Kanpai is a sushi and teppanyaki restaurant and lounge. My coworkers and I came here for lunch, and the lunch specials were good value. We were seating at a regular table, but still able to order the teppan items. It was just made to order and served entrée style inside of the whole experience you would probably get at dinner time. I ordered the 5oz New York Steak ($29) lunch teppan meal and it comes with fried rice, assorted veggies and miso soup. The food was prepared in a timely manner and my steak was cooked to the medium temp I ordered. It was super tasty and flavorful, but definitely on the heavy and oily side. The portion was large enough that I had leftovers for a subsequent meal. My coworkers who had chicken and shrimp versions of the experience also enjoyed their meals. Just to level set for expectations on the portion size. The gents finished their food, and the ladies had enough to take togo. Overall it is a splurge for a lunch but a good deal for teppan. Not something I would frequent because the nature of teppan can be oily and heavy, but I wouldn't mind coming back when my coworkers are in the mood for some teppan. read more

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Great date spot! We got the autumn roll, surf n turf roll, and did the teppanyaki. Our cook was Lucky, he was funny and entertaining. Sadly, they aren't allowed to do throw any food, which makes the teppanyaki a lil less fun but food was great. Surf n turf roll is perfect for those who aren't big sushi fans like my boyfriend. The red wine reduction was soo yummy. read more

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I have been coming here for my anniversary for 10 years in a row. And unfortunately there's been a steady decline. When you walk in, there's a smell. Like used dirty water to mop the floor or something. Not pleasant when you're coming for dinner. Staff wasn't overly friendly. The Teppan chef was good. He did his thing. Food was good. I'll probably still come back next year but probably not any time sooner. read more

If you're looking for a quiet place for a late lunch/early dinner, you definitely need to stop at Kanpai. They have happy hour during the week between 2pm and 5pm. Their sushi is always so fresh. My family has known Randy for many years. It's a great place to come together for great food and atmosphere. read more

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Grandsons 27th birthday is always a good excuse to visit KanPai. We made reservations for 5:30, greeted and seated when we entered everyone was on time. KanPai was already humming busy staff was prepared for a fun Saturday evening. Friendly host took our beverage and appetizer orders. Our Teppanyaki Chef "Lucky"came out and introduced himself. Our special drinks and appetizers came right out and were amazing. After all our dinners choices were made, Lucky got busy with his craft. Soups and salads started us off and were just right. Lucky was a true master chef, very professional watching him prepare our meals was artistic. The rice, vegetables perfect all our entrees, Scrimp, New York's, filet mignons scallops were outstanding cooked to everyone's request. The Dewars ice cream topped off a super delicious dining experience. Thank you KanPai for a memorable evening Happy Birthday Austin read more

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If you're going on a holiday be prepared to wait for a good while! We had a reservation and still had to wait a good bit. Other than that the food was delicious, service was great as well! Very nice vibes and super clean. read more

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Last minute reservations for 10 at the restaurant- they accommodated our group and when we arrived we were seated almost immediately. Our server was great! Really friendly and was quick to deliver what was ordered. We had the garlic edamame and spicy tuna crispy rice as appetizers- absolutely delicious! My entree was the New York steak and shrimp teppanyaki- it was cooked to perfection! The meat was flavorful and juicy (and for a group of 10 this might have been hard to achieve since most of us got steak), and the shrimp was cooked perfectly- not overdone at all. Vegetables and rice were spot on. The ambiance was great- they kept us more than comfortable on the patio with outsides heaters. We will visit again soon! read more

I love the atmosphere but that was merely and add-on to the great customer service and delicious food. I had the Japanese Lasagna and Shidori rolls. Chef's kiss. Andi and Blake were attentive, professional, and courteous. I will definitely be returning. My daughter and I had a lovely time here. In addition, the Cucumber Watermelon martini was delicious and refreshing. read more

Went to Kan Pai for dinner with a friend visiting from out of town and it did not disappoint! I had the chicken teppanyaki dinner while she had the New York steak -- both cooked well and packed with flavor. We also ordered gyoza and shrimp tempura (no pictures because we ate them too fast!) but they were both absolutely delicious. The service was friendly, attentive, and we never had to wait long for refills. Portions were generous too -- we both left with leftovers, which is always a plus. My only complaint is that my friend ordered her steak medium rare and it came out closer to medium well. Other than that, everything was excellent. I'd definitely recommend Kan Pai for great food, good vibes, and friendly service. read more

