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Genki Izakaya

4.5 (986 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

Genki Izakaya Reservations

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GENKI IZAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Classy

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Recommended Reviews - Genki Izakaya

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Wagyu Fried Rice
Jens J.

After completing some business nearby, we were drawn to Genki Izakaya's high Yelp rating. We were not disappointed. On a weekday evening, Genki was bustling with nearly all the tables taken. Still, we were seated promptly. Noticeable, but not too loud of music was playing. We love Genki's broad menu, replete with both cold and hot appetizers, ramen, skewers, udon, fried rice, fish appertizers, nigiri, hand rolls, sashimi, special rolls, and dessert. Of course, there is a bar with liquor, sake and other drinkables. JP started out with the grilled saba (mackerel) and declared it the best saba ever. Indeed, the dipping sauce paired with the saba was also especially good. I started out with a pork bun. It was delicious with a big slab of pork, a leaf of good lettuce and a tasty dressing. We also had the miso soup. It comes in a regular and spicy version. Both were decent. I went with the regular miso and livened it up with a spoonful of the chili spice powder mix that was on the table. Note: this chili spice is potent, so use sparingly. I also went with the Wagyu beef fried rice, because I've seen Wagyu on menus for years, and finally now wanted to try it. Though perhaps a tad oily, the Wagyu fried rice was delicious. It came packed with Wagyu beef that was tender and scrumptious. Even after the saba and a plate of avocado/eel rolls, JP was still hungry, so he also ordered the butabara (pork belly), Eringi (mushroom) and zucchini skewers. These were well-prepared and tasty. Service was fine. There's a few parking spots available along the service road next to Genki Izakaya, but if there is not parking there, you'll find parking in the garage next to Giant.

Butabara pork belly
Karyn M.

This fun izakaya spot is located on the corner of a very busy Fairfax shopping area. Very limited parking (most of the spots are 30 mins) so we ended up parking in the Giant lot. The decor is great -- we were seated in a booth across from the very impressive bar. The menu had so many enticing items -- it made it so hard to choose. We split a grilled saba, Brussel sprouts and ube fries. The food came out right away, was hot and delicious. My ube colada was just ok (very strong but not very colada-y). My katsu curry rice was generous with the fried pork cutlet and curry sauce. There was so much I shared with the table. My companion enjoyed the pork belly. We actually were very happy with our food -- it tasted great -- but then.... It seemed to take so long for them to bring out my friend's A5 Miyazaki Wagyu on hot stone. We asked a few times and the rest of us had finished our food. (My friend said they could actually see in my mind that I was subtracting one or two stars). But then...they brought out the Wagyu on a stone and lit it on fire. They cooked the Wagyu and sliced it and it was incredible! So tender, so flavorful, I immediately added those one or two stars back. This was the best part of the meal, and it wasn't even my meal! They sent out a complimentary tiramisu (with Hello Kitty face) and it was delicious.

Great cocktails
John H.

Genki is a great Japanese restaurant that offers more than just your typical sushi. They offer a variety of Japanese cuisine including sushi, ramen, and even Waygu beef so there's something for everybody. They offer great cocktails which were presented very nicely. We started with pepper and beef skewers and ube fries. Beef was more tender than I expected. The ramen was tasty and spicy. Waygu fried rice was great and the Waygu stone entree was bigger than I expected. They offer a good selection of sushi but we only tried one special roll. Was too full to order dessert but we will definitely be coming back to try other dishes.

Crabmeat roll
Darrell L.

Genki is a hot spot and you cannot get reservations the day of...at least that's been my experience as I've tried numerous times and the only slots available are after 830pm. Planned ahead this time and got a resy for 6:15pm on a Sunday. Place is pretty much full and its a nice Izakaya vibe. Love the design... Taking a look at the menu and there are so many options to try - yakitori, sushi, rolls, katsu, fried rice, ramen, curry...what to get?? Yellowtail/Hamachi is my fave so we go with the Hamachi Carpaccio, Tornado Omelette Fried Rice, Chirashi Don, crabmeat cucumber roll, Sky & Crumble Roll, & Chicken thighs and Beef yakitori. Probably overordered as the portions aren't gigantic but this was a bit much for the wife and I. The food is spot on. Tasty stuff. The sushi, rolls and apps are probably the best of the bunch. Yakitori is super tender but could probably be charred a bit more. The Tornado rice is good but not the best I've had. Overall we are both extremely pleased amd enjoy the visit. Great environment to get a few drinks and try different Japanese dishes. We comment that we must come back as there are so many additional items that are worth trying.

Chicken Karaage
Sheran M.

4.5 stars Solid experience at Genki Izakaya. Everything we tried was delicious. It's certainly not your traditional izakaya, but it blends elements from other cuisines really well. Service was quick and we received our dishes promptly. Overall, service was standard. The ambiance is nice. We sat at the central counter and had a great view of the entire restaurant, but I'd love to try a booth next time.

