Konbini & Kanpai Lakeview

So well curated, not to mention the owners are simply lovely. We have been in the wine club the last 3 years every month is a box of chocolates so menu thoughtful lovely wines. Sake selection and micro beer options are bar none as well. Great spot

Lots of hard to find Japanese whiskeys and a great selection of sake. This is a great place to bring your own food and grab drinks or a sake flight with friends. They even have games for you to play and a selection of Asian snacks. We were gifted a sake-of-the-month club subscription and the last one we picked up included a cute cat carafe and cups set. Highly recommend supporting this small business!

I feel at home here. My only regret is not finding it sooner in our neighborhood. We hosted my husband’s birthday here - the space was amazing and just the vibe we were looking for. I kept getting distracted from my conversations with friends by looking around at the fun variety of drinks, snacks, plants, origami decor (!!). How could you not try every type of beer, wine, liquor and sake? They have it all. I love the signs above the the fridges that guided me to the flavors I’m looking for. Jun-Jun was there and made our event very special, and taught us a few things about sake! There were origami bouquets on the table we reserved for the party. Separate tabs for everyone was not a problem. I mean, come on! I’m already thinking about my own birthday and wanting to host it here again. PS including a pic from the origami class I attended which was SO fun! Can’t wait for more things like this.

Spacious and fun for the wine tasting event. The options of beer are incredible! I especially liked seeing the gluten-free options. I’m a wine drinker, so I partnered with the owners and one of their distributors to select some wines for a party. This is a great addition to the neighborhood. Must visit. Must patron.

This is my new favorite place to stop by for a drink, great selection and always an amazing experience! Highly recommend stopping by to try some Saki, Beer, and Wine at Konbini & Kanpai! The curated selection is well organized and very reasonably priced. But the BEST part is you’ve got Junjun and Neomi, two of the friendliest owners, who are happy to help you pick out your new favorite and learn about the selection available! There is even a monthly Sake club, which offers up different bottles each month with serving and pairing details! Have to say, I’ve greatly enjoyed each bottle from the monthly selections and learned so much already!

Went there today and grabbed a bunch of drinks as well as a can of Orion draft can. I drove by this place a bunch and I'm so so so so happy I finally walked in. This place is lovely and the person working today was a treat! Didn't catch your name, but thank you for your help! Best beer and shop around.

We stumbled upon this place and it is SO FUN - you can drink here and play board games!!! Amazing selection of Asian (and also non-Asian!) beers, wines, spirits, AND non-alcoholic drinks and juices. The drinks were super reasonably priced too. The board games were so fun and the staff were so nice. This is one of Chicago’s hidden gems. Recommend to everyone!

Great place to find ALL THINGS SAKE 🍶. Only place that carries the most unique variety of SAKE flavors, from sweet to strong variants. Want a sake that's smooth, sweet and flavorful? Joto Umeshu has to be the best and sweetest plum (6months) infused sake I've ever had and has been my go to for years! Staff is very courteous and knowledgeable and you can stop by to chow down on instant ramen 🍜! Just ask for hot water.

A fantastic Japanese liquor and convenience store! We had a wonderful get-together here with 3 Chicago JA historians, and so glad that they arranged to meet at Konbini and Kanpai. My sister Nancy set this up, and it so happens that she is also a sake authority (author of the book "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake"), so it was perfect all around. The ambiance is bright, cheerful and friendly, with a long table where customers can sit down and enjoy a beverage and snack that they purchase. The owners happened to be out of town, but the owner's brother Eric was so helpful and friendly. They have an exceptional selection of whiskey, sake, shochu, gin, beer, canned cocktails and soft drinks. We tried the Wakaze France sake, which was so delightful and refreshing. They also have a great selection of Japanese snacks--- we had rice crackers and dried squid. I also got a Botan Rice Candy--- these are all so nostalgic and take me back to my childhood! The Botan Rice Candy has an edible inner wrapper that melts in your mouth. I somehow remember it being called Tomoe Ame. (True! "Another brand of the same candy is Tomoe Ame"). They also have a Sake of the Month Club, where you can unlock a wider selection of sake online. There's also a Wine of the Month Club. Highly recommended! Will be sure to visit again the next time I visit Chicago.

