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Genki Living
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Food Desserts Food Coffee & Tea Japanese, Desserts, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1380 Fullerton RdRowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 964-6502
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
298 reviews for Genki Living
Review Highlights
"The quality of these crepes surpasses most in Japan."
(in 199 reviews)
"their green tea ice cream was good too."
(in 19 reviews)
"My favorite by far, is the Takoyaki."
(in 57 reviews)
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298 reviews in English
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Review from Kathy C.
Riverside, CA
1/31/2012
The crepes here are ORGASMIC. There's really no other way to describe this sinful treat! This place is always busy and super packed with people. The place itself isn't all that big. In fact, I feel like the maximum capacity would probably be 20.. at most. Nonetheless, if you're in the area and are looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is the place you need to be!
My favorite is the banana, nutella, and vanilla ice cream crepe. The crepe skin is perfectly crispy. It can get a bit messy since it can easily snap/break off. Nutella is wonderfully spread across. Next, the ice cream is put in and followed by the banana topped off with whipped cream. It's AMAZING.
My bf ordered the exact same thing except with a slice of cheesecake in it. I wasn't able to try it all together in one bite, but he loved it and said it hit the spot!
I've been wanting to go back since the last time I had it.. which was like 2 days ago! I only wish the calories weren't so detrimental to my diet. But of course, all the good foods and desserts are the highest in calories .. :[ -
Review from Kenneth S.
Rosemead, CA
2/5/2012
BAD SERVICE. the girl who took the order was very mellow and didnt seem like she wanted to be there.
the crepe was very crisp which was very different from what i usually have. it was pretty huge tho and kind of hard to eat. It cost $6+ for a crepe with nutella, whip cream, strawberries, chocolate ice cream. pretty pricey -
Review from Jennifer A.
Pomona, CA
2/4/2012
After dinner at the curry place a few doors down, I felt like I had a little room for dessert and decided to share a crepe with my mom. I've been to Genki Living a few times before and thought the crepes were pretty good, but it's just one of those places that I never really crave or think of.
I ordered the crepe with strawberries, custard and chocolate chips. I watched them make it, and they just spread a very thin layer of custard over the crepe which was disappointing. I was expecting something more like a custard donut or cream puff with lots of gooey custard inside. The ice cream or cheesecake ones are probably a better choice. It was also interesting because I noticed they cook the crepes only on 1 side and for quite a long time instead of flipping it - that must be why the edges tend to be really crispy and cracker-y. I also took some taiyaki to go (red bean and custard) and they were lacking in filling. The car smelled like pancakes on the drive home though!
A word of warning that service can be SLOW. I know everything is cooked to order, but they should really have more than 2 employees during peak hours. We had to wait for 4-5 crepes to be made before ours and after we got our crepe, we finished it before the taiyaki were even done! I think they could be more efficient about filling the orders. Right as we were leaving several groups walked in at once and I was just thinking thank goodness we came in before them! -
Review from Nancy T.
Updated - 1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Even though I faintly remember enjoying their grapefruit tea, I opted to order the oolong milk tea the last time I came here. Boy, was it good! The tea flavor was really prominent, which reminded me of Ten Ren's, but the pricing of their drinks is much more reasonable. I definitely appreciated that! My boyfriend also ordered one of their milk teas (can't remember the flavor) and also raved about it :) We also ordered their fishy-shaped waffles, which were yummy as always! I love how they make their waffles fresh, so they are piping hot!
I really love everything about this place, except for ONE thing - they seriously need to hire more than one employee. Now, I get that they are Asian and are probably trying to save on some money, but...it took almost half an hour for their only employee to make two boba drinks and one fishy-shaped waffle with custard in it!
Ugh, it was sooo frustrating! I had to watch this poor girl struggle to make a bunch of drinks, crepes, and waffles, as well as juggle the cash register simultaneously...dafdjfdlajfdjfdl;jfdljfd....EEK! If you think this sounds like a trainwreck, let me tell you...it totally was!
Please, Genki...I am pleading with you. Hire more people! I'm a still a fan, though.Listed in: Best of Rowland Heights
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/1/2010
They sell Japanese crepes here instead of the standard Parisian ones most people are used to! I like… Read more »
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Review from Adrienne V.
