Obviously this place is not about "authentic" Japanese sushi. There are a lot of flavors to try and most of them do not disappoint me. It's very amusing how they come up with all those different toppings. One serving is kinda small though, and a bit pricy.
(4)
Priscilla C.
I find there is no better way to judge a sushi joint and decipher the freshness of the seafood than to order sushi in its plainest form. That is why I always make it a point to get Nigiri or Sashimi. And I honestly believe Maru serves nothing but high-quality seafood. We started with 6 pieces of Salmon Nigiri and eventually ordered 4 more for dessert because we just couldn't get enough. Yes-it qualifies as dessert in my book. If you are a fan of tasty, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, no-need-for-soy-sauce raw salmon then you will be impressed. We also ordered the Sunday Morning Roll (awesome), and Purdue roll (amazing). We came back the following night and got my hands on the Purdue roll again, VIP roll (pretty good), and the Playboy Roll (my favorite) plus 10 pieces of Salmon Nigiri. Every time we come here, we order so much that we always get a TRAY of sushi (their plates are apparently not huge enough). We always pig out and walk out with highly satisfied taste buds! We were also very happy about the prices! 3 special rolls and 10 pieces of Nigiri for $53-55--can't beat that! Okay I've raved enough about this place, I really hope they keep it up!
(5)
Sam P.
This place is awesome. Probably the best Japanese food on campus. There are no Mexicans working in the back sweating to make sushi, not that that wouldn't produce great food anyways, which definitely eases the conscience of some priveledge white girl out there. Getting back to topic, the price is worth the quality. They are usually busy just for that reason - expect a wait, but when you get your food expect intense satisfaction. Definitely good enough for the white man.
(4)
Bob J.
Volcano roll !. An eruption of fire in my mouth. But in a good way ....beer makes it better so go for it... Add extra wasabi for extra heat and to numb your mouth. Don't be a pu**y. Go for it!!
(5)
Yi L.
Over priced food and worst service. The server/owner swear at you in Korean if you don't tip over 25%. And they charge you $1 for a tiny little bit of hot sauce! Hot sauce!!?? Hard to believe....
(1)
Kimberly B.
Best sushi in the area. Won't lie, I'm kind of impressed considering how small the city is. I give it a a star less for a few reasons: one, some of the fried choices are not always great, and personally find it overpriced considering the types of fish included. Service is not always the greatest when they're over their average, but they're polite and accommodating. Important for broke college students that need split checks ;) My favorites are the Playboy, Volcano and Spicy California roll. For my friends who can't have shrimp, I insist the Chicken Teriyaki roll (or meal alternatively) is really good too!
(4)
Kat N.
Pros: Great sushi and sashimi!! The sashimi was fresh and substantial. This makes up for all the cons. Cons: small restaurant, long wait for 7 ppl (about 45 mins), don't order the udon (very bland)
(4)
Dan B.
I just went there tonight for some quick sushi. It is definitely not bad for a campus restaurant. There was no line and I was able to get my rolls very quickly. If I was really going for quality then I would go across the river or somewhere else, but since I was in a bit of a rush I stopped by because I live really close. Definitely not a bad choice for a standard sushi fan, but I would suggest a different place if you're really looking for higher end. Overall very pleased, although there were a couple flies in there which was strange to see in February lol.
(4)
Mark I.
Once ordered delivery from this restaurant and waited over 4 hours for my food to arrive. The sushi is overpriced in my opinion and tastes similar to the quality one can get in the cooler at the grocery store.
(1)
Melissa K.
As always, do not trust restaurant ratings in college towns... I do not know why people talk about this place. There is nothing spectacular about the sushi, the experience, or the atmosphere. The sushi is sub-par - not much better than sushi you can get at a grocery store. The restaurant seems a little on the dirty side, lacks much atmosphere, and is crowded. It isn't even inexpensive. Unless you just really want sushi, it wouldn't be high on my list of recommendations.
(2)
Ria V.
I've tried different sushi options in the area and this is by far my favorite sushi place in Lafayette/West Lafayette. If you like rolls, this is the place to go & it's near campus. Reasonably priced too! This place gets pretty crowded when Purdue is in session so you sometimes have to wait to get a table (which is fine in warm weather..but a little of a letdown if you have to wait outside on the sidewalk in the winter) I would recommend the Playboy roll and the Chauncey roll. For those of you who don't want/like sushi, they do have other Korean and Japanese food on the menu.
(4)
Yichen S.
I would like to recommend this restaurant to you if your were sushi fan. I enjoy the foods there, especially for the fresh sashimi they service. For sushi roll, I would recommend the "playboy". Each time I went there, I always need to wait for about 10 mins, you can imagine how popular this restaurant is!
(4)
J T.
Maru was recommended by friends and it does have outstanding fresh sushi. The only slight negative are the generous sauces applied to the rolls (spider for example) - not needed. By my observation, they do a fair amount of business which tells me this is pretty well known. Also, the staff seems confident about their product and the chef's appeared to be quite focused. Everyone was friendly. If I lived near here, I'd dine here a lot.
(4)
Tristan A.
Solid, cheap, fast sushi. Nothing great about this place, but it's hard to find excellent sushi when you're in a small city more than a thousand miles away from the nearest ocean. They do this Indiana thing where half the rolls are soaked in rich, Americanized sauces. I think that is gross, personally, but you might like it. The ambience is a little undergrad-y, but that mostly clears itself up in the summer. Their hours are also uneven, so be sure to call ahead.
(3)
Michael M.
I knew it was a great sushi restaurant when I noticed I was the only Caucasian customer in the restaurant. And it met all my expectations. The tempura has a light delicious crust and is not greasy. It is not a first date kind of place but for the food and service, I might just move to Lafayette!
(5)
Jeremy S.
I was afraid to try sushi before I went to Maru, and I'm glad it was the first place I went! I've been to other sushi restaurants since first coming into Maru, and few places come close! There's usually a wait because the place is small, but once you get in you're served super quickly. The soup and little beans and veggies they give you are a good primer for the delicious sushi entries: Mango Tango, Hurricane, and the Playboy/Playgirl are my favorite dishes. I've had some apps which were good, but first timers need to check out the sushi!
(5)
Corina P.
The place is simple but the food is amazing, always fresh; I have been here several times (too many to count) and I have never been disappointed with the attention either. The place is always packed, specially on weekend nights, so this must speak good about its food quality. Recommended dishes: Ahi Tower (my favorite), simple rolls such as Tuna Roll, smoked Salmon Roll and Shirmp Tempura Roll. The gyosas are also good.
(5)
Adrienne K.
Get the Chauncey Roll. It's the best! Good sushi when you're on the West side.
(3)
Glenn C.
This sushi place is overrated! They have a good location and an okay lunch specials. Worst thing about this place is that they do not use the authentic Japanese wasabi. It does not taste right! For real sushi lover, you would agree with me.
(2)
Amanda K.
This is the BEST sushi in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area. It's a small hole in the wall restaurant, but soooooo yummy! My favorites are the Maru Roll, Purdue Roll, and the Hurricane Roll. Interesting fact: the Hurricane roll has peanut butter in it. I love sushi and thought this sounded disgusting, but please try it if you like sushi and peanut butter. This "flash fried" roll is dynamite delicious!!! Check it out! Bonus from eating in store vs. carry out = free miso soup and three free little appetizer trays of their choice to enjoy as you wait for your food. :)
(5)
Kristy S.
Love!!!!!
(5)
Kathy S.
We have been here dozens of times-have never had bad food or service! My favorite is the Maru roll and Crunch and Munch. They bring you 3 bowls of small tastings of salads -I wish you could order these- some of them are awesome!
(5)
Jay S.
Simply put - the best sushi in the Lafayette area. The staff is super friendly, and the service is always pretty good. The sushi is AMAZING. I would love to comment on the rest of the menu, but the sushi is so good, I never order anything else. The real draw back of this place is its size. It's tiny. It is always busy,they don't take reservations and there is absolutely no place to wait if they can't seat you immediately. While this isn't a big deal in nice weather, waiting outside when its cold or raining is a real bummer. Best way to combat this little issue is to call in a take out order!
(5)
Sharon R.
I don't really understand the obsession with this place. But there it is, most people I know love it here. The pros are definitely complimentary tea and soup. The sushi itself is not bad, it's just nothing out of this world and fairly small. It always leaves me super hungry. Personally, for sushi around campus I really prefer any of the other options which are Ah-Z (currently closed?) and the fast food joint on the same street as GH and Vienna.
(3)
Dia D.
This is one of the best sushi places in the Lafayette area. They also have several Korean items on the menu. The food always arrives quickly. The main negative is that when Purdue is in session there is always a wait to be seated if you go at peak dining times.
(4)
Little C.
Really enjoy the food here, even beyond the sushi. They have nice lunch specials, which makes for a quick but enjoyable meal near campus. Love their salmon special combo and sushi special; for non-sushi items I like the bibimbap and vegetable pancake. Servers and really friendly and service is always quick and effective.
(4)
Melissa L.
One of my favorite places to eat at because they have both Korean and Japanese foods that are prepared good! Sometimes when you have a restaurant that have 2 different cuisines they are watered sown or just mediocre. This place however delivers! Their lunch bento box is awesome and there is so much food that comes with it! Every roll that I have had has been great!
(4)
DeAnna P.
Friendly and prompt service here. They were on me as soon as I walked in the door and someone was constantly at the table to pick up dirty dishes or refill my water. They were attentive, but not to the point of being annoying. The sushi is fresh and very tasty. I agree with the other reviews that the free pickle appetizers and miso soup are very good. Miso is so simple to make, but so many places water it down. This was NOT that way; it was perfect. I would skip the side salad though. The dressing is not very good.
(4)
Dale B.
For Lafayette, the Japanese style is good. I had the tuna sashimi bowl on rice ( one of the -dons). Very fresh tuna. Miso soup was mostly broth. Hot tea served in a plastic water glass - unexpected. Authentic decor - I've been to places in Japan just like this. Worth a visit if you like sushi in America. Don't know if they have shochu.
(3)
Mukhtar K.
Very Noisy place, but very good Bibimbab, Sushi and Miso soup. Love the Japanese Green tea they make.
(4)
Chris M.
Delicious. Incredibly fresh. Great service. Excellent prices. I am here all the time.
(5)
Emily H.
Maru is great! Their miso soup is so good and my favorite roll is the 007. It's kind of on the small side when it comes to restaurants, but otherwise it's Purdue's best sushi restaurant!
(4)
Nolie P.
Best sushi in West Lafayette. It is always fresh and yummy. I am also impressed how quickly they can make the rolls no matter how busy they are. The only complaint is the specialty rolls rely heavily on crab, shrimp tempura, or salmon. I realize that Midwesterners may not be as adventuresome as a group who is used to fresh fish but it is still disappointing.
(4)
Boobear A.
This sushi place is like most of them who are owned by Koreans, which is not a big deal but the attitude of this one Korean lady(short hair to her shoulder) is just unacceptable! She is mean towards Chinese people and just give off this nasty attitude! The food of this place is average, typical over priced and definitely uses color dyes for their sushi. Their customer service definitely needs to improve!
(1)
Tessa H.
Very good sushi. About as authentic as Japanese food gets in America. I wish they had a better alcohol selection, but the staff is very friendly. Cheap for the area.
(4)
Spencer B.
