Kanpai Sushi Edinburgh

Best Japanese food in Edinburgh

Mark from Edinburgh

""Kanpai Sushi" Edinburgh changed my whole concept of what Japanese food can be. It's not budget, but this restaurant serves the best Japanese food around."

Oh my! This is so much more than a Sushi Bar, although the Sushi is terrific and you can sit by the kitchen to watch the chefs at work preparing it uber-fresh.

Kanpai is equally skilled at Teppan, Sashimi and Tempura.

I'll be honest with you, I'd never really gone big on Japanese food, assuming it was all a bit one dimensional, until I ate lunch at Kanpa that is. I mean, I like my food, but this is on another level.

First off, everything is ultra fresh (as you would hope); the fish simply glistens on the plate, but what really got to me was the incredible range of flavours and textures and at a reasonable price.

OK, it's not budget eating, I'll grant you that, but it is relatively affordable and you more than get what you pay for here.

A few quick suggestions of my favourites: grilled aubergine in sweet miso sauce (£5.90) is so delicious and succulent you just want more and more; the Tuna Nigiri (£4.20) is OMG delicious; the Fried Octopus Balls (£5 or so) are truly stunning too. And the Mixed Veg Tempura (so light so delicious) for around £8.

If you like soft shelled crab, this is the place for you

They keep the drinks simple and not too expensive (£4.50 for an Asahi Beer, house white wine £18)

The staff are charming and delightful and the ambience is relaxed and really quite cool. It feels very authentically Japanese.

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Edinburgh Spotter Mark

About me I'm Mark. Apart from my university days, I have lived in Edinburgh all my life. I chair Creative Edinburgh, the organisation that helps creative professionals network and grow their businesses. It promotes the city beyond its boundaries. I'm an ad man having worked in advertising since the mid 1980s but for a decade and more have done my own thing. I love art, travel, theatre, music, cinema, food, wine, beer, cooking, cycling, walking – sometimes all in the same day. Some would call me bohemian I suppose. My wife, Jeana, and I have an Air B'n'B room in...

About this spot

8-10 Grindlay Street

Meal (no drink):

Website

+44

1312281602

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Oct 2, 2025

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