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Genki
By Judy Kwak
"Genki." In Japanese it roughly translates to "lively"
or "vitality," but to me, Genki translates to salivation and sheer
happiness. For one who enjoys dessert as much as I do, Genki is definitely a
pearl among the flurry of restaurants vying for attention in the densely populated
city of San Francisco.
Genki specializes in dessert crepes and also has extensive operations in boba
drinks, smoothies, and "volcanoes." Boba drinks are typically fruity
or tea-infused drinks served with fat straws used to suck up soft tapioca balls
sitting on the bottom of the colorful concoction. A volcano is ice cream sprinkled
with fruit and tapioca balls.
Genki also sells savory crepes but their selection is not extensive, and they're
not up to par with some of the other creperies scattered around the City. Fillings
include ham, cheese, avocado, mayo, spinach, tuna salad and a few other non-traditional
combinations. I'd recommend Crepes on Cole or Crepe Vine for savory crepes.
The preset combinations are suggestive of sandwich fillings.
The star of the show is definitely the dessert crepe. Crisp, light, golden edges
of crepe are filled with sweet morsels ranging from ice cream, Nutella, strawberry,
banana, kiwi, brown sugar, whipped cream, honey, almonds...the list goes on.
A classic combination is vanilla ice cream, strawberry, banana, and Nutella.
For the more adventurous, red bean, mango, lychee, and green tea flavored ice
cream are also available. The ice cream has a nice consistency, not too mushy,
not too hard. It's also not too sugary, but just sweet enough to make
you want more. For sweet crepes, Genki is tough to beat. The crepe is not too
thick, and its crispy texture is somewhat reminiscent of waffle cones but with
a softer, cakey twist. Ice-cream crepes are definitely the way to go here.
The seating is not the greatest, as it consists of two to three portable tables
and a few chairs, haphazardly pushed to the wall next to the entrance. This
comes as no surprise, as the crepes are not served on plates but, rather, are
wrapped in heavy paper for that on-the-go street vendor feel. The furniture
also includes a small wooden bench that's pretty nice for those who want
to soak in some midday sun or for those who want to do a little people watching.
Genki's orange walls add to the young, hipster atmosphere for people who
want to grab a quick dessert.
An added plus to Genki is the mini-mart. Genki sells an array of imported Asian
drinks, candy, ramen, and chips. You can find Pocky sticks (thin pretzel's
covered with chocolate), gummy candies, hard milky or fruity candy, wasabi-flavored
peas, and spicy rice crackers. As a diet buster, one can stock up on snacks
with one hand while holding a freshly made crepe in the other. The selection
is decent, and you'll find modest aisles of colorfully wrapped snacks.
Prices are slightly higher than normal, but nothing outrageous. Genki also carries
a few miscellaneous items such as cute, decorated pens, teapots and air fresheners.
Drinks and dessert crepes are generally around $3-$4.50, a plus for students.
Savory crepes are a few bucks more expensive, roughly $5-$6. Genki is located
in the Richmond District on 330 Clement Street. It is open until 10 p.m. on
weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends for all those with a late night sweet tooth.
Judy Kwak is a first-year pharmacy student.
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