Wonderful service from friendly and attentive servers. Absolutely delicious food. I got the kimchi gumbo and it was delicious. Sitting outside was beautiful.I'm so sad this place will close and turn into a ramen place. There's ramen everywhere. Heartbreaking that such a unique menu will disappear.
Jessica C.
Had a great mid-week dinner with a friend here! Loved how dark and intimate the place felt. Our waiter, Sam, was incredible with menu reccs and being so timely with our food and orders. The inside is quite tight in space so we ate outside where they had heaters. I only gave it a 4/5 rating because I felt that you're not really paying for the food but for the experience. I didn't feel like the food needed to be that expensive for good, smaller sized food. We did share 2 small dishes and 1 large dish, and order 2 more small dishes afterwards. But the entree really felt like the same size as the smaller dish. But I would come back again to try other dishes!
Michael O.
This place is absolutely amazing. The food is delicious and is very refreshing compared to the safer American-leaning types of food selection available in the area. The entire staff has always been so kind and helpful when I ask for guidance new items to eat or drink. I was saddened to learn the restaurant is going to close their doors at the end of the month due to a lack of patronage, so, I'm going to keep coming here as often as possible while they are still around. I really wish they could stay forever... Go while you still can!To the staff at Maru, thank you for pouring your hearts into the restaurant, it really shows. I wish you well in your future endeavors.
Natalia A.
I work in the area and was looking for something new to try, found them on Google maps and oh my gosh, honestly one of the most delicious chicken katsu dishes I've ever had!! The restaurant itself is so cute and nice inside, and the staff was so nice too!! Definitely recommend coming in here sometime and giving them some love!! I'll definitely be coming back to try everything :)
Marian T.
Went here for Lunch on a Saturday. My brother noticed how clean their kitchen is. It's a nice small spot with intimate setting. We ordered the Ddeok in cream sauce, Donkatsu chicken curry, and Ssam with Jeyuk. The portions were just right and the food just comforting. Blown away by the delicious food and the great service from Sam and Natasha. Both were friendly and knowledgeable. They made our experience enjoyable!We got the Galbi Tang to go and it was also yummy! Overall the place is clean, sweet and friendly staff, and great food. A good lunch spot and would definitely come again.
Suzanne B.
Hmmm I was last here 4 months ago. The menu changed. No French fries - I say that as a mom. When we want to enjoy certain cuisine we need staples to keep the kids happy.Also, there was zero meat in my bibimap and it was scorching hot and I burned my throat. The temperature did not subside much after 15 minutes when my husband finished his bulgogi. Also, the plate conducts heat and rice stuck to the bottom like Persian rice - Tadig dish - which is meant that way.My husband had bulgogi and said the meat was really scarce and a small portion for the price.Not really a highlight.
Jingxi Gu
Best craft Korean food ever! Slightly pricey but I still go back and back and order everything on the menu. The seafood pancake is bomb!
Ika I.
A wonderful addition to Westlake Village, a must-try!We tried Maru Kitchen several weekends ago, and we loved it so much that we will certainly go back. Located on a strip mall in Westlake Village, this restaurant is very small with 5-6 tables each for inside and outside. Due to the rave reviews on Yelp, we decided to come early at 5:30, and we got the second to the last available tables inside despite being early. Parking is ample in the outdoor parking areas. The restaurant has a simple menu but the food selection is diverse and authentic. Since I am a pescatarian, my choices on the menu were pretty limited. We ordered Gimmari and seafood Jeons as appetizers. For entrees, I ordered the citrus fish and my husband had the Ssam platter with galbi. Our food came very quickly and they were all delicious. The serving size of the appetizers was quite big, and I found one appetizer was large enough to serve as an entree. Our favorite was the citrus fish. It was fried fish coated with very crispy batter served with a citrus sauce with arugula. The dish felt light but very substantial in portion. Our second favorite was the seafood Jeon, it was a very delicious fried pancake with a seafood medley and vegetables. The Gimmari was good too but it did not stand out like the rest. As for the service, our waiter was very friendly and helpful. The food arrived very fast and at a perfect pace. The vibe of the restaurant felt trendy and modern, with some elements of the traditional Koren touch. The total for our bill came to be around $80, which was an excellent value for the quality and amount of food. Overall, Maru is a wonderful addition to Westlake. Don't miss it!
Pardees F.
