try the healthy roll... mostly because the purple mixed grain rice is delicious! Doomsday roll is fun and interesting. Out of the ordinary because there is some banana in it. Weird, right? But the flavors work! For those watching carbs they have rolls wrapped in cucumber. If you want to be even more strict, these cucumber rolls have fillings with or without mayo based fish fillings and the option of cream cheese or not. Sashimi is on point! Go for the appetizer portion to get your body ready for rolls galore! read more

Genki Ya - Sashimi appetizer and health roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I love coming here for some of the best sushi in Boston, on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for, quality. I have only dined in here once, as I normally get food to go from this restaurant. They do have alcohol which is nice. There is limited seating space and it is on the smaller side, probably wouldn't recommend parties of over 4 people. There is metered parking out front which is nice for those who don't live around the area. My go-to is the rainbow roll, again so fresh and probably some of my favorite sushi in Boston read more

This place is my go to! As someone who is gluten free due to medical conditions, the servers always go the extra mile to ensure everything is okay for me to eat. One server remembers me every time I come in and gives me the GF Soy sauce-- such a tiny thing but makes me feel less annoying (I often receive eye rolls and am made to feel like a burden at other restaurants). The fish is incredibly fresh and they do not skimp on it by adding crazy amounts of rice! Fairly priced, delicious, and extremely pleasant experience each time. read more

On point with the online orders and they have great safety precautions inside for COVID! Food was fresh and delicious I ordered the crazy maki and mochi ice cream. Nice portion and they honored my special notes request! read more

Genki Ya - Crazy Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Ok, I reviewed this place in 2013 and felt the need to update my review and express my love for Genki Ya since I have become a very frequent, regular customer since the review I wrote years ago. I LOVE this place. I actually exclusively eat sushi from here. I come here so often that the manager knows my name! The sushi is soooooooo good! I my personal favorites rolls: luxury roll, king crab tempura roll and spicy tuna with avocado. This is THE best sushi place. I promise you'll love it. read more

My go to place for sushi in Boston. Sushi taste super fresh and menu has a lot to choose from. Highly recommended.

I could eat sushi every day of the week. I have my regular spot, but we decided to go somewhere new on date night and it paid off. Small and cute! Good service, the waitress was quick and efficient. The fish is SO FRESH. My only very small complaint was some of the ends of the nigiri were a little chewy. Not sure if it was the cut, as they were not all like that, but anyways, minor observation. I was seriously impressed overall, and it could be my new favorite. I chose a lot of nigiri, but also the "Rich Salmon Roll" which is salmon and avocado inside and on top. It was amazing. I was so full by the end I couldn't even finish and had to take some home. There are TONS of great roll combinations I want to come back and try. Also tons of choices for great platters. We also saw a lot of people ordering take out. I would definitely recommend it here. read more

This is likely one of my favourite go to sushi places. It has a great selection, the sushi is tasty and fresh, and comes at a reasonable (for Boston) price. The best experiences I have at Genki Ya are when we go with a large group so we can get a boat. The boats come with so much food, that 6 of us left Maki-rolling, and we got the smallest boat. Overall it's worth a visit. It's got a decent vibe, never is too packed, and it has any type of sushi for your mood. read more

Genki Ya - Sushi boat!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I found Genki Ya because they offer Skymiles Dining points through Delta. I am so happy that I did! Genki Ya offers organic, fresh sushi rolls. They are a bit pricy, but you are paying for quality. My favorite thing about Genki Ya was that they had SO many vegan-friendly rolls. There was a whole page of rolls I could choose from, which is not something that I usually experience. As a sushi lover, this place does not disappoint! read more

Genki Ya - Fruit roll, aac roll, and sweet potato tempura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

One of my favorite sushi places in Boston - consistently good for staples like avocado rolls and their Crazy Roll is my favorite. They also will make most rolls into hand rolls for you which I love! read more

