Got take away today been missing the good food , Not disappointing. The waitress is always happy to see you , thanks guys needed a good feed
Teriyaki beef was served on a sizzling plate. I love my food this way as it stays hot and you can take your time enjoying the flavours of this dish. My partner had the soba chicken noodles and loved them. We will be back!! 😀
the seafood tepanyaki is super good! But the portion is quite small if you dont eat it with rice (extra as it doesnt come with rice) plus pretty pricy.
The Katsudon here SLAPS.
A+ 10/10
love this place with all my heart!! the teppanyaki is delicious and the ambience is great. The staff (probably the owner) is super friendly and helpful, would definitely recommend this place to my friends and would go here again! ❤️
One of best Japanese restaurants. I have been dining there for more than a decade. Teppanyaki Meat (grilled chicken & beef with vegies in creamy garlic flavoured sauce) and Odoshi (beanshoot salad) both are to die for. My friends loved it there too. Beautiful Japanese lady who works there...
Freshest sashimi in town! Great service, delicious food!! The eggplant and tofu are the best thing I’ve had in awhile 10/10 would recommend
Oh Well I love this restaurant!! My son’s favourite place to have Noodle and Sushi around South Yarra area.
The staff we so friendly and always! We never felt upset after having our meal there. Place is bit small and narrow, the main door is bit Narrow for those whom brought they Pram but you don’t need to be worried since their staff will help you to solve this problem.
At Sunny day, it’s perfect to sit outside and keep your eyes with very Authentic style of Chapel St
Our fav Chicken Ramen and Tuna Sushi
Price $$
Why I give this place a 5 stars is simply because of their Meat Teppanyaki. I can’t find anything like this anywhere else as of now, although some places have similar dishes, it can never truly have the amazing flavour that you get here. The sauce is the real winner here!!
One Meat Teppanyaki is certainly quite big, but I could always finish it with a side of rice as well.
If you’re in South Yarra, go try their Meat Teppanyaki (the mixed or seafood is good as well).
This place is what I consider a classic. Long before the many waves of Asian establishments hit Melbourne, Kanpai was already there. I love their version of Teppanyaki, pan-fried meat served in a creamy garlic butter sauce. Other dishes such as agedashi tofu and chicken karaage were okay, but it’s the Teppanyaki that keeps me coming back.
Favourite sushi place on Chapel St.
Service staff are extremely attentive and the food is always fresh. Can’t recommend it enough if you’re after fresh, authentic nigiri or sashimi.
Freshest fish and fantastic ambient atmosphere. Come every Wednesday and it’s my favourite meal of the week.
Strongly recommend the nigiri platters.
Very average looking place, not a great atmosphere or decor but the food was definitely good and the service was very fast and friendly staff. Also good value.
Love their creamy garlic sauce on any poultry and veggies, beef or chicken. Tempura veggies were fried perfectly nice and crispy, miso eggplant was great not overly salty. Been here for a few years and never dissapoints
The best restaurant in south yarra, my family and i have been a loyal costumer everytime we when to melbourne, every one of us order the mixed teppanyaki, two garlic prawn for 10 hungry people and rice and some chili powder!
And when you take a bite it’s literally the best thing that could enter my mouth...
HEAVEN!
Must try their teppanyaki (beef/ prawn). It’s amazing! The grilled meat on its own was good then they added a creamy sauce on top of it. Had to order an extra bowl of rice during my last visit.
Great service! The staff are very attentive and friendly. All the food we ordered was beautiful and exactly what we expected. The mixed sushi was delicious! Will be coming back. A great little restaurant.
Great attentive service, decent selection of Japanese dishes from basic sushis and bentos to teppanyaki. Food was rather average though - we ordered some sushi and teppanyaki with garlic sauce (what they’re famous for), and they were delicious but not outstanding. I found the beef was slightly overcooked.
Good and fresh food
Expensive sushi (like...they are charging twice as much for a sushi roll than all the other places in the area)
Opened late so very convenient if you're not up for some fast food (McDonalds, Subway or...similar), this is the place to go.
Great miso soup
Friendly staff and its kind of becoming the landmark of SY...its been there for a long time :)
Used to dine here, travelling all the way from the city just to enjoy its seafood hotplate with creamy garlic sauce. Never had Japanese teppan served with creamy sauce like that. But it tasted delicious. The sauce was the key delight. Creamy but also had a pleasant garlicky flavor that complements the char from the teppan seafood beautifully.