This definitely lived up to the hype! We have gone to the other Maru restaurants in the area and the food never disappoints. The flavors for all the dishes my boyfriend and I ordered were incredible. We ordered a lot of food because my boyfriend was very hungry and so here's what we ordered:1. Brussels sprouts - amazing flavor, crispy, all around delicious2. Creamy ddeok - rice cakes that almost feel like gnocchi pasta in this wonderful creamy cheesy sauce. Best dish in both our opinions3. Kimchi - flavor was great and also not too spicy which I enjoyed4. Mandu - pork dumplings. I'm sensitive to grease so they were a bit too greasy for me but my boyfriend loved them5. Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) - really good texture, maybe could use a bit more salt 6. SSAM platter with bulgogi - fantastic. I loved the lettuce wraps and the rice was really good too.7. Hoddeok for dessert - another favorite. Highly recommend. The cinnamon filling inside is like a cozy warm blanket. The strawberry ice cream was so good even though I normally don't like strawberry ice cream and they were out of green tea.This was a lot of food for 2 people so I don't think that ordering 7 dishes between 2 people is the best idea unless your starving like my boyfriend was lol. Maybe 5 dishes is good for 2 people because the plates are small which I personally liked. Service - they were really really busy last night and I think they were short staffed. I was going to take off a star for that but I didn't because I think they were just missing one staff member who may have called out sick. It took a while to get water, additional dishes, and our bill. But it was very worth it and the staff were all super nice.
Pete S.
I recently dined at Maru Kitchen in Westlake Village, California and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the food and service.To start, we ordered the kimchi fried rice,Brussels sprouts, and grilled calamari as appetizers, and both were absolutely delicious. The kimchi fried rice had the perfect balance of flavor and spice, and the grilled calamari was cooked to perfection. Brussels sprouts were a table FAVORITE! For the main course, we decided to try the donkatsu curry, dumplings, and bibimbap. All three dishes were incredibly flavorful and satisfying. The donkatsu curry was rich and savory, and the dumplings were cooked to a perfect texture. The bibimbap was also a standout, with the vegetables being cooked to perfection and the egg adding a lovely richness to the dish.The service at Maru Kitchen was also top-notch. Although we had to wait about 30 minutes for an open table, the staff was friendly and efficient, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the meal.Overall, I would highly recommend Maru Kitchen to anyone looking for delicious, authentic Korean cuisine. The food and service both exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be returning in the future
I recently visited Maru Kitchen and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and the service was top-notch.I started off with the Mandu as an appetizer and was blown away by the flavors. The dumplings were perfectly cooked and had a great balance of savory and spicy flavors.The Brussels Sprouts were also a standout dish. They were grilled to perfection and had a nice char on the outside while still being tender on the inside. The addition of the barbecue sauce added an extra kick that I really enjoyed.The Grilled Calamari was also cooked perfectly and had a nice, smoky flavor. It was tender and not at all chewy, which can sometimes be an issue with calamari.For my main course, I decided to try the Bibimbap and the Kimchi Fried Rice. Both dishes were delicious and had a great mix of flavors and textures. The Bibimbap was particularly noteworthy, with its perfectly cooked rice and variety of vegetables and proteins.Finally, I finished off my meal with the Donkatsu Curry, which was a great way to end the meal. The curry was flavorful and had a nice level of heat, and the pork cutlet was cooked to perfection.Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Maru Kitchen and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious Korean food. The service was great and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes
Ann Nguyen
We throughly enjoyed our meal. Albeit a fusion twist, it still held true to the Korean aspect. Even the simple galbi tang was delicious. The servers were very nice.
Ever Apollo
The best Korean food in Ventura County. Seriously we moved from LA and miss Koreatown but this restaurant always hits the spot. And the customer service is always super friendly and accommodating. Whoever has not tried the food here is missing out.
Valerie S.
This restaurant is very small so it feels like a family owned cozy little enclave. The decor is really nice and takes your mind to Asia. The food is of good quality. I have been a few times and have tried many things on the menu. The quality seems to be consistent. My favorite dishes are the classic bibimbap and Bulgogi. I also love the cucumber salad and the kimchi.
Maria A.
We wanted to try something new and found Maru Kitchen. Went around 12pm on a Friday afternoon, there were people inside but not too crowded. We were greeted upon entering the restaurant and was given the option to choose our seats. We opted to sit outside. We ordered yuzu ade, grilled squid, kimchi, Galbi tang, & jap chae. No pictures because I was too excited to eat haha. Our favorite was the grilled squid. It was grilled to perfection, tender, not overcooked, plated nicely and came out hot. It came with 2 dips, one mayo base and one smoky sweet red dip. Tried each one individually but ended up dipping the squid in both. A personal preference, I like to combine flavors. Overall we enjoyed our meal and our server Devin was delightful. She made us feel welcomed and we didn't feel rushed. I usually like to be left alone when I'm eating and she checked in at the right time. She came by at the right time when we were about to end our meal and asked if were doing okay and if we needed boxes. We'll definitely come back and try everything else.
