My wife, daughter and myself have been going to Gen Kai for years but unfortunately I will not be going back anytime soon. The last couple of times we have gone the services was slow and the food seemed like it was not the quality it has been for years. We thought we would try one more time last week. Â
When we get there we do the usual 30+ minute wait on a Friday night. When we were taken to our table they sat us in the corner of the dining room at a table that was falling apart. The top was so loose I thought it was going to fall on the floor. We asked to be moved and they did accommodate to a newer table. I placed an order for all the sushi we would be eating; it took us over 45 minutes to get our food. During that time we sat with our drinks and commented on the absolutely disgustingly dirty carpet, broken and dirty chairs people were sitting in, and lack of service.
When the first orders of food arrived I should have sent them back, asked for my check and left but, unfortunately, we finished our meals. The sushi was some of the worst I have had in a long time. The tuna sushi was falling apart, the Spanish mackerel (one of my favorites) was tough and rubbery like it was old, even though it was a special for the evening. The size of the sushi pieces was almost insulting. No, they were insulting especially when the bill arrived.
Between the poor service, horrible food and filth, my family and I will be looking for a new go-to sushi restaurant which pains me to say because we have been going here faithfully for years. I think Gen Kai has become very lazy in managing their business. I know with the volume of people they serve, they should be able to serve fresh food, afford to fix a table or clean the carpet every now and then. I never mind paying for a great or even good meal but I felt ripped off here.
I seldom write bad reviews, but I've gone here twice now. Both visits left a bad taste in my mouth--literally and figuratively.
My most recent experience is based on a visit on a Friday evening at 6pm. The service was slow, even though it wasn't crowded. They need to give the interior a facelift because the ambiance is, well... What ambiance? The furniture is old and the menus are dirty. The dining area was quite loud, which made for a not-so-pleasant dining experience. (The evening I went, there was a lady in a corner booth talking loudly to herself, which my family as well as the next table over were clearly bothered by. The servers did nothing to mitigate the situation.) Contrary to what the reviews say, their fish does not taste fresh. Also, their poke bowl had crab that tasted more of mayo than anything else, and my dad complained that his roll was drenched in sauce. My mom probably got the best food out of all of us, but the sashimi that came with her order, again, did not taste fresh. It didn't taste terrible, but it didn't have that melt-in-your mouth buttery texture to it. I was not impressed; I couldn't even walk away saying "meh, not bad." If you like Americanized sushi, then, by all means, visit Gen Kai, but for my personal taste preference, I won't be going back.
Yellowtail with jalapeno, poke on lotus root and seaweed salad were great! Also had some kind of fish wrapped around a shishito pepper that was yummy.
Albacore with crispy onion was not seared as advertised, but (over)cooked almost all the way through and therefore a disappointment. Edamame not seasoned in any way, so also a pass.
Atmosphere is dated and our server was either new or just didn't care. Reasonable prices.
I almost drove by this place! It's an understated, hole in the wall sushi joint (which in my experience are the best ones!). Found some street parking and headed on in right up to the bar. My friend swears by the sushi here and I have to agree with her!
We sat at the bar, got some delicious green tea, and ordered a yellowtail roll and a crunchy roll. We were also given a small veggie vinegar salad. Ginger was quite plentiful and yummy. The rolls come out fast and fresh. Â We were stil hungry so I got some amberjack (one of my favorites) and we had an order of Yellowtail Cheek. I had never had yellowtail cheek before and I really liked it, even though it was oilier than I expected. But really yummy. Yoshi, our sushi chef, saw we had left some cheek on the plate and he made sure we ate every last bite!
Total with tax and tip was $25 each. Everyone, from the owner, hostess and other servers were really nice! I look forward to my next visit to Gen Kai!
Shame on you! Â I have been a loyal customer of Gen Kai for 25 years. Â When the new owners came in, I tried to stick with it. Unfortunately, they do not care about loyalty or customer service. Â I was treated so rudely by the hosts.....and they know why.
