We really tried to like this place, but it's always a horrible experience. The staff is so rude. The last time we tried take out from here it was a nightmare. I could barely understand the person on the phone but we finally confirmed the order and the pick up time. When we arrived to pick up the food (at the time they told us to) they yelled at us for coming too early. Then they didn't give us something that we ordered (and paid for) and it took me 30 minutes to get a refund on the item. The food isn't even good. Go try Sushi Kushi 4 U down the street and you'll never come back here again.
(1)
Jason W.
Waited over an hour and a half to get food after we were sat with a reservation. They offered us a free California roll for our wait. If you plan to eat here, don't come hungry as it seems we are not the only ones who have had this issue. Service was not good, and management is so used to getting complaints about the wait they don't care. This place has been in business for years and they still can't get a reasonable system in place for feeding their customers. Absurd.
(1)
Nick A.
To say the mighty have fallen would be a gross understatement. For over 20 years, my family has enjoyed coming to this establishment for its family friendly atmosphere and second to none service and entrees. It seems as if the entrees were the only thing to stick. After making reservations well in advance, the familyI was forced to wait for 45 minutes before an order was taken at our less than adequate table size. Food was amazing as usual and service was less than desirable.
(3)
Alice A.
[[[[[ GROUPON USERS BEWARE! ]]]] The only reason I went here is because my friend gave me a groupon. I didn't have high hopes after reading other reviews from fellow yelpers. And sadly, they are right... On a weekday, this place is pretty empty... Only two other parties were there when we arrived...We Waited for about 20 mins and i finally ASKED how much longer and chef finally came out after another 10 mins and started cooking... chef Jay was entertaining tho. The food was NOT worth $17-$21 in my opinion (for that price, I'd suggest going to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills. It's A LOT better!) ************The part that ruined my night was the 18% TIP that they wrote on my check. (See picture) I understand if I went with a party of 6 or more, that is fine but it was only ME and a friend. I complained and all they said was this is OUR rule... And after complaining MORE, they said it's because I used a GROUPON so they MUST add the 18% TIP. The waitresses then said "if you dont use groupon, then we dont charge 18% tip" I think that's total BULL because the mom and her daughter who sat in front of us got charged 18% as well and she did NOT use groupon. She too complained as well and said she wasn't coming back. ******************** I have bought groupon to many higher rated and 5 star restaurants and I have NEVER encountered this automatic tip being added. I would've given a better tip if it wasn't "forced" and because of their lame "reasoning" I am def NOT coming back! If the owners are reading this, I hope you now know why your BUSINESS SUCKS! If you are going to give out groupons to attract customers and then later charge them a 18% TIP (for two people), good luck keeping your customers! NOT RETURNING. FOOD ISNT GOOD. THE TIP SHOULD BE CALCULATED USING THE AMOUNT AFTER THE $30 DISCOUNT. SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT ~$3 NOT $8.30! such a rip off!!!!!
(1)
T B.
This is what you get in veggies sad! This place needs to step it up and fill up the plates.
(2)
James K.
Kobe shoots.... and scores! Came here with a group on a Sunday night, and this place exceeded our expectations. The server was friendly but the chef really stole the show. I've been to many tepanyaki places, but the show that our chef had was very friendly and had some very fun and unique things up his sleeves. We had the lobster (w/golden sauce... gotta have golden sauce) and steak. Simply amazing. Both lobster and steak pieces were cooked perfectly. The veggies were delicious but one thing I have to say is that the fried rice that they make here is probably the best I've ever had. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)
Mark D.
I've never ever had a bad experience here. People are entitled to their opinion but... Good food, attentive service, Groupon friendly, clean. I see that someone complained about having to tip on the total bill and not the adjusted Groupon price. I don't believe that the server should suffer the consequence of earning less, when providing the same level of service because a Groupon is used. We will be back. There is no reason not to be.
(4)
Valerie N.
Although Ive only been here once I felt the need to leave a review for this restaurant. Was a great experience for me and my children. Not only do they put on a great show but the food was absolutely delicious. The only reason ive not returned is because I dont really go out to eat that oftened. But if im ever in lake Zurich and decide to go out to eat, kobes is where I'll be!! Definitely recommend.
(5)
K G.
Skip it. There are better places. Food is over priced and not that great. Ambiance is dated. I always leave with that smoky/greasy oil smell having permeated my clothes. Ugh!
(1)
Bon J.