Oh holy Huitzilopochtli, this place is good. I discovered this gem when I first moved to Boston. Orders through Grub Hub got me through the dead zone weather abyss of January to March. It was my first sushi restaurant in Boston and still remains my favorite. Organic and natural, 8 pieces/roll (usually) rather than 6, huge portions, reasonable prices, fresh fresh fresh...Does it get any better than this? Favorites: Rainbow Roll: I make it a point to order the Rainbow Roll first whenever I try a sushi place because it's a great way to sample all their fish at once. GY's is always fresh with generous cuts of fish. Tri Color Roll: A Rainbow Roll with more tobiko. So good and so pretty. Healthy Ichiban: It has "healthy" in the name so it must be healthy, right? Yesssss....And so delicious too! Volcano Roll: I never ordered this eating in, but had it for take-out and even then they took great pains to preserve the volcano structure, putting it in a deep container so the pieces could be piled on top of each other, pyramid-style. Sweet Jebus, it's good. You can't even see all the ingredients because of the tempura flakes sprinkled over everything to create the rocky volcano texture, but you taste the creamy textures of mushrooms, scallops, crab and shrimp tempura all mixed with spicy mayo. WARNING: You will have a foodgasm. Several, if you're lucky. Try not to scare your neighbors/dining companions. If you're obsessed with yellowtail like I am (e.g. you want to have twins so you can name one Yellow and the other Tail), definitely try their yellowtail. The cuts are so fresh and generous, you'll think King Triton himself was blessing you from his merman palace. read more

This was a fine sushi experience, recommended by Sara S, who knows the best sushi in the city! I was especially excited to try organic sushi! So Sara and I dined in for lunch specials this afternoon. For the $9.75 maki special, you had a choice of several different rolls, miso soup and a salad. Soup and salad arrived promptly. The miso was some of the best I've had. The salad had field greens with an addicting dressing. I chose the yellow tail and philadelphia maki. I also found out they have whole grain rice as an option, so I opted for that. I expected a brown rice but instead it was a purple color, loaded with nuts and grains. It was excellent. I felt that it made me feel fuller then sushi with white rice. Both my rolls were great. I tried one of Sara's spicy tuna, it was excellent. I could really taste the freshness of the sushi with all of them. At the end of the meal a small tapioca treat was brought over. I wish I could of had more of it! The atmosphere was fresh with big bamboo stalks in the windows. Around lunch time almost every table got full. We were not rushed at all. Food was brought over fast and waters were kept full. I would like to see more of what Genki-Ya has to offer. For now I'm a big fan! read more

Genki Ya - Philadelphia and Yellowtail Maki with Whole Grain Rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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My friend and I decided to eat locally because we both had challenging, busy weeks. He suggested Genki Ya on Harvard Avenue. Their interior is pleasant and peaceful. My sushi selections were meh. The waiter graciously accommodated my friend's dietary limitations by removing all shrimp and crab from his platter. This impressed me as some places are sticklers for the set offering. It's worth noting that the entrees are super expensive here relative to other Japanese venues. The markup on their Japanese curry is criminal. Yes, I am the diner who struggles to pay $8 for some chef to boil edamame. read more

Genki Ya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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staff was prompt & quick. tuna roll wasn't my fav but all the others were great. the shrimp tempura is yummy. read more

Genki Ya - Seaweed Salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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+ fresh, fresh, fresh + menu is full of PICTURES + everything is made to order - small place = small seating = not good for groups Came here on a whim due to the good reviews and it really was refreshingly delicious. They sell everything by rolls and plates of things and the menu is chalk full of PICTURES for all of those who don't know all the Japanese translations (like me). I basically ordered my food basing off of how they looked in the pictures. I enjoyed the Rainbow Roll, it was simple and fresh. Fresh sashimi mixed with avacado made for a light, but refreshing taste. I didn't even want to dip it in soy sauce because it was good on its own! Each roll will run between $10-$15 depending on what's in it, but the portions are pretty good sized. If you've got 2+ people, I recommend at least portioning to about 2 rolls a person for a semi-full tummy. All n' all a quaint little joint in Coolidge Corner and leaves sushi to be something elegant and not chowed down like a buffet(although you can't beat those buffet deals!) Come during off-meals hours or you might have a wait, but the place is lovely. read more

