My favorite Japanese restaurant. Takoyaki is a great starter, the best I've had so far in Brooklyn. The entrees are traditional and well prepare They have a large selection of sake. read more

Came across this place and didnt think it would be anything special but I'm surprised. The menu is simple but they do what they do well. Their tempura is satisfying and the shop is calm during lunchtime. I recommend it if you're in the area, dont wanna walk far in the hot sun, and dont't know what to eat. read more

I love Gen. I had my birthday party there and it was amazing. The food was delicious and the wait staffs were very friendly!

I live right near Gen and have seen it through some up and downs. The food was truly amazing considering the price and neighborhood for a while but it's kind of dropped off a little in the past year. Still good and totally worth a visit if for nothing else than the gorgeous backyard setup. I've noticed the head chef doesn't seem to be around as much as he used to, so maybe that's it? Still, I do love the mackerel shiso roll... read more

Decent Sushi at a reasonable price. What else do you expect? By "decent" I mean really nice Sushi. The Sushi combo for one or two is a visual and taste feast. Sometimes I walk 20 minutes just for a dinner here. read more

Went in with a bunch of friends on a busy Friday night. We were seated rather quickly, so that's always nice! The salmon gyozas were awesome. I'd definitely order them again if I ever go back. I forgot which entrée I had, but I don't remember if it was worth it. I'm always going to enjoy a night out if there's two things... Good food, and even better company. Life's way too short for the drama. read more

-1 star for lousy service from basically all the male waiters Very good rolls Nigiri was meh read more

We've lived around the corner for over a year and didn't try this until we were too lazy to venture out of the neighborhood for sushi. Was totally knocked out by quality, freshness and the omakase that was so reasonably priced I sprung for it on a casual Wednesday- beautiful board with beautiful fish! Definitely undersung when it comes to sushi in Brooklyn- or anywhere. Obligatory note - well done Covid set up with sizable seating area. read more

I live a couple blocks away, so I've been to this place a number of times. Definitely my favorite sushi place in my area for a number of reasons. 1. Interesting flavor/ingredient combinations. The sushi is fantastic, I've probably tried about a dozen of their different rolls by now and every one has been top notch. Very tasty and very focused, using only 3 or maybe 4 ingredients in ways that make for a very fun eating experience. 2. Atmosphere. The interior is very nice and cozy. The tables are nice, I sat at the sushi bar a few times when dining alone and it was nice to watch the chefs at work. The plates and cups and everything are also interesting, not just boring white plates and clear cups, very contemporary Japanese stylings all around. The music is always good too. The outdoor area is great when its nice out. 3. Pork Belly. Enough said, just order it and thank me later. 4. Abstract Garden. $10 and the chef will give you a little grab bag of an appetizer... I've had this 3 times now and every time, I'm treated to an interesting, though sometimes difficult, plate of food. Awesome place, one of our favorite date spots. read more

Get the spare ribs. The meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. The sushi is good and pretty decently priced. Like much of Prospect Heights, this place has a unpretentious neighborhood vibe. Go in knowing what you want. The older waitress is the master of the up-sell. If you don't come in with a firm resolve, you'll end up spending an extra $10 or so. read more

This place was the bomb. It's tiny so there was a bit of a wait, but the hostess took my number and we were sat within 20 minutes. The food was fresh, well-cooked and delicious. We ordered salmon and tuna entrees, a mango sushi roll, seaweed salads with miso dressing and miso soup. Everyone was impressed. The prices are fair considering the quality, but the portions could have been bigger. Service was excellent. Our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, attentive and kept our waters filled (which is admittedly my biggest request). I definitely recommend to anyone looking for authentic Japanese food in a relaxed atmosphere. read more

I've been here twice and both times the service and food has been excellent. The staff is so friendly and accommodating. The sushi is super fresh and traditional. They also have a great selection of Japanese beers and saki, but my personal favorite is their plum wine. read more

Not too much to complain about, except maybe a better selction at lunch time. The sushi was fresh and the place has a nice neighborhood vibe. The nori was a tad chewy in my maki rolls, but otherwise great. read more

Honestly, I'm impressed. At least on the lunch menu side. I went there for the first time yesterday after hearing good things about Gen's lunch from the sushi chef at Taro. I ordered a bowl of shrimp tempura and soba noodles, a ume shisoroll, a natto roll and two pieces of saba, all with the optional wild rice. The shrimp tasted like shrimp, not overcooked at all, the broth was salty but flavorful and the noodles were firm and nutty tasting. Both my rolls and sushi were done well. Natto not only smelled like rotten cheese it tasted like rotten cheese, good news for a natto fan. The ume shiso was a tad dull but I'm tabbing this up to the wild rice, which although is really good, you have to experiment with to see which items go well with it and which don't, natto and saba working well and ume shiso doesn't. The wild rice itself is very mild at first bite but has a pleasant earthy and nutty aftertaste. So! What's for dinner? read more

