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    Genki Ya - Somerville

    3.7 (109 reviews)
    Open 11:15 am - 10:30 pm

    Order Genki Ya - Somerville Takeout or Delivery

    Genki Ya - Somerville Photos

    GENKI YA - SOMERVILLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Genki Ya - Somerville

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    Reviews With Photos - Genki Ya - Somerville

    Yaki Udon
    Stephanie B.

    Really yummy comforting food. Got the seafood tempura roll, yaki udon, and chicken katsu curry. Everything was really tasty and the portion size was good. Tons of veggies in the curry which I liked. Other katsu curries are just the sauce. The veggies were still crunchy but completely cooked which was nice to add a texture contrast. The yaki udon was my favorite. And the seafood tempura roll was delicious and huge. Would definitely eat here again.

    Veggie combo (front), Spicy Tuna (middle), Avocado Roll and Salmon Avocado Roll (back right)
    Aya R.

    Dining method: Delivery (DoorDash) Speed: Right on time, as predicted by the app! Items ordered: miso soup, spicy tuna roll, salmon avocado roll, avocado roll, veggie combo, mochi The short answer: delicious sushi at a great price. For sushi, reliability and quality is key, and Genki Ya has it. The long answer: The miso soup was delicious, with tiny mushrooms, seaweed, and tofu. Two of us were able to split the small size. The sushi was fresh, with ginger and wasabi. This was my first time trying raw salmon (normally plant-based) and it was pretty good, not fishy at all! Overall, between the three of us, this was an abundance of food, and we topped off the meal with mochi. One order came with a matcha/green tea and one caramel-esque flavor. Perfect end of meal!

    Smooth Roll and Spicy Seafood Roll
    Nino E.

    I had three different types of rolls for takeout. I wanted to venture out and see what "vegetable" sushi would taste like, and tried the vegetable dragon and smooth roll. The vegetable dragon roll is covered in avocado, with sweet potato, mushroom and banana. This was my favorite roll- its light and refreshing. The smooth roll consisted of sweet potato, avocado and cream cheese. Very similar but not as good as the dragon roll. The cream cheese didn't elevate it as much as I expected. As for typical sushi - the spicy seafood roll hits the spot. Its grilled salmon, crab, avocado and cucumber. I haven't tried other sushi places around Davis yet but Genki Ya set a pretty good bar.

    Volcano Roll
    Sarah C.

    You will get great service after ignoring the hostess. When we walked in, she asked "what do you want" ...ummm... maybe " to eat?" The outdoor area is cool. Tables are spaced out with a few hand sanitizer pumps nearby. No paper menu, there's a QR code you can scan for it. We got the volcano roll and tripled torch maki. They were both amazing! The volcano roll surprised me the most - the entree was too pretty to consume as the chef made it like a volcano shape. Shittake mushroom were blended nicely with the succulent scallops and shredded imitation crab sticks. Inside you will the tempura shrimp maki roll. Volcano roll can feed two people. Tripled torched roll was slightly too torched for my husband (he likes sashimi) but I loved them. They were warm on the outside and cool inside. Nice! Funny waitress served us and we enjoyed our first dinner outdoor during Covid. Dine with local restaurants if you can.....

    Vegetables Dragon Roll
    Marvin B.

    I came to Genki Ya on a Tuesday evening, and they were really fast with everything! I was seated immediately and after ordering my food and then using the bathroom, my food was already ready in a couple of minutes! I love how they had a good selection of vegetarian and vegan sushi rolls, which can be hard to find in the Boston area. I ordered the Vegetable Dragon Roll. I really liked the crunch of the sweet potato tempura. The banana sounds weird at first, but it actually added a really interesting flavor that I've never had before in a sushi roll. My friend ordered the piña colada, which I tried, but I didn't want to drink on a work night, so I opted for the virgin pina colada, which I thought was so good that I ordered another. I tend to not like coconut, but their virgin piña colada was so good! The manager and waiter were super friendly, nice, and welcoming, too! I can't wait to come back!

    Seaweed Salad
    Stanley U.

    Food was very average at best, and it was dark. Went around dinner time and was eager to eat. Food was okay, got edamame and seaweed salad that were pretty standard. The chirashi had some clean tasting fish and some fishy ones. Also got the tri torched roll and it looked promising, except it was sitting on the sushi bar for 15 minutes before being served. Service was okay at best, little timid and didn't really come by and check up.

    Lunch specials Mon-Fri
    Cristina R.

    Stellar sushi! There are many options, so you're bound to find something you like. Plus the menu has PICTURES for easier ordering. Go for the multigrain rice for a healthier (and prettier) option which adds some interesting textures. This and brown rice are available for any roll at an extra cost. If you can make it for lunch (Mon-Fri from 11-3), they have some great specials which include soup/salad! There are a variety of lunch specials like sushi, sashimi, udon, teriaki, or a selection of maki. I had the Fashion Role (eel, avocado, cream cheese) and the Healthy Ichiban Roll (salmon, tuna, cream cheese, avocado) with multigrain rice. So delicious and so filling! The fish is tender and fresh. And the plates come with flowers on them, which is a nice touch. Genki YA'll want to come here again!

