4. Restaurants

Kobe Japan

1918 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523
  • (925) 705-4865
  • Store is closed

Kobe Japan Menu

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  • Dangja M.

    Been here a few times for dinner and drinks. They have a Benihana style area which is okay. The chef was decent at it, maybe a few more tries he'll be a master at it. The food is good not great and the prices are a bit high for the portions you get. I normally just come here for drinks and they can add up quite a bit. The bartender who's usually there is nice and can almost make any drink you desire.They tend to turn off their tv's at the bar at least 45mins before they close even if you're in the middle watching a game which is no bueno, but I'll be back just to get drinks with friends, but not having a full on dinner.

    (3)

  • Rebecca R.

    Beef short ribs are delicious! Steamed Broccoli with garlic sauce-YUM, Salmon Kama is good too. Even the Miso soup and the small house salad are better than any sushi restaurant that I've been to. I also noticed the employee making the salad was wearing plastic gloves which I really appreciate. 4 stars only since the salmon in my boyfriends bento box was a small portion especially for $20. Other than that we loved the restaurant and will be back soon.

    (4)

  • Kamaehu A.

    We went in for my birthday tonight. The first thing I noticed were the clean vents above the grills. That was really great to see. The food was good, I had the scallop and shrimp combo and my partner had the NY Steak and scallops combo. I also got a Moscow mule which was heavy on the vodka but since it was my birthday I couldn't complain. The bacon fried rice add on was delicious my boyfriend basically licked his entire plate clean. The cook we had was not the most energetic but he put on a great show and cooked the food just the way everyone wanted it.!I appreciated the cleanliness of the restaurant. Unfortunately, we live pretty far away so we may not be going back anytime soon. I got a free bowl of ice cream for my birthday and ended the night with a pretty hefty bill which my generously amazing boyfriend of course paid for! The hostesses were very nice especially since we were 20 minutes late for the reservation. Over all good experience if.

    (4)

  • Nicolette G.

    Sadly, our experience here declines each time we go, and now I don't think we will ever return. We keep going back because it's so conveniently close to our house, and the nearest decent sushi is all the way in Concord. Last Friday night we went in and sat in the bar area as usual, and waited for service. We waited awhile, during which the two guys behind the bar chatted as they casually leaned against the wall. One guy came over to clear a nearby table, but never said anything to us. The last straw was that he sauntered over to the door that leads to the kitchen, which we were sitting right next to, and went in without saying a word or looking in our direction. (Neither of these people was Windsor, however, because he would never have let us sit there for so long. I hope he just had the night off, because without him this place has nothing.) I was starving and really agitated, so I had to do the whole "I'm storming out of this place because their service sucks" thing and I really don't like doing that. Then there wasn't anyone at the host stand to complain to, hence this angry review. All I have to say is that if most of your food is going to be mediocre, you better be sure your service is on point.

    (1)

  • Joanne C.

    Came back here for the sushi side, and we loved it too. Rolls are flavorful and huge. Some of our favs were te Black Pearl, Sunset & Saporro. CA Roll & Nigiri are good too. They deliver for orders of $55 and more. Take out order worked well for us. We'll be back.....again.

    (4)

  • Doug T.

    Fun, friendly, and filling! Kobe is an excellent choice for hibachi. You never have to wait long, their service was excellent, and their portion size is almost enough for two people! Skip Benihana, and come to Kobe hungry :)

    (4)

  • Lulu V.

    Such a great find after I made our reservations for Benihana on the wrong day. I was very glad that they were able to accommodate our table for 8 at such short notice. We arrived early for our reservation and hung out at the bar and tried their bar specials. Their stuffed mushroom skewers and the sliders were delicious. For our hibachi dinner, the chef was awesome. He kept my three year old nephew very entertained. As for the food, my bf and I both chose the steak and shrimp dinner with fried rice and it was very good. Overall this is a great restaurant and were glad to have found it. Also Joy, Tarzan and "John" (Chef) were great and gave awesome service! Definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Erin H.

    Finally decided to try this place after years of Benihana and the declining level of service and food quality at the latter. Arrived with family as the restaurant opened for dinner and was crammed next to a very large man who liked to keep both arms on the table. Don't know why they didn't wear us at the next table that was more than half empty. The food was decent but there were not one but two long HAIRS ON THE TABLE. Our server was terrible- who doesn't offer chopsticks at a Japanese restaurant? Never going back.

    (1)

  • Michael S.

    Let me first start by saying I really like their food, however their service is very lackluster. Like I understand employing people who speak the Japanese language, but they should also be equipped to speak more English than a few words. So I order two appetizers (calamari and edamame) and then two sushi rolls. How is it that I get my sushi before my appetizers. I mention that to the owner/manager and it still takes another 10 mins for my calamari, shouldn't that have already been cooking? And they didn't even bring my edamame. Shouldn't you have brought that out while I was waiting for my calamari. ORDER TO GO!

    (2)

  • Tom C.

    Very cool place - and pretty good sushi. Their happy hour specials are good as well as the specials on the wall. Give er a try!

    (4)

  • Kaitlin M.

    Where to begin... The bacon fried rice? The filet mignon? The hilarious entertainment? Kobe's is hands down the best hibachi restaurant I've ever been to! Forget Benihanna, this is a hidden gem nestled in the east bay. My boyfriend and I come here all the time and split a California roll and a filet mignon dinner (plus a glass, or 4, of wine) and we both roll out the door stuffed. Not sure what else to say except check it out, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Rodney V.

    Went to Kobe on a referral by a friend and all was as they described it: better lit, decent food, not as hot (temperature inside) as the other teppanyaki-style restaurants but lacked in a few other places. We went for my son's 10th birthday and we didn't get the $30 coupon as advertised online. We signed-up a couple days before going and never received it. When I asked the manager, he said that he would give it to us anyway which seemed very nice. They gave us my son's $13 meal off....kind of disappointing... Jury is still out on this place for me as I know what I am getting with good consistency from Benihana and Hana Japan.

    (2)

  • Doug S.

    My go-to spot for Sushi in pleasant hill area. They have a great happy hour from 4 - 6 every day.

    (4)

  • Remie M.

    I met up with 3 other friends for dinner. Thought it would only fair to meet up in the middle of our locations. My friend mentioned this place. I was excited to go to a teppan place! As we arrived, we were all greeted in a friendly matter and seated right away. Our chef was awesome. He made us laugh as he was cooking. I ordered the steak, scallop and shrimp meal. The food was wonderful! Especially, the fried rice. And of course, I had to do sake bombs!

    (4)

  • Vanessa D.

    My husband and I love this place! We live in Fremont and make the drive to Kobe Japan about once a month. Service is always good and the tepanyaki is awesome. We don't care about the "show", I guess it's fine. But the bacon fried rice is amazing!! The Kobe beef is also delicious!

    (5)

  • Matthew F.

    My wife and i go here for happy hour atleast once every two weeks. The bartender Tien always remebers us what we like to order and how we like ot prepared. They have a great happy hour but if you go, please do not take my favorite table.

    (5)

  • Sean W.

    Stopped by for an early dinner to go. Tekka Maki. Bar server was punctual to take my order. No foul on the serving staff. It's the sushi you need to keep an eye on. When you order Tekka Maki, a tuna roll, you expect maguro tuna. That would be the red looking stuff. I was served a white tuna but didn't look at the order till I got home. I phoned to inquire about it, they still claim it's maguro. Except I am not allergic to maguro tuna (bluefin), but am extremely allergic to white meated tunas, such as albacore. There was no color in this tuna, they still claimed it was maguro because it was the light color maguro, except there is no light color tuna. It will not go to white, it can go to a light pink though. Red to light pink. I accepted their answer, tried one. It caused a hideous reaction and in the trash it went. Another thing, it stunk and at first I assumed my initial whiff was of vinegar. NO. It stunk and that's the last time I will eat there.

    (2)

  • Sabrina F.

    Kobe Japan is one of my boyfriend and I's favorite sushi restaurants. The fish is always fresh and the quality of food and service is exceptional. You can follow them on Facebook for monthly dinner for 2 coupons, which are a great value! Very creative presentation and excellent value.

    (5)

  • Clarice O.

    Honestly, I think their food is just 2-star worthy. But since they have pretty good happy hour prices and the people I went with and I always had a great time in our visits, I think that a bump to 3 is called for. I grudgingly answer that call because Kobe had provided us with a clean venue where my friends and I could enjoy each other's companies. It is imperative that it be understood that this is not because of the superb service or food of the restaurant -- my friends and I are just able to have fun wherever we are. Kobe is located in a residential area of Pleasant Hill. I do like the honey oak furnishings and how being here makes me think I am in some Japanese coastal town. The place is quite clean and is almost always able to accommodate us without any wait. It also seems like a neighborhood hangout, where people head to get a drink and cheap sushi after getting off work. The food is mediocre. But if you were on a budget and simply must have some sushi, it is acceptable. The waitstaff are not very attentive. You have to work to get their attention if you wanted a refill. They are not rude, but they are not very personable either. One thing we always notice is that their clientele are mostly seriously lacking Asians or any other minorities. Perhaps their sushi is tailored to cater to their regular customers' palate, in which case everything makes sense. This is still a place to go to when we are being cheap, in need of our sushi fix, and want a decent venue to hang out.

    (3)

  • Magdalena K.

    Not impressed at all. Sushi was average, salmon teriyaki was good. One roll was torched and I hate that, asked them to redo it, came back testing like smoke.

    (3)

  • Mary K.

    Great place to get good Japanese food. Tried it for the first time today. I was really impressed.

    (4)

  • A C.

    Went there for girlfriends birthday. The atmosphere is more comfortable than Benihana and the food is better. Our chef was funny and the food was very tasty.

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    we went to Kobu to celebrate my fiance's birthday. we're originally from the east coast and have been celebrating his birthday by getting hibachi every year since we've been together, so we've been to our fair share of hibachi restaurants! kobu is okay. soup was really good, and the ginger dressing on the salad was really good too. we both had filet mignon, and the meat was PERFECT. melt-in-you-mouth tender, nicely seasoned. just perfect. the mixed veggies were very good as well, but the fried rice (we didn't get the bacon fried rice, which everyone raves about) was just okay. not particularly flavorful and a bit mushy. we were really missing hibachi noodles, which they don't offer (boo). the presentation was great - our chef was very friendly, very funny, and the table had a great time. the restaurant was pretty crowded and seemed somewhat understaffed. the front lobby waiting area was a mess of people, no real order to anything, and our waitress disappeared after taking our initial order. we were hoping for a drink refill towards the middle of our meal but just couldn't get her attention. fairly reasonably priced for hibachi style cuisine, but a little on the expensive side. we were hoping for a little more bang for our buck, but it wasn't terrible. just nothing exceptional.

    (3)

  • Mary G.

    Food was excellent and so was the presentation and service. However, their airconditioning sucks! It was 100 degrees outside and about 110 inside! We'll go back, but not in summer.

    (4)

  • Dj L.

    I like reviews quick and simple so: 5 stars Good food Fresh ingredients High quality sushi Friendly service Not too expensive Excellent and fun cooks for hibachi

    (5)

  • Anthony L.

    LMFAO! Well for starters we had a party of 13 and they sat us a table for 11 and we had to squeeze in uncomfortably. Then the waiter brought us a menu with sushi and dinner entrees on it. He went around and took everyone's order then got to my wife and I and we ordered chicken Katsu and the Beef short ribs, he then tells "us we don't serve dinner off that menu". I said "then why did you give us it", he says "you can order off the appetizer section". I tell him everything you have in the appetizer section is on you dinner menu just smaller, so if I order 2 short ribs and 2 Katsu with a side of rice you'll bring it just like what the dinner offers, he says "yes I can do that " so I tell him just order the dinners then" and he tells us sorry I can't serve that dinner here". Why the hell would you offer the same menu of appetizers but not the dinner, it's the same cooking and time top repair as the dinner. So my wife ordered sushi and left half of it said it tasted like it had been left out.

    (1)

  • Adrian R.

    came in without a reservation. We were treated nicely. The food was well prepared. Bacon fried rice was awesome! The sushi rolls we ordered were average. All and all I will return and try this again. Both my wife and I enjoyed our time here.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Tonight was my 4th visit. Walked out after 30 minutes. Took a seat at a table in the bar area. Table had to be cleaned. Bar back provided a menu. Bar back also notified bartender of my presence. Reminded bar back a second time of my presence. Bar back advised bartender, made eye contact with bartender. Bartender never came over to my table for my order. Same bartender all 4 visits. Poor service on first three visits, no service tonight. When I have been able to order food, only part of what you order comes out of kitchen. You have at ask continually about outstanding items ordered. Have spent average of 45.00 each visit for one guest. Tip averages 15- 20.00 each visit. No tip tonight! Food / Sushi is average at best. No more Kobe and crappy bartender for me. Anybody recommend a great Sushi Bar & Restaurant in Pleasant Hill Walnut Creek?

    (1)

  • Shanna M.

    Great place to get drinks and sushi with friends. They have a full bar and their rolls are decently priced. Service isn't as attentive as I usually like but the rolls are HUGE and definitely make up for it.

    (4)

  • Adrienne G.

    We like to come here for the Hibachi. A fun and tasty experience. Much less craziness and chaos than Benihana or Hana Japan. Which for us is a plus.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    I love this place! I've always sat in the bar area and have always had wonderful service. I like the wide variety of sushi options and love that they have seasonal items as well. They have a full bar as well which is nice. They had a lovely pineapple martini with house-made infused vodka. I haven't sat in the dining room yet, but I imagine it would be just as nice.

    (5)

  • Elaine R.

    This place is awesome! The food was great and the service was even better! Only caveat is probably the parking, but if you get here early, it shouldn't be a problem. Had my uncle's 60th birthday party for 35+ppl, and they were able to accommodate all of us even the additional guests and children I hadn't accounted for. Terry the owner was SO VERY HELPFUL and very genuine he was really nice guy and not out to just make profit, which really made this place even more special... He gave some very nice advice to make this more economical for my aunt who was taking care of the bill. Anyway, the hibachi was really one of the best I've been too and I've been too a few...From the veggies (flavorful and cooked just right), to the fried rice with bacon (man i can just go back for just that), but the star was the KOBE beef and filet mignon....OMG was in heaven and even though they did use butter...i think our chef was named Ken(he's the main one on the website) and he was really funny and made my uncle's bday extra special and enjoyable..Rey our server was awesome and so were all the servers in the establishment. My cousins who are total beef snobs loved the Kobe beef... it's not a huge establishment, but it's worth it for a special occasion or just going for good surf and turf...the sushi is AWESOME too they've won awards on it and have a wide variety...frankly if you eat hibachi there's really no room for sushi, so decide on one or the other or ensure you share the sushi. Everyone had a great time...honestly this was one of the best places my large and loud family had a really good time and enjoyed the food a lot. Thanks Terry!

    (5)

  • Amy P.

    TODAY IS NOT A HOLIDAY I grew up off of Oak Park Boulevard so it always interestes me when something new comes to this Plaza across from Safeway. When Kobe was new to the plaza, I was very happy with their lunch specials and bento box meals. Lunch specials are available Monday through Friday. A co-worker of mine made the place a favorite and we kept talking about getting lunch together here some time. That lunch never took place. And for different reasons neither her nor I will probably be going back. For me, there are just other bento box lunches closer to my home now, and the food here isn't worth going out of my way. Plus, there was an afternoon that I had off work for a holiday. The holiday fell on a Sunday and was being recognized on the subsequent Monday for our office. I came in and ordered a lunch special but was told it's not available weekends or holidays. I stammered that today wasn't a holiday but obviously they were too worried about all the people off work swarming their restaurant. At least if that ever happened, they had an extra seat for the crowd, because I got up and left.

    (3)

  • Dani L.

    Tried the place for the first time after having our eye on it forever and we loved it! The show and interaction with us from the staff was above and beyond Benihana we had an amazing time! The good was either almost as good if not just as good as Benihana. The lobster was a bit better at Benihana but that's about it- at the end of the day overall experience I would choose Kobe over Benihana- plus the drinks at Kobe are AMAZING AND STRONG! lol

    (5)

  • Venisse A.

    Came here for my dad and brothers's bday. I have to say it is better than benihanas! The steak was soo juicy!

    (4)

  • Raji R.

    I came here for lunch and loved the fact that they had a lunch menu. I ordered the fiesta and golden gate rolls - they were both fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the sushi and would definitely recommend it for a good lunchtime spot - service was quick, food was good, and prices are decent - the happy hour menu definitely helps the cause!

    (4)

  • John L.

    I like this place. We found this place as a result of not wanting to go to the local hibachi place and not really wanting to go to Benihana either. It had a few good reviews, so we decided to make the drive out to Pleasant Hill and check it out. I've been here a few times now, and have experienced the lunch and dinner and its always been good. Service has always been provided in a prompt, and well mannered fashion. The bartender even knows a little bit about tending bar, which is a thing that is frustratingly rare. The kobe beef is definitely worth trying at least once, it is tender and tasty enough to justify the extra few bucks. The "ambiance" or whatever you want to call it is casual, laid back and open. Too many of these hibachi style restaurants rely on a poorly executed dimly lit decor that feels stuffy and/or stupid. This place, with its large windows and warm interior is inviting and enjoyable. I'm not a connoisseur of "the show", and I don't interact with the chef in a drunken attempt at humor. Rather, I enjoy the company I have, and allow the shenanigans at the cooking station to provide a fun background. I know that there are people, I've sat next to plenty of them, that rely on their interaction with the server, the chef and everyone else around them to validate whatever sort of existence they've got going for themselves. Unfortunately, places like this attract such individuals, and yet Kobe Japan manages to keep me coming back

    (4)

  • Don M.

    Been there a couple of times and have no complaints. I just felt compelled to write a review because there are so many mixed reviews for this place. We had Ken last night for a chef and he interacted well with the kids and made it fun for the table. Food was good- your basic foods for this type of venue/restaurant.

    (4)

  • Veronica G.

    I went with my husband for our date night. The food was good. My favorite part was the shrimp; perfectly cooked and seasoned. The only thing I did not like was that the cook was only interacting with one of the guest only. They knew each other. It killed the whole experience because the chef kept giving this person food when this person only ordered from the sushi bar. Not cool! But besides this, the staff is friendly, price and entertainment is good! My husband and l recommend this place.

    (4)

  • A in Pleasant H.

    2 stars for happy hour. I had lunch at Kobe once, and it was pretty good. A fairly typical Japanese Bento assortment. Been wanting to try happy hour. 6 specialty rolls for happy hour - 4 with spicy fish. While spicy fish is popular, I think the spice masks the fish flavor. Plus, sushi chefs at other places have told me they use the scraps and leftovers, dice them, and add spice to lower costs. I asked if I could have non -spicy fish substituted. No. Not even non -spicy crab meat. So I ordered one of the 2 remaining rolls. I think it was crab topped with salmon and a sauce. Lion King Roll. They should call it Mushy Roll. Came wrapped in a tinfoill wrapper like a boat - totally encased. Tried to eat a slice, half the slice stayed stuck in the foil. Totally overcooked rice, drenched in sauce, tasted nothing like salmon, or crab - only mayonnaise. I highly recommend this roll for people who get dragged to sushi bars despite hating fish and fearing raw food. Came on a platter with 3 slices sashimi for $2 more. Sashimi was pretty good - nice size slices, good temperature. Still unsatisfied tried the only other non -spicy roll, Rainbow Roll. It was ok, but even on this unheated roll, the rice was very mushy. Slices of fish on top pretty skimpy compared to other sushi bars. I wont go back for happy hour sushi, but I'd consider returning for lunch. And ive never tried their Teppan tables, so wouldn't rule that out.

    (2)

  • Tony C.

