Reviews of Kanpai Izakaya. (Restaurant) in Milwaukee (Wisconsin).

Kanpai Izakaya

582 Reviews

291 Comments

Restaurant

Sushi restaurant

408 E Chicago St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States

Description

Information of Kanpai Izakaya, Restaurant in Milwaukee (Wisconsin)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

Map

Open hours of Kanpai Izakaya

Popular times

Sunday

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Reviews of Kanpai Izakaya

Meena Y

Had a great dinner experience here. I loved the statement piece above the sushi bar area. My favorite part of my meal was the flaming Hawaiian Volcano roll. I also tried the fried gyoza, Menage A Trois roll, along with a special sake recommendation. Good value for what I paid as well.

Mel Brousseau

UPDATE: After being invited back to give Kanpai another try, I returned excited to try something new. We had the Oyster Shooter (which had a nice bite), Stuffed Avocado (which was absolutely amazing), Menage a Trois, Dragons Den, Boss, Blue Fin Nagiri Atoro, Truffle Parmesan Akimi (an interesting and savory blend of flavors) and Vegetable Udon. All were extremely delicious, and the presentation was beautiful. Our reservation was taken without hassle, and followed up with a confirmation text. We were seated in a well lit booth near the sushi bar, which is always a showpiece. Unfortunately, there was no bartender the night we were there, and they were down a host. This meant the owner and on-site staff had to work extra hard to service the guests. While there was a wait for drink and food, the quality of what we had was worth the wait. I will definitely be going back to eat my fill of sushi!

Elijah T

I was in town for a work trip. Food was great, vibes were great, waiter was great. I got the dragon roll and the "oh my god" because I wanted to see the fire. The fire was awesome and the roll itself was pretty good. The dragon roll though???? I want to eat it every day for the rest of my life. Too bad I live 12 hours away :(

Todd

We enjoyed the sushi here…some of the better fish that we’ve had in Milwaukee. The location is very cute. Service was good.

Kyle Conlon

Service was great but it did take a while for my sushi to arrive. They're very busy with doordash and Uber eats so I get it. Other than that I will be back!

Elleka Yost

I ordered delivery, got the shrimp tempura and spicy crab rolls and a house salad. The salad is huge! Everything was very fresh and delicious. Highly recommend giving them a try.

Kristal

We had an fantastic dinner at Kanpai Izakaya! We made reservations through the open table app for a Saturday and we are glad we did, otherwise we would’ve had to wait. Our host was very friendly and sat us right away where our introduced himself and went over the menu and made some great suggestions. Everything we ate was amazing and we even tried the flaming sushi which was fun and delicious! The restaurant and bathrooms were very clean. We look forward to another fun date night at Kanpai Izakaya!

Michael Amen

This place was exceptional. I absolutely loved it. The sevice was quick and amazing. The food was really good. Really nice atmosphere. Good bar area. And very private booths.

Ellen Seiberling

Another place was recommended and we hated their menu. Tried out this place and sushi was FABULOUS!! Would definitely recommend and if we are in town will come back!!!

Tatiana Castellino

Only place in town I go for sushi! Hands down the best staff, freshest fish and comfortable atmosphere.

Tej Mehta

First things first, this is NOT a traditional Izakaya. At the time I went (early 2021) small plates and drinks were not their strong suit. However, as a modern Japanese fusion restaurant, they are very good. I particularly liked the cream cheese and tofu sushi dish and their truffle soy sauce is excellent. The atmosphere is nice, good place for busi, a date or a family and the service is attentive. I was a little annoyed that Izakaya is in their name when this is pretty clearly not an Izakaya, but that doesn't mean they don't have good food.

Farhia Abukar

Atmosphere was cozy and nice. Everyone was warm and inviting and I must say best sushi in town!!! Definitely will be back again. The owner was sweet he checked on us and introduced himself!

Brandon Gulbis

Quick and friendly service from the staff and the food was good and well presented. It was a tad bit on the expensive side for the quantity. The quality of food is there and it was a nice place for a date night or to go out with a group of friends.

Ruidong Yang

Best sushi I have tried in town. The portion is excellent for the lunch sashimi combo. I come here every visit to Milwaukee.

B. B.

Employee said they don’t offer curbside pickup and never have, when I called from my car. It’s literally in the online order instructions for lunch and on their front door. I told him I have Covid and he still was like “uhh” so I had to go in. While sick. With Covid19. Other times have been good, but they need to work on their employee training. Edit: dropping it off outside would have been safest is my point and he said curbside pickup didn’t exist

Ed Deutsch

This place is the real deal in Japanese cuisine. Our waiter was attentive to our needs. The menu had a lot to choose from and absolutely had a excellent time with my son on his birthday. The atmosphere was inviting and was able to have a conversations without shouting or talking over someone. I will go back again soon and would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for excellent sushi. Had the ginger old fashion which was out of this world. Had the waygu beef jalapeno poppers as the appetizer which again was amazing flavor I would also would recommend.

Dave Bishop

Yum, yum and yum My wife and I were going to a show at the Pabst and wanted sushi. We found a place close to the theater but quickly found it was getting bad reviews due to ownership changes. My wife suggested this and off we went. We order 5 things total and each was just amazing. Dragon roll was mind blowing. They even had fresh wasabi for a buck. Seaweed salad was large and delish and the othe app. was super good. The veggie roll/salad was so good. Was not expecting that but I don't think you can go wrong at this place. Our server Mary was super nice and helped us get our orders fast to make our show. They have buttons on each both if you need to ring your server. The restaurant atmosphere is pretty cool. It's a large space and very high ceilings. The only thing that would of improved the vibe would of been a decent sound system. The music was thin almost like a radio blaring in the kitchen. A few more speakers around to soften and enhance the music would of been nice cause the tunes were good, just tinny sounding. A small complaint that did not take away from anything. Can't wait to go back and also check out the new location on the east side where the old Izumi was.

