Kanai Sushi
12111 W Maple,Ste 131, Wichita, KS, 67235
Kanai Sushi Menu
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Address :
12111 W Maple,Ste 131
Wichita, KS, 67235 - Phone (316) 719-2929
- Website https://www.kanaisushi.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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miguel l.
The fishies were fresh as promised, and the detail/ styling of the individual items was closer to real sushi than any other restaurant in this city. The quality of the nigiri and specialty dishes is fairly high, and the price is appropriate. Some other reviews bitch about the sushi, but unless you frequent secretive high end spots in giant metropolises that require using gold cards and own a jet, it is good material. Lots of sushi fanboys especially guys who want to "teach english in Japan" and also cosplay like to think they are more knowledgeable than all others. People who drink say the sake is for real. Decor is subdued and up to date and the restrooms are clean! A bit undertabled perhaps. The downside is the staff. Service was lackadaisical and the girl who seated us took a half hour while tables just sat there empty for reservers (the descr. says no reservations but they said they were holding those tables for someone) who showed up late. In fact the staff seemed to be wishing they could text someone or just stood there watching chaos ensue. After close to 30 minutes I was ready to leave or get my Office Kitano on til I got some damn service! The waitress was better but I really wanted to laugh at the other staff people mumbling half-hearted japanese-isms at everyone. The quality of the food made up for it, just train those people! And have a time limit for reservations. It gets 3 stars for the yummy sushi's! Docked points for service.
(3)Brandon S.
We've eaten here three times and each time it's been a great experience. Who could have thought you could get such fresh sushi in Wichita, Ks? We've tried all the other restaurants, and Kanai blows them all away. Trust me. . . if you're a hard core sushi fan looking for a taste of something you think you can't get in the Heartland, give Kanai a try. You won't be disappointed. . .
(5)Tomiko E.
Since moving to wichita from Kansas City in August, we have been dying to try Kanai. Wichita has very little to offer in the realm of sushi so after checking out their website I was looking to be blown away. I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means but I grew up eating sushi and have eaten it all over this country. Yes, you walk in the door and are immediately greeted by every worker in the restaurant. This is okay the first time, but after the thirtieth time of someone walking in the door, you're over it. Not my biggest issue though. We're getting there. We had very prompt service, unlike other reviewers have said, and they were polite. Our drinks came quickly and so did our app of fried tofu, which was delicious. So far so good. We read over the menu and finally made our decisions and our server was there pretty quickly to take our order. Here comes the problem, our first roll came and the salmon on the top was a grayish orange. So obviously this is farmed salmon and not at all appealing to the eye which is half the battle with sushi. The next two rolls were stuffed with a premade crab mix that was mushy and lacking in flavor. Our nigiri was the most disappointing. I have never seen sashimi pieces cut so thick and hanging off the ball of rice an inch on both ends. The super white tuna had a horribly fishy taste which anyone who knows fish knows that ironically enough it isn't supposed to taste or smell fishy if it's fresh. I realize the difficulties of trying to get fresh fish in Wichita but this restaurant isn't even trying. Saying I was disappointed in the food quality here is a gross understatement. Guess I'll be enjoying good sushi when I move out of Wichita.
(2)Jami H.
After hearing several rave reviews of this place, I was so excited to try it on my visit to Wichita. Never before have I been so disappointed in a restaurant. I ordered the $8 sake sangria and was told it would be a few minutes. What I wasn't told initially was that the bartender hadn't shown up yet. My coworker, who ordered a beer, received his drink immediately while I waited close to 20 minutes for mine. Mine was tasteless and watered down. The flavor was that of badly made kool-aid over too much ice. I'd watched the bartender making it and found it odd she'd added so much ice and a large spray of water (or club soda) to it. It was by far the worst $8 drink I've ever consumed. The menu seemed inventive and exciting at first. I selected two rolls. The first, the Snowball, promised plentiful real crab meat. However, when the roll arrived, it was nothing but rice, flavorless crab salad I was told was from a mix (I'm guessing it was also imitation crab), and a tiny bit of asparagus. Needless to say, it was inedible. My second roll was equally underwhelming. After paying the $65 bill for the worst sushi I've ever had outside of crappy $5 Chinese buffets, we ended up having "dinner" at Orange Leaf. Our server, while nice, never offered to bring me something else to eat. Also, we saw that the restaurant had been closed for two days prior to reopening tonight. Our guess was a health department violation, but we really don't know. That said, either find a better sushi restaurant or save your money and buy the premade stuff at Reasors. No, that's not great sushi, but it's better than this.
(1)Tim M.
We've eaten here a few times now and hands down the best sushi in Wichita. Whilst not the most authentic in its recipes it is the least Americanized in the area. We always order the Aspire roll and Soft Shell Crab - both are awesome. Get the green garden salad too - so tasty. The amuse bouche is a nice treat that we always enjoy. It's also refreshing that, generally, the staff are really friendly and very welcoming. It's fun to see the sushi being made but I wish chef Kanai would come out and talk to the guests. I mean, we all see you standing there, why not come welcome us!
(5)Matt H.
I travel a 4 state area for work, and sushi is my favorite meal that I try to eat every city I stay in. Kauai is an absolute wonderful place to go to. I can't comment on cooked food, but the sushi is fantastic. It is always fresh, and the rolls are on the larger size, which is a good thing. A lot of places have salmon rolls that are cut into sizes of dimes. The miso soup is fantastic as well. I have never had a bad experience here and I love traveling to Wichita now because I know I am going to eat some of the best sushi around.