I have been to this place since 3 years ago, it always been my favourite sushi place based on the quality of food and money. The creamy garlic flavoured sauce is a 'must try ' dish and my favourite when ever I came here ✌🏾️
Food - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 3/5
Visited the restaurant with my family and my five month old infant. There was some space to place the pram. The service was friendly and the food was outstanding.
We had the teppanyaki cream garlic beef which was delicious and the soft shell crab sushi which were just divine. I'm not a sushi lover but after the experience here I've converted. Overall fantastic experience and would definitely recommend the place
Been here a few times for dinner and it has always been a great dining experience. Lovely attentive staff and an extensive menu. Safe to say this place serves some of the best sushi and sashimi I have ever had! If you're a sushi and sashimi lover like me, this place is a must. There are awesome sushi/sashimi plates to share as well if you enjoy trying different things or can't decide if you want sushi or sashimi. The sizzle plates are delicious too. Looking forward to returning! :)
Who would have guessed that this place would have such amazing sushi.
The above standards food quality aside, the staff were so friendly. There is a little lady there named Amy, she was an absolute delight.
We will definitely be regulars.
Thank you Amy 😊
I have been eating at Kanpai for nearly 20 years.
It is a great restaurant, kid friendly and the best Yakiniku Salmon in Melbourne - open for lunch and dinner. I don't like sitting out the back I find it not as fun as sitting in the front. Always try and reserve a seat in the front. Last night I had the Miso Soup (it was nice and hot), spicy Tuna hand roll (good level of spice) and the Yakiniku Salmon. The salmon last night was a little burnt however the taste was great and none of that dry mouth experience. The service was only 50:50 but it was a busy Saturday night.
I go through Kanpai overdose phases where I really love this place and the overall taste and food is one which is just a must try.
The fast service and friendly staff (even when the restaurant is very busy) makes you want to go back there.Very good food, and you need to get some of their sake ;)
Nahh ini dia nih resto yang disegani oleh orang2 indo di seantero south yarra melben. Kanpai tuh ayam/seafood/daging digoreng pake minyak dikit dengan sayuran + krim diatasnya. Nahhh krimnya ini yang bikin ane nagih. Anak ane aja suka padahal susah makan. Soalnya ngga keasinan ngga kemanisan. Pas dah pokoke.
The must eat resto when your in melbourne!!! Dont forget to order the tepanyaki. i order tepanyaki mixed HEAVEEEN...many resto in Jakarta I know put kanpai in the menu based from this resto. Also if you like oyster they have creamy oyster ( i forgot the name) also super yummy.
For the place itself quote packed, the table place quite close one another, busy surrounding and noisy. But still if you like eating I recommend this place
No frills venue offering quality Japanese food. Always love popping in here for all of our usual favourites - beef tataki, fresh oysters, a sashimi platter and warm sake 👌👌👌 The service is phenonomal - friendly and welcoming staff. This place will always be a local favourite
Babe's favourite late night restaurant! Their teppanyaki combo is da bombbbbb, mixing with chilli flakes and some soy sauce! They have really good customer service too :)
Many friends recommended this place, apparently it is good! I ordered beef teriyaki, and even the taste was not as I expected, it is still good. I expected sweet like we had in Indonesia, but it was savory. Worth of price
Simple yet delicious Japanese food is always a go-to meal option. The extensive menu with many classic Japanese dishes will leave everyone happy. Pictured here are a variety of 'Maki' (spicy tuna, tuna and avocado, and cucumber and avocado). We also enjoyed the hot dishes including the teriyaki salmon and the teppanyaki dish. Located in the heart of chapel street leaves many hot spots for a cheeky desert afterwards
BEST TEPPANYAKI I'VE EVER TRIED! Letak nya agak jauh dari CBD, di chapel st, di south Yarra. Menu favorit saya disini Beef teppanyaki! Tapi mix teppanyaki jg gak kalah enak, daging nya dimasak diatas teppan dg tingkat kematangan yg super pas! Dan white sauce yg disiram diatas daging nya sangat cocok dipadukan dg daging / ayam nya.
Tapi harus sabar makan disini, krn proses masak nya agak lama sekitar 15-20 mins. Tapi pas udah makan... hmmmhh! Worth the wait kok!
Selamat mencoba! ;-)
Came here for a later dinner on a Friday night. Ordered the deluxe sashimi, which came with salmon, tuna, white fish and octopus. I loved all of the elements, even the white fish which I'm not usually a big fan of. And the octopus had some honey drizzled over it which worked well with it. Also ordered some maki rolls to share. We ordered the avocado and cucumber, teriyaki chicken and soft shell crab.. it was one of the nicest soft shell crab sushi maki hand rolls I've ever tasted. Really nice combination of flavours. Crab was crunchy and soft, ands very fresh..and the service here is outstanding. Our waiter was so attentive, friendly and very gracious. Will gladly return to try out some more items on the menu.
