On a quest for enjoyable Asian cuisine, many of my friends have recommended the Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant named MaRoo. Located in the Pavillion West Shopping Center on Bullard and West, I believe the restaurant offers the best Japanese food in the Valley.
Although the wooden sign and cream granite exterior resembled an average bistro, MaRoo is definitely not a typical Asian restaurant. Through the door on the right hung many awards that covered the wall, giving me a clue the meal would be enjoyable, opposite was the sushi bar.
The friendly hostess greeted my family, and escorted us to a table, passing by a gaping window which opened up to chefs in the kitchen.
While dinning, customers can enjoy the flat-screen televisions which depicted customers who have frequented MaRoo in the past. This proved to me that MaRoo values their customers. Perky Christmas lights embellished the walls, setting a positive tone throughout the restaurant.
Our waitress recommended the crispy onion sashimi, so I ordered that, $13.50, along with the Bul Go Gi (sliced beef rib eye Korean BBQ). My dad ordered the Bi Bim Bap (rice, beef and vegetables mixed with a Korean chili sauce in a sizzling hot bowl), while my mom chose the Hwe Dup Bap (sashimi atop lettuce and rice with a Korean chili sauce).
The food was quickly prepared and brought to our table. The crispy onion sashimi was created beautifully with seared tuna encircling a bed of fried onions with sauce.
Succulent bite-sized tuna melted in my mouth, and the salty sauce added a kick. Crunchy fried onions added extra flavor and brought a unique to the dish. A sweet and salty sauce drizzled across the plate added the final touch.
The Bul Go Gi arrived, plated in a beautiful Obento box complimented by Kimchi, seaweed salad and potstickers. Thinly sliced beef drenched in chili sauce sizzled over a bed of marinated bean sprouts. The beef was spicy and tender, while the bean sprouts added a salty, refreshing texture.
Kimchi, seaweed salad and potstickers each had a little pile on the side of the plate. The little pot-stickers were filled with delicious beef and vegetables, and the chewy, crisp exterior lent a addicting crush.
The uniquely flavored kimchi also differed from other traditional varieties, as it was spicier. Although the two sides were very original, the seaweed salad, although delicious, was not as creative as the other two.
My father, having been to Korea and tasted traditional Bi Bim Bap, came with high expectations. He commented that the dish was served just like in Korea. Once he tried a bite, he said although it was delicious, the Bi Bim Bap was not as spicy as other varieties he has tried.
My mother’s dish arrived, and everyone at the other tables looked at the beautifully colored masterpiece. Mixing the sauce in, the smells from all the vegetables and rice wafted from the bowl. My mom said it tasted clean and salty, but spicy at the same time.
MaRoo offers other Japanese/Korean dishes such as sushi, baked sushi, sashimi, rices, soups and noodles, Yakitori, tempuras and Korean BBQ. They also provide kid’s meals, special meat cutlets, party trays and desserts. Prices range from $3 for simple rolls to $20 for full dinner plates.
MaRoo is located on 2075 W. Bullard Ave, and may be contacted at (559) 449-0166. For more information, check out MaRoo’s Web site.
For more chapters of my search for great Asian cuisine, read the Dec. 4, 2009, article, Sushi ‘N’ Pop rolls out sushi variety or the Oct. 28, 2009 article, Eatery combines quality with variety.