(5)Joshua H.
I loved it! I ordered the K-State roll and it was Fabulous! The beef was to die for. The Staff was so welcoming & helpful. I will definitely come back soon with my wife and kiddos. Really pretty bar too!
(5)K R.
Excellent atmosphere. We came on a Sunday night, which was great because we were seated at the bar right away. Love watching them make the rolls. The little appetizer they brought out was teriyaki chicken, peppers and mushroom. Very good. Our waitress was very attentive and great about getting refills. We ordered the Harmony roll, smoked salmon nagiri, fisherman's wharf and a tuna roll. Everything was delicious. We finished off with two pieces of green tea ice cream mochi, which is my favorite. The price was very reasonable compared to some other sushi places I've gone and I would have to say this one is the best in town. We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Austin D.
Hope there is better in this town. Very bland and distasteful. No good sauces accompanied the dishes. Inside is hokey pokey with little ambiance present. Won't be back unless someone else is buying
(1)J U.
Vege salad was amazing! Loved everything about it. I also ordered a tuna and a salmon roll, I prefer cool meat in my sushi but this was closer to room temp. But the vege salad more than made up for that. Two thumbs up for Kansas sushi - the staff was great too!
(4)Dave R.
A few years ago, I left a stellar review for Kanai, and I want to renew it because it is still my favorite Japanese restaurant in Wichita. I recently moved away, but whenever my wife and I visit, we make a point to come here for dinner at least once. The food always tastes fresh, the service is always stellar and we always can't wait to come here again.
(5)Mark G.
I am a business traveler and while in wichita, I asked one of my reps who lives here if she knew of a good sushi place. She said hands down Kanai. I am very glad I listened to her. This place was great. From the minute you walk in the door to the last step out, it is a wonderful experience. Everyone who works there are so nice and accommodating as for the sushi, I had a couple rolls and they were delicious and the presentation was awesome. I highly recommend.
(5)Jenny H.
Really great sushi!! I was surprised a land locked state had such fresh and authentic cuisine. Good for a date night. The rainbow roll and seaweed salad are delish! Also, be prepared to be greeted in Japanese--really a cute place. Pros: great atmosphere, fresh and quality sushi, and authentic Japanese feel.
(5)Lan N.
4.5 stars! I can't believe I've yet to review Kanai. Brad S., my review is going to be longer than yours:) Today was our 5 yr anniversary. My husband and I were tired from traveling all day but drove directly from ICT to Kanai. We chose Kanai above the other good Japanese restaurants in town b/c its quality and service is the best. We've never had a poor experience here. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable about the various fishes. Food is always brought out promptly. The fish is always cut thick and the sushi rice flavor is always balanced and cooked al dente. I don't know how all the fish is sourced, but I understand that Chef Kanai ensures that his ahi tuna is from HI and for the omakase, he gets it shipped from Japan. Such attention to detail surely extends to the rest of the menu. I don't like to distract from the pure flavor and texture of the fish in my sushi, so I avoid mayo, cream cheese, eel sauces, and even tempura (though fat makes everything wonderful)! So we ordered: Nigiri: hamachi (yellowtail), abako (albacore), sake (salmon), and escolar (super white tuna)...all were delicious, but the abako was less buttery in texture than the rest. The perfect amount of rice was used. Sea of Japan- Essentially a sashimi salad. Includes raw escolar, tuna, salmon and cooked tako and crab. The fish laid on top of a spring mix and was given a healthy dousing of a rice vinegar/soy/mirin/citrus dressing(?) If you find plain raw fish monotonous, this is for you. I thought the dressing too high on the pucker factor and would ask it on the side next time. Tori Katsu Jyu- Chicken katsu with egg and onion and a light soy based sauce. It was good, but nothing compares to the fish for us. Mooru Gai no Yakimono- Similar in taste to the QP Yaki and equally delicious, but this is all mussels. I like how Kanai uses a light hand with the mayo. Northern Light Roll- My favorite of all the rolls. The lemon sliver really brightens the flavor. I almost ordered two, but you can see this is already too much food! Hamachi Kama Shioyaki- My husband really adores this dish. It's definitely a splurge item and Chef Kanai really made our anniversary special with this. The fish is lightly salted and then grilled. The special cut of the meat allows it to be incredibly succulent. In dishes without many ingredients, the quality of the fish really is showcased. Perfect. Green Tea Tempura Ice Cream- I honestly thought I was done. My husband insisted he was full as I ate the last bites of our meal. Then he asks our waitress for ice cream. He tells me for ice cream, he has a separate stomach. Right. Anyways, Kanai's attention to detail does not wane with dessert. A very large ball of green tea is wrapped in layers of pound cake and then battered and deep fried. The result is decadent and should not be missed. My only suggestion is to use an ice cream with a stronger matcha flavor. In our mind, Kanai is unrivaled in ICT's Japanese scene. In fact, Kanai stands equal to many of the sushi restaurants even in Tsukiji. I feel very fortunate that I am able to enjoy such high quality sushi in my home city. My only wish is that sometime he might have a special of Kyoto style sushi. I've never had it in the States, and since Kyoto is where he trained, I'm sure that I'd be impressed.
(5)Nelson H.
Legit authentic Japanese food, high quality held up by a high standard chef. All other Japanese restaurants in town have much to learn from Kanai.
