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Genji

4.1 (246 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
Updated over 3 months ago

GENJI · YELP ASSISTANT

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Genji Photos

Business Info

GENJI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Karaoke
Loud
Casual
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Genji

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Woo K.

I think im about to crush some people's restaurant they grew up with. I went with a bunch of people that grew up with this restaurant and I did not enjoy myself as much as they did. Genji is a Japanese/open karaoke. They have some karaoke rooms as well. The food was ok. It's like cheap priced food. Which actually came out ok. But nothing popped for me. The sushi was eh. The curry was ok. The beef dishes were ok. The gyoza was eh. The cheesecake was not good. The place was a bit dingy, but the drunk singers were definitely entertaining. If you wanted to get tipsy and eat cheap food. 100% this is for you.

Cheesecake and sake
David C.

Genji's is the go to spot for Japanese bar food and karaoke! I've been coming here for years ever since my early college days, but for some reason I'm just now remembering to write a review. Nonetheless, you're guaranteed to have a great time here with friends. Walking in, I'm not gonna lie, this isn't the nicest looking place. There's a certain old school feel with mismatched chairs, a variety of tables, and some booths that can use a little TLC. The dated, mismatched aesthetic is part of the vibe though honestly so don't let that stop you from having a good time. There's a big open area for karaoke with those sitting around you, and then smaller private rooms if you want it just for your own group. Service wise, Genji's is honestly solid. They have bottle service available where you'll get your liquor of choice, shot cups, chasers/mixers, ice, and plenty of cups. Don't skip out on the food here either. The beef tongue, French fries, chicken karaage, omurice, and cheesecake are must try items! Overall, come to Genji's for a great time, they've been here for years for a reason!

Skewers
Jenny Q.

Genjis has been a Houston staple for many years. Me genji and his staff are super nice. People flock here for a good time with the live public karaoke. They also have private rooms. If you buy enough food then the private rooms will be comped so it's also a good idea to go with a group of friends. Parking is in its own plaza and there's plenty at night. Food can sometimes be a hit or miss though. Some standouts are the katsu curry, macaroni gratin, salmon don and the bar food (like skewers)!

Kira L.

Got the curry omu rice and yakiniku - food wise taste pretty average I would not return. The Yakiniku is a little too salty and the rice taste all right nothing stood out or special there. It's like a casual karaoke public bar area that opens late night. Service - super friendly staff

Lychee Sake (Small Bottle)
Sayan C.

Genji is such a darling little spot!! Our friend brought us here last night to try some food and it was delicious, no complaints, genuinely such wonderful dishes. The service was fast and they're polite. There's also a karaoke, super fun and amazing atmosphere. One thing I absolutely loved was their lychee sake, we ordered their small bottle. It was very sweet and refreshing! We plan to visit again :)

calamari
Darian C.

The food was super good and super cheap! One roll was about 6 dollars (it was kind of small) and the fries were sooo crispy and flavorful. The calamari wasn't as good as the french fries but still pretty good. The cheesecake was light and fluffy (not the super dense type). Would definitely recommend with friends because the workers were nice and the food was good!

Chicken Teriyaki

This is like my home away from home. Lots of good times and memories here. Birthday parties etc. Mr. Genji's a legend here. I'd say this is a Houston landmark people should check out. Karaoke pretty much free if you buy stuff. We love this place since college days because the food is good and cheap and the drinks and bottle cheaper than most places in Houston. If you dont' finish the bottle. You write your name on it and Mr. Genji will save it for you. My favorite dishes are beef yakiniku, mac N cheese, grill squid ( ask for extra crispy). The sashimi is decent quailty and like the chicken teriyaki too. even if you don't sing or drink, people just come to to-go food.

What are you on? Too much of the genji?
Fox E.

Not to be confused with Benji Japanese Restaurant which is owned by Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, unfortunately. Which is more like Bad Charlotte anyway if you think about it, and with hindsight. For the food, maybe 3 stars, a few items are good, most are okay or not great. Prices are about what you'd expect from Japanese bar food. However, this place is one of the better places in town to go for Karaoke. Not cheap (otherwise I'd give 5 stars) but a hell of a lot of fun and still one of the best in Westchase for Karaoke, as good as some of the better Chinatown Karaoke spots. Lifestyles of the rich and the famous They're always complaining (about the lack of Japanese Karaoke bars) If that is such a problem Well, they've got mansions I think we should rob them And then go to Genji to celebrate

Agedashi Tofu
Bryan V.