    Been here twice now, and been blown away both times. For the record, I've eaten once at the sushi bar, and once at a Teppanyaki table. The sushi bar was clean, the fish was so fresh that day, and they had a great selection of weird to eat. I loved it. Teppanyaki was so much better than at Benni's. Way more personable and entertaining. Food was just as good. I was full long before my tuna came out though. Needed a box before the rice even came! A little pricey and the service can be slow/forgetful at times but I'd still take that for the intimacy feel over having a chain feel to it. Worth a monthly night out.

    (5)

  • Ben C.

    Heard good things about this place, but we got delivery from here and it was just eh. Because of the good reviews we'd go there in person but pass on the delivery or take out. Yo Yo

    (3)

  • Jason K.

    This building is kind of a dump. I would bet money that it was painted with the cheapest Walmart paint available. The seats are 20 year old banquet chairs with an extra cushion placed on top to keep you from falling though the middle. The floor is greasy and brown. The mixed drinks are awefull so order something that can't be screwed up like sake or beer. The food was pretty good except the steak was over cooked and the "Kobe" steak is from Idaho so that's not legit Kobe steak. Do not go out of your way to find this place, do walk here if you live around the corner and have low standards.

    (2)

  • Shannon F.

    Decent food, but nothing exceptional. I came here slightly on a whim recently while running some errands somewhat close by. I had a mad craving for Japanese food, and was curious of checking out a new place; so with a click into the Yelp app, this place came up within distance; which made me delighted to check out, being it resides within my old stomping grounds. The place is relatively nice, providing some nice spacious rooms, along with plenty of seating. The service upon entering was also extremely welcoming. I was seated within the room next to the sushi bar. It took a few minutes to be greeted by my server. They have a decent selection of sushi and additional options to choose from. I started off my visit, with their cold house sake. I then decided to go with a bento box. I believe it was 3 choices of options priced at $19.00 ( totally pricey if you ask me) but I was hungry, and was willing to give then a shot. For my options I chose: Teriyaki chicken, some sort of garlic broccoli(comes with a garlic sauce) and the vegetable tempura. It also comes with the miso soup and salad. The soup was ok; as well as the salad. Bento box arrived aesthetically appealing, however was just nothing superb. Teriyaki chicken was good. Tempura was just ok ( and I usually am not too picky with tempura. And as far as the garlic broccoli, the sauce it came with, was far from spectacular. Overall, the environment was nice ( all though a little choppy in the lay out) service was mixed between good, and just so-so. And as far as the food, definitely not something that has me eager of wanting to come back - especially considering the slightly steeper prices.

    (3)

  • Angela H.

    First impressions: parking sucks, smells good inside. I was with a pretty big group, so we got the back room all to ourselves. Soon enough, our waitress took our orders, and soon after that, our chef Genji was ready to prepare it all for us. his knife skills were top notch. When he was spinning and cracking the eggs, I was impressed. I had the scallops and shrimp, and they were perfectly prepared. I wish we were able to order half portions, or do something a la carte... It was way more food than I needed (although, I did eat it all...), and it would be pretty nice to have the option not to get everything the full menu comes with. Food + chef - parking = 4 stars

    (4)

  • Jess A.

    Was planning on going to Benihanas found this place on yelp and decided to try it out. To my surprise it was SO much better than Benihanas! The staff is so warm and welcoming they make you feel at home! The drinks were so yummy and the food was delicious! The new chef from San Diego was so awesome!! Can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • maria t.

    Great place for entertainment and some of the best sushi. I love a good Lion King and theres certainly pleased my palette. The family took me here for Mother's Day this year. We sat at the Chef table. One of the family members hates mushrooms, imagine that. After the chef got through cooking for us hes a lover from now on. I loved my special day with the family and great food.

    (4)

  • Homer S.

    I'm a fan of this place. The Sushi was pretty is good. The teppanyaki was also very tasty. They have different sauces that you eat the teppanyaki with. I really liked the white creamy sauce. They have vegetarian fried rice and bacon fried rice.

    (4)

  • Jim D.

    Kinda strange but the directions say this restaurant is in San Francisco. The Kobe Japan Sushi Steakhouse is in Pleasant Hill nestled in the suburbs close to Walnut Creek, not easy to get to. The Japan Sushi Steakhouse features a sport bar, a sushi bar and Teppan style cooking tables decorated in American decor, not your typical Japanese decor. Since my company team was having a team dinner, it was free and I had nothing to do on a Wednesday night I decided to go. Our team sat at the Teppan style cooking table and watched Chef Ken do his magic. After a couple Sapporos I thought that he was "Iron Chef" No. 1. Ken broke out his magic spatula and knives and precisely cut the vegetables and made his version of fried rice with egg and bacon. He stole my flavorful recipe I thought. For my main entree I ordered the filet mignon plus lobster and other team members ordered the similar entrees. Chef Ken noticed that I whipped out my Yelp app on my phone and asked me about it. I told him that tonight's outing was for our brilliant efforts on the team and the company was paying. He was probably wondering if I was going to give him a good or bad review. Only bad part was I had ordered the filet mignon medium and I thought it was going to have some pink but it was closer to well done. The lobster was cooked just right with the right amount of seasoning. I must admit the food tasted better then the restaurant that starts with a B______. Hangman fellow Yelpers.

    (4)

  • Melissa M.

    The sushi is very good here but not the best I've had. I used to manage a fish market so my standards run high. I like the ambience here with the dark colored walls in the bar area with large windows to the outside. The service was friendly in the bar but very slow. Had a hard time getting a drink refilled and the bill paid but the food was good and we weren't in a hurry. Overall I do like coming here from time to time especially for happy hour!

    (4)

  • Laroo L.

    I've been on a hunt for another great sushi restaurant without an hour wait. A hidden hidden gem, sadly, The Hunt continues! We were the first ones there as they opened. Service was slow from the get go & worse as more patrons came in for lunch. Never got one sushi roll even after the reminder. Sushi lunch only: Fish tasted fresh, but the rice tasted day old. Not impressed.

    (2)

  • Kristina L.

    Love the show! Perfect place to take a date, but of course you can always bring your friends and family. This was my first place I have ever experienced a show of the cooks throwing their knives around and tossing an egg into the air. I was so impressed! The ambiance is very pleasant, with dim lighting. Service was great, so I can't complain. Food: Everything was cooked to how I like, medium rare, and again, I love how they do it right in front of you.

    (4)

  • Christine C.

    I came here for lunch during the weekday because I was craving a chirashi bowl. We ordered the sashimi salad and chirashi bowl and I was pretty disappointed. The chirashi bowl was not what I expected. Too much sauce and the sashimi itself was cubes of fish..more like a poke bowl. I couldn't even tell what kind of fish I was eating or if it was fresh at all. The sashimi salad seemed like the same thing except salad instead of rice. It kind of satisfied my craving for raw fish but I don't think I'd order it again. Otherwise, friendly and good service!

    (2)

  • Dana V.

    If I could give it 10 stars I would. I have been looking for good Hibachi in the bay area for years and I finally found phenomenal hibachi at Kobe Japan! Got there around 5;45 pm on a Friday night and were seated before 6 and our orders were taken within about 5 minutes. The service was quick, extremely friendly and the show chef Ken put on was fabulous. Food: For Apps we got Kobe Beef Skewers and Grilled Brussels Sprouts. The beef was melt in your mouth tender and the sprouts were exceptionally garlicky. For dinner we had lobster, shrimp, steak and chicken. I am usually a very saucy person but I must confess, i barely used any of their 3 sauces to dip my entrees in, they were that good. The lobster was covered in butter and garlic then served back in its own shell (terribly cute). The shrimp wasn't over done but had a nice sear. The filet was melt i n your mouth tender even after being cooked well done. The also have an huge assortment of sushi that looks mouth-wateringly good. Will have to save room for that the next time I go back. Can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Gavin B.

    Pros: - great sushi, had the kobe and apollo rolls - excellent beer/sake selection - had the habachi in the past and its excellent cons: - took 15 minutes to get our first drinks - it was 100 degrees out and i don't think they had AC so i was sweating my balls off - verizon doesn't get service there so i asked for their wifi password but apparently they don't give it to customers even though the wifi says "kobe" lol the manager came over and gave us our beer for free since they took so long to get our drinks out so they earned back a star

    (4)

  • Josh D.

    A friend of ours grew up in this area and recommended this Japanese / Sushi restaurant to us. What a hidden gem. Tucked in a small 60's era strip mall, you could miss it if you're driving by and unfamiliar with the area. An indifferent facade gives way to a traditional Japanese setting for sushi. Or a benihana type setting for hibachi. Or a sports bar for more causal fare. This place has it all in a comfortable setting. The sushi is well prepared, fresh and has beautiful presentation. The prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food. The service is outstanding. Great setting for family, friends or a romantic dinner. Highly recommended if you're in the area. Worth the drive if you aren't.

    (5)

  • Jazmin R.

    Here I am again! Our chef ken never disappoints. Not only is he An amazing chef but also remembers his guests and welcomes us back every time. I've worked in the restaurant industry for years and definitely can appreciate someone who pays attention to detail. Thank you ken and Kobe Japan!

    (5)

  • Rebecca H.

    I can only base this review on the sushi and the happy hour. I have been here several times to sit at the bar for happy hour and have left satisfied every time! Its one of the best happy hours I have been to. The food is delicious and the prices are even better. Plus the friendly guy behind the bar gives great service. I highly suggest it!

    (5)

  • Andy L.

    Food is pretty darn good. Wish they had appetizers and other food in the teppanyaki side. I have been here about 4-5 times and the show really varies. My last time I had this one teppanyaki chef who barely said a word. I was enjoying watching other tables performances instead. Food and drinks though - good enough to make me want to go back.

    (4)

  • Liz M.

    Came here for the first time last night with family and I already can't wait to come back. They give you more food than benihanas and the chefs are 10x more amusing and friendly. They cook your food fast and it's so good! Bacon fried rice was bomb dot com I loved it!

    (5)

  • Connie T.

    Had dinner last week at the wonderful place. Had the "Hibachi" style cook. Fabulous presentation! The man is a real showman.had New York steak which was tender full of flavor, and well cooked as I like it. Plenty of vegetables- broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and zucchini, also full of flavor. Small bowls of soup and salad to start. I was stuffed! The room was noisy because of everyone having a great time. Worth the $$! Will go back again for special times!

    (5)

  • Kristi C.

    This place has something for everyone. Fabulously fast & friendly service too. Some friends come here on a regular basis, the food and service is consistently good. Kobe Beef Sliders, YUM. Not what I expected on their menu. The buns were warm and slightly toasted. Tekka Maki, Kobe Roll, Salmon Nigiri, Unagi Nigiri and Tuna Sashimi, were all well prepared and tasted great. The only miss of the evening was the Beef Lettuce Cups. Not that it was a bad dish, it was one of those "okay" things you order but agree you wouldn't need to again. Believe me, there's plenty more on the menu to try!

    (4)

  • Toni R.

    This place was just BOMB AF!!! I loved the sushi and hibachi. Our waiter was great and super friendly! Complementary ice cream for the birthday girl as well. We had the spider and ninja sushi rolls. Both were amazing. All in all a great experience.

    (5)

  • Kevin A.

    Something very wrong today and we notice it going downhill. Went in for Hibachi. She said 20 minute wait but only one half of one table was seated so we sat in regular area for sushi lunch. Took 10 minutes to get water and take order. Over 15 mins passed she came back to say kitchen was out of one persons order of out party of four. Selected a different item from menu. Few minutes passed and they brought a complimentary edamame bowl because it was taking so long. Another 10 minutes and two meals arrived with soup and salads, but two of us didn't get salad so they removed from table and gave to another table! Then meal three came. When three of us were just about done the fourth meal arrived and we all watched her eat alone. Bathrooms dirty no paper towels in ladies room and urinal in men's room overflows. This was a disaster. Didn't see owner. Did new people but it?

    (2)

  • SFgirl B.

    Outstanding experience! The service was incredible and we were very lucky to have chosen a Sunday for lunch - the specials are a great deal and we had a teppanyaki all to ourselves. Food was fresh, some items organic, lots of choices on sauces and everything prepared to order.

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    This place is really falling down. A few trips I a row the sushi is just poor quality and fishy. Tastes frozen and burned. The poke salad was like that as were the roles. Multiple times now. Plus they took some of the more interesting roles off the menu. Becoming on my avoid list.

    (2)

  • April M.

    Superior than Beni??...definitely!!! Service exceptional. Priced just right.... Great place to try Kobe Meat!!! My Fav Japanese this side of the Bay. Terry the Owner will make sure you're well taken care of. Humble & so personable!!!! Joy our Server was definitely Joyful w/ matching Joyous Infinite Smiles!!!

    (5)

  • David W.

    This place is hit and miss but never over 3 1/2 stars. The food is not as good as Benihana and the prices are pretty much the same. The one area where Kobe Japan excels is in their bar area, it is large and they have a full selection of drinks quite a few beers on tap. I would recommend getting steak or shrimp, the chicken always seems to come out rubbery. Sushi is decent and the jalapeño poppers are pretty solid.

    (3)

  • Kris T.

    Holy freakin' crap?! How have I not ever been here before? Seriously, I feel so dumb for going to Benihana all those years, claiming those $30 birthday certificates. After my experience here, I don't think that I'll ever go back! The real deal hibachi experience is here. So, you may ask why I am so enthusiastic about this place? First is price and food quality. I got the filet mignon and the scallops with bacon fried rice. For what I paid, everything was delicious and expertly prepared. Everything tasted exactly like what it should of tasted like. My filet was cooked a perfect medium rare, and the chef asked if I wanted medium or fully cooked scallops. I chose medium and he told me that was the best way to eat them. Its great getting suggestions to better enhance your meal. As for the bacon fried rice... why haven't I had it before??? Second, Service. My server was a little slow at first getting my drinks, but after our meal started she was spot on. When I needed a Toyko tea or another round of hot sake, she was on it! Our chef was hysterical and very talented. He isn't a "Japanese" chef like you would see at Benihana, he is a Japanese chef! When the waitstaff messed up his cart and they needed to restock it with the proper ingredients, he played it off into his routine. He was a joy to watch and stuff actually was engulfed in flames! I'm talking flames so big that you can feel the heat from 10 feet away! Amazing! Call me a pyro, whatever. The point is, the show is way cooler here. Overall, I see this becoming a monthly thing for me and the wife. I want to go back and try that Kobe Beef!

    (5)

  • Joseph T.

    Went here for my brothers birthday and I absolutely love it! They have a full bar on one room and the other room with the tables to watch the chefs cook! I ordered steak with shrimp along with bacon fried rice (yeah bacon!) I do wish they had another TV in the main room where we ate so I could catch the game. But other than that the chefs were very entertaining and my nephews loved it!

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    This place is excellent! I've heard so much from people about this place and me and my boyfriend had to check it out. We went last Saturday and we're so impressed we went back tonight (exactly a week later). Bob really knows how to use flavors geared toward each person's liking! This spicy sauce he makes is delish, if you can handle the heat. Fish is very fresh. You won't be disappointed. Great job Kobe Japan.

    (5)

  • Ann B.

    One of my fav's!! Great for couples, for socializing, for the family. The garlic edamame is to die for, the sushi is amazing ~ haven't yet met a roll I didn't like! Kobe steak fried rice is great too, as are the daily specials. My favorite part?? We often frequent the bar seating as we don't have reservations, and like to catch whichever game is on. The bar tender, Tien, remembers our favorite drinks, greats my youngest daughter by name, and the conversation makes for a terrific experience each and every time.

    (5)

  • Denver P.

    I'm saddened by the lack of professionalism from an establishment with what seemed to be good reviews. As new homeowners in the area, we were excited to try this restaurant. Unfortunately, our food (at least the main course) never came for my husband. We waited patiently for 20 minutes before I became upset. The server, bartender, busboy, and host all came by to say how things are going and every time the answer was the same, "Where's his food?" They just laughed it off and then I started to get a litany of excuses: "the printer was down"; "we have a new chef", "we're busy." All were false statements and just excuses for poor coordination. We were not alone as I heard the party adjacent to us not receiving a variety of their items too. Finally, we got up and asked for the bill. Get this.. They had the audacity to charge me for food that never arrived. I handed them a $100 and waited for another 8 minutes for change. They some how managed to box up something but it was too late. We lost our appetite. I didn't want it. Paying $57 for it was one thing but it cost us much more. What a horrible experience. I've traveled the world and I have never been treated so badly. Perhaps it was their goal.. Maybe they just didn't want our money? You can see from my profile. I don't complain. I'm a fair and rational person. With that being said, I encourage my fellow residence of Pleasant Hill and Poets' Corner to not endure this type of service.

    (1)

  • Jason R.

    I love eating at their hibachi tables. Kobe like Benhiana is a place where the mean IS a show. Not ot be overlooked however is their sushi selection. Fresh fish and pleanty of it in an order. My wife and I ordered a sushi boat for 2 and were blown away at the amount of fish we were served. Needsless to say we both walked away stuffed and happy. If you're looking for good moderately priced sushi with high end flaor. Kobe is your spot!

    (4)

  • Mark F.

    Amazing service and awesome food!!! I will come back again because of the show and the food.

    (5)

  • Armali R.

    Party of 14 (including a 4 yo and infant) on Mother's Day. There was a restricted menu on Mother's Day. No specialties i.e. Steak teriyaki, no bento orders, no combos, no substitutions. But OF COURSE, all sushi (nigiri and sashimi) was open to order. And there was a set menu, separate from their regular menu to order from which included items like New York steak w/garlic shrimp (which is what I ordered). more on that later. But to the point... Service was absolutely HORRENDOUS!! Both waitresses were ignorant, and had no regard for customer service. They couldn't even get orders or requests right. - both my bro and I ordered the same thing. Usually when ordering a steak, I am asked how I would like it cooked. The waitress didn't ask my bro or me how we preferred our steaks so I had to remind her 3x. - my entire family received their orders. All of them were sushi orders. Usually sushi takes the longest. They must have beefed up in sushi chefs for Mom's Day. Which brings up the matter of bad scheduling, and bad management. - my cousin ordered filet mignon, side of brussels sprouts. Out of the 12 of us that placed orders, the 3 of us with steak orders.. We watched our family eat and feel bad for us while we sat for over an hour for our steaks. -I was the first to get my steak. It was luke warm. My bro and cousin still hadn't gotten theirs. I went outside to smoke just to see if they would get their steaks in the time I was gone. NOPE!!! -my bro got his 10 mins after I got back, my cousin didn't. But when he did, he got THE WRONG ORDER. And the waitress had the gall to say, someone took his order and didn't even tell him til she gave it to him. .Um hello!?? Not his problem. Get your act right!!! -oh and the manager wasn't even there when I tried to rectify the whole mess before steppin out for a cig. By the time he got back, we were already "DONE!" He made some efforts to try to resolve the whole mess of Mother's Day dinner. And I give him a bit of credit for his efforts but ummmm smh. -but really, none of that should have happened. All our food should have came out at the same time. Our waitresses should have been friendly and open to hearing us. Management needs to get their scheduling for special events/holidays under wraps. And limiting their menu is just a horrible move!!! They probably thought to limit it would make them so much money, but they had to chalk us up to a $204 loss Bc they removed all steak charges and it was desserts on the house. Lmao!!!! And charging $38 for New York steak!! Shame on you boss!!! Greedy don't get you no where. all in all, I was pretty irritated. Not Bc of my steak being Luke warm and late as hell but Bc my family hardly sees each other and to have to endure that when we do... And on Mother's Day!!! Not cool, Kobe (Pleasant Hill, CA). We were there from 6pm to almost 9pm. It wasn't even busy. So to claim understaffing would be a funny lie. The only reason my mom chose Kobe was Bc they took reservations and had good yelp reviews. HAHAAAA!! Oh yeah, the garlic shrimp was disgusting! Way too salty and not edible. I could go on to say more bad things about this place but I'll just close it with, the manager really tried to "fix it" Bc I told him the whole time I was sitting there, I was formulating the yelp review in my head. And I knew that scared him. But it doesn't matter bad or good, I always report the truth. Better luck next time, Kobe. Just not with us. Greed gets you no where. Hope you learned your lesson.