I feel sorry for the sushi chefs who are all very nice... a few of whom we have known for so many years. Too bad because the sushi is actually good.. Somehow, they haven't ruined that yet!!
Never, ever going back there...for sure.
My wife and I have been coming to Gen Kai for the last 11 years. For the last 6 years we have set with young Yoshi (back in the day there was two of them), just about every Friday. Â This is a real locals and regulars kind of place. Â The fish is always fresh and the staff can't be friendlier. Â Be sure to order off their special menu that you will see on two laminated cards floating around but each chef also has a personal repertoire of dishes that are not on any menu, so ask and they will amaze you.
Review Source:Nice place ...hey it's in Dana Point, what do u expect??
I had poki bowl while my friend had yellow tail and spicy tuna. The taste was on the Americanized side (with avocado or mayo) even though all chefs seem to be Japanese.
This place got so packed and I was surprised how many people were outside waiting to be seated when I left around 8pm.
Service was friendly and attentive, Price is fair, poki bowl for $10 (if i didn't remember wrong..and that's all I know)
Parking lot is small but plenty street parking.
Okay, so this is a good sushi place, but there was very little to wow me.
They have a super long sushi bar, but my family and i sat down at a table. Might have been a better experience at the bar.
Prices were pretty decent for their specials, but what i really look for is some unique eats.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night and sat at the sushi bar! VERY fresh, super deeeeeelish!!! Â Their red snapper, toro, blue fin, and amberjack are off the hook! Definitely try their sashimi roll.
They have a good selection of sake, very friendly chefs, and a chill, casual crowd.
There are few good sushi places in OC and this is one of them! We normally go to the sushi bar but have discovered their lunch special during the work week and it a fantastic value! $10.95 for a sushi and sashimi combo plate! Â Miso soup to start out with then the plate offers a California roll, yellow-tail, maguro tuna and shrimp sushi, yellow-tail, maguro tuna and salmon sashimi. The portions are generous and many times will bring some home.
Love this place NOW both at lunch and dinnertime! So if you are here for lunch sit in the restaurant and check out the lunch special as it is not offered at the sushi bar. Dinner? I always recommend the sushi bar where you can partake in the chef's creations.
This place is great. I've lived in Dana Point for years but never tried this place. I'm so glad I did at the suggestion of my girlfriend. We had the Dana Point roll (outstanding...one of the best I've ever had), the Hawaiian Roll (very good), the Creamy Shrimp Popcorn (very good) and the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice (excellent). Service was terrific. Prices were very reasonable. One of the best sushi places I've been to.
Review Source:I have been visiting Orange County for the last 4 years during the summer (as I not so secretly want to live there one day) and am happy to have found this sushi bar. Our rolls and sashimi were really good and we had a great meal. The sushi peeps were awesome and friendly.Good place for a low-key sushi excursion.
Review Source:Terrible. I regret that I had such a bad experience.
First off the service was sloowww, and I felt unwelcomed. I ordered this fried spinach with raw fish (tuna) special. It was not made well; it was a bunch of greasy fried spinach on top of raw tuna. Not only did it not taste good, but it was sloppy to eat. So, I went to pay my bill, and the woman (manager?) asked me how things were. I told her that service was slow, and I did not think the food was that good. Alluding to me feeling unwelcome, I said, " but you don't need to care; look at all of your customers." And it was crowded. But she said, to her credit, "no, I do care."
So, then I walked out, and there was this 18 or 19 y/o kid sitting stretched out with his legs blocking 90% of the walkway. He sat there with his face staring straight ahead; he did not look at me. He also had an unfriendly look on his face. So, I walked around him, and looked at him obviously bothered, and he did nothing. It was as if he was saying, "I don't care what you think." What bothered me, is that the woman said "nothing" to him as well. I felt as if this guy did not like me complaining to the woman, and so he did not move his legs out of the way for me to pass by, and the manager was fine with it. More unwelcomeness. I will not be back.
