Izakaya Sanpei Restaurant

Their Japanese curry is very flavorful and rich. Their Katsu and tempura shrimp was delightfully crisp. We had a little booth room to ourselves, and it had a very cozy feel to it. The owner visited us multiple times to make sure everything was okay, and to make small talk. We never had to ask for more water or for the check, the waitress paid excellent attention and didn't have to ask who got what to split the checks, or to re-run them for 5% off when we paid in cash. It's also a locally owned small business!

Amazing, authentic sushi. Loved the Mexican roll, and the salmon sashimi is one of the best we have ever had! Can’t wait to come back.

Had the beef bowl, with udon noodles and my partner had one of the bento boxes and omg it so delicious! And really great portion sizes. The people were so nice and helpful. The atmosphere is very nice and calming. Overall a great time and will definitely be back for a new date spot!

Update: came again and it was phenomenal again. The lunch beef bento box and sushi were amazing. This is definitely the best Japanese restaurant in Canton, MI. This place is amazing! The food is fantastic, the service is quick and the staff are super friendly. We ordered the duck hot pot for 2, and arrangement of sushi, the chicken teriyaki, etc. Everything was delicious! Highly recommend!

Pretty good sushi and the waiter was a cool guy. The hostess tried to rush us out because we finished good and paid (they had a wait), but my friend still had about half her beer left. We were only there about hour and 15 at this point. Other than that, we enjoyed our experience and the sushi was pretty tasty!

A great experience from beginning to end! The restaurant is clean and the women were so inviting. The meals are affordable, be sure to look over the entire menu before choosing because there are so many great things to try! My meal was absolutely delicious & filling. I got the Teishoku dish from the middle menu. Everything exceeded what we expected. Well Definitely be back!

Recommended by a friend of mine, and I'm so glad I stopped in. The food was delicious. I brought a group here and everyone was impressed with the flavors and the portions. Their soft shell crab app was lovely with the ponzu sauce, and the sushi rolls were delicious and huge. Definitely coming back for the duck hot pot.

Love this place💚💚💚 My favorite place since moving to Canton in 2018. various selections, good food, nice service and cozy atmosphere. Took my mom and Grandma here once, and they complimented this place a lot. I came back after the lock down in 2021, service was a little disorganized with new young staff. But Still my go-to place in the area, they did a great job during the pandemic and always accommodated us at best. Came back here after a year traveling, still that finest atmosphere.

Izakaya Sanpei always comes n clutch when you want some good for you, but comforting food. The service is excellent and the ambiance definitely gives you the classic Japanese izakaya feel, but in an American strip mall. My daughter loves their shoyu ramen and my wife always goes for tempura. I was in the mood for some protein, so I went for the Sashimi dinner, which was so good and fresh. The white tuna is the best bite of the day. If you are around the Canton area, give it a shot. Also, bonus when you are one of two tables not speaking Japanese.

Friendly and attentive servers, food comes out quickly and is very fresh. I love the cozy izakaya feel of the restaurant. I ordered the vegetable tempura which came with 2 large onion pieces, 2 sweet potato, 1 pumpkin, 1 zucchini, and 1 piece of broccoli. It's a great size for sharing, or in my case dinner

We had takeout! For food taste and creativity we give Izakaya 5 stars. The reason for 3 stars are two reasons. One the great rolls - especially the French Kiss roll with cucumber wrap was Fanatastic. But, the rolls and sushi were served in one container and all the sauces, juices, etc. were shared by all the rolls and sushi. Second, the Sanpei Salad was generous and loved the mix of veggies with it. But, we found a dead bug in it. In the end, we hope to give them another try, if we can get over the bug in the salad.

3.5 rating and I have been here about 7 times over the years. Please support this business and try them out! This is a well known place and has a few different options to choose from. The menu is big, but there's not many choices. They have a variety of sushi rolls to pick from and their sashimi is good quality. They are known for their duck (Kamo) ramen though which many love. The hot pot is nice too. I ordered the char siu ramen and it was ok. I like the noodles and meat. Just not the broth. Ordered homemade dumplings and they were great. Soft shell crab I love, but I do not like theirs. I'm not a fan of their frying method for this dish. The matcha cheese cake was delicious. Staff is always running around to coordinate and accommodate. They are helping and nice as well. The women are like my cute obachan (auntie) because they just do cute and sweet.