    (2)

  • MICHAEL M.

    One of my FAVORITE sushi places. The service is always fast. The sushi rolls FRESH!!! I go every month for the monthly special,gives you a chance to try different rolls at a reasonable price. Go early, parking lot is always crowded.

    (5)

  • Luciana A.

    Called Benihana for a reservation and they didn't have one available for tonight, so we decided to search Yelp for another Hibachi place in town. Found this with good reviews and decided to try it out. All we have today is that we are happy we did!! The food was excellent and our chef was fantastic!! Our 10 year old was mesmerized!! We will certainly be back for more!! I am sorry for Benihana, I guess we won't be back there again...

    (5)

  • Annemieke K.

    Unfortunately a couple decided to wait at the table after dinner to chat so we couldn't get seated for 45 minutes. However, the service was amazing, the chefs were the best chefs we've ever had at any hibachi place and the manager Gwen (spelling?) was so accommodating; best manager I've dealt with at a restaurant: I absolutely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • James M.

    Went to Kobe Japan on a Friday night with no reservation, was pretty full but they seated us quickly. The sushi was great and the service was awesome. Highly recommended. Ill have to go back and try the Hibachi side sometime.

    (5)

  • Marcela Q.

    I went here for my friends birthday, and it was was amazing. Not only was the food great, but the customer service too. We had about 20 people or maybe more and sat down at the hibachi tables. The cooks were nice and funny, the waitresses were on top of it and the atmosphere was great. You get a lot of food and that is why it is a little pricey but it is definitely worth it.

    (5)

  • Shelley K.

    What a great experience. We got the steak/scallop, steak/shrimp, and shared a spicy tuna roll. John was our cook and he gave us an amazing show! Really funny and energetic guy. You can tell he enjoys his job. Steak was good, scallops were juicy and smooth, and the shrimp was well-flavored and delicious. The spicy tuna roll was one of the best I've had-super fresh tuna used, which is surprising cause restaurants generally use old tuna and add spice to mask the weird smell. (A tip for those who want to order spicy tuna.) Overall, the service made my experience. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Kiera R.

    We go here every year for Thanksgiving! It's perfect for us--no mess, no fuss, no clean-up, sushi (we always order so much we stuff ourselves and take home more rolls), and hibachi grill to keep our infant son entertained. It's never crowded due to the holiday, so it's even better and more intimate for our family. The customer service here is always wonderful!

    (5)

  • Tiffany M.

    We really liked this place, definitely different than Benihana but it has the same feel. We got there about ten minutes before our reservation, and were told we could wait in the bar (which had happy hour!). Service in the bar was quick, and it had a real home-town bar feel. Lots of people in there and friendly service. We then got seated at the hibachi grill, right next to another couple, even though the other half of the table was empty and they weren't expecting more people to show up. That was a little uncomfortable. We actually asked to be scooted over. Time for dinner! First of all, our waitress was brand new that day, but did a really great job! Props to her. Second, our chef was so great! Older gentleman with lots of tricks, jokes, and flirting up his sleeve. He made it very entertaining. The onion soup didn't have enough onion, but still pretty good. The salad dressing was delicious, lots of ginger. The Filet mignon was amazing, and the shrimp to go with it. I didn't like the dipping sauces... especially the mustard. Not so great. No dessert menu was offered and we weren't asked if we wanted anything. They gave everyone a bowl of fruit, but I would have preferred ice cream (like Benihana). I would still prefer to go to Benihana over this place, but it wasn't bad! I'm just picky.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Similar to other places like Benihana, I really think they offer a better value. The service and food here are superior to Benihana.

    (4)

  • Trina S.

    I made a reservation but got here earlier and they were able to seat us right away. Everything is great, from the service to the food and the ambiance. The interaction between the cook & the guests is great. Very entertaining!

    (5)

  • Judy D.

    Gotten a lot better since my last review. The manager took the time to write me after my last review. I shared my comments, and she changed things to make it better Thank you for caring. We will eat here often

    (4)

  • Katie S.

    Making advanced plans for dinner on Christmas is not in our DNA. We were happy and glad when I called at 6:00 that they could take us at 7 for three people. Seated after about five mins. Then nothing...no water, no hello we will be right with you - nothing. There were four kids at our table and all pretty hungry and ready for the show. Finally after 25 mins I found the manager for assistance. Very quickly after that we were on our way. Bummed no kids menu on Christmas as there is no way kids could all that food but they graciously split the meals. Food was good. Little bland and no extra things like hot towels. The manager was very apologetic when we left and did say they did not expect to be so busy. So, one important suggestion: don't keep making reservations if you don't have enough folks due to the holiday. Or, let us know up front and we could enjoy a cocktail in the bar first. But I really think they just forgot to tell the waitress we were there...they tried and we might go back (also not sure about the higher holiday prices for the same food. Not like it was special menu.) Plus it was freezing in the restaurant part way too cold to want to hang out and take your time.

    (3)

  • Casey A.

    I attended a family gathering here on Saturday. We reserved the Teppanyaki table for 14 people. The chef's were great! Very entertaining. The food was delicious. Our group ordered the chicken, new york steak, ahi and chateabriand (sp?). Everyone enjoyed their meal. My only complaint would be the uncomfortable temperature of the restaurant. Before we sat down I noticed the thermometer was set at 81 degrees. The room was really hot and it was made worse by the food being cooked. We asked several times for them to turn on the AC but it never cooled down. Several of us actually had to go outside as it was cooler outside than in the restaurant. I'm not sure why they didn't turn on the AC but I would think the comfort of their paying customers would be a priority.

    (4)

  • Rhea C.

    Miso ramen was not that great. Chicken was tender but no flavor at all. Portion was big, but for $7.95 I would expect it to be. Service was horrible! I had waited close to 30 min before being served my lunch, mind you it was not that busy. The waiter had passed by, I looked his way while the person I was with had glanced at her watch he had the audacity to glare back at us and say "what?!". He was very much aware that the food was taking a long time to arrive because I heard him tell the sushi chief that I had "been waiting 25min." Which was true since I had checked in to yelp as soon as my order was taken, & I decided to check how long it had been. All in all rude & the soup was not the greatest from what I had tasted.

    (1)

  • Rachel L.

    Tried this spot for the first time and we really liked it. We sat at the bar for happy hour. I ordered the pomegranate martini and it was pretty good. As for sushi, we tried their jalapeño poppers, lion king, Kobe roll, and rainbow with a side of seaweed salad. The food wasn't bad. I think the Kobe roll could've used more texture like crunch or something to make it more exciting. I would love to come here again and try more of their special rolls.

    (4)

  • Elba G.

    Kobe is DEFINITELY hit or miss. I've had awesome salmon teriyaki lunch specials there. $10 for a solid piece of salmon with roasted veggies, soup, and salad. Great meal and price! Didn't have the same luck with the bento box. Some bento boxes have been great (the vegetarian rolls and gyoza are solid) and some awful. I once got a box with garlic broccoli and it was HORRENDOUS. Seemed like frozen broccoli that was over steamed with an incredibly weak-barely-there garlic sauce. I also ordered a spicy tuna roll and went I went back to my office, I realized it was the wrong roll. It was some kind of weird indistinguishable fish that I was definitely not a fan of. Nonetheless, I'll probably keep going to Kobe and just stick with what I know is good.

    (3)

  • Karinna N Billy A.

    If you're looking for good sushi, this is not the place to go to. I dunno about the hibachi but the sushi was not good at all!!! So disappointed.

    (1)

  • Stephanie M.

    I love this place! It is right down the street from my house and is never a disappointment. The place is always fun, lively, and the food is great. If you are going with 1 or 5 you will have a great time. It is also my go to take out sushi spot!

    (4)

  • Terri N.

    Kobe Japan is a classy unique joint in a casual neighborhood location! 3 of us visited for a late Tuesday night dinner and we sat in the regular dining section, so unfortunately I can't comment on the hibachi action (though I hope to update soon!). The restaurant has a cool sectional setup with separate rooms for regular dining and sushi, hibachi tables, and the full bar. The menu is extensive and colorful with standard Japanese fare, including a good variety of specialty sushi rolls. I went with the bento box (chicken teriyaki, CA roll, sake sashimi, salad with ginger dressing, steamed rice, edamame and miso soup), and the others went with the fancy sushi rolls. The soup and teriyaki portion of my meal came out not only first, but WELL before all the sushi components. Waiting 10 minutes for my friends to get their orders, my chicken teriyaki was cold. The kitchen should work on their timing aspects in that sense for sure. But that is my only gripe! All the food was very tasty - the teriyaki sauce for the chicken had sweetness and tang without being syrupy like so many other places, and was served over some nice crunchy veggies. The salad was a nice blend of greens with delicious gingery dressing, and the California rolls were very tasty! The sake sashimi was the standout - 3 generous slices of gorgeous salmon served on their own, not over rice as expected. And what stands out most about Kobe - their mindblowing presentations! Everything is laid on the plate with care and a touch of elegance. The real show comes with the sushi - the rolls are plated on oversize plates, which are beautifully decorated with sauces! One plate had an ornate drawing of a fish, while the other showed a flowering tree. Sushi is always so beautiful on its own, and this makes it even better! A focus of the showmanship of food married with great taste and quality makes Kobe a spot I look forward to returning to.

    (4)

  • Pam m.

    A special homemade dessert ... the tiramisu mousse-style was delicious! Chef Peter you have culinary talent!!!

    (5)

  • Nic C.

    this review is for the Sushi side of the house. next time will try the hibachi. Sushi rolls were good and big. Prices were reasonable. Service was a lil slow, place was busy. Overall we had a great experience.

    (4)

  • Adam P.

    So my girlfriend and I loved this place, but we are not going to be going here anymore. The last two times we have, we both got horrible MUD BUTT. I mean just explosive diarrhea. It hit us right away both times, so we know it was caused by this place. I literally just took a nasty, painful crap a minute ago and I'm pretty pissed we have to deal with this. Also, we sat at the sushi bar tonight and it smelled like bird scat towards the end of dinner. We had to rush out after we paid the check super quickly. It's a shame because the staff is great, but this second installment of mud butt confirms it was indeed this place. So unless you enjoy shooting soy sauce out ur fart box, don't eat here.

    (1)

  • Aileen J.

    This is only for the bar area. We stopped in on our way to dinner on Valentine's day for a cocktail. The service was great, the cocktails strong and yummy, and the bar menu was good and reasonable. Can't ask for anything more!

    (4)

  • Joana D.

    Went here today to try the teppanyaki grill dishes. We were sat down with three other strangers. The server took forever to get us our drinks so we opted to eat in the other portion of the restaurant for sushi and sashimi. We had short ribs and spicy pork belly for apps. They were outstanding!! For main course the kobe beef fried rice was good tasting. Could use a bit more seasoning. Then for the sushi rolls we had dragon,kobe, and eclipse. We didn't realize each roll had so much. One roll was enough for two people. The taste were also good. Fresh taste. As for the sashimi. If you love eating fresh raw sushi,this is a place to go. The sashimi were thick sliced and well worth your money. This is my first time here and will not be the last. It's too bad I came a few minutws after happy hr ended. They have a great bar and seems to be filled when there are popular games on. Great place to eat and have fun.

    (3)

  • Alison C.

    The services is pretty bad. Was tired of going out for fine dinning on valentines day, I haven't confirm the order of the 12 shashimi but they placed the order, how the hell we can finish that much of food!!!! Omg !!! That's so retarded. On too of that, the shashimi were not fresh, very tender and the salmon is salty and no fish taste. Also!! I saw my cocktail order is ready and they didn't brig the drink over, even the food are here and we're already eating.The cocktail has no alcohol taste!! Oh my,, I ask the server to request for more liquor in it, they did tho. I am so disappointed to spend my v day there.

    (2)

  • Ashley A.

    Sushi is good, some rolls are better than others though...I like a place that serves delicious rolls no matter what you order. Their seaweed salad is vey good. They have a large bar and hibachi stove tops for those who don't want sushi.

    (3)

  • Jill P.

    Love this place! The food is great and I like it better than the chain version of teppanyaki (hint, hint you know where I am talking about). It is easy to get a table, call for a reservation to ensure you can get in when you want.

    (5)

  • Anu-P G.

    Very entertaining and fun atmosphere. But make no mistake, this is what you're paying for. The food was bland despite loads of oil, butter, and soy sauce. Even filet needs seasoning! Also minus a star for the service. We were waiting for five minutes before even speaking with a hostess even though we were the first in line. When we finally spoke, she was rude and rushed. I had to ask three times for a booster seat as well. This was all on a Monday night, not a particularly busy time for this restaurant.

    (3)

  • Daisy S.

    I love the hibachi dishes here! So much better than Benihana. I always get steak and shrimp with the bacon fried rice. I love the sauces that come along with it as well. The orange one is my favorite aka the yum yum sauce!!!

    (5)

  • Scott P.

    We have come here fairly often but I have not put in a review for it yet. This review is specific to the sit down portion of the restaurant, not the bar, sushi bar or teppan yaki. We are always greated pleasantly at the entrance by I believe either the owner or manager of the restaurant. He has always promptly seated us although I think we may have had to wait for the teppan yaki once in the past because it can be quite busy. We came for one of our friends birthdays and they sat five of us (four plus our daughter) in the back room. Despite being back there the servers were very good about making sure that we did not get lost in the shuffle. For appetizers, I was a bit disappointed in the calamari rings as they only served aabout five on the plate and even though we don't usually get rings at other restaurants, so it is a little hard to just, the portion seemed small. The yakatori (chicken in this case) was an order of three skewers, while it tasted great, again itseemed a little small. The miso soup was good but then again I like mine fairly salty. I strayed from my usual and got a bento box with chicken katsu, shrimp goyza, and veggie tempura. The chicken katsu was very good, crunchy and the white meat chicken was actually fairly moist but cooked through. The shrimp goyza tasted fanstastic with a scallion flavor seasoning the shirmp well. The veggie tempura was crunchy and not soggy, good tempura. One of our friends got the tempura ramen and he was happy with the serving size and flavor. My wife got a roll of sushi (sorry can't remember the name), she liked it, I could not taste it as I have to avoid sushi for right now. The serving size was HUGE though, seemed a good value. I had an FBI for dessert and they brought out a free ice cream (two scoops of his choice) for his birthday. I was pleasantly surprised by the dinner here, everything seemed well prepared and the service is always good no matter what part of the restaurant you go to. In a future review, I promise to review the sushi and teppan yaki. Definitely recommend this restaurant as it always has us coming back.

    (4)

  • T. C.

    Kobe has ruined us for all other sushi places. Whenever I order sashimi elsewhere now, I am always dismayed by the portion size. The portions of fish here are HUMONGOUS and the price point matches up pretty much with any other sushi place you'd go to. The fish is fresh and delicate. The signature rolls are inventive and tasty and HUGE. Seriously, I know sushi is typically a splurge, but due tot he portion size, this place makes it the BEST DEAL EVER. On top of the that, the presentation is always great when they send out our sushi (hooray for pretty plate art and flashy lights...I know, some people think it's cheesy, but I like it). Service is always good and FAST. I always get a kick out of the fact that almost everyone there is Chinese. (yeah! my peepz!) We love to sit at the sushi bar and see the sushi chef at work. PLUS sitting there puts you directly in front of two televisions that always have sports on. So much awesomeness. I watch the chef. The boy watches basketball. We will miss this place dearly when we move and will be sure to hit it up every time we pass by it on the way to the Bay Area. I don't have many favorites, but this is definitely my FAVORITE sushi place of all time.

    (5)

  • Thawep S.

    My family and I went to Kobe Japan today. We had steak and bacon fried rice. It was tasty. We enjoyed it very much. We will be there again if we are In the area.

    (4)

  • Erick V.

    Sushi was good quality. We ate the spider, ichiban, paradise, and under the sea rolls. All of them were delicious. They have a habachi grill too, which we will be back to try for next time. The service, however, could have been better, so four stars for good food and minus one on service. A bit generous. This may be due to the fact that our server was a bit new, but she was not attentive enough and forgot simple things such as water and more ginger and she didn't return often so we went thirsty and unable to cleanse our pallets between sushi rolls.

    (4)

  • Vene T.

    I rarely write reviews, in fact this is probably my first one. I decided to leave one because I think this place deserves it. I've been here about ten times now, and every time I come, it never fails to amaze me. The food is crazy amazing (best Japanese food I've ever had) and the service IS REALLY FAST (took them less than ten minutes), plus the waiters and waitresses are super friendly. I love Kobe Japan very much.

    (5)

  • Jon H.

    Always great entertainment for a group, and the food is always solid. And get the bacon fried rice - so worth it! The chefs are always good at reconfirming everybody's order, and entertaining the kids while cooking. It's not the 'best' Japanese food, but is solid entertainment with a good meal and LOTS of food.

    (4)

  • Kim D.

    Love the hibachi grill! Came here for an early birthday dinner with family and we all had a great time. The chef kept us entertained the whole time with flying knives, onion volcanoes, and all his random jokes. (i.e. Dad: so how long did it take you to learn all your hibachi skills? Chef: oh you know, I watched a couple youtube videos haha) Okay, he has funnier jokes, but still, the food was good just wish it had a bit more seasoning. But the portions are deefinitely huge. No room for dessert after having the NY strip & scallop combo since each item comes with a shrimp appetizer, soup, salad, and rice/grilled vegetables. Must try if you're in the area or don't want to go all the way to Benihana!

    (4)

  • Allison T.

    From being our local favorite for sushi, it is now on our "won't go back again list". All signs have been suggesting that the owner was struggling; constant turnover, order confusion, inconsistent quality, smaller portions, etc.. We gave them "extra chances" because we were such loyal customers and out of empathy for the business owner. Today, not only were the rolls even smaller, but they started adding rice inside the rolls! Where's the crab? What a shame and good bye Kobe Japan.

    (1)

  • Ben S.

    Came in Monday at 8:15PM. Funny smell when seated at sushi bar. Sushi not especially fresh. Small bugs buzzing overhead while eating. Sushi chefs do not interact with customers. Will never come back.

    (1)

  • Sean H.

    Katsu Unagi? How do you not order a roll with that as a topping? Never before have I seen something like that, so even though their menu was filled with a bunch of interesting and delicious looking choices, the Killer Whale roll was an easy choice. I also ordered some Mackerel sashimi to go along with it. The roll was delicious. The katsu'd unagi tasted exactly like it sounds. Can't really go wrong with deep fried bbq eel. My one complaint is that it was one of those rolls that was as thick as my arm, so my petite mouth couldn't wrap itself around an entire bite. Sucked having to eat the roll in pieces, but there was no other way to do it. The sashimi had problems though. Felt a thin bone or two, and instead of giving me the two pieces of normal sized sashimi, they gave me one normal sized piece and two smaller pieces that looked like end pieces. It tasted alright, but it felt like scraps. Service was really chill and friendly. Prices were a little bit more than usual but it's kind of a classier place so I guess it's to be expected. Anyways, I'd totally be down to come back here yet again!

    (4)

  • Jennifer G.

    On point sushi!!! Went here for the first time and had their ninja roll and iron chef roll! Amazing! Definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Hal K.

    If you like really fresh, quality sushi this is not the place to go. I-sushi in Lafayette trumps this local gathering neighborhood restaurant. Either people are taken with the atmosphere or the fact that it's local but true taste and ultimately fresh sushi does not reside in Kobe. Without a doubt this lover of Japanese food will not be returning for chewy, sinuey tasteless sushi any time in the future.

    (1)

  • Sniper D.

    Very good!!! Unfortunately ,unlike other hibachi type Japanese restaurants, this one takes reservations and I can see why. However, there is quick seating ( ie table for 4) in the sushi section and have access to the same menu with the exception of the hibachi items. Service was swift, friendly, and meal was fresh!! Sushi rolls and sashimi cuts were thick!! Very reasonably priced also. Definitely will return with a reservation for the hibachi next time!!