Great food, great experience, poor service. Breaks my heart because I love Kobe East so much, but the benihana-like sister restaurant is not to the same level due to the service. Don't go there looking to get seated or eat quickly, not that it can't happen, just that if the table is not full when you sit, they'll wait for exact persons until the chef starts. That makes it a crap shoot with kids on hand. We were there for 3 hours. The drinks have to be flagged down as well, but the whole experience is pretty fun and the chefs make it a great time. Will be back.
(3)
Rebekka L.
Out of Steaked Tuna?! Out of Red Snapper?! AND out of Swordfish??!... what did that leave me with?? Chicken. This was on a Tuesday night too! 10 people at the max in the restaurant. The waitress didn't give any other suggestions or offer anything else. Then, when asked the difference between hibachi and teriyaki sauce (by a friend I was with), the waitress explained teriyaki as "teriyaki" sauce, she couldn't explain hibachi either. I could only shake my head. Poor service. Waiting for our chef to arrive to the grill, the chef to the table next to us started cooking. He began by banging his cookware on the grill for a good 5 minutes to try and impress his table. It was only slightly entertaining but so loud I could barely have a conversation with the person sitting right next to me. The chef was sweet and knowledgable, explaining to me that tuna prices have skyrocketed. However that didnt explain why they only had shrimp, lobster and salmon available. I had no problems with him or the way my food was cooked. Simple Japanese food was ok, no complaints but nothing fantastic here.
Went to Kobe last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. They live in Lake Zurich and this was their recommendation. I'll admit after reading the less than stellar reviews I was reluctant, but what a pleasant surprise. We were a party of seven, we all arrived at the same time so we were seated immediately. The decor was very clean, attractive and modern compared to some of the comparable teppanyaki restaurants. For a Saturday night it was busy, most of the tables were full. There appeared to be a lot of families with kids. I wish I could remember the young man's name who was our server as he was excellent, He was a younger Asian man and his name began with a G. Our service was quick and friendly. One of our group has food allergies and he was very patient with her and made some suggestions that were appropriate. I have been a Benihana fan for a number of years and the "show" put on by the chef's by far exceeded anything I have seen there for some time. It was fun to watch, the chef was very engaging and my food was cooked exactly as ordered. The prices while not cheap, are in line with this style of restaurant. The quality of the food was excellent, I had the scallops and New You Strip and the portions were very generous. I had enough left over for full meal the following day. I would highly recommend going again. If they had service issues in the past they have definitely make some significant improvements.
(5)
Don G.
When we arrived, the place was less than half full. It took them 15 minutes to seat us at a table because apparently the roof was leaking over several of the tables. Then after we sat down, it was another 15 minutes until we called the bus boy over to ask for drinks. It was a full half hour after we sat down until they actually took our order. While waiting, there was plenty opportunity to notice that they place hasn't exactly been maintained very well. The tables and hibachi grills were definitely showing their age. The Chef was pretty entertaining. He went through most of the usual tricks you expect in a Japanese restaurant. He did make my daughter smile and laugh. After we were done eating, it was about another 10 minutes before they offered us the ice cream that comes with the meal. We passed on the ice cream. Amazingly, it was another 10 minutes before we got the check. We were in the restaurant for about two hours even though they were only half full. Now, for the best part. There were three of us (my wife, my daughter, and myself). They manually added an 18% tip to the bill. They based the 18% on the full total including the taxes. (Pre-tax amount was $54.79, post-tax amount was $58.90, they gave themselves a $10.61 tip). I know tipping is such a sensitive topic for many restaurant goers. So take this last paragraph for what it is. A statement of how they handled the bill and gave themselves an automatic 18% gratuity based on the post tax total for a party of three. This was our first time here and probably our last. There is a much nicer Japanese steakhouse (Tsukasa) right down the road in Kildeer.
(1)
Shawn K.
They overbooked reservations last night. And the hostess ran away with an angry mob funneling out the front door. I had a reservation booked 3 days in advance too. They were looking very unprofessional. The food is good here though despite the horrible customer services.
(2)
Nikka A.
I just went to this place because I had a Groupon so me & my husband decided to try it out since we just live close by. We ordered the hibachi steak and it was very bland. Nothing special and they're expensive too.Definitely not coming back because it's just a total waste of money. We'd rather drive down to Shinto in Naperville. They have really good food & worth every buck.
(1)
Jen S.