The owner of the establishment is so friendly upon walking in. She was the one who additionally served us and she would not stop smiling. Though the place is a bit run down, the service alone is a great reason to come. I will say I didn't love my sushi as much as I've had at other places, though it still tasted great. I will definitely be coming in again to support the owner!

Same great food, same great service. Let me brag about our waitress, Michie. She is fantastic. She is a whirlwind of excellence! Very observant and attentive without being obsequious. If you visit, I suggest that you ask to sit in her section.

This is my new favorite Japanese restaurant in Canton, MI. The menu offers variety of authentic Japanese food with good quality and reasonably price. I came here for lunch and ordered the Ikura Don. The Ikura Don rice bowl topped with cooked salmon and generous salmon roe. The lunch set came with salad and generous portion of udon. I also ordered the Duck ramen. The ramen is cooked perfectly with deep and flavorful broth. I highly recommend this place and will surely come back again

Coming back with an update - I tried the duck hot pot this time! Absolutely was impressive. 10/10 for presentation and experience as well. Listed as hot pot "for 2" but depending on how hungry your party is, it could easily feed 2-4. Comes with huge platter of fresh veggies and thinly sliced duck as well. The broth is so tasty and I feel like a bit unique for hot pot! It's on the more savory umami lighter in, with a touch of sweetness. Veggies and duck cooked in the broth had a light flavor to it. Tasted clean and tasty. We also got a portion of udon noodles to add, and this was good! Chewy and fresh. Finally, I loved how they ended the meal - with taking our leftover broth and adding rice and eggs for a rice porridge-y soup to use up everything in the pot. So tasty and comforting. Overall very filling as well. In addition to the hot pot, we got a Volcano sushi roll too which was literally served to us on fire. Fun presentation and tasty roll with the seared fish flavor. Service was great! Process was explained to us clearly and we had our broth refilled a couple of times at the perfect moments as well. Folks in the restaurant from front door staff to wait staff to those behind the sushi counter were all very nice and friendly.

Went for a private party it was great. Blue tuna festival it takes place once a yr. Great experience staff was very nice and friendly place is very clean.

Food was delicious wish i would have gotten a carry out . Our waitress Linda said she been there for 32 years, her personality was very friendly, outgoing and Her service was excellent ambience was lunch crowd with most Japanese people eating at the restaurant which told me that his food was always good. And authentic which I happen to agree. I will go back.

Food is always pretty good and delicious. The serve you like you are so important. Love this restaurant.

We had a wonderful dinner at Izakaya Sanpei. Arriving just as dinner service began, we were warmly welcomed by several staff members at the entrance. It was a great first impression. The restaurant features a traditional Japanese aesthetic, which I personally enjoyed. However, some might interpret the decor as a bit dated, depending on their expectations. We started with the homemade gyoza, which was absolutely delicious--so much so that we forgot to take a photo before diving in! Service throughout the evening was excellent. Multiple staff members worked together to ensure our water glasses were always full, even as the restaurant became busier. One particularly friendly server shared that many of the sauces are made in-house, and you could tell she took pride in the variety of traditional dishes offered. For our main courses, we ordered the Yakiniku Teishoku and the Makunouchi Bento. Both came with soup and rice. The bento was a highlight for me! I loved the assortment of small bites, and we were both impressed by the generous portions. While I noticed many diners enjoying sushi (and I've had it here before), I personally find their sushi offerings to be good but not quite five-stars compared to the other standout dishes on the menu. As a side note: the restaurant offers a 5% discount if you pay in cash.

Food had great flavor and was made fresh. The staff are all friendly. I had to give it a 4 for the reason of; I was told the dish i ordered was a soup, once it came. All the staff said it's not a soup, it's in a salty soy sauce based broth that you strain the food to eat. I wouldn't have ordered a dish with so much sodium knowing that. But the flavor was good.