It's nice to have this place in the hood, and I like the reggae vibe. Service is slow and they messed up our orders on two different occasions. We don't plan to go back but you may want to check it out if you live close. read more

Came to this place for lunch with my Dad and my best friend. Really friendly and great service. The prices were good for the quality and I left very satisfied. Got the vegetable tempura roll special for lunch and definitely got more than expected. Shared a tofu & avocado salad with my friend and was very satisified. Will come again! read more

i don't think i've ever seen this restaurant not busy. i stopped by on a sun. night at 9:30 and there was a 20 min wait for a table for two. i got the Hokkai Nabe & crab cake apps this time around in addition to the standard fare of Melting in Your Mouth roll. yum yum yum the Nabe is PERFECT for cold weather. i wasn't a huge fan of the crab cake. it tasted really great.. but it seemed too creamy. asian hot pocket? ha quick poll - what do you think of the new menu format? not really a fan of the boards. read more

Found this place on yelp with good reviews, so why not give it a try. Came here with the family, my mom and I've already ate before coming here. It was mainly dinner for my sister and my step dad. I kept in mind not to over order (which i have a tendency of doing so, I just can't help myself sometime). Our waitress came up, asked if we would like any alcoholic drinks (I know that's where the money is) she looked disappointed when we declined. Keeping in mind that both my mother and I wasn't hungry, we ordered about 5 items from the menu just to start. The waitress then gave us the look "that's it?" I thought it was just me but the whole table felt her negative vibe. I reassured her that we'll order as we go if it's not enough food as I'm not too hungry. Before walking away from our table, she mentioned that she'll bring us some water. 10 - 15 minutes later, no water. She may have forgotten, totally understandable. So we reminded her. Another 10 minutes passed... still no water, instead she's stacking the water cup/glass. So we then waved down a different waitress. For the rest of the night, this 2nd waitress was AMAZING! She got us our water, refill of water, took our 2nd order, very attentive with a huge smile on her face. She was super sweet! I had to pull her aside before we left just to let her know how she completely made our day. I apologize if I spelled her name incorrectly but Minika was AMAZING! I hope the manager or owner sees this. Minika turned our dining experience here from horrible to A-OK. The food was pretty good, the Uni was fresh. The service totally started out super sour. read more

i love GEN. it is hands down the best sushi/japanese restaurant in the north BK area. the food is so fresh. the service is impeccable and the atmosphere is calm and inviting. although it is always crowded, i never feel like i'm being rushed or that it's chaotic or that the waitstaff will overlook service because they're too frazzled. firstly, the sashimi is very fresh. and they are innovative, creative and thoughtful with the presentation and menu. they have seasonal menus and daily specials that are worth trying. secondly, their entrees, although the standard fare, are consistently good. never overcooked rice, over fried tempura or over battered katsu. thirdly, they have a great selection of sake and many flavors to suit the palate and the different dishes. forthly, their desserts are all yummy. even the ice creams like green tea, are always on point. some places, you cannot get good green tea ice cream. i know! i've tried! i've taken my japanese ex (who's family runs one of the best japanese restaurants in nyc) there and he loved it! i first came across this place 3, 4 years ago when it first opened. then later i realized it's owned by my hairdresser's bf. since then i've been trying to frequent it more and am happy it's doing so well! it's definitely worth every dollar. read more

I'm so surprised no one has written about Gen's ever-changing specials menu! The thing that keeps me coming back to Gen is the fact that every night they improvise some cool new dishes based on fresh ingredients they have brought to them. I met this guy Charlie who waltzed in the place clutching bags of fresh conch and crabs, still wearing his galoshes from that day's excursion. Later that night, he was upstairs eating both with his girlfriend! For my money, that's as good as a restaurant gets. Add to that the fact that they have intimate patio seating, play good music and the head chef Naoki is the old bassist of Japanese noise band The Boredoms and you got yourself a quirky little izakaya that avoids the hackneyed trappings of so many other wannabes in NYC. read more

Hands down best place in Brooklyn. Great food and the vibe is incredible. It feels like the neighborhood kitchen. And the prices are amazing. :D read more