Favorite sushi place on campus. Reasonably priced. I'd recommend the Sunday morning roll. It's probably the least healthy but it's my favorite. It's a pretty standard roll that's got cream cheese in it and is then deep fried, topped with a spicy mayo. Also love maru for the free soup and salad.
(5)
Don S.
This little sushi shop cranks out stunningly excellent food. The fish is extremely fresh and the batters and sauces are light and flavorful. And, given Purdue has one of the largest Asian student populations in the country, dining is a complete cultural experience. The best I've had in town, maybe anywhere.
(5)
Seung Min L.
Overall mood and environment is fine and I used to like this place. However, after what this super mean korean cashier did to me and my friends, I don't go this place anymore. When I walked in to this male cashier, I gave him my card. After I sign on the receipt , I tipped some extra cash in their small tip-box. So I left the front desk and as soon as I got out from there, he ran into us and said 'hello or excuse me, you guys didn't pay a tip!' That was the last day of Maru, period.
(1)
Kristen H.
Maru's sushi is fantastic. I've never been disappointed. My favorite sushi there is the Purdue roll--I think it's pretty popular among the regulars. I will say that this place is hole-in-the-wall tiny. I've had to wait in line to get in, or stand in the doorway while waiting for a table to open up. The sushi is worth it, though--not too expensive, and just plain delicious.
(4)
Max C.
The old woman server was so mean to us Asian, she preformed like a loyal dog to Americans, but treat Asians like a shit! Although i didnot do anything wrong. Will never go there anymore. That was the worst restaurant that I had been in.
(1)
Mike L.
When we lived nearby this was our go-to sushi joint. Even now when we come back to visit friends in the area, we make an effort to stop by. This is a solid spot to grab some sushi in the West Lafayette area. It is clear their is a heavy Korean influence but that does not diminish the fact that the sushi is pretty solid. This is not a fancy place; the decor is rather plain. It is also a cramped space - especially when Purdue is in session. Waiting on the sidewalk to get seated on a cold winter night can be a real drag. All in all, the staff is friendly, the place is clean, and the food is good. At this price point I think it is fine place to grab a bite!
(3)
James B.
Excellent sushi bar, especially for a Midwest college town. It's not the best I've ever had, but it's certainly the best in the area so I'm giving it 5 stars with that caveat. There are free vegetables, sprouts, and miso soup to whet your appetite while you tick the boxes on the sushi menu. I've had the bento box which makes for a great lunch special and I've tried numerous rolls. My favorites are the I Love Salmon roll, caterpillar roll and spicy tuna roll. They have fully cooked noodle bowls and plenty of other options if you're not quite ready to sink your teeth into fresh seafood. I've always had immense respect for Japanese culture and the staff here are some of the most respectful and polite people I've met. The service is quick and professional and you will be treated with genuine kindness and respect - a rarity today in most quick service restaurants. I highly recommend Maru to any novice or expert sushi lover at Purdue. As their shirts say: "See you to Maru!" Get it?
(5)
April W.
Back two years ago, I was a huge fan of their udon with tempura. It was great! But as time passed, every time my boyfriend and I ate their udon and some of their other food, we'd get sick! I'm tempted to try again now after all this time to see if it's still the case, but the food is also kind of pricey. Oh Maru, how I hope to see you to-maru with no stomach aches!!
(2)
Richard J.
The lady says "the sushi are all like little slices of heaven!" I can't disagree. The atmosphere and limited seating leaves little to desired. That's why I only gave it only four stars.
(4)
Cindy L.
Free gen mai tea which is great. Food isnt very good
(3)
Nora K.
Delicious sushi and food, but some of the food is SOOOO OVERPRICED. DO NOT order delivery from this place either. They raised the order minimum from $15 to $19 and the portions are ridiculously smaller compared to when you dine-in. One time when I ordered delivery, I got a miso soup, which was $1.50. When I got it, it was in a tiny cup and only half full! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because it's delicious and the service is usually pretty good, but beware of long waits if you dine-in and crazy delivery charges if you choose that option.
(4)
Ilana B.
Maru sushi is the places in town I go when I want a nice Bento Box for lunch or I want a casual but deliciously splurgy dinner. During the school year, this place is uber crowded for lunch which means long waits to get a table, so I usually only go here in summer. The room is a little loud but not terrible. I really like the Alaskan Roll and the Tempura Shrimp roll. A little pricy compared to other eats in town, but not compared to other Sushi places. Best sushi in lafayette and a good place for a sushi fix.
(5)
Michael P.
Probably the best sushi place by campus and my first ever exposure to sushi. The dining area is clean, comfortable, and quiet for the most part. There is free soup as well. The prices are pretty much what you'd expect for a restaurant of this type. Wait staff also tend to be really prompt with filling drinks and bringing out your food.
(5)
Mike S.
Its about as good as Japanese food you find in food courts -- think Panda express for Japanese food. So I had some Korean bbq which was decent. There are other restaurants I would rather go to in the neighborhood.
(2)
Deva C.
This is the place I go to when I miss the sushi back in Cali. It's probably as fresh as you can get (especially for these prices) in West Lafayette! I love that they have complimentary appetizers, including miso soup, and they're not just limited to sushi. I've also enjoyed their udon. mmmmmm As for the actual seafood, the fish is definitely fresh! I wasn't put off by the roe or quail egg (not the freshest, but still palatable) and I haven't tried the uni or amaebi yet (they were out the last time I asked), but I have not yet been let down by this place. Also, if you're a fan of weird crazy rolls (I'm not that into "sauces" on my sushi), they have a long list of these as well and the ones I've tried were pretty good!
(5)
L T.
The most consistent and fresh sushi I have found, in the area. I tend to get take-out because it is always crowded and difficult to get a table. I recommend the spicy tuna roll and seafood pancake. They have a lot of richly sauced or tempura options which i tend not to like, but that is probably catering to their Americanized-sushi-loving guests. I have not encountered the "attitude" that other reviewers mention.
(4)
Michelle L.
I usually am not a huge sushi fan so I don't go out for that often but when I do it is always to Maru! The food is all delicious and you can't beat the prices!
(5)
Bodie S.
Maru has spectacular sushi. It's high quality and they have several very interesting rolls to choose from. The have a New Orleans roll that involves crawfish, a White Castle roll, and several locally named rolls such as the Purdue roll and the Chauncey roll. The rolls are between $6-$8 but they are completely worth it. While you are waiting for your rolls to be made, they bring you a bowl of soup and three small dishes of vegetable appetizers to keep you occupied while you wait. The restaurant is usually very busy, but you can more than likely find a table when you go. The atmosphere is great and for how crowded it gets, it is very easy to talk to the person you're eating with. You can also get sushi rolls to go, which is always convenient if you want sushi, but don't want to stay in the restaurant. I will say that I think this is the best sushi restaurant around the Purdue campus.
(5)
Roy H.
I will put it this way, I havent had sushi this good since I went to California. The staff was extremely nice and helpful (I had some sushi newbies with me). And the seating/decorating had a very authentic and home-y feel to it. They have a rather large menu, with alot of other dishes besides sushi. We tried an appetizer (mussels) that was very good. My favorite rolls that we got where the I love Tuna and volcano rolls. The white castle roll was good too. The meal also came with some soup and veggies, a very nice touch. Thier rolls are a bit smaller than AH Z (nearby in Chauncey mall), but the pricing reflects this, the quality is much better though!!
(5)
Stefanie S.
The Mexican sushi roll here is pretty good, however it's incredibly overpriced and not the best sushi I've ever had. It's also pretty small and the seating is not that convenient.
(3)
Cam H.
It's the best sushi I've had around Lafayette. Go with the Maki Combo, you get three rolls for a reasonable price. Limited seating so arrive early or just be patient.
(4)
Juan A.
Very good sushi and also a lot of different dishes for not sushi eaters... The sushi was very tasty and the service was really fast. Small place so I would suggest calling ahead specially during dinner hours if you don't want to wait. The price was fair and the service was really good.
(4)
Michele W.
Maru is a sit-down sushi restaurant with full service, unlike the other sushi joints you'll find on campus. It is pricer, but I would say the price is worth it. For me, I don't notice a huge price difference since I only ever get one roll. Their is a large variety of rolls for you to choose from and a wide variety of ingredients. If you're not a roll or sushi fan, they also have other Japanese goodies to choose from. I've had the salmon teriyaki before which I remember being just ok. I don't believe they have a soda fountain so whatever drink you order comes by the bottle or can. I'd recommend asking for a bottle of water since it's free. If you don't want to dine-in you can order take out or delivery as well.
(4)
Plawooth C.
It used to be better....but now its so so..
(3)
Diva D.
Maru is by far the best sushi around. Service is friendly, prompt and portion sizes are good. There are many creative, delicious rolls available. At peak times the wait for a table can be long, but they also do a wonderful carry-out service.
(5)
Jay D.
One of my most favorite spots in lafayette. Nothing fancy, simplistic decor but great sushi. I keep coming back for more. Their sushi rolls are fresh and taste amazing !
(5)
Lauren M.
We really liked the Purdue rolls but the others didn't have much flavor except for the spicy sauce they put on top. The best part was that they give you miso soup and some small appetizers, but we didn't eat any of the appetizers because our sushi came so quickly. We went on a Wednesday about an hour before close and didn't feel l,e we got the best service because of it. They were rushing us and bringing us the check before we were finished. It was also expensive for such a casual place. I would rather go to Kokoro if it is going to cost me about the same.
(3)
Jordan B.
Golly, who would have believed there would be a good sushi restaurant in the Midwest, let alone in a little town in Northern Indiana, let alone sidled up next to a Big Ten university? This is a straightforward place. The sushi is fresh, the bibimbop can be ordered in a stone bowl (dolsot), and everything tastes good. Unlike other places, you don't get your sushi delivered under a mountain of crunchies, you don't have to deal with waitstaff who don't know the menu, you don't have to deal with finding parking (you can walk if you're anywhere near the campus), and you don't have to deal with ridiculous prices. For clean, crisp yummy: New York Roll For deep fried roll yummy: Chauncey Roll For eating with several friends yummy: dolsot bibimbop Verdict: great lunch or dinner any day (except Wednesdays when the mexican grill across the street is half price for students). Give it a shot.
(4)
Jane E.
Small restaurant right in the middle of everything. I wanted some sushi, without having to pay and arm and leg and this hit the spot. I ordered a California roll and Veggie roll. Both of them fresh and delicious. I especially liked the fact that the size of the sushi was small and compact. For me and my sis, the number of pieces was alright for an appetizer. However, if you plan to eat a meal, you may need three or four separate rolls. Great place to go for a sushi fix.
(5)
Pat B.
Maru Sushi is fresh. The food is consistent. The dining room is clean and bright. The chefs make their food with finesse. Everything comes out clean and delicious. The spicy isn't too spicy, the salty isn't too salty, the sweet isn't too sweet. This place is truly incredible. I just left and want to go back, and not because I'm still hungry. It is SO good. I'll be back again and again and again. Love it!!!
(5)
Saimah A.
One of the best sushi places at Purdue. Their miso soup is really good and it comes with three sides. I love their dragon roll. Everything is about 6-8 bucks per roll. Service is great. Small place so not the best place for large crowds. Overall, would recommend.
(4)
Sarah C.
The sushi there is not always fresh.
(2)
David H.
The service and food are both excellent here. They have a wide selection for sushi and do all of them well.