CJ C

Came up on our search of where to eat in Milwaukee. We went here and this place is absolutely great. The waiter we had was on top of allergies (gluten, soy, cucumbers) and so were their chefs. It was such a good experience here and their rolls are to die for. The rice had such a good aftertaste, that it left me wondering which proportions of sushi vinegar they use to do that. Since when does anyone talk about the rice at a sushi restaurant being that amazing? The atmosphere inside the restaurant is tastefully done as well. Great job guys!

Godibesh

You will not find a classic Japanese restaurant atmosphere here but I still like it a lot. I started with miso soup. Tasty but i think it needs to be more salty. I had Edamame but for me it was not cooked enough. I like it overcooked. Then I had fried Gyoza. It was nice. I recommend it. You don’t find fried Gyoza much around. Then I had seasweed salad. OMG, you should definitely try it. It is different! love it. Then I had salmon, tuna and unagi maki. They were big. It was very difficult to put in mouth in one piece.

Steven Schwarz

Though a bit pricey, the sushi is absolutely delicious! The waiter was super knowledgeable and was very professional and entertaining. I'll definitely be returning!

Steven Floyd

Being that it is Downtown Dining week in Milwaukee, that is a great opportunity to try some places you may have not eaten at. Enter Kanpai. Easily located in Milwaukee's third ward. As great sushi places are readily available, I wanted my entree to be something from the kitchen. Sea bass fit the bill. Nice outer crust without being over cooked. Garnished with pineapple on top. Side of 3 shrimp and baby bok choy to round out the dish. Excellent. Started with an unusual appetizer of a sea urchin shooter. Briny, with a real taste of the ocean. Served in a soy / ponzu base. Very good. Finished the meal with cheesecake. REAL cheesecake. Very dense, and just the way it should be. The wait staff was on point and friendly without being hovering. I do plan to go back. They have a second location in Milwaukee. Another sign that they are doing a lot of things right.

Adil Ali Khan

This is a nice place to go to if you are just trying to explore Japanese cuisine, or just want your sushi or udon fix. It has a nice ambience to it and the staff is quite nice. The service quite up to the par. As my Japanese friend with me told me, "This is as authentic Japanese as it can get in the middle of Wisconsin". So if you are looking for a place, you can go here.

Chelle

I only eat crunch munch and searched several places before finding Kanpai Izakaya. Love this place and will definitely visit everytime I'm in Milwaukee. The shrimp appetizer with fried jalapeño is delish!

Malyk Prokopek

Amazing food. I have never been more excited to try some new food, the atmosphere is amazing, staff are kind, and the food was AMAZING. Try the bulgogi! Their sushi is amazing and fresh!

Elise Hallock

There are some delightfully surprising things here. The kimchi Gyoza are beautiful and delicious. The Oh My God roll is set in a tinfoil boat, flooded with alcohol, and the. Set on fire, which lends a sort of charred deliciousness to the roll. The double tuna was really nice. Emily was our server and she was very good. Attentive, on point recommendations, gave adequate space. The only opportunity for improvement that I can find is that the seasoning on the sushi rice seemed too sweet for me. Which, unfortunately, translated into all of the sushi being sweet. But possibly I'm overly sensitive to this and most people wouldn't notice. My only complaint is that

SERKAN YORULMAZ

Great food average service over price. if you want to pay $80.00 per person l recommend. Special wagyu nigiri was suprisely tough.

Emily Thomas

Went during Milwaukee dining week. But damn this place killed it with their sushi. It’s connected to the parking garage so when you walk by it you don’t really even realize it’s there or how big it actually is. Staff is polite and the place is basic Japanese ambiance. Def recommend.

CH4madness

Best Sushi in Milwaukee hands down. Literally the only place I will eat sushi any more in Milwaukee. Excellent quality and I simply trust Kan Pai given the number of great rolls I've had with no negative experiences. Haven't dined in in several years but order rolls for takeout at least once a month, which is very convenient. If you are a true sushi lover this is your place in Milwaukee.

Elissa Gaetzke

Loved the sushi!! Out of the three plates we ordered The Boss was my easy favorite.

Jack Herman

Funny story about this place...I called to see if they had happy hour, what I thought they said was "yes, the entire menu is %50 off from 4:30 to 6:00." What I came to find out they actually said was happy hour is %15** off the entire menu. I ordered wayyy more than I would have if I knew it was %15 off (but I tried a lot more fish). With that being said, the service was fantastic (Allison was wonderful), the fish was fresh, high quality and tender/buttery. The pieces in the roll were large and my entree (pork katsu) was pretty authentic - meat was A+. I would recommend the yellow tail nigiri, salmon belly nigiri and scallop (delicious). I would not recommend the rock shrimp app, too much breading for me and lots of other tempura aside from shrimp. It was VERY pricey compared to other restaurants - I eat a LOT of sushi all over the country/world. $7 for 2 pieces of yellow tail is too much, I don't care if it is flown in every morning. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend.

Nicole Chong

Service extremely slow. We had a reservation and came with our family including 2 kids and were given a table top at the back of the restaurant when there were nice booths that were empty. Not sure if bartender called in sick but servers were making the cocktails and both the ones I tried were poorly made by our server. Appetizers were good, sushi was good, bulgogi dinner was delicious. Fried rice was not good. Chicken in it was also dry.

Jason Smith

Went for downtown dining week and had the lunch menu. Great food and good service. Awesome deal as well, split 6 large rolls between me and another. Shrimp tempura roll was best!

John Lin

Been here a few times... Awesome food every time! Definitely recommend the ice cream dessert...so good!

Jacob Gruener

Kanpai was insanely delicious, with some of the best service I've ever had. Had the Nigiri lunch, pictured below, and their green tea (which was real macha). This place definitely deserves my highest recommendation, and I can't wait to go back with my s/o.

Zachary Pederson

Been my favorite sushi place for several years. Has never disappointed. Place is clean and upscale. Professional and helpful waiters and waitresses. Menu has a lot of options. I try a new thing almost every time and have not been disappointed. I especially recommend the stuff avocado and spicy edamame for appetizers and the Godzilla for a specialty roll. Can't go wrong there though.