West Covina, CA
1/24/2012
Every time I eat at another creperie I feel like I'm cheating on Genki. I've grown up going to Genki. I feel the prices are decent for what you pay for. This is the one place I can actually taste the green tea flavor in the ice cream. The broad selection of choices you can place in your crepe are tremendous. It is a great place, the employees aren't always friendly but I can deal with that as long as I get my crepe.
I do not recommend getting the tiramisu crepe. I do recommend getting nutella, two fruits, and ice cream. I think that's my favorite.
Side Note: It is cash only -
Review from Alice Z.
Rosemead, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I only come here for the dessert crepes. Although the portions of fruit and ice cream are extremely generous, the crepe itself is lacking. I wasn't disappointed nor amazed. The crepe itself is what makes the whole thing come together in harmony, but not much of that going on. I prefer the location in Arcadia, but its a shame that they permanently closed.
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Review from James W.
CA
12/17/2011
I don't enjoy giving out one star reviews. Seriously. But Genki Living totally deserved it. In fact, it really should be rated as zero star. Unfortunately, Yelp won't let me do that.
My first visit to Genki Living was WAY back when it first opened. The food tasted terrible, but It was still crowded (for reasons beyond my comprehension). I ordered the Taiyaki and the Takoyaki at that time, both were horrible. The Taiyaki was poorly made, with the filling spilling out of the fish's guts. The Takoyaki was worse. It was pre-made, re-fried (OMG SERIOUSLY?!) when you order them. That was just unforgivable and I never went back on my own again.
Well, tonight, my friends and I ate dinner 2 doors down, and we decided to give it another chance by having some crepes there as after-dinner desserts. To start off my nightmare, I was greeted by a clueless cashier who needed more than 5 minutes to process my order of: one crepe, one drink, and 8 taiyaki.
"Surely you jest, James!" You protest. "No way that kind of simple order could take 5 minutes!"
I kid you not.
"Did you add in the time you were in line?"
No. I am counting the moment I started to order to the moment that she gave me my changes. (Cash only).
Then, they lost MY order for my stuff. So, my friends all have started to eat their crepes while I sat empty-handed.
What's even more infuriating, is amount they charged for the order. Normally, I don't go into the details of the things I order, because I trust my cashiers. However, the number really came out weird, so I had to double check. The result was totally bogus:
Me: "Hey, I thought the drink was 50% off..."
Cashier: "Yes, it's $1.24 off."
Me: "But that's less than 50%"
Cashier: "Oh, sorry, I calculated the discount amount on my iPhone. It was off."
Me: "What's this $50 surcharge for sugar?"
Cashier: "Oh, that's actually what we charge for a large cup."
Me: "But I didn't order large..."
Cashier: "Oh, we don't HAVE a small either. But that's just how our system is."
Me: "WTH...?!"
Cashier: "Sorry..."
I am not sure if I should laugh or flip over a few tables... But yeah, the taiyaki was still terrible, and the service was quite possibly the worst I have ever experienced in a restaurant. Did they just hire someone new? Why wasn't she trained or supervised?!
Needless to say, I am never coming back here again. Not even if I got hit with crazy cravings for crepes. Seriously, I could make better crepes and takoyakis at home. I just prefer not to, because I am too lazy to start those from scratch. -
Review from Brenda W.
Irvine, CA
12/24/2011
Great crepes. Huge crepes. Unless you have the talent, I recommend getting one to share. Ingredients are fresh, and there's a lot to mix and match.
But man the service...it's incredibly slow. I think my total wait time in line and for my order was 30-40 minutes. They don't seem to have a separate pick-up place from the ordering window, so it's all done in that one spot. Every crepe seemed to be made one at a time, from start to finish. They could have been shorthanded on employees, I don't know. 30-40 mins though? For a crepe? I don't know... -
Review from Andrew M.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Crepes (Japanese style) and other assorted Japanese-y goods here. They also serve boba.
Don't get the taiyaki here. Its a waste of money. To those who don't know, its that fish shaped food made from batter and filled with something, like red bean. The outside part is a little more doughy than it should be and the red bean filling I got was bland and had a strangely too-smooth texture. They do serve the filling up inside the tail part of the fish though, so bonus points on that.
Willing to try again despite the 2 star rating, because the crepes my friends ordered look decent. Maybe i'll try their drinks as well. -
Review from Stephanie m.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012
Crepes taste like a bad fortune cookie. Really hard and crunchy. Don't waste your time. AND they were CHEAP with the toppings. 5 little slices of banana and the thinnest layer of nutella I've ever seen.