(5)Brad S.
For three years I've known Kanai to have the best sushi in town. It's been so matter-of-fact that I've put off visiting long after I've exhausted my visits to every other major restaurant in this city. Its location on the extreme west side of town might have played a factor, too. But I finally made it, Ma! Top of the world! Whatever. It's a nice intimate restaurant in a nice piece of commercial real estate, and the sushi bar lets you see Kanai do his thing. I know being in the middle of the country typically prohibits us from enjoying such luxuries, but this is an actual trained Japanese sushi chef who still continues to helm his station on the line after all these years of success, and it's actually a pretty serious testament to his work ethic. The sushi combination dinner comes with eight pieces of chef's choice nigiri, along with a half roll of The California - a makisushi, not the SNL skit. The chef's choice in my case was quite good, presenting me with toro, maguro, yellowtail, super white tuna (which isn't really tuna at all) shrimp, unagi, octopus, and and salmon. Each one was quite large, but I was still able to knock 'em out in one bite. One very big bite. The knife skills on most were excellent, too (that maguro took a couple of slices), and I wasn't surprised to find the octopus tender, though the same couldn't be said for the eel - it was surprisingly delicious. As I was making my large bites through my meal, Kanai came over to see how I enjoyed it. I told him it was easy to see why he was considered the best in the city. I meant it - although you might take issue with his portion sizes, this is a man that has been making sushi for fifteen years, and clearly takes pride in his work. Without him, there is no Kanai Sushi. He has plenty of helpers to make the crazy maki rolls you probably enjoy, but when it comes to the art of raw fish and vinegared rice, Kanai is the best the city has to offer.
(5)Adri P.
Hands down, the best food we've found in Wichita since our move from Chicago. The sashimi and rolls are better than expected (sushi in the Midwest, let's be real here) and tasted as good as, if not better than, any we've had on either coast. The Manaka dessert was a surprisingly styled (served in a wrapper not unlike a vending machine treat) but ultimately delicious ending to a beautiful meal. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Jason D.
My experience at Kanai was nothing short of excellent. The restaurant was full but my party of 4 was seated within 5 minutes on a Saturday night. Our server Clayton was exceptional, even with several in depth questions about sauces and ingredients on the menu. Our sake, and water was always full and our food arrived at the same time. The panko fried lobster is delicious. I had mackerel nigiri and the fisherman's roll. The ingredients are so fresh and of top notch quality, as is the skill in preparation. I highly recommend trying Kanai. It is some of the best sushi I have had. Thank you
(5)Binnan O.
Ambiance: Very clean and modern looking japanese restuarant. The high ceilings and copious windows in the front of the restaurant give an open and welcoming feel while the back of the restaurant is a little more closed-off and intimate. Service was excellent with knowledgeable staff who are helpful with recommendations. Food: I'm another San Diegan and I gotta say i'm torn about this place. On one hand the rolls are creative but im not a fan of the overall execution. Fried Calamari - HUGE fingers of tender calamari breaded in a light fluffy batter. Don't think semi-chewy tentacles or rings, this place has airy calamari tenders! While very texturally enjoyable this dish is probably best for 'purist tastes' as the breading was only lightly-salted and the sauce they topped it with was a thick sweet/tangy reduction reminiscent of orange-chicken sauce. Overall I felt the dish really lacked the depth and savory-tangy marinara I look for in calamari. Momiji Roll - They put a HUGE amount of spicy tuna in each roll, like 3/4" diameter of the roll! I love it because you actually get enough to feel the heat . The thing my fiance complained about was that it also made the fishy taste of the tuna more apparent, not over-whelming but noticeably so, so be warned. Rainbow Roll - Also one of my favorite rolls. The fish on top of the roll was really fresh and very enjoyable the only problem is that the shredded crab filling in the middle was grainy. I appreciate that they did not use the typical block of articial crab meat but instead it was this dry fibrousy mayo-crab mixture that was tasty but texturally bothersome. Flatland Roll - Definitely the best roll of the evening - well-balanced flavors with many different textural ingredients. I can see this being a little overwhelming for purists as it can be hard to appreciate each individual ingredients but I'd still recommend getting it :) Overall this place was pretty decent. They definitely have quality ingredients, a good atmosphere, and I appreciate the technical skill behind the rolls but I was simply not sold on the execution of the rolls. They are larger than standard rolls and the filling-to-rice ratio can be off-putting. Some dishes were texturally amazing but had issues with flavor while others were the opposite. I prefer Wasabi to this place for their overall flavor profile but they can tend to over-power the flavor of the fish so neither are perfect. I'd definitely give this place a try as it is a nice, quality place but its palate probably isn't for everyone.
(4)Kate B.
If you like standard rolls that are large in size with ample amounts of rice, Kanai is the place for you. The fried calamari is an amazing appetizer and the best item on the menu. We had a hard time choosing which rolls to order since you cannot substitute items (please change this!) and many rolls have cream cheese or a certain fish that we do not care for. Even after volunteering to pay extra to substitute, we were told no that wasn't an option. The seating area is very nice and would be a good place to take a group or a date. Not sure if we will try Kanai again after finding happiness at Wasabi in Old Town.
(2)Donte H.
Delicious sush
(4)Vivian K.