Amy Galow

Great selection and so delicious! Pricey, but it's in a great location and the sushi was excellent. Everything was very fresh. Only disappointment was the "oh my God" roll, which was set on fire at the table in a foil packet. Neither the presentation or taste was great. And I didn't like the bubbly sake - it tasted like strawberry soda. Otherwise fabulous. Will come back.

Luke Lyons

Really nice sushi spot. Seating readily available. Great staff and nice wine list. Recommend the treo roll.

Bobby Keith

In my opinion, i think Kanpai is the best sushi in the city. The prices are on the high end, so I tend to stop by for lunch. The trio roll is my favorite roll, anywhere. I've been there dozens of times and have only had good service, however it doesn't seem like the staff sticks around for a long time, since we always seem to see someone new. Overall, i find it to be a nice, relaxed experience with really great sushi.

Dan Lentsch

Best sushi in Milwaukee!! Do yourself a favor and get a party boat or a love boat.

Sunny K

Definitely better sushi than Screaming Tuna, its local counterpart. It had a more authentic taste and was put together well. I enjoyed how the miso salad wasn't drenched in dressing like other sushi restaurants. The location is great. The interior decor is a little worn, but overall would go there again.

Emily Hartman

Amazing and unique sushi with great downtown vibes!!

Derrick Hahn

While the service was slow, the venue and the food itself is top notch. By far my favorite sushi in Milwaukee. Just make sure you have good comapny as the wait can be a bit long.

Arturo Navarrete

I went there for lunch and I had a good experience. Very good place, clean, quiet and very nice host. Food was good and u would say it is a $$ restaurant.

ben logan

Secluded seating and great atmosphere. Food was really good for an "inland sushi" spot. I didn't see any freshwater fish on the menu so I can only assume the stuff was imported. Would definitely pass here again in the future if I'm looking for a quiet spot to eat.

David Ludwig (CRAZYHAVOK)

Fantastic sushi amazing service. Will be coming back for a second round. The avocado starter is truly amazing.

Paj Dawb Yaj

From the outside the restaurant was a perfect fit for the charming neighborhood of the third ward. On the inside the charm continued into an elaborate contemporary setting. The receptionist was no where to be found and we were not greeted customarily as you would expect of any restaurant but the bar tender noticed us and quickly got us seated. The welcoming was disappointing, however the server was more than energetic and knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant and its menu. They have a grand menu with more than enough items. Plenty to keep eaters to keep feasting with their eyes, but obviously that was not what we were there for. The menu was a bit much. Eventually we narrowed down our choices and made our decisions. The food came out quick and very fresh. This was the first place that I have tried in all my years that I could eat the raw fish and it was not fishy but sweet. I have to say I was impressed by their food here and really wish the young restaurant a bright future. I can now say they are my new sushi spot in the midwest. I hope everyone else can experience the same food I did. Enjoy!

Aaron Hardy

I love this place! I have yet to find sushi even half this good in Illinois and drive at least a hour to eat here. The fish is fresh, the options are plentiful, the drinks are good and the staff is friendly! I'm GF by choice and have plenty of food choices.

Heather R.

Sushi was great. Variety of rolls and sushimi . The fish was very fresh. Very nice atmosphere with a unique side room where you sit at tables like you are in Japan and you must take your shoes off which is what they do in Japan. Can be pricey, but they do have some reasonably priced items.

Jasmine Luo

Delicious sushi with kind and considerate server. We enjoyed the dinner.

Austin Cosner

This place had very good food and had very nice presentation of it's Sushi rolls. They also had something interesting where there was a bell at the table to call for service, which was interesting as the server did not come by without pressing the service button. I liked this as there were no interruptions to the conversations we were having!

Trevor Niemczyk

Pros: Some of the best sushi I've ever had. Extremely friendly staff. Seating is nice, doesn't feel cramped or anything and they have lots of it. Cons: A tad expensive, but worth it. Service can take a bit longer than other places, even with similar levels of busyness

Todd Carlson

Very tasty food. Quality fish in their rolls. The staff was really nice, patient, and helpful. The outside seating was a pleasant change from the average sushi restaurant. Thank you Kanpai, for a relaxing and yummy meal!

Chad Lang

Pretty good lunch specials but I love my signature rolls so I tried one of the dragon rolls. Rated really good, fish was clean, and everyone else thought their sushi was really good also. I would definitely come back.

John A

Great fish, delicious sake and our waiter was awesome! I look forward to the next time.

Cynthia Hahn

Lovely, nice ambiance. I am not a sushi person, but I can say that the salmon teriyaki and black rice were delicious. The coconut cabbage was kinda weird, didn't work for me, but YMMV. The service was great.

Chan Lee

The food is simply excellent. My wife and I consider ourselves sushi snobs. We love fresh fresh. There is no place in Milwaukee that rivals the fresh quality of fish from this place. The staff needs a little update on training but the food is awesome. The Chef's are all mostly from Chicago and bring a great blend of modern fusion to the non-sushi food. One of my favorite place in Milwaukee.

Collin D

Was a delicious experience. Servers were friendly and were ready for any questions about the very large menu. Usually big menus are a turn off but for this sushi place I feel I need to go back and try every roll!

J0sephine Lee

Okay, the sushi is really good. REALLY good. It is overpriced though and the service...I mean, I guess they're only doing their job, but I was on a date there. The lady knew it was a date and she did a hard upsell of some of their sake. We were not really interested but she was annoying and I knew he just wanted the server to go away so we could talk, so he agreed to a cup of sake each. Little did we know when we finally got the bill, she had upsold a VERY expensive sake that for only TWO tiny cups matched the price of our sushi which was about $45 for our sushi and $40 dollars for the sake. We went dutch on the date and I am really peeved with the service here. Also, another time I was here, I was trying to get the attention of one of the servers for a drink order since our server was nowhere to be found. I waved at him and he waved back. We waited another 15 minutes for our server to make her way back to us and by then we did not want to order anything else. I like the food, but it isn't worth trying to deal with the service here.