Kanpai - Chicken Teppanyaki - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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First time and LAST time here. Service wasn't great. Food wasn't worth the price. Just a waste of time, food and money. Let me save you time. Go somewhere else! read more

Kan Pai is the best place to go for the Teppanyaki grill! You must make reservations in advance for this! We tend to go for celebrations or special occasions, and they never disappoint. Their cooks are by far the best and although they are pricey, they are never stingy with their food. They give us quality food and we always have some to take home. Our favorite is the fried rice and our steaks are always cooked to perfection! read more

Not bad teppanyaki but could be better. They could learn a thing from Sakura Chaya in Fresno. Kanpai needs a spicy mayo wih Teriyaki sauce, a little more vegetables and add Bean Sprouts. read more

Wow! I had no idea that Bakersfield offered Teppanyaki. Kanpai is worth the visit for a unique dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance is lively and the service is excellent! I visited Kanpai this weekend with my friends to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant was packed, so I'd recommend making reservations if you want to avoid the wait. Because we wanted to order from their regular menu, we were seated promptly. I ordered the Tiger roll and it was quite flavorful. My friend ordered the Katsu. She enjoyed it, but mentioned that it was a little tough rather than crispy. Kudos to our server! Thank you for never letting our glasses empty, especially in this heat! read more

Kanpai - Tiger - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Glad this place is an option here in Bakersfield. Made reservations here , especially since it was Valentine's Day. Recommend reservations for sure either way; holiday or non. The sushi tasted fresh. The chef was awesome; did a lot of tricks that were entertaining. Loved his choo choo train sounds and demonstration. Food cooked exactly as you order , especially the meat. Add jalapeños to ur fried rice; gives it a nice little kick with ur meal. Very filling meal; ask for containers for ur leftovers. Taste good the next day also. They add gratuity automatically on ur bill; so check that out closely. Nice size shrimp; not them itty bitty ones where you have to eat a few at a time to think you ate one piece. It can be causal or fancy if you please. I would recommend they ask u if you want more sauces, for your food though before they take off to the next table. read more

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We had reservations and all of our party was there on time, but we still waited more than 40 minutes. Table was not ready. If you have a big party save your self the time and go elsewher. read more

Came here for my daughter's birthday on 12/7 with a reservation for 12 girls. There was a roach... not a water bug, but a small/medium sized roach crawling on the counter where my girls were eating. It was unbelievable and so disgusting that none of the girls wanted to finish their food. I don't blame them. They only offered us a 25% discount. They should really get the health department out there asap read more

First the hostess cost a star. Unclear on availability for seating. There was only two of us and the bar was getting full but the hostess failed to mention outside seating was available. Both to us and the other couple that came several minutes after we arrived. She then proceeded to say that we had to wait for our server but then seated us anyways. This did not exude confidence. We ordered some beverages they were tasty. Ordered jalapeño poppers as an appetizer. Fresh jalapeños tempuras with cream cheese and spicy sauce very good. Highly recommend. We got the little red roll. Wrapped in avocado to soothe the heat it was a good roll to add to the mix. We got the spicy yellowtail roll. It was fine not tightly wrapped but tasty. The star of the evening was the autumn roll. Crunchy tempura shrimp in rice wrap and other goodness. With several sauces on top. Very good. Topped off with dewars peppermint ice cream. Perfect read more

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My partner and I live pretty far away from this area and we thought we'd try Kanpai for dinner since we were on the West side. Boy, we're we sorry. To be frank, we won't be back and it's not worth the $80 we spent for two people and no drinks. 1st offense: We walked in at 8:30 and they were not accepting any more guest for Tepan. Ok, underdable. We were able to order from the Tepan menu, but sit at a table. We were seated at a tiny table next to the fish tank in a high traffic area, to what felt like, "in the way." 2nd offense: We ordered two dinners. Salmon and Calamari. The waiter came back to inform us they were out of salmon. Switched to chicken instead. The dinner comes with miso and a salad. Our dinners came out before the salad and soup. We had about 3 different people checking in on us. It seems like a lack of communication between the staff. The food wasn't very good to be honest. Chicken dry, calamari rubbery, veggies soggy, and the rice flavorless. The salad tasted like bagged lettuce mix smothered with a strange dressing. When the soup finally came out way late "because they were making it" it was thick and overly salty. We couldn't even eat it. We informed the sever he apologized and took the soups back. There was no attempt to reconcile this folly. At this point we were over this meal and establishment. The only highlights were watching the fish swim around in a dirty tank and the Dewars ice cream scoop included with the meal. We do not recommend dining here. read more

