Marumi Sushi or Yakko San?

[1newyorkguy]

I am in Plantation and already tried and disliked Yakko San. Perhaps it was what we order (pescatarians)..the clams in sake were awful (bland, yet off-putting), tempura oysters were in an amateurish batter (think jalapeno poppers), miso soup was really bland.

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Marumi Sushi
8271 W Sunrise Blvd, Plantation, FL 33322

[HaveSpoonWillCook]

Went to Marumi a couple of weeks back, and my vote goes to Yakko-San hands down.

Marumi was empty at about 8.30 on a weekday evening when we walked in, with just one couple eating at a table and one cook behind the counter. I almost turned around at this point, and later wished I had.
The Japanese waitress was abrupt and not at all helpful when we wanted details so we could make an informed choice. We could not wrestle any details out of her at all, so we decided against going for anything challenging.
Ordered the Black Grouper usuzukuri , the Bitter Melon with Pork and Tofu, the Jumbo Shrimp Shumai, the Spicy Tuna Tataki,
Unfortunately, the food was really bland. Fresh, but bland and certainly not exceptional.
The grouper was fresh but nothing special; the bitter melon was served in a messy pile on a dish, the shumai was good and the tuna ok. Nothing left me wanting more, in fact, I was sorry we ordered so much right off, because I was ready to go after the first dish.
So Yakko-San it is for me..

[1newyorkguy]

Yeah, I've gone a couple times to Marumi since posting. It is a better than average neighborhood joint. Again, doesn't compare to what I was getting in LA.

[SKhan]

I've been to Marumi many times and although it is quite good, Yakko-San seems to do things just a bit better. I would agree with some of the other posters to give Yakko-San another try.

[taiga]

I spent many years living in Japan. Yakko-san serves many typical Japanese izakaya offerings. It is authentic. So are Su-Shin in Coral Gables and Maido in Doral where my Japanese language skills satiate my homesickness. I also love the sushi at MAtsuri but its popularity is a bit off-putting for me.

[crowmuncher]

Never been to Marumi, but I have been to Yakko San a few times and I thought it was really good SOFLA Japanese food. Don't go there expecting "Americanized" Japanese (CA rolls, etc) however or you'll be disappointed. Their neighbor Hiro's Express is good for that purpose (and reasonably-priced too).

[jessierandall]

Marumi all the way. As much as I want to like Yakko, I just don't. I've ordered nearly everything off the menu and don't come away with a sense of it being anything other than mediocre. I really, really want to like it.

Marumi I tried once, but was thoroughly impressed with the freshness.

[crowmuncher]

school me please- is Marumi a sushi place like a Hiro's for example or is it Japanese Japanese? I was under the impression that Yakko serves food people in Japan typically eat- not the "Japanese" we typically eat here. I haven't been (to Marumi or Japan) or researched it so I don't know...

[Blind Mind]

FYI - Yakko San moved and now offers many sushi items as well as their izakaya offerings.

[crowmuncher]

yeah thx, I heard. I haven't been there since like Oct of 2010 when they were still by Hiro's Xpress cuz I'm really broke...

[RickL]

Karen and I enjoyed both, making the drive down from Boca but we've been semi-regular customers at Marumi for years. We went to Yakko San once in their old location and thought it was good (then again, clams in sake and tempura oysters aren't things we'd probably order). The place was packed but after a wait we got seats at the bar and enjoyed the food and watching the chefs prepare the different dishes. That said, we've haven't been back to Yakko San.

We really like Marumi and usually order off of the Specials board. We love the sashimi and the cooked items too. For a while we used to order the whole fish and asked the chefs to prepare it however they felt best. Our first night there we picked a good-sized hog snapper and enjoyed it prepared eight or nine different ways. On other nights we had a scorpion fish and a shovel nosed lobster. Both were a real treat prepared several different ways. All the whole fish are caught by a local diver and delivered nightly.