Olivia Blain

This was my second time eating sushi. It was so good I came back, and will be back whenever I want sushi. I liked the Hawaiian volcano, a few others I think that was what it was called. The volcano was the best because it had a fire that seared the food a little bit. The staff was great. Everyone working in the section helps. There is a button to push for service at the table. I hope that one day when I get to Japan I can say this place is just as good as eating in Japan.

B M

Kanpai is a sushi restaurant in the spars sushi market. Food: My wife and I split 4 rolls: Spicy Negi roll, Spicy Yellow Tail, Rock and Roll and the Moby Dick. High praise for the Moby Dick and the Spicy Negi roll. I am a huge fan of spicy, and the negi had fresh serrano peppers in the roll. Very spicy, very delicious. Yellowtail and rock and roll were standard fair. I am not a fan of tempura/hot sushi, but I only do half the ordering, so I trudge through willingly. All this said, it was good in the sense of very competent: no fishy tastes, nothing was to inauthentic, etc… Over all very solid. Atmosphere: Pretty large space, with a decent sized bar if you like conversing with the sushi chefs creating your roll. Back room was nice, and they had a private area for a more traditional eating practice. Service: Our server was very nice, however would have liked a few more water/drink refills. That said, was very kind, albeit a bit slow My score: 8/10. I really don’t have many negatives to the place, however no one area of the experience stood out. Everything was good, and we will definitely be coming back, however I am still missing that amazing sushi experience you may get in places like California. Understood, fish are flown in, liberties need to be made. However, it seems Sushi spots in Milwaukee are fairly spars, and would love to see more, as competition drive innovation and quality standards. *steps down off of my soap box* All said, Kanpai was a good spot for some raw fish.

meredith phillips

Went there on a Sunday early evening for a graduation dinner. Was not too busy, and service was great!! All good was wonderful, but saw tables next to us got their "boats" to share, which we wished we would have tried. Waitress said they are a collection of chef choices for everyone to share!! However, we all loved what we each ordered individually!! I ordered the Chilean sea bass, which was absolute perfection!!! Had everyone in our group try and everyone loved!!! Also ordered in our group was yakisoba, which I tried, and was fantastic!! Also, sushi, Maki and Nigiri all was loved!! Miso soup was awesome, not salty, very light, perfect!!! We got apps if edamame, seaweed salad, and sweet and spicy gyoza, loved all!!! Service was great and fast!!! We will definitely be back!!!

Michael Provost Sr.

Food was incredible. Perfectly cut, wonderfully presented. Service left a bit to be desired, i.e. 10+ minutes with a dry glass and empty plates before someone checked in if I needed my check, and the bartender needs to learn how to make a mojito properly. Honestly though, the food more than made up for it. Would definitely go again.

Joe Ludwig

Lovely classy Japanese atmosphere. Friendly and personable servers and sushi chefs. The various special sushi rolls are to die for. I go to a lot of sushi restaurants in the Milwaukee area and Kanpai Izakaya is one that I constantly go back to. I recommend the Kamikaze roll!

Hayoung K

Best sushi in Milwaukee! Dishes are creative and delicious. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I would definitely visit again.

Pete Wahlen

Excellent sushi rolls! Ambience not there though.. Could use outdoor dining. Our waitress was kind and knowledgeable.

Margyam Rodriguez

Really friendly staff, good ambience, tasty food. My favorite was the sweet and spicy vegetable gyoza and the fried rice!

Erin Kash

Went there during our Sibling Weekend two weekends ago. Our waiter was awesome (sorry we didnt remember your name!). Great sushi, it really hit the mark. No wait and the price was just right. Thank you

Nick Westfall

Go here all the time for Japanese and/or Sushi when I am in Milwaukee. Always fresh, and their presentation is quite unique in that some rolls are served on fire. I highly recommend trying this place out if you have not been!

Jo Ann Sheldon

The service was outstanding Saori our server was funny, friendly and very attentive! Even when she was not available there was always someone who seemed to provide to be available, providing drinks, clearing empty plates. Some of the best I've experienced. The sushi was delicious. Sweet and Spicy Shrimp and Wygu Poppers was a great way to start our dinner. The Samurai Roll, made with lobster and Wygu (sp?) beef was amazing! The fool was nicely presented, great flavors. All in all very nice evening!

Cj Wirsching-neuser

We ended up dining here because another place was booked and recommended them.....WOW is all I can say, we will definitely be back. Service, presentation, flavor and value were spot on.

Virginia Gaviati

Awesome sushi in upscale atmosphere. Great cocktails and they can do gluten free tempura like nobody else!! Specialty rolls are creative and delicious!

Julie Toelle

This is a great Japanese restaurant..I had a very informative server.

Shira Goldberg

Being a returning customer, I was excited to turn someone on else on to such an authentic sushi experience. Like the first time I came there, seating was ample, plenty of staff on hand for accommodating the only two tables with customers. This time however, my immediate attention wasn't the beautiful mural or ambiance. It was the stench of a recently mopped floor with stale and stagnant water and mop that needed to be bleached or replaced. It was simply overwhelming. The menu is superb, a treat, in an area that one might not expect. However, if you're not a sushi expert, or pals with Food Network's Chef Morimoto, you might be facing a labyrinth of a menu without any help. Can't see how that would be fun if one were on a date or trying to impress the in laws. A part of the sushi experience or of dining in general is feeling comfortable asking questions about what is available, preparation, and the overall interaction. Didn't get that from our server. Although she was friendly, she missed more than one, three actually, opportunities to help navigate the menu. She did recommend the wonderful selection, the Love Boat, but unfortunately the timing and temp of service was not. I waited for tbe miso soup for longer than expected, for what I am assuming was already prepared, and then rushed me by coming out with the salad before I was halfway done with the soup. Nothing irks me more... Silverware was not offered wgen it was clearly needed. Here I was I was trying to teach chopsticks 101 while the server walked on by before I got her attention to request a fork. Earlier, I had requested a knife to cut the sushi that was to be shared. Also, the wine pour was initially very skimpky for the wine and price. The server was sure to make the adjustment after and it was appreciated. Half the fun of going out with friends or on a date is trying something new. Indulging in different cultural traditions and learning about the cuisine from friendly staff that encourage such interactions are important components of the overall experience. Anything short of this reduces the chances of recommendations or repeat business which would really be a shame. My recent experience was what I am assuming an isolated one. It shouldn't overshadow the food or beauty of the restaurant, should it?