One of my favorite spots because the staff is so kind and always stays open late if people are having a nice time. The beer, sake, and wine selection is fantastic and you can just open your drinks and snacks right at the tables. They are also dog friendly and have cool events and wine/sake clubs! Inside is nice and casual and there is paid street parking right out front.

I dont get how they get all these great reviews. I went on Saturday 6:30pm trying to get a bottle of sake for a birthday gift. The store was completely empty. Never greeted by the only person there. I had my parking for 15 minutes and was browsing to find something. Never was offered any help, not a word through out. Left when my parking buzzed, taking my business elsewhere. The most uncomfortable and not pleasurable shopping experience ever.

I LOVE, love this place! As a whole, the space is a quick one stop for all the possible sake, speciality wines, and Asian spirits you can find. You just grab what you'd like from the fridges and pay up at the register. They even sell snacks. If you choose to hang out and stay, there's a corkage fee to enjoy the drink you just bought and you can hang out to play games with your friends. The whole space is built very long and so chill. Tip: They have these amazing sake and Japanese Whiskey flight tastings that are so worth trying. The owner of the place is so knowledgeable when it comes to all the different things listed in the flight tasting. I was able to learn a lot about what I was drinking and enjoy a nice afternoon here! You can just see the passion and love with all the knowledge on Asian spirits. Highly recommend stopping in for a tasting one day. My husband and I love this space so much that we usually try and make a stop here when our friends from out of town come visit!

I have a great idea for you to get all the benefits of K&K: keep their events page open in a tab and reference it daily. K&K has INCREDIBLE events that are learning and networking extravaganzas. I'm feeling so lucky that I'm learning about sake, have learned how to make at least 5 origami folds so far this year, and have met some wonderful distributors as well as the sweet staff that works here. For me, K&K is a nice little respite where I can enjoy a relaxed environment and try new things. They also carry Boss coffee which I am obsessed with after visiting Japan. I love how you can buy a single item to try, which curbs my consumption and lets me buy so many little treats for myself. I hope to join the sake club soon and I'm ready for my next event!

Cute little store front with all kinds of Japanese beers, sake and whiskey. They have a bunch of different events. Check out the chalk board.

Opened and operated by a hardworking couple, the Konbini & Kampai stocks, sells, and you can imbibe on premises, a great selection of Japanese sake, sochu, beer, and convenience items. Don't know what to purchase or imbibe? Ask the proprietors, they will provide recommendations and suggestions based on your taste - and may provide some samples. I asked, they recommended a bottle and needless to say, it was delicious. If ever you have the hankering for some good Japanese sake, stop by Kombini & Kampai, you will not be disappointed and will most likely leave with a few bottles of sake!

This is the cutest store. Walk in and you are greeted with snacks from the orient which you can eat in store. Fancy a ramen, pick up an instant bowl and they will fill it with hot water for you. Am very interesting array of alcohol from the far East from soju to Japanese whiskey. What I love about this place is a lot of the alcohol you can try for a small price before you buy so you actually know what it tastes like before you take it home. On certain days they will have whiskey or soju or sake tastings. The last soju tasting we went to was paired with Korean fried chicken and went down a treat.

Have been here multiple times and grabbed drinks to drink in the store and also on the go. The owners are super friendly and are always available to chat and answer any questions and make recommendations. The selection is fantastic and it's always fun to try the various drinks that they rotate through the store. I also love the fact that there's always an event that you can attend - my friends and I attended a sake tasting a few months ago and had a great time. It's a great space to open a drink and just chill in a low-key setting.

Great addition to the Lakeview neighborhood. I'm so grateful that I live within close walking distance to this place. Super unique with having a ton of Japanese snacks, beers, liquor (sake, etc), and what not. They also have a whole wall of wine as well, although I didn't check if they were Japanese, but they might be as well! This place also has a few areas to sit, and drink communally as a group if you want. They have many weekday events or specials like deliveries for food and discounts on certain whiskey drinks to have while you are there. Overall, a really great neighborly Japanese liquor store (but I hate using that word because it has a dingy connotation). I'll for sure be back to sit here and have some drinks! Also, the guy working behind the register was friendly, explained a few things, and gave us little carriers to put our a la carte items!