Oh! And coughing while your cooking, ew. These girls looked like they were forced to work there by their parents.
And the restuarant is a mess, crumbs & trash every where. -
Review from Joyce Y.
10/21/2011
When I heard the Genki Living in Arcadia was closed, I was so sad I never got to try Genki Living! But then I heard there was one in Rowland Heights area.
After dinner with friends, we came here for dessert.
Their menu is quite extensive. This review is only for their dessert crepes. I have yet to try that fish-shaped pancake thingie, I forget what it's called.
I got a Japanese crispy crepe - with chocolate sauce, bananas, strawberries, and green tea. I should've got the nutella instead of chocolate sauce. (I don't consider Hershey's squeeze bottle chocolate sauce chocolate). Hubby got a tiramisu crepe, which was quite expensive (about $8) for a crepe! But his was pretty good! My crepe was good. I wish there was more green tea ice cream, though.
This place is pretty small so it gets pretty crowded quickly. Staff isn't that friendly and they are pretty slow. -
Review from David W.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure what's up with this place, I got 2 crepes and it was like a thin fortune cookie with chocolate in the middle (I got nutella with cream, the cream was only on top).
I am not sure, the LA ones completely beat this, I can't believe I came so far to get a horrible crepe compared to what's in LA. I hope next time I stop at a better place.
I'm almost tempted to give it less stars, I get the bad service complaints, but I am just in shock that people like this place, or at least this chain and I can't believe the crepe was THAT bad. We got 2 drinks, I like my tea, I think my girlfriend's drink was very so-so. I don't get it. -
Review from James G.
Covina, CA
10/29/2011
Quick review:
This place is really good for desserts, but not for a meal. Great crepes, taiyaki, sweet drinks, and many more.
The biggest problems w/ this place is the service. Extremely slow cause they're only 2-3 people working there at a time, and then the biggest one of them all...is the price. The price is very pricey. Very. One person can spend up to $15 for 2 items, and that's with a few toppings like nutella, strawberries, and many more.
This is a good place, but if they drop their prices about $2 per item, it will be better, considering it's slow service.
Not only that, THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!!! WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!? -
Review from Edward H.
Diamond Bar, CA
12/24/2011
Overpriced and sucks. The crepe was so average tasting, and wasn't cheap either. The drinks are all average, stuff you can get anywhere. And I've had takiyaki that's a billion times better.
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Review from Mimi C.
8/19/2011
WOOHOO!!! After their remodeling... Genki became super awesome again!!! =)
Ordered a banana, strawberry, nutella with vanilla ice cream & whipped cream crispy crepe (I think they use rice flour to make it a little chewy). It was done to a nice chewy/crispy perfection!!! The vanilla ice cream was a perfect end to the crispy goodness (I think it would've been too dry w/o it). My friends also really liked their crepe... i.e. that tiramisu crepe ...I'm keen on that one next!
Best of all.. crepes were HUGE (and you can hold them in your hand to make it a nice to-go snack) !!! Just like I remembered them to be. =)
There's also a lot more space and looks more accommodating/inviting.
Thanks for the remodel!! It did wonders for your business!! -
Review from Eugene N.
8/21/2011
I must first thank my fellow yelpers on the explanation of a 2 star rating... it's bad service but you'll come back for the food... and that's exactly how I feel about this place.
While the crepes are pretty good. Taste great, a tad on the expensive side but I usually never say too much on that because thats how much they feel should be charged (as long as it's reasonable).
Here's where Genki lacks... good customer service. The service is actually pretty horrible. The 2 times I've been here, all the workers invite their friends to go there to kick it. They also help out in serving customers too, which is fine I guess but a little unprofessional. They also keep talking to each other about random stuff which is a little annoying when you waiting for your order. I mean yes, it's a hang out spot... but for customers! They had about 4-5 people there when all they really needed was 3 max. Most of the time the friends just kinda stood around to chit chat. Very unprofessional.
Back to the service... they got our order slightly wrong, they forgot to add strawberries or something in one of our crepes... instead of checking the receipt before they said anything, they just assumed they were right! "No, you didn't order the strawberries," they said. THEN they checked the order... low and behold, strawberries! WTF ever happened to customers are always right. Even if we were wrong, check before you assume. Even if they were right and we were wrong... I woulda been ok with them just saying something along the lines of, "I'm sorry, I don't think you ordered that, here's your receipt to verify, I can add it in for you if you'd like." Basic customer service.
