Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    GJ2 4U

    4.4 (49 reviews)

    GJ2 4U Photos

    Business Info

    GJ2 4U ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - GJ2 4U

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Leah K.

    The soy marinated crab was good and portion is worth the $$. Lots of banchan came with the order. Also order kalguksu for those who don't eat the raw crab. Staff were attentive and helpful and the place had enough seats for small and larger groups. Parking available in the shopping center

    Yurie H.

    no need to go to korea anymore to try marinated raw crabs! This spot has delicious authentic soy and spicy marinated raw crabs as well as other seafoods like salmon, abalone, and shrimp! They also sell korean dishes like kalgooksoo (noodles in anchovy broth) and budae jjigae (army stew) which were both delicious and packed with flavor! I LOVED this spot and will definitely be back! the soy marinated raw crabs were my favorite - better than the ones I had in korea

    Dennis T.

    You will be consuming a lot of raw seafood. They do have some cooked noodle dishes and other entrees but their specialty is the raw marinated crab and seafood. This was my first time trying it so I did not know what to expect in terms of taste, etc. The restaurant is medium sized. More on the smaller side, considering how popular it is. They only have tables that would fit 5 comfortably. If you have more than 5, you'd have to wait for them to combine tables. We waited about 30-40 minutes on a Friday night. My final thoughts - between the crab, salmon, shrimp and spicy crab, the salmon and shrimp were my favorite. The marinate does not provide flavoring like I expected it to. It was very underwhelming. However, the salmon and shrimp provided the more "meatier" texture if that's what you prefer. The crab doesn't give you much. It's more for the experience, in my opinion.

    Spicy marinated raw crabs
    Minh-Nhat N.

    I came here in a group of 6 on a Friday night and had to wait 30-35 minutes for a table as the restaurant is small and can't readily accommodate large groups. This is only my second time eating raw marinated crabs. The soy marinated crabs were unexpectedly not as flavorful as I expected. The spicy marinated ones were definitely more packed with flavor and paired well with white rice. There wasn't a lot of meat in the crabs when we were there. My favorite was the soy marinated salmon, probably bc I like sushi to begin with, but also bc it was the most meaty option. They also have non-raw options on the menu like noodle soup dishes. Service was good and ambiance is casual.

    Soy raw shrimp
    Kathy T.

    Such a delicious meal!!!! The flavors of the soy and spicy sauce was so addicting that I just keep eating it with rice. The spicy raw marinated crabs were good and still had a nice sweetness to it. I think I enjoyed the soy marinated crab a bit more because I am not too good with spicy food. My favorite dish was definitely the raw shrimp. The shrimps were a good size and were easier to eat than the crabs. I typically eat raw shrimp for sushi so this soy marinated shrimp was a "wow" taste experience for me. I really enjoyed all the banchan that was served with the dish and I will definitely be back to try the soups and other dishes. Also +points for the cute plating!

    Ban Chan (free sides)
    Paul J.

    Ganjang is raw Korean marinated crabs. And good ganjang is hard to find. But GJ2 4U is doing a great job serving up fantastic ganjang on the Turnpike. We got one order of the classic Soy Sauce Marinated Crab and one order of the Spicy Marinated Crab. Both were divine - soft, gooey crab with lots of crab eggs providing umami flavor. The Soy Sauce was seasoned just right, not too salty, and the spicy was *really* spicy, but the crab was still tasty. Add a nice selection of ban chan sides and we had a great meal. This is the standard for ganjang now, no question about it. There is no way that I can have ganjang anywhere else now. And neither should you - if you haven't tried GJ2 4U, you are absolutely missing out!

    Raw soy crab! Meaty and flavorful.
    Annie S.

    It's awesome to have this new raw marinated crab specialty restaurant! We had a taste of everything and we highly recommend stopping by. The soy raw crab is meaty, not too salty, and it was delicious. My husband preferred the yangum spicy crab which was also very good. Surprisingly, the shrimp and salmon were our favorites! The seafood pancake and banchan were also very good. It's a small restaurant so keep the group to a small group. They offer gloves for the crabs and have small wastes bins on the table. Order for take out is also a great option.

