Kanpai Sushi

was my first time trying this Japanese restaurant. When we first walked in, the interior looked nice and the restaurant appeared fairly clean. However, once we were seated, the experience started to decline. Aside from one South Asian staff member who was friendly and professional, most of the other employees appeared unhappy and unapproachable. The overall service felt cold and lacked warmth. The food took an unusually long time to arrive. We only ordered two sushi rolls, yet the wait was excessive. Unfortunately, the flavor was very underwhelming. The sushi was so average that the two of us could not even finish two rolls. The tea was another disappointment. It tasted extremely diluted, and the color suggested the tea leaves may have been reused multiple times.

Sushi was ok! 4/5. I didn't like how much raw onion was put on my salmon Alaska roll though. The interior was cute. Easy parking. Half booth seating. Big menu. Can't say it's the best sushi for the price but not bad.

This place is not just aesthetically pleasing, but they serve absolutely delicious sushi! Everything tastes very fresh. Service is great. I really don’t have any complaints about it and will continue to return here - especially for their lunch specials. You can get a sesame chicken combo with a California roll, soup and salad for under 15.00 - Can’t beat that!

Hands down our favorite sushi spot. We come here often and the quality is always excellent. Consistently great food and service.

​I've had a lot of sushi in Orange County, and this spot is one of the best—and the price is right. The high-quality food, the location, and the fantastic staff all make this place a winner. Tom and his wife are an absolute delight. ​I highly recommend the Poki bowl. This place was serving up poki bowls long before they were on every corner. The quality is so much better, and you get way more fish. It's a must-try.

I ordered a draft beer, poke bowl, and fried calamari. Raw fish in the poke bowl are very fresh and cold while rice is warm. Fried calamari had only the meaty part of the calamari. If you like the small tentacles, they are not. It's fried to crispy. For me, it's too much for a meal so I ended up boxing half of the calamari home.

This is a good local sushi restaurant. The proprietor seems to know EVERYONE who comes in. That makes for a friendly atmosphere. The menu is quite good. I look forward to trying menu items beyond the creative sushi rolls.

So good! We got there before it opened and they still had smiles and sat us anyway. They have, hands down, the best calamari. The rolls are fresh and large. Last time we went we shared the sweetheart roll and it blew me away. It felt like you got led down a culinary path of delight. LOL. We'll be coming back for a long time.

The sushi here is amazing! So fresh! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Very clean and nice restaurant. Always a pleasure to come here. You will not be disappointed!

was my first time trying this Japanese restaurant. When we first walked in, the interior looked nice and the restaurant appeared fairly clean. However, once we were seated, the experience started to decline. Aside from one South Asian staff member who was friendly and professional, most of the other employees appeared unhappy and unapproachable. The overall service felt cold and lacked warmth. The food took an unusually long time to arrive. We only ordered two sushi rolls, yet the wait was excessive. Unfortunately, the flavor was very underwhelming. The sushi was so average that the two of us could not even finish two rolls. The tea was another disappointment. It tasted extremely diluted, and the color suggested the tea leaves may have been reused multiple times.

Everything is amazing here !!!!! Staff included!!! We have come here since it opened!! Tommy the owner runs it well and remembers all his customer along with staff !! Best fresh sushi ever !!

This restaurant is the longest running business with the same owners in the city. The fish quality is top notch! The owner makes sure to talk to all his customers and gives it a feeling of being home! We've been customers since they opened! It's our favorite place for incredible sushi! We've had sushi in many places but will always be grateful to have Kanpai to remind us what's it should be about! Just keep doing what you're doing.

Great little spot in the middle of the center. Service is quick and attentive. Every roll is pictured, but menu dose not reflect what is on the paper copy you give to the waiter so kind of a lapse there on what's available. Sushi tasted great was fresh rolls maybe a little on the smaller side but still great and delicious overall pleased with this spot and I'll be back.

This restaurant is welcoming and attentive to the freshness of their menu. Our server was courteous and service oriented. My first visit left a positive impression on us. We plan on returning and recommend this restaurant.

Out and about with this amazing crew! Laughter served with a side of deliciousness - our favorite combo! Cheers to good times and even better bites! My favorites: Octopus salad Spicy Calamari Unagi (Eel)

We have been coming here for years. Great place, consistently fresh food, cosy atmosphere! Same people have been working here for a long time.

Ok first off FOOD!!! Top notch and they always take good care w my order. We used to live quite close... now however, I'm 5 miles away not super convenient BUT IDK THIS IS MY PLACE AND THEY MAKE MY ORDER PERFECTLY EACH TIME!!! 2-4 X a week!!! Yes that's correct!!! You will NOT be disappointed and the waiters as well as the chefs are friendly!!! I feel like Norm at Cheers. Nuff Said?

Really like this restaurant. Staff was knowledgeable on suggestions since we've never been there . Food was good and we enjoyed the atmosphere.