(5)
Alex G.
Great sushi
(5)
s s.
It is just FAST FOOD sushi place, nothing more. This place is obviously OVER-RATED. Pros: The server/owner is friendly Cons: - Sushi: not fresh, ingredients are mediocre, not authentic. - Portion: too small- I had to order two plates to say it was a lunch for me(I'm a petite sized person) - Place: is small, I couldn't get in because there were too many people inside ( actually, the restaurant is too tiny not that there were too many people) - Price: overpriced, considering the portion and the quality You go to Sushi Restaurant to have Good SUSHI, not for just service, don't you? I would try other place in town such as Heisei or drive to Indy or Chicago if I am craving for Sushi.
(2)
Sara H.
Maru is a fantastic little sushi restaurant in West Lafayette, with the best sushi (or at the very least, best for the money) in town. The restaurant is very traditional in style, and the staff is both cheerful and respectful. Each time we have dined in, we received complimentary bottled water, tea, miso, and vegetable amuse bouches. Service was reasonably prompt, and the rolls were excellent (I am currently especially fond of the Mexican roll and the Playboy roll, although I have yet to try something I didn't enjoy). Maru is a very small restaurant, and due to its location (right by campus), it gets very crowded. Even in the summer, it is very full, which prompted some friends and I to get our food to go. This is where they get docked a star: the restaurant neglected half of our order (we filled out the sushi card, and the hostess only saw the right half). When we noticed, I hiked back to the restaurant and reported it -- the hostess made several excuses for her error. In her defense, they were *very* crowded, and I could tell she was a little stressed out, and the forgotten rolls were made quite quickly. Overall, my experience was still a good one, and I will definitely still be coming back to Maru for sushi!
(4)
Matthew M.
Best sushi in Lafayette, I go for the Chauncey Roll and the Spicy Tuna Roll. If your not feeling sushi definitely get the Kopdol Bimibab.
(4)
Adam W.
Revisited Maru and ordered 5 totally different sushi rolls. All 5 were better than the ones from my previous trip. They tasted fresher, they looked nicer and overall we had a much better experience. The rainbow roll was fresh and decent-sized. I always like to order this one and I'm glad I did the second trip. Definitely worthwhile. I'm forgetting what else we got since it's been a while. I think one was tuna and scallions, which I enjoyed a lot. Oh yeah, the california tempura was also a hit as was the simple salmon+avocado. All rolls were rice on the outside which is far superior according to my mouth. Finally we got a roll that was a modified caterpillar...but I just dont remember what was in it. It had the avocado on top. Oh well, was also good. Definitely had a better time on our second trip which was on a Sunday night.
(4)
Tiffany P.
Maru is brand new to West Lafayette, and I'm so glad it's here. It is BY FAR the BEST sushi in town. It is comparable to the California sushi I so miss. The restaurant is quite unassuming, but it is a true gem. The interior is tastefully and subtley decorated. The sushi chefs wear traditional attire. Their tea is complimentary, as well as the miso soup and small trio of vegetables. The sushi rolls are the perfect size and taste (not to mention very reasonable prices!). I highly recommend the Purdue and Ninja rolls. The Purdue roll is just like a dragon roll but with cream cheese inside, and the Ninja roll has spicy tuna wrapped with squid and seaweed (no rice!). They were deeeeelicious. The service is also great. The sushi chefs work fast, and you never run out of tea or water. I cannot wait to go back to try more. West Lafayette needed this restaurant. Don't waste your time at any other sushi restaurant in town (except maybe Heisei if you want to sit on the "floor") - this is my new favorite restaurant in Indiana!
(5)
Michael D.
I was absolutely blown away by their sushi. Coming from the Midwest, I can understand that I may lack a true seafood appreciation, but this restaurant serves by far the best sushi I've had. The menu is really creative, with a wide variety of unique rolls including uncommon ingredients- quail eggs, caviar and several kinds of roe, crayfish, and the list goes on. The spicy tuna roll was excellent, and I especially liked the ninja and New Orleans roll. We went on a Sunday night, which can be a sketchy time out here to eat raw fish, but the sushi was well-prepared and came with free miso. The order did take some time to prepare, but it was well worth it. Again, I cannot stress how excellent this restaurant is- creative and delicious, I plan on returning soon and often.
(5)
John T.
Went back to Maru for lunch today. Ordered the lunch combo -- six pieces of nigiri and the tekka maki (small tuna roll) -- and a Spider Roll. The miso was pretty bad. Spider Roll was good. The nigiri was pretty okay... not great, not bad. Tekka maki was a little dry. I'm just very underwhelmed by Maru...
(3)
Ka N.
Everything was incredibly delicious and the whole staff was super friendly. Will definitely go back to many times.
(5)
Lynette Z.
Wanted some sushi, and thought I would try this place with all the good reviews. So glad! Hit the spot perfectly without hitting the wallet hard. Very fast and friendly service. Loved it!
(5)
Michelle P.
I love this place. I really like the shrimp tempura roll, the mango tango roll and the caterpillar roll. I noticed there aren't any menus so I copied one last time I was there: cupcakechords.tumblr.com…
(5)
Mat G.
Maru is one of the best sushi bars in town. They have many specialty roles that you won't find anywhere else. All of them are extremely good. I think you get what you pay for. I think it may be a little expensive, but in the end it is always delicious. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sushi every now and then.
(5)
Mike T.
Good sushi for West Lafayette, IN. Not so good if you have it delivered, in which case it takes them 1.5 hours to drive the food 1.5 miles (for 50 dollars of sushi). Definitely will not order carry out from them again, but would eat at the restaurant as it's some of the better sushi in town.
(3)
Megan C.
I just went here for the first time tonight and I am so excited to go back again as soon as possible. I definitely recommended the the "rock'n roll." It is salmon, tuna, shrimp, asparagus and spicy crab wrapped with cucumber(no rice). The taste is awesome and it looks almost too pretty to eat. We also had the "red bull roll" which was also very tasty and would be good for those "my boyfriend" that are a little sketched out by raw fish. The miso and vegetable trio were also quite nice. The place is pretty small and when it gets filled up it can be a bit loud, so I don't plan on going back during peak hours. Apparently they do delivery as well, but I'm not sure how I feel about my sushi being carted around like that.
(5)
priss l.
If I have to rate this place based on other sushi places in WL, it will be better. However, to be honest, this place is a little overrated. It's a fusion of Japanese and Korean, and most of the nigiri sushi and hand rolls are pretty pricy. A lot of the rolls on the menu are good. I like their bento/lunch specials, the katsu don and bibimbob are really good deals. Sometimes the place could be really crowded because the space is very tight. Try to beat the crowd by going early.
(3)
Bob O.
I've had really bad sushi around Purdue. Bad enough to get me upset. I am really bad when I pay a high price for terrible food. Well this place won't do that. I'm Japanese but from the Chicagoland area, I've had the real thing in Japan and I've had good stuff in the States. I have to say, this place was pretty good when it comes to "contemporary" sushi. If you love rolls, you will like this place. It has lots of rolls on the menu and many are unique. I can't really say much about the authenticity of what they make, but the different rolls we tried were all good. My girlfriend, who is also Japanese, and I agreed that the Sunday Morning Roll was very tasty. Something about the whole roll covered in batter and fried lightly was very satisfying. But do check it out. It's worth a visit.
(4)
Angelica G.
Maru is one of the three sushi restaurants in West Lafayette, and might be the best choice for you if you want fresh sushi at a great price. My favorite is the Chicken Teriyaki and California Roll, which are rolled in perfect bite-sized pieces. Although the place is quite small and the seating a little less than comfortable, the windows let in a lot of light.
(4)
Kuanlim P.
Like its sushi rather than it's main course. can try
(4)
Kay N.
My friend and I had a good amount of yummy sushi and appetizers and bought food for her hubby at home and got out for under $50. fresh sushi, good service.
(3)
David S.
I can not praise this restaurant enough. I have eaten sushi in all the major cities on the western coast, and Hawaii. None of them have as good of sushi as Maru! Their arch de triumph is the Chili Thai Roll. But nobody, and I mean nobody on this planet makes a better spicy tuna roll. Order as many of those as you can eat. Who would have guessed that the best sushi restaurant in the U.S. is in West Lafayette, IN? The service by far is the best I've ever experienced. I don't know what her name is, but one lady that works there that always says thank you with a stereo-typical asian submissive manner, is the greatest service provider I've ever encountered. Great food, service, and price!
(5)
Diana M.
This is a Korean-owned Sushi Restaurant; therefore, they serve barley tea rather than green tea (this was a minus for me). The tempura batter was thick and greasy rather than light and airy. It does okay for being an on-campus sushi restaurant, but if you want better Japanese food, you'd have better luck off-campus.
(3)
Mae S.
We enjoyed quite a few of the sushi-bar items and a glass of nice Japanese beer while visiting with friends. The service and turnaround time are wonderful. We're not used to such immediate response and appreciated it. All the items we ordered were good, and I especially liked the "White Castle" -- a tuna roll topped with crisp rice noodles.
(5)
Chloe T.
The food isn't too good and very overpriced. However, nice atmosphere and really good service. The owner is pleasant and very nice. Not a frequent place I'd go to, but okay to every once in a while.
(3)
Erin N.
Maru has the best Japanese food like Katsu donburi and sushi in purdue neighborhood. So far I have not found a better Japanese restaurant in the states, so if you happen to be in purdue or pass by purdue, do give it a try.
(5)
Melissa S.
Maru is hands down my favorite restaurant. I have had lots of sushi in Chicago and a few other places and none of it compares to the sushi at Maru. I have friends that usually don't like sushi, but enjoy Maru's sushi. Their spicy tuna roll is the best I've ever had--I crave it all the time. If you like spicy tuna, you should try the caterpillar roll, which is also great. The service is excellent--they are extremely fast and friendly. They even provide free Miso Soup and small-portioned, flavorful appetizers when you dine in. I ordered delivery for the first time last night, and it was there in under 15 minutes. West Lafayette is very lucky to have such a wonderful sushi restaurant!
(5)
lynn c.
It's the best sushi place you can find around this area. We come here at least once or twice a week. Lunch special is great and reasonable price, chicken teriyaki is weak but all their other dishes are yummy. Service is great and they keep their place clean.
(5)
Mike E.
I used to love this place when I was at Purdue. They have a pretty good happy hour special and the food was all excellent. It's very small inside but was lively and fun. If you're in the mood for sushi, just go here.
(4)
Ella B.
Maru has a very small location to dine in... but the food is well worth the trip!! By far Maru has the best sushi in Lafayette and West Lafayette. The prices are very reasonable and I can't say this enough... the sushi is DELICIOUS! My favorite is the Sunset Roll and Purdue Roll. YUM!
(5)
Chris S.
This place has great sushi for being landlocked in the Midwest. I ordered the Spicy tuna and Philadelphia rolls. Both were tasty, as was the included extras. Service was friendly and prompt. I'v have had much better sushi, but that was in California. This is about on par with some Chicago sushi I have had, which is still pretty good! Pretty good prices for a rolls, too.
(4)
Joey C.
Big fan of this little sushi place. Wish it was a little bigger because there was always a wait for lunch. Good food & great service, though.
(4)
Manon O.
I had lunch here today for the first time. My expectations were low for some reason, and I was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty! I really liked the complementary vegetable nibbles served first, and the miso soup was very good. The sushi was fine, nothing wow. The vegetable pancake was delicious, and very satisfying on this rediculously cold day. I'll go there again soon!
