Excellent sushi chefs, I go about every other week and sit at the bar. The staff is great very attentive. The sushi is always very fresh, the rice is never over cooked and the fish clean and vibrant. The house tea always hits the spot as well. The ginger is even fresh not that awful pink stuff. I am a Culinarian by trade, and I would come here over most places in the bay 9 times out of 10. I highly recommend this spot and will be back many times over the coming years. read more

Our visit was unfortunate. The only thing that both my husband and I liked was the sashimi. The tempura, the salmon in the bento, the agadashi tofu, and the sorbet were all quite lackluster. The salmon was the one that really got us: it was literally just the throw away cut...just the bone meat. It was overcooked at that. The complimentary sorbet which was nice of them, unfortunately was incredibly bitter. As if they took all the pith from the citrus and incorporated it...not adding anything sweet to counter it. The two piece salmon skin roll that I had was also not tasty at all. A little like sawdust wrapped in rice. I will say that service was good though. I would stick to the sashimi if you decide to eat here. read more

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So glad that this restaurant was open on a Sunday afternoon as quite a few others in the area were closed. I appreciated that the workers asked us for preferences for where we would like to be seated and showed us the options when it was our turn to be seated. We were seated at spacious table on the side which made conversations easy and comfortable. Service was spot, everyone was really polite, patient, and helpful. Food was good-I ordered a half udon with some sushi. The soup base was pleasant and memorable, and I was tempted to drink the rest of the broth after finishing my noodles. Also really loved that the sushi orders portions were small with reasonable pricing so that there is an option to try as more rolls. My friends also ordered sushi rolls and were happy with their picks. Dessert choices looked amazing but we were a bit full in the end, and the restaurant also generously complimented our meals with a choice of vanilla ice cream or lemon sorbet. The lemon sorbet was refreshing! I would love to come back soon! read more

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Delicious!! The lunch special and the cauliflower kaarage were our faves! Very cute mom and pop vibes. Service was very kind and attentive. read more

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We saw people waiting outside , which piqued my interest. We decided to try it. The wait was about 30 min for the sushi bar, but it would have been quicker at a table. really Fresh read more

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OMG! Affordable sushi in this economy?! Count me in! And on top of that, it being delicious too, shoot if only I lived closed to this restaurant I would be visiting almost weekly. The quality of their sushi is so fresh and good! My friends and I were there right when they opened in the evening and got sat right away. But I've heard that they tend to get busy especially on the weekends so expect a waiting time. The staff is extremely friendly, our waiter made us laugh every time which made the experience even better. They have a revolting belt with sushi which was neat, I don't really see many of those these days. The restaurant is so small which just makes it feel so homey. They're located right in Japantown of San Jose. read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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[Food] These are dine-in experiences from my last few recent visits! Not all at once haha - 2 item Bento ($17.95): Got the Saba & Sashimi (+$1) and it's always so comforting especially with all the included sides. Saba is moist and meaty. - Torikawa Ponzu ($7.45): One of my favorites as the crunchy chicken skin pairs great with the fresh onions and ponzu sauce. - Salmon Croquette ($6.95): Saw that they posted this on the wall so decided to give it a try. Not bad, but I still prefer their crab or potato one. - Nigiri; Hamachi ($5.95), Shiromaguro ($5.95), Hotate ($6.95), Amaebi ($7.95), Toro ($7.95), Ikura ($6.95), Uni ($8.95/ea), Hotate w/ yuzu kosho sauce ($8.95): All were fresh and delicious! My favorite are the Hamachi, Amaebi, Toro, Uni, & Hotate w/ yuzu kosho sauce! - Cold Tempura Soba ($15.45): Noodles were decent. Tempura never disappoints. - Okinawa Lemonade ChuHi ($7.95): Super refreshing and yummy! Similar to a yuzu sour. - Daily Lunch Special; Sushi Gozen ($34.95): Love that they give so many sides! Comes with a 5 piece appetizer, salad, soup, mini donburi, 6 piece nigiri, and a dessert. I enjoyed everything but some of the appetizers were a bit of a miss for me. Regardless I'm still glad I tried it. - Special Nigiri ($32.95): I usually get this if I feel like I want a little treat! Also love that they give negitoro roll over California roll for this set. - Pork Katsu Curry ($15.45): A hearty meal with fluffy rice, flavorful curry, and katsu is slightly on the lean side. [Service] - Fast, friendly, helpful, attentive [Ambiance] - Nostalgic, cozy & casual - Has table, booths, and bar seatings [Overall] - I've been here countless times and always enjoyed my meal thanks to the wonderful staff there! read more