On other nights we've enjoyed abalone, scallop, giant clam prepared two ways, jumbo oyster, seafood stuffed eggplant with miso cheese, and a pork intestine stew that was a revelation (but probably not for pescatarians).

The chef-owners (Teruhiko Iwasaki and Tetsu Hayakawa) are great to talk to if you can sit at the bar and catch them in a quiet moment. Their staff is friendly and efficient and were very helpful when we were newcomers.

For us, this is an easy decision - it's Marumi every time. Well worth the 50 mile round-trip drive from Boca.

[florastar]

I've never been to Yakko San, but I love love love love Marumi. Couldn't recommend it more.

[The Chowfather]

I've never been to Marumi but I love love love Yakko-San. Couldn't recommend it more.

[1newyorkguy]

Yakko San was a huge let down. I forgot to mention in my order, the tofu steak--which was a store bought tofu, bland as can be. I suppose LA spoiled me with people MAKING food.

[The Chowfather]

Very surprised to hear. I'd give it another shot

[1newyorkguy]

I probably should've ordered a miso seabass, looked good. But I was so let down with what I ordered, I won't be back..only enjoyable item we had was the fried bok choy, and I can do that easily at home. NAOE and Marumi are next up for me.

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NAOE
175 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

[SaminSFL]

I agree with Chowfather, Never had a bad meal there, Highly recommend, The Red Salmon Sashimi, Garlic stem Beef, and Kalbe for sure! The bacon Asparagus is really good also.

[crowmuncher]

in the States nothing's like LA when it comes to Japanese- we have to settle...

[taiga]

LA might be better, but we do not have to settle.

[crowmuncher]

???

[taiga]

You said we have to settle. Scores of Japanese people adore Yakko-san, Marumi, Maido, Su-Shin, and Matsuri to name five. These places serve the same fare one might find in Japan. Who is settling?

[crowmuncher]

Did you read what you wrote?

"LA might be better, but we do not have to settle."

The question marks were in response to your contradictory statement.

[taiga]

???

[crowmuncher]

Sorry taiga- we only have words to work with here at Chowhound. How is your statement "LA might be better, but we do not have to settle" not contradictory?

[taiga]

There may be more options in LA, but the number alone does not diminish the quality of those places here that are good. As a result, I am happy getting my Japanese fix here at the following places which I find delicious and authentic: Yakko-San, Matsuri, Maido, and Su-Shin. I can also get this in my home. I need not settle just because there are more choices there. Is this sufficiently clear now?

[crowmuncher]

Taiga, your response was never unclear,

"LA might be better, but we do not have to settle."

We are communicating solely w/ text and you bring up these "explanations" that have nothing to do with my point which -again- is...You shouldn't write "LA might be better" and then go on about how we don't have to settle. This is a contradiction. If LA is better, then we are settling by just NOT BEING IN LOS ANGELES. You can take back what you said or you can add too it, but you can't pretend you didn't write "LA might be better"

[taiga]

Again, I think LA is better, but this does not mean that we are awful, which is how I took your original comment. It's all black and white to you I suppose, so I suppose that either I am wrong or you are obtuse. There can be no nuance here? Your way or the highway?

[crowmuncher]

It is black or white, our text-based medium here. Not just for ME but for everyone using it.

"in the States nothing's like LA when it comes to Japanese- we have to settle.." was not my original comment. It is in fact here... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7959... where I commend Yakko San ( I've loved it every time I've gone btw).

And you do state "I think LA is better" so we agree on that. If you read our posts you will realize that you have ruffled your own feathers simply because I have taken your word for it. What do we have if not each other's words? There's no body language here and I'm certainly not a mind reader. Your "Your way or the highway?" comment is unfair. Please do not turn things around on me as if suggesting I'm just too stubborn to know what you are thinking. If we are not going to pay attention and READ what each other is writing, why bother?

[taiga]

You are absolutely correct, and I will have to settle for that.