This post is sponsored by Genki Wagyu Shabu House, but as always, all opinions are my own.
Genki Wagyu Shabu House in Rockville left me so impressed, and I’ve got a lot to tell you. This is a new all-you-can-eat spot in Rockville’s Twinbrook Quarter doing Japanese A5 wagyu, Australian wagyu, premium sushi, unlimited seafood and a whole lot more, and honestly, it’s worth all the hype and then some!
The format’s shabu-shabu, so you cook thin slices of gorgeous beef in a simmering broth right at your table, and there are three all-you-can-eat tiers to pick from. If you’re deciding, go Diamond at $98 per person, it’s the one that unlocks the A5 wagyu, the seafood platter and all the sushi. If you’ve been looking for an all-out wagyu night in the DMV, this is your spot. Here’s everything you need to know.
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What Makes Genki Wagyu Shabu House One of Rockville’s Best AYCE Spots
Rockville’s not short on hot pot or sushi, but Genki’s whole angle is the wagyu, and lots of it. Where a lot of AYCE spots cap you at thin ribeye, the top tier here brings real Japanese A5 wagyu, the most marbled, melt-in-your-mouth grade of beef there is, alongside Australian wagyu, premium sushi and a full seafood spread.
It’s a shabu-shabu house at heart, so everything’s cooked tableside in your choice of broth, which keeps the meal interactive and fun. The space is brand new (it opened in the Twinbrook Quarter development right by Wegmans), and it’s run by the team behind Genki Izakaya. Between the quality and the sheer variety, it’s a genuinely special-occasion kind of AYCE. You NEED to come hungry!
What to Order at Genki Wagyu Shabu House
Since it’s all-you-can-eat, “what to order” is really “what to prioritize.” Here’s where I’d focus.
The Wagyu
The star, full stop. The Diamond tier unlocks Japanese A5 wagyu, which is the highest grade Japan awards (beef gets scored on marbling, color and fat quality, and A5 is the top), plus Australian wagyu. You swish the thin slices through your broth for a few seconds until they’re just cooked, and that’s the magic of shabu-shabu: the fat melts into the pot and the beef stays silky. This is what I’d build everything around.
The Sushi
On the Gold and Diamond tiers you get sushi too, and not just a token roll or two. You’re looking at sashimi, maki and hand rolls, all part of the AYCE deal. I loaded up on ALL the sushi, since why wouldn’t you.
The Seafood and Chef’s Apps
Diamond also comes with unlimited seafood and a stunning seafood platter, plus a couple of chef’s appetizers. The kitchen’s known for showpiece bites like a wagyu katsu sando, wagyu tartare and salmon carpaccio, so keep an eye out for those when you order.
The Buffet and Sauce Bar
Here’s the part that really surprised me: even the buffet was impressive. It was impeccably clean with tons of fresh veggies and fixings, hot dishes, desserts, fruit, soft serve and even milk tea. There’s a sauce bar too, so you can build your own dipping situation, which is half the fun.
The Three AYCE Tiers, Explained
Everyone at your table picks the same tier, and you get about 90 minutes to feast. Here’s the lineup:
- Silver ($58): premium beef, kitchen appetizers, veggies, hot dishes, desserts and drinks.
- Gold ($78): everything in Silver plus higher-end wagyu, seafood, sushi and more appetizers.
- Diamond ($98): the full experience, Japanese A5 wagyu, premium seafood, all the sushi and expanded chef’s apps.
My rec? Go Diamond. If you’re here for the A5 wagyu and the sushi (you are), it’s the tier that actually delivers the whole spread.
What Is Shabu-Shabu and How Does It Work?
Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot style where a pot of broth simmers at your table and you cook each bite yourself, swishing thin slices of meat and veggies through the hot liquid for a few seconds. The name comes from the swishing sound the meat makes as you move it around.
Because the beef cooks in seconds and the extra fat melts into the broth, it eats lighter than a grilled steak, which is somehow how you make room for wagyu AND sushi AND dessert. At Genki you pick your broth, and if you love cooking at your own table, Hot Pot Hero over in Gaithersburg is another interactive favorite of mine.
The Vibe and Experience
This is a polished, fun, occasion-worthy spot, great for date night, a birthday, or any time you want to make a real event out of dinner. Service was a highlight on my visit, and a big thanks to Ben for the amazing service. The interactive, cook-it-yourself format also makes it feel like an event, not just dinner. It’s in the Twinbrook Quarter development, so there’s a garage right there. For a more casual Rockville sushi night another time, Uzu Revolving Sushi is a fun, low-key pick.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 870 Festival St, Rockville, MD 20852 (Twinbrook Quarter, next to Wegmans)
- Hours: Mon-Thu 5-10PM, Fri 5-11PM, Sat 12-11PM, Sun 12-10PM
- Pricing: three AYCE tiers at $58, $78 and $98 per person; the whole table picks the same tier; about a 90-minute seating
- Reservations: book through their site (it runs on Yelp Reservations); recommended, especially on weekends
- Parking: garage at Twinbrook Quarter, free for the first 2 hours; the Metro Red Line Twinbrook station is right there too
- Phone: (443) 548-5878
- Come hungry: it’s AYCE, so pace yourself to get your money’s worth
Is Genki Wagyu Worth A Visit?
Absolutely, especially if you go Diamond and come hungry. For an all-you-can-eat wagyu and shabu-shabu experience in Rockville, Genki delivers on quality, variety and service, and that’s a tough combo to beat at $98. It’s a splurge, not a weeknight habit, but as a special-occasion blowout it’s worth every bite. If you’re building out a Rockville food list, check out my roundup of must-try Rockville restaurants for more ideas.
Have you guys made it to Genki Wagyu Shabu House yet? Let me know which tier you’d go for in the comments, Nomsters, and save this one for your next special occasion!