On top of that, they didn't give us any extras to constitute our inconvenience... man, after writing my review, I would consider a 1 star rating... -
Review from Vivi G.
Huntington Beach, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband alays order the double custard, and it' alwaya been the family favorite. Downturn, there's literally only one or two cooking for twenty custoners
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Review from Adeleine M.
Placentia, CA
12/16/2011
I've been here a couple times only for their crepes. Reasonable price, & they're fresh & yummy. I've always loved their decor, it's what attracted me inside the shop in the first place lol. You HAVE to get their okonomiyaki. I believe it's their Osaka one, I'm not sure, but it's freaking to die for!
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Review from Nicole M.
AHHH. MAGIC.
My friend was going to take me to the one in Arcadia, but when she found out it was closed down, she just sat there for a few minutes. I thought... okay... maybe there's memories associated?
but now I know. it's cause it's AWESOME. I've never had "Japanese Crepes", I've only had it on a plate, smooshy and wet with a knife and fork, and after having this, I'm convinced this is how crepes should be.
It's in a crunchy cone with a cardboard sleeve, I got the 1 fruit (strawberry!) + nutella + vanilla ice cream and it was great!
The cone was at first crunchy like a wafer, and then the ice cream was yummy, the strawberries were fresh and sweet and then as I got further down, the nuttella was sandwhiched between the crepe fold and it got chocolaty and better as I ate more!
By the time you reach the bottom, it's like a eating a taco, there was no mess, no utensils, I didn't even need a napkin. It was awesome. and the place is pretty cute too, and my friend said the prices went DOWN! awesome, now if only it was closer... -
Review from Minh T.
Alhambra, CA
10/16/2011
OMG! No wondered this place was empty!
We ordered 5 items from the menu and it seems to take about 10 minutes for each item to come out (one at a time) = almost an hour! This was at a non busy time so I don't know why it took so long. The first item was the chicken crepe. The crepe was crunch?!?! I'm not crepe expert but shouldn't it be soft? It was more like a crisp wafer cookie than a crepe. The second item was the takoyaki. Also crunchy with very small pieces of octopus in it. The third and fourth items were okonomiyaki. They had so much sauce on it that the only thing I tasted was sauce. Last but not least the oden bowl. When the wait staff brought it out, he told us that they are still cooking the egg that was suppose to be part of the oden bowl. WTF!?!?! This is going to be my one and only visit here. This place SUCKS! Don't waste your time and money at this place people. Go somewhere else. -
Review from Ivy W.
I've been desperately wanting to try Genki Living ever since the location closed down in Arcadia. To my luck, we found one in Rowland Heights...and what can I say? I REALLY love my sweets.
This particular location is a little strange; I really couldn't see Genki Living from the entrance of this plaza. It's in the far back, so just keep on driving after the entrance! If you see Kula Revolving Sushi, park!!!
The layout is definitely cozy. The (wooden) chairs may not be comfy, but the decorations are beautiful! It looks like there's a movie ticketing place inside along with displays on some of their crepes! You seat yourself after you order, although I can't imagine that the store has a capacity over 25.
Their menu is extremely extensive, and I couldn't really decide on what I wanted to eat! Savory vs. sweet? Ramune? Tea? We settled for the 1 fruit (strawberry) + cream + nutella crepe for ~$5 and a bottle of strawberry ramune ~$2. The crepe skin was nothing like I was accustomed to. If you've ever have crepes, you'll know what I mean -- it was extremely crunchy and a little stiff. It felt more like I was eating a soft wafer than crepe? The cream was whipped cream...on the top and only on the top. The strawberries were fresh, and the nutella ratio was perfect. It wasn't necessarily a "horrible" crepe, but it wasn't good either and it was definitely not worth the $$ or the drive. The strawberry ramune tasted a little strange; I should've ordered the regular one instead.
Staff was minimally friendly. There was only one party ahead of us, and it took them quite a while to make their 2 crepes (5+ minutes).
No trash can though, so we ended up having to walk outside to throw out our napkins and bottle. I saw a couple ask an employee to toss out theirs though, so maybe they have one in the back.
Sadly, Genki Living wasn't worth all the fuss. I won't be returning. -
Review from Eva L.
Diamond Bar, CA
8/22/2011
It was really tempting to give this place one star, but because I still love the crepes here I decided to settle with two. I didn't think it deserved three stars since it would mean that this place was actually decent. It would be a 2.5 in my book.