You are greeted when you walk in and when you leave. Service was great! Hostess, server, sushi chef, everyone! Its a bit cramped and fairly small. You get a small daily sampler prepared by the chef everyday. That was pretty unique. Sushi was good, but a little pricy. We sat at the bar and the sushi chef was super fast and all his rolls were really neat and decorated well. He was also very social with both the staff and customer while multitasking with most of the roll orders. I was very impressed because he was friendly, but assertive with the staff to get orders out and made the orders go out very efficient. Not too mention he looks to be around 25 and was asked more question from the staff then the older Su Chefs that were there. Rolls with the spicy tuna were great.
(4)Regina F.
And yet another review for my favorite sushi restaurant in the world. Chef Kanai has incredibly nimble hands and knife skills known only to sushi masters - his skills rival, and perhaps trump those of Morimoto. But Chef Kanai does something slightly different - he knows his audience. The sushi slices are delightfully huge, covering a tiny ball of sushi rice much like a comforter covers a small child. Each piece of sushi is delicate prepared, cut to diamond perfection and as wonderfully fresh as possible. I'm not convinced that Chef Kanai doesn't have a small ocean in the kitchen. And...O-Toro is offered, though for a small price ($40 for 2 pieces of this prized tuna cut). I'm sure it's as fantastic as any other raw deliciousness offered...and knowing that I had inquired about the O-Toro, I'm fairly certain that my sake was slightly fattier than it should have been...perhaps a bit of salmon belly? Beyond that, Chef Kanai and his wife are wonderfully friendly, and have trained their staff to greet guests without hesitation. Impecable service coupled with a nice bowl of sushi rice...Kanai is still the best sushi restaurant I've had the pleasure of visiting.
(5)Tommy T.
It may be the Best sushi place in Wichita, but definitely not one of the Best ones in US. The thick slices of sushi fishes are great. Nice ambience. Fine service.
(3)Alexandra S.
If I had reviewed them when they first opened, I'd have given them 5 stars. But now they seem to be catering to Wichita taste buds :( The quality is still great, but now they have less of a selection of unique raw sushi than they used to, and more rolls with beef and cream cheese. If you really like sushi (I mean, probably aren't from the Midwest like it - California rolls don't count) then you have to try the Northern Light roll. They also have very interesting cocktails. Still the best sushi in Wichita. It is also the priciest, but not by much more than the 2nd runners up.
(4)Bill S.
best sushi in wichita
(5)Aret C.
Heard good things and decided to give it a try, even though the dishes are pricier than other sushi restaurants in the area. Not impressed. Similar to grocery store sushi. Perhaps Kanai has lost quality since the positive reviews from earlier in the year? Also, one of my companions found a long blond hair in his sushi. I'm sure that happens once in a while at every restaurant, but this was our first (and last) visit, so it soured our initial impression of the establishment. If you want good sushi in the Wichita area, try Wasabi (downtown) instead. Cheaper, more authentic, tastes better ... and less hair. P.S. - Their rolls are enormous. I'm not a small person, and I still couldn't eat them whole. Very irritating.
(2)Kristen H.
LOVE IT!! Every time I have been there the staff is more then helpful. The owner is normally there and is very nice.
(5)Jess H.
I've never had anything but incredibly delicious food and terribly attentive service here. It's been a joy, plus there are actual Japanese people working there, a rarity in sushi places around here. Love this place.
(5)Jessica W.
Kanai has some of the BEST sushi in town. The restaurant itself is quite small and has great atmosphere. The bad thing about this is that it can take a long time to get seated and also a long time to get your sushi (think 30-40 minutes). However, if you have the time, it is a pleasant place to sit and stay a while. We always just expect to wait a bit. The Flatland Dream roll is AWESOME and the drinks are great too.
(4)Anthony P.
The only thing unfortunate about Kanai is the fact that it opened up 1 month before I moved away from Wichita. This place had the freshest fish and best tasting sushi in Wichita, hands down (Sumo sucks btw). Sushi chef was really friendly and atmosphere was good. Definitely the best sushi I've had in Kansas by a long shot.
(5)Ed F.
We eat at Kanai on a regular basis and find the service outstanding, the food thoughtfully prepared and flavors exceptional. They have a nice bar selection, but their corkage fee is only $10 so we bring our own wine to enjoy with our meal. We have not experienced the slow or inattentive service that a couple of other reviewers have noted. We have recommended this restaurant to several of our friends and they have made this a regular dining spot as well. Sit at the counter and the chefs will be glad to describe the food they are preparing. If you see something that interests you, just tell the server you want "that." I'm far from a connoisseur, but I know good service and appreciate great tasting food when I experience it and Kanai delivers on all counts.
(5)Craig S.
The new sushi bar in west Wichita, the sushi was great and it has been a long time since I had great sushi. The place was packed it was a surprise for west Wichita. We had the Roppongi and the Flat land dream. There was a number of cooked rolls on the menu! The service was a little slow, but I wanted a nice leisurely dinner, so it didn't bother me. The waitress was very helpful by suggesting menu items.
(5)Joe K.
