A Michelin chef's buzzy hand roll bar lands near Eastern Market
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Chef Carlos Delgado's Peruvian-Japanese hand roll counter lands near Eastern Market. Photo: Courtesy Rey Lopez
One of D.C.'s most buzzed-about restaurant openings is almost here: Maru San, a Japanese-Peruvian hand roll counter from Causa/Amazonia chef Carlos Delgado, is landing near Eastern Market.
Why it matters: Delgado's Michelin-starred flagship is one of the city's priciest (and best) splurges. Maru San aims to flip the script — offering a faster, more affordable way to experience a trending Peruvian cuisine.
How it works: 25 counter seats. Walk-in only. Speedy, sushi bar service.
- Guests check items off paper menus, and chefs hand over two- to three-bite rolls directly across the counter.
- "If all goes well, you should be out in 30, 40 minutes," Delgado says. "You're meant to have an experience and move on."
Zoom in: Quick-serve doesn't mean fast-casual. Seafood like fatty tuna, scallop and hamachi is pristine — much dry-aged in-house.
- Rolls are made with artisanal Japanese seaweed, koshihikari rice and house-made vinegar, then finished with Peruvian flair: fermented ají rocoto, miso sauces or ceviche-inspired touches.
What to order: Go à la carte — do the fancy rolls with caviar, uni or foie gras — or choose hand roll sets starting around $20 and topping out near $40 for six rolls.
- Also on the menu: Nikkei-style small plates like thinly sliced wagyu or fish with Peruvian chili pepper.
To drink: Pisco highballs, Japanese and Peruvian beers, and about a dozen non-alcoholic options like house-made matcha lemonade.
The big picture: Nikkei food — born from Japanese immigration to Peru — is booming. Lima's Maido was named the world's No. 1 restaurant by 50 Best last year, a moment Delgado says helped accelerate the trend.
- D.C., however, has no dedicated Nikkei spots — making Maru San among the city's first.
The intrigue: While Maru San leans casual, Delgado is reserving four seats nightly for a high-end "Maru Experience": It's around 10 courses for $150, with constantly rotating dishes (think Peruvian chirashi topped with uni and premium fish).
- Reservations will be on Resy — and Delgado's long-term plan is to spin that tasting menu into its own space as he continues building a Peruvian dining empire around D.C.
If you go: Maru San. 325 7th St. Southeast. Opening late January/early February for lunch and dinner.