Konbini and Kanpai is my FAVORITE addition to the neighborhood. We go here all the time! Winnie (our pup) also loves Konbini and comes with us since they're DOG FRIENDLY. They have free tastings throughout the week which is really nice. They invite in different breweries and wineries to talk about their products and you get a free tasting. Who doesn't love that? They area also starting up their sake tastings and sake classes. My favorite things about Konbini: 1. Friendly service 2. They have their beverages separated in the store by flavor profile. Like stouts? All in the same spot. Like seltzers? Also all grouped together. It makes shopping super easy. 3. You can buy 1 can and try it before investing in a whole pack of beers. A $2 fee + cost of the can = you can open and try it in the store. We come here after work to wind down and find new drinks we like. Another thing to note is that they're a drop off spot for the Onigiri Shuttle. Place your order by EOD Tuesday and show up on Wednesday to pick up your order from Konbini. It's so convenient and you can pick up a beverage to go with your food! Overall we love this place and go all the time. We can't say enough good things about Konbini and hope you give them a try if you haven't already :)

Absolutely loved finding this neighborhood gem! It's a nicely curated Japanese liquor store with lots of options for takeout, delivery, or you can sit and have a drink there. They also have board games and snacks if you stay which makes it such a fun ambiance to sit and chill. I love the concept of picking a craft beer from the fridge, grabbing a snack and playing some board games with my friends. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable on their product offerings. If you stay and have a drink they will give you a glass. Really enjoyed this place for both sitting there and delivery- this is becoming a new local favorite.

Such an amazing concept! This is a Japanese convenient store and a liquor store combined together in the best way possible. You won't be able to find a duplicate of this establishment anywhere else. My friend and I each started with a sake flight and ended up staying a while. It was so much fun to browse the unique selection of beverages, take it back to the table, enjoy it, and repeat. The owners are SO nice and knowledgeable. They taught us a lot about sake and even brought out a cute bowl for us to enjoy our snacks. Their attention to detail and hospitality is above and beyond. We focused this visit around sake, but they have amazing options for beer, seltzer, wine, and whiskey too. Looking forward to revisiting this gem - 100% recommend

We came here on a mission to buy a bottle of sake to take to a BYOB sushi restaurant. The owner and his wife both helped us, explaining the concept of the store and what they had available. They have sake, beer, wine, Japanese/Asian spirits, and Asian snacks. Most of it is arranged by flavor profile, which is so incredibly helpful and practical. The owner asked some questions about our preferences and sake knowledge, even what kind of sushi we like. He poured two flights (six sakes) for us to try and all of them were winners. He went through each sake's taste profile and information about the brewers, etc. He is clearly so passionate about it and eager to make it approachable and fun for others to join in that passion. It was a very special experience when we were just expecting to grab a bottle and go. The store is quaint but bright and thoughtfully laid out. They have board games there and a few tables to sit and drink, eat snacks, hang out, etc. There was a couple on a date playing cards and eating ramen at one table. And a few women eating dinner and chatting with babies at another. They also have sake and wine clubs that we will be joining soon! It's a great spot to sit and hang, learn more about sake, or enjoy a tasting and grab a bottle before heading out to dinner. We will absolutely be back.

Konbini and Kanpai does AMAZING things here in this tiny space. They eliminate the language, grade, and fancy-schmancy bougie wine-speak roadblocks present in most sake shops in the US and streamline into three broad flavor categories, and THIS is where you start choosing what you buy. This is not a stripping/dumbing down of the experience AT ALL; flavor categories have always been a simpler way to navigate to what you like. Rice regions, rarity, and mill% are all cool to know, but your palate doesn't care about stuff like that. They do beer this way too, and there were quite a few, but I was here. For. The. Sake. Of course if you DO care about regions, rarity, etc. and you want to discover more, the owners are so easy to talk to (I got to taste a few samples before I walked out of there with some sake). The space itself is a blank canvas - I was told there are plans for food partnerships and other pop-ups on the horizon. Currently there are enough tables and chairs to bring your own food in while you enjoy the bottle you just bought on the premises, though there's a small selection of Asian snacks for purchase. As a visitor to Chicago I found quite a few bottles that were unfamiliar to me, and they're very open to bringing in your favorite sake for you...just ask! And again, they are so patient while they help you work out your favorite flavors. They're really here to spread love and knowledge of sake (beer too). How many times have I walked into a sake shop to be preached at? Too many :( Not at Konbini and Kanpai, though - I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago!