Wonderful service from friendly and attentive servers. Absolutely delicious food. I got the kimchi gumbo and it was delicious. Sitting outside was beautiful.I'm so sad this place will close and turn into a ramen place. There's ramen everywhere. Heartbreaking that such a unique menu will disappear.
Had a great mid-week dinner with a friend here! Loved how dark and intimate the place felt. Our waiter, Sam, was incredible with menu reccs and being so timely with our food and orders. The inside is quite tight in space so we ate outside where they had heaters. I only gave it a 4/5 rating because I felt that you're not really paying for the food but for the experience. I didn't feel like the food needed to be that expensive for good, smaller sized food. We did share 2 small dishes and 1 large dish, and order 2 more small dishes afterwards. But the entree really felt like the same size as the smaller dish. But I would come back again to try other dishes!
This place is absolutely amazing. The food is delicious and is very refreshing compared to the safer American-leaning types of food selection available in the area. The entire staff has always been so kind and helpful when I ask for guidance new items to eat or drink. I was saddened to learn the restaurant is going to close their doors at the end of the month due to a lack of patronage, so, I'm going to keep coming here as often as possible while they are still around. I really wish they could stay forever... Go while you still can!To the staff at Maru, thank you for pouring your hearts into the restaurant, it really shows. I wish you well in your future endeavors.
I work in the area and was looking for something new to try, found them on Google maps and oh my gosh, honestly one of the most delicious chicken katsu dishes I've ever had!! The restaurant itself is so cute and nice inside, and the staff was so nice too!! Definitely recommend coming in here sometime and giving them some love!! I'll definitely be coming back to try everything :)
Went here for Lunch on a Saturday. My brother noticed how clean their kitchen is. It's a nice small spot with intimate setting. We ordered the Ddeok in cream sauce, Donkatsu chicken curry, and Ssam with Jeyuk. The portions were just right and the food just comforting. Blown away by the delicious food and the great service from Sam and Natasha. Both were friendly and knowledgeable. They made our experience enjoyable!We got the Galbi Tang to go and it was also yummy! Overall the place is clean, sweet and friendly staff, and great food. A good lunch spot and would definitely come again.
Hmmm I was last here 4 months ago. The menu changed. No French fries - I say that as a mom. When we want to enjoy certain cuisine we need staples to keep the kids happy.Also, there was zero meat in my bibimap and it was scorching hot and I burned my throat. The temperature did not subside much after 15 minutes when my husband finished his bulgogi. Also, the plate conducts heat and rice stuck to the bottom like Persian rice - Tadig dish - which is meant that way.My husband had bulgogi and said the meat was really scarce and a small portion for the price.Not really a highlight.
Best craft Korean food ever! Slightly pricey but I still go back and back and order everything on the menu. The seafood pancake is bomb!
A wonderful addition to Westlake Village, a must-try!We tried Maru Kitchen several weekends ago, and we loved it so much that we will certainly go back. Located on a strip mall in Westlake Village, this restaurant is very small with 5-6 tables each for inside and outside. Due to the rave reviews on Yelp, we decided to come early at 5:30, and we got the second to the last available tables inside despite being early. Parking is ample in the outdoor parking areas. The restaurant has a simple menu but the food selection is diverse and authentic. Since I am a pescatarian, my choices on the menu were pretty limited. We ordered Gimmari and seafood Jeons as appetizers. For entrees, I ordered the citrus fish and my husband had the Ssam platter with galbi. Our food came very quickly and they were all delicious. The serving size of the appetizers was quite big, and I found one appetizer was large enough to serve as an entree. Our favorite was the citrus fish. It was fried fish coated with very crispy batter served with a citrus sauce with arugula. The dish felt light but very substantial in portion. Our second favorite was the seafood Jeon, it was a very delicious fried pancake with a seafood medley and vegetables. The Gimmari was good too but it did not stand out like the rest. As for the service, our waiter was very friendly and helpful. The food arrived very fast and at a perfect pace. The vibe of the restaurant felt trendy and modern, with some elements of the traditional Koren touch. The total for our bill came to be around $80, which was an excellent value for the quality and amount of food. Overall, Maru is a wonderful addition to Westlake. Don't miss it!