Good not great Sushi in the neighborhood. Not many sushi options around but it's my favorite in the Prospect Heights. They have a good setup and the food is good, not great. The staff also seemed aloof at times when I've eaten there. It's nothing spectacular but if your in the neighborhood and in the mood for sushi, this is where you should go. read more

gen is one of those places that you want to be good, but simply isnt. i mainly go to a restaurant for its food. sadly, this is where gen drops the ball. sure gen has a nice vibe, nice staff, and a great decor, but in the end thats all just lipstick on a pig. as i said, i go for the food and they simply do not deliver in that aspect. ive been to gen three times, ordered something different on each occasion, and each and every time was left thinking, "i've had better. far better. for less." i wish it were not, but it is. read more

This. Place. Is. Disgusting. I'm so confused to why it had 100+ 4 star reviews. The tuna sashimi was tuff and the soft shell crab was burnt and grainy. Not the mention the gross, random fuzz stuck in the wooden sushi plate, or the fact that my arms kept sticking to the nasty tabletop. read more

This is the best Japanese I've had in New York, including some much pricier restaurants in Manhattan. I've had the sushi and the tempura udon. The sushi's fish is super-fresh -- none of that "it won't kill you but it sure don't taste good" crap that lower-end sushi restaurants inflict on their customers. The rice is perfectly seasoned; I would happily just eat a straight bowl of rice with no veggies or anything. The tempura is nicely crispy, and they don't use that nasty Asian tiger shrimp that always tastes like it was caught in sewer water; this is either Gulf shrimp or Chesapeake Bay. (OK, I grew up on the Gulf Coast, in a town where shrimp was practically a staple food; I don't know if everyone's as picky as me, but I *can* taste the difference.) The udon's nicely chewy -- can I call Japanese noodles "al dente"? Is that cultural appropriation or something? Whatever. It's good. And I love the restaurant itself. It's tiny, but has truly beautiful and unique decor -- doesn't look like half the restaurants in New York, which look like they were all put together by the same kids from the same class of the same degree program at some local design school. There's actual art here, and it actually exists to be showcased in itself, not merely to complement the decor. I'm fascinated by the owner's beautiful jade plants. And there are frequently fresh floral arrangements that seem to fall somewhere between "just plain interesting" and full-fledged ikebana. My only complaint is that they have a cash-only policy for delivery. (They do take credit cards in-restaurant, though.) This is a minor hardship, since they're two blocks away from my apartment and when I'm really jonesing I just get my ass up and walk there. read more

When they first started renovating this space a few doors down from me, I couldn't imagine what was coming in. Then I saw it was to be a sushi restaurant - what? On a unlikely corner in Prospect Heights? No doubts about it now -- hands down, the best sushi I have ever had ANYWHERE. The fish is always fresh, the rolls inspired works of art and surprisingly affordable. The entrees are quite good as well. Serene decor inside and out, it strikes the right tone for the neighborhood. For three dollars more, you can get brown/wild rice sushi that is out of this world, so much more flavorful that regular white sushi rice. I'll never go anywhere else if I have a choice... read more

This is a gem; I did not misspell it! Try sushi sashimi omakase for sure. It will be the best sushi sashimi entree you can get with $35-$40 in five boroughs, perhaps in the nation. read more

I took my mom here after a show at Prospect Park. We sat in the back garden which was really nice. The sushi was delicious. My mom even tried her first maki roll - shrimp tempura - and liked it a lot. The service was great, always refilling our drinks and checking on us. Plus the bill was surprisingly cheap - I think only $80 for 3 of us having 2 courses and rolls and beer. I will definitely go back!! read more

Gen is a standout sushi spot in Prospect Heights. It feels a bit more elevated than your standard neighborhood sushi place, and offers higher quality sushi. I've been twice now, both on a Saturday night. The menu is huge, in size and in offerings, and they offer some creative rolls. Everything was fresh and inventive--the seaweed salad was a nice opener, as where the shrimp shumai dumplings. Besides the standard California and Spicy Tuna rolls, we shared the Red Dragon, that almost melted in your mouth (in a good way). Another other out feature was the presentation of the rolls--not over the top but elegant at the same time. Our server was excellent, stopping by to ask how we were doing though out the meal. Definitely recommend if you are in the Prospect/Crown Heights area and have a craving for sushi. read more