Food We visited for dinner. We ordered Pork Katsu Curry and the Rainbow Roll, and both were excellent! The presentation was visually appealing, with attention to detail that made the dishes even more inviting. The taste was fantastic--flavors were well-balanced, and the quality of the ingredients was top-notch. The portion sizes were just right, offering great value for the meal. Everything was prepared with care and served fresh, and the kitchen worked efficiently, with food arriving quickly. Ambiance Sanpei has a charming Japanese theme with beautiful decor that really sets the mood. The restaurant is spacious, making it a great spot for groups or gatherings. The lighting was well-done--bright enough to see clearly but not overly harsh. The only minor detail was the absence of music, which could have added to the atmosphere, but the peaceful vibe still worked well. Service The service was outstanding! The staff were friendly, welcoming, and genuinely attentive. They had a warm approach, frequently checking in to make sure we were satisfied without being intrusive. The food was served quickly, and the team's efficiency and hospitality made the overall experience even better. Overall Sanpei is a fantastic place for anyone craving delicious Japanese food in a comfortable, group-friendly setting. With amazing food, great ambiance, and excellent service, it's definitely a restaurant worth revisiting!

We were looking to try a new place for sushi and since this spot is local, we gave it a try. First of all, you have to love authentic sushi, otherwise you might get a little overwhelmed with the menu. This place was quick, authentic, and so tasty. Good to note that their specialty rolls are giant, I have a huge mouth and I struggled. We had the Sweet Potato Special roll (one of the best sweet potato rolls I've had), Yakisoba (super flavorful but a little too much cabbage to noodle ratio), Mexican Roll and Ahi Roll. I didn't LOVE any of them but they were all very good! The service was quick and nice and very helpful when it came to recommending dishes, since it was our first time. Vibe was pretty basic, just people having a good meal with good people. Definitely recommend and will definitely try again.

NEW UPDATE: BE CAUTIOUS OF THE OVERCHARGE It turns out the restaurant didn't split the tips into two, instead, they put all on mine. The owner already noticed it but NEVER did I get an apology or explanation!! He asked me to give him the other girls email and phone number, I rejected, and see the pic below how the owner send me the email. highly suggest everyone to be SUPER CAREFUL WITH YOUR BILLS! And remember, if anything wrong with your bill, it is your or your friends fault!( that's what the owner said) Updated: both photos are sent. On the first pics, if you look the bill on the table closer, or you check the bills we had, you can see the duck hot pot is $55 and curry katsu is $20. Very disappointed! Was here just last night. They charged me 30% tips automatically and didn't let me overlook the bill. We two girls ordered a duck pot and a pork katsu, it is $55+$20, we two girls split this equally, which should be $37.5 plus tax, the total for each one should be $40, and I asked another pork katsu to go, so my bill total is $61, and they charged me $78.9 in total, which is 29.3% tips. We went in the restaurant around 9:15pm, and left around 10pm. No idea how they overcharged this tips. Very disappointed.

Great food, especially off the Japanese language menu. Very Japanese style, like being in Japan. Noodles are great, Katsu Curry is great, and good sushi. Pretty authentic.

No matter how you pay, they won't ask if you want your change back. They automatically treat all change as tips -- even if you hand them $100 for a $70 bill. And that so-called "5% off for cash" sign at the door? Completely meaningless, even when you pay cash. By the way, this was for takeout.

Great find in the middle of the neighborhood! Sushi is excellent and all other food is great! Sapporo on tap (hope they get Kirin on tap some time). Long wait time to get a table, service slow in general but food worth it. Just don't think you'll be in and out. We've gone on a Friday and it seems like it's Hotpot night so we'll try that next time!

I used to work at a company nearby, and my colleagues and I frequented this restaurant for lunch and sometimes business dinners. I moved out of state to take another job, and have returned well over a decade later. I brought my husband to Izakaya Sanpei and barely recognized the place. There was no one greeting us at the door, and the decor was not as bright and lively. The TV that played Japan programming was also gone. So in that respect, I was disappointed with the ambiance. However, the food was still very good and my husband very much enjoyed his meal. I see they now serve 'shabu-shabu', which is my favorite dish. Can't wait to try it! I give my experience 3 stars. The food is good but the ambiance was a little depressing. Also, there was a traditional Japanese dish my husband asked the (non-Japanese) waiter about and he said he had no clue. That was a big turnoff because he should have offered to inquire with the Japanese staff.

It's one of the best Japanese Sushi bars in metro Detroit. I love service and the ambience. We always order Sushi, rolls and udon. The white dragon roll is our favorite. This is one of our go to restaurants for Japanese food here after moving from San Francisco.