Bad service, excellent cook tho, rice wasn't the best no flavor, hair in my ice cream. Service could've been way better! Wouldn't recommend on Valentine's Day or any other day! read more

My friends and I went for their Happy Hour. The bar service was horrible. They did everything possible to ignore us - even when you made attempts to get their attention to get a glass of water and another drink. They also I am sure screwed up our bills and charged for things on my card and my friend's card too. There are bartenders who do not like working the happy hour rush. So there is a great solution for that don't work for a place that offers happy hour. As a local Boca resident. I am very dissatisfied in this place for service. As much as I love the food and think the restaurant is beautiful it will make it very hard for me to go there again or suggest this place to my friends, family, or clients. Zero stars for bartenders service!!!! read more

I have always wanted to go to the place and got to go for my brother's birthday. We love the ambiance, there is a cool fish tank that my boys enjoyed looking at. The hostess was super friendly and got us seated right away. Our drinks were brought very quickly. The chef was funny, friendly and very talented. Everything we ordered was delicious. I got the shrimp plate. My husband got the fillet. My kids loved their meal too. We will definitely be back. We love teppanyaki. read more

On 9/24, I called to make a reservation and said it was for my husband's birthday. I really thought it would be noted for the chef. Towards the end of our meal, friends brought up his birthday and chef said he didn't know. At other teppanyaki restaurants, a birthday would be noted or waitress or chef ask if anything is being celebrated, which makes the meal a special celebration. Dessert was never offered to at least buy a birthday dessert. For the price paid, thought the service would be customer oriented. Aside from that, food was great and restaurant is classy. Only wish chef or waitress would've help make the birthday celebration special especially since it was mentioned. read more

One of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. The service was unbelievably bad from start to finish. We were seated and then completely ignored, no one offered refills at any point, and it felt like we were invisible to the staff. We waited over an hour for our food, and when it finally came, it wasn't even worth the wait. To make it worse, they never brought out the appetizer we ordered and no one acknowledged it or offered an explanation. It wasn't busy enough to justify this kind of delay or lack of attention, so it just felt like a complete lack of care or professionalism. No apology, no check-ins, no basic hospitality. Definitely won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone expecting decent service. read more

It has been a while since we've come to this restaurant. And we went here at least twice this year for birthday celebrations. Reservations required to be seated at the Teppan Grill. We sat at the Teppan bar both times we went. Making reservations was a breeze. Both times I got courtesy calls to remind and confirm our reservation. And one of those calls even offered an earlier seating due to some schedule change. Our chefs at both times were entertaining. And my kids enjoyed their birthday dinners. Food wasn't the best & prices are a bit high... but you come here & pay for the experience. Will most likely try other Teppan restaurants to find the best in town. read more

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First time there, waited 1+ hr to get food on a weekday and the food was terrible. Rice was still hard and undercooked and some short ribs were raw , some were burnt. Teriyaki chicken was super dry and overcooked. Very inconsistent. read more

Outstanding! Delicious, fresh food. Superb service, meticulous with all details. What a fun treat. Everyone in our party of 10, thought it was fantastic. I am so impressed! read more

One of our favorite places..but today bartender gave no shits. No check ups on drinks

Sat in the bar. Was told there was only 1 entree vegan option - soba noodles and they were good. Staff was friendly enough. read more

Kanpai - Soba noodles. - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We went in at 3:30 on Monday, Dec. 30th and received service from a waitress with dark hair (Leslie according to the receipt). We all left saying "that was the worst service we've ever received". I literally have never seen such lack of people skills and joy from a waitress. The sad thing is that the owner was also waiting tables so you would think they would notice. I am not a queen that expects top notch service but c'mon, no one wants to spend nearly 220 (for only 4 guests) and get treated like you're annoying them. She smiled ONCE and said "have a great day" and that was when she handed us the check. We all thought maybe someone called in ‍? Totally no excuse! The tempura was cold and the calamari was $17 for the smallest freaking portion I've ever seen! I'll take our business to Jin Sushi. Their food is better, service is better, and prices are better. Everyone knows: Okay food + Terrible service + high prices = 0/10 experience. At least good service can sometimes make you want to go back--it can even make the food less crappy! Not there! The ambiance was bar heavy which is probably what keeps the light on-- that and the ridiculous prices!! Kan Pai: hire another waitress that understands what waitressing involves--representing your business. Sorry, Leslie but you should go do something else for a living! read more