Genji's is always fun to go to with a group of friends for late night bites and karaoke. The agedashi tofu was delicious, though a little soggy. The karaage was literally just regular chicken nuggets and I wish they served it with a different sauce instead of ketchup. The lemon chuhai did not meet expectations unfortunately... if you want something strong then you'll like it but it tasted too strongly of liquor for me. I did not taste much lemon flavor. The curry katsu omurice surprised me... I loved it! The curry sauce was good, the tomato rice in the omelette was amazing, and the katsu was crispy! I only wish it was served piping hot! The yakitori was solid too. For how cheap everything was, I would say it's worth getting the food here, even though you're more likely to come here for the live karaoke experience!

Eddie S.

Another one of those places that I've driven by hundreds of times but do not know existed but apparently reading other review, this place has been here for ages. Welcome to night night eats Edition 001. Daughter and I are out looking for something to eat frantically while every place in the Houston world shut down about 9pm. We stumbled upon this because I got to the area and did a "restaurant open " search and here we are, I was stoked to find about 15 other cars here, so you know it's either good or everyone else is looking for the same thing as well. I eventually get tired of going to Bellaire for late nights and Asian traffic dodging you know. As you step inside your notice be cheap playing card type tables but you're really not here for the ambiance, there is food here! And no "We so sollie but we are shutting the kitchen down in a few minutes" calls. A little rundown on the draws here are it is open late night, the prices on the menu are very reasonable! The menu offers lots of choices and there is SECURITY GUARD here! That is a big plus because of things that have been happening more and more lately I cannot all of my life depending remember what my daughter ordered but it was $13 and it was the one of the softest beef dishes that I've had in awhile. I had the beef udon which had a good flavor, the french fries with a seasoning on it that was not overpowering, fresh and crispy, the spicy edamame. (meh, it was okay) and the baked mac and cheese with whatever whatever was mixed in there and a Doss XX, all for $40, that would probably run about $50 at other places. Service is pretty much okay here, Non hovering but not lacking, I mean they're always within speaking of range, so if you need something you can reach them about eight feet away. There is karaoke here and thankfully nobody really singing anything tonight but if that is your fancy well here is your huckleberry. Nothing special just a little stage or area on the further side of the restaurant. If you happen to run across this review and you are the owner, please know that they main thing why I will always come back here it's because you are not too cheap to hire a security guard inside. Thank you for offering that to cover the patrons. Now that means I do not have to carry mine with me.

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Ask the Community - Genji

Is it Byob?

No. I think you can get the rooms for free if you buy a bottle - or something like that.

How many people would have to be there in order to get a private room?

Doesn't matter how many people. You just have to make the minimum $ per hour

Will we be allowed to bring balloons into the private room? And cake?

Yes, you can bring decorations and cake into a private room or the lobby. If you are in the lobby please be mindful of the decorations as you dont want to obstruct the view of the projection.

What is the song selection like? Are there new songs that are out? What other languages?

Not all the latest will be on the list. You can definitely sing Japanese and Korean songs in private room.

How big are their private rooms?

You can fit 5-10 people in each one from what I remember.

Might stop by, how's the parking here?

Tons of parking in the center

Are they open today on Thanksgiving?

no. they had a sign up last night.

How do I reserve an area?

You can't. They don't do reservation. Best bet is to show up at 7pm when they open.

Are older teens allowed for karyoke?

There is no age limits for karaoke. Source: The bartender.

Is karaoke everyday?

Yes! There are private rooms available OR you can sit at a table/booth in the main area to join in with everyone else. You can enter max of 5 songs in a row for your party then the mics will be passed to the next party waiting. Sharing is caring!… 

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4.5(305 reviews)
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Houston, Texas Food Adventures review by Hai Thanh Dinh…read more https://youtube.com/shorts/xBaYJB_psjM . Cowboy Japanese BBQ & Sushi is a unique dining destination in West Houston, offering a delicious combination of Japanese BBQ, sushi, sashimi, and all-you-can-eat options. Guests can enjoy grilling flavorful meats right at the table while exploring a variety of fresh sushi, rolls, and Japanese appetizers. Perfect for family dinners, date nights, celebrations, and gatherings with friends, Cowboy Japanese BBQ & Sushi offers a fun and memorable dining experience. 11660 Westheimer Rd, Ste 129, Houston, TX 77077 - Khám phá ẩm thực Houston, Texas review by Đinh Thanh Hải Cowboy Japanese BBQ & Sushi là một nhà hàng ẩm thực độc đáo ở khu vực West Houston, với những món ăn hấp dẫn giữa BBQ Nhật Bản, sushi, sashimi và các món ăn buffet không giới hạn (all-you-can-eat). Thực khách có thể tự nướng những loại thịt thơm ngon ngay tại bàn, đồng thời thưởng thức nhiều loại sushi, rolls và món khai vị Nhật Bản tươi ngon. Đây là địa điểm lý tưởng cho bữa ăn gia đình, hẹn hò, tiệc mừng và những buổi gặp gỡ bạn bè, mang đến một trải nghiệm ẩm thực vui vẻ và đáng nhớ.

