Kanpai Sushi

Easily the best sushi restaurant in Edinburgh. Been here a handful of times and it is consistently great! i've tried many sushi places here but kanpai truly is one of the few to be able to get quality of food, ambiance, atmosphere, and waitstaff exactly right! The charred tunabelly is one of my favourite things here, but honestly everything I've tried has been sensational! Some photos below x

Amazing experience. We didn’t book a table in advance and, since the place was full, we were seated in front of the bar area , hopefully we didn’t make things awkward for the staff. Despite that, the service was great and very welcoming. The food was amazing: full of taste and flavour, with layers that hit your tongue a few seconds later , genuinely hard to describe. As someone who had never tried sushi before, this was the perfect introduction. Every sauce was excellent, and the overall experience genuinely felt Michelin-level.

Super sleek and nice space; walked in for dinner on a Tuesday night and had a 30 min wait for 2 people. Food was delicious, but I think they could’ve communicated with us that they had to make more sushi rice, or at least wait to serve everyone together. I had to wait 20-30 min.

I've eaten there twice. The best sushi ever, especially the spicy tuna. Kudos to the service too. Highly recommended.

Kanpai Sushi in Edinburgh delivers an outstanding dining experience with fresh, beautifully crafted sushi, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. In my opinion, it’s the best sushi you’ll find in Scotland. Highly recommended for anyone craving delicious Japanese cuisine and top-notch hospitality!

Delicious sushi, beautifully presented in lovely dishes. The restaurant aesthetic was calm and minimalist. The waitresses were amazing, polite and attentive. Will definitely return next time I am in Edinburgh. Wonderful restaurant.

We had dinner at Kanpai Sushi and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We were a group of six, including children, and were pleasantly surprised to be seated in a beautifully decorated private room with traditional Japanese touches – a thoughtful touch that made the evening feel more special and intimate. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, including edamame, vegetable tempura, chicken gyoza, soba noodles, prawn tempura maki, crispy chicken maki, and beef teppanyaki. The standouts of the evening were definitely the prawn tempura maki and gyoza – both packed with flavour and a hit with everyone at the table. The crispy chicken maki was tasty, though the sauce on top had a bit more of a kick than we expected, which may not suit those with a milder spice tolerance. The beef teppanyaki was also well-cooked and satisfying, while the soba noodles offered a light and comforting contrast to the rest of the spread. Overall, the food was fresh and well-presented, and the atmosphere – especially the private room – elevated the whole dining experience. Recommend it for both families and groups looking for a relaxed yet authentic Japanese meal in Edinburgh.

Very delicious dishes. Sushimi salad is perfect and fresh. Lack dragon roll is amazing. All rolls are smooth and tasty. Miso soup is not a salt so much. Kind care friendly personal. Nice relaxing atmosphere. Thank you all who gave review here. We are happy to visit this place🙏🏻

That's us just nipped into the city for a wee bite and to visit some shops. Here on holiday from America, I always struggle to find healthy, light food in Scotland. When I suggested sushi for lunch, I was surprised to find such a cozy, peaceful lunch spot. We were fretted upon arrival and sat with menus. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. My husband ordered the Seared Tuna with a miso dressing that he loved and the Tokyo Roll. The roll was quite large and hard to eat but very tasty (he is new to sushi). I ordered the Hamachi Nigiri- melt in your mouth delightfulness and the Soba noodles. Such a light, fresh meal! Today is Tuesday so it wasn't very crowded and it was a perfect lunch!

Very cute place with good vibes. Friendly services and warm staff members who were very accommodating to different tastes and interests. I got some sashimi a la carte but was confused by the 10pcs option as well thinking I was choosing my 10pcs. But the staff were very accommodating and made the necessary changes - I didn't want to waste any food as I was by myself. Would def visit again when I find myself back in Edinburgh

Greta Japanese place in Edinburgh. They have a great selection of fish, and wagyu beef. We stuck to nigiri and rolls, and all the fish were tasty. Our favorite to our surprise was the grilled salmon avocado roll. Didn't get a chance to ask if it was Scottish salmons but if it was, it was A++.

Kanpai? More like Kan-Bye... Or as my wife and I call it, Douchey Sushi. The energy in this restaurant is worse than the underground ghost tours. From the moment we asked "Hi! How are you? Table for two?", The persistent attitude of GET OUT was haunting us throughout our stay. The food was almost great, but each dish seemed to have a few missing notes in its chord. It was our first time we had dry sushi. I had asked for real wasabi instead of the powdered wasabi with horseradish,which was angrily ground by a brunette boy behind the bar while he whispered insults about our table to the sushi chef. The whole vibe was sit down, shut up, pay, and leave. With mediocre, unbalanced cocktails, jaded staff, and a forcefully quiet atmosphere, we couldn't leave fast enough. Don't get me wrong this place has potential, but as for now it's just an instagram model: Pretty on the outside, empty on the inside.

