I'm very happy the Genki food truck exists! I have fun finding them staged around Boise and grabbing some delicious takoyaki. It's rather difficult, if not almost impossible, to find delicious, authentic Japanese cuisine in the Treasure Valley. This small food cart is an Idaho gem. I've tried several of their food items, however this review will focus on their namesake dish, takoyaki (octopus ball). For those who don't know, takoyaki is a popular Japanese street food with bits of chopped octopus and dough inside a slightly crispy shell garnished with takoyaki sauce. I was very happy with how similar the snack tastes to the ones I've had in Japan. Genki serves these in 6 pieces ($6) and there are several sauces available. I like to top mine with sriracha to add a kick. It's a wonderful mid evening snack! My only complaint is on a couple visits I found my takoyaki to be rather old tasting, like either the oil hadn't been changed in a while or the octopus was overdue. It's happened less times than more so I'll still continue to eat this unless it becomes more frequent. Genki use to be very active on the Street Food Finder app but this summer they seem to limit their postings to Facebook and Instagram, so if you want to find them you'll have to go either of those routes. read more

Genki Takoyaki - Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Nice to see a little exotic flavor in the Boise food scene. Fresh Takoyaki made right in front of you, and quick. They have octopus and BBQ pork, which I had never seen before. Of course I had to try both. 6 dumplings made for a big snack or a small meal. I would have preferred them slightly more crispy, but that's an easy fix if you ask. Topped with bonito flakes, Japanese mayo, and teriyaki sauce for a nice mix of savory and sweet flavors. The pricing doesn't make a whole lot of sense: $4 for 4, 5$ for 6, $7 for 8. Sort of de-incentivizing ppl from going for 8. Just a thought. read more

Genki Takoyaki - 3 octopus and 3 BBQ pork dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Some of the Japanese food in Boise may be good (or at least good enough), but there's also an issue with a general sameness to the menus at all of the restaurants as well, rarely deviating from the accepted norms. That made Sono Bana's closure all the more disheartening. While the food in general wasn't top-flight stuff, they were the primary restaurant in town to offer Japanese fare that no one else offered. Included in that fare on occasion was takoyaki, octopus-filled pancake dumplings with street-cart origins. I didn't think it was very good (I think they came frozen from a bag), but the intent to provide a more authentic Japanese experience was appreciated. So forgive me for being excited over a takoyaki food cart that not only helps fill a void for Japanese food but is good as well. I've had both good and bad street-cart takoyaki (the batter quality has been the key), and I'd put these in the good category. The batter wasn't overcooked, so I got a crisp and slightly crunchy outside with a gooey and chewy inside. Topped with a thick sweet takoyaki sauce, green onions, mayo, seaweed flakes, katsuobushi (dried fish shavings), and Sriracha sauce (which they thankfully asked beforehand if you want it added because I did not). The non-octopus options are rotated out. On this day they had a version with roasted char siu pork, but the octopus was selling a lot more. While they didn't offer Japanese mayo due to its high price around here, I was told they plan to make their own mayo similar in taste to Japanese mayo. They've started off at the Capital City Public Market in downtown on Saturdays but plan to be available elsewhere on various evenings, so Facebook or Twitter are the best way to keep track of their progress. A simple but great addition to the local food scene. read more

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This husband and wife team are amazing. After just 3 visits they start to remember who you are and catch up. Super nice people with good Japanese street food. Reminds me the times I visited Japan and had street fair food. Follow them on social media to catch their pop ups. They also offer classes and would love to join one some day. read more

Amazing takoyaki! And if you're not into takoyaki, they continuously switch up the menu to give you authentic Japanese food that you won't find anywhere else! read more

Had my first try of takoyaki at treefort! Super stoked and excited to frequent the cart at capital city market. GOOD ethnic food is really hard to come by in Boise and this is good good good!! Wish they offered more Japanese options to get my fill. Not stoked on any Japanese restaurants here :( Yum def must try! read more

The takoyaki is great. Their sushi is the best in town. I live part time in Seattle and I can't get better there. This is my go to when I'm in Idaho. read more

The food is average, expensive and the quantity is ridiculously small. I asked for no rice and extra veggies and that I would pay extra. I received 3 small cauliflower pieces, 2 table spoons of seaweed and 3 small shrimp...10.00! When I finally got my food, I asked if that was extra veggies and he was extremely rude and said yes. Drowning in some sauce, I asked for soy sauce and he didn't want to let me use any. "It has sauce on it." Such a rip off! Terrible customer service and quite frankly, dirty. Never again. read more

I love Genki Takoyaki! the takoyaki tastes exactly like the ones I had in Kyoto, Japan. Very authentic and very tasty.

I was overcharged by these clowns, the food was yawn worthy, and they have no idea how to serve customer the correct order. I was skipped three times and met with a rude reply when I inquired about why people who ordered after me got their food before me. (Exact same#6). read more

Genki Takoyaki is a small family owned business adding much needed flavor and flare to the Boise food scene. I have had their Takoyaki, "porkbellyyaki " and their sushi, every time it's fantastic and fresh. These guys really care about what they make and it shows in the flavor! read more

If you're looking for the unusual and delicious then look no further then here. The Genki Takoyaki is the newest must have at food truck Rallies and the Boise Farmer's Market. Find them on Facebook for their next appearance. Rhett Atagi has spent several years in Japan, is a sushi chef and he is most ably assisted by Christie. read more

Genki Takoyaki - Rhett and Christie - Japanese Near Me - Boise, Idaho

AMAZING! Char sui pork takoyaki were golden on the outside, soft & pillowy inside with luscious pork sausage nested in the middle. They let me modify the toppings leaving off sriracha and adding bonito flakes, which add a smokey flavor, and green onions. Polite, friendly, and efficient, without feeling rushed. Saturday Market btwn Main & Idaho in front of garage escalators. (1 hr free parking, carnival that is the market, & $5 for 8 takoyaki = great value) read more

Genki Takoyaki - making takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Totally unlike anything else Boise has in the realm of Japanese cuisine, Genki Takoyaki delivers something unique and delicious. Run by a couple of neat people and always serving up great quality takoyaki, I would recommend this food truck to anyone. read more

Bought some takoyaki today, it was delicious! Service was great! Also love that they offer pork belly dumplings along with the original!

We were very excited to try the octopus dumplings, as my husband is a big octopus fan. We ordered four each of of the octopus and four of the pork dumplings. We also ordered the chicken sandwich. We were disappointed on all counts. The octopus tasted fishy, not fresh. The pork dumpings were bland, and the chicken sandwich was greasy and tasted of the frying oil. The only reason I didn't give them one star us that the fellow was all alone, taking orders and payments and cooking. I had to make 3 separate trips to his cart to get my orders in parts--and he only put them together when I came out to check on them. Not a fan. read more