First time trying this restaurant and it was pretty good! I enjoyed the angus beef cuts including…read morethe miso and shoyu marinades. The brisket also had good marbling and was great. The grill was extra smokey which gave the meats a good char and flavor, but can get tiring after eating for awhile. We also tried the sushi and was surprised by the freshness of the fish. Top fish cuts were salmon and red snapper. The yellowtail hamachi was a bit fishy and we did not really enjoy that. Overall, good experience and good wide variety of food.

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IWA YA Teppanyaki & Sushi

4.3(391 reviews)
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Been coming here for years and this place never fails. The sister to Hokkaido a street down. Their…read morelow prices, free miso, and fresh sushi stay undefeated. Service is prompt and friendly. The miso soup is never empty for long because they're bringing out a new batch constantly. The plaza does get pretty packed but there's always parking available. Restaurant is always clean and so are the restrooms. Besides the miso, they often have free unlimited red bean soup as a dessert as well. It's not too sweet, which is a high compliment for Asian desserts! Miso, dessert, and water are all at a self help station along with the bowls, plates, and utensils. It's a very cute place to go for a solo dine in or as a group. Their specialty roles are good, but so are their nigiris and hand rolls as well. I always get a little bit of everything when I come here. And of course, always gotta have at least a few bowls of their delicious free miso soup!

This place can give you a good amount of decent sushi for a good price. We usually get several…read morenigiri and sushi rolls from this place. The fish isn't high quality like Uchi and nori nori but they give you big slices which is good deal for the price. There's also self service soup with unlimited servings as you like. The food comes at a decent time. If you pay cash, it's a little cheaper so I recommend bringing cash to pay. The place is clean.

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4.4(558 reviews)
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Not gonna lie, I only came by because I've had the biggest craving for omurice and this spot was…read morethe nearest place that had a decent looking one. I'm happy to report that it was really good and worth going to! The omurice here is volcano style, with a chicken fried rice and an amazingly delicious tomato & mushroom demi-glaze. I also had a miso soup to go with it and the potato croquettes to start off the meal. I haven't had potato croquettes like this since I've moved here from NYC, so that was a bite of comfort for sure.

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Toukei - Spicy Noodles

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4.1(279 reviews)
2.4 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown
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THE best late night spot ever!! Huge shoutout to my servers this week, especially Nam, Ella, and…read moreFernando!! I flew in from Cali for work, and I was homesick (in terms of food lol); I was absolutely blown away with everyone's hospitality and attentiveness. I was even more impressed that they remembered me even though I was only going to be here for a week! Already miss them! Going onto the food- everything was absolutely delicious, and it came out the kitchen SO fast. I got ramen and the torched saba all 3 nights I was there (Sunday, Thursday, and Friday) because it was just THAT good! All other sides- I wanted to try out because I was curious and I couldn't eat the entire menu in one sitting . Chicken is crispy but lightly salted, the perfect balance with the sauces. I got the truffle shoyu ramen day 2, I liked that it was on the lighter side on the broth, yet still strong/flavorful from the truffle- plus the spicy black ramen days 1&3 (super spicy for me, I got it on the side!) and honestly it was the star of the entire meal! Also, the decor and setup of the place is super cozy, it literally feels like I'm in a pub in Japan. I couldn't stop looking at all the art on the wall and the overall design of the place! So beautiful. This spot genuinely is my top 1 experience being in Houston- I can't wait till I'm back!!

Cute lil spot my friend took me to for a late night bite…read more Ahh finally found a place that can make delicious baked mussels! The quality they chopped & cleaned & the mayo ratio is chefs kiss. The pork jow skewers were good & my friend likes the ribeye. Definitely a cute date night, family night, or late night bite. Wish they open for lunch but thankfully they open at 5 for takeout.