Lots of sushi options and freshly being made out in the open. The place is neat and clean. Love that they have the seaweed salad, edamame, and soft shell crab for appetizers. It seems that the picture/description on their menu doesn't match what sushi you get, though. Since we were in a hurry, I didn't bother asking our server, who was very accommodating and warm. We placed 2 orders for the green tea ice cream and each one of us had a scoop - I think they gave us more for free!

Very nice locally owned shop. The staff is great & the Sushi chefs are very talented. The seared albacore was fresh & delicious. Check them out.

Consistent predictable excellent quality of food and service. Clean and flexible table formations for larger parties. Family owned and operated. Staff cares about guest experience and friendly atmosphere makes for an enjoyable unrushed meal.

This has been a family favorite for years! We bring family and friends here all the time. Not to mention our immediate family for all occasions. Everything is literally amazing!!

This is an excellent Sushi place. Sushi the best around. Rolls are fresh made to order, very fresh tasting and delicious. What makes this place exceptional is the staff. They are not only friendly but helpful explaining the different rolls etc. Our server was so nice and just took the time to explain the different menu items . The food came out in a timely manner, and presented beautifully. I will definitely return to Kanpai Sushi soon.

Been going to this place for years and they are fabulous! Extra kind and friendly to my son and now he loves going there and wants to eat there everyday. Very family friendly

Visited this afternoon for lunch with a friend. Service was fantastic - super thoughtful and kind, right there when something was needed. Sushi was very good - nigiri super fresh, Sweet shrimp with fried heads as well We will be back -

I've been here 3 times, just found out about it. Great atmosphere, good sushi and 1st class service. This is my new Sushi Spot.

Been here many times, always good, but Wednesday 11/13/24 I ordered a spicy tuna roll. Four hours later I got violently ill. Vomiting & diarrhea, I don't think I can go back.

Outstanding fresh fish, wonderful staff and ambience. Always a good time at the sushi bar and the music is awesome as well, doesn't get better than this fabulous establishment to enjoy quality Japanese food. Thank you so much, Tom & Joslyn for your attention to every detail with respect to your guests, Janet and I will see you again soon! ~Julie

Great quality service and food. This place is a longtime staple and is a consistent safe option for a great time.

Kanpai by far the best sushi in the area. Tom and Nerio are engaging and attentive to the clientele. The fish is fresh, prepared beautifully, and the restaurant is comfortable and clean. The chefs and staff truly provide service with a smile. We would eat here every day if we could!

First sushi spot I tried in the Aliso Viejo. Sushi is pretty good. I've had better but will I come back yes. The service was amazing. Tom was great. Sashimi platter was pretty big for the dinner price. Rolls are clean!

Very average sushi restaurant. Came here for dinner one night and got a whole bunch of rolls to share with our group. We were able to get a table outside on a warm summer day, so it was very nice. The food took a while to come out. The rolls were OK, nothing spectacular to rave about. Just decent three-star average sushi place. Service was OK, got a little spotty at times. Bathrooms are clean. Big parking lot for the mall, you can park pretty close to the restaurant and cut through. A bit pricey for what you get.

Stopped in for lunch. Not a picky eater. Tried what looked like a good deal on a lunch special. Sashimi The salmon had a ton of fat on one side, not buttery like otoro. Hard fat. The yellow tail was rock hard. Wish I could give a place that appeared clean and in a good location a good review but it was not appetizing. Perhaps they gave me the bad cuts for lunch. Probably won't come back to try that theory.

I come here on my lunch break. The gentleman that work here are so nice my food is always fresh and ready when I get there. I highly recommend this sushi spot

Great food, great value, great service. Good sized cuts of fresh fish. Ordered combo sushi/sashimi and chirashi don. The large hot sake was bigger than typical "large"! Prices are good. Will definitely come back next time in OC!

The location of this spot is neat, the doors were open and there was some live music outside that set a fun mood. I have had better sushi and a yummier selection for fish varieties, however the orders I made were fresh, simple, and satisfying. The service is friendly here, although I wish they could customize their rolls or let you "edit" what you pick.

Sexy roll and Yoshi roll super clean, never disappoints, good local spot for dine in or take out

Sushi and service were amazing! Definitely coming back. Make sure you get there early to beat the lunch crowd.

It's been a while since we'd visited Kanpai in Town Centre. The street walk was recently removed and we're back to having parking spaces again, which is miserable because people never show courtesy to allow a person to get into a spot since it's a tight 3 point turn, especially if someone is backing out on the adjacent side. My wife and I wanted to get it to go, but decided to go in. Nereo was our server and made the night even the more special. We walked in and the place was almost empty. And as soon as we were seated 5 or 6 separate parties got seated. I was worried that we wouldn't have our order taken before everyone that came in after us, so I was about to lose it. Instead of waiting I just went over and told Nereo what was going on and made sure he knew how I felt and he took care of it. Gave him our order that I'd filled out. Much credit to him because had it gone the other way it would have been the last time I'd be there. First in first out. It gets under my skin when restaurants don't pay attention to that. But the customer should get up and not assume it will get taken care of because these folks are busy. About the food and service. From the sushi, tuna, albacore, yellow tail, spicy tuna hand roll, crunch roll, and Tataki roll, to the miso soup and garlic edamame - it was all perfect. I can't believe how quickly the food came out. And our left over was boxed up for us. Nereo also spent some time having a nice conversation with us. I really enjoyed everything and look forward to being back. The only suggestion I have is to have fresh wasabi which is the cut up wasabi vs the paste. I was surprised they didn't have that. It's usually on the menu of other sushi places for an additional $3.50 or so. Thank you Nereo for great service that night. See you soon. If you haven't been to Kanpai, you should.