The sushi was terrific and the service was fantastic. I was craving sushi so I made the trek from Stockbridge after reading the reviews on Yelp. It did not disappoint. The sushi was fresh and flavorful. Everything was good. Our wait staff was attentive and friendly. Ill be coming back during my next visit to Edinburgh.

Great Japanese cuisine. Very pleasant wait staff and tasty food. I'd highly recommend.

Truly an excellent Japanese restaurant in Edinburgh. Service was very generous and efficient. Presentation of the dishes is lovely. If you're thinking about sushi, this is the placd

Great food, service and atmosphere! We arrived 10min before their kitchen was closing, they let us know that so we would order before they close it. We quickly ordered some dishes and they came out in no time, very fresh and yummy. The wakame seaweed salad was so good, I could eat a big bowl of that. Veggie sushis were very nice and my husband's tuna and and dumplings were nice too. I didn't like the soba dish with some dipping sauce that I found quite sickening, it was like a sweet mayo sauce. My husband liked it though. I wish we had time to order the aubergine that everyone seems to love. Definitely the place to go for Japanese food in Edinburgh.

It was a Saturday and I thought "Time to treat myself to something delicious" so OF COURSE I chose sushi! I noticed Kanpai while on my way to Mademoiselle Macaron (practically next door to each other) and Yelped it immediately when I had the chance. Behold, a popular Japanese place that I NEEDED to try! Perfect! Went over for lunch and was quickly welcomed by friendly staff members. I sat at the sushi bar because I wanted to intimidate the chefs while they made sushi (hahahaha it's really a hobby of mine to make people feel uncomfortable). I also like when they finish making your food and immediately serve it to you over the bar, it feels more prompt and efficient lol The space is beautiful! Very minimal and stylish, just like how Japanese restaurants should be. It was bright, clean and welcoming at the same time. Anyway, I ordered a miso soup, salmon sashimi, soft shell crab maki and some green tea to go with everything (altogether, I paid 21.50quid). The miso soup was a good way to start the meal along with my freshly sliced salmon sashimi served in a bowl of shaved ice! Uggghhh so perfect with wasabi and soy sauce! My heart was exploding with happiness! The soft shell crab maki was delicious too! The crab was freshly fried up and then made into sushi right in front of me so props for freshness! :-) I was so full at the end of the meal, I could take a nap at the restaurant itself! Overall, loved eating here! Was one of my favourite places to have been lucky enough to discover! Definitely will bring Gian here when we get a chance to visit Edinburgh again! :-D

Having had some extraordinary sushi experiences in several countries, my husband and I were really looking forward to dining at Kanpai after reading the reviews. From the moment we entered the restaurant we were met by a somewhat aloof and voiceless man, that just looked at us when we gave him the name the reservation was under then started walking away (we figured to our table) without comment.. so we followed him, he motioned to a table, we sat down and eventually were presented a couple of menus and a wine/drinks list, again without being spoken to. After 10-15 minutes we were asked what we would like an ordered a drink and our meals (which were quite small orders) mine, small tuna stack on rice, soup and aubergine. My husband, two small tuna rolls. We then proceeded to wait another 10 mins for a glass of beer and wine, now having been in the restaurant nearly 1/2 hour. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant, just past the bar and watched as a couple that had come in 15 mins after us already had a bottle of wine, water, and a good portion of their food already delivered. I finally flagged our waitress down to ask about our order and was brought my small bowl of soup (minus the spoon) and again had to wait another 5 minutes before I could get her again to bring a spoon and then asked if she could bring us each a glass of water. All the while we sat we kept watching loads of food being delivered to other tables and could not understand how our little order was taking so long. I had to ask the server three times wether the aubergine would be coming. It finally arrived 10 minutes after we had finished the other parts of our meal At this point we decided that although the food was decent, the service was pretty lacking and if what we experienced was normal - then we would return to a lovely Japanese restaurant near Haymarket that had far better prices, much more gracious service and seemed to care equally about their customer base.

