Named for the Mongolian conqueror, Genghis Khan, Genghis Grill recently brought its aggressively expanding empire of fast casual stir-fry restaurants to Georgia, with its first location in Buford. Alpharetta, Perimeter and Buckhead places are coming soon.
The Texas-based corporation’s concept will be familiar to anyone who’s been to the Real Chow Baby or Hot Stix Stir Fry Kitchen. The draw is choose-it-yourself Asian food cooked on a hulking round Mongolian-style grill, and a fun atmosphere that offers a bit of budget dining entertainment.
The look: Genghis Grill Buford landed in front of the Mall of Georgia, in a former Ray's Pizza space. The build-out is a mix of wood and tile, with a cheery beige and red color scheme, and a few Asian touches. The que begins at the salad bar-style protein, veggie and sauce stations and ends at the lively exhibition grill area, where the cooks put on a show wielding long sticks.
The scene: One day at lunchtime, the perky hostess asked every arriving guest the same question: "Have you been to Genghis Grill before?" Servers, who mainly deliver bowls and take drink orders, offer an instructive tour for first-timers. There were plenty of takers, and a few bouts of nervous hesitation along the way.
The menu: The concise menu offers two options, one bowl ($8.99 or $9.99) with one trip through the line, or the bottomless bowl ($10.99 or $13.99), with unlimited trips. Proteins range from calamari, scallops and shrimp to steak, pork, pepperoni and sausage. Choose from more than 30 vegetables, plus seasonings, and noodles, rice or flour tortillas to complete your meal.
The drinks: There's a cozy full service bar with a few seats in the front corner. The drink menu features cocktails, wine, beer on draft or by the bottle. On the softer side, there's strawberry lemonade, sweet tea and Coca Cola products.
The extras: The kids menu includes the smaller size "Future Warrior Bowl" ($4.99), plus the likes of quesadillas, spaghetti and pizza. Get a free bowl on your birthday. And look for online ordering and take out options soon.
Dining out
Genghis Grill
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.
Lunch bowls, $8.99-$10.99; dinner bowls, $9.99-$13.99; desserts, $4.99; kids menu, $2.99-4.99.
1825 Mall of Georgia Blvd., Buford, 678-733-5426, www.genghisgrill.com
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