    (4)

  • Phil C.

    Went here for a late lunch and it wasn't packed. One other habachi station was occupied and they were nearly done. More attention for our party. :) Highlights: - prices for lunch habachi - sushi rolls and hand rolls - 25oz beers - service was attentive and friendly - the chef entertained my 2yr old nephew. For any of the beefs for habachi, I recommend having it cooked med rare, let it sit for a few minutes on your plate. The flavors come out better and juicier. The chicken of course should be cooked through. Fried rice was really tasty, just a tad on the salty side, a quick mention of less salt or soy would have helped. I ordered a spider hand roll and they informed me that it came in twos since the soft shell crab was cut in half. That was fine with me. Presentation was nice and was very tasty. The cut rolls were also good and the presentation was nicely done. (see pics) Overall, a good experience. I'd come back again.

    (4)

  • David P.

    Daniel son! Great medium neighborhood jewel. They offer Hibachi and sushi. I've had both many times and hands down, the Hibachi here is boss. They have a cool little bar and a smaller dining area in view of the sushi bar to go along with the Hibachi tables. Weekends get flooded with all the neighborhood brats and weekend warrior unhappys. So I would suggest checking out this place during the week, if you're not that criteria.

    (3)

  • Tim C.

    We came to Kobe Japan to celebrate my wife's birthday. I met the owner, Terry, who was very welcoming and even made special accommodations to help with a surprise I was planning! Our hibachi chef was "Ken" and he did a fantastic job - demonstrating humor, talent, and patience (we had some indecisiveness and two four year olds at the table). Ken cooked all of the meats EXACTLY as requested, nailing the medium-rare that I'd ordered and everyone else reported perfection as well. Our group ordered Scallops, Lobster, Kobe Beef, and Shrimp. We also got 2 sushi rolls which were excellent (sorry, I forget the names). We sampled each other's entrees and everyone was happy, and stuffed - having to bring home leftovers. Kobe Japan is an excellent place that I would certainly revisit and recommend friends to as well. The only reason we didn't give 5 stars was because it was pretty pricey. We haven't been to other Japanese Steak houses in a while to compare the bills - but I would say overall the price translates well to the value of the experience at Kobe Japan!

    (4)

  • Isabelle S.

    Had some very interesting dishes, service was prompt and attentive. We did not go for the hibachi so this review is only for the sushi. Sake list was great. They had some nice specials. I always like it when a sushi place has specials since it makes me think that they make their menu adapt to what is fresh/new or in season. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    Kobe Japan is the best in the bay area! What a secret! I am so grateful to know about this spot and would gladly wait in line an hour to get in here(but ALWAYS walk straight in and sit down at the sushi bar everytime). Having lived in SF for 6 years, I considered myself quite the connoisseur of fresh sushi and was skeptical anytime I would travel too far from the city but Kobe has stood the test of time. I would rank in the very top elite of sushi experiences in the entire bay area. Terry is the owner and he is there every day, demonstrating a tremendous hospitality for every guest that arrive here and catering to each individual on a personal basis. Just exceptional service! He has gone so far as to comp my girlfriend and her parents of a bottle of wine and has graciously gone out of his way to make us feel extremely welcome every time we go. This restaurant features some of the best aspects(and hard to find in one location) including some of the most unique raw seafood dishes weekly, optional benny hanna style cooking and extremely tasty kobe beef, a full service sports bar adjacent to the dining area and an extremely friendly staff. My girlfriend and I initially went here because of the great drinks and incredible oysters but I have experienced so much more here including: incredibly prepared fresh uni, one of a kind king crab dishes, out of the world amazingly prepared scallops appetizers, salmon mackeral and tuna TORO, blue fin tuna and it goes on and on...I always look forward to going back.

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    First visit. I'm not a sushi eater but will 100% go back. The Kobi Beef Carpaccio was melt in your mouth good! The brussel sprouts were a bit too salty, but very good.

    (5)

  • R R.

    I visited this place because Bennihana's wouldn't accommodate my daughters birthday party of 8. I got NY steak and scallops with fried rice. Everything was just as good if not better than Bennihana's. However let me say the rice wasn't as good as its competitor yet it was very good. Overall the experience was good and for the price and the amount of food as well as better service than Bennihana's I will frequent Kobe Japan over Bennihana's. A must try plus the atmosphere is more relaxed and be warned the drinks are strong.

    (4)

  • Amanda Y.

    This place improved what started out as a horrible birthday lunch at some other place. It's clean, the staff is super nice, attentive and friendly. And the food is awesome! Mixed greens in their salads, delicious seared ahi-tuna, and bacon fried rice. No complaints, will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Catherine M.

    Came for a business lunch today and it was delicious! They don't seem all too busy for lunch but I was surprised to see they DO have their hibachis going for lunch too! We sat in the quieter table area near the sushi bar and service was friendly. Their bento box lunch specials are priced well and delicious. I've been for dinner at the hibachi, and I can't wait to go back. I could hear the people in the next room today having a great time! Definitely a great place for lunch or dinner and a GREAT alternative to Benihana which is also good, but this is quieter, smaller and I think more reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Lianna D.

    I have been to this restaurant for few times in the past months for their Hamachi dinner. PROS 1) Service is great in this place, especially the owner and Miguel, one of the server and a good singer for birthday song. :) 2) Food from Hamachi cooking is good. I have had most items on the menu, specifically LOVE the scallops Suggestions (rather than CONS) 1) Authentic greentea or red bean ice-cream for dessert ? 2) TVs available for the Hamachi side, please? I will definitely return to this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Aileen G.

    Fresh sashimi and sushi. Great food, great customer service, artistry of cook and chef. Quick service

    (5)

  • Jenny R.

    My husband and I came here for a date night recently. We were in the mood for sushi, so we sat in the bar area. They have a nice cocktail list (I had the Bonsai Martini, which was delicious), and also lots of beer, wine, and sake to choose from. We tried a few different rolls and everything was very tasty. The ones that stand are the Forest Roll and another one that had tempura shrimp in the middle. YUM. Bartender and waitress were both very nice and friendly. This place has a good chance of becoming one of our faves in P. Hill! I want to go back and try the hibachi!

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    I'll be back and probably to the Lounge, where I was in some ways more attracted to the Bar menu (and the Premier League Match on Telly) than anything offered in the Dining or Hibachi areas. I readily admit that Japanese Cuisine is not my first choice, as it reminds me of that special Midwest word for Sushi - Bait. There's also the matter of the unused Groupon that didn't work for Lunch Specials, and which needs to be applied later, but only during the Sunday through Thursday time frame. Unfortunately, my Son, Gayle and my Ex-Wife all enjoy Japanese food and in joint appearances, I'm regularly outvoted. And so it was today as Gayle and the Kid were out doing Christmas stuff (if that's what you call braving the crowd at Costco) and a Bento deal was made without my advice or consent. But I'm a good Dad and Husband, so off we went. Gayle ordered a Bento Box of something or the other, while the Kid picked his favourite Sushi items. I stayed safe with Teriyaki Chicken on rice, although it was a little heavy on the sauce. I nibbled off their food and actually enjoyed it. Service was efficient, the company was pleasant, and I almost forgot that this place used to house Texas Back Forty BBQ. Prices (including generous specials) were also reasonable and since it's close to home, why not give Kobe Japan another go?

    (4)

  • Micky T.

    This was my second visit. I had a much better experience last time as I remember. My Chirashi Zushi wasn't good at all this time. For this price this tiny portion was accepted, but the quality should have been better. Salmon was okay, tuna wasn't good, and other white fish (albacore tune?) had no flavor. Also it was a hard, chewy tail part (they thought I didn't notice if they slicde? This is the worst part of the fish as you may know, especially for sushi, ). Other ingredients were just fillers such as sweet eggs, precooked, no-flavor shrimp (it might be defrosted from a package they bought from the distributor that was cooked months ago and breezed to sell. Unfortunately most of the Sushi place in US use this and most of us don't know sadly) and imitation crab that had no taste, of course. Angry! Soft crab was deep fried with Panko. Soft crab should have deep fried with light tempura batter instead of heavy Panko batter to compliment soft crab's delicate flavor. To make it worse, it came with thick sauce that didn't go with it at all. It totally ruined the soft crab! Sad! Grilled Hotate and shrimp looked good if they didn't covered with heavy sauce on top and bottom. Unfortunately it ruined the good seafood again. Three sushi rolls we ordered was all included tempura inside or tenkasu (tempura batter pieces = crispy high calorie additives) on top. And all had heavy mysterious sauce on top or bottom or both. Can't remember.... Too much on everything. Too bad! It was so noisy with people shouting and singing Birthday songs at the nearby table. It reminded me of kid's birthday party at the family restaurant or pizza place. Burgers or pizzas were simply replaced with Japanese "like" food. This place is good for sports bar goers or people who can enjoy teppan yaki show, or family with noisy kids. It seemed to me that good Japanese food was translated wrong here. It is an Americanized Sushi party place that is accepted well in Pleasant Hill area. I was the only native Japanese there as far as I saw this time, and I will not be there again. Sorry for the bad review, but it was my honest opinion for this business. However, this is not their fault. This is the result of the fact that they just filled the need of most of American want.

    (2)

  • Jim D.

    We went in with a party of 17 and had a fun evening. Food should have been great. Our check was ALMOST $1,000.00 and for that, I think I should get proper preparation of the excellent food they serve. Throwing giant pieces of fish on ice and garnishing it with an orchid is not worth $25.00. Steamed Kobe beef is nasty. SASHIMI/sushi dinner was just some very large (1" x 2" x 3") hunks of raw fish on a bed of ice and one single giant roll. It was arranged very nicely and the fish was absolutely great, but it should have been sliced into bite sizes in a place where they do not have table knives. The roll was not one I particularly liked, and I would have been far happier with two or three DIFFERENT really small rolls, than one big honker I had a piece of Kobe Beef, that appeared to be great until they tried to cook it. The grille was no where near hot enough, and the sauces they added served to steam it rather than grill it. There was a fatty portion on the edge that should have been served (Kobe beef is that way) but instead it went onto the garbage.

    (2)

  • Michael L.

    Forget Benihana's come here first. The food is fresher, better quality, and the Chefs are actually Japanese. They still do the flaming volcano. We had a blast. This is our new favorite place. We'll be back.

    (5)

  • Steve N.

    Pick the best answer. Kobe Japan is? A) Bar B) Sushi Bar C) Cooking Show D) All of the above Correct! The answer is D, all of the above! So here's the deal. The food was pretty good! We had a drink at the bar while waited to be seated. You know, those teppanyaki-table-cooking-while-watching-them-­throw-spatulas-around type events? That's always kinda cool. It was a party of 4 for us joined by 2 strangers. It's a not a great place to carry a conversation. It's about the show, and maybe the food. I try to avoid pleasures like fried rice and stay with steamed, but I wasn't passing up freshly prepared fried rice. The beating heart display was a nice touch. Steak and lobster? Mrs N. enjoyed that, although traditional treatment of lobster would have suited her better. I had the chicken and shrimp, and it was perfect! Friends Norm (NORM!!!!) and his wife Ronda went with the sea food trio. The report from them was it was good. The noise level is part of this sort of dining, so I can't ding them for that. The lobster was not as satisfying as expected. The odd part of the evening was a shot of oil that went flying into my wife's eyelid! Ya, hot oil went a shootin' her way. Accident that could have been very bad. Putting this all together, minus one star. Overall, I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Tsz K. L.

    The food was delicious and the chef who served us was very nice and entertaining! I ordered a hibachi salmon and scallop and my friend ordered the hibachi Kobe beef. They were great!!!! Would definitely recommend this place to my friends.. You get free dinner on your birthday. The place is pretty clean and tidy, spacious. Only one bad thing that take away the star: the green tea taste like leftover or poor quality tea..

    (4)

  • Leona M.

    Have been to happy hour recently and enjoyed the food. Lar enjoyed the Kobe burger and I loved the sushi rolls and seaweed salad. Must try the hamachi soon.

    (5)

  • Dan W.

    I went to Kobe Japan last night with my fiance and had a great time. We were seated right away at a teppan-style (Benihana-like) table. Although, we were paired up with a couple of families celebrating a kid's birthday, it was still enjoyable. Our chef was legit! He nearly lit the whole damn place on fire though...jk...but seriously, the fire shows were intense. Our chef was skilled, friendly, and liked to joke around - he had a funny squirt gun he used to put out his fires...go see for yourself. The food was fresh and delicious. The have bacon fried rice...crazy...it was pretty good, but the smokiness from the bacon was a little overwhelming. The soup was great. The salad had a lot of spinach in it and was delicious. The vegetables, steak, chicken, shrimp, and lobster were all really good too. One negative - there was a half hour wait for sushi, so we skipped it. I recommend this place. The prices were decent and it was a very good experience overall.

    (4)

  • Marie G.

    The hibachi grill was great! Great service yummy food much netter than Benihana.thinking of going for again valentines day

    (4)

  • J.D R.

    They slather sauce onto even their rolls that are supposed to just be fresh sushi (Sunny Garden, Highway 24, Tornado all had gory amounts of sauce on them). Calamari was hard and stringy. The fish was not very fresh and I felt like $70 for two people's worth of sub-par sushi was a bad idea.

    (2)

  • Nicole S.

    Great sushi SUPER close to home. I have a 6 month old daughter and call in my orders for pickup every time. So far the food has been excellent.

    (4)

  • Craig H.

    Fast service for a hibachi grill, if you arrive after 7:30 on weekends you may get a grill all to you and your friends! Get the scallops and filet mignon. Bacon fried rice is available. The chefs put on a good show.

    (5)

  • Laurens D.

    A lively and interesting environment. Had a good experience for a first time visit. If you are looking for a benihana type restaurant with less noise, allowing for you to socialize, then this is your place. Our server was prompt with taking our order and our chef did his best to entertain us while cooking our food. Overall the food was good, atmosphere was nice. I would come back, but im not in a hurry to make that trip anytime soon.

    (2)

  • K m.

    We just had one of the best times at the tables. We had a great cook and the food as always was wonderful !!!!!! The food is fresh and the drinks are good. The service is welcoming and friendly. They have not only a sushi bar, the tables that they cook in front of you, but a great sports bar that you can order all. The staff is great and the food and drinks and always the best!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Jonathan R.

    I had dinner here with my girlfriend and a friend of ours. The place is big and beautiful. We sat down, ordered, and chatted for a bit. My girlfriends food came first. We had to wait a little over 10 minutes for our food to come out. A little longer then we wanted to wait but it wasn't horrible. I ordered the Sea Cliff roll and the Forest Roll. Both were awesome but I would have to choose the Sea Cliff to be my favorite of the two. Both were spicy which I love. They brought both of the rolls on the same plate. The plate is huge and next to the rolls was a drawing in sauce of a fish and some other stuff. Beautiful. Over all the place was pretty awesome and I definitely want to go back there.

    (4)

  • Lucy D.

    Kobe Japan is a fusion between Japanese sushi restaurants with Benihana's style of cooking in front of you through the entertainment of the chef performing a series of kitchen tricks to get you entertained. It was featured in "Best of the Bay" as being voted the best restaurant in 2010. The service was wonderful, however the price of food and quality of the food needs to be adjusted. (This review is for the hibachi dining only) Pros Service: The service was friendly and attentive and everyone on the staff wanted to help make your experience feel welcoming. Staff: There was a female chef who cooked in front of us which was out of the ordinary because most of the time its a male chef who would usually perform the cooking tricks which was great. +++ Decor: The decor was pleasant inside and it would not what you expect from an outside view. Kobe: Like the namesake Kobe Japan is known for its use of Kobe beef. You must try it once if you come here. It's one of the most tender and juiciest pieces of meat you will find. ++++ Less Crowded: Benihana at times gets packed because of being a large chain that it is. This location however was perfect if you want a nice quiet evening with a personal chef because it isn't as crowded. Cons Food: The food was mediocre and nothing special. Price: For the price of the food was a bit steep for the quality of the food. The amount of money paid for the food here you would get a better quality of the same food somewhere else. Location: The plaza isn't located in a strip where its noticeable, however the odd restaurant shape makes it stand out. Overall if you love Benihana then check this place out. It's different from the usual and not as crowded. Try it and see if you like it and if anything try the Kobe yourself =D.

    (3)

  • Ana C.

    Great place for Hibachi. They have plenty of seating. Very friendly and very cozy.

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    Took my sister here for birthday dinner. As a Benihana lover, it's tough for me to go here but was glad we came tonight. A lot of similarities but enough unique tastes and foods that I'm going to come here more often from now on. Decent prices and a lot of food. Best part I really love is it takes way less time to cook and get the food in my mouth but still fun with the chef!

    (4)

  • Alexis D.

    Second time coming in since it first opened. Only ate at the sushi bar but the fish was fresh and very scrumptious! The waiter was great when we asked him about the wine selection, definitely was educated about the drinks and sushi. Will be back to try the hibachi grill!

    (4)

  • Angela G.

    This restaurant is in my neighborhood, and looks like it could/should be a four star outing. Dont be fooled; only the prices are four star. Service is terrible, ambience minimal, and food meh. Tried it three times now and there won't be a fourth. Did I mention how consistently bad the service is? Be sure you remember what you order because they probably won't, even after writing it down. You'll get some of what you ordered, sure, but you'll get puzzled looks in equal measure. In summary, ifyou like: waiting forever for follow up service; sitting near sick locals who cough open mouthed unabashed; enjoying the smells of local jocks mixed with your meal flavors; getting up to get things from the bar for yourself; then THIS is your place! Dinner for two will go around $75 and you'll leave hungry and wishing you'd eaten at Taco Bell and pocketed $65. Really. Did I mention how consistently bad the service is? Seriously, unless you want bar food, save yourself from inevitable disappointment and drive past.

    (1)

  • Jon F.

    what can i say about this place, its fabulous! my wife and I come here about once a week or so usually either after 9pm on sat or after 1pm on sunday and we always sit at the sushi bar. first off Henry behind the bar is awesome, we were never really into sushi before we met him. we told him that we have never ate it before and and set us off on a personalized sushi experience. if you have never had sushi before just go up to the sushi bar and grab a seat and let them know that its your first time. i dont think ive had something i hated, some i like more then others but for the most part it all taste flavorfull and delicious. now realize that my first time eating sushi i still didnt see what the big deal was, but now that ive been going for a couple of months, i totally crave it. thank you Kobe!

    (5)

  • Ale G.

    The hubby and I have been here for date night a couple of times and we always leave feeling meh. The sushi is not consistent except for the Kobe roll. That is always so yummy. The service is hit and miss. The other evening I asked our server if the bartender could mix me up a appletini using sake and before I could finish my sentence the server says NO. She did say it with a smile lol. Most of the time trying to get edamame is an exercise of patience with some servers. One thing that my hubby noticed is that the host who seats us NEVER says goodbye even though we have to pass him to get to the front door. I think we will stick to our little hole in the wall Sushi gem in Concord where they might not know our name BUT they always say goodbye to us! Oh and we get miso soup, salad and edamame ERVERY TIME :)

    (2)

  • Karen H.

    Love this place - we have been here about 5 times for both Happy Hour and dinner sushi. We have never done the tepanyaki, but I will comment about the other stuff. Love the Kobe sliders in the bar. Love the Kobe roll. All of the sushi rolls and nigiris we had were really fresh, delicious and displayed beautifully on the plate. We only live a couple miles away so it's a big hit!

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    I came here with a friend to try their happy hour after hearing about it word of mouth. We had a great time! I appreciate the many vegetarian choices and the avocado mango roll was delicious. The prices were great and I would definitely return. I want to try out something on the hibachi next time!

    (5)

  • Ken G.

