I am surprised, the place has not been shut down by the health department. There was a Desk with piles clothes & shoes underneath it. I walked in and sat down and saw how dirty it was and immediately left. I'm sure the food is good but the conditions are completely unsanitary. Why is there a desk with clothes piled in a restaurant??? The shoes under the desk. Nasty read more

Terrific sushi restaurant with very reasonable prices. Will be back for sure. The sushi looked like artwork read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Best sushi in Mount pleasant by far! The owners are so friendly and its my favorite place to get sushi here

Kanpai has some of the tastiest sushi and that is saying something because i have been all around the world including Japan. I get the same thing everytime and absolutely love it. The owners are very sweet and kind. read more

Kanpai is probably one of the best and freshest sushi spots in town. It is run by a cute couple and they are really nice and accommodating to special requests. We went on a weeknight and we did not have trouble finding a table right away with no wait and no reservation. Plenty of parking available makes it very convenient. We tried the Tuna tataki roll, Spider roll and Tuna roll and the fish was so fresh and buttery that almost melt in your mouth. The prices are on the higher side but it is worth the quality for a special treat. read more

If you're in the area looking for good quality Japanese food then consider giving Kanpai a visit. I had three different rolls, two tuna based and a spider roll. The fish is quite fresh and the tuna tasted wonderful. The restaurant is cozy and intimate, which makes it the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a small gathering with friends. Another plus is that the restaurant is locally owned and operated, it's always nice to support local. Overall, if you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, you should definitely check out Kanpai. The delicious sushi, friendly owners, and relaxing atmosphere make it the perfect destination for your next night out. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

very good food and good prices Quick service nice people food is always ready when you go to pick it up read more

There are a lot of unjust reviews here. The focus of this place is sushi, not craft cocktails or fawning service, etc. The sushi is the best I've had. Period. The BYOB policy is a benefit if you ask me. I recommend calling ahead because sometimes they have special engagements that close it to the public. It is indeed expensive, but you get what you pay for. Could they make the experience different or better? Maybe. But clearly their model has worked for years. Need your ego stroked? Go somewhere else and enjoy substandard sushi. read more

If you enjoy sake kama this is your new favorite place to eat. I am a huge fan of them and try them wherever they are available. They make them perfectly here. The appetizer size comes with 2 and the meal comes with 3. The meal is only $17. This is insane. I have been back 3x in two weeks and I don't even eat out that much anymore. I love the bento boxes here. I wouldn't say the sushi blows my mind, but its fairly priced and decent. read more

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Fu** any review that says this place is bad. The best sushi I have had in Charleston, potentially in the US, potentially in the world. Chef Sean deserves anything and everything. Woman go give this man a kiss and get the best food you've ever had. read more

Recently, we placed a takeout order with Kanpai. My husband and I always heard it was some of Charleston's best sushi, although I was unsure how it would be to-go. We love sushi but aren't comfortable dining in restaurants with the high COVID-19 numbers. We ordered a sushi (nigiri) sampler for two, pork bun, and seafood scallion pancake over the phone and paid via Venmo. I wish we could've ordered and paid online, but Kanpai is low-key and not a traditional to-go spot. Having to call is a very a minor inconvenience if we get to keep a high-quality restaurant around through these tough times. We called when we arrived and parked out front. Our order was ready on time, and the masked employee put it in our backseat without us having to leave the car. Thankfully, we didn't have to touch a shared credit card reader, doorknob, or pen- and the restaurant's adapting to our weird "new normal". The sampler is chef's choice, so prepare for a foodie adventure. My favorite nigiri were the eel and the salmon rolls, and the seafood pancake was good too. It was my first time having eel and I liked it, the rice tasted creamy, and the seafood was high quality. I didn't try the steamed bun-my husband basically inhaled it, so it must've been good. The seafood pancake leftovers reheated surprisingly well in the air fryer the next day. Kanpai's safety procedures were on point, and I wouldn't hesitate to order again for a socially-distanced sushi night. read more

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Everything could improve. The ambiance is bizarre and unkempt. The food could be better. Weird, inconsistent cuts of fish on the sashimi, the ordering process is impersonal, they had ran out of many things in such "menu" and the prices were too high for what they were offering. I don't recommend. Pro tip: skip. read more

Do NOT come here. The food is incredibly mediocre and the service is horrible (not the woman, she is sweet) but Chef sucks. This restaurant does not come to take your order, insists you do it online (even when you're the only patrons there), and then ADDS 20+ to their own tip? My bill was $61 dollars and my bank statement now reads $91, and I definitely would not have tipped $30 considering their sushi was awful and horribly portioned. Save your money and your time. read more

