Cienna and I just got back from Genki Sushi, the chain conveyor-belt driven Japanese fish parlor that recently opened on Broadway. Here’s the view from my mouth:
The rice: This is the most difficult part of good sushi, and it was sweet and tender, just as sushi rice should be. The fish: The slices were gossamer thin, breaking over the nigiri rice balls, and the flavor unremarkable. But no off flavors. The best examples were the seared tataki nigiri and tempura rolls. The other stuff: Perfectly respectable green tea and seaweed salad. But the wasabi: All wrong, like it was sponsored by a shamrock and it had the texture of dried-out cookie dough that refused to dissolve in soy sauce. The time: Twenty minutes from entry to exit. The price: $19.26 for 10 plates, about half of which had two pieces of nigiri and the other half were three-piece rolls. The verdict: Perfectly acceptable—and inexpensive—sushi.
Why is their logo a big ol’ frowny face?
You really shouldn’t be trying to dissolve the wasabi in the soy sauce anyway.
I’d pay a little more for a place with a better recommendation. Preferably a place with fresh wasabi, or at least a wasabi oil, not the play dough stuff.
I had some sushi at Nijo in downtown, but it was almost a hundred bucks for 2 people and nothing special. I have yet to find a really good lunch sushi place that is cheap-moderately priced.
Ew, doesn’t sound real acceptable to me. I’m sure there’s better conveyor belt sushi out there (thicker slices, better wasabi). I can even get it in Vancouver, if you can imagine that.
I agree. I like the price much more than the sushi.
Sounds bad, I’ll stick to Shiro’s in Belltown!! (I think I spelled his name right) Resistance is just plane futile with his sushi! HA! Get it? My avatar and the pun about resistance being futile? HA HA HA!! Oh my I make myself laugh sometimes!!
McSushi
how does it compare to sushiland in lower q.a.?
The real price is paid by the environment and sustainable fishing industry.
But whatever, enjoy your novelty food!
Isn’t a lot of “wasabi” just dyed horse raddish? I’m sure the Food Services of America brand isn’t the best of the bunch, either.
I never go to any of the conveyor belt places here, but I could see occasionally being in the mood for that if one was handy.
@9 Enjoy your passive aggressive environmentalism!
I eaten her several times (counting their Queen Anne location) and it’s always been good. Nothing too fancy, but good. I don’t understand the criticism of the wasabi. Maybe I don’t have quite the cultured palate or maybe you got a bad batch, but the wasabi at Genki seems exactly the same as the kind you’ll get pretty much anywhere else.
thanks http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HVp5YaMMFOQ/Sl… @9:
and what do you think of feline aids?
I’ve eaten at the Genki Sushi in Renton and it’s AWESOME.
@8:
I’d say they’re roughly comparable.
Genki is not great sushi by any stretch; it’s simply fast and filling and cheap. Still, I’d take it over a 1,800 calorie cheeseburger as a lunch option any day.
@3:
I’m just counting down the days until Pinto Thai opens on Broadway…
@11, 13,
I know, I know… I admit I’m guilty of passive aggressive negativity. What can I say? Some people have a beef with pit bulls, others with the Blue Angels, for me, it’s sushi.
I won’t apologize though. Sushi is a stupidly trendy, overpriced, novelty food that hipsters think is “cute” and “upscale” and “cultured” or something. It’s a fad that can’t disappear fast enough, in my opinion. But whatever… carry on.
@8 @15 I’ve only eaten at Sushi land once, but I can say without hesitation that the decor at Genki is FAR better. Maybe it’s just because it’s fairly new, but inside was much more clean and minimalistic.
How does Genki compare to “Blue C”? Blue C uses the same conveyor belt decor/serving mechanism, and is mediocre sushi at best (I’m being kind). Is Genki any better sushi? Seems like a direct competitor.
@ 16 – Is it a “novelty food” or a “fad” in Japan, too?
They were saying it’s a fad since the 80’s. It’s good simple food and you either like it or you dont.
And if your worried about sustainability just don’t eat the tuna, salmon, or certain kinds of sea bass. There is still plenty of other kinds to choose from that are sustainable, some even without any actual fish!
#9 is just being a pretentious little prick.
@18:
Blue C is definitely more upscale than Genki, and IMO far better in terms of quality, although I agree that’s not saying much.
@16:
Given the prevalence of fresh seafood here, sushi is no more a “fad” in Seattle than serving Porterhouse would be in Kansas City.
Just like any other kind of food, one must make determinations based on a preference for either quality or quantity: a truly skilled itamae brings a devotion to freshness, flavor and presentation to their work that’s worth the extra cost. OTOH, if you just want to stuff your face, then obviously the all-you-can eat buffet at Skipper’s is probably going to be more up your alley.
There is a new place at Northgate located immediately north of the new cinemas. It too is a kaiten (mechanical track) type of sushi restaurant. The sushi is acceptable for the price and you can order off a side menu too. The chefs will do requests if they can. Sorry, don’t know the name of the place, but I have’t been disappointed with the restaurant considering the price I paid.
AT No. 22 —Whoops! My mistake. It is located immediately SOUTH of the cinemas.
The mackerel and scallops at the downtown Blue C are always of excellent quality – if you can find them among the near constant parade of tuna and rolls.
I’ve only been to the Queen Anne location, but it was pretty close to being laughably bad. The only good thing I had was something seared. The marinated mackerel was decent. Everything else was totally sub-par, even considering the low prices.