VIBE

“Kanpai” means “bottoms up” in Japanese, and the convivial vibes at this grillling restaurant certainly do seem to be fueled by plenty of “bottoms up” moments. The restaurant is on the eighth floor of the trendy Mitsukoshi A9 department store, and the gleaming yet dark décor, complete with mirrors, dangling LED pinpoint lights, and glossy surfaces, certainly fits the posh setting, although the laidback vibe chills things out from high fashion to relaxed cool. Chatty groups grill, gossip, and gulp beers at the dining enclaves along the sides of the room; there’s also a bar for dining up front and a larger dining room in the back.

CROWD

Cheerful groups of friends, families, and couples out for an interactive date.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

A chic, casual look that you don’t mind grilling in (i.e., smelling a touch smoky). We’d go with skinny jeans and a dark top.

GO HERE WITH

Girlfriends - for a post-shopping grill fest; a date; a group

WHY WE LIKE IT

Our go-to when we want to kick off a night out with friends–the festive vibe is fun, the grilling is better when you can share (both the food and the barbecuing responsibilities), there’s plenty of space for large groups, and the XinYi District nightlife is really close by. We were also impressed by the quality of the meat, seafood, and poultry (don’t miss the chicken thighs marinated three ways and beef wrapped around asparagus).

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

It’s a bit strange arriving/leaving the restaurant at night when all the shops in Mitsukoshi A9 are closed (but it's not unusual to have restaurants in department stores in Taipei).

GOOD TO KNOW

If this is your first time grilling, no worries–the waitstaff is really helpful. Personal grilling is only allowed at tables (if you sit at the bar, your food will be prepared for you). The walls are moveable, so if you want a private room, they can customize the space around you. The menu is light on meat alternatives, so vegetarians should look elsewhere or be prepared to fill up on veggies. This is part of the Kanpai family of restaurants around Taiwan. All major credit cards (Amex, Mastercard, Visa) are accepted.

OTHER LOCATIONS

Da’An District (Taipei); ZhongShan District (Taipei); XinYi District (Taipei); various locations throughout Taiwan

CLOSEST COMPS

Yakitori Totto (New York); Aburiya Kinnosuke (New York)