This definitely lived up to the hype! We have gone to the other Maru restaurants in the area and the food never disappoints. The flavors for all the dishes my boyfriend and I ordered were incredible. We ordered a lot of food because my boyfriend was very hungry and so here's what we ordered:1. Brussels sprouts - amazing flavor, crispy, all around delicious2. Creamy ddeok - rice cakes that almost feel like gnocchi pasta in this wonderful creamy cheesy sauce. Best dish in both our opinions3. Kimchi - flavor was great and also not too spicy which I enjoyed4. Mandu - pork dumplings. I'm sensitive to grease so they were a bit too greasy for me but my boyfriend loved them5. Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) - really good texture, maybe could use a bit more salt 6. SSAM platter with bulgogi - fantastic. I loved the lettuce wraps and the rice was really good too.7. Hoddeok for dessert - another favorite. Highly recommend. The cinnamon filling inside is like a cozy warm blanket. The strawberry ice cream was so good even though I normally don't like strawberry ice cream and they were out of green tea.This was a lot of food for 2 people so I don't think that ordering 7 dishes between 2 people is the best idea unless your starving like my boyfriend was lol. Maybe 5 dishes is good for 2 people because the plates are small which I personally liked. Service - they were really really busy last night and I think they were short staffed. I was going to take off a star for that but I didn't because I think they were just missing one staff member who may have called out sick. It took a while to get water, additional dishes, and our bill. But it was very worth it and the staff were all super nice.
I recently dined at Maru Kitchen in Westlake Village, California and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the food and service.To start, we ordered the kimchi fried rice,Brussels sprouts, and grilled calamari as appetizers, and both were absolutely delicious. The kimchi fried rice had the perfect balance of flavor and spice, and the grilled calamari was cooked to perfection. Brussels sprouts were a table FAVORITE! For the main course, we decided to try the donkatsu curry, dumplings, and bibimbap. All three dishes were incredibly flavorful and satisfying. The donkatsu curry was rich and savory, and the dumplings were cooked to a perfect texture. The bibimbap was also a standout, with the vegetables being cooked to perfection and the egg adding a lovely richness to the dish.The service at Maru Kitchen was also top-notch. Although we had to wait about 30 minutes for an open table, the staff was friendly and efficient, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the meal.Overall, I would highly recommend Maru Kitchen to anyone looking for delicious, authentic Korean cuisine. The food and service both exceeded my expectations and I will definitely be returning in the future
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently visited Maru Kitchen and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and the service was top-notch.I started off with the Mandu as an appetizer and was blown away by the flavors. The dumplings were perfectly cooked and had a great balance of savory and spicy flavors.The Brussels Sprouts were also a standout dish. They were grilled to perfection and had a nice char on the outside while still being tender on the inside. The addition of the barbecue sauce added an extra kick that I really enjoyed.The Grilled Calamari was also cooked perfectly and had a nice, smoky flavor. It was tender and not at all chewy, which can sometimes be an issue with calamari.For my main course, I decided to try the Bibimbap and the Kimchi Fried Rice. Both dishes were delicious and had a great mix of flavors and textures. The Bibimbap was particularly noteworthy, with its perfectly cooked rice and variety of vegetables and proteins.Finally, I finished off my meal with the Donkatsu Curry, which was a great way to end the meal. The curry was flavorful and had a nice level of heat, and the pork cutlet was cooked to perfection.Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Maru Kitchen and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious Korean food. The service was great and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes
We throughly enjoyed our meal. Albeit a fusion twist, it still held true to the Korean aspect. Even the simple galbi tang was delicious. The servers were very nice.
The best Korean food in Ventura County. Seriously we moved from LA and miss Koreatown but this restaurant always hits the spot. And the customer service is always super friendly and accommodating. Whoever has not tried the food here is missing out.
This restaurant is very small so it feels like a family owned cozy little enclave. The decor is really nice and takes your mind to Asia. The food is of good quality. I have been a few times and have tried many things on the menu. The quality seems to be consistent. My favorite dishes are the classic bibimbap and Bulgogi. I also love the cucumber salad and the kimchi.
We wanted to try something new and found Maru Kitchen. Went around 12pm on a Friday afternoon, there were people inside but not too crowded. We were greeted upon entering the restaurant and was given the option to choose our seats. We opted to sit outside. We ordered yuzu ade, grilled squid, kimchi, Galbi tang, & jap chae. No pictures because I was too excited to eat haha. Our favorite was the grilled squid. It was grilled to perfection, tender, not overcooked, plated nicely and came out hot. It came with 2 dips, one mayo base and one smoky sweet red dip. Tried each one individually but ended up dipping the squid in both. A personal preference, I like to combine flavors. Overall we enjoyed our meal and our server Devin was delightful. She made us feel welcomed and we didn't feel rushed. I usually like to be left alone when I'm eating and she checked in at the right time. She came by at the right time when we were about to end our meal and asked if were doing okay and if we needed boxes. We'll definitely come back and try everything else.