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    Kanpai

    4.2 (84 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed Closed

    Kanpai Photos

    KANPAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Kanpai

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    Outside
    Ariel T.

    Very cute place with good vibes. Friendly services and warm staff members who were very accommodating to different tastes and interests. I got some sashimi a la carte but was confused by the 10pcs option as well thinking I was choosing my 10pcs. But the staff were very accommodating and made the necessary changes - I didn't want to waste any food as I was by myself. Would def visit again when I find myself back in Edinburgh

    Grilled Salmon Roll
    Connie C.

    Greta Japanese place in Edinburgh. They have a great selection of fish, and wagyu beef. We stuck to nigiri and rolls, and all the fish were tasty. Our favorite to our surprise was the grilled salmon avocado roll. Didn't get a chance to ask if it was Scottish salmons but if it was, it was A++.

    Scallop sashimi

    Truly an excellent Japanese restaurant in Edinburgh. Service was very generous and efficient. Presentation of the dishes is lovely. If you're thinking about sushi, this is the placd

    Wakame salad, really nice
    Katrin L.

    Great food, service and atmosphere! We arrived 10min before their kitchen was closing, they let us know that so we would order before they close it. We quickly ordered some dishes and they came out in no time, very fresh and yummy. The wakame seaweed salad was so good, I could eat a big bowl of that. Veggie sushis were very nice and my husband's tuna and and dumplings were nice too. I didn't like the soba dish with some dipping sauce that I found quite sickening, it was like a sweet mayo sauce. My husband liked it though. I wish we had time to order the aubergine that everyone seems to love. Definitely the place to go for Japanese food in Edinburgh.

    Soft shell crab maki
    Sarah A.

    It was a Saturday and I thought "Time to treat myself to something delicious" so OF COURSE I chose sushi! I noticed Kanpai while on my way to Mademoiselle Macaron (practically next door to each other) and Yelped it immediately when I had the chance. Behold, a popular Japanese place that I NEEDED to try! Perfect! Went over for lunch and was quickly welcomed by friendly staff members. I sat at the sushi bar because I wanted to intimidate the chefs while they made sushi (hahahaha it's really a hobby of mine to make people feel uncomfortable). I also like when they finish making your food and immediately serve it to you over the bar, it feels more prompt and efficient lol The space is beautiful! Very minimal and stylish, just like how Japanese restaurants should be. It was bright, clean and welcoming at the same time. Anyway, I ordered a miso soup, salmon sashimi, soft shell crab maki and some green tea to go with everything (altogether, I paid 21.50quid). The miso soup was a good way to start the meal along with my freshly sliced salmon sashimi served in a bowl of shaved ice! Uggghhh so perfect with wasabi and soy sauce! My heart was exploding with happiness! The soft shell crab maki was delicious too! The crab was freshly fried up and then made into sushi right in front of me so props for freshness! :-) I was so full at the end of the meal, I could take a nap at the restaurant itself! Overall, loved eating here! Was one of my favourite places to have been lucky enough to discover! Definitely will bring Gian here when we get a chance to visit Edinburgh again! :-D

    Cold Sake, love it!
    Ben B.

    I believe this review is relative to what you're accustomed to, but I've lived in the UK long enough to miss good sushi... and I'm from Georgia, not exactly the sushi capital of the US. That said, I have to say that I've been pretty much shocked at the "meh" factor of most sushi places I've tried in the UK... I'm sure there are hidden gems, but I've hit so many duds in my quest that I subconsciously have started avoiding one of my favourite food types. So, on to Kanpai... it's good, really good... good enough that it's getting five stars because I simply haven't had sushi this good on this side of the pond yet, and it's reasonably priced. If you're over from Japan (or even California) I'm not sure it would rock you're world, but if like me you've grown cold to sushi because it's always either far overpriced, simply not good, or worse... both, then bookmark this place and give it a go. The King Prawn Tempura... wow, it's a must for a starter, a real treat. I've had the Squid Tempura as well, and while also nice it didn't quite live up to the King Prawn Tempura... which is a bit of a surprise to me since I normally fall on the side of squid when playing favourites between the two. I've also had the Grilled Aubergine in sweet Miso Sauce and it packed a punch with flavour... it could have almost been a dessert! I've also had the Pan Fried Veg & Chicken Dumplings on two occasions, loving them the first time... sadly the second time, while still good, they didn't live up to the first visit... they came out a bit cold and the dipping sauce was a bit weaker in flavour. (They were still good, just not as good.) (Side note... if you're in London, near Angel, seriously try the dumplings at New Culture Revolution... they're handmade bits of win, no other way around it.) I've had a few of the rolls at Kanpai, but so far the Dragon Roll is probably the winner in presentation and taste... I don't think you could really go wrong with any of them that sound of interest to you. The Kanpai Special Combo is a win for sashimi taste and presentation... go with a friend and order one of these, a Dragon Roll, and have the King Prawn Tempura as a starter (I'll let you pick the second starter on your own... it's your dinner after all!) and your table will look like a presentation fit for a magazine. So search no more Dear Yelpers, there is now somewhere I honestly look forward to going for sushi... not in the "well, it will do" way that so many other places have been until now... I legitimately crave this place. For the place itself... it's almost hidden, with no sign jutting out, but clean and well laid out inside... the staff are courteous as well, but it can get quite busy... a booking on a busy night is wise... very wise indeed. Enjoy!

    spicy tuna gunkan nigiri
    Kimberly C.