Gyoza
Ellen D.

The food was super delicious--I crave the sushi every single day. The service was great too. I wish I remembered our server's name so I could give him a shoutout, but he was really friendly and gave us great recommendations on what to order. Food Review: Cream Croquette: 4/5 - Very cheesy and tasty, but nothing particularly special. If you like corn cheese, you would probably love this. Personally, I wouldn't order it again though :/ Gyoza: 3/5 - It was good, but nothing that really wowed me. Sky & Crumble: 4/5 - Good overall, but not my favorite roll. Lava: 5/5 - I would order this every single time. I love a good sushi roll with cream cheese, especially when it's fried. Looking forward to my next Genki meal!

Tara L.

What is there not to like?! Great energy, stellar service, delicious sushi and creative cocktail menu made for a dining experience that was perfect from start to finish. First off, our server was amazing! From the moment we sat down, she was warm, engaging and she knew how to walk us through the menu highlights like a total pro. Every dish we ordered was fantastic - from the appetizers to specialty rolls. I don't think it's possible to wrong here, so just order whatever it is that sounds the most appealing to you!

Toro Bowl
Ellen C.

I came to Genki Izakaya to celebrate my sister's birthday. The space was fun and bright, well decorated. They both a large menu featuring a variety of items from yakitori to sushi to udon the drinks also looked very cool but we just stuck to sake. Food wise, we started off with the softshell crab. This was personally one of my favorites. It was crispy and the crab meat was meaty. Then we got the chicken karaage and the yakitori. Of the yakitori I liked the oyster mushroom the most - a dark horse if you will - it almost tasted like scallop lolll. Was excited for the eel but it tasted a tad overcooked for my liking. Next, we ordered the cod udon and ooh this was CREAMY I didn't eat too much of it to be honest because I wanted to save room for everything else haha. We also got the toro bowl which came with a generous serving of toro, along with roe, uni, and seaweed to make hand rolls with. As for sushi rolls, we ordered the salmon twist, volcano roll, battle star, and wagyu special rolls, and the Alaska and shrimp avocado rolls. My favorites here were the battle star and volcano roll. I will note the battle star says it comes with jumbo crab but it's a mix of imitation crab as well. Overall, we really enjoyed our food! Service was great too. We would definitely come again.

Daisa J.

I recently visited Genki Izakaya in Fairfax, VA for a date night, and it was such a cozy, memorable experience. The atmosphere feels intimate -- dim lighting, relaxed energy, and the kind of space where conversation just flows without feeling rushed. We ordered several dishes to share, and everything came out beautifully presented and full of flavor. Some standouts for us were the Hamachi Carpaccio, the Battlestar Roll and Mango Tango Roll, Katsu Curry Rice, Wagyu Fried Rice, Gyoza, Crispy Toro Pavé, Yakitori Platter, and Ebi. The rolls were fresh and balanced, and the fried rice dishes were incredibly comforting. The cocktails were also a highlight -- we tried the Ichigo Cloud, White Blossom, Emerald Breeze, and Koro Oolong, and each one felt thoughtfully made rather than overly sweet. We finished the night with the tiramisu cupcake, which was the perfect, light dessert to end the meal. Overall, Genki Izakaya feels like the kind of place you want to add to your regular date-night rotation -- cozy, great service, and really solid food and drinks. I'd definitely come back and would recommend it if you're looking for a relaxed, intimate dinner in Fairfax.

Jackie B.

My husband and I came here for a great time, and overall enjoyed our time here. The location is easily accessible, and there is a parking garage nearby, with ample spots. Service is great, and our server was exceptional. We made a reservation for 5:15 PM (as all the other slots were taken), and were seated right away. It got busy very quickly! We went on a Friday night, during a holiday weekend, which also may have attributed to the business. For a drink, we shared a genki old fashioned, which was pretty good. As appetizers, we shared the yuzu cloud uni scallop and the takoyaki, which were both very good. My favorite was the uni scallop. We also shared a sushi boat. I wasn't overly impressed with the sushi and in my opinion, put way too much rice in with the sushi. Overall, we enjoyed our time here, but wouldn't be the top sushi place I would go to.

Great food! Ordered the Salmon bowl and super fresh! Kids love fried udon! Sebrina also provides great and clear introduction of menu. Very happy!

Frank K.

Genki Izakaya is an absolute gem in N. Virginia and definitely worth the visit. The vibe inside is trendy and energetic, with a beautifully decorated central bar. We started with the ube fries and chicken karaage, which were both incredibly flavorful. The absolute highlight of the night was the Japanese A5 Wagyu that was unbelievably tender and delicious. The sushi and specialty rolls are also incredibly fresh, plus the creative cocktails perfectly complement the meal. The server was attentive from start to finish, and very knowledgeable about the menu. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Yakitori
Maria K.