Some of the best sushi I've had, I have to say. We headed here, fragile, we'd missed breakfast, after an excellent night before, but the creeper had begun. But I'd be damned if I wasn't making the most of one of my favourite cities. Guided by yelp and gurgling hungry stomachs, we couldn't face greasy, and really fancied japanese. Wander down the quiet cobbled street and find this place, child, with excellent service, clean decor, and really tasty food. Glasses of water and iced tea, which was marvellous, although the first over eager gulp filled me with fear of being reacquainted with my paradise palms buckfast daiquiris, and whatever takeaway i'd gobbled with my fingers, after losing my fork and not caring a smidge. Even the menus are pretty, and it takes a while to go through them, so much choice. On a little table, we intended to sample, and share. They suggested we kept a menu with us, and we needed it. We filled our table, twice, salads, crab, aubergine, beef, rolls, nigiri, the works, and every morsel was lovely. Extra kudos for curing my terrible hangover.

Woops - I ate here ages back and totally forgot to review it. So apologies in advance for the scant detail! I like the decor in here and it has a really pleasant atmosphere. We had a team lunch here and it was pretty damn good although there were small hiccups with certain things not being available and what have you. We sat in the somewhat private area at the back and it was a really nice space to enjoy a meal. Alex S is right - the best dish for me was the amazing grilled and sauced aubergine. I also liked the soft shell crab roll, the seaweed salad and of course, dumplings. I'd definitely head back to Kanpai when I'm in Edinburgh next.

The former Vancouverite is reviewing a sushi place in Edinburgh... RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Folks, Edinburgh has many a thing going for it over wee ol' Canada. For one, there's a castle in the middle of the city. For second, you can drink whisky cheaply and stare at that castle to your heart's content. So when I was told i'd have to give up some of the best sushi outside of Japan for castles, whisky and great pubs (#3), it wasn't a difficult choice. I'm here aren't I? But I didn't quite realize how quickly the sashimi cravings would kick in and so i've been systematically scouring the city for sushi spots. I've entered most apprehensively and here's what I've learned: Edinburgh actually has some darn respectable sushi joints. You'll just pay out the nose for that fact. I had the pleasure of hitting this little sushi spot with Elizabeth G this afternoon and I must say, of the respectable joints in town, Kanpai is one of the best. Here's what you need to know: 1. Make a reservation. Because even if it's 1pm, you might not get in. We quite literally had to beg to squeeze three bodies at a two person table to get our sushi fix in. 2. Order the eggplant... I mean, aubergine. It's delicious. You will not want to share this. 3. Don't expect me not to call it eggplant. It's only been a month folks. I'm learning slowly. 4. The rainbow roll is excellent. I went with this as a failsafe. I was personally craving sashimi, but if you're in a new sushi spot and don't know how good it's really going to be, that can be a risky order. The rainbow roll was topped with tuna & salmon sashimi and it was delectable. I really should have trusted my fellow Yelpers on that one. 5. Expat bonus tip: Don't convert the dollar amounts in your head. Yes, it's true - this place is pretty darn pricey, and definitely won't make a good pit stop day to day but it IS worth setting aside some dough and popping in every so often. The quality is worth the price and it is truly the best place i've been so far. Castles. Whisky. Passable sushi. Edinburgh, you're stuck with me now.

Having been to Japan we have experienced the beautiful & delicate Japanese style of food preparation, and this restaurant is a wonderful representation of Japanese food. We tried many items from the sushi to their nigiri (eel, salmon & sea bass), the aubergine teppanyaki, tuna tartare etc and all were beautifully presented, fresh and flavoursome, I would highly recommend visiting this authentic Japanese restaurant. The wine list had some good accompaniments too. You can choose to sit at the counter watching the sushi chefs at work or at a table. The waiter was so polite and friendly, it just reminded us so much of the dignity & politeness of Japanese culture too. A wonderful experience overall!

