Kanki Japanese House of Steak & Sushi – Raleigh, NC

4.5 out of 5 stars

4325 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
919.782.9708

Going into this review I had high expectations for Kanki.  Jimmy had been there about a year ago and while he raved about the food, he said the service made him feel rushed.  We both went in with a critical eye to see if one of the best restaurants in the area could live up to it’s reputation.

Service: We arrived around 8:30pm and when walking in to the restaurant there was no hostess at the front so we ended up waiting for about a minute until they noticed us and a hostess came over to seat us.  Once we got to the table our waitress gave us a hot towel to wash our hands which was an unexpected touch.  They quickly filled our drinks and were attentive the entire time.  When it came time to get our check, even though we were there at closing time, they were not rushing us out and gave us as much time as we needed.

Restaurant Layout/Atmosphere – Kanki has a very authentic Japanese atmosphere which can immediately be seen at the entrance by the coy pond and color.  There is a separate sushi bar, and a large Hibachi grill area with more seating than any of the competitor restaurants in the area.  The artwork on the wall was Japanese, but they were playing smooth jazz music which was a bit awkward and detracted from the atmosphere.  The Hibachi grills they used seem to be a bit more worn & old than most other Japanese Steakhouses around, but they were clean and did not seem to have an effect on the food.

Chef Technique – Most places have one or two good chef’s, but at Kanki every table seemed to have a great chef who was at the top of their game with cooking Hibachi.  The chef was very social with those at our table, was attentive to keeping our sauces filled, and communicating with the waitress for special requests.  There were no incredible tricks that stood out, but everything that was done was simple and done right.

Food Quality – Very good.  The steak was cooked to perfection and the shrimp sauce was the best we’ve had.  The only complaint is that the rice seemed to be just a tad bit overcooked.  The dessert selection was unique in that they offered a variety of cheesecakes and other sweet pies whereas this is not common for a Japanese steakhouse.

Price – The prices are some of the highest in the area for this category restaurant.  Hibachi dinner will run between $17-22 per person.