Genki Ya - Ganki ichiban, spicy tuna roll, rainbow roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I got a dish and I asked for something to be taken off and waitress insisted I leave as is and would be better. I said okay, I get the item and I take a bite I instantly had to spit it into my napkin discretely. The waitress comes back and asks if everything is okay I say no I actually really dislike it. She goes I'm so sorry we can't cancel for anything else. So I'm sitting stuck with this disgusting dish read more

3 words: Volcano Roll Sugoi! It was sooooooo amazing, you have to see/eat it to believe it. Too bad it's expensive or I'd order it every week T_T The King Salmon Nirigi was pretty decent, the Salmon tasted fresh. The Spicy Tuna Roll was run of the mill, nothing to see here. Now the Hone Roll, Wowwowweewow, was a real interesting experience. Fried banana, sweet potato, cream cheese, and rice together tastes like nothing you've ever tasted before, and it was really delicious. In conclusion, buy the Volcano Roll and Honey Roll. read more

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FOODGASM. After only trying the tempura-based makis once, I think I am in love with Genki Ya. I totally agree with Marlana Y.: * King Salmon Torched Roll - perfectly rolled and super fresh. If you like torched fish (who doesn't?!), this is a MUST-TRY. * Volcano Roll - delicious, but I wouldn't recommend this to mayo-haters... there's a lot of spicy mayo erupting from Mt. Tempura. * Doomsday Roll - if you're okay with mushy & sweet sushi, then try this. The banana, cream cheese, & avocado actually blended very well together with the eel. For organic sushi, prices are fair, running at $8 to $15 max for maki specials, generally 8 pieces each. And those 3 rolls were more than enough for 2 people. So why only 4 stars? The service was a bit spotty. If you're ordering a drink (in this case, an organic Peak beer), you better look like yourself in your ID pic, or they'll go all homeland security [orange-level] on you. They then forgot my green tea after that ruckus. Glass of water also had a noticeably huge crack. Given that the restaurant is tiny, Genki Ya mainly specializes in sushi, with very limited options for Japanese food. Despite all this, I am longing to return. Creative makis and fresh nigiri really make me happy. PS. Their online menu humors me; in addition to particular sushi, Steamed Rice and Soda are also marked "most popular" items. Haha. I mean, isn't that obvious? read more

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The food is great at this place. However this place is racist. I went in the restaurant to get some food and the restaurant was empty.. there was only 2 people sitting down one inside and one outside. After I payed I asked if I can sit inside the lady said no, I asked her if I can sit outside she said no. I noticed the only people that were seated was an elder Asian lady and a white man. When I went back the next day on 02/18/22 there was 4 people seated in the restaurant same description and she told me I can't sit down. I don't know why I was rejected I was a paying customer, and I'm vaccinated (which she didn't even ask) read more

When I first came in Genki Ya months ago, the lunch specials were offered on weekends. Now that they're up and running, the lunch specials (2 rolls for $9 or 3 rolls for $12) is now only offered on the weekdays. I just wanted people to know so they didn't come on the weekends expecting an awesome deal. This is the third review I've written for Genki Ya and it's not intentional, but every so often, I'll go to this place and think of things to write that I feel are beneficial to others. This place is still enjoyable though I must say, the waitress who doesn't really speak english makes my dining a bit hard. This girl that was sitting two tables away from me said that she was still eating quite loudly and the waitress still attempted to take the dish away (sigh). And then the boy toy and I had this huge laugh fest cuz he asked for a ginger ale and she confirmed it by repeating it, saying okay, stared blankly for quite some time (thinking maybe?) and then said that they didn't have it. Sheesh. Anyhow, sushi's still good though I'm not a fan of the Volcano Roll anymore. I've had it three times and the first was amazing though the second wasn't anything I was too excited about and the last time, I was just ugh-ed. Anyhow, everything else is still what I loved from the first day and waitresses who can't speak english too well and one blah roll is not going to stop me from returning for everything else. read more