I believe this review is relative to what you're accustomed to, but I've lived in the UK long enough to miss good sushi... and I'm from Georgia, not exactly the sushi capital of the US. That said, I have to say that I've been pretty much shocked at the "meh" factor of most sushi places I've tried in the UK... I'm sure there are hidden gems, but I've hit so many duds in my quest that I subconsciously have started avoiding one of my favourite food types. So, on to Kanpai... it's good, really good... good enough that it's getting five stars because I simply haven't had sushi this good on this side of the pond yet, and it's reasonably priced. If you're over from Japan (or even California) I'm not sure it would rock you're world, but if like me you've grown cold to sushi because it's always either far overpriced, simply not good, or worse... both, then bookmark this place and give it a go. The King Prawn Tempura... wow, it's a must for a starter, a real treat. I've had the Squid Tempura as well, and while also nice it didn't quite live up to the King Prawn Tempura... which is a bit of a surprise to me since I normally fall on the side of squid when playing favourites between the two. I've also had the Grilled Aubergine in sweet Miso Sauce and it packed a punch with flavour... it could have almost been a dessert! I've also had the Pan Fried Veg & Chicken Dumplings on two occasions, loving them the first time... sadly the second time, while still good, they didn't live up to the first visit... they came out a bit cold and the dipping sauce was a bit weaker in flavour. (They were still good, just not as good.) (Side note... if you're in London, near Angel, seriously try the dumplings at New Culture Revolution... they're handmade bits of win, no other way around it.) I've had a few of the rolls at Kanpai, but so far the Dragon Roll is probably the winner in presentation and taste... I don't think you could really go wrong with any of them that sound of interest to you. The Kanpai Special Combo is a win for sashimi taste and presentation... go with a friend and order one of these, a Dragon Roll, and have the King Prawn Tempura as a starter (I'll let you pick the second starter on your own... it's your dinner after all!) and your table will look like a presentation fit for a magazine. So search no more Dear Yelpers, there is now somewhere I honestly look forward to going for sushi... not in the "well, it will do" way that so many other places have been until now... I legitimately crave this place. For the place itself... it's almost hidden, with no sign jutting out, but clean and well laid out inside... the staff are courteous as well, but it can get quite busy... a booking on a busy night is wise... very wise indeed. Enjoy!

Kanpai definitely does the best sushi in Edinburgh. The menu is perhaps a little pricey, a little limited to sushi and sashimi, and I dont think you could leave full but despite that it is still excellent. The staff are really great too which is important for me as it really makes a dining experience when the staff are friendly and helpful. The restaurant is really nicely laid out with a bar area where you can watch the sushi being made. I really enjoyed our sashimi selection and the dragon roll is lovely - plus it looks like a real dragon! Presentation here is exceptional and all the food looks like it should be on a photo shoot! I agree with Jenny on the aubergine, oh my word it is good, as it the soft shell tempura crab and the eel and surfclam too! You definitely need to book in advance though as they get really busy but it is worth it.

THE POSTCARD LIFE recommends. We loved this sushi place, cosy and in the middle of all the action. Please please reserve a table before you visit since its always full. We ate the Cucumber maki, Avocado maki, Mixed vegetable tempura, Deep fried bean curd (tofu), Grilled aubergine in sweet miso sauce (must order) & the Japanese pickle sushi roll- which we loved too.

Kanpai is an authentically designed sushi bar nestled just under the Edinburgh Castle. The staff are so polite and so friendly. The decor is minimalist and very Japanese. The whole experience at Kanpai reflects the elegance and simplicity of Japanese cuisine. Food-wise everything on this menu down to the wine selection is spot on. Recommendations: Spicy Tuna Gunkan Nigiri, the Kanpai Special roll, and the Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream.

Kanpai is so unassuming from the outside I thought I was in the wrong place. Kanpai had been on my list for a long time and my friend finally obtaining her PhD was the perfect excuse for sushi! So at 7pm last Tuesday, 20 of us rocked up ready to get our sushi on! Inside, Kanpai's Japanese style decor looks like a bar more than a restaurant. particularly since you will be greeted by people lined up sitting at the 'bar' with their sushi. The service is excellent, our waiters and waitress were so polite and perfectly efficient. They took the order for twenty people and didn't make a single mistake, despite the questions and last minute changes. Our food arrived promptly and the kitchen must have working overtime because everyone's dish came at around the same time, so no one person was waiting hungrily (as I've experienced in so many Asian restaurants!) When my Dragon Roll arrived I was heard to loudly announce 'I'm so happy', much to the amusement of those seated around me. I was soooo happy though, avocado, prawn tempura and such a fantastic presentation! I also ordered mixed vegetable tempura which was original in that, instead of cut vegetables individually tempura'd I received grated vegetables mixed together and deep fried into little pyramid shapes. Everyone's food looked amazing and I am going to have to return to try that massive sashimi special (2 people? please....) My only negative comment is that a sushi restaurant should not run out of tuna...ever...unfortunately Kanpai had. Though alternatives were offered, which is fantastic and much better than just taking the dishes off the menu altogether, I'm not sure it really made up for the lack of yummy tuna sashimi my tummy was craving. Also, the wines on offer are delicious!