For an Asian restaurant in a city that doesn't have a huge Asian population, this place is a good solid choice. I especially love the fact that it is not a chain restaurant and is a family owned restaurant. In this day and age, we should go try and visit the local restaurants in our communities. Not only are they an integral part of the community, they are hidden gems as well. So #SupportLocalBusinesses! In regards to the food, solid stuff! I got the Dolsot Bibimbap and it had a good ratio or rice to vegetables to meat. The thin sliced beef was nice and tender and very well seasoned and the vegetables provided the right amount of balance to the protein. Top it off with a sunny side up egg, and it was delicious, especially as the yolk ran all over and mixed into the rice. Keep up the good work! read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Dolsot Bibimbap! - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Food was absolutely amazing. We ordered a wide variety and everything came out fresh and tasty we will definitely be coming back. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Assorted nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

An outstanding sushi Omakase experience this week! For most of our group of 7 sushi lovers, it was our first time at Kanpai, but Chef Sean Park's creative preparation of exceptionally fresh sushi with a variety of delicate nuanced seasonings will bring us back. His shrimp and scallop crudo with citrus, fruits and capers was the best I've ever had. We also enjoyed excellent preparations of a variety of salmons, tuna (including blue fin tuna) and black cod. The service was great and the atmosphere, while not what you would call elegant, is cozy and inviting. read more

If you're young, don't come here. You won't be treated the same. If the ONE waitress thinks you don't have money, you get less attention. An older couple came in and the lady complained about her cushion and you bet she did exactly what they said. We asked for water and sodas, that took 10 min to get minus the waters. Mind you, there are only 15 people eating. Another young couple got the same service that I did. The waitress was texting most of the time and had one of the cooks run her food. Which mine took 30 min to get. Didn't get refills or checked on until the end. It was hot in there and others were complaining too. The sushi was decent. That's the only reason I gave it 2 stars was because the sushi was okay. The service is absolute awful. I almost got up to get my own water or speak to a manager. A lot of the younger generation tips well because we've served before. So if you're a waiter or waitress, keep in mind to treat everyone the same. You never know. I had high hopes for this place and was very displeased. Also, they do transactions on an IPad. I understand they're hiring for people to work here, but there's plenty of people looking for jobs. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Four of us went to Kanpai last night, we brought our own wine because they do not serve any alcohol whatsoever. We were charged $7 for EACH person for the corkage fee and the server did not even offer to open our bottle. So $28 to open our own bottle....RIP OFF!! Then the ordering is a royal pain in the butt, paying is a royal pain in the butt (read other reviews). The server literally does NOTHING but put the food on the table, she or the owner never even came to the table to ask us if we needed anything. And did I mention that our meals were "served" on PAPER PLATES!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this any way to run a restaurant??? The sushi was decent but not the best. Just across the bridge is SHIKI Japanese Restaurant which is much better than Kanpai and they treat you a lot better than the small staff at Kanpai. BTW, we got there at 6:15 and the place was dead empty. By the time we left there only 4 other people in there. That speaks volumes. It pains me to give this place 2 stars. Our bill was $180 (before tip!) for 4 people who brought their own wine and opened it ourselves and were served dinner on paper plates. We will not be going back to Kanpai. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - You are served on paper plates and the bill was $180 for 4 people who brought our own wine. - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

This was our first time at this restaurant. Was told ahead of time via text confirmation of reservation that it's BYOB with a small corkage fee. The "small" corkage fee for one bottle of wine turned out to be $7 each person. We were supplied a wine opener (to open the bottle ourselves) and two wine glasses for $14. That was a bit of a surprise! The ordering experience was something we weren't used to...scanning a QR code and ordering and paying online. The sushi/sashimi sampler was so-so, compared to what we get at a Hendersonville, NC restaurant. The apps were good. The server who brought our food was very nice, explaining the dishes she brought us. We will not be back. We'll keep searching for a good japanese restaurant that serves saki. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant is a great option for delicious and well prepared Japanese food and drinks. I have had a really good experience every time I have been here. They provide excellent customer service here. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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Decided to try Kanpai for our first time after seeing it recommended a lot on Chucktown foodies, really wanted to love it but sadly will not be returning.. ordering & payment has to all be done on your phone via QR code with no server to answer questions or help find anything. made it feel we couldn't relax and had to work to just place an order. tried multiple rolls and other items -one that never even came.. sushi was mediocre at best, especially for the price point. don't waste your $$ .. chef was rude - best thing is the miso soup and edamame lol read more