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My favorite sushi restaurant? Sushi Maru. Delicious sushi plus amazing service, what more could I ask for. If I had to recommend a dish from this restaurant--it would be tekka maki. I cannot recommend this enough. As someone who absolutely enjoys tekka maki, this one here blows my mind every time. It's fresh, well-seasoned and JUST SO GOOD. Recently we were able to try their mackerel nigiri as well as the seared tuna sashimi. I really enjoyed the tuna sashimi with their shredded radish, I was impressed. The mackerel nigiri was slightly fishy, but it was expected. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. Aside from that, their cold soba noodles are also yummy and super refreshing! They have a variety of nigiris as well as unique rolls that you won't find at other restaurants. Of course, they'll also have your favorite classics! The restaurant is always super busy but the wait is so worth it!! They also have a revolving sushi belt at the bar where you could see the chefs whippin' up your rolls right in front of you. You do not want to miss out on that!! Definitely check it out if you're in the area :-) read more

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I've been coming to Sushi Maru for over 15 years and it's always a solid option! The interior is very cute and gives a good glimpse of a cozy restaurant you'd find in Japan. I always love their nanook (salmon nigiri, torched on top). The most recent time around I ordered the 2 item combination bento with salmon shio and sashimi. It comes with rice, miso soup, salad, edamame, and an orange slice. Very good price for the portion size. Everything was delicious and will definitely be returning! read more

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After living in Japantown for the past 8 years, sushi Maru is one of our regulars. It's great for kids. They love the sushi boat. I love their daily lunch specials. It's so big and nourishing. Their curry rice is also pretty darn good! We love certain nigiri's like the Pako and the seared salmon nigiri. At the end of the meal, they always give a small ice cream or lemon slushie which is delicious and also great for kids! They make training chopsticks and always have them on hand there for kids or maybe people who are still learning. We always get udon there for the kids along with sushi boat items. Overall, a great family friendly spot! read more

Sushi Maru - Curry rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

The wife and I are going to Japan for the first time next month as we've been going to Japanese restaurants all over the Bay Area trying to get a taste of "good" Japanese food before we experience the real stuff in the land of the rising sun. We stopped in for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The restaurant was pretty full but we were able to get seated quickly. I ordered the 2 item combo with Pork Katsu and Tempura. The wife got the Chirashi bowl. We also split a few sushi rolls. The food was decent but nothing special. Service was pretty slow as well. Took FOREVER to get our food. read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Excellent sushi and sashimi. The salmon in the sashimi appetizer was perfect and the rolls were high quality if a little small. The green tea/red bean/mochi dessert was also really good!! I loved the mochi and the red bean was tasty (and a little too sweet). I would love to come back for a casual dinner with good sushi. read more

Everything about this place just checked the box for me. The price was affordable especially compared to surrounding restaurants, my chicken was well cooked and tasted fresh, and so did my sushi. On top of that, servers were incredibly friendly and food came quickly. My only minor complaint was that I wish they gave more rice, but I was pretty stuffed at the end anyways. read more

Sushi Maru - 2 item combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

We've been coming here for over 15 years, and they make the best bake mussels we've ever had. We love the people here--they're always friendly and kind. Every time we visit, we buy drinks for them because we truly appreciate them and their excellent service. read more

