Kansai Hayward — Restaurant in Hayward

Kansai is pretty great. They have really friendly and accommodating service, and the food is tasty. Nice cozy spot for dinner. Kansai is a good spot if you want massive sushi rolls, definitely the largest ones I have had in the downtown Hayward area. My feedback is that what gets topped on the rolls often comes out tasting pretty similar- as in, if you get a roll with salmon or tuna, hamachi etc.. the flavor is a lot the same due to similar toppings, sauces, etc in use. Resultingly, I think this restaurant is the perfect spot for if you want sushi but want a bunch of other items to go with it. I have had the karaage here which is crunchy and tasty, and the takoyaki which is different from ones I have had before. The takoyaki are bigger than a traditional one and have a crunchy exterior as opposed to the soft, doughy pancake-type batter I am used to. Nonetheless, it was pretty tasty! Apps are generally served with orange and yellow daikon- which can or can't work depends, such as I think lemon is a better pairing with karaage.

Anyway enough ranting, pretty tasty spot to go...

Expected better service here given the stars. The food was really good but they messed up and didn't even want to fix it. Apparently my party and a few others got an outdated menu that had old prices so when the check came around it was more expensive then the menu we had. After show them the menu we had as well as the other tables around us that we heard had the same issue they said sorry the menu is old and the prices have changed. I get that but WHY WOULD YOU GIVE ALL OF US A DIFFERENT MENU THEN? And then don't honor the menu prices that are in black and white in front of us and the server. She said sorry and that she could do nothing. The sushi was good but their integrity was not there and that shows what kind of business they are. If you go there ask for the UPDATED menu so you don't get the cheap price one and then get surprised when the bill comes. What a shame. Good food but bad follow up. And what’s even worse is that the server took the menu I had and PUT IT BACK IN THE HOST STAND WITH THE...

Mixed Experience at Kansai in Hayward

I recently visited Kansai in Downtown Hayward, located next to Cookies. Parking can be challenging, but there are spaces behind the restaurant. The small ambiance caught my attention, especially since most orders seemed to be for DoorDash or mobile pickup. Compared to the Oakland sister location, the seating here is limited, affecting the overall experience.

While the food was okay, it fell short compared to the Oakland branch. Despite being in the Hayward area, I’d consider making the drive to Oakland for a better dining atmosphere. The food met expectations but didn’t surpass them. The customer service was commendable, with a solo effort by the staff.

For those craving a bento box, Kansai in Hayward is an option, but if you seek the same food with a better taste, the Oakland store is worth the drive. Pricing is reasonable, though bordering on expensive. Overall, I’d rate this experience a...