Kanpai Japanese Restuarant - Melbourne

Friendly staff. If you are sashimi eaters tiny slices and only salmon and tuna. No grilled nigiri. Sushi we ordered was nice. Would not go back if in Melbourne again

Slightly random decision to dine out, decided to try a different Japanese restaurant than others in the vicinity. Staff friendly and polite, if a little on the slow side, needed to prompt the younger one a few times.Extensive menu, with a range of items geared towards individual rather share eating.There is an almost Chinese feel/taste to some of menu, whether that is a regional influence or something else I can't tell you. The Sashimi was very good. If you're in the area and prepared for some slightly different Japanese give it a try.

As it was a public holiday and we had not much to choose, we came to this restaurant for dinner. Firstly, we were given a tiny table for the 4 of us. When we said the table wasn't enough, as food kept coming and we put the next food on the next table, we were told off. Food was below average and service was BAD. Waiters didn't speak English and they got our orders wrong. The last part was the best to ruin our evening. When we changed our mind to pay our meal in cash instead of by card, this waiter AMI called us STUPID. That is how unprofessional they employ their staff. There are plenty of great Japanese restaurants on Chapel St, so this will never be on our list again.

This used to be my favourite Japanese Restaurant in the late 80's when Japanese food was still new and exciting on the Melbourne dining scene. It's décor is still authentic, yet tired (nothing has changed).It has become so busy that on a Saturday night af 8.30 we had to wait for our table even though we had booked.It's a crazy busy, a "get 'em in get 'em out" kind of busy with waiters wiping down tables with a chux before showing the next group to the table and dropping the paper laminated menu (complete with pictures - an upside for the novice Japanese diner).Once upon a time a complementary and delicious seeweed and sesame salad would come directly after placing your order - no where to be seen on this occasion.We ordered a large bottle of MIneral Water for the table. Four glasses with no lemon and a 750ml plastic Schweppes bottle were plonked on the table.The mostly Japanese waiters will take your order if you can manage to grab them as they wiz by. There really is no table service apart from taking the order,plonking down food and drinks and the bill. Such a shame that a great little icon has turned into a place where the masses go to eat and run often leaving a full table of empty dishes on the table.Food is good quality and reasonably priced - which explains it's popularity given its location at the stylish end of Chapel street - just don't expect any service.

Friend came here often years ago and it was very good, but it's not the same anymore. Both of us weren't excited about our food. They didn't use Japanese rice for sushi. Grilled eggplant didn't have the right flavors. The place just didn't have the Japanese finesse. Won't go back again.