Sushi Maru - Bake mussel, my favorite dish. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Always a great experience here. Service is solid -- not too fast, not too slow -- just right. The food is incredibly fresh, especially the sushi and uni -- you can really taste the quality. Our friends live nearby and are always here (they're sushi people lol), so that says a lot. This has definitely become a go-to spot for us. Very kid-friendly too, which we love. Definitely coming back! read more

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I love this place!!! Their speciality nigiri "nanook" is so good. The quality of the fish is so fresh and good. Their selection is very wide and it's authentic Japanese sushi. They are not the cheapest but not the most expensive. With the high quality service, I understand why it's always packed and it's worth the wait in my opinion. The chefs are very friendly and I like the vibe of this restaurant. Trust me and give them a try! I went all out with my partner and spent about $200 since we chose all expensive exotic stuff and ate until we were full but it was definitely worth it!!! read more

I really appreciated that they happily substituted the rice for double miso soup since I wasn't in the mood for rice with my bento. The bento itself was a great deal. 11 pieces of sashimi for $25 is an excellent price. The host and server were incredible and honestly the main reason I am finishing this review. The customer service alone makes this place worth coming back to. I was there about 30 minutes before closing and took notice of something that really stood out to me. Toward the end of the night, it is common to feel rushed, and I completely understand that. However, I watched one server patiently wait while another was slowly setting food down and rearranging items. The server holding two heavy bento boxes waited with a genuine smile and zero signs of frustration. That kind of patience and professionalism is rare these days, and it did not go unnoticed. The food was enjoyable, the service was outstanding, and the overall vibe is cozy and straightforward. This is a solid spot for a relaxed dinner, and I will definitely be back! read more

We recently checked out Sushi Maru based on a recommendation from my husband's coworker who raved about the place. Sure, we have our go-to spots in Japantown, but we figured we'd try something new. We strolled in around 7:45pm on a Friday, and the place was packed. We wanted to sit at the sushi bar, so it was about a 15 minute wait with 1 couple ahead of us. The layout of the place was your typical sushi boat spot with a combination of booths, tables, and the sushi bar in the center. Like many of the OG restaurants on the street, Sushi Maru had that old charm. The staff members were great. Appreciated that the waitresses came to check on us periodically and provide timely updates while we were waiting. Everyone was friendly, including the waitresses and the sushi chefs. My husband enjoyed the nigiri and sushi rolls we tried. I would go as far as saying that I thought the fish was much fresher than other nearby places. I am a huge fan of saba and aji, so I loved that Sushi Maru had them to offer. Their soft shell crab appetizer was superb. It came with 2 pieces and was so crunchy. Looks like Sushi Maru has two new recurring customers. We look forward to trying their hot items and bentos in the future. read more

Was here eating with friends for Fanime, since they wanted to eat at a sushi place. One of my friends recommended me, so we went to try it out. We got there around 600, so it was quite packed when we were there. After about 30 min, we sat down. We sat in one of the booths next to the rotating conveyor belt, so we had access to the plates on there. They have different prices based on the color of the plate. I had a few myself, but my review will focus on the entree. Potato Curry Croquette: This was pretty good. A fair amount of rice and curry sauce paired with Two Potato Croquettes. The curry was delicious and hearty. It tasted what i expected of Japanese curry. And the two potato croquettes were crispy and filling. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. My server was very nice and helpful. I can see myself coming back here again. read more

Sushi Maru - Potato Croquette Curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

If you focus on ordering with the sushi team in the middle, you can ignore the conveyor-belt sushi (those don't look appetizing after being out for some time). This place offers a large variety of sushi and educates you on the proper name for them (we've been calling them wrong!). The quality of fish, especially the toro, was amazing. This places serves big cuts and with rice, but it was delicious! I highly recommend trying this place! read more