It was my first time here in months; the last time I came they still had a separate kitchen for the crepes. So...
1. REALLY? $6 for 4 balls of dough? So I really wanted takoyaki, and I was really disappointed. This place used to have freshly made takoyaki that actually had tako in it AND they gave you eight. Now they use frozen balls of dough with no octopus...they didn't even taste like anything! Just bland dough! If I wanted dough then I'll just eat bread or something. AND it was frozen...I can buy those from the supermarket thanks. Oh! and presentation...the balls looked predigested...puke-balls mmmm
2. crepes...ummm so people who prepare food usually wear gloves for hygiene right? So after they touch money, tie their shoes, and wipe their noses they don't have to wash their hands to make your food...just put on a pair of gloves and you're good to go! So tell me what's the point of putting on one glove then holding the food in the hand that isn't wearing the glove? Nice...I'm not anal about people's hands touching my food...but that's just (-_-;;) I still think their crepes are delicious (it's probably one of the best places to get crepes), but... just... try not to watch them make it.
3. super inefficient...the night I was there they had three people. Anyways, three people one to take orders...one to make crepes...and one to makes drinks and other stuff. Three should be more than enough. Instead, only one person was actually working.
4. slow...yeah okay no matter what I order it used to take about 10-15 minutes for me to get the food and get out. This time I was there for over half and hour. It took them 10 minutes just to get the takoyaki on the stove.
5. service... please stop scowling at your customers...and your coworkers...and the crepes...and the computer...it won't help anything. -
Review from Jen A.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/7/2011
Best takoyaki I'd had in Calif! And yes I'd had tried many other authentic japanese vendors. The texture of their crêpes is in between crunchy & soft!! My favorite is red bean with green tea ice cream, topped with whipped cream!! Their taiyaki custard is one of the best I've had.
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Review from Toshi T.
Rowland Heights, CA
7/3/2011
I don't know what the hype is all about but this place was very mediocre. When we went we were the only customers there and we were "greeted" by a half-asleep, half eye-lid shut girl who yawned TWICE during out order. She so looked like she wanted to be there lolz
The crepe we ordered was alright but doesn't compare the ones we've had at the Japanese run places.
Bad customer service with normal crepes. Thanks but no thanks. -
Review from Emeow Z.
Orange, CA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place, I always get the crepe with green tea ice cream and banana, I have been a fan to the place even before it moves into the store, the quality is better when the owners are here
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Review from Danielle S.
Diamond Bar, CA
9/17/2011
BEST CREPE EVER!
I have been going here for over four years and I have tried crepes in other places, but in my opinion Genki Living makes the best crepes. They make sandwich crepes, dessert crepes, taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes), takoyaki (fried octopus), and boba drinks.
My favorite item at Genki Living is a dessert crepe. I usually order my dessert crepe with strawberry, banana, nutella, green tea ice cream, and whipped cream. Bubble milk tea is also a good pairing with this dessert crepe. SO DELICIOUS!
Inside Genki Living, there are two stations, one in which you order and pay, and the other in which you can watch them at work as they make your crepe. The texture of their crepes is unlike any other crepe I have ever had. Crepes in other places are typically soft and soggy, however the crepes at Genki Living are slightly crunchy and not too sweet.
i love this place! -
Review from atie p.
5/7/2011
My order list to satisfied my drool puddle:
3 taiyaki deal: custard, ham and cheese, chocolate
okonomiyaki with bacon
peach green tea
***CASH ONLY***
sometimes I get disappointed because they don't sell/cook okonomiyaki at a certain time (WTH?... thats what I said) -
Review from Caroline F.
Rowland Heights, CA
7/26/2011
I dropped by for the first time with a couple friends and ordered a Hawaiian style crepe.
The crepe itself was slightly sweet and crispy around the edges. Inside contained slices of ham, pineapple chunks, cucumbers, and sweet mayonnaise. It could have passed off as a dessert crepe since it was pretty sweet. It got a little messy to eat without a plate but I turned out fine in the end.
Even though the crepe was warm, the slices of cucumber were still frozen. It was covered in bits of ice and was rather unpleasant to eat. Wish they cooked it more thoroughly, but it didn't detract too much from the crepe overall.
Comfortable seating, pleasant atmosphere.
Definitely worth a try.Listed in: Asian and Asian-Influenced…, Dessert Menu
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Review from Young Kyung K.