Amazing Sushi....
Perfect service one week, Terrible service the next .
My favorite sushi place and I go here once a week.
Ever since its re-opening from a so called "fire" Gen Kai has not been the same.
If they can be more consistent with service, and fish quality then they deserve 5 stars hands down.
I recommend Gen Kai to anyone in the area but avoid if there is a crowd and be patient if you find yourself waiting a long time for the food because it is worth the wait.
My wife and I take my mother here whenever we are in town. Â The sushi is fresh and of excellent quality. Â Great portions. Â A little pricey but what sushi isn't. Â If you eat ONE thing at this restaurant, it MUST be the Baked Crab Handroll appetizer. Â It is sublime and you get two very large rolls with lots of crab.
GenKai has been in Dana forever and I have always loved going there. Â The service is pretty good in a very hectic atmosphere. Â They fill up very fast so get there early or expect to wait. Â They now take reservations but you have to be on time.
Yes I'm a midwest girl, but sushi beginner I am not. Â I've been eating and making sushi since 4th grade and I've eaten it all over the county. Â Trust me, I know good sushi and this is GOOD sushi. Â
I've been 3 times since I discovered it while traveling for work. Â Sitting at the sushi bar is by far better than eating at a table. Â Ask the sushi artist to make you whatever and you won't be disappointed. Â My favorites include seared scallop nigiri, Â where they sear the top with a torch and put a nice ponzu sauce over it. Â
Another favorite is the sashimi roll. Â All the fish is so fresh and they put it with delicious crab. Â You can get it rolled with soy paper or cucumber. Â I recommend the soy paper because the cucumber tends to water down the flavors. Â
I also wanted to try uni again because I had it once and it was bad. Â Probably because I tried it in Kentucky. Â However, this time it was amazing. Â It was smooth and creamy and not a bit fishy like my first experience. Â
GenKai is by far my favorite sushi restaurant and a must-eat every time I come to California!
I was told Genkai had the best sushi in the state and I can 100% confirm this. From the outside, the place looks a little deceiving but it is definitely a place to check out and worth the drive if you love sushi. Luckily, I arrived a bit early before they opened on Saturday because there was a line waiting to get in. We were able to get a seat at the sushi bar and enjoyed our chefs creations.
The portions were great and there were so many options. The prices were very reasonable considering how great the sushi was. We were offered a hot towel and edamame when we sat down and began ordering our rolls. The service was quick and entertaining.
Oh baby! I've been coming here for over a decade and never been dissapointed!
Big portions and incredible quality. The salmon sashimi will melt in your mouth. The quality you get for what you pay is outstanding.
Yes, the service can be a little slow, but come on people, they are usually packed out! Have some sympathy.
I lived in Japan for over seven years and I know quality. Most of the stuff Americans think of as good sushi is crapola and very over priced. My friends in Japan laugh at how Americans will pay a fortune for bizarre roll covered in sauces so you can't even taste the fish, so they can serve lower quality cuts to the gaijin.
Gen Kai puts the rest to shame for the quality they deliver at a good price.
4.5 stars
My wife and I and friends had a solid experience here - a wide variety of Sushi was eaten, including a certain fish liver that I had never had before. Drinks were standard beers, also enjoyed some hot and cold sake.
Service was excellent as well, the establishment was crowded for a Tuesday night.
Loses .5 star on the interior and decor being seriously outdated.
Oh, Genkai. I'd almost feel bad for you were it not for the fact that you don't even feel bad for yourself.
Unapologetically slow wait times/
In borderline shabby surrounds/
With definitively horrendous service/
Via an questionably blasé staff/
This place started going down hill the moment Yuji - Genkai's previous owner - left the building. However, tonight's unrepentant service - or lack thereof - truly takes the crabstick cake.