    Abalone and shrimp
    Julie K.

    Only raw marinated crab speciality shop in the DMV. Definitely high quality fresh seafood. Comparable to what I had in Korea. Wish it was a bit cheaper but I digress. I get why it's pricey. Went here with a group of five and got the assorted combo. Didn't leave full but we all got to try some of each which left us happy. Assorted jang had good amount of seafood. Loved how the variety. The crabs had good meat, shrimp was so juicy, salmon was my fave. Marinades for the seafood were good - no critiques! Be warned, the spicy does pack a kick. Soy one is slightly sweet but more briny and umami.

    Brad R.

    TLDR: Incredible Korean style raw marinated crab that is hard to find done this well in the US. Small space and long wait but worth it. GJ2 4U is a must visit if you are into Korean food and especially if you have been hunting for legit raw marinated crab in the DMV. This place used to be an Instagram only operation with secretive pickup spots that felt like a food dead drop, so seeing them now with a real storefront in Annandale is pretty cool. The restaurant itself is very small. We came for Saturday lunch and arrived at 12:15 pm, about fifteen minutes after they opened, and they were already full with a wait. Our group of six waited close to an hour, so plan accordingly, especially if you have a larger party. Once seated, service is excellent and fast. Most of the food is already prepped, so everything hits the table quickly. We ordered a raw seafood combo platter with soy marinated crabs, spicy seafood, abalone, salmon, and shrimp. The crabs are absolutely the star. Sweet, meaty, and packed with flavor. They use Maryland blue crabs that are meticulously cleaned and marinated for hours. I have had raw crab in Korea and while they use flower crab there, the overall eating experience here is very similar and just as satisfying. The shrimp, salmon, and abalone were all solid, but the crabs are the reason to come. They also offer a few hot dishes, which pair really well with the raw seafood. We ordered the budae jjigae army stew and kalguksu noodles for the table. Do not skip the kalguksu. The broth was rich, slightly peppery, and perfect on a colder day. Our total came out to around $200 for six people, which felt like a great deal for the quality and uniqueness of the food. If you are craving Korean raw crab, GJ2 4U is the spot in the DMV. Just be ready to wait.

    Soy
    Anna C.

    It's difficult to find a place that specializes in gejang in the DMV, but GJ2 4U caters to the craving. If you aren't use to raw dishes, this may come to you as a surprise. The staff provides you with napkins and gloves so it makes this experience easier. The gejang was buttery similar to the crab used in Korea. I definitely preferred the soy marinated grab more. It's a lot more food than you can imagine but I would order one version and then get a dish that has a different flavor profile to break up the taste and texture. I went during the weekday and I recommend going earlier to beat the crowds + making sure there is inventory. The place is quaint. It is in a busy plaza so just be careful when parking. I don't recommend eating something that has dairy or is sweet after. It may cause some indigestion!

    Lina J.

    I heard about this place from a friend who used to get marinated crabs from the owner before she opened the brick and mortar. We opted for the combo of the soy sauce crab, spicy crab, salmon, abalone, and shrimp. Everything was great! Word of warning for those who haven't tried this before, it's all raw (but expertly marinated). We wanted to try everything since it was our first visit. If I were to come back, I'd get the half and half soy sauce and spicy crabs. My only critiques right now are the menu layout is not very intuitive (especially if you haven't had cuisine like this before). I also felt like the service was so-so and not friendly. This was during lunch on Sunday. It wasn't super busy but it took a while for the staff to give us the menu, refill water and side dishes after being asked, and etc. I love that a restaurant serving this cuisine is here in NoVA. I hope it stays and we will be back!

    Khang N.

    great places for fresh seafood alot of flavor i love the spicy salmon and they also have the cook food too like the bulgagi a must visit i wiill come back

    Ahra J.