Jonathan Greene

Excellent vegetarian options. The Tofu Teriyaki and the Tofu Bibimbap we're delicious. The vegetable tempura roll was great as well - crisp and flavorful veggies without being oily or soggy. Have had Sushi and Maki on previous visits and have was impressed. Nice interior And friendly staff.

Daniel Profio

Best sushi in Milwaukee. Intimate venue with great ambiance at a fantastic value. I come here all the time and am never disappointed.

Gerard Edwards

A little over priced, but a good experience overall. There's a type of Susi they have that comes out and cooks in front of you!

Kyle C

Top 5 sushi places i have been to. They were very dead for a saturdy night with that being said everything came out very fresh. Certainly more on the pricey side but it is downtown.

Michael Ariotti

My fiancee and I were a bit disappointed with the food here. The sushi pieces had far too much rice, which was mushy and overcooked. The pan-seared scallops were not pan-seared (they looked baked). One of the specialty rolls came with "4 sauces", and two of those were shrimp sauce and Sriracha. These are boring sauces for sushi. The tuna tartare and double tuna roll were good. Overall, there are many better sushi places in Milwaukee, including Screaming Tuna pretty close by.

Ashley Modlinski

I enjoy getting sushi from here whenever I have a chance. They are a sister restaurant to another great sushi restaurant in Brookfield. The great thing is they are just a short walk away from all the things the third ward has to offer.

Ashley Smith

Waited 5 minutes for hostess just to sit at the 1st booth. Tried the beef and onion ring sushi. Some things just shouldn't be made into sushi. Stuffed avocado delicious as usual. Service ok, but slow given how few people were present. Sushi is usually pretty good, but also a bit pricy.

Becky Curran Kekula

The decor look and feel is very authentic. I always enjoy trying the restaurant signature sushi roll. The eel is cooked to perfection in the Una-G Roll.

Deep Singh

We enjoyed our visit to Kanpai. I always have a hard time picking what to order, so I went with our server's recommendation, which was on point! I ordered the Double Tuna and a Spicy Kamikaze.

Brenda Shields

I had the bibimbop, it came sizzling in a granite bowl with a red sauce on the side that was a Korean BBQ sauce to add as you like. It was fantastic, it would sizzle down under the rice when I added some soy sauce! It stayed hot till the last bite of rice that was crunchy and crispy from the heat of the bowl.try it you'll love it! Son had maki, husband had seafood stir fry noodle, both very good, $5 20oz Japanese beers during happy hour. Great food and we had a great time!

Dave Robinson

Excellent quality, great service. Our most favorite sushi place.

Nick Pepper

The absolute freshest seafood I've had in MKE! All the sashimi and rolls were fresh and tasty. I especially liked the uni, which is hard to find around here (good quality anyhow).

Ian Carroll

The food is great, the atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is very good. The only downside is that it is a bit expensive, especially compared to the sushi places in the city. But the food was awesome and it's in a good location so I would recommend it if you're feeling some sushi

Luda K

Hands down the best sushi in town and I know sushi. I eat everything, I try everything, and I like it raw. The chefs even notice that you have a curiosity for something new or different and will whip you up a secret dish. Great hospitality.

Jim McCormack

The service we received from Paris was awesome. Asked for recommendations and he was 100% spot on...The Milwaukee culinary is out of this world! You must try the soft shell crab, Spicy Pork, and Hamachi Kama. All amazing plus great service!

Bruce Heilbrun

They were very busy, and we with friends, so the wait for food was fine. All 4 meals were outstanding!

Carl Layton III

Excellent shushi, and great cocktails. The server was very knowledgeable. The only downside was it took approximately 30 minutes to get our first drink. Other than that, everything was excellent

brandon eriksen

Walked in to no host or bartender, sat at the sushi bar where I was ignored for 10 mins while they seemed to be making too items. Finally asked for help as happy hour was about to end, they asked me if I got sat her by a host. What host? They seemed annoyed by me being there after that. Sat for another 30 mins and still never saw a host, confused who they assumed would of sat me. I apologize for stopping in, don't worry, I won't bother you again

Brent Nix

Great sushi, wonderful sushi chefs, and pretty great staff.

Christian Shinners

Been here multiple times. Seating at the sushi bar is very nice. Staff is pleasant and food is very tasty and well prepared. The price is a little expensive but it is definitely food is definetly worth it. Much better place than Screaming Tuna

adoramann

Great food

john jingkr

Hot hostesses, prompt service, killer sushi. Rolls are above average size and filled with fresh, quality everything. Salad is large and delicious compared to standard sushi joints. Do it. Do it.

Patrick Empey

I'll start by saying the sushi is good here, no complaints about the quality. It is a bit pricey so dont expect to spend less that $70 for 2 but this is fairly typical for sushi restaurants. That said, the service was very slow. We came in for a 6:45 reservation and were seated at 6:40. We weren't waited on until 6:50. After taking our drink order we got our drinks at 6:57 and ordered our sushi. We ordered 4 rolls total, two half rolls and two full rolls. We didnt get our first rolls (the two half orders) until 7:35. The waiter said our other two would be right out, we didnt get them until 7:45. Having to make a show at 8 we asked our waiter to bring the bill when our last 2 rolls came out. We finally left at 7:55. So, it took an hour and 15 minutes to get 2 drinks and 4 rolls - there were 2 of us and the restaurant was not busy, it was a Monday. Food is good but dont expect this to be an efficient use of your time. We weren't even able to bide our time waiting with a few extra drinks because even the drinks took forever to come.