My family and I have been coming here for years. Their pricing stays consistent and their service and cleanliness is always great. The tempura udon is a great affordable meal and will have you full. The broth was flavorful and the noodles were a good consistency. The nigiri comes out in huge slices of fish that melt in your mouth. Definitely get the squid karaage. So delicious! We got the hawaiian volcano roll which came in a nice presentation lit on fire. It was delicious. The two other special rolls we ordered were HUGE and worth the price. Said it was my birthday and received a free dessert which consisted of fried banana and icecream. They also sang happy birthday to me! Love it here!!

We went as soon as it opened on Saturday evening and were surprised at how quickly they filled up. They seated us quickly. We had gyoza as an appetizer and that was great. My husband had a chirashu ramen and I had the pork yakisoba. The ramen broth was very flavorful. The yakisoba came sizzling hot and was very tasty. I love that they topped it with some pickled radishes. It gave it a little bite and was very good. We had a hard time picking what we wanted. We will definitely be back. We also felt it was a good value for the money.

Delicious! I ate here with my daughter and the service was attentive and prompt. Noise level is average and not annoying. Can't wait to return. Oishi!

The best sushi in Michigan. Best tip order and get more bang for your buck they have specials the are only available online. The dine in and service is always on point the place looks amazing

Always love the soup-hot pot is fun too when u have a group-sushi is very fresh with good variety in the rolls

I was undecided about dinner until I saw some picture-perfect sushi rolls on my Instagram feed. After wrapping up my project for the evening, I placed my order online through a simple interface. The confirmation email indicated that my order would be ready in 20 minutes so I threw on a mask and a coat over my very casual WFH outfit and was on my way. The restaurant is in a large but worn-down strip mall. In addition to the restaurant, there is an Aqua Tots swim school, a dollar store, and a Salvation Army store and donation center. Inside, there was a near assembly-line of servers packing up to-go orders. As well, there were a few tables filled with more families trickling in for an early evening meal. My order was already bagged and ready for pick up by the time that I walked in. To start, I had the shumai, shrimp dumplings that have been steamed and served with a hot sauce. I thought it was peanut butter so my first bite was surprising, to say the least. I also tried the spider passion and the white dragon rolls. They were both larger than expected so much ended up in the fridge. The spider passion roll included deep-fried soft-shell crab, avocado, cucumber and seaweed salad. It was delicious. The white dragon roll was even better: shrimp tempura, avocado, crab salad, and cucumber. The roll was was topped with a thin layer of white tuna, that was then torched. Of course, despite the expense, I had to have mackerel nigiri. Tonight's version was such a treat. Unfortunately, tamago was not available. Service was fine.

Really welcoming and professional staff. Food came out pretty quickly. The yellowtail and scallops are worth trying. Would definitely recommend if looking for sushi in the area.

One of my go to sushi places for takeout. Easy to order off their website or calling them directly. The food here is good and fresh! I have gotten some creative and super yummy rolls. Also, the sashimi is the bomb.com! So fresh! Whenever I order it usually takes 15 mins. Serious so quick. By the time I order and drive over everything is ready for me!

I've been going there weekly with my sons for 25 years! I'm Japanese, and I tell you, this place and Ajishin serve authentic Japanese food. Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) in Novi used to be like that. But they are not anymore, since the previous Japanese owner left. Anyway, the food and servers at Sanpei are the best! I love their Ikuradon & Udon combo The servers are friendly and very well-trained. Their nabe (hot pot) dishes are great, too! I really hope this place will be there as long as I live in Michigan

Was craving sushi and wanted to try out a new place. Appreciated how easy it was to order online. Easy to find, and the order was ready exactly when they said it would be. We got 4 different roles and 3 appetizers for about $55. Pretty nice cost all things considered. Very filling rolls. Not at all skimpy on their filling. 1 entire roll is in the fridge for lunch tomorrow. Would definitely come back.