    I always enjoy coming here. It's nice to go out to dinner and get quality food and service. What I really like is at the hibachi table you're not packed in like sardines like the other place in Concord. Great food, friendly service, give it a try.

    (5)

  • Ashley V.

    It's day one and I'm struggling to make it through. My heart, it aches for the end of Harry Potter... and I felt like the only thing that could fix it was sushi. I turned to my good friend Yelp for a new sushi spot. This is where he brought me, and boy I'm glad he did! First of all, can I just say the happy hour lunch specials are freaking awesome?! Well, they are. I ended up ordering the Firecracker Roll (eel & avocado inside, spicy tuna & jalapenos on top with spicy sauce) and Avocado & Mango roll. The firecracker was hella spicy! I loved it. I'm glad I ordered a nice, fruity roll to level things out. This is definitely gonna become my new joint for lunch. Affordable choices and the food was high quality. Service was excellent, as well. The host, my server, and the sushi chefs were all checking in on me to make sure I was doing alright. Sit by the bar, the chefs are very friendly and eager to spark up a chat! But I have to say... my favorite thing about this place? The bathroom. It was clean, yeah. But it gets even better... The countertop in there is navy blue WITH HOLOGRAPHIC GLITTER! I'm smitten. Kobe Japan, let's get married. ASAP please and thanks. I can't wait to try the teppenyaki next!

    (5)

  • Taylor K.

    Best sushi on the east bay BY FAR!!! The rolls are huge and so fresh and are presented beautifully! Everything I have ever ordered here has been great. The beef sliders, salads, hibachi, everything!! Love it!!

    (5)

  • Henna P.

    We went here for my husband's birthday and had the hibachi dinner. The food was excellent, but our chef was not very good and their salad gave my husband food poisoning. I've been to a hibachi dinner at a few other places and this chef was just sloppy. The food missed it's intended target quite often. :P He kept joking that he was drunk, but it wasn't that funny after the 7th time... We ordered the Kobe beef and the Shrimp & Scallops. The beef was very tender and delicious, as were the scallops! The food was fantastic! However, they need to clean their salad better :P I ate a few leaves, but thought it tasted weird so my husband ate both of our salads. We shared the rest of the meal, so we have to trace the food poisoning that he got from the salad. :P I doubt we'll be back to this place.

    (2)

  • Namita A.

    Can we say bomb.com Ill give this four and a half stars for making me wait 15 minutes after our reservation, but this place had a very lively fun atmosphere with some delicious drinks and food! Filet Mignon and Lobster were absolutely delicious, as well as the white meat chicken / shrimp. I was too full to even try the sushi, but i think i will try that on another night. Thanks Kobe for being better than Benihana without all the pretentiousness!

    (5)

  • Jane C.

    Mother's Day Disaster. My daughter made a reservation for what I thought would be a simple Japanese meal at a place I've heard a few people mention. When we sat down we were told that we couldn't order dinners form the regular menu and had to order from a "special Mother"s Day Menu" . They did not tell us about the "Special Menu"on the phone when we made the reservations. Menu looked fine except that they jacked up the prices 75-100%. Each entree costing $29.-49.00 per diner.. This did not include a fancy Mother's Day cocktail, just the same food served on a larger plate.When we said we did not know about the special menu and we wish we were told about it at reservation time the owner/manager (large Japanese guy ) got really rude and said to us "Maybe I should call you and get your permission?" As our jaws dropped we quietly got up to leave. As we were exiting the restaurant my husband turned back and said to the manager/ owner "you should not treat your customers like that".For some reason this turned the burners on under the manager and we had a face to face confrontation ending up with F words flying. My husband asking him "are you going to hit me now?" We left there bemused and wondering for someplace to eat and to save Mother's day. That is when we found Honda Sushi not far from Kobe Japan. We checked out the Mother's Day Special poster in the window and they told us "it's just to make mothers feel special and no extra cost". They treated us so well with free appetizers, salad , soup, dessert and flowers for mom. The sushi was excellent and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. A memorable Mother's Day was had by all.

    (1)

  • Dmoney Z.

    This spot is always crowded for a reason. They have a variety of food and excellent sushi rolls. A great place for families and for younger crowds as well.

    (4)

  • Alexandria D.

    The restaurant offers many choices whether at the sushi bar or at the Hamachi tables. The staff is friendly and polite. The food is fresh and good. Lots of different sushi rolls to choose from as well as Bento boxes at a reasonable price.

    (5)

  • Beau C.

    GREAT place for Habachi and Sushi!!! Great staff and service... we are repeat customers and will continue to be :-)

    (4)

  • Annette W.

    I've been here a few times and have always enjoyed the food. The service is also great. I have tried the happy hour menu which is popular and at a great price and the regular menu.

    (4)

  • Erika B.

    Reliably good. The happy hour (4:00-6:00 daily in the sports bar) is a great deal and a good place to go for an early meal. We tend to reserve the hibachi dining for special occaisons, however they do a great job at slightly lower prices than Benihana (love the fried rice, especially since they make it right in front of you!) The sushi room is the hidden treasure, decent prices, high quality food and great service.

    (4)

  • Keith L.

    What a pleasant surprise! Somehow I came across their birthday offer and it very generous which caught my eye and prompted me to sign up online for the birthday coupon. I was expecting more of a low key diner sort of atmosphere but it was nicer and more lively. My friends and I were seated immediately even tho the place was pretty full. The sake was very good and the soup was delicious! The chef at Kobe was very good and knew how to make us feel welcome and entertained. I have been to Benihana and it was OK but the chefs didnt seem to connect as well or be as good at the entertaining aspect. The server was not around much and we had to flag her down for water but that is not enough of a negative for me to leave less than 5 stars. I will go back to Kobe Japan and highly recommend for birthdays too.

    (5)

  • David B.

    I love this place. We eat a LOT of Sushi, and I truly feel this is one of the best places in, at least the East Bay. Terry, the owner, has done an amazing job creating a great Sushi and steakhouse, in what i feel, is a bad location. But, as a testoment to his success, the place is always packed. You can sit at the Sushi bar, or actually at the bar area, or have a full cooked Japanese style steak dinner. The waiter staff are all good and their sushi chefs make beautiful creations. The fish, as well as everything else, is alway very fresh. Don't be turned off by location, seek it out. I promise you will love the food. Seriously, you won't go wrong eating here!

    (5)

  • Alison Z.

    REALLYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOD! the server r fast and good, the food is very attractive and tasty! yummmy yummmmy!

    (5)

  • Aimee F.

    Here is the good and the bad. Food quality was pretty good. It is benihana-esque but better. Bacon fried rice was pretty yummy. Service was a different story. The hibachi chef was good but the server was pretty horrible. 1. The tables are shared with other guests for the hibachi. We were sat right next to a couple teenagers I mean right next to them (practically on top of them). The rest of the table was empty...and remained empty for the entire meal. We asked.to move down a bit and the server said he would check and let us know...never did so we spent the entire meal (expensive mind you) on top of two other people at an empty table. 2. It was my birthday. They brought me vanilla ice cream but didn't even offer any dessert option to my husband. We would have paid for it ..pretty tacky. 3. He came over way too much asking if we were done so he could clear our plate (kept saying no rush, but it was so often that it made us feel rushed). We were not being those hang out too long patrons so it was pretty unnecessary. 4. We got there a little early for our reservation They told us to sit at the bar. Bartender walked by us several times but never acknowledged our presence and sat there emptyhanded. Overall, meh. I'll give it 2 stars for food, but this was a Wednesday night. I'd hate to see the service on a busy weeekend.

    (2)

  • Sarah A.

    Excellent food and service!! We were visiting from out of state and used Yelp to find a good sushi restaurant to eat at. The reviews proved it excelled in service and quality. Definitely recommend eating the lion king roll. Couldn't have asked for more. Very attentive wait staff and the rolls came out quickly.

    (5)

  • Chloe E.

    I have not tried the hibachi grill portion of the restaurant, so this review is only for the sushi. I thought the sushi was average comparable to the whole foods pre packaged roles. They don't provide tamari sauce so you have to bring your own. It sounds like they have really good deals for late night. Service was good and friendly.

    (3)

  • Andy L.

    Nothing really special about this place. Don't know what the hype is all about. I've been to plenty of teppenyaki places and this place is not up to par. My biggest problem with this place is the show. The chef was terrible, he did the volcano with the onions and that is the only "show" we got out of him. Weak! Just weak! I might as well just order some hot food from the kitchen. Didn't try any sushi so can't comment on that. I had the filet and lobster - the food itself was fine but I really expected a better show. Probably wouldn't go back as there are so many other options in the Bay Area.

    (2)

  • Hannah K.

    Their food is a little salty and the service is not really the greatest. My hubbie took me to Kobe Japan for my birthday and the owner was a complete meanie, because we showed up 15min later. Sorry dude we didn't calculate our time right, but seriously?? The restaurant wasn't that packed and we spent over $350 for our meal (for ten people). Everything felt rushed... next time I'm going to Hana Japan in Berkeley.

    (3)

  • Nobbi L.

    Since I had to work in Concord yesterday and our ex-housemate is back in CA looking for a place and Jack had to drive him to WC to check it out, I decided we would eat in this area. So despite Jack's not sharing my like for Japanese food or for that matter my bizarre love for Benihana's, he agreed to try Kobe in the same strip mall where his coffee shop Latte Da and a great Thai place is located. The three of us opted for the teppanyaki style dining which they called "hibachi". Bottom line: Service much more friendly, personable than Benihana. Food taste much, much better than BH, Jack actually thought this was great! Sauces: mustard sauce much better. Ginger sauce great, still like BH's better slightly. Salad: ok, here I like a more traditional American iceberg lettuce better with the ginger dressing. But their salad is ok. I just don't like rabbit food/mixed greens. The cook, Rocky, was actually Asian which added authenticity. (Although I like being able to say to the cook that I want my steak "crudo". lol) The portions were huge!!! They also had the fried rice option. Hint: for the onion soup, ask for some lemon wedges to squeeze in. Perfects the flavor. Plus they have hot sauce on request. So definitely try out this place.

    (5)

  • rick R.

    I love this place, it's ran with class and integrity. The sushi is fresh, great presentation. We go there once a week. A bit pricey, but well worth it! Okay, here's the downside, it's noisy at times, the bar gets loud with sports idiots. The hibachi really gets loud with all the hoopla of flames and knife throwing. The middle room is best for dinner conversation and less chaos. One more thing, no Coors light on draft , but they have it in the bottle, and Anchor Steam! This is the best kept secret in the Walnut Creek .Great service, delicious sushi .

    (4)

  • Alana C.

    Delicious! Had their hibachi and left very satisfied. The chef was great at his job, pulling out all of his tricks, it was a lot of fun. We also ordered Garlic Edamame which were so good we ordered a second. It's pricey, but comparable to other Hibachi places. Overall, I would definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Erika N.

    If I were only rating the habachi meal (it was great), it'd be four stars, but after our most recent experience for sushi only, I will not be returning. We ordered the deluxe sushi for two or something like that. The presentation of the dish was nice, the service was lovely, but the fish did not seem to be very quality. After a couple bites, I lost my appetite. The bill came to be over 50 dollars. Not what I wanted to pay for sushi that wasn't as top quality as I had expected. Here's the worst part - when my boyfriend and I had gotten home, he puked it all up. And we both had diarrhea. One star for the service, and one star for the hibachi, but for a huge bill like that and coming home SICK, I think I will stick to Momoyama in Concord or make the trek to San Francisco for Ebisu.

    (2)

  • Lindsey L.

    Food is good but the bus boy helped us and checked on us more then the server.

    (4)

  • Ivan D.

    The overall experience was very similar to Benihana, but what stands out at Kobe is their great customer service (you get a hot clean cotton scented washcloth before and after your meal) Here you have the option of ordering Kobe beef as an entree. We had Rocky as our chef. He did a great job with the meal preperation. He even did the old onion volcano trick, but he did something a little different than what you've seen at Benihana (no spoilers) I'd definitely make my way back to Kobe Japan over the Benihana chain restaurant.

    (4)

  • Lindsay C.

    Stay away from this place if you are looking for a date night. It is swarming with children. They actually tried to seat us at a table of 6 kids and their parents. Seriously? The table is already full with bodies because there were so many kids, and you try to cram in some dressed up adults? We scanned the room and there were children everywhere. Obviously a good family place, but we wont be back to the teppanyaki side. The filet mignon topped the kobe beef by far. I didn't eat my fried rice, the rice was hard like it was from the bottom of the pot or undercooked. We waited in the bar for a new table (so we didn't have to sit at the kid table,) and a couple sitting at the bar raved about eating on that side. Coctails were tasty. I guess the secret is kids for teppanyaki, adults go hide in the bar. Wish I knew we were about to walk into the Japanese version of Chuck E Cheese so we could have chosen something else for our date night. In no way is this place intimate or romantic for adults. Casual family spot in suburbia.

    (2)

  • Rick W.

    We had three appetizers, chicken, a pot sticker and calamari. All were very good. My meal was by good as well. Filet and lobster. All were very tasty. The portions are very large so bring your appetite. I would go back!

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Great food, great service, decent prices, great food, great show! We loved it. The lobster and filet mignon were off the hook. They had duck and lamb on the menu. They followed our instructions re: low oil. The sushi was really good too - especially the baked salmon sushi. Why do people go to Benihana?

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    Yelp has proven to be a great method in choosing new restaurants and has never let me down until now. I chose Kobe Japan based on the 120+ reviews at a solid 4-star overall rating. I am giving them a very sad but well-deserved 2 stars. I usually treat my fiancé to a fancy schmancy birthday dinner but this year he wanted hibachi. Why? I have no idea. But hey, it's his bday so we'll go with it. Our evening was off to a great start. We were greeted with smiles and seated right away. Our host/waiter was attentive and deserves a solid 3 stars. We ordered 2 rolls of sushi - Tempura Roll & Hawaiian Breeze. The Hawaiian Breeze is a spicy tuna roll topped with seaweed salad. After a few pieces of sushi we realized we ordered too much as we were getting full before dinner even began. The Hawaiian Breeze was a great choice but I wouldn't order the Tempura Roll again. It was 90% rice. A complete Hibachi dinner comes with: Onion Soup, Salad, Shrimp Appetizer, Veggies, Side of Fruit, and White Rice. Our waiter brought out the soup first. It was piping hot and the broth was flavorful. The salad arrived shortly after. It lacked dressing but it was decent. Now comes the chef, though I use that term loosely bc she was a terrible cook. Our "hibachi cook" started with a good show. She showcased her talent with knives and made a ton of noise by slapping them on the grill. She did the usual tricks like tossing ingredients in her hat, nothing too crazy. When she started cooking it all went downhill. I ordered: Filet Mignon He ordered: Kobe Beef with Shrimp (today's special) First things first - you should ask everyone at the table HOW they want their steaks prepared. This is determined by the customer, not the chef. Well she didn't ask anyone at the table even though 4 of us ordered steaks. I figured maybe she might ask us later on. She started cooking the fried rice. 4 of us ordered fried rice - 3 were veggie and another patron ordered veggie with bacon. After the veggie fried rice was done, she looked at the piece of paper w/our orders on it and hesitantly distributed rice to 3 of us. She even asked us to make sure we wanted fried rice. I got a very small heap of rice on my plate. What a disappointment. My fiancé had a larger portion and he offered to share it w/me but that wasn't the point. After serving the 3 orders of veggie fried rice, she added bacon to the mix. Again, she looked at the piece of paper with all of our orders and proceeded to ask the couple who got the fried rice. Are you blind?! Weren't you just reading it a second ago??? Only 1 person got the bacon fried rice and she dumped the remaining order on her plate. It was a big serving of fried rice, almost half of the entire mixture that she cooked. She had a huge mound of fried rice, taking up half of her plate, meanwhile I had a dollop of rice on mine. Next, she started cooking the seafood - scallops, tuna steak, lobster, & shrimp. My fiancé and another customer ordered a combo with shrimp included. The cook checked the piece of paper AGAIN and asked us all who ordered the shrimp. Seriously, wtf is wrong w/her??? My fiancé and the other guy spoke up and claimed their order. Rather than distributing the SHRIMP APPETIZER to everyone first, she divided the shrimp between the 2 guys. Then realized she didn't have enough left. I was waiting for my shrimp and the last serving went to another customer. Where the F**K is my shrimp appetizer??? I am paying for a complete Hibachi dinner - not to eat my fiancé's meal! Filled with frustration, my fiancé quickly gave me shrimp off his plate. Are you kidding me? This woman is on my last nerve! And the 'show' stopped once she started cooking. The only show she put on during the meal was the onion volcano trick. Big wow. Finally, it was time to cook our steaks. She NEVER asked anyone how they wanted it prepared. She put 4 steaks on the grill and looked at the piece of paper YET AGAIN. Here's a tip: look at the piece of paper PRIOR to adding the steak on the grill so you don't overcook it while you read up on everyone's order. It was clear that there was only ONE piece of Filet Mignon on the grill but 2 of us ordered it. I have had Filet Mignon several times before AND purchased it at the grocery store. I know what it looks like. The other steaks resembled NY Steak. My fiancé was served 1st - he ordered Kobe Beef. Then it was my turn. She gave me what I think was a NY Steak NOT Filet Mignon. The woman who also ordered Filet Mignon received the piece that looked like Filet Mignon. How could our steaks look COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?! My fiancé liked my steak better than his supposed Kobe Beef. The "chef" needs to go back to school to learn basic math AND take Ginkgo Biloba to help her memory! This was utterly the WORST hibachi experience of my life! The ONLY reason I gave them 2 stars instead of 1 is due to the waiter. Though he forgot a few requests, he eventually got it right. NEVER AGAIN!

    (2)

  • Nora S.

    I had bought either a Groupon or Livingsocial for this place and was glad I did. Good sushi, good prices. They have a great lunch special. Worth a repeat visit.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    I have been here a few times and I love the food. The tempura is always good, the tuna sashimi is awesome, the pieces are always fresh and big portions of it. i did not like the teriyaki but the fried rice is good. their happy hour prices are great. However, I can say that I have had some of my worst waiter experiences there. The sushi bar is awesome, the bar area has been nice as well, I have never done the hibachi. But to sit in the main room with this particular waiter is awful. And it is always the same guy that is rude. The waitresses are nice but him, he is just awful. I was there on Halloween and the waiter was once again rude. He sat us at the smallest table ever, our heads kept hitting the wine bottles on the wall, and there were plenty of other nice tables open. We had to ask to move. We ordered tea and it didn't come until after our appetizers were served. And then only because we finally gave up asking the waiter and asked a bus boy. I asked for rice with my sashimi and didn't get it till my girlfriend was done eating her main course. by the way the sushi chefs did an awesome job with the sashimi they made a super cute arrangement with an ice area that light ups and changes colors and everything. this waiter had a max of four tables which did not all arrive at once. We kept having to ask for tea refills, which were not coming, because he gave us super small cups. they looked like something you would have sake out of it something and no tea kettle or anything. finally we once again asked the bus boy for water. we are trying to give up soda or else we would have gone for that. then the waiter started being snippy with the sushi chefs. who by the way were making people laugh at the sushi bar. If not for this awful waiter I would give it five stars. I thought he was having a bad day the week before when he rushed us at lunch and then ran out to smoke in front of the restaurant. But every time we go he is rude. Then I thought he just did not like me but I saw him being snippy with other people. Maybe he is over whelmed i have no idea. But he ruined my meals three times now. I get it to go now and enjoy it much more. so if you go and you don't get this guy expect a good meal. or sit at the bar.

    (3)

  • Derek S.

