Made a reservation even though it was just me and it was a good thing. This place was packed. Seated immediately by a very sweet hostess. First one in and I walked from the hotel Lela only 1/2 mile away. At the recommendation of my super sweet server I tried the fire cracker shrimp which was a regular specialty on he table placard. I also noticed the cod miso which intrigued me so I order it. What brought in though was the Hamichi Kama which I ordered also. On top of this they brought out a black seaweed/gyoza sample. The. On top of that since it is my birthday week they brought me the green tea mocha. Wow to say I am stuff was an understatement. So since this was a progressive ordering situation which I created the food came out sort of mish mash. I started with black seaweed / gyoza sampler. It was awesome. I would have ordered more had I not already ordered . Then I moved on to the bang bang shrimp. 8 breaded shrimp with their version of bang bang sauce. Plump shrimp with a chili sauce. Not bad. The sauce was just a chili style sauce and so left some to be desired. Then the cod miso came out. Wow. Super hot and had actual chunks of cod and veggies in it. Very good. Then the Hamichi Kama which came out. Amazing. I had this before in Japan and in West Virginia. Amazing. Definitely a recommend. Then they brought out the green tea mochi with green tea ice cream. It was the best I have ever had. Amazing meal definitely needed the walk back to try and walk some of it off. The restaurant is small and reservations are highly recommended. Definitely worth the trouble and I plan to return in the future to try some other items. read more

See all

Authenticity at its finest. Me and my family went to Genki as we heard it was a great place to get sushi and other Japanese food and it did not disappoint. We were greeted immediately and the servers and chef said welcome in Japanese. We were given warm towels for our hands and it's really a great way to start a meal; it makes you feel revitalized. The inside is nice; they had traditional Japanese music playing in the background so it really set the tone. There are some tables, booths and a counter so you have options on where you can sit. The decor is nice with the lucky cat and other fun decorations. The waitress took our order with a smile on her face and asked us if we wanted recommendations on any of the products or food. She was knowledgeable on the menu and showed real enthusiasm with our questions. I could see the chef preparing the food was clearly skilled and so I did go with what the chef recommended. Before our appetizers, they brought us a complimentary side dish of edamame beans in seaweed salad which was refreshing. Then our appetizers came. We ordered Miso Soup, Garden Salad, California Rolls, Spring Rolls and Pork Gyoza. I had a few of The Pork Gyoza which was cooked perfectly. Crispy at first and then quickly melts in your mouth; was nice and hot too. My family told me the California Rolls and Garden Salad were yummy too. Then the entrees came out and they exceeded our expectations. My family that had the Chicken Fried Rice said it was delicious. One got the Grilled Salmon Dinner and another a Crunchy Roll I believe; they really enjoyed their dishes. My family that ordered the Sushi Platter liked his too (Philadelphia Rolls, Fire Cracker Rolls, Matt's Special and I believe some Salmon Rolls). I had gotten the Chef's recommended, which was two pieces of Yellowtail (Hamachi) and I believe Tuna (Kama-Toro). It was incredibly fresh; among the freshest nigiri I have ever had. I also then ordered their Fire Cracker Roll and that was very good; if you like something with a bit of spice you will love it. We wanted dessert but were too full; just gives us another reason to go back! Genki has something for everyone. Japanese comfort food, Sushi, Sashimi, Nigiri and more. If you haven't already gone, it's time to go; you won't be disappointed! Until next time! じゃあね！ read more

See all

Everyone already knows this place is amazing so I'm mostly doing this to add more photos of the food! First time in, the service was so quick our order was FAST but paced perfectly. The actual restaurant set up is perfect and very very sentimental. Family run and photos up of everyone. Amazing, I can't wait to bring people here. read more

Genki - Naruto salmon maki - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

I had lunch here for the first time yesterday. Walking into the restaurant, I felt like I was back in Japan. The place has a traditional Japanese vibe with chef and staff shouting out, "Irasshaimase!" Welcome! Japanese music is in the background. The sushi bar was a great place to sit, as I like to watch the sushi chef work his magic in forming and creating beautiful dishes with the fresh seafood. There is a sign at the bar stating that it could take time to get an order out if there's only one chef. That was the case yesterday. I didn't mind at all, as I knew, based on the food I saw, I would be getting top quality, fresh sushi. And I did! I ordered the sashimi lunch ($21.50), which included a side. I selected the kimchee. The kimchee was delicious! I was given a small plate of edamame, which was marinate in some sort of sauce. Very tasty. The sashimi plate had 12 pieces, which I ate all of it! My favorite was the salmon and octopus. It came with a side of white rice. Service by Sophia was very nice. She was attentive. From what I could see, everyone was friendly and seemed to enjoy their job. When I got the bill, there was a charge for "Non-cash adjustment" in the amount of $0.86. I was paying in cash and was told it would be removed. The updated bill showed -$0.83 but still had the $0.86, which was not removed. Even at the bottom, it states, "We offer a cash discount." Oh well. Overall, a great place for lunch in an authentic Japanese atmosphere. read more