Brea, CA
Hard crunchy crepes! :)
I've always came here since this place ever opened but never really wrote a review and finally decided it was time.
When I first tried this place I HONESTLY thought crepes were ALWAYS crunchy but later on in life found out they were actually soft to begin with haha..well
Their nutella with fuit crepe is delicious! It is kind of hard to eat if you PILE on things inside because they give it to you in a cone-looking shape and you kind of have to dig in and they peel the outer layers while digging in with your spoon...(multi-tasking hell yeah! ) haha
Their chicken salad crepe is good for a quick lunch IMO. It has good amount of chicken and veges and sweet corn haha
Their fish shaped thingy, I'm not a big fan I grew up with BOONG UH BBANG which is the same thing in korean..redbean is my enemy but they give you option you can put other fillings inside and I would rather get the custard than the redbean...
Their peach and rose tea is good.
OHHHHH their okonomiyaki is a must. I mean people go here for dessert but it doesn't hurt to try something MEAL-ishhh hhah
Okonomiyaki seafood honestly has 4 shrimps and they call it SEAFOOD but oh well it has yakisoba noodles with egg and cabbages and onions stir fried they have the red ginger on top but you can push that aside if you don't like.
To my surprise they have korean kimchi style okonomiyaki and I think that one's pretty good too! (It's NOT BECAUSE I'm KOREAN) I just like spicy and kimchi gives you spicy with the kind of sweetness from their sauce.
Takoyaki the octopus and vege balls.......(trust me it tastes better than it sounds) These are always good on a cold day! from what I hear it's not too authentic but in my opinion they are DELICIOUS! until I find somewhere that makes them better. haha
They got few more tables and they got rid of the whole crepe making section to put more tables in so I guess their business has been GOOD ! :)
I'd recommend this place, just come downstairs from CUE and order some crepe and share it with your crew haha :)
The crepes are big enough to share and honestly you get sick of it if you eat it by yourself so it's smarter to collect money and share !
CASH ONLY. -
Review from Maxine H.
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Oh Genki Living. How you have captured my heart when you were just a tiny little stand in a busy plaza. Keeping me wanting more and more after every bite. Whether it were the savory or sweet crepes you just had me hooked. However, after years have passed and time has taken a toll on this plaza, my love for you has slowly diminished as well.
Now if you drive into Life Plaza you see empty parking lots, vacant stores, and the once popular Genki Living. At first glance the decor and feel of the place is the same as it was when they first opened. Japanese themed, LARGE menus, and plenty of seating. Although the place my still look the same, the service and food has changed.
Service is REAL slow. If you order ANYTHING expect to wait a good 20+ minutes on a good day. The person who makes the crepes isn't very consistent with the product they put out. At times the crepe itself is too thin and soft it literally falls apart in your hands. Other times it's too hard and crisp that every bite you take leads to a messy war zone on your lap.
Overall it's not bad, but it's not great. Especially if you've been frequenting this place since they first opened, don't expect much. It may disappoint. -
Review from Priscilla H.
Montclair, CA
8/28/2011
I have been here a few times, and while the crepes are pretty good, the service is slow and the prices are a bit much.
They only have a couple employees working there and it usually takes 30 minutes to get your order. I don't know if they can hire more people, but maybe that would help getting the orders going out faster. -
Review from Jay B.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012
Didn't know how to make my beverage - it took at least 2 people (not including the loudly micromanaging supervisor who was just sitting there eating her lunch) at least 15 min to figure it out. Nothing special, just something off the menu. Then they completely forgot my crepe order. It's ok though, it wasn't as if my wife and I were the only people in there, or anything... Oh wait, it was 2pm in the afternoon and we were the only ones in there. I'll go somewhere else for my crepe fix next time.
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Review from Bryan Y.
Sweet Japanese decor. They are a bit understaff here so our Takoyaki took almost 20 minutes to come out! Other than that, staff are friendly and food is delish.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/26/2010
Pretty sweet place for crepes. Love filling my crepe with peanut butter, ice cream, and… Read more »
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Review from Jeanie L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/30/2011
I've been coming here for a few years now and I feel that the quality of the food has been going downhill. The green tea was not reminiscent of green tea flavoring at all. Crepes remain crispy and good. For the price you pay, it's a bit expensive. Service was super slow..as there was only one girl behind the counter taking care of the cash and then going in the back to make the crepes and takoyaki. Don't get me started on the takoyaki! I tried a piece from my friend's takoyaki and it wasn't even mixed properly, you could still taste the batter in there. It was just not good...in general.
