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  5. Leslieville / Riverdale
Maru Japanese Bistro, Toronto, ON

Maru Japanese Bistro

4.7
4.7
194 Reviews
CAN$30 and under
Japanese
MARU Japanese Bistro offers a casual dining experience, providing an affordable cuisine with extraordinary service.
Our mission is not only devoted to present the highest quality ingredients and dishes but also to satisfy the patrons with a welcoming and cordial environment.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 p.m.


Booked 11 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Japanese

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon, Wed 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:30 pm

  • Phone number

    (416) 466-4666

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Casual Dress

  • Executive Chef

    Joseph Kang

  • Neighbourhood

    Leslieville / Riverdale

  • Parking Details

    Street Parking

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wine

What 194 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Toronto / Ontario

    Japanese

  • Toronto

    Best Food

  • Toronto

    Japanese

Sort by

  1. RuthP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My husband and I went to Maru of an anniversary lunch. We were grateful for the suggestions by the server since there were so many great options to choose from. My husband selected the Karaage Combo, and I selected the Canape set. And we also enjoyed the miso soup and the mocktail ( I can't remember the name but it was the non-alcoholic version of what is on their drink menu) - very refreshing. Thanks for a wonderful experience.
  2. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food4service1ambience2
    Food was good but be prepared to wait 45 min for your meal
  3. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Our 4th time here. Great atmosphere. Great food. Small but cozy.
  4. Sperry103

    Exclusive

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The food was amazing. Unique and full of flavour. Service was excellent. A gem of a local restaurant.
  5. OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service3ambience4
    Food is always good but service is ling from being seated, getting a drink order and food. But I like the food so accept it will be a long time for dinner for two or three people.
  6. RuthD

    Toronto

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    We really enjoyed our evening. The food is very creative and delicious. You will not find food like this in other Japanese Restaurants. The octopus was amazing and the seaweed tacos.... out of this world! Being able to bring your own wine was a bonus.
  7. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 22, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Slowest restaurant service ive seen my life. Food is not good at all. Did not finish our plates. And Overpriced.
  8. RoyG

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fresh selection of sushi. Presentation is fantastic as always. Great value for the money.
  9. lychee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    I enjoyed sashimi and especially the rice! A little disappointed at all the fried stuff - they were all too greasy to my taste, eg. the paper that lined the dishes was completely soaked in oil.
  10. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Fried chicken and eggplant small plates were wonderful.
  11. GlennW

    Toronto

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on May 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the Blue Fin Tuna Nori Canape, Crab Nori Canapé, Shrimp sliders, and octopus two ways. All delicious. Service was excellent. Food came out fast. This little gem is going to be popular once the rest of the city figures it out.
  12. LuizaP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I loved the experience! The food was delicious and the staff was incredible attentive.
  13. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    41 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is the best Japanese restaurant by far!!!! Off the charts, top quality and dedication that goes into all their dishes is amazing Staff is friendly and knowledgeable Thanks for the amazing experience as always
  14. AV123

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 29, 2023

    overall3food5service1ambience3
    The food was delicious, once we actually got it. We were a party of 5 (reservations made that morning) and each of us recieved our order at seperate times. Instead of enjoying dinner together as a family, I watched my mother in law eat, then my kid, then they watched me eat and so on. They also forgot one of the items I ordered which I canceled in the end. Not to mention it took 45 min for some of our food to arrive while my kids had already finished digesting their meals. Evidently, time management is an issue for the kitchen staff. So although the aesthetic and food was great, and the staff were very nice - the execution of service was terrible and I doubt we'll be back.
  15. Eric

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience3
    Food was really amazing and is quite a hidden gem in the city! The Canapes on the menu are a must try, really great crisp to the outter shell.
  16. jd416

    Toronto

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on April 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a lovely place! The staff were all warm and welcoming. The food was delicious and carefully prepared. Can’t wait to go back again!
  17. MartyCohen

    Toronto

    30 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on April 23, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    We came for lunch on a Sunday after the peak hours and ordered two of their sashimi don - one with bluefin tuna, another for chirashi. Very fresh fish and nice presentation. The sushi rice was abit loose and with the bowl design, just abit tricky to eat with chopsticks towards the end. The place was not busy but the food took a good half an hour to be ready. We might consider coming again to try other items on their menu.
  18. Musti

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of my fav Toronto restaurants! Highly recommend
  19. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I just came back from celebrating my birthday there. This was my second time visiting and I absolutely love the creativity, quality and variety of food offered. Everything was better than the next. The standout was the Octopus, which was the most tender octopus meat that I’ve ever had. *chefs kiss*. The Real crab and Bluefin tuna Canapés were toasted to perfection with the perfect outer crunch. The Chicken Karaage was well seasoned and made from large chicken pieces that are double the size of other restaurants. The green salad appears simple but elevated with a delicious yuzu dressing and toasted rice cubes. The sushi we ordered was high quality and delicious. Thank you for the birthday tart. That was an unexpected surprise. I can’t wait to come back a third time.
  20. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food! Great people. Great neighbour hood spot.
  21. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely incredible experience time and time again. This is the best sushi restaurant in Toronto. Such incredible care goes into every detail. Superb.
  22. JoannaT

