I celebrated my birthday yesterday at Kanki and WOW-what an experience. My family and I truly had an amazing time. During the week the open a little later-around 4:30. Earlier on weekends-around 11-11:30 is. But we got there right at 4:30 as doors opened and was greated by a nice young lady and promptly seated. Our server was super nice and very thorough. He made sure everyone at the table was comfortable and had everything we need as well as -kept all of our drinks refilled the entire visit. My husband and I got the dinner for two which was about $56 and included lots of veggies, rice and both chicken and steak. Mozart was our cook. He was amazing! Food was delicious! He was very entertaining and kept us laughing the entire time. Crazy enough other people at the other tables were enjoying him just as we were. Establishment was clean and atmosphere relaxing. If I could give them higher than 5 stars I would. So just an amazing time and so happy I decided to go there for my Birthday. Thank you to our host, server and cook for an amazing time. Would recommend 100%.
Sherry Gray
Jan 20, 2026
3
Having ignored this place for years, I’ve now been twice in two months for family celebrations. There are many positives: beautiful dining area, entertainment, good drinks, great service. And there are negatives: inconsistent food quality, loud, hard to interact with all members of your party (expected). It’s the inconsistency in food quality that’s killer for me. The rice, vegetables and mushrooms are always terrific. The shrimp appetizer and main proteins vary widely both in their quality and the way they are cooked on the flat top. Two months ago, our steak meal was top notch. Tonight not so much. Tonight the shrimp appetizer was rubber and the salmon protein was mostly inedible because of lack of freshness and the fact that it was way overcooked. If and when I return to Kanki I promise to only order a ribeye. Last time I ordered the filet, but my husband swears the ribeye was just as good as the filet he had two months ago. And not overcooked. Order the steak.
Jonah Bishop
Jan 13, 2026
3
The food here is good, but the sanitation score needs serious improvement. As with any restaurant of this type, the quality of the "show" in the preparation of the food is based solely on the chef who comes to your table. The day we visited, we had a dud (especially compared to our neighboring table; their guy was great!). Prices are a little higher than I'd like, but I always leave satisfied.
Dwayne Black
Nov 2, 2025
4
It was cool..Atmosphere was great and Love the Livery and Fish Tank in the Floor at this Location..Going to try the Raleigh Location Next to see how it is there
Toaster Strudel
Oct 23, 2025
5
We just left a couple minutes ago and it was AMAZING! We were there for my 17th birthday and we got there right at opening time, so it was just us. Fayas was our Hibachi chef and Muhammad was our server and they were both great. The tricks Fayas did were awesome, he was really talented. He tossed a peice of chicken up in the air and I caught it with my mouth! They even brought plates for my birthday cake and they sang happy birthday to me, and they even had a drum. The food was amazing, and I would rate this restaurant more stars of I could!! ❤️❤️❤️
luther kincade
Sep 28, 2025
4
I’ve been coming to Kanki in Durham for years, and while it’s not quite the same as it used to be, it’s still a restaurant worth checking out. This spot has always been about more than just food—it’s the full hibachi experience, and on that front it still delivers.
The hibachi chef at my table was amazing. He kept the whole group laughing and engaged while showing off the fire tricks and knife skills that make hibachi such a fun night out. That energy is what makes Kanki special, and it hasn’t lost its spark. The sake was smooth and hit the spot, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Most importantly, the food was actually very good. The steak was cooked perfectly, the fried rice had that rich, buttery flavor you can only get on a hibachi grill, and the vegetables were fresh and well seasoned. Everything came out hot and flavorful—no complaints there.
If I had to nitpick, the restaurant itself feels a little more worn compared to years past, and service can be uneven at times. But when the food, the show, and the sake all line up, Kanki still proves why it’s been a Durham favorite for decades.
Paula Evans
Jul 17, 2025
5
We were celebrating my granddaughter's 8th birthday and it was a very good experience. The chef was definitely a performance artist, and our group of 3 generations certainly enjoyed him. The food was very good and the servings were generous. The birthday girl was serenaded and treated with some sherbet. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
Reid Winsjansen
Jun 17, 2025
5
The food and atmosphere are great here. The sushi in the Pic is called a spiral ecstasy or rainbow roll in my book. But authentic and amazing. The wonderful lady in the other Pic is no other than Jala, (Jay-la) the restaurant's best bartender. Come see her, she always makes you feel comfortable and at home and ready to strike up a conversation. This is my favorite place to be when I'm in Durham.
Franz Sanvictores
May 10, 2025
3
We had a big group and a reservation. We couldn't be seated until more than half our group was present. Three from our group of 12 were running late and we were told we'd be taken back to the lobby if they were further delayed. Food was buttery, salty, but not bad. The cooks and servers are great. More of an entertainment experience than dining. It was still an enjoyable night out. Definitely worth experiencing once.
Chris C
May 5, 2025
5
What a great dining experience! The manager, I think his name was Madison, was so welcoming and hospitable! It’s nice to be greeted with a smile when you walk into a place for the first time. Food and show were great too! Will definitely be back!
sleepykay312
Apr 22, 2025
5
Everytime I come here its a fun experience! Nice waitresses and cooks. The food is delicious and I like the options avaliable. Me and the rest of my family got 2 different types of meat and the cook made sure they were separated for me.
Christa Harris
Mar 21, 2025
3
We made reservations for a party of six to celebrate a couple of family birthdays on a Friday night. The two ladies at the hosting station were not very friendly and very non-communicative. Although we were on time for our reservation, we still had to wait about ten minutes and were not told anything about our status. We had to ask them two separate times what the hold up was or how much longer we would have to wait. Mind you, they were not very busy and there were plenty of open tables, not sure what the hold up was but neither host member openly communicated what was happening. We waited off to the side while they did nothing. Our waitress was just ok and rarely checked up on us. She disappeared for long periods of time which was annoying. We asked her for things and she forgot two different times and we would end up having to ask a separate employee (for example, we needed one more plate, needed more napkins, or needed more water). The only positive….. MOZART!!! He. Was. Absolutely. Amazing.!!!!!! The best chef!!!! He turned our frown upside down and had us constantly entertained and laughing. He was such a joy and very energetic and you can tell he loves his job! The table next to us had such a boring chef who was barely interacting with his table so we were so glad to have gotten Mozart. I give him 1000/100 stars!