Sympathetic Japanese restaurant on Chapel Street , the meal's quality is constant and the service impeccable.
Sushi platter as well as veg dishes are excellent
I've tried the Endamame, the miso eggplants and the vegetarian sushi..
Fresh, Good.... slightly less in quantity but I was full anyway at the end of the dinner.
Good place!!
Swung by Kanpai during lunch time and it was a great experience. The service was quick and the wait time for all the dishes (approx 7) to be served was prompt. Highlights was the sushi maki (soft shell crab on point) and the terriyaki chicken hot plates. For the price it would be more ideal if the mains came with a complimentary bowl of rice. The udon wasn't bad with the optional Japanese chilli seasoning but the broth was more salty than necessary. The chicken was cooked nicely and had a nice grilled roasty flavour. I'd definitely come back to try their other dishes but I'd recommend getting a few mains and bowls of rice to share, rather than your own dish.
Detail: Never been disappointed with the food here! The sizzling beef with rice is incredible, very tasty sauce! Always seem to come back here. Decently priced too! OH and I love the cone sushi!!
Decor: Not the nicest looking venue inside or out but it still has good vibes being in a great location on chapel street.
Service: Nothing special but always do the job 😊
One of my favs! It's my go to when I want something quick, easy & fresh what more could you want no wonder why they are always busy. Keep it up
It only dawned on me last week on my last visit, that I've been coming to Kanpai since the early 2000s. It's our regular before a movie at the Jam Factory. Good, quick and efficient service is always matched by a quality meal. Recently though, the beef teppanyaki has stepped it up a notch, more sauce is a good thing! Great sashimi platter and they were fine with extra tuna and less kingfish. Gyoza and garlic prawns were also on point. Some believe it's expensive Japanese food, but it's Chapel Street after all and you could do a hell of a lot worse. Consistent and reliable.
I'm a sucker for Japanese food let me tell you that. So happy when a friend of mine told me about this place. I knew I had to try it and it didn't dissapoint. I ordered the wakame salad, the big sushi platter, and the combo meat cooked in a garlic cream sauce. Everything was good. Will be coming back.
This is an oldy but a goody. Not too pricey especially given the area its located. It may not be flashy to look at but the food was a delight to eat. The staff were also really helpful, especially the female waitress whose energy was positively infectious.
Best place in the area for dinner that I have been to on chapel street for a while. So will happily return
Great service and amazing sushi, the eggplant roll is so delicious. But i also ordered teriyaki veggies which was not so good, would be better with better veggies, on top of rice and with a thicker sauce, also it was too expensive just for cheap veggies and bad sauce. The sushi was a bit overpriced too but luckily it was so good and unique I'd go there again just to get a heap of that eggplant sushi.
This is my family's fave restaurant at melbourne cause my mom used to go to college in melbourne and she used to have delivery teppanyaki if she wants. Me and my family always eat here when we visit kanpai and we never found a single flaws especially the sauce i just fell in love with it , if i...
Kanpai is our go-to place when in need of a dose of good, moderately-priced Japanese food. Our favourite is the Meat Teppanyaki, which is beef & chicken meat drizzled with a special garlic mayonnaise sauce. Other meals are good though not great, but the Meat Teppanyaki alone has made it easy for us to give good ratings on this restaurant.
I noticed I haven't even written a review for this place, and I've been here countless times. Simply put, I always have the same thing - the mixed grill teppanyaki, a small sushi platter and some Japanese tea. The cream saucing on the former is just decadent and marries well with the meats. You just need a regular go to Japanese to get your fix of good value sushi and grilled meats. Nevermind the tired decor, the service is ways prompt and friendly. I'll give this place the highest complement - I am a regular.
Fia Fauzia Burhanuddin
+4.5
a must try in melbourne teppanyaki beef with creamy sauce i love it and its really nice💓 and im pretty sure u will comeback after try it...........
For 20 years I've been dining at Kanpai. Amazing every time. Never disappoints. After 20 years it is so nice that the waiter, depending on who you are with, knows which wine to get you. A marvellous experience every time. I look forward to eating such good Japanese food every time I go.
Absolutely beautiful food with excellent service. I always come late and the service is always great, i will definitely recommend and continue to come back.
Kanpai has delicious sushi! And fried rice.
Discovered this place and easily returned back 4 times within one month!
Bit expensive for size of the sushi but worth it!