Something terrible has happened to Kobe in Lake Zurich. We have eaten countless dinners at this restaurant over the past ten years, spending probably thousands of dollars. It used to be our favorite place for special evenings out as well as spur of the moment weeknight dinners, but in the last year the service has been seriously lacking and after our experience there tonight I am sorry to say we will never go back. We arrived on time for our 5:30 reservation and didn't get out of the restaurant until 8. really it was so bad it would take 2 pages to describe the whole awful experience. To sum it up, no one at our table got their appetizers, no drink refills for over an hour, we never saw our server again after she took our dinner orders and at the end of the meal when we finally did flag her down, she tried to tell us she was never our server and she didn't know who our server was. what??!! it was so crazy. The "manager" promised us all discounts on our bills, but when we got them they were all mixed up and no discount. The older woman behind the bar was extremely rude when we complained about the bill and acted as if it was our fault! The entire restaurant was chaos - EVERY table was complaining about terrible service, we finally just left the bill with cash on the table, it is the only time in my life I didn't leave a tip. On our way out of the restaurant we told all the people waiting to go elsewhere and many of them listened to us (I think they must have overheard all the other patrons having problems). what an awful awful restaurant experience!
(1)
Erika S.
Back when I was younger and still lived at home, I went to Kobe all the time for my birthday. It's a Benihana-like place (stoves are on the table and chefs cook right in front of you) but it's better. First they give you a salad with a miso dressing that is really spectacular, as well as a brothy soup. You order your food, and the chef comes out with all the fresh ingredients. I usually got the beef and chicken, which is exactly what it sounds like. They offer you a couple different sauces that you can use to dip, and I certainly take advantage of those. Comes with a side of stir-fried vegetables. Yum! I always enjoy Kobe as special-occasion dinners go, and I'll never turn down an invitation!
(5)
Jill L.
We recently went to Kobe Restaurant with some friends. We've eaten both at Kobe East and the Restaurant a few times. The sushi is very good, however this most recent time our experience wasn't so great. I think the chef was new or was having an off night, but any trick he did, it didn't work out. My steak was overdone (as well as the people sitting next to us ordered medium rare and got well done.) It took a long time for the servers to come around and was left with an empty mai tai and limited refills. I had wished we took our friends somewhere else. That said, we've had good experiences there before. Just not this time. We'll choose to eat somewhere else and possibly go back in a year or so. No need to rush back right away.
(2)
Patty H.
Worst New Years Eve ever. We had reservations on 12/31/12 for 7pm for our party of 7. We arrived on time, only to find that the entire restaurant was still full from the last group of diners. Obviously, they had no idea how to turn away anyone, as people without reservations continued to come in and be seated before us. We were finally seated at 8pm. Our waiter failed to greet us in a timely fashion, as we must have sat around the table for 10 minutes before he finally arrived to take our drink order. Each course had a 10 minute lapse. When he came to take our dinner order, we had to point out to him that we didn't have menus. We ordered the combination dinner that was supposed to come with appetizers, which never arrived. After we told our waiter, he said they hadn't made enough tempura shrimp and it wasn't his fault they didn't have anymore. I was too annoyed to point out that there were 5 other appetizers to choose from. Our chef didn't arrive to cook for us for about 20 minutes. In his defense, the food was very good and cooked to our specifications. But that didn't make our evening any more enjoyable after the horrible service and lack of organization on the management part. I won't be going back. If I want this cuisine again I will go down the road to Tsukasa in Kildeer.
(1)
Keith M.
Decent place with some good entertainment as they cook in front of you. Took the kids here for the first time and they were kept entertained by the chef cooking as well as all the other tables activities. Decent food a bit pricey for a large family in my book but worth it for a special occasion.
(4)
Ron S.
It is not that this place is bad, its only okay compared to other places like Benihana, Tsukasa, or Rokbonki. One thing that is bad about this place is the servce though.
(3)
Eve A.
Teppan-yaki/hibachi food is standard: grilled meats, poultry, seafood and veg are all fine, and the chefs are diverting enough. However, this place suffers for its service. My dining companion and I came in on a very slow Tuesday night and were waiting to be seated; the hostess pointedly ignored us and gave us a dirty look and a sarcastic "Someone will be right with you" when we asked if we could sit. We waited near the door for a good fifteen minutes before we finally flagged her down again, at which point she abruptly stated: "We don't have a table for you." There were many tables open and, last I checked, this wasn't Charlie Trotter's. Mystified, we could only imagine that she preferred groups of four or more for a hibachi seating...or she couldn't deal with my companion's ponytail, goatee and jeans. We won't be going back. Fortunately, Kobe East next door is just as pleasant as Kobe of Japan wasn't.
