Kanpai Sushi
Quick info
About Kanpai Sushi
Kanpai Sushi is a Japanese restaurant on Grindlay Street in Edinburgh, serving sushi and tempura from a menu of 115 dishes. Rather than bringing everything out together, the kitchen sends dishes one at a time to the counter or to the private dining rooms, an approach suited to those who want to eat at a slower pace through the meal. The Dragon Roll appears on the menu alongside the wider sushi selection. A bar area sits at the back of the restaurant, with private tables to the side for groups wanting more separation. The step-free entrance gives wheelchair users straightforward access to the dining room. Reservations are recommended, as the space is small and can fill without a booking. Takeaway is also available for those wanting to eat off site. The restaurant runs Tuesday to Saturday and stays closed on Mondays and Sundays.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid multi-storey car park · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Good for kidsFamily friendly
- DietaryServes organic dishes · Serves vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
115 dishes · mains £1–50- Tokyo Roll£15.90
- Kanpai Special Roll£15.90
- Dragon Roll£17.90
- Soft Shell Crab Roll£16.90
- Grilled Bluefin Tuna Belly Truffle Roll£26.90
- Black Dragon Roll£24.90
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention salmon maki, tempura, nigiri and spicy tuna roll.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention salmon maki, tempura, nigiri and spicy tuna roll.
Customer Review Summary
Fresh sushi and sashimi form the clear draw here, with reviewers repeatedly singling out the salmon maki, bluefin tuna, and a twenty piece sashimi as standouts, and the Dragon Roll and tempura also drawing praise for authenticity. Close behind, several diners highlight small plates like crispy salmon bites and vegetable and chicken dumplings. Service divides opinion: many describe staff as friendly and attentive, but a recurring complaint is slow, staggered dish timing, with multiple reviewers waiting twenty to thirty minutes between courses or for a bill. One visit reported untrained waitstaff, bland rice, and stale wasabi, and another described a poor nigiri course, a popped ikura gunkan, and largely unresponsive service despite a comped item. Several reviewers suggest booking ahead given how full the space gets. Most close on returning for the fish quality despite the pacing issues.
Customer Review Summary
Fresh sushi and sashimi form the clear draw here, with reviewers repeatedly singling out the salmon maki, bluefin tuna, and a twenty piece sashimi as standouts, and the Dragon Roll and tempura also drawing praise for authenticity. Close behind, several diners highlight small plates like crispy salmon bites and vegetable and chicken dumplings. Service divides opinion: many describe staff as friendly and attentive, but a recurring complaint is slow, staggered dish timing, with multiple reviewers waiting twenty to thirty minutes between courses or for a bill. One visit reported untrained waitstaff, bland rice, and stale wasabi, and another described a poor nigiri course, a popped ikura gunkan, and largely unresponsive service despite a comped item. Several reviewers suggest booking ahead given how full the space gets. Most close on returning for the fish quality despite the pacing issues.
Featured reviews
- Aliya Ali
“Impeccable service. Nice decor; better in the evening as it’s quite dark inside. In general, the sushi and Japanese food standard in Edinburgh is extremely poor, …”
- Kiefer
“Can’t believe we were able to find sushi as good as this in Edinburgh of all places. Wife & I were craving some sushi while in Scotland for the month and heard rave reviews on Kanpai as being “the best in Scotland” — that didn’t mean much for us as we’ve eaten at many top-tier sushi restaurants and hoped it would at least be decent. WOW! The sashimi and nigiri we ordered was incredibly fresh, well prepared, and generous slices of fish to boot. Their tempura was genuinely amazing and so authentic and on par with what we’ve had in Tokyo. This spot serves incredible quality sushi and it beats many of our local spots back home. Very happy we stopped in!”
- B A
“The food was nothing special to make me want to return. The service was extremely slow for a restaurant that had empty tables. One waiter gave me a half cup full of water and didn’t provide any refills after asking. It took several times to …”
- A S
“The food was amazing! We had the wakame salad, vegetable and chicken dumplings, snow crab spring roll, and the 20 piece sashimi. This was the best Japanese food I’ve had outside of Japan for sure. Extremely fresh ingredients and lots of care put into the food for sure :) I could not believe how fresh and delicious the sashimi was! Very chill and pleasant environment, lovely wait staff. Highly recommend!”
- Massimo Marrapese
“On par with the best japanese restaurants in Scotland. Both the fish and the meat were fresh and perfectly presented. Staff very attentive and cordial. Cozy atmosphere and privacy, with low level of noise. Highly recommended.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- ,
- Wednesday
- ,
- Thursday
- ,
- Friday
- ,
- Saturday
- ,
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
“Intimate sushi and Japanese dining with sake menu to take at kitchen counter or in private rooms.”
- Has great tea selection
- Has great wine list
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
Show more amenities
- Serves vegan dishes
- Serves alcohol
- Casual
- Offers kerbside pickup
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Offerings· 10
- Serves cocktails
- Has free water refills
- Serves healthy options
- Serves late-night food
- Serves organic dishes
- Has private dining room
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Highlights· 2
- Has great tea selection
- Has great wine list
- Dining options· 5
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Planning· 3
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Atmosphere· 4
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Parking· 3
- Paid multi-storey car park
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
Location
Similar Japanese restaurants in Edinburgh
More to explore in Edinburgh
108 places
Restaurants in Edinburgh
Photo: Makars Mash Bar · 4.8 · 11,013 Google reviews
See all 108 restaurants in Edinburgh