Where the heck am I. I'm hungry and grumpy, lost in translation, am I in a town in Japan. Oh wait, I'm stupid. I'm in Japantown San Jose. Still hungry though. Still grumpy too. Randomly picked a place on my iPhone map... ini mini miny moe... OK. Sushi Maru it is. I walked in and instantly felt like I was thrown back to 1985, old school vibe, but I can tell they kept their kitchen traditions alive here. I ate my fill of delicious chicken teriyaki from my bento box and lots of new nigiri sushi I've never had before. I loved every bite. No more hangry man, all smiles now. I later read that it was voted third best sushi place my Metro. Maybe I should choice random restaurants on a map more often read more

Sushi Maru - Nigiri special. Did I accidentally used the N word? - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Friendly service with a fun & lively environment. The prices are reasonable and the portions are well thought out. What stood out to me here was the service. Super friendly, thoughtful, and accommodating with our requests. If you're in the area (Japan Town), I would highly recommend this restaurant to anybody in the mood for Japanese food. The fish tasted fresh and did not taste low quality, most importantly it was not smelly at all! read more

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Get the Seared Salmon!!!! It was soooo good. Me and my boyfriend sat at the bar here and did the revolving sushi. It's better than somewhere like Kura (although that also has its place) and feels way more personal. Talking with the lady making sushi there and getting recommendations definitely added to the experience. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about everything they had to offer. The servers were ALL very friendly and gave great service. In the past few months that I have been dining around the Bay I would say the quality of service I received here is in the top 3, minimum. And I love to eat out. For that alone I would recommend. The vibe of the place is very homey and traditional feeling because of that as well. If you want to splurge a little and get good quality fish without breaking the bank I would say come here. If you want somewhere a bit cheap though, not sure if I would recommend. And that's not a bad thing at all. It's mid tier pricing with excellent service. For what you get it's well worth. Will visit again and recommend to people I know. Also highly recommend for dates. read more

Friday night lay in from Phoenix and Portland and the wife wanted sushi and she had been here before. The area has been renovated and parking can be a challenging but we were a bit late. Found parking but a short 7' walk. Wasn't too long wait, 15' or so. Place was hopping! Had my to go Chirashi, raw oysters, rainbow roll all were excellent. Fish was free and tasty and the rice was perfect. Not sure why reviews are higher but they haven't deterred those on the know ; D read more

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Well, this has to be one of the BEST VALUE japanese restaurants in town. The 2 or 3 item bento box dinner is quite filling, has quality items, numerous choices of combo items, and is ALWAYS consistent. A number of higher end food items are an additional $1 (sushi, Salmon, Beef), but the price is UNDER $20 and you won't leave hungry. You also get free Macha hot tea and water (refilled on request), great service and plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant. Note: Its popular, so there is sometimes a wait. We also ordered a party platter they have for New Years, and there was almost too much food to eat. One of our favorite places and we rate it high for consistency and value. read more

Conveyor belt sushi! What a fun experience. I had no idea what I ate. I just grabbed whatever looked good off the belt. lol. I liked everything that I tried. Washed it all down with Sapporo on draft. A solid spot for sushi. read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Not sure why this place didn't get overall a 5 stars on yelp. Today is my first time and we definitely love it. Service is great. The sashimi is definitely fresh. The dish to rice ratio for nigiri is perfect. There are not there to stuff you full with rice. It's quality food. We also got bento. The tofu was crunch outside soft inside. At the end of meal we also got complimentary ice cream and sorbet. Oh must mention the wide alcohol beverage choices. I'll be back for sure. read more

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i am visiting san jose and this place had a lot of reviews. i really enjoyed the ambiance. it was a cozy, casual place with a bustling bar and revolving sushi - perfect for a solo lunch. the scallop i had was amazing, soo fresh and sweet. still thinking about it! the roll was okay. i ordered the mini salmon don bowl, which was $18. it had four thi pieces of sliced salmon that was a bit on the pale side. i couldn't believe i paid $18 for that. the rice was nice but i woulda been better off just grabbing salmon nigiri off the revolving bar for way less... definitely a bummer. their noodle and curry dishes looked good but didnt get a chance to try. overall nice place. read more