(2)
Patty R.
Great place to eat, wonderful Terriyaki sauce. Ask for it for your dipping sauce. Try putting the spicy garlic on your scallops. Umm umm good...
(4)
Linda M.
After having eaten in this establishment MANY MANY times over the past several years, and having spent literally THOUSANDS (yes, I said thousands) of dollars, our family will not be returning. My kids are disappointed (I have 4 children and we have always gone there for their birthdays, and never escape for less than $350 for the 6 of us, but hey, it's a special occasion, and the kids love the hibatchi cooking style.) However our last couple of trips have been disappointing at best...The food is just OK, but the management is RUDE and INSULTING...Doesn't matter to me how good the food is, to be treated in such a disrespectful way (yes, Sharon, I'm speaking about you!) I've decided there are far too many places in our area where I can spend my THOUSANDS of dollars annually, where they will appreciate my business and won't make me feel like a bother. Other reviewers have said the same thing about this establishment (and by the way, their sister restaurant next door, named Kobe East, is no different) We can't all be wrong, can we? I'd suggest you steer clear and take your business to a place where they appreciate their customers!
(1)
Dana Y.
It was seriously one of the best Tappan restaurant I've ever been to!! The food was exceptionally delicious and the chefs were talented and funny. I've been there several times and it seems like they recently renovated the place - it looks really nice! I like the ambiance of the place. A definite must go!!
(5)
Rena V.
Not a good experience and that is gently spoken. It took me 3 times to call to finally place my order. While I was placing during it during my first call, a gentleman placed me on hold to get someone to help, seemed he was not trained to take an order. As he was talking to someone, I could hear what seemed like them fighting in a back round. Then my call dropped. Please put costumers on hold, so they cannot hear your problems. The sushi was not to my taste at all. They were fresh, but no spicy mayo used for spicy tuna or scallop or in anything at all. They use chilly sauce, not my favorite at all.
(2)
Connor B.
Kobe is your traditional Japanese grill experience. Location and Ambiance: Its got a fairly normal location in a little strip mall and the ambiance is ok, but could be a little better. Food: The food was great! It was the normal play on Japanese style food grilled up in front of you by your chef. The menu was the usual teriyaki, hibachi, and the like. Staff: The staff was a little robotic, but got the job done. The one exception to this was Sharon, she was really nice and always checked in with us even though it was late at night. Overall, i'm torn between giving Kobe a 3 or a 4. The main reason being: the food was nothing inventive, very expected experience, staff was a little robotic, and in general it was just average. Thanks, Connor Brady
(3)
Amy G.
This is a review for Kobe - Food is delicious with quick service however they do not allow time to enjoy the courses they are serving.
(3)
Katie Z.
The environment lacks, however the spicy salmon roll was yummy, the soup was good. Not a fan of the salad dressing OR the garlic batter at all. That's where Rokbonki of Arlington heights takes the cake. However we loved the rice, steak, chicken veggies and even the seafood sauce! I could have put the seafood sauce all over everything I ate. They even asked how many cups of it id want with my leftovers. Waitress was attentive to ask for refills. Prices are comparable with other hibachi places. We will be back whenever the craving for hibachi strikes again!
(3)
Andy T.
Went to dinner Friday night with the wife and stopped into Kobe.
(2)
Matthew R.
We normally go here for lunch without the show and the prices are very reasonable and the rice,indeed , is delicious although a few bean sprouts would perfect it, The grilled scallops,especially , are terrific. One bone to pick with the stingy reviewer,Alice A.,if you look at most guidelines for Groupon or the Entertainment Book they point out , quite fairly, your tip should be calculated on meal value prior to discount.To us that even means 20%,if service warrants.Apparently,this defensive maneuver was required due to the abusive behavior of embarrassing clientele like A.A.
(4)
Kevin R.
The food isn't that bad.. A little pricey but overall acceptable. However the service is HORRID. My company has ordered from this place at least 1-2 times a month. Every time the young girl answers the phone, its like you are doing her a favor and she's extremely rude. In addition to that they have messed up on the bill a couple of times and refuse to give the correct number of sauces requested. Now I understand in this economy businesses have to tighten up but when a customer is willing to pay additional, then there really shouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately I nor any of my coworkers will be going here again. Service is key and this is an area that is lacking for Kobe.