Great sushi, typical restaurant problems. I'm going to address some of the other complaints. The sushi is great, probably the freshest in Wichita. They don't use fake crab like some of the other sushi places, and they don't used canned tuna. The rolls I got while living in Japan vary based on the type of restaurant I went to. Just because the rolls are bigger than other places, does not mean they are making them wrong. The sushi chef here was born, raised, and trained in Japan. Some of the roll flavors are American tilted, but the food they serve here is as close to ANYTHING I had in Japan. Their tea isn't the best, but outside of Japan or tea from the spice merchant downtown (an importer), it's by far the most authentic. Their rolls are big enough to be a meal, their appetizers are scrumptious, and the fried green tea ice cream is to die for. They don't have many unique bar drinks, but the kiwi colada is pretty good. If you enjoy trying different foods from different countries, there's plenty of Japan to sample here. They suffer from a small space, they quickly fill up on busy nights, and there isn't much waiting room inside. They don't take reservations, except for exceptionally large groups (15+), and even that can be hit or miss. They seem to have high turnover, something that tells of mismanagement. The apparent managers often seem angry rather than welcoming. If you get one of the experienced servers, you have no problems. The newer ones don't seem to have a grasp of the menu or the system they run behind the scenes. I don't know if their systems are hard to understand, if they don't give them enough time to learn it, or they just keep hiring idiots. If you aren't going with more than one other person, I suggest the sushi bar itself. It's a great way to give you something to talk about if the conversation ever runs dry. When I'm solo, I sit at the bar. The bar tenders are friendly and easy going, when they aren't too busy.
(5)Stephen N.
I have been to Wichita on a few separate occasions, and have yet to find a decent place to eat that is not a chain or is moderately priced as I am dining alone. This place fits the bill for my taste, great service and good food, especially since the Kansas coastline is not close. I sat at the sushi bar staring at Chef Kanai delicately create sushi, therefore I could not get a great pulse on the dynamic of the entire place. As I am not the best critic of sushi I will say the ingredients were fresh, blended well, and melted to perfection in my mouth. There you have it folks give this place a try and you will be back!
(4)Meghan H.
The food and staff are wonderful. I highly recommend the Flat Land Dream roll, so scrumptious.
(5)Shannon S.
Coming from San Diego, it's been difficult to find good sushi so far from the ocean. This place is great though. The owner is from LA and it shows in the decor and the sushi. Great place for a date. The service has always been excellent. Last time we thought our sushi wasn't as fresh as the other times, but we've been here several other times and always thought it was delicious. I'd recommend staying away from the rolls with garlic on them though.
(4)Victoria N.
My favorite sushi restaurant in Wichita . It's better than wasabi and Hana cafe . It's not as good as other sushi restaurants in California or coastal states but it is probably the best in Wichita . I like it enough that I would come back. Very good service .
(4)Viet-shirley T.
Came here Sunday night with my wife for our Sushi adventure... sadly... this was a huge disappointment.... First few things that were wrong.... Their Ocha (Green Tea).... Teas are one of the main things in Japanese culture... yet to get this to a water down consistency plain gross, I'm not sure how they could serve almost just plain hot water with a tint of light green in color... no green tea flavor at all... Second their rolls, the Momiji and Roppongi... their rice was dry and hard, not something that a restaurant should present... I can understand if this was to go at a market... but seriously not at a restaurant... Their rolls are extremely big which maybe is a tradition for the midwest.... but definitely not in terms of traditional sushi.... go to any restaurant in any large metropolitan city and you will find the same consistency in size... which this restaurant clearly doubles.... meaning = too much rice... over bearing for the fish....The spicy tuna wasn't really spicy at all inside the roppongi... it was more like just grind up tuna without the spicy kick... Overall, lovely layout of the restaurant, good atmosphere, friendly staff, just food is sub par and equivalent to a super market takeout... Even Wholefoods Market knows how to make spicy tuna....
(1)Sarah J.
I absolutely LOVE Kanai, their sushi is amazing and you can tell that they use fresh, quality ingredients. Their veggie tempura appetizer is very, very good. Upon entering, you are greeted by the entire staff, and also when you leave. The atmosphere is absolutely wonderful, and sitting at the bar is best, where you can see the chefs preparing the sushi. The service is always very friendly and helpful. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you receive as well. Some of their rolls are very large, and can be hard to eat, but they are so delicious it's worth it. I'm hoping that maybe they will expand to the east side, since it's quite a hike if you don't live on the west side. I do wish they were open for lunch, though. I work in the evenings, so there are not very many opportunities for me to visit here.
(5)Brianna E.
Apparently poor service is pretty common at Kanai. It was packed when we arrived and I was fine with that. The restaurant is small and all of the seats were filled, including the bar. So the four of us waited about 20 minutes for a table. I get that they were busy. 3 of us ordered rolls, and that took 30 minutes, which was OK too, but my boyfriend who did not order sushi, who ordered some noodles did not receive his food until about an hour later. Everyone had finished eating before he received his food. We had to talk to 2 waitresses before someone went to check on the order. That was a major turn off. I had something with octopus(same thing as featured in one of the photos) and a roll. The octopus dish was just ok. I didn't finish it. My tuna roll was mediocre. I don't really care for minced up tuna in sushi, I like the rolls with a thin cut of tuna or salmon. When it comes to the sushi I'd say the sushi at Kanai is similar to the sushi you would get at Hana Cafe. While Kanai does have an interesting menu, Hana Cafe has much better service, and a better atmosphere.
(2)Lauren S.
