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| - When my brother's friend found out where I lived recently, his first reaction was "oh, so you've been to Kampai then?" My blank look horrified him, and he quickly explained that apparently I have a hidden gem sushi place in my North Phoenix neighborhood -- a "gem" that he referred to as one of the best in the city! This was a pleasant surprise to me (I guess I should have paid more attention when I drove by that bowling lane strip mall...).
Two words: GREAT SUSHI! Seriously up-to-par with my most recent bar-setter, Hana sushi -- except less expensive and much larger portions. In fact, I had the opposite experience of many of the reviewers here: our portions were shockingly large, from oversized/fat rolls to a sashimi order that was almost double what I would have expected. The albacore tataki and Kampai roll were our favorites, but everything we had was fresh and delicious.
The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, depending on your mood. I was a little caught off-guard by the harsh...errr...bright lighting as well as the lack of noise/energy there on a Friday night. Of course this can be refreshing compared to the "scene" at a Stingray or Ra. Our service at our table was fantastic, very attentive and friendly.
I will definitely be making Kampai a staple in the portfolio, and given that I favored the food over the dining experience, I will certainly consider takeout as well in the future.
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