Wow! Amazing experience here. Food is some of the best I've ever had. Chef talked to us at length about the importance of the right rice, how his wife makes the best fluffy, not-too-sweet Korean cheesecake, and his daughter's love of food. We can't wait to go back. This place is a hidden gem. (Don't be fooled by the nonchalant exterior) read more

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Kanpai is one of those places you'd never find out about without Yelp or living across the street form there. It's kind of funny that there's so many different cuisines packed into this little plaza. Without leaving, you can choose Italian, Asian Fusion, Mexican, American, or Southern food. If you're in this plaza, Kanpai is where you want to be. The atmosphere is lacking but the food is incredible. No joke on those steam buns either. I had the duck confit and the bun was absolutely perfect. I wanted to try one of the soups, but it was a hot day and it wasn't feeling right. I'm obsessed with udon noodles so that caught my eye immediately. At $17 for udon, don't worry, you'll easily get your moneys worth. You start with a salad or soup and then the noodles come in a huge bowl mixed with veggies and a seafood medley of mussels, shrimp, AND scallops. It's like a seafood platter in a bowl - with noodles... amazing! read more

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A great local place for some very authentic Korean and Japanese food. This is a family run restaurant with chef Sean Park. It's off Highway 17 in an easy to find strip mall area where Congress an Cinco are. Easy parking in front. The restaurant seats around 30+. It's clean and functional, not overly elaborate. The food is wonderful. We had the seaweed salad which was good, much like your average seaweed salad elsewhere. I ordered a bibimbap, which was served in the traditional hot stone pot. Be careful, it really was piping hot! Rice lined the base of the pot and there was a mix of vegetables, noodles and beef strips, topped with a semi-cooked egg. The idea is to stir the egg in to the bowl which continues to cook in the piping heat. This dish was oh so flavorful. It really was fantastic and as good as I had in Korea. My enchantingly charming companion had bulgogi, a dish of thin slices of beef that are sautéed on a griddle. This dish was served in a personal sized wok, along with a portion of white steamed rice. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and I can say, I'm enchanted! The staff were courteous and polite. Our food was served in a very timely manner and the server was very respectful and polite at all times. The food was fresh. There was even a small herb garden right outside the restaurant, which I assume is for the dishes served. There really isn't much that's negative about this wonderful, cozy, delight of a place. I happened to be seated underneath a vent where every now and then, the condensation would drip. No big deal; all it takes is a move of 2 inches to avoid that. The other thing of note is that it's a family run restaurant, so they may not stick to the advertised times. We went on a Saturday night and the restaurant closed 30mins earlier than advertised. Overall, this is a great place with great service at an affordable price. I will return! read more

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Great sashimi. Everything unique and fresh Best place in mount pleasant for sushi. read more

The best sushi in Town! So so fresh!! Hidden gem in Mount Pleasant - in person was great and to go is wonderful now they say they prepare the tray for a wonderful presentation! read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - The Best Sushi in Town! - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

I don't ask for much (lol) ... lots of menu selections, fresh, great tasting, creatively prepared and properly cooked dishes, ample portions, and a friendly, helpful and attentive server. Well, Kanpai had it all ... and, then some. We decided to check it out last evening after reading several very positive (recent) Yelp reviews and oogling over the amazing photos. We were the first diners to arrive. We were greeted warmly by Rick, who was also our server. We had our pick of tables in the bright, comfortable dining room. I quickly settled in with a well chilled glass of a California Pinot Grigio. The great pour made me real pleased ... not to mention the audio selection of late fifties do-wop and Brill Building favorites. I was all wound up and probably very entertaining to the group of young people helping Chef Parks. But, as the only diners in the restaurant, I didn't care. I was having fun. We navigated through the many menu options. Definitely, two buns, to start ... spicy pork and duck confit. For Joe (my husband) his 'entree' choice was easy. As a straight-up sushi guy, he selected two rolls ... tuna and crunchy. I noticed what appeared to be two similar dishes at the same price ... Chef Park's Noodle Soup with shrimp, scallops, mussels, calamari ... and Yaki Udon with seafood, etc. Our congenial, helpful server, Ken, explained the difference. The latter could be ordered with miso soup or salad where the 'noodle soup' was prepared with a spicy broth. I asked Ken to inquire if the Chef would substitute 'anything' for the calamari and was pleased when the reply was 'no problem.' I was set ... the noodle soup ... hold the calamari. The buns arrived, dressed with greens and were picture perfect (think ... photo shoot for Garden & Gun)! The large mounds of meat were nestled into pillowy, soft, buns and man, they sure delivered! My big, big bowl of soup arrived ... steaming hot and brimming with shellfish, veggies, tons of Udon and thankfully, no calamari. It was gorgeous ... and the rich, aromatic broth had just enough spice to complement the shellfish without taking over. I've had 'Asian Noodle Soup' in, and all around, Charleston ... and let me tell you ... Chef Parks' bowl of 'delight' set the gold standard. BTW, Joe enjoyed his sushi rolls, preferring the crunchy. Next time, he'll be more adventuresome and take advantage of Chef's amazing skills. As the next diners did not arrive until we were almost done with our entrees, we had several opportunities to engage Rick in conversation, something that my husband really enjoys when service is slow. One negative ... the music was loud ... in fact, very loud ... but, I certainly wasn't going to ask that it be lowered! We loved Kanpai and will return ... soon! read more