We eat here every week, usually on Tuesday evenings. The food is superb! The sushi selection is excellent and Kanai-san has created a number of unique rolls that are especially delicious! Although we always come for sushi, we have also ordered off of the Japanese pub menu and the set dinner/entree menu and everything has been wonderful. In terms of sushi, we are extremely fond of the Momiji (spicy tuna roll topped with albacore and tataki sauce), the K-State roll (made with lean grilled steak and tempura onion pieces, topped with a delicious sesame sauce), and their hotate (scallops, slightly seared with tataki sauce) nigiri are all excellent choices! If you visited in the first month or two of their opening and were disappointed by the slow service, it's time to give them another chance! The servers and staff are pleasant, knowledgeable, and will do their best to attend to your every need! Having been in business for over a year now, they've certainly streamlined the whole process. All in all, I can't recommend Kanai enough! Whether you're a sushi beginner or a seasoned connoisseur, there will certainly be something to please your palate :)
(5)Howard C.
Excellent
(5)Jenny R.
I haven't had the opportunity to try all of the sushi places in town yet, but Kanai was a wonderful experience. The entire staff greets every person enthusiatically. Our server was perfecty attentive and had some great suggestions--which was great because the menu is rather extensive. We started with potstickers at her suggestion, which were served with a semi-spicy sauce for dipping. Next out was one of their "Funky Tasty Rolls," the Wow2 (Wow Wow). It was a spicy tuna something, and the only problem was that it eclipsed the other rolls we tried (Midwest, which included beef tenderloin and asparagus, and Ikura - salmon roe). On our way out, chef Kanai caught us watching him at work and invited us to sit at the sushi bar to get a better look. It was almost as much fun to watch as it was to eat.
(5)Christine C.
I finally made it to Kanai! My daughter mentioned her and a friend went there the other day. We decided to go there for my birthday dinner! Being Friday night, I thought it might be pretty busy so we went shortly after they opened. Good plan! We were greeted in the traditional Japanese style when walking through the door. The staff all shouted a startling greeting in Japanese! As it got busier, the greetings faded. I remember leaving a Japanese restaurant in the past and staff shouting a Japanese thank you... also startling! I turned and thought "What?!?!" Probably had deer eyes! As soon as we were seated, we had our drink orders taken and were brought a sampling of some sort of fish salad with dark seaweed shreds & unagi sauce drizzled on top. It was very tasty! My daughter ordered a Mt Dew (not what I would pair with sushi but I'm not 18) and I wanted hot sake but wasn't sure which kind. They offered 3. The waitress suggested I order the sampling flight. I did. Three generous shot sized glasses set in wells of a wooden tray arrived. I didn't really taste much difference in them. Appetizers we ordered Gyoza which were very tender & tasty with the usual dipping sauce. Very good and would definitely get again. Also Vege Tempura. The tempura was good, green beans were still crunchy inside the batter. So were the peppers but there were too many peppers. A shitake mushroom cap was very good, white mushrooms, cut in half were good. So.. it was good tasting but I wouldn't order again because of there being more peppers than anything. We ordered 4 rolls. Soft Shell Crab Roll (Spider Roll in most other places) It was very good, no complaints! Your typical Spider Roll. Fisherman's Wharf Roll. Shrimp, crab and masago topped with fresh salmon. We barely touched this one. Not because it wasn't delicious, it was!! I guess we just ate so much of the other stuff we just never got very far on this one. CALI2 Roll. Crunchy California roll tempura with unagi sauce. This one was one of our favorites! Really delicious! Yamato Roll. Shrimp tempura, crab mix, avocado and green leaf, with special sauce. Another delicious roll! The rolls are about $8.50 - $9.00 or so. The serving portions are huge! I would actually like if they were a little bit smaller just for eating ease! Sushi should be eaten in one whole mouthful and these rolls aren't that easy to do. Is that a complaint really? Nah. The ration of rice to filling is perfect. The rolls are huge but its not that they have used rice as a filler. They are stuffed with the delicious fillings with the perfect amount of rice. I would definitely go back. Next time not order so much like I always end up doing at sushi restaurants. Just because of the quantity. I'll definitely be having sushi for lunch today! I want to try the Mooru Gai no Yakimono which is Baked green mussels with masago mayo, scallions, ponzu, and hot momiji oroshi. This is one of my favorite dishes so I have to try it sometime. I didn;t last night because I had eaten kind of a big lunch and the mussels are pretty rich so I skipped them. Going early was a good plan. They open at 5:00. We got there between 5:15 - 5:30. When we got there, seating was plentiful. We could sit at the sushi bar, table or booth. By the time we left about an hour later the place was full and people were waiting at the door.
(4)Curt S.
Same experience as Brad D. Edamame never came that I ordered. The salads were fast since they came from the kitchen, but the sushi took forever (I agree Sumo takes a long time too, but this was worse). The drinks from the bar took as long as you would expect for an appetizer. The tempura fried roll was soft by the time it arrived, and the spicy tuna rolls had no spice to them. After receiving the rolls, I asked about the Scallop nigiri (2 piece). The waiter told me it was being made by the head chef and took longer. When it arrived, the pieces were sloppy. The nori strip didn't wrap all the way around and the scallop barely hung out on top. The nigiri had too much Wasabi, and someone at the sushi bar cooked the Scallop!! Who cooks scallop nigiri??? For the amount of money I spent and the slow service received, its not worth the time or money. Restaurants should be prepared for even when the "rush" comes in. They had four guys around the sushi bar that night.
(3)Paula K.
I have been to Kanai three times now. It is hands down the best sushi in Wichita. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful in making choices. The sushi rolls are bigger than any other place in town. Kanai uses REAL crab meat. I haven't found another place in Wichita that uses real. You have to try the Invader! It is delicious. I also love the spicy tuna.
(5)Keith K.