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful space, lovely ambiance and delicious food!
  23. KevinC

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing place, great food and great service! Already looking forward to going back again!
  24. Tony

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Maru is one of our favourite restaurants in Toronto. The sushi is incredibly fresh and the presentation is always so beautiful. Their menu is creative and we have discovered some new favourites here like their canopes and sliders. The staff, especially Grace always goes above and beyond to ensure we have the best experience. We will be coming here for years and years. Amazing place.
  25. RobinS

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A wonderful experience. It is obvious that they take pride in the food and presentation of what is served. Can't wait to go back again soon.
  26. Mrudula

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is a great little spot for some s Japanese food. The ingredients were fresh and my favorite were the Nori Canapés! They are unique and I could have eaten a few more. Great veggie options the yam roll was yumm as well. My friend ordered Karaage chicken and rice and loved it as well. The prices are reasonable, it does get busy so definitely recommend a reservation!
  27. JasonM

    Toronto

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Maru Bistro is not your cookie cutter experience, and the owners take great care to make sure of the quality and flavors that are being served to its patrons. Each bite is impeccable, and leaves a lasting impression! By far my favorite are the Nori Canapés! So so good! A staple in my roster of local restaurants that aren’t so local to my neighborhood but well worth the time to get there!
  28. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I can’t say enough wonderful things about Maru. It is one of my fave restaurants in Toronto!! The food is delicious (those sushi canapés, their sashimi, the miso eggplant, and that miso soup are all musts). And it’s such great value given the amazing quality and top freshness. And the hospitality is fantastic - thank you, Grace for everything, as always.
  29. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 6, 2023

    overall2food4service1ambience3
    The best dish was the octopus cooked 2 ways, absolutely delicious! The canapés were good, not amazing. Everything else we had were good as well. What ruined the night was the service. I’ll always remember this experience because it was my partner’s birthday and the service was horrible. The most neglectful we’ve had in a while. Got our drinks 35min after ordering, watched 2 newer tables get theirs. Our server barely checked if we needed anything and when we tried to pay, he said he’ll be back with the machine and seemed to completely forget because we waited 15min while watching him wipe glassware and set new tables.
  30. SHELAGHM

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was so delicious!!!!!! And the presentation was beautiful. I will be going back for sure.
  31. Moriah

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was the best Japanese food I’ve had in Toronto in a very long time.
  32. KirstenH

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    Great food, great service, great sake. Would definitely go again!
  33. SunnyT

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    End to end a wonderful dining experience. The staff are delightful, the food is unique and beautifully prepared and the atmosphere is very charming. Can't wait to return.
  34. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always enjoy the food at Maru. Beautifully presented and delicious. Best miso soup ever. Maru is such an asset to the east end.
  35. Rose

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Uni and scallop sushi + miso eggplant and tempura were givinggg girl, it’s great, treat yourself! hot sake if you’re a little unstable and need something… tough.
  36. clairec

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing meal at Maru!! The salmon steak was absolutely to die for. Cooked perfectly. The salmon don was also great. We were blown away by the quality of the fish (bluefin tuna and salmon), as well. Loved the complimentary crispy rice at the beginning of the meal too. Definitely will be coming back again soon!
  37. EileenM

    Toronto

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Service was great, food is very good. Limited options for gluten-free folks. Bathrooms have binary signs, but are singular (toilet and sink in one room that locks).
  38. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a great spot - comfortable for families and date nights. V clean and stylish interior with good views of the street life. Highly recommend
  39. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The menu, the taste, the ambience, the service… all are perfect. Highly recommend this hidden gem for everyone who loves Japanese authentic cuisine. Definitely will come back again!
  40. Foodiegirl

    Los Angeles

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the Valentines Day Dinner Set Menu B! It was AMAZING! I was so impressed with the quality of food, the pure amount of food, and the authenticity of all the dishes. This place was so lovely, and all the servers were so nice! I had such a great meal.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas
  • Screening

    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Maru Japanese Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (416) 466-4666.

Maru Japanese Bistro is rated 4.7 stars by 194 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 p.m.


Booked 11 times today
Google Map for Maru Japanese Bistro

1402 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1C7

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood

    Leslieville / Riverdale

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon, Wed 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:30 pm

  • Cuisines

    Japanese

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress Code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking Details

    Street Parking

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive Chef

    Joseph Kang

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wine

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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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