They have a bottle of antibacterial Sushi Bar and at our table, they request that you use the antibacterial when you walk in. They also took our temperature before we were seated. They have different sectioned off dining areas in here. All staff are masked up here. They have the usual green tea available here. Our waitress is energetic and friendly and is swift. We are watching her move like lightening. Popcorn lobster roll, we will start with that. They said that they recently change the menu. However, they did indicate that if there was any items on the old menu, that they would be able to make them for us. This is our first time here today. We also ordered the veggie tempura, seaweed salad (wakame chuka), two Philly rolls with crab salad, popcorn lobster roll, 2 Sanpei house salad and spicy calamari chicken teriyaki. Their house salad or sanpei is good, not a ginger dressing but a nice vinaigrette dressing nonetheless. It comes with asparagus too. The Romaine leaves are fresh, crunchy and good. They do charge $0.75 for a side of sriracha here. You get an ounce of it too. :( I would advise you to bring your own then. The spicy calamari is really good. Has like a tempura batter on it and is super crispy and crunchy. The two sausages the spicy mayo and a wasabi sauce too. The seaweed salad isn't my favorite. It's a little too fishy for me. I can't taste any of the sesame oil on it. The chicken teriyaki is dry. The meat is too overcooked and on the dry side. The teriyaki sauce on the chicken was light and tasty. The green beans are cooked perfectly and it comes with cubed, seasoned potatoes, which are also tasty. The popcorn lobster rolls are pretty good. The fried lobster is piled pretty high. I put the extra crispy lobsters on to the other Philadelphia rolls. The veggie tempura is bigger than I expected, it's dinner entree size for side here. The tempura are crispy but the breading is too heavy and thick. It was thick enough that I tasted some raw dough in some of the veggies. The service was good, the food was overall decent here, not that special. The sanpei salad and the spicy calamari were the best items consumed here tonight.

I feel like I've come home. Since moving from Seattle, I've been lamenting my poor luck in moving to a place without fresh fish or good sushi. A coworker (and fellow coastal transplant) recommended this restaurant to me as the only place nearby where she would eat raw fish. I had a good feeling as soon as I walked in. The busy, international staff. The tidy, homey, yet refined Japanese decor. The menu full of greatest hits. It was still a bit funny to me to have my temperature taken upon being seated, even six months into the pandemic. I ordered a house salad which had a fresh and light ginger dressing. For my entree I selected two rolls that I hoped would be fish-forward. I was really floored by their quality, even after having been prepped that it was high. The ahi roll had three kinds of tuna, topped with ahi and white, and filled with spicy. Spicy mayo and sriracha sauce added a spicy, creamy blend to the fresh, savory fish. The Sanpei roll was even better. Tuna, salmon, and avocado were rolled into an inner rice layer and an outer soybean wrapper layer that reminded me of tamago. The roll was topped with wasabi sauce, spicy mayo, and three kinds of tobiko. The resultant textures and flavors were the ultimate combination of fresh, savory, and creamy. This was the best roll that I have had in recent memory. My wife was happy with the breadth of options that were offered to vegetarians. We both enjoyed sharing the veggie combo. First came a cold noodle salad with a soy-vinegar dressing and plenty of chopped veggies like asparagus, tomato, onion, lettuce, and cucumber. Next came a miso soup which unfortunately was not vegetarian (it has dashi/fish in the broth). The tempura veggies were perfectly battered and fried to give them a crisp texture without being too oily or heavy. Unfortunately again, the dipping sauce for the tempura had dashi and was not vegetarian. Lastly came a veggie roll that I was too stuffed to try, but that she enjoyed. All in all this was a big hit for both of us, but especially me. While you may be right to be paranoid about raw fish in a landlocked state, Izakaya Sanpei is an exception to the rule. I will be back plenty myself, but will also make a point to bring any coastal out-of-towners that may come visit me.

We love coming here especially after our daughters swim class at Aqua-Tots which is next door. Food is always fresh and staff is always attentive. Always a pleasant experience.

Was skeptical to try this place as it is located in a strip. However, this quickly has become my go to place for sushi, never disappoints.

Had a wonderful time with dh for a special meal. The shrimp tempura dinner was super crispy and light, with the perfect cook and flavor in every succulent bite of shrimp. In photo we couldn't wait and ate one! The dipping sauce for the tempura tasted just like what I remember from Japan and was the perfect seasoning and strength. Miso soup was on point, too. It didn't come with the sushi, just the tempura dinner, fyi. The sushi was fresh and really fun. Again, photo taken after we sampled a few! The Snow White roll blew us away and I highly recommend it. We tried the dragon roll with sauce on the side. Good but a little heavy. Green tea came in a handmade stoneware handleless mug I appreciated. Service was attentive and had many Covid precautions. We even ate in a small private room. In Covid we had concerns about business being slow and because of this perhaps sushi not being optimally fresh, but everything tasted super fresh and I'd eat here again in a heartbeat with no worries. The bento boxes look awesome but they are only served for lunch! Guess we gotta go back!! Lol

Outstanding! Great menu selection and lots of interesting items on the menu. So many tasty food choices. Highly recommended.