They give you this stamp card which is kind of neat...BUT you have to spend minimum $5 each time to get your stamp. You can redeem your card after 10 stamps.. you do the math.
Overall, quaint place to meet up and hang out, however business seems to be on the slow side. I don't blame them since a lot of stores have closed down in Diamond Plaza. The quality of crepes are just not what they used to be. -
Review from Alice L.
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming here since they were a crepe cart next to Life Plaza and that was like.... in 2003ish.
Unfortunately, the quality of the crepes have gone down over the years and I no longer feel the need to come here :(
The high prices don't help and it takes awhile to get your crepe.
I visited last week, since I was craving a crepe but it'll be my last.
/sigh -
Review from Julie T.
Baldwin Park, CA
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Will never come back. What a rip off!!! Ordered a cheesecake crepe and when we got it all the yummy cheesecake and wipe cream was on top. When we got to the middle it was all nutella n no cheesecake or anything! They charged me 8 bucks for it.
-
Review from Hanson H.
Rowland Heights, CA
8/25/2011
Extraordinarily pricey. Come here only if you have some bills to burn.
Quality is alright, I must say, but that doesn't make it worth it. -
Review from Jill E.
4/7/2011
I used to go here back in the days of going to arcade infinity and the pool hall upstairs. Too bad both places has closed down over the years. But this place is still around and brings back some nostalgic memories of being able to hang out in this plaza all day.
People rave about the taiyaki. The fish shaped pancake snack with either red bean , taro or chocolate. It's always crispy back in the day as it should be but then it got really soft.
The takoyaki was consistently good and cooked right with the right amount of sauce and fish shavings on top.
The okonomiyaki, Japanese noodle omelette, are pretty good in either Osaka style or Hiroshima style.
Lastly the crepe. Never had their entree style crepes, but in always dig their dessert crepe with chocolate ice cream nutella, and strawberries. That's my combo of choice and it's always ever perfectly made.
It can get hectic if just a big crowd goes in as their staff is low in numbers. Otherwise beware of bad parking in the area as people can't really park correctly in this area. -
Review from Jessica M.
San Gabriel, CA
8/21/2011
Gourmet Japanese style crepes. And what's really attractive is the customization of each crepe to your own liking - choose toppings, add ice cream, and even dictate the level of crispiness of your crepe! Crepes are made to order, and quite mesmerizing to watch the process. Sweet crepes here are to die for, but the non-sweet crepes don't quite make the cut, so come here to hangout or grab some gourmet dessert. The quality of these crepes surpasses most in Japan! I usually order the tiramisu crepe with strawberries and green tea ice cream, medium crispy. Tastes nothing short of heaven. Is $9 worth a bite of heaven? Why yes it is
Green Tea ice cream here is nearly equivalent to the priceless green tea ice cream only found in Japan. Best green tea ice cream, so if you love green tea ice cream, be sure to add it in your crepe!
Small cozy shop decorated so as you walk in, you naturally burst into Japanese because for a second you believe you just walked into a café in Tokyo. Chill and hip! -
Review from Teresa C.
San Gabriel, CA
I really struggled with how to review this place. Now that its sisters in Irvine and Arcadia are both dead and gone (may their pastel coloured walls and fake subway scenery die in piece), I hate to bash one of the few remaining Genki Living. I love the concept, don't get me wrong. Fresh okonomiyaki drizzled in sauce and bonita fish cakes, takoyaki, oden, taiyaki fish with their yummy insides, the variety of drinks and of course the crisp skinned crepes that are so satisfying to eat even years after I've moved from Rowland.
But the service has gone downhill and the owners really need to step up. The decore is still the same but the seats are dirty and stained. No one comes out to clean up the tables and crumbs and trash lie tucked into corners. The staff is either understaffed or inflexible and seem to have a problem if you deviate from the orders in anyway. They also really take their time chatting with each other while prepping the orders. The food still seems okay, the crepes are pricey as usual but I like a bit of a splurge to eat my crispy crepe. Plus, there's really not that many places that make it.
Try to ignore the service and give the crepe a try. Personally I really like the rose milk tea too. The taiyaki club (3 for a cheaper price) is nice- K likes the red bean with mochi and I like milk custard, which is a powdery mixture.