    5/4/2019 - What a gorgeous space!
    Mikhail H.

    i went here with a group of friends and we were treated so well even with 12 people. Every single order was correct and served with a smile. The food was absolutely stunning with generous portions and the prices for everything - most of us actually over ordered because we were not expecting such generous amounts for each of the rolls! Their rolls come with miso which is wonderful and unexpected. I split some shumai with a friend and you can chose between steamed or fried which is impressive - I love that I can get it steamed since most places just fry it and I prefer steamed. I wanted to try everything but was so full I could not even finish the rich salmon roll and hamachi roll I ordered - again, the rolls are pretty good sized so most of us over ordered. The restaurant is such a lovely venue and very spacious too.

    Menu
    Daira R.

    Highly recommend Came in with some friends for some snacks and drinks. We got the scorpion bowl (the big one to share) as well as some different nibbles. We got the tuna special (sashimi) - everyone in my party raved about this. Said it melted in their mouths. Gyoza (steamed and fried) - delicious. I only had the steamed gyoza because I have a shellfish allergy and I wasn't sure if the fried gyoza would have come in contact with any fried shellfish. After we got the gyoza I let our server know about my allergy and she confirmed with the chef every item on the menu I could and couldn't have and offered to make recommendations. It was so sweet! As it was, I was happy with just the steamed gyoza. My group also got some shrimp - which they raved about - and the uni. The uni was hit or miss with my friends. Some loved it, some were less excited about it. Overall, had a great time and would return.

    Caterpillar Roll
    Peter J.

    Overpriced sushi with a horrendous wait. Breaking my Yelp hiatus of several years to write this review. The sushi was average at best; the pieces of fish inside their maki taste alright but are incredibly small. I ordered a salmon avocado roll which was mostly avocado with tiny pieces of salmon. I also ordered a caterpillar roll (pictured) which, while aesthetic, had the smallest pieces of eel I've ever seen in a piece of sushi. The real deal breaker on the sushi is the pricing: the salmon avocado roll was already over $7 and the specialty caterpillar roll was almost $12. Notably, the biggest problem here is the awful wait for food. The wait staff ignored us for the first 45 minutes while we were here, while others slowly trickled in. After almost an hour had passed, the wait staff took orders in the reverse order that people had arrived, leaving our table for last, although we were the first table seated. After taking our orders, we waited another 2 hours before the food finally came out. As mentioned above, the food is decent but overpriced and the portions in each piece of sushi are incredibly small. I'd highly recommend ordering takeout if you're ordering anything at all to avoid the wait and the subpar service. Dining in was a mistake.

    Scallops
    Michael R.

    Went for sushi and had a wonderful experience. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Ordered a bunch of rolls and nigiri. The flavors, textures and temperatures were all spot on. Everything fresh and made to order. They don't skimp on the wasabi and ginger. Had a bowl of miso soup and it was delicious. Decent saki and mixed drinks selections. The restaurant is really nice, not to loud. They have these little rooms with decorative glass and heavy wood doors that you can eat in private. Will definitely go back. I understand Genki Ya has other locations. Will try those too. Prices very reasonable.

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    3 years ago

    I love their sushi!!! Service is quick and so many options on their menu. Ambiance is loud and fun if crowded

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    Ask the Community - Genki Ya - Somerville

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    Cafe Mami

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    Fast, friendly service. Delicious curry and other Japanese street food accompanied by yummy miso…read moresoup. Staff here are always kind and accommodating. I like to grab a seat at the counter and fill up with a quick meal before continuing on with my day.

    Cafe Mami is a Japanese comfort food spot that focuses on simple, hearty dishes like curry rice,…read morekatsu, hamburg steak, and donburi-style meals. We walked into a fairly small space tucked away in Porter Square, with more of a functional, casual feel rather than a polished dining room. The seating was tight and the room filled up quickly, making it clear that this was the kind of place people go for a quick, filling meal rather than a long sit-down experience. The standout here is definitely the Japanese curry and katsu combinations. We ordered the pork tonkatsu curry, a go-to for many, and found it came with a thick, crispy cutlet served over rich curry sauce and rice. The curry itself leaned comforting and slightly sweet-savory in a way that felt very classic and approachable. The portions were generous for the price, and the hamburg steak and oyakodon were also solid options if you wanted something different from fried cutlet dishes. The food came out hot and well assembled, and the flavors were consistent with what we were hoping for. Service was fast and handled by a very small staff, so things moved quickly once we ordered. Because of how busy it can get during peak hours and how limited the seating is, there was a bit of a rush feel to the experience. It worked well as a quick lunch or casual dinner, but it was not really a place to linger for long. The seating situation is probably the biggest drawback. It fills up quickly, and the space feels tight, especially when there is a line forming. That said, the turnover is fast enough that you usually do not have to wait too long, even when it looks crowded from outside. Overall, Cafe Mami is a reliable spot for Japanese comfort food in the Porter Square area. The value is strong, the portions are generous, and the curry dishes are consistently satisfying. It is not fancy, but it does exactly what it is meant to do well, which is serve quick, filling, and comforting Japanese meals.