Well I was back here at the weekend and it reaffirmed for me its place as the best sushi restaurant in town! Looking at it again one of the great aspects fo the layout is the spacing - you dont feel like people are too close, in fact despite the restaurant being full it still felt as if we have the peave and quite to have our own conversation. Sicne my first visit they have come up with abeautiful picture storybook type menus and have grown a really cracking wine list as well. To the food, between 2 of us we have 6 dishes which was perfect - Tepenyaki Seared Tuna with sweet miso dressing - possibly the best sushi dish I have ever has - Tempura soft shell crab - so so so tasty - Tempura squid - light, tasty with the perfect ammoutn of bite - Grilled salmon nigri - :o) - Spicy tuna maki - :o) :o) - Scallop sashimi - oober awesome All in all another tremendous meal at Kanpai and I just cant wait to go back again!! Jd = Very Happy Man!!!!

Definitely one of the best sushi places I've been to here in Edinburgh. We had all sushi, but we should've checked Yelp for the recommendations on the eggplant/aubergine and the octopus balls... But doesn't matter, it was all of a really good standard. (Odd, though, that so many Japanese restaurants have sushi chefs and waiters speaking mandarin...) Book a reservation if you plan on going. Pricey - definitely. Lunch date with the wife for over 50 quid.... The food is worth it, and so is my wife! Will be back, but perhaps only for special occasions.

I live in Seattle on the West coast of the US and this is what we would refer to as "gas station sushi". When asked if their salmon was wild caught or farmed it took several trips back and forth to the kitchen to receive an answer (it is farmed). If this is all you have around you then it will help hit the spot but it you are used to the real deal save it for when you get home.

The best sushi I've had in Edinburgh, without a doubt. Always fresh, always beautifully presented, and competitive pricing (still, on the expensive side). The only drawback is that, when they are busy, the small staff can't handle the volume and service can be inexcusably slow. They need to hire more staff or something, because I always want to come here but, if I see it pretty full next time I will turn away and try something else. I highly recommend the sesame seaweed salad, the grilled salmon nigiri, the mackerel nigiri, the spicy salmon roll, and the (enormous) futo maki. omg, my mouth is literally watering thinking about it.

Well, this is rather awkward. If you've read my recent Review of the Day, you'll know that I am very, very, fond of Tang indeed. Before any accusations come my way, let me remind you, Gentle Reader, that I have never (with any sobriety) promised a wholly exclusive relationship with Tang alone. Having said that, I have taken Kanpai as my mistress and Holy salmon Batman I am now seriously considering polygamy. I think we are all agreed, my fellow Yelpers, that Edinburgh sucks for sushi. But not Kanpai, it is abundant in awesomeness and the cold dead fish here possesses the two qualities valued above all others in such commodities: it being very cold and only very recently deceased. The ebi tempura is ridiculous. It comes in a tiny wicker basket, with it's own little sprinkle of herbs and we ordered three (!) three of those baskets. One after the other. And on an entirely unrelated note, the waiting staff is not at all judgmental and very discreet. Even if you decide to order half the menu twice over. (And you will). Tang is good, it really is, but Kanpai is luxury. That is the prime difference between the two. Tang has all the makings of a good sushi restaurant, but go on a weekday and you'll find they will have no sushi chef in-house and the quality of the fish will be markedly different than on the weekends. Kanpai cuts no corners. Kanpai cuts fishies, yes, but only good ones. It takes itself seriously and because of that it's the type of restaurant where you can truly celebrate a special occasion. Though in all honesty, should I ever win the lottery, I'll have them set up a little table in the corner just for me alone. Behind a screen of course. As I intend to order more then three of those tiny wicker baskets and then whisper quietly from behind my screen "Here fishy, fishy, fishy." Now if you'll excuse me, I have some squid to catch.

Occasionally, not often, but occasionally, I MUST give a terrible review for an amazing place. What I mean by that is I'm not going to review Kanpai 'cause it's the BEST, but only relatively. If you go sushi - Go Kanpai... because everywhere else pretty much sucks. Why? Because Edin-f**king-burgh a city of 400,000 and people from all over the WORLD, first class universities, the home of some of the greatest writers of all time and home of the Edinburgh Fringe has the worst f**king sushi this side of the Mid-West of the US. Scotland... you're ON THE WATER. There is no excuse for such a piss poor showing of choice in sushi restaurants. Which is why Kanpai is *FIVE GIANT STARS* hands down. It is one of the only sushi places that surpasses supermarket sushi in this little city. The choices are amazing and it will satisfy anyone who loves them some raw fish on a plate (and even cooked fish on a plate). It ain't cheap, but it ain't more expensive than anywhere else. There's not nearly enough 'Bento Box' choice, but still, it far surpasses any and everything I have tried in Edinburgh. Don't even attempt anywhere else if you have any choice in the matter.