See all

Yes, I highly recommend this Japanese establishment. From the time we stepped in, we were greeted like family. Fortunately, no waiting time to be seated. The place is small like you are actually in Osaka, Japan somewhere. I love this Genki Sushi restaurant. We ate the whole plate. It was that delicious. The interior decor maybe dated but you know what, this place is my go to sushi every time I visit beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina. read more

See all

Out of Townes here. Want to say that first to be fair. Place had a good ambiance. Felt small, cozy, family own. So we had slight variation of the sushi dinner combo. I think I had deluxe which chef choice. For 30+ you would imagine chef choice would be more of the delicacy kind of fish - maybe a simple tuna toro. So the fish and the value does not match, at least in our book. And tbh, the cut of the fish is small compared to the many sushi places we had. Total dinner was 170.00 ish but was it worth? - probably not. Had probably better sushi for even less.... oh forgot to mention customer service, it was good but don't ask the customer a thousand hows the food and put your thumbs up. What do u expect the customer to say. read more

Incredible food, attentive service, and reasonable price; what more could you ask for? As a self-proclaimed sushi aficionado, this place is at the top of my list. Truly can't recommend enough. read more

Genki - Sashimi Platter - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

Always great service and always the best sushi in Wilmington. My daughters and I love the food, the atmosphere and the welcoming spirit of Genki. read more

Genki - Sushi selection. - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My husband and I loved this spot. The sushi was so fresh and the service was very quick. We will be going back!

Best sushi in Wilmington! The service is great, the sushi is authentic (they don't have all the made up rolls you find in many sushi restaurants in Wilmington. This is authentic sushi. The chef is also the owner and her takes pride in his work. Be aware that you need reservations for dinner. Love this place! read more

We had another great sushi dinner at Genki tonight. Really good rolls. And our server, Maya was funny, attentive, and had great suggestions! read more

Genki is my favorite sushi restaurant in the Wilmington/ILM area. I've been here a handful of times, and it never disappoints! I continue to stand behind my claim that Genki is a hidden gem. If you're in the Wilmington area, and want to experience the BEST SUSHI then Genki is your restaurant! Pictured is tako nigiri "Octopus," Matt specialty roll, Fire in the hole, The Firecracker, Spicy tuna roll, and some white peach saké! My previous rating still stands, but they are really close to ALL 5 stars! Atmosphere 4 stars - Service 5 stars - Food 5 stars - Value for your money 5 stars. Overall I would give Genki 4.5 stars. The sushi & specialty rolls are a definite 5 stars. If you are from or visiting the Wilmington, NC area and want sushi then definitely checkout Genki! read more

See all

So disappointed, I have never reviewed a restaurant because I thought it was unfair to hard working staff which these people were BUT Overly long delay getting food. Yes, the warning that it would be slow but over an 1.30 hours ! Unacceptable by any standard. 1 good Sushi dish ,1 poor salmon and tuna roll , 2 overcooked salmon dishes, 1 tofu dish. So many great reviews but this time no substance . Neil read more

Simply the highest quality sushi in the tri-county area. The staff is friendly and helpful. Their cooked dishes are also excellent.

This is the best sushi in town!!! This is more traditional sushi instead of Americanized sushi. Maki all the way...sashimi was delicious. I recommend this place all the time and any time friend come in from California and New York I take them to this restaurant. read more

Staff was very pleasant and efficient. Food was outstanding. I usually don't like most fish ("why go to a sushi place" you ask. They have more than just sushi). I tried my wife's and it was excellent. Also, best Egg Drop Soup I've had read more

Genki - Sushi Rolls - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Treated myself to dinner after my flight was canceled on a Friday evening. There is a parking lot outside. I came around 7 pm and had to wait ~5-10 minutes for a seat at the bar. The menu has an array of appetizers, sushi and other appetizers. The waiters were all very nice and attentive. The inside was nice but a little small. I waited a decent amount of time for my food to come out. I ordered a Philadelphia roll and a special of the week roll. It was yummy! The ingredients felt fresh. A little bit pricier. The edamame that came out before hand was fun! Overall a nice meal. read more

Genki - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

The best sushi I ever had. Up against anything that I had in NY Great place. And Danny and Lana and the rest of the staff are awesome. read more

Fantastic sushi!! Highly recommend Pork Gyoza, Tar Tar with Bluefin, and Red Dragon roll. Look forward to returning. read more