SOLID! The profusion of super-saturated photographs on the menu will make your mouth and eyes water. The portions are filling, the choices are dazzling, and the volcano roll was a messy, spicy pile of deconstructed deep-fried sea creatures, like fish sticks reinterpreted by Salvador Dali. The eel comes with plenty of sweet, gooey sauce oozing into a pile of warm rice. I couldn't finish the fried prawn crowned on top of the explosive volcano roll, which was sort of a blow to my self-esteem. But Yelp reviews are not about feelings, ever. read more

The first time I went here was in summer 2009 for my crossing dinner. I thought it was heavenly and I dragged my ex boy friend and friends there whenever I was nearby, this was my big's favorite sushi joint after all. After reconnecting with an old friend, we decided to meet half way/near his apt. It was his first time there but he had a "pleasant experience", i suppose. At that time, I felt the Volcano Roll was a tad more greasy and oily than remembered. My latest visit was a few days ago where I shared the Volcano Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll, Super White Tuna Roll, and Spicy Tuna Roll with the same guy, and it was definitely, an unforgettable experience, it was like a complete 180. Miso Soup - expected taste-wise but also came with enoki mushrooms, i like enoki! The salad - dressing was interesting but a bit sour. Salmon Avocado roll - was good Super White Tuna roll - idk what the tuna even tasted like Spicy Tuna roll - what happened to the spicy mayo? was food coloring added for display? There was no spicy mayo flavor at all. Volcano roll - when did they swap california roll for shrimp tempura maki underneath the enormous pile of oily goodness. Overall everything would've been much better if the rice didn't taste like they accidentally dropped the bottle of vinegar into the sushi rice. My mouth had this vinegary, sour taste after every bite of sushi. it was just terrible. I love my carbs, so its extremely disappointing that I didnt want to eat the rice. Also the service was terrible. We were the only table in the place and it took them a while to get seated and even longer to get menus and water. read more

Wow, I think I might have found the most expensive sushi in Boston (that, or I really let my sister go wild ordering). I'm used to reasonably priced, delicious and great sushi in Chicago (yes, I said Chicago)....and while this was fresh and tasted ok, it didn't blow me out of the water and I didn't think it was the best sushi I've had. The prices were also way expensive for 8-piece rolls. The $15/roll price tag is ok for some of the more inventive (read: lots of fish) rolls, but for a spicy tuna roll (allegedly a double spicy tuna, but not sure where the double came in), it was a bit much. Service was friendly, but rushed us a bit with the bill (though the place wasn't crowded). Food - 4 Service - 3 Value - 3 Atmosphere - 2 (eh...don't go here on a date!) read more

Food is very fresh, employees are friendly. Convenient location. Restaurant is good atmosphere and clean

Genki Ya is the perfect combination for organic foodies and die-hard sushi fans! Their menu has the largest selection of Maki rolls I've ever seen. Each page is decorated with colorful, mouth-watering photos. The overwhelming array of choices makes for a lengthy decision. I try something new every time I go, and every one of their unique creations has blown my mind. The food is fresh and presented flawlessly. Service is friendly and fast-paced. The restaurant is small and clean with windows dressed in bamboo. The prices are reasonable considering the organic ingredients. So far, my favorite sushi restaurant in Boston. read more

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OMG i loved this place. its organic and so delicious. i enjoyed their naruto roll, volcano roll and this oyster roll. it was sooooo good. i loved the presentation of the rolls as well as the flavors that the different ingredients gave off in each roll. the service is good. they are attentive. but they do come over alot, maybe to turnover the table? not somewhere that you feel like you can sit for a while longer and enjoy conversation because they come by often to see if you need anything else.... the place is small. a gem in brighton, since there's alot of sushi places to choose from. ideal for small parties and dates. read more