As others have suggested, I went here after a trip to the Brooklyn Museum. We sat in the garden which was way tiny, but had very interesting design. The food was good and the kitchen even sent out some edamame for me when they forgot about my vegetable tempura roll and couldn't serve it as the same time as the spicy tuna roll. Speaking of which, try the vegetable tempura roll! It was great and was surprisingly filling as well. The dishes are presented very nicely. I would say it makes a nice date spot, but I wouldn't really walk someone through the area that I didn't know well. Also, not taking Amex for a moderately-priced restaurant is a big no-no in my book. If I was feeling bitchier, I would take a star off for that alone, but I'll let it slide. read more

Really great japanese food. Interesting menu. Good decor. There is one waitress I dont like to much but I think she may have gone. And there is nothing to eat around here so Gen can certainly save the day. Kabocha Tempura, Kukuni, yosenabe, and good rolls. read more

My girlfriend and I moved here about 8 months ago and have *just* started exploring our neighborhood--we live right on the edge of Fort Greene and Prospect Heights, with Park Slope a short walk so we've been kind of lazy and just keep going into Park Slope because it was the first place we visited here---adopting some of the obvious choices there as "ours". Last night we tried out Gen and couldn't t be more stoked to have a really decent sushi place literally right around the corner. Nicole L is right---this is an extremely unlikely corner for a sushi place. We passed a couple of liquor stores and a tire repair shop on the way---pretty typical partially-gentrified brooklyn. And though I won't go so far as to say it's the best sushi I've ever had anywhere I will say it's the best mid-range sushi I've had here. The flavors aren't your typical pop-sushi fare. Everything has a little twist. Even the california roll had a little smoky flair, and actual crab meat I think, which alone would be a small miracle. The service was excellent and the prices were reasonable--it's sushi so it always ends up being a little pricey. One of the unexpected treats was the incredibly cozy and classy patio. A lot of patios here are just concrete slabs with lawn chairs and christmas lights. There was actually some thought applied to the layout here, which is in keeping with the rest of the experience--they put some thought into this place. read more

If you love sushi, you can't really do any better than Gen. I've been coming here regularly since I moved to the neighborhood a year ago, and I've yet to find better tasting sushi in Brooklyn. The restaurant itself is pretty funky. The walls look like they were painted by an aging hippie some time in the 90s, and the radio is perpetually turned to some station playing a bizarre mix of pop and slow "coffee house" jams. But if you can soldier through that, the food is outstanding, and the wait staff is always very nice. read more

So I remember when this spot was the weed spot back in the day (Brooklyn 1994, stand up!!). With that being said I wanted to hate this place because it signifies the loss of my youth and a change in the hood and because Im nostalgic like that. So, I came here with the hopes that the place would suck, and it didnt. I was wrong. The sushi here is absolutely outstanding and I am VERY picky when it comes to my sush. Its authentic Japanese food, VERY fresh and delicious and a suitable replacement for the $20.00 blue bag specials that came from this place back in the day. I wonder if they ever discovered the moving wall in the back. :) read more

Just had delivery from Gen. Totally underwhelmed. For $45 we got 2 avocado rolls and 8 pieces of Sushi. Sushi Deluxe is not so deluxe. Sushi was good (hence the 2nd star) but portion size and price are ridiculous. read more

I live 10 min by car from Gen. I was in as sushi mood so I figured i will try it out. Wow! Its the perfect neighborhood sushi, Japanese restaurant that most of Brookyn needs. The staff was excellent and the atmosphere was delightful. The art on the wall and music in the back round set the tone for a great meal. I had the spicy tuna , white tuna, California and house special red dragon roll. All was fresh, well made. the presentation made my eyes hungry. Bottom line is I am going back!! read more

Really nice menu with items not seen on typically. I had eel and avocado salad - very good - and veggie udon soup - solid, although could've used more veggies. Really exited to return and try more if the extensive menu. read more

I love the sushi here and almost get the Omakase (Chef's Choice). Also, the sake selection is one of the best in the city and you should talk to their sommelier because his knowledge of sake is encyclopedic! read more

We like this place. My wife and I moved to the neighborhood a year ago, and this is a good "go to" place when we are hungry. The food is above average. Better than we expected actually. Sushi has been very fresh every time. Prices are average for the neighborhood. I love the tempura shrimp, the batter is light and not greasy. The servers are friendly, and that makes up for the fact that the service can be slow. Overall, it's definitely worth trying out, we are glad we did and eat there once every two weeks. The garden is a nice plus in warmer months. read more

Gen is awesome! Sometimes, the service is a little spotty, but most of the time the servers there are great. The food is inventive, fresh, made to order! The chef's are talented and friendly! The lunch specials and happy hour make it one of the best spots in the 'hood. Great atmosphere, great for dates and b-days. read more