Lomita is becoming the new hotspot for Asian cuisine in the South Bay. Longtime residents like A-1 Chinese BBQ were the early pioneers, and new entrants like Ruiji Sichuan Cuisine and Maru Kitchen have recently emerged. As a South Bay resident, I am happy with this evolution as it reduces my need to visit San Gabriel Valley.
Maru Kitchen is a Korean restaurant located in a strip mall near PCH and Eshelman Ave named Lomita Village. They feature classic Korean comfort food like bulgogi, soups, and wings. The Lomita Village mall is also home to Ruiji Sichuan Cuisine, Pho 1945, Cavitena; their lot offers plenty of free parking.
“Maru” is a Korean idiom for “a family room to eat and gather.” The first thing that impressed me was the restaurant’s overall cleanliness. Tables are spaced for social distancing and have individual bottles of hand sanitizers. Upbeat music adds to the ambiance.
Maru Kitchen is family-owned, with Mom running the kitchen and her daughter operating the front of the house. The daughter politely delivers your chopsticks on a tray. Unlike many Asian restaurants that are “one and done” after serving you, she checks in with you periodically.
I was surprised to find that their menu has quite a few items. They make it easy for their South Bay audience by including English descriptions. If you wish to see what the dish looks like, they supply a QR code that directs you to images.
The lunch box is worth experiencing. It includes a protein such as beef bulgogi, spicy pork or chicken bulgogi with seasonal sides, and rice. My lunch box had spicy pork, potato salad, pickled radish, fried tofu, and pickled cucumber. I modified it by ordering ssam to make lettuce wraps with spicy pork.
If you are dining with someone adverse to trying new things, the fried chicken wings lunch plate is the way to go. It includes five pieces of crispy chicken wings and fries dusted with aonori seaweed seasoning. Select from their original (no sauce), sweet and spicy, or soy garlic.
The Korean mixed rice Bibimbap rice bowl is available as regular (room temperature) or inside a Hot Stone. My Hot Stone Bibimbap arrived at my table with plenty of steam coming from the dish. I could hear the sizzle of the rice cooking against the hotpot. The rice was crunchy, and the beef bulgogi was tender and benefited from its tasty marinade.
During cold weather, I often veer towards pho or ramen. Maru Kitchen’s Tofu Soup also nicely fills that need. It arrives at the table bubbling because it is just off the stove. The tofu is silky smooth, and the spicy broth is delicious.
Whether or not you have tried Korean food, I recommend Maru Kitchen. Unlike many Asian restaurants, you receive friendly and attentive service combined with delicious food impressively served.
Maru Kitchen, 1963 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste b, Lomita, CA 90717; 424.263.5377; marukitchen.com