Genki Wagyu House in Rockville, MD: The Most Impressive Chef's Appetizers on Chef Junzo Miyajima's Shabu Menu, From Our Sister Restaurant

Genki Wagyu House, signed Genki Wagyu Shabu House, is an all-you-can-eat Japanese Wagyu shabu-shabu restaurant at 870 Festival Street in Twinbrook Quarter, Rockville, MD, near the Twinbrook Metro station. It opened in June 2026, Bethesda Magazine reported, with two floors and up to 120 seats. It is the Rockville sister of Genki Izakaya, and Chef Junzo Miyajima, IVEA's Executive Master Chef, designed both menus.

Why Genki Izakaya guests should go. In Fairfax you order Junzo's small plates one at a time. In Rockville the small plates come with the course: every course includes chef's appetizers, one per person on Silver and Gold and two per person on Diamond. These are the most impressive bites on the menu, and they will feel familiar if you know the A5 and uni plates in Fairfax.

The chef's appetizers. The menu lists A5 Wagyu Uni Nigiri; A5 Wagyu Truffle Foie Gras Nigiri, with seared A5 Wagyu, foie gras, umami sauce and black tobiko pearls; A5 Wagyu Foie Gras Blueberry on toasted brioche; Toro Tartare with Uni; A5 Wagyu Tartare; a Wagyu Katsu Sandwich; Grilled Lemon Beef Tongue; Sweet Shrimp; and Cheese Shrimp. Gold expands the selection, and Diamond gives you two.

Then the pot. Choose one of six broths: Sukiyaki, Shabu Dashi, Tomato, Spicy Miso, Mushroom or Tom Yum. "We want customers to cook their meat just within like five to eight seconds," partner Frankie Cheung told Bethesda Magazine. Silver is $58 a person, Gold $78 and Diamond $98, each for 90 minutes, and the whole table picks the same course. Gold adds Japanese A5 shoulder and Australian M9+ full-blood Wagyu, and Diamond adds unlimited Japanese A5 brisket and shoulder.

The room. Bethesda Magazine noted that the design of the second floor "draws inspiration from the red torii gates in Japan." Ask for upstairs if you want the most dramatic table.

The drinks. The highball lineup will be familiar from Genki Izakaya: Classic Toki, Ginger, Toki Yuzu and Roku Yuzu highballs, $15 each. New here is the Genki & Molly ($16), made with Kubota Junmai Daiginjo, white champaca tea and oat milk in a collaboration with Molly Tea, which is next door. Sake runs from Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo (300 ml, $45) to Hakkaisan Yukimuro, aged three years under snow (720 ml, $130).

Lunch. The restaurant's menu lists an all-you-can-eat sushi lunch on weekdays from noon to 3 p.m., $38 a person or $33 for Genki Rewards members. Confirm lunch hours with the restaurant before you go.

Our pick for Genki Izakaya regulars. Book Gold for the best value, and pick the A5 Wagyu Truffle Foie Gras Nigiri as your chef's appetizer. Start the Shabu Dashi broth with the A5 while it is cleanest, and order a Toki Yuzu Highball.