(4)
Sarah Y.
I live in Indianapolis and just happened to be in Lafayette for the evening and I really wanted Sushi. I was blown away by the Sushi at this restaurant. The Rock and Roll roll and volcano roll were amazing. The service was great. I will be making trips up to Lafayette just to visit this restaurant.
(5)
Lynn W.
Awesome sushi, lovely service. The seating is pretty cramped though and you might be waiting for awhile if you come when it's busy. To be honest that's the biggest negative here. They do offer takeout though, so that keeps it recommended by me. I also wouldn't steer too clear from what you know here - there is a LOT of variety, and you might end up disappointed. But if you're also adventurous - hey, there you go! The perfect place for such. My recommendation here is DEFINITELY the PlayBoy roll. Delicious, lots of food. Their mackerel nigiri sushi is also out of this world - with some vegetables on top that really bring out the flavor! Mackerel sushi is 'cooked' via vinegar marinade, and the vegetables (I want to say chives/green onions?) compliment it nicely.
(4)
Alex H.
Maru has always been one of my favorite places to grab sushi on campus. They have so many sushi options I am able to try something new every time! My favorite roll is definitely the Career Woman Roll. Be prepared if ordering any specialty rolls for the meal to be on the more expensive side, but it really all depends what you order. The only negative is on Fridays and Saturdays the restauraunt can get pretty crowded, and there really isn't a space to wait for a table. Overall, the food and service are great; as a sushi lover Maru is well worth the wait!
(5)
Nithin K.
I used to love Maru sushi!!! I'd go so far as to say that this place had the best sushi restaurant in town. But after returning here 4 years later, and being a little adventurous with my food selection, I was a little disappointed. Location - great! Decor - great! Service - great! Sushi - great! Miso soup - bland Kopdol bibimbab - not very good. (Looked great but didn't taste very good. Felt like there was no seasoning at all) I have to say that I was very unpleasantly surprised. Maybe I should have just stuck to the sushi. I'll definitely be back though. Recommend!
(4)
Hye Eun C.
Based on the mostly positive reviews, perhaps I was expecting too much. My overall meal here was decent, but nothing to rave about. Complimentary small side dishes (celery, pickled daikon, bean sprouts) and miso soup were given, which was great. I ordered the salmon salad and one of the cheaper rolls. While they both tasted decent, I was surprised at how small the portions were, especially when my bill came out to $20 for one. Good place to get your sushi fix, but I've definitely had better. Good service as well.
(3)
Ruth C.
Food was good but I thought it was a bit pricey compared to what you can get in Denver. Roy is right, the rolls are pretty small but it still cost 10.95 for the very small 'I love salmon roll'. I also tried their bibenbop. Compared to other ones I have had, this was definitely not the worst, but also not the best. So just average. I guess if you factor in the complimentary miso soup, it all works out. Environment was casual with 7 tables in the main room and a few more towards the back. No sushi bar seating :(. All in all it was a nice laid back place to eat.
(3)
F W.
It is a good Sushi place around campus. They have a main restaurant menu with diverse Korean or Japanese food options as well as a separate sushi menu also with tons of options. The price for a roll varies from about $5 to $11. My favorite sushi rolls are Mexican and Purdue rolls, the former is spicy and the other one is not. I have also ordered non-sushi meal. I like eel on rice (don't remember the name on the menu), the taste is good but the food portion is small. I also like bibimbap, again it tastes good but they don't have as much meat as the one in Gaza.
(4)
Brooke S.
I love this place. the sushi is delicious. it's tastes fresh, crisp and flavorful. I will never go to any other place on campus, and will truly miss this when I graduate!
(5)
Rick M.
If there is better sushi than this in town, I'd pay to know where. I have never had any less than a great experience there. I prefer the raw stuff and my wife prefers the cooked stuff and they have offerings that are great in both those categories. We both love the Purdue roll and the spider roll. As far as I know they don't have a secret Korean menu but they do serve wonderful bibimbap. The place is small so you want to get there early or go when Purdue is on break. Never had dessert there because we go across the street to Red Mango.
(5)
Vicky C.
Sushi here is good. The dishes however were ok. I got the chicken katsu and it was decent. On the plus side, derived is friendly and quick.
(3)
Amanda S.
The beauty of my plate stood out, but that was about it. My friend and I went there for lunch today and it was a little hard to find. The place is very small, and given there was a small wait time, it would have been nice to have had somewhere to stand or sit other than awkwardly in the doorway. After we ordered we were given complimentary miso and pickled veggies with was nice. Our edame appetizer came after our rolls. The edame was pretty plain. My Playboy roll was pretty good and decorated beautifully. I was a little disappointed that the sodas come in can form, but at least you get a cup of ice. The service was very good. There is a ten dollar minimum if you are using a card. I'd still prefer Sushi Don, but overall a pretty good place if you're in West Lafayette.
(3)
Christina L.
As a person who loves sushi I have to say this place has some bomb sushi selections! I discovered this place when I came here for my Purdue orientation since I'm starting here in the fall. The sushi place is located by a bunch of other restaurants and small places by Purdue so it's not hard to miss. You can walk from the Purdue Memorial Union to Maru in a couple of minutes. In terms of sushi you should get I highly recommend the Purdue roll!! It's something you can only get here! So now as a Boilermaker I highly recommend a trip to this place whenever you visit! Five stars!!!
(5)
Hanna N.
The sushi here was decent. However I was a little weirded out by the water it was a strange color so I then order a pop and it was brought to me in a can and it was warm. I would recommend the tempora shrimp sushi here it is enjoyable.
I was never a fan of sushi until I had sushi here. I love the Mexican Roll! Absolutely amazing. The Teriyaki Tofu is delicious as well... slightly crispy... mmmm... It is overpriced, yes. Seating is limited. They only take credit cards for orders of $10 or more. Also, ordering take-out I have found to not be as good...
(4)
Flynn R.
OMG so so overrated... Worst Unfresh sushi I have ever had. I can't believe this place has sucha high rating; my experience: orderd a mango roll, and another roll, with seafood pancake, came back in 15 min to pick it up, I asked if she put in spicy mayo she said no, because it's 75 cents extra, my bill was $32, I open the box, and I was shocked: the smallest sushi ever.... (I wish I had pics to show) I freakin paid $10 for each roll, hello!! minimum show me in quantity for what I paid for.. But the quality was likewise: not fresh not tasty at all, it had nothing to it. (and I felt that sushi till the next day...) I'm willing to pay top dollar for sushi don't get me wrong, but to get shit for top dollar; didn't see that coming. Ps. There is only one roll worth checking out if you are already there: the playboy.
(1)
Lauren L.
Great little sushi restaurant! The food is delicious; I haven't tried a single thing that I haven't liked. There's hardly any room inside, though, so I suggest getting your food to go during busy times or you will have to wait for a seat.
(4)
Daniela F.
One of my favorite places for Sushi when I'm in town. This is a family owned, nice place and they are attentive to their customers. Food has always been good and fresh, right for the price point. I love getting the bento boxes too.
(4)
James P.
Maru sushi is probably the most authentic and fresh sushi restaurant you can find around West Lafayette/Lafayette area. Since this is a sushi restaurant, you will most likely pay more than your casual meal. However, they do have a lot of dishes that isn't just sushi such as some Korean meals that is very affordable for college students. Their service is very nice as well. I would come to Maru sushi again, if I am craving sushi or some authentic Korean dishes.
(5)
Gabrielle C.
Love, love this place. The sushi is great, and I can't really complain about the price too much because good sushi that won't give you food poisoning is going to cost some bucks. The rainbow roll is delicious and their squid salad is to die for. They have a great variety of foods for the sushi lover and the non-sushi lover including Tempura and soups. My only problem is their seating is a pain in the butt. Seating is very limited so try and beat the crowd if you can for dinner.
(4)
Only G.
Yeah, talk about a good ol' fashion roll uh soosh. Really gotta get dat California roll or LITERALLY ANY OTHER ROLL BC SUSHI IS incredibly tasty. Especially here. Go here. Eat the sushi. Prices are reasonable. Staff is nice. Soup is ok. Everyone wins because no one loses.
(5)
Adrianne D.
I know seating can be an issue in the evening (which is why we never dined there before today) but we went at lunch and were seated right away. The staff are REALLY nice and even gave our toddler a special pair of chopsticks so she could actually use them. They are a little pricey (for this part of the country) but the food is high quality. I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box which was a good value since it comes with quite a bit of food. The salmon was absolutely delicious as were most of the sides it came with. The side of salad came with a horseradish dressing that I didn't care much for though, so next time I'll ask if there is another option. We also tried the Philadelphia roll which was great and a HUGE bowl of Tempura Udon. If you go there for lunch I recommend getting one of the lunch boxes since it comes with a variety of items and the price is decent.
(4)
Larry J.
This place is amazing. It's a small space, making every neighbor your intimate friend, something that feels very asian-centric to me. It reminds me of dining in japan (i use to sell sheets of aluminum for a big processing company, and spent a lot of time in "Nippon"). The food is pretty gosh darn amazing. The miso soup is like the nectar of the gods (the greek ones, not the real Christian one). It comes with all kinds of things like bean sprouts and pickled celery. Quite the treat. I got the "007" roll, because I've got a weak spot for James Bond. It tasted like I was jumping out of a helicopter, trying to stop 008. Haha, that's a joke, but it was a really delicious roll, and it was prepared very quickly. Our server was really good about filling our water up constantly. ARIGATO GOZAIMASU SERVERSAN (didnt get her name).
(5)
Alex Y.
This place is definitely overrated, I mean come on people! Have you never been to a good sushi place before? The soy sauce here is mixed with water. Moderate, not so good service, not so fresh sashimi, this Korean-operated Japanese restaurant is filled with people is because this is the only Japanese restaurant off campus around Purdue, and the students have no idea what a good Japanese restaurant is like. If you don't mind driving for a short distance, I strongly recommend you to go to Heisei restaurant by Payless in W. Lafayette, its a slightly more authentic overall in my opinion. (I lived in Kobe, Japan for many years)
(2)
Suzanne N.
I love this restaurant. The Purdue roll, Ninja, and Rock n Roll are some of my favorites. The sushi combinations are inventive and tasty. What I like most about the menu is that they offer a few rice free rolls. I also like that the rolls are generally not too heavy on the rice. It's easier to taste the fish that way. I always get sushi, but the hot entrees look and smell amazing as well. Maybe I'll try one some day when I'm sick of sushi, but I don't see that happening any time soon!
(4)
Katie M.
As good a place as any to get sushi in Indiana. Don't go for their udon, it's average. Their rolls are wonderful though! There is a lot of variety so go in hungry! Every order they serve you with a bowl of miso. Everyone loves the Sunday roll, but I'm partial to the sunset. They're credit minimum is $10, so keep that in mind!
(4)
Amada T.
Love that place! Everything is great there! Friendly service, reasonable price, and the fantastic food. My personal favorite has to be the Chili Thai Roll and the Ninja Roll. I gave it a 4 star only because you smell really bad after dining in, which makes going to exams after sushi troublesome.
(4)
Dayton B.
Maru is the best sushi restaurant in Lafayette.
(5)
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Address :111 N Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, IN, 47906
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Julie L.