    Before this became a restaurant, I have been getting gaejang through their ordering system based off IG. So when I heard this restaurant was becoming a brick and mortar shop I was very excited to check them out ! The restaurant located in a strip mall is fairly small considering its popularity. If you're not familiar with gaejang, it is raw crab that have been marinated in either soy sauce or Korean pepper sauce (gochujang). But, this place also offer a small variety of other Korean dishes like army stew (buddae jigae), knife cut noodles with clams and other raw dishes. My personally favorite is the soy marinated crabs and the knife cut noodles !!! They do not accept reservations so aim to go on the earlier side and also ideal for smaller groups. Price wise, it ranges from $50-$75 pp depending on what you're getting as the crabs are the most expensive items on the menu. They are also fairly new but service was fairly quick as most of the items are already ready to be served. If you're in the area I would highly recommend!!

    Soy marinated crab

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom Y.
    1
    80
    63

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Susan P.
    2
    45
    100

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of D H.
    0
    5
    6

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    The food was great. Didn't think it was expensive for what you get. The budae jiggae and raw crab was really good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - GJ2 4U

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Seafood 9,623 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Geobukseons Sushi

    Geobukseons Sushi

    2.8
    (14 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    At first I wasn't sure if they were open because there was nobody in the parking lot and when I…read morewalked in it was completely empty. I didn't have high hopes for the food at all. But I would say that I'll give them maybe a 3.5 because the food was good. I got the tuna toro really fresh, yellowtail with added cream cheese, and a salmon speciality roll. All was really good and I liked that they gave me free appetizers: the edamame and I can't remember the name of the noodle salad. I'm not sure I would come back if I'm in the area because there are many other Korean and sushi restaurants that I would love to try.

    I came here for lunch on a Saturday with a party of 5. It…read morewas about 3 pm and there were no customers throughout the entire time I was there (3 pm to 4:30 pm). They had a 1 year discount so their most premium menu feast (Geobukseons) $389 down to $330. I have had several of these Korean raw fish meals where you order a set of raw fish and they bring out what seems like an endless amount of food. The amount of food was adequate for a party of 5, but I did not leave feeling extremely full. A lot of the raw things were quite fishy and not for my taste. The service was great and it felt like we had the whole entire restaurant rented out because of how empty it was. Not sure if I will be back, but I hope they can pick up some more volume in sales.

    Photos
    Geobukseons Sushi
    Double order of toro
    Double order of toro
    Blueberry wine I believe...

    See all

    Blueberry wine I believe...
    Chung Dam

    Chung Dam

    4.4
    (31 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Another new up and coming hotspot in Annandale. This two floor building features more of a casual…read moresit down restaurant and bar on the bottom and a more social bar vibe upstairs, meant for but not limited to bigger group hangouts. From my understanding, this place is owned by the former owner of Khan, which was a well respected establishment in the area. I've only hung out upstairs, but it's a calmer vibe than a lot of the other hotspots in Annandale. There's no DJ and it's not super crowded, but the music is good and it truly is a place to just drink and hang out with your friends. The food here is actually phenomenal. From skewers to shareables like the potato pancake to entrées like the spicy creamy pasta, I've been very satisfied with it all. But really, what tops the food is the service. We've had the pleasure of being served by some of the nicest people, Bruce the manager, Scott, Jack, who we now call Jack Jack, and Hayden. Need a place to drink? Chung Dam got you.

    Open late, which makes it a convenient spot after pickleball, JMT, or whenever your group needs…read moresomewhere to hang out. The atmosphere is great for socializing, though it can get pretty loud on weekends. Service is fast and friendly. Food is hit or miss. Most of the smaller dishes are decent, but some feel overpriced. We took one for the team and can report that the $9 corn cheese was incredibly mid. The khanpoong chicken is the only main meal worth it to us. A Korean friend also recommended the bossam and skewers, and I'd agree the skewers are worth ordering. Donkatsu was okay, and the kikurage was good but probably only good bc I got the sauce on the side. Overall, a good late-night hangout spot, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for the food.