Fast, reliable and friendly, Kanpai never fails at delivering affordable Japanese cuisine, can sometimes get a bit busy but there's seating out the front and at the back if you want to spread out! Staff are incredibly friendly.
Always came to Kanpai for their teppanyaki garlic sauce. Always tastes so good but it is quite pricey for a Japanese restaurant. I also tried the yakisoba, taste fine but so little meat yet so many vegetables for that price. So feeling a bit meh for the yakisoba.
I gave a shot on teppanyaki meat with garlic creamy sauce. It is just as delicious as it looks. I suppose its a bit pricey compared to any other japanese restaurant, after all its worth every penny.
Bayu Prasakti Tjandra
+3.5
Their unique, signature garlicy teppanyaki sauce makes it a somewhat modern teppanyaki place to dine in. Reasonable portion:price ratio, cozy interior and atmosphere. Their service seems to be hit and miss. One time their service can be attentive and friendly, but another time it can be ignorant and rude.
Only one word, teppanyaki! Never tried anything else except their teppanyaki, the best! It is different with any other place, their teppanyaki is actually with cream souce. This restaurant is our old time favourite restaurant for teppanyaki
Sometimes Japanese is a hit or miss but Kanpai is a REAL HIT!!! The sushimi platters are great which is what we've been looking for! Fresh, good portions and quality! The sushi rolls were great and you can't go last the eggplant with Miso!
"Are you Indonesian? Well the Indonesian favorite here is the beef teppanyaki". My wife wanted the teriyaki while the waiter insistenly directs her to "Indonesian's favorite". Both were equally good, but if I could twerk it a bit I would have the beef less burnt for the teppayanki.. Nevertheless, this restaurant is one of my family's favorite..
Yum! Amazing beef, amazing nigiri, amazing sushi! High quality ingredients used as evidenced by the beef tataki and sushi rice with good amount of "stick" and vinegar-ratio. YUM.
Kanpai is located in the heart of Chapel Street and it has been there for nearly four decades. Its not easy to have survived that long but they did. They serve a unique style of teppanyaki grilled meats served on a plate. After much convincing from friends, I came. Kanpai is a Japanese saying and it is translated as 'cheers'. In a Japanese restaurant or a sake bar, we would typically shout kanpai when we have a drink.
My favourite dish in this restaurant has got to be its creamy garlic teppanyaki sauce! I usually came here for their teppanyaki dish, but recently I figured their fish teriyaki is just as good! It tastes even better when I asked for their extra teppanyaki cream sauce to dipped with!
Unassuming Japanese hotspot amongst the shopping mecca on Chapel Street Kanpai has been hiding from me for years and serving up some of the best Japanese I have had in Melbourne. A big menu to choose from, fortunately we bought a friend who recommended some of her favourites including the cold sesame spinach salad that was rocking! The bean sprout salad was beautiful and the tatsuda beef is exceptional. So fresh and wafer thin with a sensational lemon sauce. Spring rolls are delish with good quality filling and super crunchy wrappers, gyoza are square pockets of super tasty pork. This is THE dish, the one you could keep ordering until you popped! Mussels grilled and drenched in garlic, chilli cream……you know it’s sooooo good it’s probably bad! You’re going to whiff of garlic tomorrow but it is worth it! The teppenyaki mixed platter with beef, chicken and calamari is slathered in another garlic cream sauce which I wasn’t expecting it wasn’t my fave dish but it was nice. Great place, if
The best spicy tuna rolls ever.
Please make tempura prawn rolls!!
Was in Melbourne from the Gold Coast for four nights and ended up eating here on three of those nights. Honestly, cannot recommend it enough! Good food, fresh fish and the most lovely staff! Will definitely come back next time I’m here.
Thank you for your hospitality guys, I really appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing you again!
My favourite dish here for years is the only Tepanyaki - Chicken and Meat ..
that’s all 😁
The food is good and delicious. I love the soba noodle 😍
Best reliable and casual Japanese restaurant in the area ! Have been going since it opened 25 years ago! James is the best in friendly, fast service with great quality food ! Highly recommend it. Always pretty busy but you won’t have to wait long for a table. Thanks and see you again soon. I have added some pictures of my favorite foods to order
Slightly busy on a Friday night as expected, quickly seated and ordered. The sushi/sashimi standard combination is slightly overpriced but tasted fresh & clean. Highly recommend any of the teppanyaki dishes, was pleasantly surprised by the taste despite the presentation. Also tried the tonkatsu which was definitely one of the better fried Japanese pork dishes we've had in town. Will return to try more of the mains
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