    Well i don't venture in to this area of pleasant hill much, but glad I did today. Ive have heard about this place from a few friends and wanted to check it out. When my gf and I walked in they had a nice busy bar area on the left and the main dining room for sushi straight ahead and the live cooking hibachi area to the right. Staff was fast and friendly and got us to our proper area. It was just about 5 so there was no one in the sushi area but us. They had fountain soda's which was nice and gave hot towels a few timers through the meal. Everything was clean and had a great decor. Seems like a smaller benihana's with a nicer staff and more family feel. I got the beef teriyaki and shared the spider roll with my gf. The beef teriyaki was great, good sauce, and very tender. The spider roll was either over priced or the portions were to small compared to most places. It just had 4 smaller size pieces, but good none the less. The service was great, food great...and I was gladly talked into the baileys cheesecake. It was really really good and I haven't seen this done anywhere. You always see kahlua cheesecake but not baileys...yummy. A very good way the finish the meal. I think I will be coming back to see what the happy hour menu has in store. It would always be good for a private party if you didn't want the 100's of people at benihana's.

    (4)

  • Lynnette A.

    I've heard of Kobe Japan in the past since a Groupon Deal was sent to me, but was not sure where it was. I missed the deal, however, I came across it driving around about a month ago. It's kind of in a random unexpected area if you ask me... quite the find! I finally tried it for the first time last night. I was very impressed. They have 3 areas to dine in, one in a Habachi room, looks like Benihana; second, a dining room that's in a light oak setting, and the 3rd was in a sports bar setting. Peaking through the bar, there was a huge TV with a game on, a menu that says Kobe Beef Hot Dog and Kobe Beef Burger. On to the menu. They had a good selection of food - sushi, habachi, sashimi. The prices were very reasonable. I ordered a Dinner Bento Box which was only about $15 and you could choose 3 items from the variety of selection. I chose Salmon Teriyaki, Broccoli with Garlic Sauce, and Salmon Sashimi. It came with rice, spring mix salad, and miso soup. I'm very picky and health conscious so I had asked the waiter (he looks like he could be the owner or manager - he was very funny and very welcoming) to put the teriyaki sauce on the side to my salmon. He asked if I wanted the salad dressing to the side as well. I think he caught my drift that I was very cautious of sauces :) Also, I had asked him if he could just give me extra salad instead of no rice. When the bento was given to me, the garlic sauce on the broccoli was also to the side. Awesome!! Also, there was a mistake and the kitchen staff put rice in my bento box, so he pointed it out and apologized and said he gave me double the salad, which I thought was already in my box. When I finished my salad, he asked if I was ready for my next one. I was like "Ohhh. wow! OKAY!" I didn't know there was more :) The salmon was delicious, perfectly cooked. He recommended it to be cooked "medium". They also refill tea and water frequently. They also serve a small dish of fruit at the end which was a nice surprise. I asked the waitress if they served tempura ice cream and they do!! I couldn't try it though, but I definitely will one day :D I left very impressed and very satisfied! It's also a good date spot :)

    (5)

  • Janelle M.

    It's ok. I have only been here for the sushi (4 times) on the bar side. The bar is fun and locals come in and it is fun to have a few drinks there. I lived within walking distance for a while so I liked that it is in a residential area and convenient. Service is really spotty. Always nice, but not consistent. Food is slow to come out, or the order is wrong, or some of the order is missing. Food doesn't always come out at the same time. I can deal with it, but don't want to every time. Ordered takeout too and at pickup they were confused how many rolls I had ordered and had to clarify (and wait). Food is pretty good; went back mainly for convenience and bar atmosphere (fun!). Sort of expensive. Like I said, they are always friendly, but if they could get the orders and timing down right, I'd increase my review of this place.

    (3)

  • Debora L.

    Went here tonight w/ my family for a birthday. It definitely had something for everyone-- hibachi (teppanyaki) to impress the parents, slightly-exotic (for Pleasant HIll) sushi rolls for the high school senior sister, plenty of protein options for the boyfriend, and a moderately healthy selection of vegetarian sushi for the family vegetarian (that would be me, yes, the Black Sheep at Thanksgiving...). The service was almost too eager. The manager came by several times to check on us ("still doing ok!") and the waitresses were quite attentive. The hibachi chef was also very entertaining: dry sense of humor, flashy egg-cracking and onion-volcano producing skills, and a decent cook to boot. The flame atop the fried rice shaped in a heart ("heartburn") was a nice touch. The food quality was decent, and portions were filling. The hibachi dinner comes with a mediocre chicken broth with a few lonely mushrooms, a salad (ask for dressing on the side, unless you like all that ginger/ salt), ginger & garlic dipping sauces, fried rice (pretty excellent) or steamed white or brown rice by request, and the protein. My boyfriend got the scallops & shrimp; the scallops were cooked perfectly, although the shrimp were overcooked. My vegetarian sushi combo was decent-- miso soup (better than the hibachi broth), salad, and 8 pieces of vegetarian sushi: inari, seaweed salad, cucumber, carrots, avocado, pickled cabbage, and two others I can't recall. The sushi altogether was just all right; I did have to de-rice some of the rolls, though. The highlight was the complimentary 5 scoops of ice cream with whipped cream, oranges, and marischino cherries that came with my birthday! That was certainly quite generous. And the 10% off coupon that they emailed my boyfriend. Prices are definitely fair. This is one of the most affordable, best deal teppanyaki restaurants I've been to. Other perks include clean, easy parking, & free mints (or Japanese milk) candy upon exit. Be sure to ask for the sushi AND hibachi menus if you're sitting in the hibachi side of the restaurant; otherwise you'll only get the hibachi menu. I also wish I'd asked for low-sodium soy sauce... and the wasabi is pretty weak, FYI.

    (3)

  • dina s.

    Let's get down to business. Pros: good location, easy parking, good food, good service, takeout, they give you a little fruit bowl at the end Cons: not the best food, loud tapanyaki tables, a little pricey The sushi here is decent. It isn't my favorite, but it is not bad. Their prices are a little high for the quality of food, but their service has always been good. I have not been here to have the tapanyaki food and don't intend to. I might come back to get takeout since they actually have a menu online. Or I might just pick up a menu from Nama, put that on my fridge and order from them the next time I'm lazy.

    (4)

  • Erica D.

    Best sushi place in the whole world!!! It's so goo delicious and very fresh. Also, they always have a bowl of yummy candies when you leave. There are a couple things I don't like about their restraunt. 1.It takes a very long time to make the sushi. Me and one of my friends went there and we waited like 20 minutes just for two sushi platters. 2.Way way way way way way way over priced. Because it's SO expensive I don't go there often. 3.Last, our waiter was rude and she seemed very mad that she was there.

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Was not impressed. At all. average sushi grab with full bar. Beer was fresh, sushi were fresh but a little blend, grilled squid was presented supper nice, but tasted in lack of taste to me. service was okay.

    (3)

  • Stephanie W.

    Very good and clean. We came in for a lunner (lunch/dinner) and we were the only ones here for hibachi. The chef was good, he cooked the food as we asked but didn't do the normal flair as others do which kinda was a bummer since we had a 8 yr old with us. We also had sushi which was good. It was rather expensive so Im not sure I would make this a regular place. For two adults and a child it was 100.00 The staff was nice and friendly Parking was easy overall... good

    (3)

  • Megan E.

    Can't say enough good about this place! *Fantastic sushi, with even better prices. You HAVE to try the happy hour menu from 4:00 - 6:00 I think. *Good, free parking. *Great Bartenders and good service. Now I have never tried their grill, but for the sushi and bar area I would recommend for everyone.

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    Do you like to see guys in chef hats do tricks with spatulas and eggs? Do you like to feel the heat wave of a fireball hit your face, right before you eat both surf and turf? Then you will enjoy gorging yourself here. With separate rooms for sushi, hibachi, outdoor seating, and a bar, this super friendly restaurant has something for everyone and I look forward to blowing my diet here again very soon.

    (5)

  • Melody K.

    The Good: Beautiful inside. The Hibachi grill looks interesting. The not so good: lunch menu has an error in it that has not been corrected and can be deceiving. Portions are small for the price. Food servers don't come by to check to see how things are, refill water and tea and not too friendly. Don't think I will be back.

    (3)

  • Rachel H.

    This sushi place just opened a few blocks from where my good friends Emily J. and Jac C. live. Of course, we had to check it out as soon as it opened! We sat in the room with the sushi bar, but there is an adjoining room with Beni Hana-esque teppanyaki tables, but better than Ben Hana because they are a little smaller and it looked like you could sit with just your group at one and not have to be near annoying people you don't know. The service was a little overdone. They are very eager and excited to have you there, since it is new, and they show it. I asked a man where the bathroom was, and he walked me right up to the door. The upside is that they give you hot, moist towels before and after your meal. I shared two rolls with my husband: The Bond Roll and the California Crunch Roll. The Bond Roll was great! I love Spicy Tuna, and the Bond Roll is a ST roll with avocado on top. They were generous with "nature's mayonnaise" and the buttery flavor and texture really complimented the spicy tuna. The Crunch Roll was good too, but I was a little frightened of it, because it was huge! It was a California Roll, but then they dumped TONS of tempura crunchies, Japanese Mayo, and sweet sauce all over the top of it. Neither my large mouth or my husband's dainty one could deal. We also had the miso soup, which was salty and satisfying, and the seaweed salad, which was good but not the best I've ever had. As far as sushi places go, this is comparable in price and quality. I would go there again with Emily and Jac, for sure, but I wouldn't make a destination out of it.

    (3)

  • Donna D.

    Came here for dinner a few nights ago with my boyfriend and I must say it was quite nice! The place wasn't too crowded the time we went which was a little early for dinner time, probably about 5:30 pm. We were seated right away. We noticed they had a dining room where they do the Benihana thing or just a regular dining room. We were just having a simple dinner so we ate in the regular dining room. They also had a bar area where happy hour was going on. We'll definitely need to try that one day. They gave us hot towels to wipe our hands which they kept giving us throughout the meal. This amused me. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered a simple spicy tuna roll and shared a spider roll with my bf who also ordered steak teriyaki. Everything was really good. Our only disappointment was in the size of the spider roll versus the price. About $10 for only 4 average sized pieces. For dessert our server sold us on a slice of Bailey's cheesecake. He said it was the "best." He was so right. That cheesecake was so good, it had me thinking about it the next few days. I'd go back for another slice of that cheesecake. All in all, Kobe Japan is a nice place. It had a nice ambiance. The decor wasn't tacky, everything matched and what not. Service was great, very attentive and polite. We'll probably visit again :)

    (4)

  • Kenna C.

    We stumbled across this restaurant while looking for a separate place, then I decided I wanted sushi! I was pleasantly surprised by this place, it seemed like it was going to be over-priced and stuffy, but it was the complete opposite. We had great specials, and the bar environment was great. Nice TV's showing games, and a clean beautiful bar top. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Judy M.

    This review is for the Happy Hour: I've come here several times for their HH and I have never left unsatisfied. Man this place is good. I always order a glass of wine and some sushi and tempura off their HH menu. Let me tell you, they aren't stingy with their alcohol or food at all! Their dynamite roll is DYNAMITE! Its delicious and only $4!! Also of course on their HH menu they have the California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Alaskan Roll all between $2-5 bucks. Not bad at all if you want great sushi on a budget. I'm definitely a big fan of this place. If you sign up for their newsletter on their website, they will email you a "gift certificate" for $30 good for the hibachi during the month of your birthday. I love this place and cannot wait to come back,

    (5)

  • Candace N.

    Terrible service... attempted happy hour and waited over 20 minutes and no acknowledged us. My husband went to bar to ask for menus and still could not get anyone to serve us. We decided to leave and spoke manager and he had nothing didnt seem to care that we were leaving. We will never go back there.

    (1)

  • Sherry B.

    Wow, took my husband here for his 50th and had great food, drinks & service. Can't wait to go back. Bacon Fired Rice great with everything!

    (5)

  • Deyanara L.

    The teppanyaki here is probable one of the better ones I've seen. Tried Kobe beef for the first time and it was well worth the extra money you spend on this cut of beef. Very tender and juicy. No wonder it's pricey. Great customer service, great food and great drinks! If you don't want to wait a minimum of 30 minutes on a weekend night, I would recommend making reservations. The hubby and I walked in on a Sat. night w/out a reservation and waited about 35 minutes. Not a big deal considering we grabbed a table at the bar and had a drink while we waited. A few days later, we came back for the lunch happy hour. They have a good selection of "happy hour" sushi rolls, but you also have the full menu available (including the habachi) to choose from. Don't get discouraged by some of the negative reviews on here. Everyone is entitled to thier own opinion, but you can make yours after you try it. Besides, don't knock it 'til you try it :)

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    The family and I had moved to poets corner last year and had no ventured out too much. One day we stumbled upon this place and we are glad we did!!!! The food is incredible, service was phenomenal and more importantly our picky 3yr old ate everything!!! Place is great!!

    (5)

  • ken d.

    Overall 4.5. Chef was a 5! Food was great. Service 3.5 for speediness ( a little understandable for Xmas eve). Restaurant, utensils and glasses a little dirty. Kid friendly. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Dezarae D.

    The only thing I come here for is Bacon Fried Rice. Last night I went, placed my order with Bacon Fried Rice. I was served Vegetable Fried Rice. I said to the cook I ordered Bacon Fried Rice. He told me they didn't get Bacon today. Had I known this when I ordered, I would of left and came back another day. Maybe I'm just being a Diva but I wanted my dang bacon fried rice! And it was my Birthday. Crap service.

    (2)

  • Malissa D.

    My sister and I had dinner here last Friday night and had a great time. Our chef was very skilled and highly entertaining! The food itself was very good, except for the sushi, which is why they lose a star. Avoid the sushi, is my advice, and simply stick withe the hibachi dining. Lots of food and fun there. After we finished our food we migrated over to the bar, and the bar and its staff there deserve 5 stars all by themselves! Fantastic waitress with an even better bartender, both of which took excellent care of us! There were several different screens with different sporting events on in the bar as well, so definitely take the time to check them out! I would love to come back and bring our kids...we just won't be ordering the sushi...

    (4)

  • Jenny A.

    You want sushi, come here. This is a fantastic place. You want to sit by a bar? Sit at a teppanyaki grill? Sit at a sushi bar? You got it! My husband and I sat in the quieter sushi bar area. The service was excellent. The owner even came over and talked to us for a while. The sushi was delicious. I was intrigued by the vegetarian offerings and got a mango avocado roll and a sweet potato roll in addition to my standard spicy tuna. All were excellent, though the sweet potato roll was a bit too large of a bite. Oh... and I got the scallops that were on special that day. Beautiful little morsels on gorgeous purple shells. Delicious perfect bites. If you are an oyster fan, you must try the scallop. I plan to come back here often.

    (5)

  • Rhonda H.

    Food is good, hibachi cooks are much better than Benihana's, staff pleasant and engaging. I don't understand comments about rudeness--these are nice people. We have had slow service in the bar sometimes, but otherwise good. A local gem, in my opinion. Prices reasonable for what you get.

    (4)

  • Steve O.

    This is one of the best happy hour deals around. Go there with the teenager, so not sure bout drink prices, but the sushi prices are great. Just went there for maybe the 20th time, and 4 rolls, onion rings were $16.66 and my tip of $3.33 makes and even $20. Can't spend that little and eat that much at almost an Japanese restaurant. Nothing is great, like the best sushi ever, but all are good and folks in the bar are usually nice. Ate lunch there once, and never dinner, but when my son gets out of school he likes to linner, so is a frequent stop.

    (5)

  • Jarrett K.

    Outstanding service and food. You have to taste the bacon fried rice. The show was very classic with some new surprises. This local spot beats the bigger chains hands down and the food was fresh and delicious.

    (5)

  • A K.

    Henry the sushi chef is awesome! He is so friendly and engages with sushi bar guests, providing wonderful reccomendations! I am a sushi fanatic. Kobe never disappoints! Large portion of high quality product! Staff could benefit from some fine tuning. They are not very attentive, but the place is busy so that could mean staffing up more would be beneficial! We will return as long as Henry is a sushi chef there and the food quality stays high!

    (5)

  • Harsha Q.

    I have been to Kobe 3 times in the last 3 weeks and have been very happy each time. They serve wonderful fresh sushi and amazing rolls. Best in walnut creek area.

    (5)

  • Joe S.

    I went out to Kobe Japan for a birthday celebration, and the experience totally blew my hat off! I thought it was going to be like another Benihana Restaurant, but it's better! I ate the Kobe Beef Plate, and I never had beef so juicy and tender before. Plus the entertainment was off the hook! They had this one guy who was throwing fire with his hands. And they also had a female chef named " Yan Yan or Ying Yan", but she was cooking for the table next to us, and she was doing some amazing tricks with food. I wish I was at that table... Overall, I would love to visit Kobe Japan again. **The entire staff is really nice.

    (5)

  • Spooky E.

    This place is ok. Our chef was pretty entertaining. We tried the hibachi. We got the fillet mignon & lobster but it was super salty. Overcooked too. Then they mix all the cut up fillet mignon with everyone elses so i didn't get my full piece but leftovers on whats left after she served everyone else. The service was pretty good but I won't be in a hurry to come back. The good thing about this place too is that if you don't like the noisy atmosphere at Benihana, this place is pretty quiet.

    (3)

  • Noel O.

    Really nice ambience, their meat products are really fresh, we got a free bday dinner, sauce are really good and not salty compared to benihana, chefs are very good, it was a pleasant experience...we'll be back

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    Excellent food and the price is right. We've only done takeout so we don't know what it's like for a sit down dinner. But the inside looks nice.

    (4)

  • Stefani P.

    I should give Kobe Japan 2 stars, but I'm giving our chef the benefit of the doubt that he was just having an off day. His alternating humor that was one minute self-effacing and the next self-righteous just made the table uncomfortable. I'm an actress, so I understand that sometimes you're just not in the spirit. I hope that was the case w/ this guy, because all he succeeded in doing was make me envy the table with the female chef - she definitely knew how to entertain a crowd - even if she straight-up ignored our chef making jokes at her several times. Awkward! We shared a couple specialty rolls and had chicken from the grill. The chicken was decent. The rolls, while tasty, were very fragile and had a tendency to fall apart immediately upon lifting them, even for someone as seasoned with chopsticks as I consider myself to be. There are other restaurants like Kobe Japan I'd go to first for sushi and entertaining grilling.

    (3)

  • JD R.

    My wife and I love this place; the sushi is fresh and very tasty. Great happy hour and genuinely good service! They make you feel like regulars on your first visit and recognize when you have actually become a regular. It really does not take much for a restaurant to make someone feel special and they seem to understand this. The value is on target, we always feel good about the amount of money we spend on each visit.

    (5)

  • Craig K.

    Multi-visit overview, but I'm not feeling verbose this morning... I've been here as part of a 2, a 5, and a 20+. For small numbers, we've just come for sushi, lunch specials, Bento boxes, etc. In the big group, we did tepanyaki as a farewell luncheon. Sushi is good, but not mind-blowing. No negative, it just doesn't stand out as 'unforgettable'. Bento Box was tasty, no complaints. Price is about $1 higher than Yokosa Sushi on Monument (which I've also reviewed), but they actually give you six pieces of California Roll. I had the Beef Teriyaki and the Yakitori, both very good. Tepanyaki (grill show) is good - worth coming back. What actually makes it stand out in my mind this morning is not the food, but that when we went for lunch a couple of days ago, we got there right as they were opening, and the head chef came out front with incense and performed some kind of ritualistic blessing or prayer over the restaurant. I'm not religious, not big on faith, personally, but it's cool to see that kind of devotion to something that obviously means a lot to him (whether it's just his workplace, or if he owns the business). It demonstrates a commitment.

    (4)

  • Vadim Y.

    The food was great. But the sticky floor under the table and dirty plates wich we got no aplologies for (as it was something casual) is an apparent turnoff. Will go somewhere else next time

    (2)

  • Alice H.

    Wanted to post an updated review for Kobe Japan, since I went there for my b-day dinner. We did the whole "show" with the grill, and it was SO MUCH FUN! Smiley faces in flame and everything. Food was also fantastic - very fresh. The drinks I got were strong, which is nice for a change, and delicious. They have some really interesting and tasty special sushi rolls, which are laid out with such beauty, and as always the garlic albacore was to die for. Really like this place. Great for a b-day dinner.