Curt host staff, 20+ minute wait times for beverages, forgotten items, falling apart nigiri, multiple requests for basic items like soy sauce plates, water, beer, sustenance... you know, the essentials, and all of this in environs that, let's just say, are less than beauteous. Le Sushi Sigh. Underwhelming. Â
A few fundamentals in the sushi kitchen and ambiance departments could help tremendously and a full overhaul in Service 101 would be spectacular. Until then, this Geisha Gal is Genkai Gone. Sayonara!
My girlfriend used to work here when we were in college so it's been years since I've been back to Genkai (which is now under new management). So maybe my review is a little bias because we used to get spoiled by the sushi chefs when we ate there as college kids.
Genkai has fresh fish, but they've turned into more of a fun roll place than a sushi or sashimi place. I guess as I've gotten older, I prefer less of the hoop-la and more of the real stuff!
Sushi Burrito. Money. (that sauce is like crack!)
Sashimi Roll. Money. (love the ponzu sauce!)
Baked Green Mussels. Yum! Everyone and their mom ordered this. I know why.
Spicy Garlic Salmon Sashimi. Good.
Spicy Bay Scallop Hand Roll. Good but not great.
Yellowtail (sashimi) Baja Style. Spicy, spicy jalapenos! Good but not great.
Sushi Nachos. Pass.
Yellowtail Nigiri. Ok.
Amaebi Nigiri. Good.
The next time I stop by Genkai, it'll be cuz I'm craving the sushi burrito and those baked mussels!
On Saturday night my boyfriend and I came here for dinner with my brother and his wife. Genkai is one of their favourite places to come for sushi, and they have been coming here for a long time. One of the first things they made sure to tell us was that we absolutely want to be the first in line when the doors open for dinner at 5pm or we may not get seated. Good to know! DO THAT! We were first, we were seated right in front of their favourite sushi chef Jun, at the bar.
Our sushi journey began with hot sake and oysters for me and my sister-in-law. My brother and my boyfriend started with some kind of tempura pepper, which was pretty hot, at least for me. I only had a little bit. The oyster was delicious though.
The rest of my experience was a fiercely pleasant blur of good company, good conversation, great food, and amazing service. I know we tried a sashimi plate and the things that stood out from that were the salmon being so fresh and flavouful and the Spanish mackerel having a really nice texture. There were other deeeelishus fishes on there, but I don't remember them specifically. Oh yeah, I finally tried a quail egg (like a lil shooter!), and the salmon cheek was awesome.
We asked the manager what one of her favourites was, and she suggested the California Roll. This was a bit of a surprise, as that seems like such a "normal" or "boring" thing to get. But, we decided to try it. What could it hurt? and honestly, since you can find a CA Roll at just about any sushi joint, it seems like a good baseline to pass judgement on. I will say, this was one of the best damn CA Rolls I have ever had; the crab mixture had a very particular sweetness to it (not overly sweet, just crab sweet) and the avocado was the perfect stage of ripeness.
Several other things I noticed and enjoyed: The paintings on the walls done by a local artist, the wooden "cups" that some regular customers are honored to decorate themselves and looked really fun and cool, and how nice the manager was to us. I felt like we were getting very special treatment the whole time.
My brother and his wife were kind enough to pick up the tab, so I am afraid I can't say much about the price, but no matter the price, I fully plan to come back here again. It will be worth every delicious penny.
Very disappointed since they reopened. Â Not sure what happened.... they closed for a while and after re-opening, prices are up, quality is way down and all the great sushi chefs & staff have moved on.
Rumor was that there was a fire in the kitchen... someone else said there was an ownership change. Â In any case, we have been disappointed both times we have went since they reopened. The sushi is not as fresh and our girls would not even eat the steak teriyaki they ordered on the last trip (too much fat & gristle).
So sad, so bad....
The Original Sushi Guru's!
Gen in Dana Point is for sure one of the Original Sushi fun spots in south OC! Do not confuse the one on Corona Del Mar as a related location, as this location is the real McCoy!
Recently (1 year ago) they had a fire so some of the old traditions have changed... Miguel used to go to the wall and pick out your Saki box that you would personalize during a visit (for example).
