Maru – Japanese, Vietnamese & American Cuisine Whipped Into One

Mediacorp actor, Zhang Yao Dong, opened Maru recently. 

Located at Icon Village in the Tanjong Pagar district, the contemporary Asian fusion restaurant comes up with dishes that touch on the flavours of Japan, Vietnam and America.

For lunch, we had the Grilled Pork Jowl fried rice, Uni Ikura Angel Hair pasta and Salted Egg Squid Tentacles to share.

The Grilled Pork Jowl fried rice ($18) looks like an edible art piece. It is plated like a bibimbap – different toppings such as shredded nori, chopped spring onions and furikake lay around the hill of rice. Placed dead centre is a perfectly cooked onsen egg with a runny yolk. The tender and well-charred pork jowl was topped with a Japanese-Vietnamese inspired sauce that reminded us of a teriyaki glaze. As short-grain rice was used, the fried rice is wetter and stickier than its Chinese counterpart.

The Uni Ikura Angel Hair Pasta ($26.00) features a truffle-infused Japanese sea urchin sauce. Nestled on the pasta was a dollop of fresh uni and caviar, with supporting elements of salmon roe tumbling down the sides.

We felt that the savoury sea urchin sauce complemented the truffle scent, and the pearls of salmon roe did play a good textural contrast to the firmness of the pasta.

 We shared the Salted Egg Squid Tentacles ($8), which reminded me very much of local flavours. The squid is tossed with curry leaves, and served with a wedge of calamansi.

Although the restaurant claims that they serve up fusion food, we felt that most of the flavours pay homage to Japanese cuisine. All in all, Maru’s lunch menu might please the office crowd around the Central Business District.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.