This might be my new favorite sushi place. The servings are relatively large and the food is fresh. That alone isn't that hard to find, but it's the other little details that Genki Ya gets right. The restaurant is small and beautifully decorated. The restaurant's facade has bamboo in it that adds a rustic yet sophisticated touch. Small is important because it helps the chefs focus on quality over quantity. Yes, they're fully trained sushi chefs, but being able to focus on small amounts of food increases the chance that the food is going to be perfect. And it was. I ordered their signature Tri-Color Roll and a Philadelphia Roll. I like to order one conventional roll and one signature roll when I have sushi. As a sushi noob, I like to use the conventional rolls as a reference point for the signature rolls instead of diving into uncharted fish willy nilly. I strongly recommend the Tri-Color Roll. It barely needed the help of the soy sauce. Equally refreshing was the staff. They were the happiest, giggliest bunch of girls who have ever placed raw meat in front of me. It didn't detract from their efficiency either and, in fact, it was infectious. Before long, I was laughing with them, even when my waitress brought me two additional glasses of water meant for another table. Last, but not least, the chopsticks. No wooden rods here. These felt like they were carved from ivory and had the restaurant's name printed on the non-business end. That was the cherry on the sundae for me. read more

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Quick service. Never have any issues with my order. Great selection and flavor. Love the ability to quickly pick up take out.

People who think this is good have not eaten Good sushi. I was terribly disappointed having seen four-star reviews. I ordered the flying fish roe with quail egg yolk. It is a huge favorite of mine and the first bite is normally an incredible sensation of sea salt from the roe mixed with the creamy yolk bursting in your mouth. When I had theirs all I tasted was stale cold bad quality granular rice. That's another thing: even their nigiri has stale ice cold rice. I just have nothing good to say about this restaurant. The best sushi I've had in New England is at Inaho on Cape Cod. read more

I went here a few days ago with my fiancé on a freezing cold night. We figured some sushi would make everything feel better. The food here was good, but honestly wasn't great. I was expecting more based on some of the reviews. We tried 4 different types of sushi, all of which we enjoyed, but none blew us away. Some of the sushi here can also be pretty pricy, and with the extra cost we simply expected more. I compare everything to U-Sushi down the street on Beacon St. and while Genki Ya was good (and was nice to try something new), U-Sushi is simply on another level. For the same price, the sushi at U-Sushi is is simply mouthwatering compared to just very good here. Can't imagine you'll be unhappy with either of these sushi joints though ;) read more

Genki Ya - Sushi bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Location is clutch for me. It's literally right around the corner. Their best deal is the 3 rolls for $15 that also includes a miso soup and salad. It used to be cash only, but now they accept card! Only tricky thing is that you have to order online through their site in order to get the deal, but it's so worth it. I recommend the crazy roll, Alaskan roll, and I always love getting the sweet potato roll, eel avo, and spicy tuna... But those are my tastes! They have lots of other rolls to try as well. Other than that AMAZING deal, I've also eaten at the restaurant. Their food is a little on the pricier end in some of the foods (such as the udon). And you seriously won't get a better deal than the 3 roll for $15. Their sashimi is really good and seems to be at a better price than other places since they give you more pieces per order. Their udon is good, but nothing spectacular. And i love their double spicy tuna roll, it's like so much all in one bite!! I've tried a bunch of other rolls, but they're all really good. Only downfall about the restaurant is the menu, it's a little scattered and their is a lot to look at since there is a photo of each dish, but also helpful if you don't know what it is! Overall, love this place for their 3 for $15 deal and their sashimi. And the convenience for me! read more

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There are better sushi options in Coolidge corner. The sushi here just doesn't taste like much and is more expensive than other options.