One thing that has not changed is the fact that the sushi is top notch. It's fresh with fair portions being served. The chefs are all really cool, and fun to chat with. It is by far one of the longest sushi bars that I have ever seen! They have additional dining tables for larger parties in the dining room.
Service is spot on, and ready to provide whatever your heart desires.
FINAL SCORE?
Gen Kai is keeping the tradition alive and well in Dana Point! Great Job Gen Kai!
I've been eating sushi for 25 years and eating at Genkai for 17 years. It's a local favorite, deservedly so.
It's crowded because it's awesome.
The freshness of the ingredients at Genkai can't be beat. I've eaten at countless sushi restaurants in Southern California and I still call Genkai home. Everyone we bring to eat there for the first time comments on how fresh the food is.
I've eaten sushi throughout Japan too. My experience there has only confirmed my opinion that Genkai is the best local sushi restaurant in the area, by far. Incredible portions for the price.
We stopped ordering off the menu many years ago, preferring to let Jun-san, our favorite chef, choose our plates for us. Although the traditional items are tasty, I highly recommend all patrons order out of their comfort zone. However, if you like rolls, the Jun Special roll is absolutely exquisite. Melts in your mouth. Like silk.
If you're a sushi connoisseur, or a sushi snob (like me), make sure to ask the chef at the bar for something special, something unique, something different off the menu. There is so much more to Genkai than California rolls.
It's like eating with family at Genkai. If ever I move away from California, this restaurant will be one of the things I miss most about the state.
UPDATE: I decided that since I hadn't ordered off the menu in years, I should do so, just so I could review items that most people would be eating. The stuffed peppers are AMAZING, and the baked crispy rice with spicy tuna is now one of my new favorite items! YUM!!
P.S. Don't overlook the fresh Oysters! They are fantastic!! :)
I will never go back to this place ever again. I told the hostess/owner about it, too. Here's what happened:
We went in  @ 7:30 for sushi at the bar, as always there's a long waiting list, so we waited...my sugar level dropped after 45 minutes of waiting. I had to eat something so my boyfriend kindly asks to purchase edamame from the hostess and she said 'no, we can only offer rice crackers ( that doesn't help)'. We decided to wait a little longer.
After 15 minutes, I asked her to please sell me some edamame while we waited for the sushi bar, I explained the reason. She told me couldn't; I asked why? She said that in 35 years she's never done that. I asked: Is it because of the Health Dept? She said, no. I asked why is it that you serve beer and they can drink it while they wait but you can't sell me edamame? She didn't give me an answer at all. She simply said 'no' I told her I would write about it Online. I did say that I was sorry since I had been going there on a biweekly basis for 2 years. That didn't seem to matter. I decided to take my goodwill elsewhere.
Her reasoning may be that if people eat a cheaper appetizer they won't buy enough at the sushi bar and, thus, she loses money. Â That's a one track mind!
We walked out after waiting for 1 hour promising ourselves never to go to a place where they can't accommodate even small requests. We went to Mahe Restaurant. We had no trouble sitting, even though it was crowded, but then again, I was 9 PM. I asked to please bring me some edamame, the manager did so right away.
Even though I will miss my favorite Chef, June. Â She can go and take classes on customer service and business goodwill retention!
My family and I wanted to get a low-key dinner on our second night in Dana Point, and after a cursory Yelp search, we ended up at Genkai. Â The place was packed the whole time we were there, but we were seated right away at a comfortable booth. Â The crowd was an unaffected mix of people, with a number of families, and I liked the buzzing but laid-back atmosphere. Â Service was fast and attentive throughout the meal. Â Our waiter never seemed overwhelmed or hurried.
The food was solid, simple and unpretentious and on the whole pretty great. Â Chicken and New York strip teriyaki were slopped in sauce without apology, and they were both quite good, the chicken moist and the beef tender. Â Tempura was standard and satisfying. Â The spicy tuna roll was huge and tasty with a smear of sriracha, though it did come with way too much rice.