Jay S

Very good food all around. I had the chicken teriyaki, and it was delicious. I am not much of a sushi person but the people I went to lunch with are, and they all say it is delicious. This place has good lunch specials and a good location in the Third Ward.

Deanna Petkus

I have a mixed review - 5 stars to the food, 5 stars to our waitress due to the lack of a bartender and a manager. We dine here quite often. Last night we had a part of 10 - we waited 30 minutes for our first drink and a while for additional drinks and food. We will go back since the food is delish but it was disappointing.

Alex Thompson

Customer service was great! Brought food right out to our car. Super easy. Food was delicious and good quality. Will recommend and will eat here again! 10/10!

David Jensen

Better sushi/sashimi selection than many other Japanese places in Milwaukee, definitely recommend the buritoro (fatty yellow tail belly) & the Sakura roll (comes on the shape of a cherry blossom flower). Really fun private room if you have enough people to fill it, it's a classic Japanese style complete with paper walls sunken floors around the table & tatami mats in the whole room

CreativeName 12345

The sushi here is fair. I have gone back. I only rate this establishment four stars since the food isn't as quite as authentic as other places in the area.

Jack Zacher

Nice service and great sushi. The high ceilings and large windows give it a more modern atmosphere, which seemed to clash with the rest of the restaurant. Overall, a nice place to get great sushi.

Sean Jackson

I'm not a big sushi person but want here for a lunch meeting. I enjoyed their sushi the most I have ever enjoyed sushi (so that's something). Really beautiful atmosphere

Aaron Jibo

Really really good authentic sushi and lunch specials for the price and area. Not the best sushi I’ve had but it’s the place I go to for sushi if I want it for lunch. Awesome atmosphere and interior as well.

B E

We had a big party they couldn't seat us together, it's fine the food was excellent and the waitress that helped us in the back table was great. Well be back all 16 of us

Sofi Daskalska

The sushi is always delicious and there are many varieties to try. The staff is very nice, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Great place to take a group!

slawbrina

Darn tasty, quality fish, solid service - I was a happy camper

Luke Petrovich

Great sushi, friendly and helpful staff. The fish to rice ratio in each roll was noticeably better than any other sushi spot I've been to in WI.

Emery Boyle-Scott

Kanpai is a good Japanese-fusion restaurant with a strong focus on sushi. I'm not sure what the Japanese is fused with, but they serve some Korean dishes and some original, house-inspired dishes. They have a large selection of sake, appetizer plates, and house-specialty rolls (maki) as well as sashimi and sushi. My party didn't order any, but there are some noodle (udon) options and tempura entrées as well. The prices were reasonable for the style and neighborhood. (read: Not cheap, but worth it) All in all, check it out!

Jenica

Have loved Kanpai's food for quite some time. Fresh, delicious. Tonight I was here for a bachelorette party, and our waitress Heather was PHENOMENAL. Successfully corralling a hoard of semi-drunk women with patience and humor. Definitely a memorable evening.

Luke Holdmann

Consistently great sushi! Maybe not the cheapest in town, but you get what you pay for with sushi and this place is worth it. Their lunch special is especially good.

Cami Shendez

Fantastic food with nice ambiance. For larger group, you can request for their private room where you can experience traditional Japanese dining style. Really unique experience, highly recommend.

Kimberly Hardy

Pros: Delicious Good cocktails Definitely order the roll with salmon that comes on fire. Cons: A little pricy Didn't open until 1600

Doug Johnson

Wonderful food and staff. Summer of the freshest sushi we have ever tasted. We will be back. And the bibimbap is like you're in Korea.

Dayv

Large selection of tastey sushi. Tastes fresh and is well made. Wish the beer selection was better but you don't go for the beer.

Ann Brown

Great sushi! The waiter was very nice and the food was amazing. The drinks are really fun too!

T H

Super duper sushi. Easy to get a table Friday or Saturday night no reservations. Flight of Toro quite good. Fusion stuff also quite good

Christina Green

Love the food and the service. Best Japanese food in town.

Noelle Elizabeth (HelloNoella)

Best sushi in the city. Great service, pleasant and upscale atmosphere, wide variety of fresh and delicious sushi, sashimi, maki, and entrees for those who do not care for sushi.

Lino O

Sushi and fried rice was good.

Lucy Wilhelms

Wonderful, innovative drinks. Delightful, creative sushi & maki. Authentic-feeling atmosphere. Attentive and knowledgeable staff. New favorite Japanese restaurant.

Ed Hammond

Fantastic sushi selection. Interior layout - while nice enough - is somewhat awkward. Doesnt keep pace with the quality of sushi.

Kevin Eldreth

Amazing sushi and price was awesome. I have to say this is my favorite sushi restaurant I've been to. Will definitely be coming back.

Bryan Parrott

The food was exceptional and the staff was as very knowledgeable and helpful. The beer and sake selection was very good. Even the house nigiri was very good for the price.

Patience Keldsen

The food and service was really tasty, went with my boyfriend on a trip to see a brewers game and it was the best sushi we've had.

Joe Pascale

Very nice staff. Sushi was very good. The area is up and coming. I'd return here again on future visits to the city.

Rob B

Great sushi with great flavor. The water guy will not let your cup get below half lol. Excellent service.

Tan N

Stopped in for lunch. Great menu and every was fantastic.

Patrick Lubar

Favorite sushi restaurant in the city! Extremely fun and friendly wait staff. Great selection of rolls.

Mike Meyer

Not as good as screaming tuna but it’s still a nice restaurant. I used to come here until I found screaming tuna. Now that’s my preference. Though the food is good and the staff is also. From time to time I’ll still stop in.

Ana Munoz

Kanpai Izakaya was very traditional, great variety of Sushi and over all a pleasant place to dine in.