Genki - Red dragon - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

Excellent and very consistent. Been eating here for quite sometime and never disapoints read more

The egg roll was bland and tasted burnt. I give it a 2.5/5 stars. I got the spicy tuna roll with cucumber and no wasabi ( I made my own). I'm glad they let you create/edit any of the rolls on the menu. This roll was delicious, the tuna had an amazing, rich and fresh flavor. The cucumber was good, but too crunchy. It was one big chunk of cucumber, and I wished they would have skinned it and chopped it into smaller pieces. Overall, I give the roll a 4/5 stars. I also got the shrimp tempura roll. This roll had a great flavor. The only bad thing was the rice was overcooked and too warm/soft, making it not as refreshing. Overall, I rate this rate a 3.5/5. The candies they give you at the end are very delicious! Don't be feared by their appearance. They are my favorite part of the dinner, 5/5 stars!! The service was great even during busy dinner hour. I rate my overall dinner and experience a 3/5. A solid choice, but a bit pricey and bland for what you get. read more

Genki - Spicy tuna and shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Genki is an all around fantastic dining experience. They do so many little things to make your evening feel special that most restaurants these days simply do not do, such as the hot towels before your meal, delicious edamame and seaweed snack before your meal and appetizers, to their little candies given out with the bill. I have eaten here multiple times and each time was equally impressed with the quality of the sushi. Everything is incredibly fresh and well assembled. I enjoy sitting at the bar and watching Chef Danny assemble all of the sushi, but there are booths and a few tables as well. They can get busy pretty quickly so I would suggest reservations if you are planning to go. They also have a great selection of other Japanese dishes besides sushi such as hand made gyoza and tonkatsu. read more

Genki - Sushi Dinner - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

Omg we love this sushi place! We have been twice now and we will continue to come back Great staff! The rolls are just so good! Can't get enough read more

Went during lunch time and there was one server and one hostess who seemed very overwhelmed. Server walked by us multiple times before approaching. Forgot multiple items, had to ask for things multiple times, and one sushi order was wrong even though it was clearly written down on the paper. Server seemed annoyed by my questions regarding items that I was trying to make sure were allergy safe for me. Even then, the order still came out wrong. Never brought out an appetizer. Overall the food and service were mediocre at best. I'm sure it was just a bad day. read more

Love this place! The sushi is fresh and extremely tasty, ordering is fast and easy, and the staff is very nice. I had the egg drop soup, tuna sashimi, eel sashimi, salmon sushi, white tuna sashimi, and a shrimp tempura roll. It was all absolutely delicious! read more

See all

I have now dined in at Genki many times. I visited their former location and have been often to their deceptively simple strip location on the entrance to Target off Market. I've sat at the sushi bar for lunch- enjoying the artistry of their Chefs as well as being seated for dinner with family. The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming. The service is attentive and knowledgeable. I believe that the sushi is the best in this area. The dishes are well described and very fresh and absolutely delicious. I brought my adult daughters who reside in major cities and can be difficult to impress. They were both wowed by the quality and variety of dishes offered on the extensive menu. We three prefer raw fish, however also enjoy dumplings, seaweed salad, tofu and other dishes that we've not tried. I enjoy the seared toro. We ordered a variety of different dishes and were delighted by each one. The restaurant requires reservations for dinner and stops seating a little while before closing- a reasonable request. I also believe that there is definitely a value received for the price point. The freshness is obvious as well as the quality. For those who can't/ don't eat raw seafood? There are cooked options available so that a group can enjoy dining together that has different tastes. Alcohol is available. I highly recommend Genki as my go to for sushi lunch or dinner. It's no surprise that they've been in business for as long as they have. read more

I have visited Genki close to a dozen times! It took me longer than it should have because the location doesn't scream fresh sushi. But boy was I wrong. Genki by far has the freshest sushi and the most authentic atmosphere in Wilmington. It is founded by a master sushi chef and it shows. We have yet to find better sushi in this area, I keep coming back to Genki. Chefs kiss. read more

We made yet another trip to Genki Sushi last night and we weren't disappointed! As always, we were greeted with a smiling staff, and even Lana, one of the owners was there and spoke with us. We are always treated like family when we go there. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable, the service was excellent and the food... Oh, the food! Chef Danny even makes his own sake. We got in there around 6 PM on a Friday night right before the crowd, and I think we waited less than five minutes or less to be seated. All in all an excellent dining experience: great food, great service, great value! read more

Best place in town for sushi. It's small, so go early or make a reservation online. The food is excellent. read more

