780 E. Foothill Blvd., Suite D-9

Upland, CA

909 920-0145

Sushimaru, although a fairly new Japanese restaurant, has become a staple in the Upland area over the last two years. It is located in the small shopping center with LA Fitness and El Pollo Loco, on the corner of Foothill Boulevard. and Campus Avenue. Sushimaru features a large, modern sushi bar as well as tables for dining.

On a past visit to the restaurant, we chatted with the owner who told us that he is planning to remodel and turn a portion of the table seating into an oyster bar. Sushimaru, serving a variety of tempura, teriyaki, yakitori (chicken skewers), sushi, and fresh oysters, is open for lunch as well as dinner. An Express Lunch special consists of soup, salad, an entrée, and rice for $5.95. Also served as lunch specials are sizzling platters, udon (thick rice noodles), and donburi (rice bowls) all under $6.00.

Our most recent visit was like a mini Pomona reunion, as we found some present Pomona students and an alum at Sushimaru. We arrived on a Tuesday evening around 6 and were seated promptly at the sushi bar, which filled up soon after; however, there was plenty of available seating at the tables throughout the evening. The sushi menu is complete with a nice assortment of fresh fish for sushi, sashimi, hand rolls and their special rolls.

We were served a small cucumber salad to start and then selected an assortment of cut rolls, including a soft-shell crab roll ($8.50), a spicy roll of tuna, hamachi, and scallop ($6.50), and a spider roll ($6.50). We also ordered fresh salmon, hamachi, and maguro tuna served nigiri style ($3.50). The fish was fresh and very good, although the nigiri style was smaller than we had been served in other restaurants.

Sushimaru earned three chef’s hats for both food and ambience.