Genkai does some delectable sushi as well, and at a fair price point. Â I wouldn't count on the top shelf stuff, but every piece I had was worth getting. Â Creamy, briny uni, torched and sauced unagi, and chewy, supple tako were all up to par. Â I particularly liked the sake, which boasted fatty slabs of salmon covered in thin slices of onion. Â I tried one item that came with the intimidating price designation of "M.P." Â This was the amaebi sushi, which at $9, was not too frightening. Â The sweet shrimp had a smooth succulence and a near slimy texture that I enjoyed, and the crunchy fried head came separately. Â I also had the tamago, which I'm sure was bought in a block from a grocery store. Â I'm a sucker for that sweet egg.
For dessert, we got a bowl of green tea ice cream and a plate of mochi ice cream, with pieces of strawberry, vanilla, and mango. Â This was all the same stuff you can get at your local Asian market, but it was a delicious way to wrap up our meal.
Incidentally, I don't think this place charges corkage, and we went through a bottle or two of wine with our sushi and teriyaki. Â Genkai was a fun spot for a relaxing family dinner, and if it were near our home, I'm sure my family would visit often.
All these people giving Gen Kai good reviews really worries me. What exactly do you like about it? I have gone to Gen Kai several times over the course of many years. Management has changed a few times, and not long ago the place supposedly caught partially on fire? Not sure, but they were shut down for a while and now their store proudly bears a banner reading "Now We Open!". Nice.
Whether or not that banner is actually a clever way of convincing would-be customers that the owners are in fact asian (and possibly even Japanese) is a discussion for another place. How is the food you ask?
Horrible. The last time I was at Gen Kai (not two months ago, and after aforementioned banner was posted) the fish was atrocious. I had albacore and I seriously wondered whether I was going to throw up.
Not only that, but the prices are not good. Much too high, especially considering the quality of food, service, and the feel of the restaurant.
If you can avoid it. Do so.
Walk in, Sit Down, and Strap In, because your about to get blown away.
I travel for work and always look for a local sushi (and brewpubs, another story) when I'm within a few hundred miles of an ocean.
Genkai is completely off the charts for quality of food, quality of service and breadth of menu. I mean where else have you had Halibut collar? OK, sure, but also seared Salmon collar on the same night. Neither one was on the menu, but make friends with the sushi-rista
Don't dare go here and not have the mussels
I'm not crazy about Dana Point, but when I'm in the area (like within 90 miles) I make sure I get to Genkai.
Got to stop writing my mouth is watering
All food should be like sushi. Â One giant-sized bite full of flavors, textures and freshness that makes your eyelids flutter and your head fall back. Â Tonight at Genkai, we savored each piece of sushi just like this. Â Sat at the bar and the chefs were very friendly and skilled in their work. Â
We started with some nigiri - yellowtail and unagi. Â The yellowtail was the best we've had in a while; mouthy, fresh, and more fish than rice, instead of the other way around. Â The eel came out hot and was perfectly balanced with that sweet eel sauce. Â Then we tried the special Ono dish. Â We watched as the chef used a torch to broil each element. Â The result was a delicate and tender fish that melted in our mouths, served with eggplant, peppers, sea scallops, lotus root and a citrusy, sweet soy sauce. Â I picked the Sammy special roll. Â This was an insane mix of spicy tuna, sea scallops, tempura and unagi, wrapped in soy paper and doused in some kind of special sauce. Â We tried one of the specials for the night, amber jack, which tasted like yellowtail but a bit chewier. Â Lastly, we finished on a high note with some tasty albacore tataki. Â
If we hadn't gotten saki and a couple of beers with the meal, it would have been $50 plus tip. Â That's not too bad for sushi, considering the quality was so much higher than the all-you-can-eat variety. Â The chef gave us a dessert while we were waiting for the check - perfectly ripe slices of orange, kiwi and pineapple enhanced by some amaretto liquor. Â What a great meal!
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