Review: Genji Express @ Wholefoods Unagi-genic
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008, posted in: Japanese, London Restaurant Reviews
by Kang L.On Twitter, I said...
- Ahem, I went to my mate's wedding last weekend, took some pictures, and would like to share them with you. Susan & Jon http://bit.ly/dtvXZO 10 hrs ago
- @supercharz @sugarbardiva ohh I want..! in reply to supercharz 12 hrs ago
- Dammit, zeiss finally unveil the 35mm f1.4 ZF2. I love the nikon ais version, but think this might be the one lens to end it all, in f mount 14 hrs ago
- Canon develops a 12inch sensor. That's 40x 35mm! Dawn of large format digital photography? http://bit.ly/bEYJBs 14 hrs ago
- @GarsonByer another excellent exposure. in reply to GarsonByer 15 hrs ago
- More updates...
Posting tweet...
Lately, you said...
- great pictures didnt really see anything that stood out as the "WOW" factor
- some of these are on my list to try. Thanks!Have tried Sakura and I think that they are just aver...
- thanks for acknowledging. love your site and loved that piece just felt that point should have cr...
- Very beautifully photographed and well written and very exhaustive, however as per previous comme...
- Excellent way to sum up your sushi experiences! Will have to follow up on a few of the places I h...
Latest Posts
- The Newsletter No.5: Catch The London Sushi Train.
- September 1st, 2010 Sushi bingeing. The final frontier. The unquestionably orgasmic delight of popping dollop after dollop of a food of an unrelentingly elegant design; low in fat, high in umami, arguably, an invention born of perfection. Some say the combination of raw fish and rice is an acquired taste, but for the converted, sushi is nothing but [...] Read "The Newsletter No.5: Catch The London Sushi Train." more
- Asakusa: Into the den of sushi.
- August 26th, 2010 A firm, yet genteel voice answered the phone. The line was horribly muffled as I struggled to pick out the vowels through the low, low bass. Fum.Fum.Sa.Sa. I think she said, in a deceptively Japanese accent. An awkward silence befell. “Aka …ka…” I said. “ZZZassss… ka” she said, with a quickened pace. I gave up. [...] Read "Asakusa: Into the den of sushi." more
- Photos, restaurants, and dropping trousers.
- August 24th, 2010 I didn’t realise cameras in restaurants were still such taboo. This week I had two journalists ask me what I thought about the act of pulling out a camera in a restaurant, which some say is equal in every sense to dropping your trousers in the middle of the dining room and shouting: “Look at [...] Read "Photos, restaurants, and dropping trousers." more
- Two years old.
- August 23rd, 2010 Yes I cannot believe it too. It is two years ago today, that I assaulted the internet with my barrage of hot air and vulgar food photography, which may as well be classified as taboo, and I would just like to start by saying Thank You for reading and putting up with me. So far [...] Read "Two years old." more
- Trinity: Sunday Roast, meritorious for 3.
- August 23rd, 2010 Adam Byatt, the thinking man’s version of a celebrity chef, and owner of the much lauded Trinity restaurant, situated in leafy Clapham. Critics adore his work, for the invention, progression and enthusiasm he has brought to British cooking, and one expects no less from a chef who had apprenticed under Philip Howard, the cerebral owner [...] Read "Trinity: Sunday Roast, meritorious for 3." more
- Bea’s of Bloomsbury: The Sweetest Things.
- August 20th, 2010 It has taken me about a year to visit Bea’s in Bloomsbury, but I’m glad I finally made it. This tour de force bakery, cake house, coffee & tea shop produces top notch sugary things from their massive kitchen on site on a daily basis. Needless to say, their cupcakes are superb, personally I quite [...] Read "Bea’s of Bloomsbury: The Sweetest Things." more
- 28-50 : Drunken memories
- August 20th, 2010 From the creators of the sleeper hit of the century, the Icelandic inspired, macaron-winning, Texture, comes Rousset & Sverrisson’s next high octane, vinely-charged collaboration, titled 28-50. The name is a geographical tip of the hat to all the world’s vineyards, most of which lie between the latitudes of 28° to the North and 50° to [...] Read "28-50 : Drunken memories" more
- Twenty pounds of sushi at Mitsui, Taiwan.
- August 18th, 2010 Twenty quid doesn’t go too far in London, maybe two courses. Three if it’s a michelin-on-a-budget. On the otherhand, the Taiwanese have perfected the art of amazingly affordable fine dining on half a shoe string. Back in February, I was over in Taipei for my annual visit to see how my favourite cat (seriously) was [...] Read "Twenty pounds of sushi at Mitsui, Taiwan." more
The last time I did a photo essay was my welsh monkfish tales post. Shot in the Old Kings arms hotel restaurant, I am still yet to post about my 2 1/2 month trip to southern Wales. I’ll do so soon, lots of pretty food pictures, and lots of great food.
I’m sure you all know by now that I love sushi. I usually wake up pretty late on sundays and look for a relaxing place to eat around lunchtime. I tend to settle down at my local Pret-a-manger and have my ritualistic ham and cheese croissant with a cup of cappuccino. Last sunday, I thought I’d break from tradition and venture out to high street kensington as the sun was begging me to get out. I ended up the top floor foodhall at Wholefoods.
Lets start with tea
I ordered the jasmine flower tea which, upon settling (in hot water) is suppose to unravel itself and bloom into this beautiful flower in the tea.
In the picture, it’s only just starting to bloom. It’s a little gimmicky, but a nice gimmick to distract me long enough until my salad arrives.
It’s pretty standard stuff, very simple green & carrots, although the star is the lemony and tangy dressing. Very refreshing. This came with the meal I ordered: the unagi market combo.
Here we go…
Unagi heaven. The three elements: The dragon roll. The full length unagi nigiri. The unagi roll.
Six pieces of sumptious unagi, cushioned in between rich sushi rice and wrapped around with seaweed.
It took a while for them to prepare this work of art. Fifteen minutes to be exact. And it’s the first time I’ve ever had a full length unagi on a piece of dainty sushi rice.
The dragon roll is inside-out, stuffed with cucumber and avocado and topped with yet more unagi and garnished with spring onion giving it life and colour.
The teriyaki sauce is sweeter than I’m used to, but the unagi is expertly grilled and tastes as advertised: market fresh. Something that looks this good can only taste that good.
The Genji Express also has quite a good dim sum menu, here I wash down my unagi heaven with delicate steamed scallop shumais.
If sushi is not your fancy, there is a italian/spanish tapas/pasta corner, mediterranean corner, make-your-own-burritos, a full scale wood fire oven for sarnies (meatballs, roast beef & cheese, oohhh..) and excellent pizzas (they even have a ‘breakfast’ pizza).
Let’s not forget the crepes, the smoothie bar, the gelato bar and more scones, cakes and custards than you can shake a stick at.
Must be eaten. Wholefoods is on High Street Kensington, London.
*updated*
Forgot to add the important bits..
A tad pricy: The whole unagi combo set is £23.00 , shumai £3 and tea is £3.
Posted in: Japanese, London Restaurant Reviews