Amazing!!!!! Love the food and the service is spectacular!! The ambiance is very relaxing as well!!

For the price this sushi is FANTASTIC We have got take out from there a few times a month during Covid and the seafood is always fresh, and the boxes are nicely presented. Their soft shell crab roll is fab! The only reason I can't give five stars is because I have had better sushi. But as I said for the price it's really fantastic

The sushi was good but one of the pieces of sushi had a piece of plastic on it. That was really gross. But my partner convinced me that this place has been nothing but top tier experiences for her.

First time here. Busy place, not a lot of seating waited for them to clear and separate a big table into several smaller ones. Friendly staff. 1. Garlic edamame - excellent 2. Tempura - shrimp and a lot of various veggies. Probable the best tempura I've had. Comes in a cone holder with dipping sauce on both sides so we each got our own sauce - cool. Highly recommend this dish. 3. Tornado roll, spicy yellowtail hand roll, cucumber roll (can't remember the name but it was wrapped in cucumber instead of seaweed). They use imitation crab here which I don't like. The rolls were just ok. Server was friendly. Food came out fresh and quick. Water refills were plentiful and didn't have to ask.

A local gem.... The staff is super friendly and takes good care of us. I love the tuna tataki and the sashimi roll. Often times they are busy and new customers get impatient or rude... If you can't appreciate FRESH made to order food takes a minute... Chill. It's worth the wait. Outdoor and indoor seating is now available as well as to go. Many nights during the pandemic I would call in a to go order and not once did they forget anything or give out smaller portions (like many places do with to go orders) If your HUNGRY and want good ... Stop by and remember to park in the back. There is a convenient breezeway right in the middle of the building to get to Kanpai

Been going to Kanpai for about 18 years now and love it! How have I not left a review sooner?!?! Great quality and yummy rolls! My husband an dI generally go for lunch and enjoy it a lot. Good service and simple ambiance.

Delicious sushi, but terrible wait times (even ordering ahead on phone-- was told 40 minutes, waited 1.5+ hrs), and very poor customer service. We love the food, but cannot pay over $100 for subpar service.

We highly recommend Kanpai Sushi! We have visited this restaurant for 4 years and have never had a bad meal!! We love the owners and staff. They made us feel like family. You've got to try this place! You won't regret it! We are sad we are leaving the area and we will really miss them and the excellent food!

Fresh and delicious sushi! My friend does not eat spicy food and I love spicy food... The chef replaced the spicy tuna with fresh tuna and served the jalapeños of the Cabo's Roll on the side to accommodate our preferences. The food was delicious and the service was prompt. On a different occasion, I had their baked appetizer... Definitely order that too. I recommend this restaurant and will certainly come back for more goodness.

I just love this restaurant! We come here regularly and have introduced friends to it. They love it just as much as I do. Everyone that works here is super nice and helpful. The food is delicious! Can't say enough positive words about this location! Bravo and keep up the great work!!!

Perfect sushi! Love the interior and taste. Tuna and Philadelphia were the best:) Coke does refill! Everything was pretty fast

Subpar sushi, poor poor service, unfriendly staff. We waited over 45 minutes for our food and watched table after table that came after us get served and get food. Finally, when the food arrived, no apologies, no smile. The fish itself was subpar. You know it's poor quality salmon when it's the same colour as smoked salmon, when it is supposed to be fresh. It's a shame, we love sushi and usually go to Zen sushi, but since this was closer to home, we gave it a try. Very very disappointing experience. I DO NOT recommend this place at all.

Food was so yummy and the service was unmatched! The hostess was so sweet helping me with my to go order and the food came out quickly!

Amazingly fresh sushi and great service. I have been going here for years and have never been disappointed. The 911 roll is outstanding.

I work up the street and have been overlooking this place. Their lunch special lives up to its name. The miso soup, choice of meet, rice, salad and four sushi pieces is incredibly filling. TVs there for a fun lunch ambiance. I've really liked each time I've gone.

Went here for the first time and never coming back. One of the waiters kept looking directly down my shirt with a smile on his face, even though i was with my boyfriend. He kept doing it, even when I was looking directly at him. He did it 3 times!!!!!! Food was alright but that one staff member makes me NEVER want to come back. I felt so uncomfortable and unsafe. He should not be able to work with women!!!!!!!

Hands down best sushi in the area! The Cabo roll is our favorite. The garlic edamame and dumplings are sooo good!

One of our favorites and weekly go to's! Kanpai never fails to deliver, the albacore lovers roll is exceptional and the crunch roll is amazing. Always coming back for more and is the only place in Aliso we will have sushi from! :)