I read some of the 5 star reviews and can see these people have never even stepped in the door. The sushi chef/owner has the personality of a rock. The place is dirty and has nothing redeeming about the decor. Had to order via my phone with a QR code. Kinda crazy when you're ordering sushi. Took a good 30 minutes to get a half of glass of water. Most of the sushi was average at best, but considerably higher prices than Shiki which has much better quality fish. Service was not existent. Never got plates for our sushi. Never came back to fill our water. And we didn't get our entire order and when we finally got a hold of the waitress (chef was in the back playing with his phone) to tell her we were missing items, the sushi he served us was terrible. It was suppose to be King Salmon sashimi and it was cooked tataki style with the skin on and fishy. Had to spit it out and we immediately left. You've been warned! read more

I ordered a soup broth and the flavor was sorely lacking, as well as good vegetables.

Used to be our favorite restaurant. New policy of ordering ruined our experience. Auto tip of 50% is too much. He told us it was 25%. No waiter. Everything done via phone. Could not get water. read more

One of the best unknown sushi restaurants in the area. Atmosphere and location are not good, but sushi is great! Prices are good and service was fine. We frequent all the local sushi restaurants and this one is probably the most low key. Usually no crowds. Will definitely return. read more

My wife and I visited Kanpai last night. We were looking for some authentic Ramen. We got to Kanpai and the were seated, there were only two waiters. It took about 15 minutes just to place an order and get water (there were only about 10 people in the whole restaurant when we arrived). The prices are ridiculous. They had "instant noodles" (Ramen) for $28!!! We ended up ordering a sushi roll, chicken wings and the bibimbap. After about 45 minutes of waiting we asked the waitress if our food was almost done. She looked a little confused and said about 5 more minutes. She then brought out the chicken wings and I asked for the check so we could leave after we were done with the meal. She brought the check for just the wings...I realized what had happened, they didn't even put in our order for the food! The whole ordeal wasted about and hour and a half. We walked out after paying $18 for 6 chicken wings. Would not recommend. read more

Food was ok. Sushi was priced well but rest of the menu was very overpriced. Service was a different story. Server was friendly but overall service was slow. food took a while so dont go starving or you might die waiting. .. Maybe service was slow because they are understaffed but I wouldn't be surprised if that's by choice. The chef & owner is up front making sushi at the bar & monitoring every newcomer with scrutiny & the most unwelcoming attitude I've ever seen in someone of that position. I almost feel bad for him. He seems so stressed out, insecure, irritable, & ungrateful. The host seems to need to report every customer's arrival to him, whether they have a reservation & even if you have one he acts like you're unwelcome. It's honestly comical how absurd it is. I'm part Korean & being that Korean food has a special place in my heart (& stomach) I was really hoping to have a good experience. There's a lot of opportunity for this place to improve. Im extremely picky about Korean food. The flavors are there but unfortunately, their service & unwelcoming vibe is so bad it makes me never want to go back. It's like "oh excuse me for trying to support your livelihood." Lol I don't know if Chef Sean Park (who has pictures of himself on the wall as art) has a thing against his own ppl aka Asians or what but it sure feels like it. Good luck to them. read more