    (5)

  • Rick C.

    I came here for the sushi. My lady decided on the bento box (mostly for the chicken katsu and the gyoza). Her portions were generous and the chicken was not dried out. The miso was interesting because it was served with a spoon! Weird and totally unexpected in a Japanese restaurant. It's probably because the owners are Chinese and don't understand the eschewing of soup spoons. I went with the chirashi with a side of ikura uzura no tamago. Maguro - C, hamachi - B, ebi - A, tamago - D, tako - B, sake - C, and the sushi meshi was B. The ikura afterward was C. I didn't care for the fact that we had to ask for tea refills three times. But I did very much enjoy the oshibori before AND after the meal. The wait staff speaks Mandarin and Spanish, while the itamaes both speak Japanese. An interesting challenge to the mono linguistics!

    (2)

  • Lindsay C.

    Never going back to Benihana again. My husband and I have been to Kobe Japan a couple times now, and really enjoy it. Food is PERFECT (tastes just like Benihana, if not better) Price is GREAT (check out lunch specials on the weekends!) Service is EXCELLENT (no waiting for tables, very polite staff...these people want you to come back) Hibachi Cook is funny and entertaining!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    I really want to like Kobe Japan. As far as food goes, they are closer to 4 stars. However, I have had several bad experiences with service in my visits here. The most recent that sticks out in my mind was the 1 hour wait for our 7 o'clock reservation that we made WEEKS in advance. We had a group of 10 here to celebrate a birthday and we were repeatedly assured that they were "almost ready" for us. I will believe that for 10, 15, 20, even 30 minutes. However, an hour is far to long for someone with reservations. I realize that we had a large party but almost everyone that came in before and after us was seated before we were. The manager offered us a free bottle of wine. This helped....a little. However, waiting an hour for a reservation while no one else waited that long can't be forgiven with just one bottle of wine. If you are are in a small party or want to just sit in the bar and eat, you will probably be ok. However, I do not recommend this place for a large party or a group you want to make a reservation for.

    (1)

  • S C.

    Bomb!!!!!! Their bar tender Winston I believe is the shit! Sit in the bar for happy hour and tip him well and he will definatly take care of you.

    (5)

  • Michele W.

    We went here for the first time last night-- and thought it was great. I LOVE Benihana... so it seemed that I'd love this place too! We couldnt help but to compare the two on every item in the hibachi dining area (we didnt do sushi or sit in the bar for long...) ... so here goes: Setting/ambience/decor- LOVED it. It was so much more mellow-- not crazy loud and crowded like the other. Beautiful artwork on the walls, nice friendly color schemes... Food- very good- almost the same- delicious. We had shrimp, chicken, steak and all the sides- it was all cooked to order and perfect! Price- very comparable- about $20-30 for a hibachi dinner Chef- very funny- alot of one-liners... and get this?! He was Japanese!! Overall- I'd say - check it out! It was so easy to get in, not super crowded for a Friday night, they had the Giants game on in the bar , a great way to spend my bday!!

    (5)

  • Megan P.

    I love coming here. Prices are great for the amount of food you get (especially at lunch). Service is also very good. They are very accommodating. The restaurant is very chill, and has a good Happy Hour as well.

    (5)

  • Lindsay V.

    I have to state that I LOVE HIBACHI!!! We ate from the Hibachi grill therefore I cannot comment on the sushi. I will have to come back to try the sushi. Kobe was recommended to us by friends. My bf and I are long time admirers of Hana Japan in Dublin so we were up for the challenge. Especially because in the recent years Hana Japan has made some changes to their menu and portions that reflect that times have changed. It becomes very disappointing to those who have been long time fans. I went to HJ for almost every birthday since I can remember. We ordered Steak & Scallops with the bacon fried rice. YUM! I loved the unique addition of bacon to the fried rice. Who doesn't love bacon? The onion soup was luke warm and lacked flavor. It might have been saved with some S & P. I love that they are very generous with their "dipping" sauces this differs from Hana Japan. I personally thought the food was ok. HJ wins in the main course department .By far our chef "T" was the best entertainment one could get on a Monday night. He was hilarious, had the whole table laughing the entire time. The veggies & bean sprouts were delicious. I loved my steak it was so tender and tasted great. My scallops were ok, they seemed to be on the lower end of the quality meter. I would however definitely go back again, maybe next time to try the happy hour deals. A dinner for two was over 70.00 and we had a Groupon for $25.00. I say definitely give Kobe a try for yourself!!

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    Delicious! Great sushi.

    (5)

  • Dory W.

    Wow, unbelievable sushi restaurant. Tucked away in a strip mall and yet the decor is fantastic. A Benihana type restaurant on one side, and a complete separate section has a sushi bar and dinner tables away from the noise of the other side - and there is a full bar up front. The presentions are the high end sushi restaurant like the ones in Vegas with the decor design on the plate - and the rolls are large, too large for the one bit in the mouth placement. Very reasonable for price and generous on the serving sizes. We had the Kobe roll, Dragon roll and something with lobster and crab in it. Yummy. Also, this restaurant has a lovely wine list - and well stocked was our favorite--- Rombauer. You know when a restaurant stocks Rombauer that they will attract good clientele! We stumbled upon this place after going to a doctor's appointment - what a goldmine!

    (5)

  • Mae Mae P.

    the food was delicious! my goodness this place is the whole package: atmosphere, service, food and drinks! we had a private room, great servers and my friends and me were definitely please with the experience!

    (4)

  • Pequena B.

    So yummy! My family has been going here practically since texas back 40 moved out of this location, I had been eating sushi rolls for years but I was brave enough to try nigiri and sashimi, because of the freshness and quality of the fish here. Highly recommend their sushi bar and happy hour menu!

    (5)

  • beverly r.

    I definitely prefer this place over Benihanas. The habachi entertainment was actually entertaining and not as predictable as the other place. The food overall was great and I'd come back again. Great place for big groups as well!

    (3)

  • Picky E.

    I've been to this restaurant on 2 occasions now and the two times I was here the visit wasn't entirely pleasant, and the food isn't exactly the best either... This restaurant is hidden deep in Pleasant Hill. I had to drive through neighborhoods to get there :( I even got LOST with my GPS and I know how to read my GPS... 1st occasion: My friends had taken me here for my birthday and we had the hibachi. When we walked in NO ONE greeted us. We literally sat by the door for 10 minutes until someone FINALLY acknowledged that we were even there. I know they saw us, but they were probably too busy to seat us, but they could have at least told us they'd be with us in a couple minutes. (STRIKE ONE) So finally they greeted us and asked us what dinner service we'd be having then seated us at the hibachi table by the window. After waiting for about 20 minutes our chief rolled his cart of stuff out and greeted us. He then started to talk and make jokes and doing tricks and cooking for us, which was very fascinating. After he was done with his tricks, he started to really cook. He chopped up the onions and started tossing them around he thought since it was my birthday it would be funny to throw one at me, which hit me in the head and was HOT!! That is rude and nasty!! (STRIKE TWO) Our food was all cook and served and it was actually quite delicious. After we finished eating we just stayed and talked for awhile. As soon as they saw that we were done eating they gave us our check, which means they wanted us to pay and leave. That's RUDE!! (STRIKE THREE) They even over charged us too. The flyer said, "Birthday guest eats FREE" I was the birthday guest and they tried to pull a fast one and add me on the bill too!! (STRIKE FOUR) I said I was gonna never return here again!! 2nd occasion: I said I wasn't going to return but I didn't even know I had bought a Groupon for this place (wayy before my birthday), so I had to use it. I came back for sushi this time. So this time I came in, I was seated at the sushi area and my waiter was quite RUDE!! I swear he was yelling at me. Rushing me to order and when I asked what he's recommend to get there he said "Whatever you like" (HELLO!! I FUCKEN ASKED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO GET DUMB ASS!!) I finally just went with their Lion King roll. Tempura Udon and Spicy Tune roll. The food took a little too long to come out for a restaurant that wasn't even busy. The Lion King was too creamy. The Spicy Tuna was too bland for soy sauce to help it. The upon was probably from the package because it was just broth and noodles. No veggies in it. The tempura was floury, not cooked enough. They took forever to refill my water and when I asked for the check, my waiter said okay and forgot because I was waiting and he was just talking and laughing with the sushi chief... WTF is that!!! NO TIP for your ASS!!! STRIKE FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, ETC.!!! I WILL NEVER RETURN!! Honestly, I'd rather drive a little further and go to Walnut Creek to eat.

    (1)

  • Heather C.

    Happy hour... you can't beat it. Great prices, good food. The garlic edamame is the best! The restaurant is also a happening spot. Great selection of food and entertainment while your meal cooks.

    (5)

  • KRYSTEL A.

    This place is okay.... I definitely think the food from the teppanyaki menu is better than benihana, but the entertainment is about the same. The sushi is just okay & nothing really special. I'm also disappointed w/ their sake selection. You would think that since this is a Japanese restaurant they would have more than just the basics, but I guess for being in pleasant hill that it makes sense they would just offer the basic house sake.

    (3)

  • Alan J.

    First time here at this particular "Japanese steakhouse" but have been to a few others. We were in a large party so i was wary that we me be crammed together but was pleasantly surprised that we had adequate space. The food was ordered like all of the places and out come the guy who's part chef part magician part Barnum and bailey (minus the elephants). He checks the orders then begins the show (knife juggling, egg juggling etc) while he cooks the food. Very good (ours was exceptional) and makes the wait for food seem much shorter. No they have Kobe beef (supposedly the best beef in the world, hand raised in Japan) so i was curious and tried it. Very good overall the steak was very tender and sweet, Not that I could choose which one was Kobe beef and which one was my girlfriends Fillet Mignon. Anyway over all very good and worth it. The only complaints i have are 1: Very very noisy, HINT: don't go if your prone to migraines!!!! 2: the mens restroom is an over-sized closet! Literally. If you have a resteruant with this many customers invest in a bigger restroom. other than than not much to complain about.

    (4)

  • Veronica T.

    I agree with Angela G. below. Even almost a year after her review, the service and food are the same as what she said. The sit down restaurant benihana style is nice, and fun, but the bar area is a disaster. Loud, bad service, lousy food and inconsistent. I used to frequent the bar quite often and spent a lot of money over the last 2 years. Lately the sushi and food has gone downhill, and I don't know why. Fish/tuna is NOT fresh, even though the owner persists it is. Sticky and sinewy for maguro is not fresh or even quality. I've returned it almost every time. Agadashi is raw in the middle, edamame sometimes have salt and flavor, other times, are bland and undercooked. They frequently forget what your ordered and will bring the wrong thing, i.e., make sure you say Tempura "ROLL" if you want it and say if often, or you will get only tempura. The chef changes the sushi plates often so you never get the same consistency - i.e., sometimes there are tobiko or teriyaki sauce on it, sometimes not. It's aggravating! The last time I was there with my boyfriend, we literally returned all 5 appetizers. Second time around, they were still off, and we just gave up and left. Service is not friendly considering how often we go there. I do not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from this place like my other local neighborhood bars. THe only reason I gave it a star is for the awesome wine selection. Unless Kobe gets Gordon Ramsey in there to clean up their act, I'll pass, and probably won't go back. It's sad, because I used to really like it there.

    (1)

  • CB C.

    Really bad and slow service.... Once we were seated it took them 20 min to give us a menu and another 10 min before they asked us for our drink orders....the soda was served watered down, must have sat long enough for ice to melt...took another 40 min before the food was served. Tempura and chicken terriaki took a long time to get to our tables and by that time it was already cold.... it tastes so so. The sushi came in all messy as the seaweed wrapper was coming undone... Waitress didn't check up on us after food was served. No tip from me... Left with a bad taste in my mouth and mad that we had waisted soooo much time waiting on bad food.

    (1)

  • Ari T.

    Way better than Benihana! Their prices are probably better too. The only thing is you need to make a reservation for weekend nights.

    (5)

  • Rocky V.

    My wife and I arrived just prior to closing. We were seated at our own hibachi station and the show chef was great. The show while cooking will have you asking Beni-who-a. The food was some of the best I've eaten. Service was great and the prices for quality, quantity and atmosphere are reasonable.

    (4)

  • K M.

    We have been going to Kobe since there grand opening. Lets just say they had a rough start when they first opened, but we went back a few weeks later to see if it had improved. Terry remembered us from the grand opening and the waitress remembered what our kids had ordered. Terry thanked us for coming back and giving them another chance. By then they had the service and food dialed in. Our family have been loyal Kobe fans ever since. We love the hibachi and go almost once a week. Our picky son loves the fillet and fried rice. There sushi plates are wonderful and perfect for a girls lunch. Terry the owner has always been so wonderful as well as all the staff. Our family is so happy to have such a wonderful restaurant and bar in Pleasant Hill. Thank You!!!

    (5)

  • Vincent R.

    I went last week for my first time , and already went again. I have to admit, it seems like a knock off of benihana's. It has the flat skillet tables and they do the heart shaped fried rice and the onion volcano too(would'nt exactly call that original). But the food still made me want to come back. I didnt order much , just sushi. I ordered the kobe roll. It was a california roll top with lightly cooked beef , and it is drizzled with garlic sauce. SOOOO good. try it!!! Make sure to sit down at the sushi bar for a free appetizer. Salmon skin salad with cucumbers. They will bring you hot towels to clean your hands before and after you eat. They also give you a fruit bowl as a free dessert. Wonderful service! I also went for happy hour , but the service was pretty bad. They took forever to bring out the food. Didn't check on us, and they overcharged me. Probably wouldn't come back for happy hour, but the kobe roll and the overall experience here will have me coing back for days to come !

    (4)

  • Mary Ann M.

    This is the best sushi place in the Concord area! We've lived in the east bay for 2 years and haven't found a good Japanese place around here till now. We especially liked the Titanic roll and Raider roll. They also cooked their beef teriyaki perfectly medium and tender like we requested. A 3-item bento was only $13.95 and an average sushi price was $8 (dinner prices). The sushi rolls are fancy and huge and the service was excellent. Don't be deceived by the residential route to get here. This is now our new Japanese spot!

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Showed up Wednesday night ~7pm. No waiting in the sushi lounge. Didn't do the hibachi but the tables seemed crowded so it must be good! Ordered the tuna tataki but it wasn't what I expected. I was thinking seared ahi tuna covered with ponzu sauce. What showed up was a work of art but liberally covered in some kind of spicy powder and the ponzu sauce was more like soy sauce than a thick sauce.. Anyways, it tasted alright I guess but I probably wouldn't reorder it. We ended up getting a few rolls. The Kobe roll was really awesome and the Naruto roll was a novel twist. Instead of rice, they used a cucumber shell to wrap the raw fish. Overall it seemed a bit on the expensive side when compared to similar experiences at other sushi places. I have to say the service was phenomenal. We got the hot towel treatment both before and after dinner. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive, constantly refilling our hot teas. Next time I'll have to try out the Teppanyaki/Hibachi side. When we left, there still wasn't a waiting line. Ample parking spaces in a small strip mall.

    (4)

  • chieu d.

    our first time here was AMAZING! Second time, it was horrible. Our wait time for the food was more than 40 minutes, the kitchen didn't even mak our appetizer (the waitress confessed that to us and it never came), and my beef wasn't even Kobe beef (so dry). Needless to say, I am not coming back.

    (2)

  • Rishi C.

    Had an order of the Mixed Vegetable Roll ($6): lettuce, cucumber, avocado, daikon & asparagus. Also had an order of the Seaweed Salad Vegetable Roll ($6): lettuce, gobo, oshinko, seaweed salad, & kanpyo. Food was delicious, staff was laid-back, and an the ambiance was spacious.

    (4)

  • tabisky c.

    Wow, the sushi was bad. The service was indifferent and slow. Waited for 10 minutes on a weekday with no water or tea. Green tea was lukewarm and tasteless. The whole experience was not inviting to warrant a return visit. The pieces of sashimi in my chirashi were uneven, small and mushy. The octopus was tough as a leather. It felt that I had some left over pieces of sashimi and was just plated in my bowl. If you're here for sushi, stay away as they do not use fresh ingredients and sadly they do not know how to cut fish. My partner did not have his bento for the longest time. Come on, what's going on with the kitchen? I was done finishing up my meal when his arrived. A tiny saba and teriyaki beef - so what is taking so long to cook that? I wanted to try their miso ramen, but the staff did not know who the ramen supplier was so I opted not to order it. I did not want it be dry ramen from a package. Won't be back for sushi for sure, but may try their hibachi dinner to compare with Benihana, but it won't be soon.

    (1)

  • Marcelo R.

    We were there with my family, including my nephews 9 and 6 years old. Food was good. The entertainment factor was a 9 out of 10. The entire table was engaged and everyone cleaned their plates. I'd say success! Might be a little pricey, but hey it's dinner AND a show.

    (3)

  • Brian L.

    My girlfriend and i purchased a living social deal, and it was well worth it. We sat in the sushi bar, and the restaurant was relatively empty, most people were either at the bar or in the group tables for dinner shows. The sushi chef was an extremely friendly older man who made us some complimentary salads, that had a very unique taste. It was a small touch that made my girlfriend and i feel very comfortable and ready to eat. Sushi was very fresh, miso soup was very good as well. Few complaints include price, even with coupon the bill was still pretty high, and i ordered the garlic broccoli with my bento box and was very dissapointed with it. Other than that, i will definitely come back here again, if livingsocial offers another deal.

    (4)

  • Darla D.

    This place is great, I've been 3 times and always enjoyed myself. It's fun for a group or even just a couple. The hibachi grill food is wonderful and their sauces are great. Everyone is friendly and the sushi is good too. You can sign up for a $30 gift certificate to use on the month of your birthday. We will definitely go again!

    (4)

  • Taraneh A.

    This place was great. Fresh sushi, great appetizers and awesome service! A group of 12 of us walked in on a random Wednesday night a few weeks ago after a sweaty game of ultimate frisbee. Not only did the super-friendly owner accommodate us, he put us in a private area and brought over a bottle of sake on the house. With hot towels to freshen ourselves both before and after the meal, it was, as my fiance put it many times, "superb."

    (5)

  • Peggy N.

    Konichiwa (i'm told that is Japanese for "welcome") correct me on the spelling if you want to! I know. I know! I know!!!! Five sexy stars from Ra'essah for a place that DOES NOT have a full bar. Believe it, betches! My twins and I joined my parents for lunch here last week - it did not disappoint. We sat at the hibachi and perused the menu....from the chef's choice sushi appetizer that consisted of: ebi, hamachi something nekka taki (?) and three others alllll sublime! I ordered the two combo w/ filet mignon and shrimp. It was OHEMGEE amazing! For 15.50 I received: house soup (YUM), house salad (YUMM), a big bowl of fried rice (YUMMM), eight big shrimp (YUMMMM) and a plentiful serving of filet mignon (OMG YUMMMMMM)!!! NOPE I'M NOT LYING!!! Oh, don't forget the generous portions of veggies and bean sprouts! The chef was from China, so don't discriminate when you expect one from Japan - just sayin'.... based on the name Kobe JAPAN not CHINA... I, and when I say "I" I mean "us" had enough food for lunch and leftovers for dinner - then, well - you know this girl is satisfied and then some! I cannot wait for a good reason to skip out on work (again) at lunch for a 15.50 filet mignon, shrimp, bountiful sides, a darling waitress named "MANDY" and a neat knife-jugglin-shrimp-tossin-rice-fryin-hat-­catchin-egg-beatin-filet-mignonin chef from China! Please check this place out but note the hours as they close at 3pm (after lunch) and open again at 5pm (for dinner) They are so welcoming and appreciative for your business. yeah, it's cool - and you can thank me later! sayalala - (mandy told me that is chinese for "see you later"!) correct me on the spelling if you feel like it!

