided to try Toryumon last night for their unlimited sushi option, and at $35…read moreit's definitely a great value. We started with cocktails, and my mango margarita was huge and delicious, a great way to kick off the meal. Overall, the food was solid across the board. The truffle tuna sushi roll was the standout of the night and definitely worth ordering. One thing to note: all the portions are full-sized, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of an all-you-can-eat menu. I would have preferred smaller portions of just a few pieces so you can try more variety. Service was just okay. Our waitress had a difficult time understanding us, which made ordering a bit challenging at times. The ambiance also leaves something to be desired, it's fairly basic and doesn't add much to the dining experience. That said, if you're looking for an affordable spot with decent sushi and a fun unlimited option, Toryumon is a solid choice. I'm glad we tried it, though it's not a place I'd rush back to.

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    Toryumon Japanese House - All You Can Eat - Sushi * Hibachi * Ramen

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    Maru San - sushi - Updated May 2026

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