I have been searching for a tasteful sushi spot in Mount Pleasant. To my luck, I found this hole--in-the-wall gem off of highway 17. I specifically was drawn because Sushi Chef Park was highlighted in various articles for being a creative sushi connoisseur. His sushi is not packed with rice. I have been here several times and I normally get the trio of tuna roll which has a great balance of freshness in the raw fish and the light aioli drizzle. I also enjoyed the pork and kimchi roll which had a spicey kick that I often crave for! The salmon sashimi sampler is delicious and allows you to sample various types of salmon from different regions; and the uni nigiri is to die for!!!! Melts in your mouth and it's super fresh from my experiences. If I'm not craving sushi (which is rare), I highly recommend the chef's special soup- it's packed with mussels, shrimp, clams, and possible other seafood assortments with thick chewy noodles. You can ask to make it spicier if you want a kick to it. I also recommend the hot pot bibimbap- sweet and spicy vegetables over rice mix-in with beef (or substitute with tofu) and crispy rice on the bottom if you let the rice sizzle a few minutes before mixing it all in the hot stone bowl. Don't forget to BYOB!!!!! read more

Sushi (especially Nigiri) lovers STAY AWAY! This restaurant is literately the worst sushi restaurant I have ever been to. I'm from Virginia and I've been to every sushi restaurant in DC and most in NYC. For the price I had ($80-sushi for 3), it can't be worse. Before I got what I've ordered, I'm expecting a assorted nigiri (simple fish/other seafood over sushi rice) plate. For sushi plater for one, you should usually get all kinds of nigiri with nothing identical. For 3, you should not get anything same for more than 3 pieces. But what I had is something saying "we just do buffet sushi for ridiculous pice and deal with it". Please have a look at the picture I've attached, it's just random cheap sushi from buffet table and put on a wood board from Ikea. Even though I still get few horrible pieces of tuna which is from the bone part (the deep red color one). I frankly told the waitress that I'm quite disappointed with what I got and asked if other fish is still in stock. She told me the squid, octopus saba etc are still in stock, what I get is upon CHEF PARK's choice. So I assume CHEF PARK had chosen to serve a "humiliation for 3" to us. I don't really review a restaurant and this one is to letting everybody know they are million miles far away from a good sushi place. They are lucky I'm not local other wise I will tell every single one I know that how horrible they are. At last, I was forced to pay for 20% tips for more than 4. Crazy right? They are supposed to be 1star but the Chef's noodle was good so I will give them another one. read more

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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Update* I've been by more since my original post. Food still delicious. We went for a sit down meal and had a great experience and got some free sake. I'm giving them more stars. Went from 2-4. I think their pick up service still stinks, but had a great dine in experience. The food is absolutely delicious. But, don't expect the service to match. They don't keep regular hours or serve alcohol. Today is Valentines I called in at 6:30 to get a pick up order for my wife and I. I was put on hold for 4 minutes then hung up on. I called 5 more times before I got someone again. Very polite, and told me it was going to be an hour and ten minute wait. I walked in at 7:50 (said it would be done at 7:45) and they said they were finishing up. It is 8:13 and just got my order. I think they forgot my order and pushed me off. I've missed my daughters bed time and my wife is sitting at home by her self on Valentines. I live 30 minutes away (again the food is that good) so I won't get home till damn near 9. I'll probably eat here again, but it's gonna be a minute. Really pissed me off tonight guy. I read more

Best sushi in the Charleston area. Fresh fish, expertly cooked rice, creative rolls, and a delicate hand. We have been here several times over the years and have always been welcomed into this family run business. It has been cool as well to see the kids grow up in the restaurant. It feels good to support such a nice family, and it feels even better when they feed you delicious food. They always seem to have the freshest yellowtail and some of the only toro I've seen on menus around here. The seafood salad with squid added is a refreshing starter. My husband can't eat raw fish and raves about the duck confit (I've stolen some and love the subtle lavender flavor of the sauce). The handroll menu is substantial and there are a lot of choices for nigiri and sushi. The appetizers and other entrees span Korean and Japanese origins and give non-raw fish eaters some interesting options. Chef Park offers a tasting menu (call in advance) that I would love the try sometime. They are also BYOB and charge a corkage fee so keep that in mind if you want some booze with your sushi. read more

Decided to give this restaurant another shot after the last disappointing try and it ended up being the same this time. I called to ask if I needed to make a reservation this time and was told "No, just show up". My family and I showed up and when we arrived my wife was told the we need to hurry up and order as they had reservations coming in. I don't like being rushed especially when trying a new place. Never gonna attempt it again. read more

We found this hidden gem (and I mean it's hidden) a while back. The food is incredible. We always ask Chef Sean to recommend what we should have. He has never let us down. read more

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Good food, but extremely slow service. When we walked in they told us, from across the restaurant, to go to table one. How are we supposed to know the table numbers? Waited an hour for one roll of sushi and even longer for main courses. The servers weren't very nice when we asked about the status of the food, in fact our server never came back to the table except to drop the food. Disappointed:/ Won't be back. read more