    Photos
    Chung Dam
    소떡소떡 / Sodduck Sodduck(3pcs)
    소떡소떡 / Sodduck Sodduck(3pcs)
    Menu 02.11.2025 - Small Plates

    See all

    Menu 02.11.2025 - Small Plates
    Agave Bar & Restaurant

    Agave Bar & Restaurant

    4.2
    (43 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Muy deliciosa! Don't be intimidated by the facade. The blacked out windows belie the bright,…read morefestive decor inside. We got a mix of street tacos that contained twice the meat compared to street tacos in comparable restaurants in the area. The hostess/waitress was very pleasant. The restaurant and bathrooms were spotless. We will definitely be back!

    This was such a bizarre dining experience. When we arrived, we were not acknowledged at all. It…read moretook for my husband going to the bar for them to bring out menus for us. Drinks were very weak. I ordered a large margarita because I was planning on only one drink, but it was overly sweet and I didn't taste any tequila. It also took them a very long time to bring out the drinks. I ordered flautas which were supposed to be served with tomato and avocado and sides of rice and beans along with sour cream, cheese, and lettuce. When my food came out, there were no avocado, tomato, rice, or beans. At this point I was just kind of over it and wanted to get out of there. My husband got a chimchanga, but the rice was unseasoned and cold, and the beans were cold. There were gambling machines in the restaurant, and it sort of looked like they were in the middle of a renovation. The walls were half painted and there were no decor aside from Frida Kahlo looking down on us. It evidently was a "hidden gem" but these days it's more of "trash out in the open."

    Photos
    Nachos mixtos
    Nachos mixtos
    Grille chicken
    Grille chicken
    Mar & Tierra

    See all

    Mar & Tierra
    Issho Izakaya & Sushi

    Issho Izakaya & Sushi

    4.0
    (138 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Upon arrival, we were greeted by the hostess! They were extremely sweet! We had a reservation for…read moremy brother's birthday and we were seated immediately. The decor was super cute! I always visit the lavatory before seating so I can wash my hands. It was clean and the lavender soap smelled great! On my way back out, I met what looked like the owner. I'm not sure what gave me that impression, but he had a kind aura and (I'm pregnant) and he was asking how I liked the food and was this a pleasant experience. I gave him my finest compliment as there are several options to fill my cravings without eating raw fish! Overall, I would recommend everyone to visit. It's nice to have a comfy, tasty sushi restaurant to visit.

    The premium all you can eat sushi is the way to go…read more.. If you can eat a ton... you'll have four rounds of kitchen food and sushi/sashimi to your heart's contentment... But the 4 premium nigiri... it was magical! Not Michelin star level... but delightful and the rice served at the perfect temp and cook... I could taste each kernel... beautiful! Plenty of specialty rolls and kitchen food! The spicy pork belly is delicious but it'll fill you up if you don't have a group with you. I think the best thing to do is to come with 4 or more who love to eat and everyone order in agreement and eat a little of every roll and kitchen food. It's just too much for 2 people. The servers are extremely helpful in suggesting what are their best dishes. But make sure you get the premium nigiri... the rest is just filler.

    Photos
    Beautiful decor
    Beautiful decor
    Avocado roll
    Avocado roll
    Toro tore roll and yellowtail add cream cheese

    See all

    Toro tore roll and yellowtail add cream cheese
    Yasijang

    Yasijang

    4.2
    (10 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Had a really late dinner and was looking for something open at 10pm. Where else can you get good…read morefood that late except in Annandale! We went to a newer spot in the Annandale food scene and were throughly surprised at the quality of food (given it seemed more like a bar). To start, we tried some skewered fish cakes and rice cakes. These both had a great texture and came with a really soothing and comforting broth. Then we tried their tofu soup and Korean army stew. Both the soups were very tasty and had a good umami flavor. They were bold, spicy and filled with lots of different things. This food hit just the spot and will definitely be in our lineup of late night eats! Apps: Fish Cake and Rice Cake in Broth Entrees: Seafood Tofu Stew and Korean Army Stew