Very solid spot for Japanese food. A little bit on the pricier side, but really enjoyed the yakitori, the mentaiko udon, and the tornado omelette fried rice. Some of the more "splurge" items didn't seem as worth it to me, like the bluefin tuna foie gras with uni. The sky and crumble roll was also okay, I would come back here for the cooked foods and not the sushi. Mentaiko udon was especially amazing, the creaminess really complemented the cod roe. The indoor atmosphere is very nice, good for a date night. Our server was also very nice, although it was a busy night.

Lunch Menu

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2 days ago

Great food and wonderful service from our server Min! Our food came out very fast and was, as always, tasting amazing!

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Genki Izakaya Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Genki Izakaya

Are reservations required? Would I be able to walk up and get a table?

If you want a table, yes. It takes about 30-45 min to get a table. But if you don't have a big party, the bar seating is pretty good. No reservation needed.

What is the parking situation like?

Street parking and garage around the corner

View All 4 Questions

The Naisho Room

The Naisho Room

3.6(46 reviews)
5.3 mi
Full bar
Romantic vibe

I thought I had booked the omakase experience, but realized I accidentally selected the wrong…read moreoption, which was disappointing at first. The staff explained they prepare omakase for a set number of guests, so they couldn't accommodate us last-minute. That said, the manager and his staff, our wonderful server completely turned the experience around with their kindness. They comped part of our meal, brought out desserts for my husband's birthday, and even treated me to a mocktail. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made the night feel really special. The service was warm and attentive, and we still had an amazing time. I've already booked omakase for next week and can't wait to come back! The place has great vibes. Highly recommend!! And the HANDROLLS WERE THE BEST WE'VE EVER HAD!!! forgot to mention how amazing the food was. Yummy!

I usually am enamored with speakeasies, but it was really hard to love this one…read more 1. Reservations - I've been with OpenTable and other restaurant online booking systems for decades but this is a first for me. They have two separate OpenTable listings (as noted in other reviews). I was clear in that i just wanted an after work chill happy hour. I booked for 4:30. After promptly showing up at the wren for my 4:30 appointment I was told, Naisho room doesn't open until 5 pm.... So why did you let me book for 4:30?!?! No explanation. No apology just "you're early..." 2. I promptly dropped $70 for drinks and an appetizer at the Wren bar to hold me and my guests over. It wasn't bad but that's not what I was hoping for... at 4:30. 3. The service to the speakeasy was great. The "gym stag" had our 4:30 and let us in at... 5:03 pm... 4. The waitress inside the speakeasy was super awkward and off putting. She really needs a class on etiquette. I ordered quite a bit right off the bat but my guests slow roll throughout the experience and she didn't seem too happy with that. Taking away our menus doesn't encourage us to order either. You charge $22 for one tea sandwhich but can't afford to print out more menus? The menus were also pretty dingy and I hand sanitized after using them. 5. Food. Was mid at best. Not at all authentic Japanese. I had the oyster shooter, temaki, Wagyu toast, Wagyu quesadilla, and mocktail. The oyster shooter was too sweet. And you could only taste the oyster and caviar at the end. Mostly as an aftertaste. There was a "too sweet" aspect to most of the food. The temaki was okay and I liked the crunchy bits but they went too far with the plastic wrap on the seaweed. The plastic wrap gave me Japanese 7-11 onigiri vibes. You do that if you aren't efficient enough to get the food out to guests at once and the seaweed will get soggy. I'm not sure if it was for a "fun factor" for people who are unfamiliar with grocery store onigiri in Asia but in a restaurant it should be done for you. The Wagyu toast was a HUGE disappointment. It was Sooooo sweet. I filet barely taste anything except the gross, sweet jam. And the toast was soggy and the texture of the bread felt prepared the day before and like refrigerator. It was not toasted at all. The star was the Wagyu quesadilla with beef tendon chips. It was the cheapest item on the menu and the most filling and delicious. 6. Drinks were very good. Expect about $20 a pop... $50 for the Japanese whiskey is highway robbery. Nothing really "rare." I have most bottles on the kitchen counter from the Virginia ABc or DC Costco. You can buy an entire bottle of the Japanese whiskey at Costco for the cost of one serving here. Overall, the Naisho room felt like all hype. For over $100 I was still pretty hungry. If the food tasted good I would have ordered more but I didn't think it was worth it. You get a nice view but it's the same from most of the capital one building. Same view from the brewery. Don't waste your money. Go elsewhere. Plenty of better happy hour spots for much much less considering if you stay for more than two hours you have to pay for parking (we did becuase, well, our reservation was at 4:30...)

Photos
The Naisho Room
The Naisho Room
The Naisho Room

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Genki Izakaya - sushi - Updated May 2026

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