Came here with a group of 9 on a Friday night! It was pretty busy so be sure to make a reservation. We got the duck hotpot and the sukiyaki, both of which were really delicious!! One of our favorite things is to get a rice and egg porridge made from the leftover duck hotpot broth! All the veggies were fresh as well!! The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5-the service was a little curt (probably because they were busy). Overall the food was delicious and felt authentic--we'll be coming back!

Great Japanese food with lively atmosphere. They usually have Kirin or Sapporo on draft and their menu is extensive. They don't have uni available consistently, but they pretty much always have otoro, chutoro, and akami. If you're on this side of Metro Detroit, this is definitely the Japanese restaurant to visit.

It's pretty good with a variety of options. The beef is tasty, and so are the fish. Recommede

I've been to Izakaya Sanpei for hot pot, I've been there for sushi, and I've carried out sushi several times. The hot pot was pretty good, although could have been better based on the price. Wanted the duck to be a bit more tender and for it to be a better shareable option for our table. The sushi has been an excellent value - I love the Salmon on the Beach, Philadelphia, and Salmon Fire Rolls. I wish as someone who can't stomach cucumber they had more rolls that don't include cucumber. It seems like it's their staple ingredient in everything and they don't substitute it for other options.

The most unassuming mini mall sushi joint in Canton. You really can't go wrong here. The service was on point and their servers are super polite and attentive. We ordered the Chashu Ramen, Gyoza, Seaweed Salad, Spicy Tuna Rolls, Spider Roll, and Vegetable roll. This place scratches the itch of wanting Japanese food and sushi broadly, without the pretentious price point of some closer spots. The interior was old school wood Japanese style sushi spot and tidy.

Excellent food and customer service. The place have good ambiance and a lot of japanese were eating, that means the food is either authentic or tastw like home.

The reason I give 3 star is the price and service. Price is kinda high compare to restaurant in Novi. I feel like I get more food for the same price in Novi Japanese restaurant. I might be picky but they didn't refill my water until I am about to leave which is werid. Food taste pretty good. Sushi roll is delicious. Sashimi is fresh. It said the fish is air freight from Japan. Most Asian customer tonight order hot pot or some kind hot pan group dinner

So I want to start with the Covid safety measures in place at this restaurant. When you walk in the door, they check your temperature. Then they collect your name and your telephone number as per the new requirements. Things were very clean. Everyone was wearing a mask, and they were wearing their masks correctly. I saw nobody walking around with their mask only over their mouth. So I applaud this restaurant for its safety measures. I was very comfortable there. So onto the food. A friend and I went here on a Saturday night at about 5 PM.. it is located in a strip mall off of Joy Road. Looks unpretentious from the outside but as I mentioned earlier was clean and nice inside. We ordered a spider roll, a shrimp tempura roll, a piece of salmon nigiri and scallop nigiri. We also chose from one of the four different California rolls. I chose the creamy style California roll. I was told that one would be just plain krab stick and the creamy would be the crab salad style mixed with mayo. The food came out quickly. It was very artfully arranged. The spider roll was enormous. It was very big around - it almost looked like a futo maki roll. I thought it was very good. The shrimp tempura roll with also very good. The sauce that came on it, which I apologize I cannot remember what it was, very good. Both pieces of nigiri were very fresh. Neither of them had wasabi under the fish, but that's OK by me. I can add my own wasabi. The only reason I don't give it five stars with the California roll, which is probably knocking them down a little too much. I wish I could give them 4 1/2 stars but that's not an option. The California roll just had an off taste. I let the wait staff know, and they brought over a manager. She looked at it and said it looked very fresh. I said I wasn't debating that it wasn't fresh, it just had a funny flavor. Could've been just me. So, bottom line, if I were in this area, I would eat there again. There were many rolls to choose from, although the menu did seem a bit heavy on the tempura roll option. If you were a huge fan of tempura rolls, this would be an awesome place for you. But I think it would be a good place for anyone who likes sushi!