I grew up in Wichita, and though I haven't spent a lot of time there in the last few years, I have tried sushi at a few "local favorites" and was not impressed. I was recently sent to Wichita to support a business client for an extended period. In my three months in Wichita, I have made it a point to eat at Kanai about once a week. This is, by far, the best sushi I have had in Wichita, EVER. I love sushi, and consider myself a pretty good judge, and this place easily rates 4.5 stars just for the sushi. I'm giving it a five star rating though, and I'll tell you why... 1) Every visit begins with the entire staff greeting you as you walk in the door. This caught me off-guard at first, but by the third visit, I found I liked being greeted by a crowd of people, kinda like when everyone in the bar on "Cheers" yelled out "Norm" as Norm Peterson walked into the bar. Makes you feel welcome and appreciated. 2) The staff has always been polite, efficient, and helpful. I have sat in every corner of the restaurant, and never felt ignored, though I especially enjoy sitting at the bar watching Master Chef Kanai prepare the rolls and instruct the Jr Chefs. 3) There are some new and creative dishes / rolls on the menu that I haven't seen elsewhere. So far, only one roll has failed to please me, and my bet on that is that it just wasn't suited to my personal tastes. My favorites here are the Flatland Dream and the Fisherman's Wharf, but I also give kudos to the Invader (see the menu on their website for descriptions of these yummy creations). 4) Even their take-out is fresh, tasty, and beautifully presented. I don't usually do sushi "to-go", but on a few occasions, I have needed to take work back to the hotel to finish by morning, and I was in the mood for sushi, so I called in an order. Every time I have done this, I am given an estimate of about 15-20 minutes for my food to be ready, and every time I have gotten a call roughly 15 minutes later telling me that my food is ready to be picked up. I was happily amazed at how beautiful my take-out dinner looked - very appetizing! Kudos to Master Chef Kanai and everyone at his establishment, you've brought a touch of Japanese class to West Wichita. I'll visit you as often as my travels to the Air Capital permit.
(5)Brad D.
Poor Service Average freshness Great sushi options Well, I dont really know where to start here other than what I had heard before visiting this establishment. "I HEARD", it was great service, exceptional sushi and possibly the best sushi bar in town. The Wichita Eagle (which has screensaver ads on their website in 2010) gave them a 4* rating out of four stars. However, I hear things like this all the time from Wichitans about whichever sushi bar they choose to visit the most. Look through my reviews of sushi places, I have eaten raw fish all over the country. Today, Sunday 6:15pm, I met a friend of mine here that had already eaten at this place once before, he had a good experience his first time. We talked about the menu and certain dishes before we chose, as I consider myself a connesuir of raw fish and wanted to see what they really had in this menu. We quickly ordered some hot tea, edamame and tofu steak for starters. It took about 10minutes for us to recieve these, but I wasn't all that bothered by it because I wasn't crazy hungry and me and my friend had plenty of catching up to do. We talked and talked.....and talked and then I realized it had been about 40minutes, starters all finished, plates removed, drinks filled and refilled. Then, my escolar (super white tuna) nigiri came out for me. Remind you, this is 2 pieces and my friend recieves nothing. I eat my pieces and make jokes because he has nothing to eat (trying to make light of the issue). We thought more pieces would be coming soon, but no. I eat those, my empty dish leaves and 15min go by and I grab our waitress and say, "Hey, what's up?". She says "Not much", she thinks I'm hitting on her. I look at my friend puzzled. He begins to tell her that it has been awhile and she responds by saying, if you wanted to be served quickly we should have came at 5pm or 9pm and that some sushi rolls take longer than others, then walks away. The bad part about this is that the waitress didn't take ownership of the matter, a manager never took notice, if the manager knew, he didn't want to deal with the problem that I'm still scratching my head over. All the sushi rollers could see our table, we were right in front of them. The five ladies that came in 30 minutes after us recieved their meals before us and we even pointed that out to our server. What happened here? We thought she might tell us that she accidentally lost or forgot to put our ticket in, but no. I wanted to leave, but I was too invested in the wait and I wanted to see what all this hype was about. My sushi was warm, both rolls and trust me, they should not have been this warm. It was as if they prepared my sushi and sat it in the window seal to warm for the hour plus that I waited. There was no special preparation to my simple "spicy tuna roll", maybe my "One Bite" (sandwich-style roll), but definitely no half or whole hour that it took to find its way to my table. The escolar I had earlier was good, cool and nobody else serves this in town to my knowledge but it took forever too. I wanted this place to be my new sushi spot. If I want good sushi and a nice atmosphere with bad service, I will stick to Sumo. I have recieved really bad service at Sumo in the past, but wow, this place just beat them. Sorry Kanai, but it will be quite some time before I get over this one and try you again.
(2)Ali W.
Wonderful sushi! We started with a couple of cocktails. I got the Shouga, a sort of Asian mojito, consisting of sake with ginger liqueur, lemon and mint, delicious and refreshing. The calamari was thick and covered in a savory sauce. The nigiri was so beautifully cut and was a very generous portion. One new thing I tried was the enoki mushroom nigiri, it was great, the thin mushrooms were fried and slightly crispy to bring out a wonderful flavor. Next we had a Momiji roll, it was fabulous. Overall a great experience that I did not expect to have in Kansas.
(5)Jon S.
Nice atmosphere and very friendly staff, but the sushi just wasn't that good. It wasn't the combinations, but the quality or freshness. I'm not sure if I just tried them on an off day or what.....