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Hokkaido

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3.9(1k reviews)
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When it comes to no frills ala carte sushi and other homestyle Japanese dishes, you really can't…read morebeat the long standing Chinatown staple, Hokkaido. Hokkaido remains a bustling spot, especially for lunch.. I've been eaten here for times over the decades and enjoyed it as a solid cheap eats casual spot. The counter service is quick, and the food is tasty. I've never had to wait long to either place an order at the counter or receive my food. I really enjoy the katsudon here. The pork cutlet is nice and juicy. The handrolls and rolls are super popular as well as the lunch bentos. The sushi pieces are a nice size. Of course the free self serve miso soup and sweet red bean soup are the perfect start and end to any meal. Prices here are very affordable, and there's always a decent steady crowd. It's definitely a popular spot. This is probably the best casual sushi options in Chinatown.

Part of me wants to gatekeep this place, but it's just too good not to share!…read more The service is always great. You order at the front, find your own seat, and they bring the food out to you. One of my favorite perks is the self-serve miso soup--unlimited refills! They also have a self-serve station for water, spoons, and chopsticks, which makes everything quick and easy. Don't skip the complimentary red bean dessert either--it's so good. The prices are very reasonable. Whether you're ordering sushi or entrées, you can easily get several dishes for under $40 for two people. The eel sushi is AMAZING. We also love the tonkatsu, udon, chirashi, and sushi rolls. Honestly, we've tried so many things on the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious. My husband and I come here at least once a week, which says a lot. The food is great, the prices are affordable, the service is friendly, and parking is super easy thanks to the huge parking lot. Definitely one of our favorite spots!

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Soju Blues

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3.5(65 reviews)
2.5 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown

Now known as One Shot Pocha. Booking process is through a link that can be found in their…read moreInstagram. It is pretty cool that they will give a free hour with an F&B minimum. There is a good amount of parking in the big strip mall lot, but it gets very packed on weekends as there are many popular restaurants here. We got a room with a 15-top and were brought in promptly on time. We planned out our food/drink order ahead of time to meet the F&B minimum for one extra free hour. We also made a YouTube playlist ahead of time to allow people to choose songs to add and make sure everyone got at least one song they wanted on the list. Food came out really quickly, with banchan coming in about 5-10 minutes and food coming out anywhere from 15-30 minutes after (the military stew took the longest). Food-wise: Banchan: 3.5/5 Pretty much has all the staples Chicken Wings: 4/5 Nice and crispy, good flavor, good sharable portion and we ordered the Whole Chicken Seafood Pancake: 3.5/5 Pretty hefty and comes with a nice sauce, a little light on the seafood Kimchi Pancake: 4/5 Nice crisp, good dipping sauce, would get again Corn Cheese: 4/5 Looks small, but actually quite sharable and filling LA Galbi: 3/5 Many recommendations for this but I found it to be small and kind of chewy, no better than other KBBQ I've had and quite pricey Cheese Tteokbokki 3.5/5 Also larger than expected and very filling. It's VERY cheesy. Army Hot Pot 2/5 Hard to share, not worth the price as there wasn't that much in it. I think if it were $10 cheaper at $30 instead of $40 it'd be worth it. One big downside is that one of our microphones was not audio adjusted well - it was barely picking up and the other mic was clearly stronger. Maybe this lends itself to a supporting duet. Pretty solid karaoke spot, expect about $35/pp for a private room for 2 hours.

Different ownership, different vibe, some good, some bad. Heard the place was under new ownership…read moreand wanted to see what the new menu items were like. LA Galbi was very very good. Probably the best LA Galbi I've had in a while. The meat came in big and thick slices. Extremely appetizing. Cheese omelette was fluffy and flavorful, oozing with melted cheese inside, perfect with the dipped ketchup. Rose tteokbokki made a good first impression. The size was almost for an army, loaded with ham, rice cake, and chewy noodles. Upon further eating, however, you realize the sauce was very cheddar heavy. It tasted straight up like broccoli cheddar soup. They also used Bologna for ham and I feel it cheapens the dish. Overall tastes like an amateur attempt at a Korean bar classic. Soondubu jigae (not pictured) was the worst dish we ordered. Tasted like an entire bag of gochugaru, some soft tofu, and an egg. You will not have an inkling of suspicion you are eating soondubu jigae. Also not a fan. Minor plus is that they added a live DJ. Music was spot on which really lightened the space and atmosphere.

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Genji - japanese - Updated November 2026

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