(2)
Marissa B.
My husband and I love Japanese steakhouses, so we snatched up the Groupon when it came up for this place. We didn't have a bad experience (from the restaurant, anyways, we had the most miserable jerks at our table though!) First of all, if you're going to buy a Groupon ever, please read the fine print. We had a Groupon as did the two other parties at our table and BOTH parties were throwing a hissy fit because they hadn't read the fine print and couldn't use the Groupon for what they wanted. All that being said, we had a so-so experience. The food is definitely not as good as Tsukasa, even though the prices are the same. I don't recall us having an issue with the tip, but I also didn't pay the bill. The only thing I can say is that people should be aware that you are basically supposed to double your tip at these kinds of restaurants because it's split between the waitstaff and the chefs. Normally you wouldn't tip your chef at other places, I know, but they also put on a show for you and I have witnessed in many cases that they will remake something or cook things in a particular way for particular people. I don't doubt the reason they had to add a mandatory tip is because there are clearly a lot of cheap people out there that don't want to tip properly. I know there's controversy about earned tips or not, but it sounds like many of you wouldn't have tipped them a decent amount even if they
(3)
Elizabeth M.
Not sure why there are so many bad reviews. I've been coming here since 07 and I have never had a problem. The food is great and the service is great. They have the best fried rice I've had. Don't listen to these reviewers that think this place is bad. Try it for yourself!
(5)
Jillian K.
I'm from Lake Zurich and for as long as I can remember, this has been my favorite restaurant in town. The food and atmosphere is great and the service is usually fair -- no problems. Many memories over the years here for birthdays, graduations, etc. This past Saturday, I was planning to go to Kobe with my family to celebrate my birthday. We made sure to make reservations and made sure to arrive on time. When we got there, the restaurant was packed (good for them, I always support a local business), so we checked in with the hostess and began to wait patiently for our table. Over an hour passed and we had still not been seated. We tried to talk to the hostess several times but were not getting any answers. People with no reservation who had walked in after us were being seated. Over the course of the hour+, it seemed that the employees almost began to disappear -- chefs, serves, etc. There was also nobody in the front to help the guests or to give us any explanation as to why we had not been seated for over an hour. There was also nobody to offer reassurance that we, a group with reservations, were going to be seated soon. Guests, including myself, began to get angry and confused with the entire situation. Shortly after, a guest who was already seated at a table came up to the front and let us know that she had been seated at her table for over a half hour and hadn't even gotten their drinks yet. We were so happy she let us know because we decided to leave after that. I honestly don't think I will be making the trip back to this restaurant ever again. It's one thing to be busy, but it's another for the employees to disappear and to wait for a reservation for an hour and a half and still not get seated. TERRIBLE customer service. If you're in the mood for teppanyaki, there is a restaurant at Deer Park (Tsukasa) and also a great one in Palatine (Rokbonki).
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Alli W.
We really tried to like this place, but it's always a horrible experience. The staff is so rude. The last time we tried take out from here it was a nightmare. I could barely understand the person on the phone but we finally confirmed the order and the pick up time. When we arrived to pick up the food (at the time they told us to) they yelled at us for coming too early. Then they didn't give us something that we ordered (and paid for) and it took me 30 minutes to get a refund on the item. The food isn't even good. Go try Sushi Kushi 4 U down the street and you'll never come back here again.
(1)Jason W.
Waited over an hour and a half to get food after we were sat with a reservation. They offered us a free California roll for our wait. If you plan to eat here, don't come hungry as it seems we are not the only ones who have had this issue. Service was not good, and management is so used to getting complaints about the wait they don't care. This place has been in business for years and they still can't get a reasonable system in place for feeding their customers. Absurd.
(1)Nick A.
To say the mighty have fallen would be a gross understatement. For over 20 years, my family has enjoyed coming to this establishment for its family friendly atmosphere and second to none service and entrees. It seems as if the entrees were the only thing to stick. After making reservations well in advance, the familyI was forced to wait for 45 minutes before an order was taken at our less than adequate table size. Food was amazing as usual and service was less than desirable.
(3)Alice A.