Rick Metzger

Sushi was stellar and the wait staff was very friendly and informative. Great place for a romantic dinner or business lunch.

C. N.

Best sushi in the Milwaukee area. Prices are a bit on the high side but you are getting quality every time.

Arthur Coogan

Terrific Sushi!! The "Boss" was fantastic.

Sravan

Pleasant environment and Japanese themed restaurant. MKE sushi was the best, was a bit pricey but amazing taste.

Adam

Maybe 4.5? Chefs choice nigiri hit the spot. Was impressed with the simple spicy tuna roll that came with it too. Cool atmosphere.

Amy Vang

Service was good, I was a bit shocked seeing the host dressed so casually when the I thought the restaurant was more upscale. The food was good, but portions were small and overpriced.

Mai Vang

- Excellent quality sushi - Decent street meter parking - Great happy hour menu - Clean and wonderful atmosphere - Friendly staff throughout restaurant My only favorite sushi joint in Milwaukee!

Matt O'Brien

Everything we had was AMAZING! Dragon's Den and Dancing Dragon!!!! Unagi, sunomono, miso, shrimp tempura, soft shell crab. All fantastic!!!!! Arigato gozaimasu‼️

Tony Myers

Sushi was great, but our server seemed unknowledgeable about the food.

MIKEY Toasty

Tempura roll was great!

刘春梅

Always good fish

Zachary Karpinski

Hands down the best place to get sushi near downtown. The service is great and the sushi is even better.

Jo-Walter Spear, Jr.

Kanpai is an enjoyable experience. The atmosphere and staff are professional; the sushi is good, but nothing exceptional.

David McSpadden

Food was great, Took me 20 min to get my bill so I could get back to work. Maybe not the best spot for a quick lunch

Liam Daniel Fenlon

Excellent Japanese food, good with my food allergies! Naruto roll, salmon teriyaki, and bimbimbap were delicious

Oki Okabe

Awesome authentic sushi. What really sets them apart from the other "sushi" places are chefs and service.

Sharon Jury

1st time for sushi great Service.food was great, People were so kind and helpful

Joel Hansen

Very, very good sushi. Upscale location

Dennis Sorin

Very good food!

Joshua Parish

Absolutly no complaints. I've eaten here twice for lunch. Excellent service and great food. Highly recommended.

Simon Harper

Definitely one of the better sushi restaurants in Milwaukee and some interesting cocktails too!

John Gelfer

Excellent sushi, decor, and service. One of the best sushi restaurants in Milwaukee.

Kyle Perea

A bit pricey but we'll worth it. Easily my favorite sushi place in the Milwaukee area

Brant Stanley

My favorite sushi place in the mke area. Great presentation and a rich variety of sushi rolls

Melissa Novotny

Good food. Very pricy though

J Allen

Always excellent with great service! Been here dozens of times and it is consistent and amazing and tastes great! It is very affordable and I will continue to go back!

Sean Perkins

Great sushi tucked away in Milwaukee. Their spicy rolls were very spicy.

Stephanie Gabrhel

Yummy sushi! Kind and friendly staff!

Andy Post

Best sushi in town... service is always great and the food is top notch.

Amy Saari

Really great sushi, Stonepot Bibimbop was delicious, service was good too!

Jamison Soya

The staff are amazing! My girlfriend and I go once a week basically and their food is consistently great and is priced wonderfully!

Luke Kazmierski

Good food, reasonable service, had the bento box for lunch, overall good but I have had better bento boxes. Will go back to try something else

Timothy Nott

It was pretty good. Our server was informative and witty. The warm sake was perfect on a chilly evening.

Karim Yasin

Great place for sushi!

Stefani

Love to get my rolls with black rice. The seaweed salad is also a fave.

Renee King

Great service and amazing food. I will definitely be returning for the food and atmosphere!

Nicholas Earle

Good food, service, and atmosphere. Great place for Uber eats or eating out. But the restraunt is great too.

Ant Pruitt

Some fancy sushi. Man it is delicious!

Paula Sabol

Emily and Kevin were great, non sushi/fish options plentiful and delish

Earl Chase

Paris was great and just what we needed after searching for a place to eat! The bipimbab is great.

Bryan Stewart

Best sashmi in town. Stop in about once a month for lunch and never disappointed. Ask for the fresh wasabi its great.

Alex Radish

Server was fast, pleasant, and informative. Food was excellent and came within 10 minutes Will definitely be going back.

Michael Wheeler

Best sushi in MKE. Great service too :)

Kristen McNally

Service was great and tried several tapas and my dish was the MKE wonderful, husband had the spider he loved it!

Paul Erixson

Had a great lunch in a beautiful atmosphere. Friendly and knowledgeable staff!

Nick Airriess

Amazing fresh sushi, tea was awesome too.

Tracey Hensen

Try the sashimi salad bowl! Delicious. Wonderful service.

Emma Paulus

Love it

SonofDark2

Delicious Japanese cuisine. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable.

Kevin Luty

Pick 2 and Pick 3 Maki Lunch specials are unbeatable. Staff has always been great.

Timothy Van Audenaerde

Great good! We had the eel and sushi. Just amazing!

Travis Myers

Cooked items are great here. Rolls seem a little heavy on sauce in our opinion.

Sid Arthur

Great service, nice atmosphere and great quality sushi

Carlos Cousin

The best sushi I have ever had. Get the menage a trois roll.

Emily Firlinger

Grrat service, fresh sushi. My favorite sushi experience in Milwaukee.

Kevin Ziegler

Excellent food, great service, but the last visit had a few food delivery problems.

Alex B

Best sushi in Milwaukee. Get the Geisha Dream roll!

Riki Tagliapietra

Awesome lunch and crazy cheap for Milwaukee. The building is beautiful as well.

Lauren Lemke

Beautiful, great atmosphere and of course nice sushi.

Kori Ha

THE SERVICE WAS AWESOME! THE FOOD WAS GREAT! THEY EVEN MADE THE WATER LOOK DELICIOUS!