If there's one place we'd like to visit as soon as the pandemic finally eases up and restrictions lift, it'd have to be Japan - it was a place I'd always wanted to visit, and after going there a few years ago I knew I was only scratching the surface of that country. Of course one of the best things about it are how good the convenience stores, or konbini, are. The 7-elevens there are filled with actual quality food, drinks, and even random services like getting event tickets printed out. Konbini and Kanpai aims to bring a bit of that feeling to Lakeview with a great selection of craft beers and drinks, including drinks both local to Chicago and from Japan. For a small price you can drink your selection in store, and it's been a nice place to chill and catch up with friends. They also have a sake club and wine club you can join, though I'm waiting until my wife is no longer pregnant before I start looking into it. We've just moved to the neighborhood and were pretty sad about leaving behind our old watering hole (Printer's Row Wine Shop for anyone in the South Loop area) but excited to find a new place where the staff is friendly and the variety of drinks is plentiful. Definitely excited to make a few more trips back here!

Cute, well curated neighborhood spot to grab a quality sake and hard to find Japanese snacks. Kids love the assortment of Asian goodies that rival Hmart and there are even two coolers in the back stocked with tasty non-alcoholic drinks (including local beverages). Love supporting this mom and pop shop!

I am always delighted every time I come here! Staff is so knowledgeable and their variety of hard-to-find sakes and spirits is unmatched. I love supporting this local business!

I absolutely love this place for a fun casual drink or to pick up booze to-go. Pick-as-you-go establishment with lots of fridges to choose single drinks or six-packs of beer, sake, and other canned beverages. Fantastic selection of wine bottles (with descriptions by the owners) and Japanese whiskey. They also have a great selection of snacks and games you can play while you're there. Everything is incredibly reasonably priced too! Can't recommend it enough!

Wow is this place dangerous or what!? So glad I don't live close to this unique fully stocked gem! Today was my first time here with my girlfriend and it was fun to explore as well as chat up with the owners! Felt like a kid in a candy store! They have everything you could need! From snacks, beers, sake, and whisky all from Japan. They also have wine and beers from other places of origin too! Even some local Chicago gems too. There are even some selections located here, that I have failed to find elsewhere besides restaurants. For a small price, you can also hang out at the few tables to sip and snack. You can even play some board games while you sip and snack! Konbini & Kanpai also host events throughout the week that are worth checking out as well. From collaborations with local businesses, free tastings throughout the week and sake/wine clubs you can join too. Don't be shy to ask any questions as the owners are knowledgeable and enthusiastic on everything in store! Overall amazing, friendly, and helpful! Highly recommend checking out their website(www.konbiniandkanpai.com) and/or stopping by! Even give them a follow on Instagram and/or Facebook. You will not regret it at all!

While I am a whiskey/cocktails aficionado, I am an enthusiastic beginner when it comes to beer/sake. And if you are anything like me, who finds the sheer number of beer styles/breweries overwhelming and intimidating, look no further than Konbini and Kanpai! First, they organize their beers by flavor profile instead of beer style, which makes it easier for me to select something that I'd like. Second, they have frequent beer/wine/sake tastings where you can try new stuff and learn more about them. Last, but not the least, the owners are very knowledgeable. They mentioned that they have tasted pretty much everything they sell in this carefully curated store. For example, I am not huge on IPAs (I know!), but I really loved the 'Double Blazed Orange Milkshake' by Hop Butcher For The World. When I mentioned that I was looking for a comparable IPA , the owner recommended the 'Double Strawberry Chantilly Milkshake' by Phase Three. The best part? I opened the can and tried it right there in the store before taking some home. It was delicious, so go grab some if they are still available! PS: I tried 'Toko Sun Rise Junmai Ginjo' during a sake tasting and took a bottle home. Be cautious with this one, it's so light and refreshing that I finished half a bottle before I even realized it. PPS: The owners have some plants growing in empty beer cans that you can take home. How cool is that?!