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    Tampopo

    Tampopo

    4.4
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    This small Japanese husband-and-wife business, which has been running for 34 years, is closing down…read morethis June due to retirement, so I rushed over for a meal. Pork Cutlet Curry: The restaurant specializes in fried foods, with the pork cutlet being their absolute signature dish. Although the cutlets were on the thinner, leaner side, each one was fried to order, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, fragrant but not greasy. The breadcrumbs were especially fluffy and light, bursting with flavor on the palate, which was incredibly satisfying. The curry was authentic Japanese curry--rich, mild, and slightly spicy with a distinct fruity aroma, perfectly suited to my taste. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a runny egg for the $2 additional egg; otherwise, it would have been even better. And at only $15 a serving, including a salad/miso soup, it's incredibly good value for money, perfect for lunch. Fried Oysters: Also crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the oysters were fresh and juicy. The lemon juice and salad dressing were refreshing. I felt they were even more delicious than the pork cutlet. The place is located in Lesley University's Main Hall and has only four tables, so you may have to wait.

    This was such a cute mom-and-pop shop run by a husband-and-wife team who were both incredibly kind…read moreand welcoming. The restaurant is located inside a shopping center and has only a small amount of seating, giving it a cozy, homey feel. We ordered the shrimp tempura udon, pork cutlet curry, and a side of vegetable tempura. My favorite part was the tempura. The batter was incredibly light and crispy without feeling greasy. The udon broth was comforting and well-made, though its flavor was fairly simple. Overall, the meal reminded me of a home-cooked dinner, making it a cozy spot if you're looking for comforting Japanese food.

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    Seating area. Small place but delicious food.  Hidden in the hallway of a building, definitely worth it.  Pork Tampopo Don
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    Futago Udon

    Futago Udon

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    Came here twice in the past few months and waited ~10 minutes each time. Drove both times and was…read moreable to find street parking on neighboring streets although I'm sure it's even easier if you just take the T. Staff was friendly and attentive and the restaurant is open and inviting although the space between tables can sometimes be quite tight. I ordered the sukiyaki udon and the agedashi tofu as an appetizer. Both were delicious and the portion is large for the udon. The broth tasted great and they don't skimp on the toppings either. Definitely a hearty meal. My friends have also enjoyed their curry udon and the mille crepe dessert. Would come back again.

    Came by for dinner the other day and it was a mediocre experience. Futago Udon appears to be a…read moreChinese-owned udon shop as the menu was exclusively in English. Dining was available indoors exclusively and some staff wore disposable masks. There is a communal dining table inside the restaurant for solo diners. Opted for the sukiyaki beef udon and it was ok. The restaurant claims that the udon is homemade...I've had much better versions in Japan. Portions were gigantic, including both the noodles and the beef. The entree came with an egg, some cabbage, along with some mushrooms. The broth itself didn't seem too authentic. It felt Americanized. The restaurant was playing Top 20 hit music, maybe since they're close to BU? ~$30/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

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    Somenya - Soba restaurant

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    Handmade noodles... no need to say more! I'm in! I was not disappointed. The restaurant is small,…read morecozy, casual nestled unassuming on the edge of bustling Chinatown. For an appetizer my friend and I had the spicy salmon tartare which was excellent. Thick cubes of salmon poke tossed in a bright yuzu vinaigrette that enhanced the flavor of the salmon excentuated by bursting ikura added another level to a refreshing texture. The saffron threads added aesthetic and a perfectly delicate garnish. For entrees, we had to try both the homemade soba and udon noodles. Both were so soft with great flavor that provides the essential reminder that homemade is superior. The soba noodles, if you have never had them, are almost sweet. The tofu in the yasai soup was a delightful fluffy pillow of fried tofu skin thinly cut and same flavor as inari tofu. I added a poached egg and the flavor of the yolk mixed into the noodles is unrivaled. I want to eat it for breakfast. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

    I've been here a couple times. The soba noodles were refreshing and the broth has been umami. Had…read morethe tofu here as well. The service was pretty typical, so the wait staff were friendly and attentive. Ambiance and decor was pretty cool too. The pricing is pretty typical of Chinatown Boston restaurants. 8/10: food gets the job done. Effort was shown to the dishes but nothing was extremely mind blowing. Definitely worth a try.

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    Genki Ya - Somerville - sushi - Updated July 2026

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