Izakaya Genki Kanda — Restaurant in Tokyo

Overall: 4/5

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Experience 5/5 Cleanliness 4/5 Price 3/5

This elusive restaurant amazingly (and luckily!) managed to survive since almost 2 decades in the centre of a very dynamic metropolis. Tokyo follows trends and the fact that Genki is still “in”, means something and is well deserved.

The host is successfully making any meal here to be an unforgettable experience, not only by his exquisite food and signature dishes, but also with his ever changing outfits, and very diverse interior design. This ranges from kitsch with hundreds of little animal statues to memorabilia and paraphernalia. As one can imagine these are impossible to keep in an impeccable state and hence are dusty and somewhat sticky (which is the only comment I have). Dishes, cups, glasses are all clean, beyond concern.

There is an English menu, but it is not complete and contains errors. Luckily there are friendly locals (thank you Dillon!) that help you in translating and making a perfect decision. There are plenty of vegan choices, which is the prime reason i came here.

My food was absolutely fantastic and I truly enjoyed it. I had ordered what I thought to be much more than I would handle: potato salad avocado/cheese roll, (vegan) eggplant okonomiyaki. Potato salad was unique and not comparable to anything I had before (5stars), the avocado/cheese roll was great (only vegan cheese I had in all of Japan), the okonomiyaki was amazing with the delicate eggplant, vegan home made dough and fried crispy sweet potato (?) on top. Only “problem” was that I wanted more soy mayonnaise, so also 5 stars. And they have great home made drinks too, the ginger ale is strongly recommended.

The pricing (with 500yen cover charge, extra 10% commission) was the only thing that seemed a slight mismatch for the portion sizes, since I spent twice the amount I spent on any other dinner in other restaurants (with 2 main courses or 3/4 appetisers and a main).

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend visiting Genki since the food is excellent and it is a memorable experience in a unique hallmark of Tokyo cuisine. I would...

Vegetable Izakaya Genii: A Hidden Gem for Vegetarian Delights 📍 Location: Kanda, Tokyo Cuisine: Traditional Japanese vegetarian

Atmosphere and Ambiance: Step into Vegetable Izakaya Genii, and you will feel like you have discovered a secret hideaway. The cozy wooden interior, soft lighting, and traditional decor create an inviting atmosphere. Whether you are a local or a traveler, this place instantly feels like home. Food Highlights: Don’t miss their many Vegan/vegetarian menu items. Eat well, hard to find this in Tokyo.

Vegetarian Variety: Genii caters specifically to vegetarians, making it a rare find in Tokyo.

Authentic Flavors: Each dish bursts with authentic Japanese flavors, showcasing the richness of local ingredients.

Attentive Staff: The friendly staff will guide you through the menu and recommend also.

Pro Tips: Reservations: Since Genii is a hidden gem, it’s best to make a reservation in advance.

Vegetable Izakaya Genii is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience. Whether you are a vegetarian or simply curious about Japanese flavors, this treasure trove of traditional dishes will leave you craving more. Arigatou gozaimasu, Genii, for a...

We went here because they have both meat and vegan options. Prices are quite expensive. Squash also expensive and way too sour to enjoy.

My vegan friend asked for the chefs recommendation, but we made it clear it was only for one person. He ended up making her 3 dishes (way more than we wanted to pay for), so we had to share.

The potato salad was delicious. Everything else was really bad. We were served the chefs speciality which was served 30 minutes after everything else. It was a mess of all sorts of ingredients that do not go together. A vegetable pancake (which I usually love) that was soggy and didn't taste good. Topped with hot strawberries, carrot flakes and a lot of sour brown sauce that made it completely inedible.

I ordered the chicken and eggplant. The chicken was so tough i couldn't chew through it. It had almost no marinade and the flesh was dark purpleish.

Ended up paying 7800 for two people, and we barely ate anything because it was so bad. The decoration is fun but dirty and definitely not worth it. Plus there's a cover charge...