Have come back a few times since to keep trying out and this is solidly one of my favourite restaurants in Edinburgh now. Amazing Japanese food. Brought the SO here even though she "didn't like" sushi, and she loved it. Even tried sashimi! Recommended! Also the staff are so lovely I want to take them home. Wait that sounds weird.

It's feels like I'm in Japan having a dinner in one of those master chef sushi bar. Everything are well presented. I went with some friends and really enjoy that night. Sushi, sake and boys talk. Ingredients are fresh, sushi served in proper way.

The previous reviews led me to expect something special here, and from the food perspective, I wasn't disappointed. I must admit that I was a bit underwhelmed at first. It looks lovely from the outside but upon entering I felt that the décor leans a bit more towards office waiting room than Japanese minimalist, and it was also rather chilly inside. After perusing the menu, we began ordering the first of our two dishes containing tuna, and discovered that they were out of tuna. A Japanese restaurant out of tuna? That's like a chippie running out of haddock! I really wanted to try the seared tuna with miso dressing but maybe next time. But. The food we had was fantastic, definitely a cut above your usual sushi chains. We each had miso soup then we shared grilled dumplings, salmon maki, bean curd nigiri, mackerel nigiri, sea bream nigiri and prawn nigiri. The delicate seasoning on the sushi rice, the way the nigiri held together, the delicious dumplings, the depth of the miso soup. Everything was top drawer. Sushi can be an expensive lunch, especially if you're starving to begin with, and Kanpai costs about 20% more than other places. We spent £35 for lunch (= the dishes listed above plus a beer each) and could have eaten more. But with Japanese food you get what you pay for. I'm not sure I can afford going back for lunch but I will definitely return for dinner and just order course after course until I'm stuffed. The sashimi platter for two has to be tried and I really want to taste that seared tuna.

On our blog, it's now rated in our Top Five. It has a fairly small selection of dishes but hits all the right notes you'd expect, with a mighty impressive sashimi platter, well-executed tuna maki, high-quality buckwheat soba, and knockout miso aubergine. Overall, we said: "go to Kanpai. Have good sushi made by people who know what they are doing and love the excellent service. Enjoy the calming atmosphere, and for goodness sake, order the aubergines, at least one."

Came here around 6:30pm local time and the place was already 2/3 full. The food was amazing and the sashimi fresh. It was disappointing that the waitress got my order wrong and then did not do anything to remedy the situation after I told her. However, I prefer to judge based on quality of food and not so much on service. I would definitely recommend and return if in Edinburgh.

It is raw fish!?!?!? How on earth can it taste soooooo darned good! I will hands down say this is the best sushi I have had in Edinburgh thus far! This lovely little sushi joint is, as me and Jenny were discussing, what I imagine they would be like in New York or London, snazzy, clean, welcoming, modern, fresh.... need I go on? The staff were incredibly welcoming and the menu is good.... although the only thing they are lacking is 'specials', I find they always tend to be an utter treat! But apart from that, this place is like gold dust. We decided that we would share a few wee plates so we had Spicy Tuna Gunkan Nigiri, Grilled Aubergines in Miso, Chicken and Vegetable Dumplings and Grilled Teriyaki Salmon Maki. They were all simply scrumptious..... I probably could have eaten more out of sheer gluttony, but this was just enough for the two of us. Ok, so if you have got this far you quite clearly are a sushi eater in Edinburgh, so give it a go! The price is no more than anywhere else in town even though it feels more 'upmarket'. Quite simply a brilliant lunch out.

This is supposedly the best sushi place in Edinburgh, and that is so sad to me. Maybe I'm just spoiled as a Californian, but we found the sushi very expensive, and no better quality than an average AYCE place in New Jersey. I wouldn't say don't go, but don't come with high expectations.

maybe im a bit spoiled coming from the land of san francisco where fresh delicious sushi is easily accessible, but i didnt think this place was SUPER special. They were out of tuna? and service? what service? i had to come up to my server to make an order. the eggplant miso dish was good, gyoza-not bad, wish they were HOT and not lukewarm dragon roll was good tokyo roll-dont like deep fried, not my thing I wish they would have more variety and a little cheaper price tag. those small dishes plus two small drinks ending up costing us 45 pounds. seems pretty pricey to me for a couple of apps and rolls.

This is not ££ restaurant but £££. Scotland salmon is the better than Norway. Average £35 to £50 per person without alcohol depending on how much you eat. My only complaint is the Turo (Tuna belly) which tastes not very fresh. Just order a lot of salmon to enjoy

Have eaten in most sushi restaurants in every city i have lived in over the past 5 years but this is the best i have found. My third i've tried since moving to edinburgh and i have to say it beats all others hands down (even my beloved Ichiban in Glasgow). The food was superb and although more expensive than most it was excellent value for money in both quality and portion size. The atmosphere in the restaurant is also fantastic: modern, clean and "fits the food" After a great meal there last week, we ordered food to collect last night and the quality was the same. Will definitely be going back.

