Kampai

Kampai restaurant at 175 Center St., located just off Town Square, offers contemporary Japanese cuisine and combines a modern aesthetic with warm mountain architecture. The restaurant now welcomes patrons to a new rooftop dining area. It is a mix of indoor and outdoor space with views of the National Elk Refuge, Snow King Mountain and the Gros Ventre Mountain Range, and is available for daily dining and private events.

If you find yourself in the mood for great sushi during your stay, Kampai hosts a menu of authentic Japanese fare options that are sure to delight. Hand Fired Pizza is the place to be for a delicious slice served up in the historic Teton Theater building. This local pizzeria is also loved for its extensive use of locally grown ingredients, sustainably raised and fairly sourced meats, as well as their organic produce.

The artful Japanese restaurant quietly opened their doors on Center Street in December, foregoing the fanfare of a big opening announcement and stirring up anticipation from locals in search of a unique dining experience. “We were intentionally quiet about it because we wanted the experience to speak for itself,” says Kampai General Manager Dan “Jiggy” Janjigian.

Some ideas from us include Kampai (Japanese cuisine), Orsetto Italian Bar and Eatery, The Kitchen, Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Steakhouse, Code Red, the Mangy Moose and Gun Barrel Steak and Game House (which once upon a time was Wyoming Wildlife Museum and Taxidermy!). You might also ponder a private dining experience for your gathering of family and friends.

Owned by an anonymous Jacksonite, Kampai is managed by Jackson local Dan “Jiggy” Janjigian and its menu is set by head chef Chris Massad, who helped lead the sushi scene in another Rocky Mountain resort town, Vail, under the famous Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Massad said Jackson’s food scene is 10 years behind Vail, but it’s catching up fast.

A new rooftop deck with a special condensed version of the menu is opening this summer at Kampai. The rooftop is a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces holding about 50 people with tables and booths, a seven-seat sake bar and pit tables. The indoor space has glass on three sides, to not hinder the views of Snow King and the Elk Refuge.

Chef Chris Massad, of San Francisco’s Akiko’s, Pabu and Nobu, brings his take on Japanese cuisine to Wyoming to showcase elevated versions of new and familiar sushi preparations. Kampai combines a modern aesthetic, warm mountain architecture, refined cuisine, and top tier service that is second to none in Jackson.

Stop by Kampai, which serves up both local fish and delicacies flown overnight from Japan. You won't forget you’re in Wyoming, however: Some menu items aim to cheekily embody a contrarian spirit: take the “John Galt” roll, a nod to Ayn Rand's libertarian manifesto Atlas Shrugged.

With less than two years under their belts, Kampai and Corsa perhaps shouldn’t be filed under “new this fall”, but they should certainly be filed under “must try” for those who haven’t yet eaten at these two restaurants that have quickly become some of Jackson’s best.

Kampai, located in downtown Jackson, is a beautiful room with beautiful, fresh fish. Grab a seat at the bar where you can chat with the chef and ask what they recommend. Kampai is a true sushi bar experience, right in the middle of the mountains.

In the heart of downtown Jackson Hole, Kampai pays homage to Japanese culture through its intentionally curated menu and top-tier service. Kampai’s contemporary atmosphere provides you with the intimate dining experience you’ve been looking for.

- Kampai: Enjoy refined Japanese cuisine served in a modern, yet warm mountain architecture. Kampai is known for its sushi prepared by Chef Chris Massad, of San Francisco’s Akiko’s, Pabu and Nobu.