[[[[[ GROUPON USERS BEWARE! ]]]] The only reason I went here is because my friend gave me a groupon. I didn't have high hopes after reading other reviews from fellow yelpers. And sadly, they are right... On a weekday, this place is pretty empty... Only two other parties were there when we arrived...We Waited for about 20 mins and i finally ASKED how much longer and chef finally came out after another 10 mins and started cooking... chef Jay was entertaining tho. The food was NOT worth $17-$21 in my opinion (for that price, I'd suggest going to Tsukasa in Vernon Hills. It's A LOT better!) ************The part that ruined my night was the 18% TIP that they wrote on my check. (See picture) I understand if I went with a party of 6 or more, that is fine but it was only ME and a friend. I complained and all they said was this is OUR rule... And after complaining MORE, they said it's because I used a GROUPON so they MUST add the 18% TIP. The waitresses then said "if you dont use groupon, then we dont charge 18% tip" I think that's total BULL because the mom and her daughter who sat in front of us got charged 18% as well and she did NOT use groupon. She too complained as well and said she wasn't coming back. ******************** I have bought groupon to many higher rated and 5 star restaurants and I have NEVER encountered this automatic tip being added. I would've given a better tip if it wasn't "forced" and because of their lame "reasoning" I am def NOT coming back! If the owners are reading this, I hope you now know why your BUSINESS SUCKS! If you are going to give out groupons to attract customers and then later charge them a 18% TIP (for two people), good luck keeping your customers! NOT RETURNING. FOOD ISNT GOOD. THE TIP SHOULD BE CALCULATED USING THE AMOUNT AFTER THE $30 DISCOUNT. SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT ~$3 NOT $8.30! such a rip off!!!!!
(1)T B.
This is what you get in veggies sad! This place needs to step it up and fill up the plates.
(2)James K.
Kobe shoots.... and scores! Came here with a group on a Sunday night, and this place exceeded our expectations. The server was friendly but the chef really stole the show. I've been to many tepanyaki places, but the show that our chef had was very friendly and had some very fun and unique things up his sleeves. We had the lobster (w/golden sauce... gotta have golden sauce) and steak. Simply amazing. Both lobster and steak pieces were cooked perfectly. The veggies were delicious but one thing I have to say is that the fried rice that they make here is probably the best I've ever had. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)Mark D.
I've never ever had a bad experience here. People are entitled to their opinion but... Good food, attentive service, Groupon friendly, clean. I see that someone complained about having to tip on the total bill and not the adjusted Groupon price. I don't believe that the server should suffer the consequence of earning less, when providing the same level of service because a Groupon is used. We will be back. There is no reason not to be.
(4)Valerie N.
Although Ive only been here once I felt the need to leave a review for this restaurant. Was a great experience for me and my children. Not only do they put on a great show but the food was absolutely delicious. The only reason ive not returned is because I dont really go out to eat that oftened. But if im ever in lake Zurich and decide to go out to eat, kobes is where I'll be!! Definitely recommend.
(5)K G.
Skip it. There are better places. Food is over priced and not that great. Ambiance is dated. I always leave with that smoky/greasy oil smell having permeated my clothes. Ugh!
(1)Bon J.
Great food, great experience, poor service. Breaks my heart because I love Kobe East so much, but the benihana-like sister restaurant is not to the same level due to the service. Don't go there looking to get seated or eat quickly, not that it can't happen, just that if the table is not full when you sit, they'll wait for exact persons until the chef starts. That makes it a crap shoot with kids on hand. We were there for 3 hours. The drinks have to be flagged down as well, but the whole experience is pretty fun and the chefs make it a great time. Will be back.
(3)Rebekka L.
Out of Steaked Tuna?! Out of Red Snapper?! AND out of Swordfish??!... what did that leave me with?? Chicken. This was on a Tuesday night too! 10 people at the max in the restaurant. The waitress didn't give any other suggestions or offer anything else. Then, when asked the difference between hibachi and teriyaki sauce (by a friend I was with), the waitress explained teriyaki as "teriyaki" sauce, she couldn't explain hibachi either. I could only shake my head. Poor service. Waiting for our chef to arrive to the grill, the chef to the table next to us started cooking. He began by banging his cookware on the grill for a good 5 minutes to try and impress his table. It was only slightly entertaining but so loud I could barely have a conversation with the person sitting right next to me. The chef was sweet and knowledgable, explaining to me that tuna prices have skyrocketed. However that didnt explain why they only had shrimp, lobster and salmon available. I had no problems with him or the way my food was cooked. Simple Japanese food was ok, no complaints but nothing fantastic here.
(2)Valerie W.