    Service: Was good. There's a call button by the table and the staffs come right away. Food also…read morecame out fairly quickly. 10/10 Food: *Odeng Kochi - was very good and hot. The mug it came in was charming and broth was delicious. It honestly hit the spot. 10/10 *Chuncheon Dakgaibi - spicy and savory. Loved the flavor. However, there was barely any chicken in the dish. The majority of the dish consists of cabbage and onions. My table and I were fishing for any piece of chicken. 6.5/10 *Pan Fried Seafood Udon - also spicy and great flavor. Udon was soft and chewy. Came with A LOT of muscles and onions, a couple big shrimps, and some baby shrimps, carrots, jalapeños and peppers. Same with this dish, there was not a lot of udon noodles. 7.8/10 Ambiance: there weren't many people at this spot, it was located at the corner of the strip (basically in the cut). But the decor and lighting was nice. My friend and I chose a spot that had a table on the floor, and you get to sit on pillows (SO CUTE). 9/10 Would I come here again? Absolutely. Although they skimp out on ingredients, the flavor and spices were definitely there. It's a chill hangout spot to grab drinks and food. It's also located right next to a bingsoo (korean shaved ice) spot! Overall rating: 7/10

    Photos
    Korean traditional painting.
    Korean traditional painting.
    Spicy chicken
    Spicy chicken
    Fish and rice cake in a soup!

    See all

    Fish and rice cake in a soup!
    Our Mom Eugenia - Mosaic

    Our Mom Eugenia - Mosaic

    4.3
    (391 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Bean meaning to go for a very long time. A very enjoyable experience from the time we walked in the…read moredoor. I want to mention I was meeting friends and never did we once feel like we were rushed at all. They were very careful to watch and approach in a perfectly timed manner. The food was all very good. The fried zucchini was served not at all as I would expect. Very thin, but good. The tzatziki sauce had way too much garlic. The fried squid was excellent. Probably the best I've ever had. Extremely tender, and the coating was not hard at all. The scoldolia (garlic spread) served in the center had very little garlic in it. It should have a lot of garlic, unlike the tzatziki sauce. The octopus was served with a lovely, what I believe to be, lemony hummus. The Bronzino was excellent. The seafood souvlaki special was very good. It was served with rice and Greek style green beans. My friends had the loukumades (fried donuts). They said they were very good. I had the galotopoudiko which was good--could've been a little bigger for the price. Will definitely go back. My only comment is for the prices, I would expect a little nicer atmosphere. It's a little cold and baron. The atmosphere at Nostos is better. Sorry, but I always seem to forget to take pictures before I start eating the food.

    The food and ambience were both excellent (truly a 5/5!) The owner (or who we believe was the…read moreowner) also came by our table to check in and talk with us about the food, and he was very friendly. We appreciated that interaction and thought it added a nice personal touch to the meal. That being said, the end of the experience felt rushed once the restaurant got busier. Our server came by our table multiple times asking if we were still working on our food and even offered boxes on one occasion, despite us clearly still eating. It felt like there was pressure to clear the table. At one point, a different staff member also asked if she could take some of our plates. My friend had finished, so she said yes, but I was still eating and she almost removed my plate and I had to stop her. We were a bit confused by the urgency since there were still empty tables and no visible wait for seating. Unfortunately, it made the end of the meal uncomfortable for me, as I don't eat well when I feel rushed. It may have just been our server, but unfortunately the experience toward the end was unpleasant, which left a negative final impression.

    Photos
    Our Mom Eugenia - Mosaic
    Keftedakia
    Keftedakia
    Our Mom Eugenia - Mosaic

    See all

    GJ2 4U - seafood - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...