Allison Kojima
Google
Wow, I am surprised that this place doesn't have more reviews and/or isn't filled with people. Kanpai club is a family run business that mainly serves Japanese/Japanese-inspired drinks and small bites. They also have other Asian-inspired drinks which was super exciting to see (i.e. 'Welcome to Yam Rocks' which is Aged rum, ube, lime, guava, spices).
I came in at 4 pm sharp on a Wednesday for Happy Hour (HH is daily from 3-6 PM). Since Kanpai club is a bar extension of Hando, you have to walk inside Hando and take a right- the red doors that lead to this bar are next to the bathrooms. The seating is quite limited (7 bar stools and a L shaped couch that maybe sits 10) and I'm not sure if you can make reservations so I'd double check but I can see this place getting busy at night/weekends. The inside is dimly lit and I love the interior (especially the Japanese snacks that are laid out underneath the counter as part of the decoration). Just a heads up, the music is a little loud so that's a deal breaker for you, this place might not be it.
For drinks I ordered the 'Everything is Lychee Keen' and 'Shibuya Roll Call'. Since it was HH, they were both $7 each which is such a good deal. These were recommendations from the bartender after I told her that I enjoy sweet drinks. Both drinks were refreshing and spectacular- I genuinely can't choose over the other because they were both great choices. I will say though that the Shibuya Roll Call has a little bit of a spicy kick to it because it's made of ginger beer but personally, I loved that!
As for food, I ordered the Geso Karaage, Curry Croquette, and Wasabu Shumai for $5 each. They were all delicious but if I had to pick one, the Geso Karaage would be the must get since I love squid and the yuzu kosho aoilo sauce was delicious! However, the croquettes were fried perfectly and I loved how the sweetness from the potato balanced out the savoriness from the onion curry (they were filling too!). As for the wasabi shumai, these are made in the house. Be careful though because you can actually taste the wasabi and they definitely got a kick to it so they're not playing!
Aside from the delicious drinks and food, the service was great! I appreciate the bartender giving me great recommendations on these delicious cocktails and I enjoyed talking to one of other staff member (shoutout Mandy!!) telling me about this restaurant's story and how she got into the service industry.
If you want to have a good time with your date, friends, or to just treat yourself with a lowkey/hidden gem, Kanpai club is the spot! This place has intimate vibes, delicious food, and even better drinks! I cannot wait to come back and try more items!