Obviously this place is not about "authentic" Japanese sushi. There are a lot of flavors to try and most of them do not disappoint me. It's very amusing how they come up with all those different toppings. One serving is kinda small though, and a bit pricy.
(4)Priscilla C.
I find there is no better way to judge a sushi joint and decipher the freshness of the seafood than to order sushi in its plainest form. That is why I always make it a point to get Nigiri or Sashimi. And I honestly believe Maru serves nothing but high-quality seafood. We started with 6 pieces of Salmon Nigiri and eventually ordered 4 more for dessert because we just couldn't get enough. Yes-it qualifies as dessert in my book. If you are a fan of tasty, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, no-need-for-soy-sauce raw salmon then you will be impressed. We also ordered the Sunday Morning Roll (awesome), and Purdue roll (amazing). We came back the following night and got my hands on the Purdue roll again, VIP roll (pretty good), and the Playboy Roll (my favorite) plus 10 pieces of Salmon Nigiri. Every time we come here, we order so much that we always get a TRAY of sushi (their plates are apparently not huge enough). We always pig out and walk out with highly satisfied taste buds! We were also very happy about the prices! 3 special rolls and 10 pieces of Nigiri for $53-55--can't beat that! Okay I've raved enough about this place, I really hope they keep it up!
(5)Sam P.
This place is awesome. Probably the best Japanese food on campus. There are no Mexicans working in the back sweating to make sushi, not that that wouldn't produce great food anyways, which definitely eases the conscience of some priveledge white girl out there. Getting back to topic, the price is worth the quality. They are usually busy just for that reason - expect a wait, but when you get your food expect intense satisfaction. Definitely good enough for the white man.
(4)Bob J.
Volcano roll !. An eruption of fire in my mouth. But in a good way ....beer makes it better so go for it... Add extra wasabi for extra heat and to numb your mouth. Don't be a pu**y. Go for it!!
(5)Yi L.
Over priced food and worst service. The server/owner swear at you in Korean if you don't tip over 25%. And they charge you $1 for a tiny little bit of hot sauce! Hot sauce!!?? Hard to believe....
(1)Kimberly B.
Best sushi in the area. Won't lie, I'm kind of impressed considering how small the city is. I give it a a star less for a few reasons: one, some of the fried choices are not always great, and personally find it overpriced considering the types of fish included. Service is not always the greatest when they're over their average, but they're polite and accommodating. Important for broke college students that need split checks ;) My favorites are the Playboy, Volcano and Spicy California roll. For my friends who can't have shrimp, I insist the Chicken Teriyaki roll (or meal alternatively) is really good too!
(4)Kat N.
Pros: Great sushi and sashimi!! The sashimi was fresh and substantial. This makes up for all the cons. Cons: small restaurant, long wait for 7 ppl (about 45 mins), don't order the udon (very bland)
(4)Dan B.
I just went there tonight for some quick sushi. It is definitely not bad for a campus restaurant. There was no line and I was able to get my rolls very quickly. If I was really going for quality then I would go across the river or somewhere else, but since I was in a bit of a rush I stopped by because I live really close. Definitely not a bad choice for a standard sushi fan, but I would suggest a different place if you're really looking for higher end. Overall very pleased, although there were a couple flies in there which was strange to see in February lol.
(4)Mark I.
Once ordered delivery from this restaurant and waited over 4 hours for my food to arrive. The sushi is overpriced in my opinion and tastes similar to the quality one can get in the cooler at the grocery store.
(1)Melissa K.
As always, do not trust restaurant ratings in college towns... I do not know why people talk about this place. There is nothing spectacular about the sushi, the experience, or the atmosphere. The sushi is sub-par - not much better than sushi you can get at a grocery store. The restaurant seems a little on the dirty side, lacks much atmosphere, and is crowded. It isn't even inexpensive. Unless you just really want sushi, it wouldn't be high on my list of recommendations.
(2)Ria V.
I've tried different sushi options in the area and this is by far my favorite sushi place in Lafayette/West Lafayette. If you like rolls, this is the place to go & it's near campus. Reasonably priced too! This place gets pretty crowded when Purdue is in session so you sometimes have to wait to get a table (which is fine in warm weather..but a little of a letdown if you have to wait outside on the sidewalk in the winter) I would recommend the Playboy roll and the Chauncey roll. For those of you who don't want/like sushi, they do have other Korean and Japanese food on the menu.
(4)Yichen S.
I would like to recommend this restaurant to you if your were sushi fan. I enjoy the foods there, especially for the fresh sashimi they service. For sushi roll, I would recommend the "playboy". Each time I went there, I always need to wait for about 10 mins, you can imagine how popular this restaurant is!
(4)J T.
Maru was recommended by friends and it does have outstanding fresh sushi. The only slight negative are the generous sauces applied to the rolls (spider for example) - not needed. By my observation, they do a fair amount of business which tells me this is pretty well known. Also, the staff seems confident about their product and the chef's appeared to be quite focused. Everyone was friendly. If I lived near here, I'd dine here a lot.
(4)Tristan A.
Solid, cheap, fast sushi. Nothing great about this place, but it's hard to find excellent sushi when you're in a small city more than a thousand miles away from the nearest ocean. They do this Indiana thing where half the rolls are soaked in rich, Americanized sauces. I think that is gross, personally, but you might like it. The ambience is a little undergrad-y, but that mostly clears itself up in the summer. Their hours are also uneven, so be sure to call ahead.
(3)Michael M.
I knew it was a great sushi restaurant when I noticed I was the only Caucasian customer in the restaurant. And it met all my expectations. The tempura has a light delicious crust and is not greasy. It is not a first date kind of place but for the food and service, I might just move to Lafayette!
(5)Jeremy S.
I was afraid to try sushi before I went to Maru, and I'm glad it was the first place I went! I've been to other sushi restaurants since first coming into Maru, and few places come close! There's usually a wait because the place is small, but once you get in you're served super quickly. The soup and little beans and veggies they give you are a good primer for the delicious sushi entries: Mango Tango, Hurricane, and the Playboy/Playgirl are my favorite dishes. I've had some apps which were good, but first timers need to check out the sushi!
(5)Corina P.
The place is simple but the food is amazing, always fresh; I have been here several times (too many to count) and I have never been disappointed with the attention either. The place is always packed, specially on weekend nights, so this must speak good about its food quality. Recommended dishes: Ahi Tower (my favorite), simple rolls such as Tuna Roll, smoked Salmon Roll and Shirmp Tempura Roll. The gyosas are also good.
(5)Adrienne K.
Get the Chauncey Roll. It's the best! Good sushi when you're on the West side.
(3)Glenn C.
This sushi place is overrated! They have a good location and an okay lunch specials. Worst thing about this place is that they do not use the authentic Japanese wasabi. It does not taste right! For real sushi lover, you would agree with me.
(2)Amanda K.
This is the BEST sushi in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area. It's a small hole in the wall restaurant, but soooooo yummy! My favorites are the Maru Roll, Purdue Roll, and the Hurricane Roll. Interesting fact: the Hurricane roll has peanut butter in it. I love sushi and thought this sounded disgusting, but please try it if you like sushi and peanut butter. This "flash fried" roll is dynamite delicious!!! Check it out! Bonus from eating in store vs. carry out = free miso soup and three free little appetizer trays of their choice to enjoy as you wait for your food. :)
(5)Kristy S.
Love!!!!!
(5)Kathy S.
We have been here dozens of times-have never had bad food or service! My favorite is the Maru roll and Crunch and Munch. They bring you 3 bowls of small tastings of salads -I wish you could order these- some of them are awesome!
(5)Jay S.
Simply put - the best sushi in the Lafayette area. The staff is super friendly, and the service is always pretty good. The sushi is AMAZING. I would love to comment on the rest of the menu, but the sushi is so good, I never order anything else. The real draw back of this place is its size. It's tiny. It is always busy,they don't take reservations and there is absolutely no place to wait if they can't seat you immediately. While this isn't a big deal in nice weather, waiting outside when its cold or raining is a real bummer. Best way to combat this little issue is to call in a take out order!
(5)Sharon R.
I don't really understand the obsession with this place. But there it is, most people I know love it here. The pros are definitely complimentary tea and soup. The sushi itself is not bad, it's just nothing out of this world and fairly small. It always leaves me super hungry. Personally, for sushi around campus I really prefer any of the other options which are Ah-Z (currently closed?) and the fast food joint on the same street as GH and Vienna.
(3)Dia D.
This is one of the best sushi places in the Lafayette area. They also have several Korean items on the menu. The food always arrives quickly. The main negative is that when Purdue is in session there is always a wait to be seated if you go at peak dining times.
(4)Little C.
Really enjoy the food here, even beyond the sushi. They have nice lunch specials, which makes for a quick but enjoyable meal near campus. Love their salmon special combo and sushi special; for non-sushi items I like the bibimbap and vegetable pancake. Servers and really friendly and service is always quick and effective.
(4)Melissa L.
One of my favorite places to eat at because they have both Korean and Japanese foods that are prepared good! Sometimes when you have a restaurant that have 2 different cuisines they are watered sown or just mediocre. This place however delivers! Their lunch bento box is awesome and there is so much food that comes with it! Every roll that I have had has been great!
(4)DeAnna P.
Friendly and prompt service here. They were on me as soon as I walked in the door and someone was constantly at the table to pick up dirty dishes or refill my water. They were attentive, but not to the point of being annoying. The sushi is fresh and very tasty. I agree with the other reviews that the free pickle appetizers and miso soup are very good. Miso is so simple to make, but so many places water it down. This was NOT that way; it was perfect. I would skip the side salad though. The dressing is not very good.
(4)Dale B.
For Lafayette, the Japanese style is good. I had the tuna sashimi bowl on rice ( one of the -dons). Very fresh tuna. Miso soup was mostly broth. Hot tea served in a plastic water glass - unexpected. Authentic decor - I've been to places in Japan just like this. Worth a visit if you like sushi in America. Don't know if they have shochu.
(3)Mukhtar K.
Very Noisy place, but very good Bibimbab, Sushi and Miso soup. Love the Japanese Green tea they make.
(4)Chris M.
Delicious. Incredibly fresh. Great service. Excellent prices. I am here all the time.
(5)Emily H.
Maru is great! Their miso soup is so good and my favorite roll is the 007. It's kind of on the small side when it comes to restaurants, but otherwise it's Purdue's best sushi restaurant!
(4)Nolie P.
Best sushi in West Lafayette. It is always fresh and yummy. I am also impressed how quickly they can make the rolls no matter how busy they are. The only complaint is the specialty rolls rely heavily on crab, shrimp tempura, or salmon. I realize that Midwesterners may not be as adventuresome as a group who is used to fresh fish but it is still disappointing.
(4)Boobear A.
This sushi place is like most of them who are owned by Koreans, which is not a big deal but the attitude of this one Korean lady(short hair to her shoulder) is just unacceptable! She is mean towards Chinese people and just give off this nasty attitude! The food of this place is average, typical over priced and definitely uses color dyes for their sushi. Their customer service definitely needs to improve!
(1)Tessa H.
Very good sushi. About as authentic as Japanese food gets in America. I wish they had a better alcohol selection, but the staff is very friendly. Cheap for the area.
(4)Spencer B.
Favorite sushi place on campus. Reasonably priced. I'd recommend the Sunday morning roll. It's probably the least healthy but it's my favorite. It's a pretty standard roll that's got cream cheese in it and is then deep fried, topped with a spicy mayo. Also love maru for the free soup and salad.