So happy to discover that Edinburgh has a Japanese restaurant of this quality. Elegant, aesthetically-pleasing decor, good service, good food. On the day we went (I think it was a Tuesday lunch) they were out of several items, including tuna and scallops. Skimming through some of the other reviews here, it seems that the lack of tuna is a regular occurrence. Between us we ordered a variety of dishes, including edamame, wakame salad, avocado rolls, dragon roll, miso eggplant, and some sashimi. Everything was good, but I can't point to any item that was really a stand-out. The eggplant was very tasty but too oily. Looking forward to going back for dinner sometime soon, especially since I see they serve shochu - haven't had that since Tokyo!

Fantastic ! Where do I even begin... - Sushi: Every roll of sushi is a masterpiece! The combination of flavours in every single roll is phenomenal. The display and elegance of both the roll cross section and plate are fantastic and add tremendously to the already great experience. Ingredients are fresh, seaweed is crispy, fish is tender, vegetables are crunchy and the rice is tasty. The soy sauce they provide is perfect as it is not too strong and salty and therefore does not obscure any of the lovely flavours. To choose a favourite is very hard but I will say that the most distinct ones were: The Dragon Roll, Rainbow Roll and grilled Teriyaki Salmon Maki. Don't let the simplicity of the grilled Teriyaki Salmon Maki fool you... the taste, texture and combination of flavours are just perfect ! - Hot/cold dishes: Again the display is fantastic and elegant. I generally like eating sushi in places like this, but I had some other dishes and they were super. Lots of flavours and textures that work very well together. From the dishes I have tried I would highly recommend the Grilled aubergine in sweet miso sauce, and just so you understand how good it was, I generally don't like aubergine dishes at all.... The Teppan Teriyaki Salmon and the Tempura veg and king prawn were also very good. Sashimi on ice was a very beautiful display and the sea foods were nice and fresh. - Atmosphere and Service: Everything in the restaurant is high quality. Tables, chairs, cutleries, Sushi chef bar and even the soy sauce dispenser was a nice traditional pot. The overall atmosphere was elegant and relaxing. Service is kind and extra polite just like traditional asian hospitality, FANTASTIC. Prices are fair for what you get and is a great evening out with a partner, close family and friends. I really cant think of anything negative to say after about 20+ visits to this restaurant. Enjoy!!

Ok, this place is legit, which I didn't expect in Edinburgh (no offense, it just doesn't seem like a sushi kind of city, like San Francisco). I decided since it's so close to my hotel I might as well give it a shot and I'm so glad I did. It's off a side street (right down from Nando's) so it's a little hidden but once you step inside you're in another little world. The sushi here looked somewhat standard on the menu but when my order arrived I was pleasantly surprised. My favorite was the Kanpai roll, which I think I'll have to get again while I'm in town. It'd be a nice little date spot (saw several couples there) but seems good for a casual option as well. The staff is very friendly and welcoming all around. I haven't tried any other sushi spots in Edinburgh so I only have my experiences in the States to compare this place to, but from my first experience was a really good one. I highly recommend giving this place a shot.

Kanpai..we meet again. . I remember when Kanpai first opened. It was introduced to me by a friend knowing the owner of it. At the time she was the owner of Sushiya and then she opened Kanpai. Not sure about now though. So being recommend by a friend and big lover of Japanese food...again I mentioned...went along...location wise its quite hidden away...and I walked in..wow..so much bigger compare to Sushiya....sat down ...immediately opened the menu ... Tokyo roll, softshell crab roll, tempura roll, rainbow roll and dragon roll. Oh and california roll. All excellent. Not one problem I had with their maki. I was guessing maybe their tempura roll might not be so good? Coz its extremely tricky to get the batter right for tempura. And it was excellent. Was very disappointed when they told me they dont serve ramen or udon or even hot food...which really confused me...coz u need hot oil to fry tempura no? And..I can order teriyaki beef thats hot no? Anyway she said if I want ramen I can try sushiya...there was a long awkward pause there... So I went for the teriyaki beef which came in stunning presentation. Beef sitting on a candle lit...burner thing...the portion was small compare to the price. First thing got to me was...is that a real leaf??? Wont it be burnt sitting on top of the tea light. ...but my friend sitting opposite me reassured me saying "of course it won't!! They must have tried this many times don't be stupid must be some kind of fire safe leaf looking thing....blah blah" so I thought. .mm..ok..he must be right. But guess what..the leaf did burn....and we were embarrassingly stuffing our mouth and plate with beef so they could remove the burning leaf...in fact...I put some water on it...it was not a big massive flame but yep...not the special kind of waterproof leaf atall.. Overall the food was excellent, service was good too the waitress was so apologetic but hey they just opened back then...I believe they must be doing so well now coz they got high ratings..the place was very clean...definitely somewhere good to take your friends family or business.