Kara P

The fish is always fresh! Everything I've tried here is delicious.

Chella Bhagyam

Good vegetarian options, fresh sushi! Will be back in the future!

Aditya Karandikar

Pleasant spot in the Historic Third Ward for sushi and other Japanese food.

Lynne Cole

Lunch here during Downtown Dining Week was a wonderful experience.

Gabe B

Great lunch deals. The bento box has a great mix of food

Michael Wildner

Quality sushi and fairly decent lunch specials.

Stacy Chic

Good service, great food!

Landon Nyren

Greatg sushi, great service, great atmosphere.

Daniel Selby

Great quality sushi. Pricey...yet delicious

Gerry Ravo

Interesting menu, a little complex but good quality food, reasonable price.

Anthony Speller

Really enjoyed our lunch and our server was excellent!

Mason S

I love going there because the food and service are both always great!

Hannah

Fresh to death. Enjoyed all the rolls 🤩 …

Laura O

Best sushi and happy hour in milwaukee. Hands down.

LoveMerciful

Food is so fresh and filling. Service was great.

Latoya Blackmon

Small portion for the price. Food okay just not enough to taste.

Magi Krzecka

The fried avacados were delish!

Craig Sherman

Good sushi. A little pricey, but worth it.

Ralph Hoffman

Great atmosphere, great staff, and great food. Would recommend

nick m

Good Japanese food with a couple of Korean dishes that aren't half bad.

James Schafer

Get the seabass dish. Good sushi and service.

Andrew Glassman

Great lunch specials. I've never left hungry or disappointed.

Nicholas Whitehead

Great sushi great service

Erendira Monroy

The best place for sushi and girls night out.

Sharon Sanchez

They have a generous lunch special for a good price!

Kimberly Hardy

My favorite sushi place in the midwest!!

Josh Eide

Great fresh food! Service is good too.

Jose Barbosa

Great sushi place and the bugogi is amazing

Charles Hrodric

Fresh fish and authentic plating, flavor and setting.

Steve Knier

Good sushi 🍣. Small sake selection. …

Trina Lynn

Nice Atmosphere and the Stufded Avocado is a must try.

Dan Wall

A friend took me here.great!! Appreciate the attentive service too...

Roger Greer

Very good rolls. Try the Green Bay Roll.

Crystal H

Great sushi, good service!

Cynthia Mooney

Wonderful sushi dinner and service.

Adrian Michael

Amazing sushi, sake, and people.

Edward Still

Great food and service!

Anand Bongale

Good sushi not so good wasabi

cedric price

My go-to lunch spot, good lunch meals, good bulgogi

Laurie Youknowwho

It is amazingly delicious!!!

alan grabow (ALnG Culinary)

A must stop for sushi lovers

Dave R

Always fresh. Fantastic side salad.

Marcia Lester

Ross is the best server in all of Milwaukee!

David Sigman

Best sushi lunch in MKE!

Elizabeth Callin

Sushi was fabulous!! Godzilla roll 👌 …

Jake Rosynek

Good sushi . Bad service on a Saturday night.

joe jones

Awesome mojito and great sushi

Julie Aprahamian

BI BIM BOP was excellent very crusty

Ashley Fugate

This place is a definite must try! No regrets :)

Jimmy Pautz

Awesome sushi, awesome service

Kyoko Keota'sPham

Some of the best sushi around

Yoon Kim

Best Japanese restaurant in down town.period.

Rika Saliscente-Phipps (Lika Phipps)

Very delicious meal and good service.

aparna deshmukh

Delicious food!

Robert Haggarty

Always enjoy....always very fresh

Matt Fournier

Fast and friendly with great food

Jesse Hays

Our most favorite place in the whole world!

T Lee

Best sushi in Milwaukee.

Colette Kadrich

Exquisite. :)

Victor Febres

Lovely place to eat with friends or on a date

Tyler Reschke

Paris is the best! Great place!

Jerry Smith

Delicious! Uber eats delivery!

Chad

Best sushi and gyoza.

brian peters

Best sushi in Milwaukee

Alaina Luckow

Amazing food and service!

Ryan Bovinet

Decent quality sushi.

Aaron R

Good food and atmosphere.

Scott Lysne

Awesome 🍣 …

Tyler B

Delicious

Anthony Basile

Incredibly overpriced...get ready.

DL Balinski

Loved the Uni shooters

Jason Mercier

The sashimi is phenominal!

Nick Wierzba

Amazing spider rolls

Theresa Kettner (Lazermaker)

Always a good time

Xavier Valle

awesome

Jennifer Taylor

Food was great.

Yvaine D'Archambeau

Really good!

Larry Taylor

Great

krista schultz

Mary is the greatest!

Sabrina Stangler

Tasty every time

Andrew Kozlowski

Try the flaming dragon!!!

Rachel Van Dam

Yum

Matt Ferron

Rocks!!!

Rylee

Delicious!

Curtis Prescott

Brett is the best

David Polachowski

Excellant lunch

Fiona Di Falco

Nice place !

Justin Krupka

Tasty food.

Noel Johnson

Love the a

Andrew Thielmann

Our favorite place to celebrate any occasion, Kanpai consistently has excellent sushi options and a variety of fusion choices to mix in with your order.

Sergio “Serj” Collina

(Translation) I like the place, excellent cuisine and cheerful and courteous staff. I advise. I like the location, the food is really good and the staff is really kind and cheerful. Recommended. (Original) Mi piace il luogo, cucina ottima e personale allegro e cortese. Lo consiglio. I likes the location, the food is really good and the staff is really kind and cheerful. Raccomended.

Nathalia Prez

(Translation) Excellent service. All delicious! (Original) Excelente servicio. Todo delicioso!

Ernesto Mercado

(Translation) Very good (Original) Muy bien

Elizabeth Vorpahl

Charles Adams

Pui Wong

Siegfried Waldthausen

Andrew

Jim Neuser

Wendy Wilson Uhl

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