Genki - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

PHENOMENAL!! Some of the best sushi I've had in the state. Not only is the quality and presentation remarkable, but THE SERVICE is impeccable. Everybody works together and has such a good attitude. I felt very taken care of and wish I lived here to come every week! But I will be back with friends! Also, they put scallion in their Philly roll and it has forever changed my life. read more

Genki - Salmon nigiri, yellowtail & Philly - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

I was craving sushi rolls and heard great things about Genki. So glad we came in. They suggested reservations but we went without and got their last available table at 6:30pm on a Wednesday. It's a very small place. The staff was friendly and had great teamwork so that our waitress and others checked in with us frequently. We got a hot sake to start and ordered a handful of rolls. The menu didn't give descriptions of every roll but when I asked the waitress about cucumber she replied that she made a note for the chefs to not include. I really appreciated that. Another nice touch was the hot towels before. Also, the small ramekin of edamame and seaweed was good that came with the rolls. The fish on the rolls were fresh and were a good mix of rice, sauce and fish! We enjoyed the rolls, sake and beer, and will be back to try more! read more

See all

This place used to be our go-to place. Unfortunately since we last visited a year ago, the food was gone quite downhill.

This is without a doubt, the BEST sushi in Wilmington. Chef Danny and his lovely wife run a perfect little sushi joint. Expect a long wait if you do not make a reservation. Pro tip: order the Lotus Roll as an appetizer. Then, keep the dish it comes in and dip your sushi, sashimi, or nigiri in this delicious sauce. read more

Great food and service. Tofu was amazing, great quality sushi and the caramels at the end too

Best sushi in Wilmington by far! You need reservations. Plan to spend a lot but you will leave full and happy. Attentive waitstaff. Small restaurant in a stripe mall but the food will make you forget where you are read more

I've lived in Wilmington for 10 years now and I've searched and searched for the best sushi in town and I FINALLY found it at Genki!! AMAZING quality and super friendly staff!! The restaurant feels like a cozy, hidden gem of a spot because.....well, it IS! I LOVE GENKI! (I lived in Japan for a bit so I DEF know my sushi!!) 10/10 read more

Back again and again very impressed. Started with the deluxe sushi combo as well as assorted pieces of nigiri. The combo had the usual assortment you would find of nigiri (salmon, shrimp, hamachi,etc) plus a tuna roll. All fresh and tasty. In addition we ordered the surf clam, uni and conch. All good except the conch taste and texture not what I was expecting. Conch has a firm, chewy texture like octopus. This I think was over chopped which took away from that texture. The taste certainly wasn't bad just not what I was expecting. Service friendly and efficient. The ambiance is what I would expect from a sushi place small, low background Japanese string music and light wood tones. It's not a place where you would go to have a long dinner with multiple courses. But, it is arguably the best sushi in Wilmington. read more

Genki - Sushi deluxe combo, surf clam and uni Nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My husband and I tend to be pretty picky about sushi. We've tried most sushi establishments in Wilmington and none of them can even hold a candle to Genki. Without a doubt, Genki is some of the best sushi we've ever had. The service is absolutely wonderful. It is owned by a husband & wife and is run with the help of their kids and other family members. Everyone is always so kind & polite and we have never had an issue. The restaurant is smaller, but with good reason! The sushi is always extremely high quality and more importantly, it always tastes THE SAME. It always tastes just as good as the time before and it is nearly perfect. Our favorite roll has to be the firecracker roll; we also love the salmon nigiri. We will always continue coming back to Genki any time we're craving sushi! P.S. It is 100% worth it to download the Open Table app in order to make reservations here! I wouldn't stop by without a reservation since they tend to be pretty busy! read more

Food was great. I got the Beef Curry for lunch. And it was really filling and delicious. read more

Genki - Japanese Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The family has been dining at Genki for special occasions for years! My favorite food is sushi, and this is our go-to place in Wilmington. I don't order sushi at any other place in Wilmington because it just doesn't compare to Genki. I still have some local Japanese restaurants to give a try though. Last night, the experience was great as usual. The service is attentive but not overbearing--you feel like part of the family. They bring complimentary hijiki salad (amazing umami and unique) and warm hand towels. The storefront is in a strip mall, and the inside is small, so find a reservation! It is never too loud in there because of this! Some of our favorites: Yellowtail nigiri - melts in your mouth and perfect flavor Smelt roe nigiri w/ quail egg yolk on top - don't knock it until you try it Eel avocado and/or cucumber roll - perfect flavor and tender eel Tuna tempura roll - tekka maki roll but upgraded Gyozas - pork tastes like mushroom goodness and veggie is very flavorful The price tag after all of this sushi is hefty, and you may not be full if you go the sushi-only route. We only go for special occasions, but the sushi is delectable. It is definitely the place to go if you want the highest quality Japanese! read more