(3)Julian O.
The place is overrated and the sushi is not that great. I based my visit on the reviews on yelp. If you want buffet taste sushi go here and waste your money. Will go back to Dallas for a better place.
(1)Teresa F.
I was not at all imoressed with Kanai :( I was really excited about this place considering all the rave reviews it got. The rolls are WAY TOO BIG. I had to cut each sushi roll into three pieces, sushi is not about eating with a knife. This place was way overpriced as well. I was not at all impressed with the taste of the sushi rolls or the sashimi/poki style salad for $20. Way better at wasabi.. wish we would of went there instead.
(2)Derin D.
I am totally shocked at the other two reviews on here. I have traveled all around the US and Japan, and Kanai is some of the best sushi that I have ever had. The ingredients are incredibly fresh. The variety of the menu is astounding, maybe even a bit intimidating for the first timer. While I would agree that the service is slow, the food more than makes up for it. I have been there on three seperate occasions and each time ordered something different. Each time, the attention to quality and the freshness of the ingredients have been a culinary treat. I am not sure what happened with Brad and Curt's visits, but I guarantee you that they did not have the same experience that I did. In fact, the Wichita Eagle newspaper gave the place a perfect four * rating. They have only given that to two other restaurants in the history of dining reviews. That ought to count for something.
(5)Kazumi K.
One of the best sushi in the U.S. I'm from Japan, so I know! The chef is a Japanese as well, and it is very rare find, especially in midland like Wichita, but nonetheless, I love it. service is awesome every time, which is another insurance of good dinner.
(5)Alexandra E.
Great sushi!! One of the top sushi chefs in the country decided to open a sushi restaurant in the middle of the country. Very friendly staff and atmosphere.
(5)Sara W.
Simply put, don't waste your time going to any other sushi places in Wichita - KANAI IS THE BEST IN TOWN. Ya Kanai is located WAY out west - but it is definitely worth the travel. I was surprised how small the dining area was, but when Husband and I got there we did not have to wait but 5 min or so before we were seated. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and not loud as some other sushi restaurants (a real plus for me!). It has a very intimate feel. It was cool that the entire staff greeted us with a Japanese welcome when we walked in the door and when people left, they said what I presume is thank you in Japanese as well. Husband loves 100% raw, and so do I, so the waitress recommended we try the Sea of Japan. This is a 100% raw dish with several kinds of fish including octopus, tuna, salmon and many, many other types of fish. It was delightful. The dish was large enough for us to share, a real plus because it cost $22. I also was wanting to try the jellyfish (Kurage) - It was so good, I had it gone before husband was able to get his greedy little mitts on them! Priced at 4.75 for two, for the taste it was a great deal. Husband ordered the calamari which was good but a bit greasy for his liking. The portion size was HUGE and after only eating one, our observant waitress was so apologetic that he did not 100% love it, took the $9.00 appetizer off our meal. That was very thoughtful of her to do. We did not ask her to do it, and were not going to either. The only thing that stinks about Kanai is they are only open in the evenings. If they were open, I would frequent for lunch often - yes they are that good! I can't wait to go back. When we do so, I want to sit at the sushi bar and watch them create magic!
(5)K B.
Website and door advertised they were open until 10 pm. We arrived at 9:40 pm and the doors were locked. Won't go back.
(1)Phillip L.
Very welcoming restaurant. All the employees greet you upon entering. The menu is full of great options. We had a big group go in and it was a bit difficult to seat a group that large, so I would be careful when arranging a larger group to dine here. All of the appetizers and sushi we ordered came out amazing. Definitely a great place to get sushi in a land locked place like Wichita.
(4)T M.
I travel extensively for work all over North America and this is the 2nd best sushi experience in all my travels. Make sure you sit at the sushi bar and engage conversation with the master sushi chef. He is an incredible wealth of knowledge and has a great passion for his craft. He has trained his staff with that same perfection and enthusiasm. I don't usually order anything fried when indulging in sushi but the fried skins were an amazing light and wonderfully tasting appetizer. Rolls are super fresh and creative with little sauce on them. That is a true sign of freshness. The master chef picks up fresh fish from the airport daily. In closing great food and wonderful staff. No reason to go anywhere else while in Wichita.
(5)Ryan M.
In town on business I tried this place, base on yelp reviews. It is only fair that I too, give my opinion. Of the approximately 20 (estimate) different sushi restaurants I've eaten at, this is top 3. It was a great atmosphere and the sushi was so fresh! Highly recommend!!!
(5)Brett S.
I won't waste a lot of time being wordy with this review. Ambiance, cleanliness, and service were all good. The sushi menu was as vast as any other sushi place and the quality was good... it just doesn't quite reach the quality level of Wasabi Sushi Bar.
(3)Losh A.
I liked the seaweed avocado with salmon salad as my appetizer, but was not a fan of the wsu shocker baked roll. My husband gave me his spicy tuna roll , i liked it. A lil more pricey than the other sushi places, i noticed they have a lot of staff too , maybe thats why . The service was good though and the food came fast compared to other places.
(3)Lauren H.
Kanai has an amazing customer experience. By far the BEST sushi in Wichita and my favorite new find. Our server recommended an appetizer that normally we wouldn't have tried (thin fried fish) and it was really good! Unique rolls (WSU shocker roll) and even better desert (frozen mango ice cream). I am happy and will continue to make the trek out there for their sushi!!
(5)