    Kanpai is an authentically designed sushi bar nestled just under the Edinburgh Castle. The staff are so polite and so friendly. The decor is minimalist and very Japanese. The whole experience at Kanpai reflects the elegance and simplicity of Japanese cuisine. Food-wise everything on this menu down to the wine selection is spot on. Recommendations: Spicy Tuna Gunkan Nigiri, the Kanpai Special roll, and the Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream.

    Dragon Roll is a Dragon!!! Talk about knowing your audience!

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    1 year ago

    The sushi was very fresh, we got the sashimi set and couple of nigri. We also got eel and salmon hand rolls

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    3 years ago

    Great Japanese cuisine. Very pleasant wait staff and tasty food. I'd highly recommend.

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    Kanpai Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Kanpai

    Aaaaahhhhh the dragon roll is so good here that I had to maybe possibly definitely did get two of them....

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    Kenji Sushi - Spicy Pork belly ramen and dynamite sushi

    Kenji Sushi

    (19 reviews)

    ££

    Stockbridge, New Town

    You can pass by this place in Edinburgh and literally never know it exists…read more If anything gets full marks, it's the decor. First off, you walk down these stairs from the street to get to it. When you enter the restaurant, the decor definitely is the first thing you notice. Very traditional Japanese decor all around. I've been to many Japanese restaurants in the states and majority are not nearly decked out as this place. Food and service is solid too. The only reason I couldn't rate it any higher is because the food tastes like "a normal" spot I've had before. The Katsu was cooked perfectly but the curry just seemed only a little above average. The Tonkotsu Ramen also didn't have as much flavor as I was hoping. I'm not trying to say any of the food is bad. Not even saying it's mid. It's just the flavors really didn't do anything to blow the socks off my taste buds and that's my fault. I'm spoiled because I live in the Bay Area of California where I have an abundance of Japanese restaurants to choose from. I also went to Japan for the first time this year so again, I've been fortunate enough to be able try a lot of different places. Don't get it twisted though. I highly recommend Kenji Sushi. If I lived in Edinburgh I'd probably be coming here a lot. Especially if I had never had Japanese food before. I think it's amazing that the city has diverse food options like this that are actually good. It helps that it looks fancy inside too. Kenji would be a great place to take someone on a date.

    BEWARE!!! 1. This restaurant is not at this location. Look…read morethem up on google maps, it is just up the street. 2. Make a reservation. Very busy around dinner time. Very good food. You can tell that the fish is fresh. The place is very cozy and surprisingly quiet. Would recommend!

    Maki & Ramen - Spicy Chicken Teriyaki & Chicken Gyoza

    Maki & Ramen

    (24 reviews)

    West End

    I was craving ramen for dinner while in Edinburgh, which probably had something to do with the cold…read moreweather. Our choices near the hotel were between Wagamama and Maki & Ramen. We chose the latter due to the fact that I'd never heard of this UK chain of Japanese restaurants. I also found the menu to be unique with the dietary-friendly halal, vegetarian, and GF offerings. Not many Japanese restaurants have that. We were welcomed in with the sound of a taiko drum. They tap the drum when entering and before being seated. I found it odd at first, but now I understand after reading about this traditional welcome. The restaurant was filling up fast. We thankfully were seated in a 2 seater booth by the window. It was completely full by the time we left. All the ramen choices looked fantastic. I've never seen such a huge variety of unique flavors. I was drawn to the Shio Yuzu and Shio Truffle. It was a tough decision, but the truffle won that battle. It ended up being a great choice. The truffle really brings out the flavor of the rice in the noodles. Although, these noodles were already pretty special. I think they make them here. There was a good amount of chicken, and that ramen egg was absolutely delicious. A perfectly made custardy yolk. I should have ordered an additional one. My husband's Spicy Chicken Teriyaki with rice was good, but not great. His words, not mine. I didn't try it because I'm not a fan of teriyaki sauce. The chicken gyoza were also pretty good. I was also super happy with the Yuzu Ice Tea from the Mocktail menu. It was very mojito-esque without the rum. A refreshing drink. The service was good. The atmosphere is very lively. I didn't really get a chance to take pictures inside. The décor is lovely, but more enjoyable when it's less crowded. I'd revisit it again if ever in this region. I may have to try their Black Garlic Tonkotsu ramen next time.

    What a nice stumbling surprise on a very cold night after touring Edinburgh all day…read more We got there probably an hour before closing. The staff were very friendly and super helpful with recommendations. We ordered a couple of appetizers and some ramens and I must admit that every bite was mouthwatering

    Kanpai - japanese - Updated May 2026

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