(5)Don S.
This little sushi shop cranks out stunningly excellent food. The fish is extremely fresh and the batters and sauces are light and flavorful. And, given Purdue has one of the largest Asian student populations in the country, dining is a complete cultural experience. The best I've had in town, maybe anywhere.
(5)Seung Min L.
Overall mood and environment is fine and I used to like this place. However, after what this super mean korean cashier did to me and my friends, I don't go this place anymore. When I walked in to this male cashier, I gave him my card. After I sign on the receipt , I tipped some extra cash in their small tip-box. So I left the front desk and as soon as I got out from there, he ran into us and said 'hello or excuse me, you guys didn't pay a tip!' That was the last day of Maru, period.
(1)Kristen H.
Maru's sushi is fantastic. I've never been disappointed. My favorite sushi there is the Purdue roll--I think it's pretty popular among the regulars. I will say that this place is hole-in-the-wall tiny. I've had to wait in line to get in, or stand in the doorway while waiting for a table to open up. The sushi is worth it, though--not too expensive, and just plain delicious.
(4)Max C.
The old woman server was so mean to us Asian, she preformed like a loyal dog to Americans, but treat Asians like a shit! Although i didnot do anything wrong. Will never go there anymore. That was the worst restaurant that I had been in.
(1)Mike L.
When we lived nearby this was our go-to sushi joint. Even now when we come back to visit friends in the area, we make an effort to stop by. This is a solid spot to grab some sushi in the West Lafayette area. It is clear their is a heavy Korean influence but that does not diminish the fact that the sushi is pretty solid. This is not a fancy place; the decor is rather plain. It is also a cramped space - especially when Purdue is in session. Waiting on the sidewalk to get seated on a cold winter night can be a real drag. All in all, the staff is friendly, the place is clean, and the food is good. At this price point I think it is fine place to grab a bite!
(3)James B.
Excellent sushi bar, especially for a Midwest college town. It's not the best I've ever had, but it's certainly the best in the area so I'm giving it 5 stars with that caveat. There are free vegetables, sprouts, and miso soup to whet your appetite while you tick the boxes on the sushi menu. I've had the bento box which makes for a great lunch special and I've tried numerous rolls. My favorites are the I Love Salmon roll, caterpillar roll and spicy tuna roll. They have fully cooked noodle bowls and plenty of other options if you're not quite ready to sink your teeth into fresh seafood. I've always had immense respect for Japanese culture and the staff here are some of the most respectful and polite people I've met. The service is quick and professional and you will be treated with genuine kindness and respect - a rarity today in most quick service restaurants. I highly recommend Maru to any novice or expert sushi lover at Purdue. As their shirts say: "See you to Maru!" Get it?
(5)April W.
Back two years ago, I was a huge fan of their udon with tempura. It was great! But as time passed, every time my boyfriend and I ate their udon and some of their other food, we'd get sick! I'm tempted to try again now after all this time to see if it's still the case, but the food is also kind of pricey. Oh Maru, how I hope to see you to-maru with no stomach aches!!
(2)Richard J.
The lady says "the sushi are all like little slices of heaven!" I can't disagree. The atmosphere and limited seating leaves little to desired. That's why I only gave it only four stars.
(4)Cindy L.
Free gen mai tea which is great. Food isnt very good
(3)Nora K.
Delicious sushi and food, but some of the food is SOOOO OVERPRICED. DO NOT order delivery from this place either. They raised the order minimum from $15 to $19 and the portions are ridiculously smaller compared to when you dine-in. One time when I ordered delivery, I got a miso soup, which was $1.50. When I got it, it was in a tiny cup and only half full! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because it's delicious and the service is usually pretty good, but beware of long waits if you dine-in and crazy delivery charges if you choose that option.
(4)Ilana B.
Maru sushi is the places in town I go when I want a nice Bento Box for lunch or I want a casual but deliciously splurgy dinner. During the school year, this place is uber crowded for lunch which means long waits to get a table, so I usually only go here in summer. The room is a little loud but not terrible. I really like the Alaskan Roll and the Tempura Shrimp roll. A little pricy compared to other eats in town, but not compared to other Sushi places. Best sushi in lafayette and a good place for a sushi fix.
(5)Michael P.
Probably the best sushi place by campus and my first ever exposure to sushi. The dining area is clean, comfortable, and quiet for the most part. There is free soup as well. The prices are pretty much what you'd expect for a restaurant of this type. Wait staff also tend to be really prompt with filling drinks and bringing out your food.
(5)Mike S.
Its about as good as Japanese food you find in food courts -- think Panda express for Japanese food. So I had some Korean bbq which was decent. There are other restaurants I would rather go to in the neighborhood.
(2)Deva C.
This is the place I go to when I miss the sushi back in Cali. It's probably as fresh as you can get (especially for these prices) in West Lafayette! I love that they have complimentary appetizers, including miso soup, and they're not just limited to sushi. I've also enjoyed their udon. mmmmmm As for the actual seafood, the fish is definitely fresh! I wasn't put off by the roe or quail egg (not the freshest, but still palatable) and I haven't tried the uni or amaebi yet (they were out the last time I asked), but I have not yet been let down by this place. Also, if you're a fan of weird crazy rolls (I'm not that into "sauces" on my sushi), they have a long list of these as well and the ones I've tried were pretty good!
(5)L T.
The most consistent and fresh sushi I have found, in the area. I tend to get take-out because it is always crowded and difficult to get a table. I recommend the spicy tuna roll and seafood pancake. They have a lot of richly sauced or tempura options which i tend not to like, but that is probably catering to their Americanized-sushi-loving guests. I have not encountered the "attitude" that other reviewers mention.
(4)Michelle L.
I usually am not a huge sushi fan so I don't go out for that often but when I do it is always to Maru! The food is all delicious and you can't beat the prices!
(5)Bodie S.
Maru has spectacular sushi. It's high quality and they have several very interesting rolls to choose from. The have a New Orleans roll that involves crawfish, a White Castle roll, and several locally named rolls such as the Purdue roll and the Chauncey roll. The rolls are between $6-$8 but they are completely worth it. While you are waiting for your rolls to be made, they bring you a bowl of soup and three small dishes of vegetable appetizers to keep you occupied while you wait. The restaurant is usually very busy, but you can more than likely find a table when you go. The atmosphere is great and for how crowded it gets, it is very easy to talk to the person you're eating with. You can also get sushi rolls to go, which is always convenient if you want sushi, but don't want to stay in the restaurant. I will say that I think this is the best sushi restaurant around the Purdue campus.
(5)Roy H.
I will put it this way, I havent had sushi this good since I went to California. The staff was extremely nice and helpful (I had some sushi newbies with me). And the seating/decorating had a very authentic and home-y feel to it. They have a rather large menu, with alot of other dishes besides sushi. We tried an appetizer (mussels) that was very good. My favorite rolls that we got where the I love Tuna and volcano rolls. The white castle roll was good too. The meal also came with some soup and veggies, a very nice touch. Thier rolls are a bit smaller than AH Z (nearby in Chauncey mall), but the pricing reflects this, the quality is much better though!!
(5)Stefanie S.
The Mexican sushi roll here is pretty good, however it's incredibly overpriced and not the best sushi I've ever had. It's also pretty small and the seating is not that convenient.
(3)Cam H.
It's the best sushi I've had around Lafayette. Go with the Maki Combo, you get three rolls for a reasonable price. Limited seating so arrive early or just be patient.
(4)Juan A.
Very good sushi and also a lot of different dishes for not sushi eaters... The sushi was very tasty and the service was really fast. Small place so I would suggest calling ahead specially during dinner hours if you don't want to wait. The price was fair and the service was really good.
(4)Michele W.
Maru is a sit-down sushi restaurant with full service, unlike the other sushi joints you'll find on campus. It is pricer, but I would say the price is worth it. For me, I don't notice a huge price difference since I only ever get one roll. Their is a large variety of rolls for you to choose from and a wide variety of ingredients. If you're not a roll or sushi fan, they also have other Japanese goodies to choose from. I've had the salmon teriyaki before which I remember being just ok. I don't believe they have a soda fountain so whatever drink you order comes by the bottle or can. I'd recommend asking for a bottle of water since it's free. If you don't want to dine-in you can order take out or delivery as well.
(4)Plawooth C.
It used to be better....but now its so so..
(3)Diva D.
Maru is by far the best sushi around. Service is friendly, prompt and portion sizes are good. There are many creative, delicious rolls available. At peak times the wait for a table can be long, but they also do a wonderful carry-out service.
(5)Jay D.
One of my most favorite spots in lafayette. Nothing fancy, simplistic decor but great sushi. I keep coming back for more. Their sushi rolls are fresh and taste amazing !
(5)Lauren M.
We really liked the Purdue rolls but the others didn't have much flavor except for the spicy sauce they put on top. The best part was that they give you miso soup and some small appetizers, but we didn't eat any of the appetizers because our sushi came so quickly. We went on a Wednesday about an hour before close and didn't feel l,e we got the best service because of it. They were rushing us and bringing us the check before we were finished. It was also expensive for such a casual place. I would rather go to Kokoro if it is going to cost me about the same.
(3)Jordan B.
Golly, who would have believed there would be a good sushi restaurant in the Midwest, let alone in a little town in Northern Indiana, let alone sidled up next to a Big Ten university? This is a straightforward place. The sushi is fresh, the bibimbop can be ordered in a stone bowl (dolsot), and everything tastes good. Unlike other places, you don't get your sushi delivered under a mountain of crunchies, you don't have to deal with waitstaff who don't know the menu, you don't have to deal with finding parking (you can walk if you're anywhere near the campus), and you don't have to deal with ridiculous prices. For clean, crisp yummy: New York Roll For deep fried roll yummy: Chauncey Roll For eating with several friends yummy: dolsot bibimbop Verdict: great lunch or dinner any day (except Wednesdays when the mexican grill across the street is half price for students). Give it a shot.
(4)Jane E.
Small restaurant right in the middle of everything. I wanted some sushi, without having to pay and arm and leg and this hit the spot. I ordered a California roll and Veggie roll. Both of them fresh and delicious. I especially liked the fact that the size of the sushi was small and compact. For me and my sis, the number of pieces was alright for an appetizer. However, if you plan to eat a meal, you may need three or four separate rolls. Great place to go for a sushi fix.
(5)Pat B.
Maru Sushi is fresh. The food is consistent. The dining room is clean and bright. The chefs make their food with finesse. Everything comes out clean and delicious. The spicy isn't too spicy, the salty isn't too salty, the sweet isn't too sweet. This place is truly incredible. I just left and want to go back, and not because I'm still hungry. It is SO good. I'll be back again and again and again. Love it!!!
(5)Saimah A.
One of the best sushi places at Purdue. Their miso soup is really good and it comes with three sides. I love their dragon roll. Everything is about 6-8 bucks per roll. Service is great. Small place so not the best place for large crowds. Overall, would recommend.
(4)Sarah C.
The sushi there is not always fresh.
(2)David H.
The service and food are both excellent here. They have a wide selection for sushi and do all of them well.
(5)Alex G.
Great sushi
(5)s s.