I tend to lean toward Japanese steak houses for special occasions. Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Saturday... you know. My birthday was this past Friday and my boyfriend recommended Kobe, as his family loves it and it seems to be the only one in the area I haven't tried yet. The décor is standard for a Japanese steak house, teppanyaki cooktops, dim lights, and pictures of frequent diners plastered throughout the entrance. At 6:30 on a Friday night the restaurant was empty, and remained that way through our dinner, which surprised me. The food was delicious, the portions were large. and the prices were standard, but it wasn't the very best teppanyaki I've had. I know these things depend on the chef, and ours had a little bit too heavy of a hand with the salt. Everything was just a little bit too salty for me. If I'm being invited back, I will go, but it's not first choice.
(3)Sonya S.
Went to Kobe last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. They live in Lake Zurich and this was their recommendation. I'll admit after reading the less than stellar reviews I was reluctant, but what a pleasant surprise. We were a party of seven, we all arrived at the same time so we were seated immediately. The decor was very clean, attractive and modern compared to some of the comparable teppanyaki restaurants. For a Saturday night it was busy, most of the tables were full. There appeared to be a lot of families with kids. I wish I could remember the young man's name who was our server as he was excellent, He was a younger Asian man and his name began with a G. Our service was quick and friendly. One of our group has food allergies and he was very patient with her and made some suggestions that were appropriate. I have been a Benihana fan for a number of years and the "show" put on by the chef's by far exceeded anything I have seen there for some time. It was fun to watch, the chef was very engaging and my food was cooked exactly as ordered. The prices while not cheap, are in line with this style of restaurant. The quality of the food was excellent, I had the scallops and New You Strip and the portions were very generous. I had enough left over for full meal the following day. I would highly recommend going again. If they had service issues in the past they have definitely make some significant improvements.
(5)Don G.
When we arrived, the place was less than half full. It took them 15 minutes to seat us at a table because apparently the roof was leaking over several of the tables. Then after we sat down, it was another 15 minutes until we called the bus boy over to ask for drinks. It was a full half hour after we sat down until they actually took our order. While waiting, there was plenty opportunity to notice that they place hasn't exactly been maintained very well. The tables and hibachi grills were definitely showing their age. The Chef was pretty entertaining. He went through most of the usual tricks you expect in a Japanese restaurant. He did make my daughter smile and laugh. After we were done eating, it was about another 10 minutes before they offered us the ice cream that comes with the meal. We passed on the ice cream. Amazingly, it was another 10 minutes before we got the check. We were in the restaurant for about two hours even though they were only half full. Now, for the best part. There were three of us (my wife, my daughter, and myself). They manually added an 18% tip to the bill. They based the 18% on the full total including the taxes. (Pre-tax amount was $54.79, post-tax amount was $58.90, they gave themselves a $10.61 tip). I know tipping is such a sensitive topic for many restaurant goers. So take this last paragraph for what it is. A statement of how they handled the bill and gave themselves an automatic 18% gratuity based on the post tax total for a party of three. This was our first time here and probably our last. There is a much nicer Japanese steakhouse (Tsukasa) right down the road in Kildeer.
(1)Shawn K.
They overbooked reservations last night. And the hostess ran away with an angry mob funneling out the front door. I had a reservation booked 3 days in advance too. They were looking very unprofessional. The food is good here though despite the horrible customer services.
(2)Nikka A.
I just went to this place because I had a Groupon so me & my husband decided to try it out since we just live close by. We ordered the hibachi steak and it was very bland. Nothing special and they're expensive too.Definitely not coming back because it's just a total waste of money. We'd rather drive down to Shinto in Naperville. They have really good food & worth every buck.
(1)Jen S.
Something terrible has happened to Kobe in Lake Zurich. We have eaten countless dinners at this restaurant over the past ten years, spending probably thousands of dollars. It used to be our favorite place for special evenings out as well as spur of the moment weeknight dinners, but in the last year the service has been seriously lacking and after our experience there tonight I am sorry to say we will never go back. We arrived on time for our 5:30 reservation and didn't get out of the restaurant until 8. really it was so bad it would take 2 pages to describe the whole awful experience. To sum it up, no one at our table got their appetizers, no drink refills for over an hour, we never saw our server again after she took our dinner orders and at the end of the meal when we finally did flag her down, she tried to tell us she was never our server and she didn't know who our server was. what??!! it was so crazy. The "manager" promised us all discounts on our bills, but when we got them they were all mixed up and no discount. The older woman behind the bar was extremely rude when we complained about the bill and acted as if it was our fault! The entire restaurant was chaos - EVERY table was complaining about terrible service, we finally just left the bill with cash on the table, it is the only time in my life I didn't leave a tip. On our way out of the restaurant we told all the people waiting to go elsewhere and many of them listened to us (I think they must have overheard all the other patrons having problems). what an awful awful restaurant experience!