Treated myself to dinner here last week for my birthday. Given its reputation as supposedly Edinburgh's "posh" sushi restaurant I certainly expected to pay more for the meal than it actually cost so that was welcome but by the same token I was surprised that my booking wasn't registered. A seat was found for me at the bar though so face was saved. Service-wise things were middle-of-the-road - not too slow but not overly attentive either. The food I had was on a par with most other sushi places I've been to in town so there was nothing really to set it apart in that sense although the teppan-yaki aubergine was a new one on me (& very moreish although I'd ask for a spoon to scoop it out with next time). First impressions are though important so on top of the booking error there was also the rather tired menu to contend with. Outwardly it's very pleasing to the eye but inside the pages look tired and well thumbed, a dish no longer offered is merely sellotaped over with a strip of coloured paper and the last two pages are stapled together (presumably to hide other extinct dishes). A refresh of the booklet would be a good idea.

You cannot fault this place! The sushi is exquisite and served very promptly even on a busy night (which is every night btw guys so make sure you book). Aaaaahhhhh the dragon roll is so good here that I had to maybe possibly definitely did get two of them....The service is also spot on. It's a must for locals and visitors to the city in my honest, totally awesome and worthy opinion ;)

Excellent food. Sushi and sashimi were wonderfully and traditionally prepared. Sashimi was fresh. Service staff was pleasant and polite. Grilled aubergine and salmon nigiri were a little oily for my taste, but delicious nonetheless. One complaint would be regarding the grilled salmon teriyaki, which was overcooked. Wonderful place, will return!

Finally got around to trying this place . Decided to treat myself and sushi seemed like the best idea! Lovely little place somewhat hidden but not to far. Didn't make a reservation and got lucky by getting a seat at the bar. Do make a reservation though if it's more then one person because I am guessing it will be a bit difficult to just grab a seat since it's always busy every time I walk by it . Anyways the food was delicious! Pricy but worth it. Had the big sashimi bowl . Bunch of fresh sashimi over ice. The chef prepares it right in front of you . Paired with a nice sake and you have one of the best meals in the world. Staff was really friendly couldn't thank them enough for squeezing me in. Overall great experience and probably the best sushi I have had so far in Edinburgh .

recommended by a Japanese friend, but actually a little disappointed. This place served sashimi and sushi mainly, however the food weren't so fresh,especially sashimi quite fishy in fact. Actually I couldn't tell any differences between kayaks whose price is half of kanpai's. anyway, the service was quite good here but I don't think I would come again.

When walking around Edinburgh you might not think that sushi is the best idea. Don't make the mistake I almost made - if you continue walking by this intimate sushi restaurant in Old Town Edinburgh it will truly be a shame - it's fantastic and well worth a stop. The fish was incredibly fresh and they put unique touches on old stand-bys: the dragon roll had a wonderful layer of avocado on the outside with a dollop of Japanese mayo that was a bit sweeter than usual, for example. I'm leaving full, satisfied, and scheming ways in which I can get back here later in my week-long visit. Delicious!

If you've never had Sushi before then this is the place to go! My partner is not one for Sushi but after eating here we will be back. The food was amazing, staff are very helpful and polite. Restaurant is very clean and has a fantastic atmosphere. The only complaint I have and it has nothing to do with Kanpai is the Edinburgh Council parking restrictions in place in the local area. Other than that, I will be back and can highly recommend the Aubergine!

The most upscale in terms I'd variety and presentation I've found in Edinburgh. Only negative is being on try the more pricey end. Went here for a birthday dinner - small place but tasteful decor.

There's no point having the best sushi chefs in Edinburgh and having incompetent staff who can't keep track of reservations! I made reservations for 6:30 and changed it to 830... When I got there the staff have me a blank look and said no one changed my reservation...After waiting for 2 hrs... just pissed me off! The place is over price and you can get better sushi elsewhere... Beware when U make reservations!

Service is too fast. All sushi rolls are amazing. You should try sashimi also. We ate lots of things from the menu and all of them were great. Staf is very helpful and kind. You should go there if you're at edinburgh.