Not really sure what it is about Brookline & the racism but I definitely had to walk out of this place after being rudely seated by one of the waitresses. My coworkers & I were standing at the entrance checking out their yelp page & the waitress who must have been in a rush raised her voice to say, "do y'all wanna eat here?!" Absolutely not even worth it. Very rude staff, didn't even get to try the food because an establishment like this doesn't deserve my dollars! read more

LOVE the Genki Ya sushi. It's the only sushi I'll order in the area. Their rolls are big and very fresh. Their 2 or 3 roll special is a great deal! read more

WHOA! Why have I been going to Mr Sushi when Genki Ya is right here? Yes, it's more expensive, but for the freshness and intensity of flavor, you get your money's worth. Our starters: The edamame is excellent! The best I've had in Boston. Big, plump, warm, not too salty. Definitely get an order (or three). The pork pan-fried gyoza were good, but I've never had bad gyoza in a Japanese restaurant. Sushi: We ordered too much food (three maki rolls) but it was all so delicious. I had the Super Dragon Roll (Eel and avocado on top of sweet potato tempura roll. Served with eel sauce.) and I loved it! A mix of my two favorite rolls (Caterpillar and Idaho). The fella had the Spicy Tuna Tempura Roll (Spicy tuna,. avocado and cucumber. Deep fried with tempura batter.) which I would have eaten five more rolls of. The flavor was OUTSTANDING. He also had the Rich Salmon Roll (Salmon and Avocado.) Unfortunately, it couldn't stand up to the flavors of the other two. Put your name on the list and wait for a seat. Thank me later. read more

Genki Ya - Rich Salmon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

The food was great. We ordered a variety of rolls and the fish was fresh and every roll was delicious. I take 2 points of, however, because of the service. Our server was short and impatient with us. We felt it was rude when she just tossed the check on our table. Would go back again, but the service makes me unsure if it's worth it. read more

So we tried this place bc of The yelp reviews..Big disappointment! I dunno if all this organic talk is a gimmick or what... We ordered an eel avocado roll, rich salmon roll (or whatever it's call), and the tabiko with a raw quail egg on top. We just wanted to try it out so we ordered only a few items. First of all, the rice was ubbbbbber dry... Not tasty and short grained or broken rice was used. (That's just not for me) The eel and fish were blah... Nothing special.. Couldn't really taste anything bc there was sooooo much rice!!!! Too pricey for that amount of rice:( read more

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$13 for 3 rolls miso soup & salad? I feel like I'm STEALING from this restaurant. Sure, the rolls are pretty basic ones.. tuna/salmon/white fish/yellow tail. No crazy concoction like toro or whatever. But seriously, its a steal to eat lunch here. The fish was fresh, delicious and they do put a hearty amount in the roll. I was thinking because it's a lunch special & because it'll be in a roll that I'll be chomping on mostly rice. Not the case. I couldn't even finish all my sushi after having the soup and salad. Genki Ya, Ai shi teru! =) read more

The skillfully-shaved salmon hugs the top of the Rich Salmon Roll and tastes as pretty as it looks. Is there anything better than this? The Spider Roll, a tried-and-true reliable option, is guaranteed to please the palate with its top-notch soft-shelled crab. It is a favorite that never gets old, and Genki-Ya may soon become mine. The one thing I didn't love was the Volcano Roll. It was tasty, but not a true volcano, IMHO. The light crunches with a tincture of mayo replace the usually gooey cheese, and shitake with some seared scallops supplanting the usual tons of fake crab just didn't do it for me. It seems like it tried too hard fit the organic theme. Fugakyu was my fort for fabulous sushi before I discovered Genki-Ya, and I fear that Fugakyu may now be forsaken. The extensive menu selections, generous portions, and reasonable prices are well-worth sitting down at Genki-Ya. So move over Fugakyu, there's a new guy in my town... read more

The service here isn't the best but the food here never disappoints.They never skimp on the fish and you can always count on them on providing fresh quality fish. My personal favorites here are their volcano roll, rainbow roll, hawaii roll and their una ju. YUM!! read more

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