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The best sushi restaurant in South Bay! This restaurant is always busy and good service! Owner is friendly and nice. All sushi especially nigiri are very authentic Japanese sushi. Highly recommend to try the today's special. read more

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i love sushi maru ! i come here at least once a month, it is so delicious. the staff are so friendly and i love to sit at the bar my favorites are the salmon zuke, nanook, saba, and tai! everything is so fresh and the price is good for the quality of fish. they have great lunch specials as well, please come and support sushi maru !! read more

Food was great as was customer service. Had to ask how revolving conveyor belt with suishi worked. Workers were very patient with us as we figured it out. read more

The concept of conveyor belt sushi is always enticing to me. I would google search for it whenever I'm in a new area and am craving sushi. Sushi Maru popped up on my search and I'm glad I found it! The sushi looked pretty good and there were a couple of seared nigiri's that I thoroughly enjoyed. Plates are color code with a respective price. By the time it was near closing, they actually started combining 2 plates of different colors onto one plate of a higher tier in pricing. Smart! I would've picked those if those came out sooner. Next time! read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

They are always so good I've been going to them for YEARS!!! I have a baby now and it was the first thing I craved as soon I delivered! Their bento deal is so good! And I normally always order their tai(red snapper). I will forever be grateful my sister introduced me to this spot nearly 10 years ago! Yes they've been around for that long and some of the chefs has been there that long! Service is always great! Prompt and helpful!! Ambiance is spacious and cozy at the same time! You have sushi boats and are able to sit out in the parameter and enjoy the sounds and still able to have conversation. read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi relleno - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Love the food, best sushi belt in San Jose. Great servers and I love the sushi chefs here. Please try this place when your in Japan town

Delicious authentic Japanese food with a wide menu full of diverse options. This shop includes a sushi conveyor belt and also booths/tables to dine at. There are various bento box combinations you can try different types of foods in one meal for good prices. Quality is fresh, portions are decent. The service was top notch, I was served by a very enthusiastic elder Japanese man who made me feel very welcome and the service was quick. They provided complimentary sorbet dessert. I got a bento box with 2 options (salmon sashimi, mackerel grilled), and it comes with miso soup (made from scratch, not instant or watered down), a side salad, edamame, a piece of fruit, a bowl of rice. There is a variety of different fresh miso soups available on the menu. read more

I was surprised how affordable and delicious my bento was. I was shocked that my bento was only 20 dollars but dollar extra because I added sashimi. The service was quick and fast. The ambiance was really clean and structured. I can't wait to go back for another meal. read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Been coming a long time, usually after 8pm to get the double for one dishes. Their sushi is really good albeit small and they don't do the stamp cards anymore to my knowledge. The owner and chefs are really nice though and I appreciate that it is out of the way from the Main Street of JapanTown for some quiet. Tables and interior are a bit old fashioned but meshes well with the sushi vibe. read more

For a quick bite, it is fine. But if you really want a authentic Japanese sashimi and experience, you will be disappointed read more

Sushi Maru - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Met up with a friend to try Sushi Maru and I was pretty impressed given that it's rotating sushi. What can I say? The quality isn't always there with rotating sushi. Here at Sushi Maru though, the cuts were pretty generous and looked fresh. It's easy to place specific nigiri orders and you can see it made right in front of you. My friend and I shared about 13 plates with a shochu cocktail each and our total was about $65 each with tip. When it came to the cuts, my favorites included the scallops, salmon, and salmon zuke. Some of the more premium ingredients like uni or toro weren't bad but I've definitely had better. read more

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Food: 3 stars for the sushi rolls. I went with a rainbow roll, caterpillar roll, and seaweed salad. The rolls were subpar. The fish had discoloration to it and the California roll on the inside tasted premade and off. The seaweed salad tasted very good but I went there for the sushi. Ambiance: Clean inside and outside. Nice atmosphere and great customer service. They greet you when you enter and leave. Parking: Street parking only. Went at night and parking was available down the street. It's a nice little walk through Japan Town. read more

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