My favorite neighborhood liquor store!! Konbibi and Kanpai has such a fantastic and interesting selection of craft beers, wines, sakes, and liquors that I've never seen before - the Japanese beers especially are so fun to try, and I love that you can purchase individual cans so you can select a fun mix! The owners are so nice and knowledgeable, and have given me great recommendations many times. They also host events with tastings, happy hours, and other stuff, so there's frequently something fun and interesting going on in the store. Did I mention they're a dropoff point for the Onigiri Shuttle too?! This is a fantastic small business, I really love it, and I'm so happy they opened in our neighborhood!

This place is amazing!!! Stopped in for a drink and a little look around with friends and we were so impressed. Their offerings are so cool and the staff was so friendly. Perfect place to try some new things and hang with pals. We will definitely be coming back over and over!!

We did a whisky tasting here with a small group for a buddy who is getting married. Cannot say enough good things about how cool this shop is, how nice the owners are and the range of whisky we were able to try (along with the expertise to educate us on it). Not for nothing: found parking easily on this stretch of Belmont. Great spot all around!

Amazing selection of Japanese whiskey and sake! Welcoming setting for scheduled tastings, activities, and small private events. Convenient metered parking and friendly, knowledgeable owners make this place a gem.

Fantastic new liquor store specializing in craft beer, wine and sake! Easily the biggest selection of sake I've seen in the city! They also carry a wide variety of seltzers, ciders and CBD drinks! Beer/seltzer/ciders are all available in individual cans so you can mix and match to your liking. You can also purchase one and try any of the aforementioned drinks in-store before taking some home! They also have clubs for their three specialties as well. They do tastings during the week and also have Japanese snacks available to purchase. They also recently highlighted a local Japanese farm and sold their produce. The owners are awesome and very friendly to boot!

Owners are knowledgeable, approachable and kind. Atmosphere is casual, clean and the selection is NEXT LEVEL! We enjoyed several beer options and selected some wonderful wines for a party. Easy to work with and so glad to have this place in Lakeview!

Konbini and Kanpai is a fairly recently opened gem!! From the expansive drink options to the nostalgic and tasty Asian snacks, there is truly something for everyone. There are a few tables to stay and hang out if you'd like to enjoy your snacks and drinks with friends. They offer some cool options like Wine and Sake Of The Month Clubs. They even have some board games to play. The owners are soo incredibly welcoming and helpful. The bathroom is clean and nice. I just cannot rave enough about this cute and fun spot, and I look forward to going back soon! (+ Pro tip: They have a waived corkage fee if you check-in on Yelp.)

Sincerely the best liquor store experience I've ever had! I was walked through the taste, smell, and traditional way my liquor was served, and given recommendations as to cocktails that might suit it. Cannot recommend this shop enough!

I like beer. I know there's lots of places to buy beer in Chicago - heck, even just in this neighborhood - but they have a few things going for them: They have lots of beers I've never seen before (and I've seen plenty), and you can make your own six packs/choose your beers. While I was there, I also got to buy some fun chocolates (koala candy and a reverse pocky where the chocolate was inside the cracker) and pet a nice little dog. Five stars from me. I'll check out a tasting in the near future too.

Extremely cute establishment. Great selection for not only sake but beers and wine. The gentleman working at the counter was super kind welcoming and helpful. We had questions about sake and he was super informative on the different profiles available. I would highly recommend!

This place is literally the best. They have fun Japanese snacks and treats, an amazing beer and sake selection, and you can buy all of that wide selection by the can so you don't have to commit to a 4/6 pack. Dream come true!! The owners are extremely kind and friendly and warmly share their culture with the community. I'd go six stars if I could!

You will find an incredible, hand picked collection of wine, beer and sake! I have never seen such an extensive collection of sake and the owners say it will keep growing! For beer you can pick out options by the can so you can customize your own six pack and get to try everything. The owners are welcoming and knowledgable and the prices are right! Everyone should check it out!

So excited this place opened near my neighborhood! The owners are kind, friendly, and genuinely seem to enjoy what they do and take pride in their business. It is a well curated Japanese convenience and liquor store that is community driven (they have different events every week and post it on their website). You can also hang out at one of the tables and play some of the games they have while trying out a new beer, wine, or sake. Bonus: they are pet friendly!

Fantastic spot for great beer, sake, wine, and whiskey. The team is very knowledgeable and always happy to help.

This slashie is a fantastic spot for trying new beers, sakes, and seltzer's! You can get individuals and have a drink while shopping. Love all the variety here and the hospitality of the owners!