It is just FAST FOOD sushi place, nothing more. This place is obviously OVER-RATED. Pros: The server/owner is friendly Cons: - Sushi: not fresh, ingredients are mediocre, not authentic. - Portion: too small- I had to order two plates to say it was a lunch for me(I'm a petite sized person) - Place: is small, I couldn't get in because there were too many people inside ( actually, the restaurant is too tiny not that there were too many people) - Price: overpriced, considering the portion and the quality You go to Sushi Restaurant to have Good SUSHI, not for just service, don't you? I would try other place in town such as Heisei or drive to Indy or Chicago if I am craving for Sushi.
(2)Sara H.
Maru is a fantastic little sushi restaurant in West Lafayette, with the best sushi (or at the very least, best for the money) in town. The restaurant is very traditional in style, and the staff is both cheerful and respectful. Each time we have dined in, we received complimentary bottled water, tea, miso, and vegetable amuse bouches. Service was reasonably prompt, and the rolls were excellent (I am currently especially fond of the Mexican roll and the Playboy roll, although I have yet to try something I didn't enjoy). Maru is a very small restaurant, and due to its location (right by campus), it gets very crowded. Even in the summer, it is very full, which prompted some friends and I to get our food to go. This is where they get docked a star: the restaurant neglected half of our order (we filled out the sushi card, and the hostess only saw the right half). When we noticed, I hiked back to the restaurant and reported it -- the hostess made several excuses for her error. In her defense, they were *very* crowded, and I could tell she was a little stressed out, and the forgotten rolls were made quite quickly. Overall, my experience was still a good one, and I will definitely still be coming back to Maru for sushi!
(4)Matthew M.
Best sushi in Lafayette, I go for the Chauncey Roll and the Spicy Tuna Roll. If your not feeling sushi definitely get the Kopdol Bimibab.
(4)Adam W.
Revisited Maru and ordered 5 totally different sushi rolls. All 5 were better than the ones from my previous trip. They tasted fresher, they looked nicer and overall we had a much better experience. The rainbow roll was fresh and decent-sized. I always like to order this one and I'm glad I did the second trip. Definitely worthwhile. I'm forgetting what else we got since it's been a while. I think one was tuna and scallions, which I enjoyed a lot. Oh yeah, the california tempura was also a hit as was the simple salmon+avocado. All rolls were rice on the outside which is far superior according to my mouth. Finally we got a roll that was a modified caterpillar...but I just dont remember what was in it. It had the avocado on top. Oh well, was also good. Definitely had a better time on our second trip which was on a Sunday night.
(4)Tiffany P.
Maru is brand new to West Lafayette, and I'm so glad it's here. It is BY FAR the BEST sushi in town. It is comparable to the California sushi I so miss. The restaurant is quite unassuming, but it is a true gem. The interior is tastefully and subtley decorated. The sushi chefs wear traditional attire. Their tea is complimentary, as well as the miso soup and small trio of vegetables. The sushi rolls are the perfect size and taste (not to mention very reasonable prices!). I highly recommend the Purdue and Ninja rolls. The Purdue roll is just like a dragon roll but with cream cheese inside, and the Ninja roll has spicy tuna wrapped with squid and seaweed (no rice!). They were deeeeelicious. The service is also great. The sushi chefs work fast, and you never run out of tea or water. I cannot wait to go back to try more. West Lafayette needed this restaurant. Don't waste your time at any other sushi restaurant in town (except maybe Heisei if you want to sit on the "floor") - this is my new favorite restaurant in Indiana!
(5)Michael D.
I was absolutely blown away by their sushi. Coming from the Midwest, I can understand that I may lack a true seafood appreciation, but this restaurant serves by far the best sushi I've had. The menu is really creative, with a wide variety of unique rolls including uncommon ingredients- quail eggs, caviar and several kinds of roe, crayfish, and the list goes on. The spicy tuna roll was excellent, and I especially liked the ninja and New Orleans roll. We went on a Sunday night, which can be a sketchy time out here to eat raw fish, but the sushi was well-prepared and came with free miso. The order did take some time to prepare, but it was well worth it. Again, I cannot stress how excellent this restaurant is- creative and delicious, I plan on returning soon and often.
(5)John T.
Went back to Maru for lunch today. Ordered the lunch combo -- six pieces of nigiri and the tekka maki (small tuna roll) -- and a Spider Roll. The miso was pretty bad. Spider Roll was good. The nigiri was pretty okay... not great, not bad. Tekka maki was a little dry. I'm just very underwhelmed by Maru...
(3)Ka N.
Everything was incredibly delicious and the whole staff was super friendly. Will definitely go back to many times.
(5)Lynette Z.
Wanted some sushi, and thought I would try this place with all the good reviews. So glad! Hit the spot perfectly without hitting the wallet hard. Very fast and friendly service. Loved it!
(5)Michelle P.
I love this place. I really like the shrimp tempura roll, the mango tango roll and the caterpillar roll. I noticed there aren't any menus so I copied one last time I was there: cupcakechords.tumblr.com…
(5)Mat G.
Maru is one of the best sushi bars in town. They have many specialty roles that you won't find anywhere else. All of them are extremely good. I think you get what you pay for. I think it may be a little expensive, but in the end it is always delicious. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sushi every now and then.
(5)Mike T.
Good sushi for West Lafayette, IN. Not so good if you have it delivered, in which case it takes them 1.5 hours to drive the food 1.5 miles (for 50 dollars of sushi). Definitely will not order carry out from them again, but would eat at the restaurant as it's some of the better sushi in town.
(3)Megan C.
I just went here for the first time tonight and I am so excited to go back again as soon as possible. I definitely recommended the the "rock'n roll." It is salmon, tuna, shrimp, asparagus and spicy crab wrapped with cucumber(no rice). The taste is awesome and it looks almost too pretty to eat. We also had the "red bull roll" which was also very tasty and would be good for those "my boyfriend" that are a little sketched out by raw fish. The miso and vegetable trio were also quite nice. The place is pretty small and when it gets filled up it can be a bit loud, so I don't plan on going back during peak hours. Apparently they do delivery as well, but I'm not sure how I feel about my sushi being carted around like that.
(5)priss l.
If I have to rate this place based on other sushi places in WL, it will be better. However, to be honest, this place is a little overrated. It's a fusion of Japanese and Korean, and most of the nigiri sushi and hand rolls are pretty pricy. A lot of the rolls on the menu are good. I like their bento/lunch specials, the katsu don and bibimbob are really good deals. Sometimes the place could be really crowded because the space is very tight. Try to beat the crowd by going early.
(3)Bob O.
I've had really bad sushi around Purdue. Bad enough to get me upset. I am really bad when I pay a high price for terrible food. Well this place won't do that. I'm Japanese but from the Chicagoland area, I've had the real thing in Japan and I've had good stuff in the States. I have to say, this place was pretty good when it comes to "contemporary" sushi. If you love rolls, you will like this place. It has lots of rolls on the menu and many are unique. I can't really say much about the authenticity of what they make, but the different rolls we tried were all good. My girlfriend, who is also Japanese, and I agreed that the Sunday Morning Roll was very tasty. Something about the whole roll covered in batter and fried lightly was very satisfying. But do check it out. It's worth a visit.
(4)Angelica G.
Maru is one of the three sushi restaurants in West Lafayette, and might be the best choice for you if you want fresh sushi at a great price. My favorite is the Chicken Teriyaki and California Roll, which are rolled in perfect bite-sized pieces. Although the place is quite small and the seating a little less than comfortable, the windows let in a lot of light.
(4)Kuanlim P.
Like its sushi rather than it's main course. can try
(4)Kay N.
My friend and I had a good amount of yummy sushi and appetizers and bought food for her hubby at home and got out for under $50. fresh sushi, good service.
(3)David S.
I can not praise this restaurant enough. I have eaten sushi in all the major cities on the western coast, and Hawaii. None of them have as good of sushi as Maru! Their arch de triumph is the Chili Thai Roll. But nobody, and I mean nobody on this planet makes a better spicy tuna roll. Order as many of those as you can eat. Who would have guessed that the best sushi restaurant in the U.S. is in West Lafayette, IN? The service by far is the best I've ever experienced. I don't know what her name is, but one lady that works there that always says thank you with a stereo-typical asian submissive manner, is the greatest service provider I've ever encountered. Great food, service, and price!
(5)Diana M.
This is a Korean-owned Sushi Restaurant; therefore, they serve barley tea rather than green tea (this was a minus for me). The tempura batter was thick and greasy rather than light and airy. It does okay for being an on-campus sushi restaurant, but if you want better Japanese food, you'd have better luck off-campus.
(3)Mae S.
We enjoyed quite a few of the sushi-bar items and a glass of nice Japanese beer while visiting with friends. The service and turnaround time are wonderful. We're not used to such immediate response and appreciated it. All the items we ordered were good, and I especially liked the "White Castle" -- a tuna roll topped with crisp rice noodles.
(5)Chloe T.
The food isn't too good and very overpriced. However, nice atmosphere and really good service. The owner is pleasant and very nice. Not a frequent place I'd go to, but okay to every once in a while.
(3)Erin N.
Maru has the best Japanese food like Katsu donburi and sushi in purdue neighborhood. So far I have not found a better Japanese restaurant in the states, so if you happen to be in purdue or pass by purdue, do give it a try.
(5)Melissa S.
Maru is hands down my favorite restaurant. I have had lots of sushi in Chicago and a few other places and none of it compares to the sushi at Maru. I have friends that usually don't like sushi, but enjoy Maru's sushi. Their spicy tuna roll is the best I've ever had--I crave it all the time. If you like spicy tuna, you should try the caterpillar roll, which is also great. The service is excellent--they are extremely fast and friendly. They even provide free Miso Soup and small-portioned, flavorful appetizers when you dine in. I ordered delivery for the first time last night, and it was there in under 15 minutes. West Lafayette is very lucky to have such a wonderful sushi restaurant!
(5)lynn c.
It's the best sushi place you can find around this area. We come here at least once or twice a week. Lunch special is great and reasonable price, chicken teriyaki is weak but all their other dishes are yummy. Service is great and they keep their place clean.
(5)Mike E.
I used to love this place when I was at Purdue. They have a pretty good happy hour special and the food was all excellent. It's very small inside but was lively and fun. If you're in the mood for sushi, just go here.
(4)Ella B.
Maru has a very small location to dine in... but the food is well worth the trip!! By far Maru has the best sushi in Lafayette and West Lafayette. The prices are very reasonable and I can't say this enough... the sushi is DELICIOUS! My favorite is the Sunset Roll and Purdue Roll. YUM!
(5)Chris S.
This place has great sushi for being landlocked in the Midwest. I ordered the Spicy tuna and Philadelphia rolls. Both were tasty, as was the included extras. Service was friendly and prompt. I'v have had much better sushi, but that was in California. This is about on par with some Chicago sushi I have had, which is still pretty good! Pretty good prices for a rolls, too.
(4)Joey C.
Big fan of this little sushi place. Wish it was a little bigger because there was always a wait for lunch. Good food & great service, though.
(4)Manon O.
I had lunch here today for the first time. My expectations were low for some reason, and I was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty! I really liked the complementary vegetable nibbles served first, and the miso soup was very good. The sushi was fine, nothing wow. The vegetable pancake was delicious, and very satisfying on this rediculously cold day. I'll go there again soon!
(4)Sarah Y.
I live in Indianapolis and just happened to be in Lafayette for the evening and I really wanted Sushi. I was blown away by the Sushi at this restaurant. The Rock and Roll roll and volcano roll were amazing. The service was great. I will be making trips up to Lafayette just to visit this restaurant.