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    Wowowowow... who would of thunk that a Restaurant in Pleasant Hill in a strip mall could blow my socks off?? We first were seated in the hibachi room which looked like fun but we were definitely in the mood for Sushi. I was there with a gal pal and wanted to chat so we moved to their fabulous bar. (The teppanyaki tables in the first room had a loud party at one of them so it was a little loud to hear each other) They had 3 specials that night and one of them was a spicy tuna roll. All I can say is YUM! We ordered garlic broccoli and then decided on the California crunch roll. OMG first of all it is HUGE! But more important beautiful in presentation and delicious in taste ..some of the best Sushi I have had in a long time. The staff was wonderful and the dinner ended with a beautifully prepared fruit plate...(why are those oranges always so much better at Japanese Restaurants?) They then brought over steaming hot towels for the second time to cleanse and we were completely satisfied. Right before we left the owner (Terry) came over to introduce himself.He was so warm and friendly which left me with an even better feeling about this new restaurant! I can't wait to bring my husband there. Total bill came to about $30. and that included 2 rolls , vegetable and 2 beers.

    (5)

  • Cary N.

    This is a great new restaurant in Pleasant Hill. I came here for a family dinner with 6 of us. We sat at one of the teppanyaki tables. They call it Habachi. If you are not familiar it's in the same style as Benihana where the chef cooks right in front of you. There is actually a Benihana restaurant about ten minutes away. The reason why I have given Kobe 5 stars is because this was definitely a more enjoyable experience then Benihana. Kobe is much more personal and authenticate, not corporate like Benihana. The manager and staff are very sweet and attentive. The decor and atmosphere is excellent. There is a wonderful attention to detail throughout the restaurant, from tea pots and canisters of fine teas to sake sets and fresh orchids. There is also plenty of beautiful Japanese art on the walls. The service was great. The food was great. I had the filet mignon habachi. It was very tasty and the portions were generous. The rest of my family had various other dishes which they all confirmed were great. Our chef Rockey was very personable and fun. The sake selection was as good as it gets in this area. They have a whole separate sushi bar which I did not try on this visit, but I plan to next time. It looks like they have a great sushi selection. I recommend you give this place a try. It's a bit hidden in a strip mall in the middle of a residential neighborhood, but it's worth seeking out.

    (5)

  • TJ W.

    Like Benihana's, but in some ways, better. Delivery sushi! How can it be better than this? We have eaten in at the hibachi table, eaten in at the sushi bar and gotten delivery.

    (4)

  • Yappari N.

    Tried there Habachi and some of their lunch sets. There habachi was awesome or at least the best I've tried in this area. Unlike benihana, the food was well seasoned and the sauces were great. I've always felt benihana to be overpriced and bland. I was surprised to find that they actually make YakiSoba the right way with the right sauce and right type of noodles! Similarly they use the right type of dipping sauce for the chicken katsu for their lunch bento boxes. Pricing is reasonable. Cheaper and more quantity over Benihana for the habachi/teppanyaki. Average for the lunch bentos, but more quantity then other sushi/japanese restaurants around. I knocked off a star for their sushi.. didn't like them.. the fillings and sauces were a little off. It might just be me, but i'll still be going back for everything else.

    (4)

  • R W.

    My husband and I love this place. Great sushi, great staff and rockin' happy hour 7 days a week!

    (4)

  • Carla C.

    Had a grreat lunch - for less than $15 each, dessert, tax & tip included. Tasty bento box offerings... designer salad greens, salmon, spicy tuna roll, teriyaki chicken, tempura shrimp. Pleasant and attentive service...I had to slow them down, and told 3 staff no thank you, not finished yet! We had fried green tea ice cream as a special treat. I deem Kobe Japan -- Tasty.

    (4)

  • Michelle B.

    Walked in. Cool layout. Flighty service. Boo Food... Eh not that great Then why two stars u ask? They have Orion beer which is one of my faves and it is not so common. And it's right down the street from me. I see shifters in my future.

    (2)

  • Donna P.

    Great Food, Service AND Entertainment. I felt their food has more flavor and a better variety with the menu than their competition in Concord. Plan to do the Sushi next. I used a groupon ($12 for $25 off) and it made me try a new place. We will definitely be back VERY SOON!!

    (5)

  • Tristan d.

    This place has amazing fried rice. Their Teriyaki Beef is dreamy. I don't understand the veggies that are served on the side of their Teriyaki dishes, but that's not what I'm there for, anyway. Buyer be warned: They don't seem to have a lunch menu.

    (4)

  • Pinky L.

    I bought a coupon off of Groupon and my husband and I went to eat. The atmosphere was great it was on a Friday night. I didn't realize they had a Benny Hanna style set up there. The food was great the SUSHI was the BEST Very fresh. I would definitely go back. The lunch & the happy hour prices looked even better.

    (5)

  • Emily J.

    Kobe Japan is open! I was very excited to go there last night with Jac C., Rachel H., and Rachel H.'s hubby for some pre-karaoke eats. Jac and I walked in and the very friendly host asked if we wanted to sit at a teppanyaki table or in the room with the sushi bar. I wasn't sure and felt pressured to make a decision so I just said near the sushi bar. This ended up being a good decision because there you get the full menu. There is also a back room for private parties and a nice sized bar. Everyone working there was incredibly nice and I am pretty sure that every person greeted us at some point during our meal. A waiter came over and offered us warm (okay, hot) towels to clean our hands. We also got the hot towels again at the end of our meal. It was a nice touch, a hot one. We all ordered and I got the tempura udon. For $10 I expected a bowl of udon with maybe one tempura shrimp and a couple tempura veggies. The waitress brought out my dish and I was surprised to see that it included a large bowl of udon and a full order of tempura. The tempura was shrimp, asparagus, broccoli, sweet potato, zucchini, and onion. It was crispy and not too greasy and went perfectly with the udon. I only ate about a third of the udon before I was too full to continue. They packed it up for me in a sturdy, no risk of spillage, reheat-able container and I finished it for lunch today. Everyone else's food looked delicious as well but I will let them talk about it. I will definitely be back to try their sushi and I would love to get a group together to have fun at a teppanyaki table.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    This place is a great local Japanese Hibachi that compares to a Benihana type experience. The Portions are much bigger and the chefs are just as fun. The sushi bar is ultra affordable. You should go there for sure!

    (4)

  • Christina Eve W.

    I don't care what any of these other reviewers think! This is the BEST japanese I've had in a really, really long time in the states. I try Chirashi at every single sushi place I go to, and my hubby always goes for the unagi. If you are looking for fresh, tasty, and decent proportions served by actual Japanese people - this is the place. I recently had the worst Chirashi at a restaurant in Marina, CA; by golly they added SMOKED salmon and slathered matsu sauce over the entire thing, and all I could think about was that Chirashi I had here at Kobe Japan. We didn't order an appetizer, but no worries! The sushi chef ( oh and I do recommend sitting next to him at the sushi bar) gave us a mackeral salad as a free appetizer and it was the best damn thing i've ever had the pleasure of masticating. Sheer flavor. I wish they had it on the menu because I would buy it in buckets. As for the service, enough said. These people were great and I only wish that they opened before I moved away from Pleasant Hill.

    (5)

  • Wendell C.

    It's is unfair to Kobe Japan to compare it to Benihana. Kobe Japan is far superior. The atmosphere is superior. The food is superior. The service is vastly superior. You cannot compare the two other then the two words "Japanese Hibachi". The food is superior for two reason: The chefs know what they're doing and the food is higher quality. The food is organic - meats, fish and vegetables - all organic. And you can taste the superiority! Their Filet Mignon and Kobe Beef are out of this world. Tender and delicious. Scallops, prawns, sea bass - you name it - everything we have tried has been fantastic. I love Sushi. Kobe Japan knows what they're doing with Sushi. This is FREAH Sushi! The only reasons I don't give them 5 stars is their soup and salad. The salads are most often served at room temperature and the lettuce is limp. Their soup, while good, is not a tasty as the onion soup at Benihana. The brother could be a little "darker" if you will and they should add more onions. But those are my only two complaints. The hibachi chefs are not only ethnically correct for a Japanese restaurant, i.e. they're Japanese, but they've got the skills to go along with it. Wow! You've never seen such adroit skills with a knife and spatula. 'course if you're insanely PC then the above won't matter, will it? But then neither do your taste buds. Try this restaurant. You will not be sorry!

    (4)

  • Merisa R.

    A very lively, fun, and festive environment. Overall, good experience for a first time. I came here for my birthday with six of my friends for the tapayaki table. If you're looking to socialize with your friends, you probably want to keep it in the bar area where it is still loud, but intimate. Yet, if you're looking to try different foods and get a show, this is where you want to be. Our server was very prompt with the appetizers. If you have someone that has specific dietary preferences, make sure that is stressed to the server, they're going to provide this to your chef. This I have to give huge kudos about. Had a friend who's diet was specific, they catered to that. Our chef had an awesome personality. His show was okay, a few mistakes here and there (for ten years approximately as he said) but was very personable and comedic. I sampled their medium rare fillet minion with friend rice. It was fun to watch how our chef cooked the food and displayed it. I recommend this place if you're looking to try something different with your friends.

    (4)

  • Tony W.

    Nice family atmosphere. Staff was very friendly Prices are a bit high. Their special was Kobe beef and Maine lobster tail for 2. Since this was a birthday party I splurged. The beef was good but not exceptional. The lobster was cooked in the typical hibachi style. What a waste of a good lobster. Dessert was included in the special and was a custard and sweet potato. Really good.

    (3)

  • Hailey K.

    I love their sushi rolls and then the performance of the chefs when they are making habachi. Went there for a friend's bday. Thanks that they helped us to give him a special bday which is full of joys. Then I had the new york steak with shrimp which really gains a thumb up. Im going to go there Friday again for some drink too. Once again its really a good spot in Pleasant hill especially its so easy to access to.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    I've been here twice and both times I did not leave happy. The first time, the food wasn't very good at all. But the second time we went was a disaster. Everyone ordered water except my mother and I. It took them probably a good 15 minutes to even bring out our diet cokes. We ordered our food and I ordered an appetizer (veggie tempura) as well. Our chef was the only good part of the night. He was funny, friendly, and very entertaining. He cooked all of our meals quickly, but efficiently. Their onion soup didn't have much taste in my opinion. I also don't like their salad dressing, which is why I ordered the tempura! I'm also not a big fan of their fried rice, but everyone else loved it. (I'm just pretty picky when it comes to fried rice I guess) Anyway, we finish eating and my tempura has still not arrived. We hadn't been asked if we wanted refills once and I can't even remember seeing our waitress more than twice. We finally got her attention after they had cleared our plates and I told her I had ordered the veggie tempura and all she said was, "sorry". I told her I still wanted it and they brought it out after we had already had our "fruit cups". Their cantaloupe was not very tasty at all. In conclusion, I would recommend going to Benihanas. The service is better, the food is better, and if they had forgotten my tempura (which they wouldn't have), I probably would have gotten it for free. I was not impressed with this place.

    (2)

  • Jason B.

    Excellent food excellent staff excellent lunch special menu. I took my girl on a winds we ordered at the habachi grill. 2 combos steak and shrimp and scallops and shrimp a coke and some california rolls for appatizer. All for 38 dollars. Only one problem with the venue I didn't see a yelp sticker anywhere.

    (5)

  • Vinz C.

    If you look at my previous reviews, you can see I don't give 5 stars out. Kobe Japan is really the only restaurant I've been to in the past few years that's truly worthy of that. I've dined here twice, and each time has been absolutely wonderful. Restaurant owners take note: this is how a business should be ran. I haven't had the habachi entertainment as many others have spoken of. Every time I've gone here it was later at night so all of that was over. It was relatively quiet but overall a very nice environment. The hot towels are a really nice touch. The prices for what you get are really reasonable. This may not be saying much, but I've been eating at a lot of sushi restaurants recently and Kobe Japan is just the absolute best. This goes for all of the Bay Area and all of the Sacramento region. There's just no comparison. The agadeshi tofu is absolutely delicious. I haven't tried a roll I don't like. My favorite by far is the "New Year's Roll", which I'm sure goes by many other names during the year but I've only had it when it was offered as that. Honestly, there is not one bad thing about this place. The service was great, the food is 5-stars, and the ambiance is very nice. Not really much else to say except if you're in the East Bay give Kobe Japan a try. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Lady Of The Villa G.

    This review is based on two visits to this restaurant. Needless to say, there won't be any more. 1st visit: I don't even remember the food or the service because the owner and waitress humiliated my husband I I so badly that it's all that sticks out in my mind. We were on one of our very few date nights enjoying time away from the kids. When it came time to pay the bill my husband put a hundred dollar bill in the "leatherish payment folder". My husband noticed the owner and the other waitresses holding it up to the light and scratching their heads. Then he confronted us at our seats (habachi area) and in front of all the other patrons he told us they didn't have a way to know if the hundred dollar bill was a fake so they wanted another form of payment. We were so embarrassed and offended. If they were so worried about it they could have at least found a more discreet way to refuse our money, not humiliate us like that. No tact what so ever. 2nd visit: my friend gave me a gift certificate there, and against my desire to never return we sucked it up for a free meal and went. Hubby got the habachi, kids and I an assortment of sushi and seaweed salad. There was one waitress for 16 people. It took over ten minutes just to get sweetener for my ice tea after I kept trying to waive her down and she would run right past me. The seaweed salad was on the dry side, and the sushi was mediocre. The "chef" entertained my toddler pretty good, but that was because she kept bumbling her tricks. To a three year old eggs falling on the floor is awesome. I just have to say a $100 tab "including tip" is just too much for the quality of food and service. If I paid myself without using a gift card I would have been really bumbed.

    (1)

  • Brad M.

    I found the sushi bar tasty, and the sashimi platter was very good. The Octopus, in particular, which can be rubbery. The Miso Soup was very tasty, in my opinion. Not over-misoed. The salad dressing was subtle as well. They also have a hibachi menu, which I'd like to try next time.

    (4)

  • Maria B.

    Awesome food... I've been to all the Japanese cuisines in Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. This place is by far is the best. Food is great.. prices are great, quality food for moderate prices. And if you go Mon-Fri between 4pm-5pm you get 15% off regular prices. They have a full bar..too. TRY it out. its 2miles away from the Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.. and you won't get ripped off by the high prices. YOUR GET GOOD PORTIONS FOR THEIR PRICES

    (5)

  • S. D.

    I've been here at least 4 times now and I have to say that the Hibachi is amazing! The quality of the food is excellent, the quantity is massive, and the show is always fun. However, I have to say that the general service is lacking significantly. On two separate occasions, during weeknights, my party and I have been seated and ignored. I can understand if there is an issue at the sushi bar or if a grill chef is busy, but how difficult could it be to explain the situation and have drinks or appetizers ordered? Both times I was on the verge of leaving when the staff finally decided to make it over to us. While the food is pretty good, this reoccurring experience has pretty much stopped me from putting it on my short list for go-to japanese food; though I probably will still bring friends or family who want to experience hibachi.

    (3)

  • William S.

    Wow this place was GREAT! Thing is it's about an hour away from where I'm at. I really don't know where to start. Food was AWESOME and considering that I only had sushi? Man O Man I really want to give this place 5 stars just for the sushi itself, but I really want to try more before I give it that one more star. Main reason why we came here was because I wanted to try the appetizer called avocado balls. Service has got to be one of the friendliest places I've been, they make sure they take care of you here. Every time I'm done with my water, they can to fill it up every time they pass by without even me trying to flag them down. There is 3 different sections to this restaurant. There is a sports bar section to have your beer and watch some sports. I'm not sure if you can order sushi's and stuff in the bar area or it's mainly just for the pleasure of having a nice cold beer while enjoying some sort of sport event on TV. The other section is the sushi bar/restaurant which is where we had dinner. As soon as I walked in, they sat us down and gave us a warm hand towel (which at first I had no clue what it was for. I had the same experience when checking into a hotel in Hawaii, but that towel was used for your face). Well the hand towel was awesome, whatever they put in it, it made my hands soft almost immediately. Ok well for the menu, there was a huge selections of different kinds we ended up getting the beach roll and some spicy tuna with jalapenos which I can't think of the name right now. What caught my eye with the beach roll was that they used "real crab" instead of imitation crab in their roll, and once I seen that on the menu, I knew it was a definite must to try. Well both rolls were awesome and just what I expected. One thing I was pretty disappointed was the serving of our other appetizer "Fried Calamari" I mean yes, I know it is just and appetizer, but please don't charge me $7 for 5 fried calamari rings. Don't get me wrong it is good, but was too pricey IMO. The last section of the place was a Teppanyaki style where the chefs cook your meal right in front of you and also give you a show, this whole section is for entertainment and nothing more IMO. When I do come back here, this will be on my list of trys "Teppanyaki" I'm not sure what they serve in that section or if it's the same menu etc. but I'm really going to try this next time I'm in town. All in all this place gets 4 stars just for the sushi I had, I really want to try more and I just might bump this place for another star, but for now I think it's fair where I rated this place. One thing on the menu that caught my eye that I didn't get to try because I was already to stuffed to try is the "Kobe Beef Roll". It is was it says, kobe beef topped on a California roll, that roll is on the top of my list when I get back.

    (4)

  • zoe s.

    Tip for new comers: Sit at the sushi bar because the sushi chefs will give you free appetizer. What you should try: 1. Sashimi platter is tasty and has a variety for the indecisive. 2. Oysters. It's prepared just right with a little bit of lemon juice and tiny bit of hot sauce. My boyfriend and I can't get enough of this. 3. Sweet potato dessert. It's sweet potato top with egg white that's been glazed...sort of like a creme brulee. Actually, you can't go wrong with Kobe. Everything on the menu is yummy. Even the miso soup. At some places, the soup can be water down or taste like it came from a powder package. But the miso here taste "home made". The service is good also. The warm towel they give you makes me feel like I'm at a spa.

    (4)

  • Rick J.

    Very good Japanese steak house. Not as corporate as Benihana. Cook/chef was good, nothing flashy. Portions were good and steak was good. GF had filet mignon and that was excellent.

    (4)

  • Corey K.

    This place is just ok. I was pretty disappointed given the 4 star average rating by other Yelp members. Food was ok, ambience wasn't very good. Service was good, though the teppanyaki chef failed a lot of his tricks. All in all an ok experience, but not what I was hoping for.

    (2)

  • Jackie Y.

    I've been going here for years and have always loved the food. They have really good rolls and for happy hour the prices are amazing. Service is fast, the chefs are so nice and always trying to come up with new rolls. If you sit at the sushi bar in the main room and tell them what fish you like, they will make up something and its always amazing. Definitely try it out!!!!

    (5)

  • abbie c.

    Sushi was average. We had the east bay roll (good) and the dragon something sushi (it was mushy). Tried the Kobe beef but I'm not impressed. It's expensive for $13 with 4 slices of beef and salad on the side. The worst was their green tree although I'm glad it was complementary coz I wouldn't have paid for it. It tasted different from what I'm used to. The service was great. Kuddos to our server Nina.

    (3)

  • Nichole R.

    I've been here several times before. The service at Happy hour SUCKS! That guy bartender is the WORST ever, the first couple of times I went there he was So rude that i thought he may have been having a bad day or something. But alas, he is still a prick rude ass guy. He is the fakest, slowest, most annoying person I've ever encountered. He makes me NEVER want to go there again, and I WON'T!

    (1)

  • FX B.

    The OVERALL experience was HORRIBLE at best!!! The cook had ZERO entertainment value. I ordered my steak medium rare ... and it came back tough & well done. Shrimp was the farthest thing from fresh. Scallops were only half cooked. I requested hot drawn butter & the cook slopped some butter on the dirty grill & proceeded to scoop up the blackened goop into a sauce container. The absolute WORST teppanyaki I have ever had!!! FAR FROM THE BENIHANA EXPERIENCE ....

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Kobe Japan

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