From my experiences in Japan, the word Izakaya (居酒屋) is an informal pub where people go for drinking after a long day at work. There are generally two types of izakaya. The first is where customers either sit on tatami mats and dine from low tables, as in the traditional Japanese style, The second style is where you can sit on chairs, and drink and dine from western style tables, of which, the latter is true of this establishment. Anyone in the Metro Detroit area that remembers the Musashi restaurant in nearby Southfield, where you could enjoy the former type of traditional seating arrangement in their basement section, will remember you were served food by Japanese waitresses that wore a kimono or yukata. Conversely, this establishment is much more westernized and less formal. I can't believe this place has been here in Plymouth for well over the past 25 years, and is a hidden gem. While sushi restaurants in Metro Detroit are more plentiful that orange barrels on the freeway during construction season; hence, the opposite is true of good quality Izakaya, which are few and far in-between. That being said, I decided to take my friend with me, who speaks Japanese very well. He wanted to try and order his food using his acquired secondary language skills. However, with the exception of Michiko who is from Hokkaido, all of the other staff at this restaurant are Chinese. So if you can speak English or Mandarin, you can order anything you like on or off the menu. I decided to play it safe and order a Rainbow roll, Teriyaki Chicken, and some Yakitory. This also came with a bowl of sticky rice, and Miso soup. I was rather disappointed that the sushi was rather bland, and I can honestly say that I've enjoy better sushi from other nearby restaurants. My friend who was with me agreed with my observation, but couldn't put his finger on what was missing. The main entrée was served at a comfortable, lukewarm temperature, but not hot like I have had it from other Japanese restaurants. While this wasn't a problem at first, the food quickly became cold. I just wish the food would have been served sooner, so it wouldn't have lost its warmth so fast. I would have given this review four stars, but trying to get the attention of the waitstaff to come and fill an empty water glass shouldn't be a problem, unless you're in California or the middle of a Sahara desert. Waiting more than 15 minutes with an empty glass is not good service to say the least.

TL;DR S+ gem. Must-have food, polite staff, clean and serene restaurant. My wife and I have been coming to Izakaya Sanpei for years now. The wait staff is incredibly respectful and responsive, and they do their best to make you happy. The ambiance of the place is great; clean tables, some private rooms, a bar where you can see the sushi prepared, and a separate one for drinking. The TVs show either previews of their food or Japanese news or shows. The bathrooms are clean with a serene atmosphere. The food is amazing. The taste is exquisite and the portions are large, so you definitely get your money's worth. Of particular note is their steak teriyaki, which I made a point of taking home after or restaurant experience nearly every time. It's juicy and insanely flavorful, and comes with a good portion of sides. I honestly wish I could go more often, I miss seeing the wait staff and eating their food. I always get the same thing, (a Samurai roll, and Tori Karaage) while my wife switches things up sometimes. One day she'll have the Shumai, the next she'll have the Takoyaki (regardless, she shares my Tori Karaage). We'll be moving soon, and when we do we'll miss this place terribly. But I'll never stop recommending it.

The latest picture on yelp is from 2 years ago, so I had to post some current pictures and give a current review because this place needs more credit for how amazing it is!!! This is the Kamonabe Appetizer (Pre-cooked duck soup with vegetables and tofu served with rice) Never had duck before, it has a very mild flavor, which I appreciated and the broth was so good and my favorite part of the soup. This Appetizer was a big enough for 3 people, maybe even 4 people because we had leftovers. It would be a good size for one person, if you were eating it as your entree. We did get other appetizers so that could be why, so maybe if you didn't get any other apps, it would be a good size for 2 people. For the sushi, starting in the front left to right. 2 rolls of Eel, spicy Tuna, spicy Salmon, creamy California and Philadelphia roll in the back. For our other ourvappetizers, we got a couple bowls of Miso soup and the homemade Gyōza (pan fried pork dumplings) not pictured. For dessert, the 3 of us shared a piece of cheesecake, it was a decent size to share. Everything was so delicious and the soup/dumplings came out super hot, which is sometimes a rare thing at other sushi restaurants. Everything came out really fast too, we loved that and that never happens at other sushi restaurants. It was very busy on a Friday night so you might expect a longer wait for your food to come out but nope it was very very fast. Also, we were seated as soon as we walked in. The waitresses were all very friendly and helpful. Excellent service, excellent food and the prices are cheaper than any other sushi restaurants we have been to! By the way, the menu on their website is up to date so those are the current prices as of January 19, 2024. Also I loved that there was a bottle of sanizter on every table. We just came from a store and I didn't get the chance to wash my hands, so I loved that was readily available. Hands down the best! Definitely our new favorite!

Good food and good prices. Good booths for relaxing and fast service. Not held check hostage