(5)Lynn W.
Awesome sushi, lovely service. The seating is pretty cramped though and you might be waiting for awhile if you come when it's busy. To be honest that's the biggest negative here. They do offer takeout though, so that keeps it recommended by me. I also wouldn't steer too clear from what you know here - there is a LOT of variety, and you might end up disappointed. But if you're also adventurous - hey, there you go! The perfect place for such. My recommendation here is DEFINITELY the PlayBoy roll. Delicious, lots of food. Their mackerel nigiri sushi is also out of this world - with some vegetables on top that really bring out the flavor! Mackerel sushi is 'cooked' via vinegar marinade, and the vegetables (I want to say chives/green onions?) compliment it nicely.
(4)Alex H.
Maru has always been one of my favorite places to grab sushi on campus. They have so many sushi options I am able to try something new every time! My favorite roll is definitely the Career Woman Roll. Be prepared if ordering any specialty rolls for the meal to be on the more expensive side, but it really all depends what you order. The only negative is on Fridays and Saturdays the restauraunt can get pretty crowded, and there really isn't a space to wait for a table. Overall, the food and service are great; as a sushi lover Maru is well worth the wait!
(5)Nithin K.
I used to love Maru sushi!!! I'd go so far as to say that this place had the best sushi restaurant in town. But after returning here 4 years later, and being a little adventurous with my food selection, I was a little disappointed. Location - great! Decor - great! Service - great! Sushi - great! Miso soup - bland Kopdol bibimbab - not very good. (Looked great but didn't taste very good. Felt like there was no seasoning at all) I have to say that I was very unpleasantly surprised. Maybe I should have just stuck to the sushi. I'll definitely be back though. Recommend!
(4)Hye Eun C.
Based on the mostly positive reviews, perhaps I was expecting too much. My overall meal here was decent, but nothing to rave about. Complimentary small side dishes (celery, pickled daikon, bean sprouts) and miso soup were given, which was great. I ordered the salmon salad and one of the cheaper rolls. While they both tasted decent, I was surprised at how small the portions were, especially when my bill came out to $20 for one. Good place to get your sushi fix, but I've definitely had better. Good service as well.
(3)Ruth C.
Food was good but I thought it was a bit pricey compared to what you can get in Denver. Roy is right, the rolls are pretty small but it still cost 10.95 for the very small 'I love salmon roll'. I also tried their bibenbop. Compared to other ones I have had, this was definitely not the worst, but also not the best. So just average. I guess if you factor in the complimentary miso soup, it all works out. Environment was casual with 7 tables in the main room and a few more towards the back. No sushi bar seating :(. All in all it was a nice laid back place to eat.
(3)F W.
It is a good Sushi place around campus. They have a main restaurant menu with diverse Korean or Japanese food options as well as a separate sushi menu also with tons of options. The price for a roll varies from about $5 to $11. My favorite sushi rolls are Mexican and Purdue rolls, the former is spicy and the other one is not. I have also ordered non-sushi meal. I like eel on rice (don't remember the name on the menu), the taste is good but the food portion is small. I also like bibimbap, again it tastes good but they don't have as much meat as the one in Gaza.
(4)Brooke S.
I love this place. the sushi is delicious. it's tastes fresh, crisp and flavorful. I will never go to any other place on campus, and will truly miss this when I graduate!
(5)Rick M.
If there is better sushi than this in town, I'd pay to know where. I have never had any less than a great experience there. I prefer the raw stuff and my wife prefers the cooked stuff and they have offerings that are great in both those categories. We both love the Purdue roll and the spider roll. As far as I know they don't have a secret Korean menu but they do serve wonderful bibimbap. The place is small so you want to get there early or go when Purdue is on break. Never had dessert there because we go across the street to Red Mango.
(5)Vicky C.
Sushi here is good. The dishes however were ok. I got the chicken katsu and it was decent. On the plus side, derived is friendly and quick.
(3)Amanda S.
The beauty of my plate stood out, but that was about it. My friend and I went there for lunch today and it was a little hard to find. The place is very small, and given there was a small wait time, it would have been nice to have had somewhere to stand or sit other than awkwardly in the doorway. After we ordered we were given complimentary miso and pickled veggies with was nice. Our edame appetizer came after our rolls. The edame was pretty plain. My Playboy roll was pretty good and decorated beautifully. I was a little disappointed that the sodas come in can form, but at least you get a cup of ice. The service was very good. There is a ten dollar minimum if you are using a card. I'd still prefer Sushi Don, but overall a pretty good place if you're in West Lafayette.
(3)Christina L.
As a person who loves sushi I have to say this place has some bomb sushi selections! I discovered this place when I came here for my Purdue orientation since I'm starting here in the fall. The sushi place is located by a bunch of other restaurants and small places by Purdue so it's not hard to miss. You can walk from the Purdue Memorial Union to Maru in a couple of minutes. In terms of sushi you should get I highly recommend the Purdue roll!! It's something you can only get here! So now as a Boilermaker I highly recommend a trip to this place whenever you visit! Five stars!!!
(5)Hanna N.
The sushi here was decent. However I was a little weirded out by the water it was a strange color so I then order a pop and it was brought to me in a can and it was warm. I would recommend the tempora shrimp sushi here it is enjoyable.
(2)Julius W.
总体æ¥è¯´ï¼Œé¥èœè´¨é‡3星，æœåŠ¡è´¨é‡1星，总评1星。。 å¯èƒ½å› 为close to campus, 所以rating inflated.. 也是附近的competitor都太弱了，所以便宜了这家店。。 ç‰ä½éžå¸¸è›‹ç–¼ï¼Œé‡Œé¢ç©ºé—´ç‹å°ã€‚。
(2)Kimberly D.
I was never a fan of sushi until I had sushi here. I love the Mexican Roll! Absolutely amazing. The Teriyaki Tofu is delicious as well... slightly crispy... mmmm... It is overpriced, yes. Seating is limited. They only take credit cards for orders of $10 or more. Also, ordering take-out I have found to not be as good...
(4)Flynn R.
OMG so so overrated... Worst Unfresh sushi I have ever had. I can't believe this place has sucha high rating; my experience: orderd a mango roll, and another roll, with seafood pancake, came back in 15 min to pick it up, I asked if she put in spicy mayo she said no, because it's 75 cents extra, my bill was $32, I open the box, and I was shocked: the smallest sushi ever.... (I wish I had pics to show) I freakin paid $10 for each roll, hello!! minimum show me in quantity for what I paid for.. But the quality was likewise: not fresh not tasty at all, it had nothing to it. (and I felt that sushi till the next day...) I'm willing to pay top dollar for sushi don't get me wrong, but to get shit for top dollar; didn't see that coming. Ps. There is only one roll worth checking out if you are already there: the playboy.
(1)Lauren L.
Great little sushi restaurant! The food is delicious; I haven't tried a single thing that I haven't liked. There's hardly any room inside, though, so I suggest getting your food to go during busy times or you will have to wait for a seat.
(4)Daniela F.
One of my favorite places for Sushi when I'm in town. This is a family owned, nice place and they are attentive to their customers. Food has always been good and fresh, right for the price point. I love getting the bento boxes too.
(4)James P.
Maru sushi is probably the most authentic and fresh sushi restaurant you can find around West Lafayette/Lafayette area. Since this is a sushi restaurant, you will most likely pay more than your casual meal. However, they do have a lot of dishes that isn't just sushi such as some Korean meals that is very affordable for college students. Their service is very nice as well. I would come to Maru sushi again, if I am craving sushi or some authentic Korean dishes.
(5)Gabrielle C.
Love, love this place. The sushi is great, and I can't really complain about the price too much because good sushi that won't give you food poisoning is going to cost some bucks. The rainbow roll is delicious and their squid salad is to die for. They have a great variety of foods for the sushi lover and the non-sushi lover including Tempura and soups. My only problem is their seating is a pain in the butt. Seating is very limited so try and beat the crowd if you can for dinner.
(4)Only G.
Yeah, talk about a good ol' fashion roll uh soosh. Really gotta get dat California roll or LITERALLY ANY OTHER ROLL BC SUSHI IS incredibly tasty. Especially here. Go here. Eat the sushi. Prices are reasonable. Staff is nice. Soup is ok. Everyone wins because no one loses.
(5)Adrianne D.
I know seating can be an issue in the evening (which is why we never dined there before today) but we went at lunch and were seated right away. The staff are REALLY nice and even gave our toddler a special pair of chopsticks so she could actually use them. They are a little pricey (for this part of the country) but the food is high quality. I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box which was a good value since it comes with quite a bit of food. The salmon was absolutely delicious as were most of the sides it came with. The side of salad came with a horseradish dressing that I didn't care much for though, so next time I'll ask if there is another option. We also tried the Philadelphia roll which was great and a HUGE bowl of Tempura Udon. If you go there for lunch I recommend getting one of the lunch boxes since it comes with a variety of items and the price is decent.
(4)Larry J.
This place is amazing. It's a small space, making every neighbor your intimate friend, something that feels very asian-centric to me. It reminds me of dining in japan (i use to sell sheets of aluminum for a big processing company, and spent a lot of time in "Nippon"). The food is pretty gosh darn amazing. The miso soup is like the nectar of the gods (the greek ones, not the real Christian one). It comes with all kinds of things like bean sprouts and pickled celery. Quite the treat. I got the "007" roll, because I've got a weak spot for James Bond. It tasted like I was jumping out of a helicopter, trying to stop 008. Haha, that's a joke, but it was a really delicious roll, and it was prepared very quickly. Our server was really good about filling our water up constantly. ARIGATO GOZAIMASU SERVERSAN (didnt get her name).
(5)Alex Y.
This place is definitely overrated, I mean come on people! Have you never been to a good sushi place before? The soy sauce here is mixed with water. Moderate, not so good service, not so fresh sashimi, this Korean-operated Japanese restaurant is filled with people is because this is the only Japanese restaurant off campus around Purdue, and the students have no idea what a good Japanese restaurant is like. If you don't mind driving for a short distance, I strongly recommend you to go to Heisei restaurant by Payless in W. Lafayette, its a slightly more authentic overall in my opinion. (I lived in Kobe, Japan for many years)
(2)Suzanne N.
I love this restaurant. The Purdue roll, Ninja, and Rock n Roll are some of my favorites. The sushi combinations are inventive and tasty. What I like most about the menu is that they offer a few rice free rolls. I also like that the rolls are generally not too heavy on the rice. It's easier to taste the fish that way. I always get sushi, but the hot entrees look and smell amazing as well. Maybe I'll try one some day when I'm sick of sushi, but I don't see that happening any time soon!
(4)Katie M.
As good a place as any to get sushi in Indiana. Don't go for their udon, it's average. Their rolls are wonderful though! There is a lot of variety so go in hungry! Every order they serve you with a bowl of miso. Everyone loves the Sunday roll, but I'm partial to the sunset. They're credit minimum is $10, so keep that in mind!
(4)Amada T.
Love that place! Everything is great there! Friendly service, reasonable price, and the fantastic food. My personal favorite has to be the Chili Thai Roll and the Ninja Roll. I gave it a 4 star only because you smell really bad after dining in, which makes going to exams after sushi troublesome.
(4)Dayton B.
Maru is the best sushi restaurant in Lafayette.
(5)