Kanpai - Receipt - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Came here for the happy hour! They have it Mon-Fri. 2-5pm Bar & Patio only. I ordered the Shrimp Tempura Roll ($9 for HH) & it was delish! We also ordered the surf & turf roll ($22), it's pricey but it's worth it! I love how you can order hibachi from the tables and you don't have to eat in front of the grill if you don't want to. The service was just okay. She was busy with other tables, I get it but getting her attention was a challenge. Otherwise, we will return! read more

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We have been coming here for years and have loved the food in incredibly great. There must be new management or something because we have been here tonight for an hour and a half and have received our meal in pieces and cold when we got it. I don't know what happened, but I will not be back after six years of extreme loyalty every Tuesday read more

Don't show up at 7;45. They are too busy cleaning up till 9pm to remember what you ordered. Very sad because I have always loved eating here. Terrible service tonight and my guest never received her meal read more

Nice and fresh seafood! Pleasant employees are always great! Excellent customer service! read more

First time and it will definitely not be the last visit. By far the best sushi I have had in Bakersfield. We ended up having 6 nigiri (chef choice) and each piece was carefully prepared and super fresh. One of my biggest complain about sashimi/nigiri is that it is usually served to cold and this was not the case here. The halibut was my favorite is the night with the toro being a close second. We ended the evening with 3 hand rolls (scallop, yellowtail and uni/toro) and all were worth having again. We sat at the sushi bar and the service was super friendly and prompt. Will be back!!! read more

Kanpai - Spectacular nigiri!!! Halibut was the winner but hard to go wrong - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We been here a few times and each time we try to convince ourselves it will be better but it's not. This last time was the final time. The two girls at the front were stressed out and unorganized, the food was not great, salmon was overcooked, chicken was not favorable and the rolls were loose. Honestly this place is slightly an upgrade from Shoguns but there are better opinions in Bakersfield. read more

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We love Kanpai for the teppanyaki and sushi as well. My favorite sushi is the surf and turf role it is absolutely delicious and that is coming from someone that typically refuses to eat sushi! Service is always fantastic there and it is a great place for lunch with friends or a romantic date night. We will continue to come back! read more

Horrible service, horrible drinks... bad food doused in butter . I can't believe people go back

"Communication Chaos: A seasoned Old Restaurant That Needs to Talk" So, we decided to check out this restaurant that's been around for a number of years, thinking they've got their act together. Boy, was I wrong! The whole experience felt like a comedy of errors, all thanks to their unprofessional communication mess. First off, you'd expect a place with a number of years under its belt to have staff who can talk to each other, right? Wrong. It was like watching a sitcom with waiters and chefs on different wavelengths. Orders were brought at different times and the kicker was my meal never came! The poor waitstaff seemed lost, stumbling through explanations on why my dish was never prepared, like they'd never had a busy night. When I tried to get some clarity on my meal. Blank stares and vague responses left me scratching my head. I thought, "Come on, you've been doing this for a very long time- get your act together!" In the end, it felt like the restaurant's age was working against it rather than in its favor. You'd think after all these years, they'd have figured out how to communicate within their own kitchen. Apparently not. So, if you're looking for a place with great food but don't mind the chaos and confusion, this restaurant might be your jam. But if you value a smooth dining experience where the staff knows what's happening, you might want to look elsewhere. Kanpai been in the game doesn't mean much if you can't get your team to talk and serve a meal without the drama. I would like to thank downtown McDonald for their their superb adult 10 piece chicken nugget happy meal. It fulfilled my night!!! read more

Kanpai - McDonald adult happy meal.... - Japanese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Very disappointing. Chef put an alarming amount of salt and pepper on our dinners. Food was dried out. Even the rice was dry and flavorless. We used to enjoy this place but the mgr needs to re-train the chef. read more

Very good teppanyaki. Not too greasy and well flavored. Experience overall is good and prices include a lot. Don't be discouraged if you can't get a table at the grills. Food is equally as good at normal seating too. read more