(1)Erika S.
Back when I was younger and still lived at home, I went to Kobe all the time for my birthday. It's a Benihana-like place (stoves are on the table and chefs cook right in front of you) but it's better. First they give you a salad with a miso dressing that is really spectacular, as well as a brothy soup. You order your food, and the chef comes out with all the fresh ingredients. I usually got the beef and chicken, which is exactly what it sounds like. They offer you a couple different sauces that you can use to dip, and I certainly take advantage of those. Comes with a side of stir-fried vegetables. Yum! I always enjoy Kobe as special-occasion dinners go, and I'll never turn down an invitation!
(5)Jill L.
We recently went to Kobe Restaurant with some friends. We've eaten both at Kobe East and the Restaurant a few times. The sushi is very good, however this most recent time our experience wasn't so great. I think the chef was new or was having an off night, but any trick he did, it didn't work out. My steak was overdone (as well as the people sitting next to us ordered medium rare and got well done.) It took a long time for the servers to come around and was left with an empty mai tai and limited refills. I had wished we took our friends somewhere else. That said, we've had good experiences there before. Just not this time. We'll choose to eat somewhere else and possibly go back in a year or so. No need to rush back right away.
(2)Patty H.
Worst New Years Eve ever. We had reservations on 12/31/12 for 7pm for our party of 7. We arrived on time, only to find that the entire restaurant was still full from the last group of diners. Obviously, they had no idea how to turn away anyone, as people without reservations continued to come in and be seated before us. We were finally seated at 8pm. Our waiter failed to greet us in a timely fashion, as we must have sat around the table for 10 minutes before he finally arrived to take our drink order. Each course had a 10 minute lapse. When he came to take our dinner order, we had to point out to him that we didn't have menus. We ordered the combination dinner that was supposed to come with appetizers, which never arrived. After we told our waiter, he said they hadn't made enough tempura shrimp and it wasn't his fault they didn't have anymore. I was too annoyed to point out that there were 5 other appetizers to choose from. Our chef didn't arrive to cook for us for about 20 minutes. In his defense, the food was very good and cooked to our specifications. But that didn't make our evening any more enjoyable after the horrible service and lack of organization on the management part. I won't be going back. If I want this cuisine again I will go down the road to Tsukasa in Kildeer.
(1)Keith M.
Decent place with some good entertainment as they cook in front of you. Took the kids here for the first time and they were kept entertained by the chef cooking as well as all the other tables activities. Decent food a bit pricey for a large family in my book but worth it for a special occasion.
(4)Ron S.
It is not that this place is bad, its only okay compared to other places like Benihana, Tsukasa, or Rokbonki. One thing that is bad about this place is the servce though.
(3)Eve A.
Teppan-yaki/hibachi food is standard: grilled meats, poultry, seafood and veg are all fine, and the chefs are diverting enough. However, this place suffers for its service. My dining companion and I came in on a very slow Tuesday night and were waiting to be seated; the hostess pointedly ignored us and gave us a dirty look and a sarcastic "Someone will be right with you" when we asked if we could sit. We waited near the door for a good fifteen minutes before we finally flagged her down again, at which point she abruptly stated: "We don't have a table for you." There were many tables open and, last I checked, this wasn't Charlie Trotter's. Mystified, we could only imagine that she preferred groups of four or more for a hibachi seating...or she couldn't deal with my companion's ponytail, goatee and jeans. We won't be going back. Fortunately, Kobe East next door is just as pleasant as Kobe of Japan wasn't.
(2)Patty R.
Great place to eat, wonderful Terriyaki sauce. Ask for it for your dipping sauce. Try putting the spicy garlic on your scallops. Umm umm good...
(4)Linda M.
After having eaten in this establishment MANY MANY times over the past several years, and having spent literally THOUSANDS (yes, I said thousands) of dollars, our family will not be returning. My kids are disappointed (I have 4 children and we have always gone there for their birthdays, and never escape for less than $350 for the 6 of us, but hey, it's a special occasion, and the kids love the hibatchi cooking style.) However our last couple of trips have been disappointing at best...The food is just OK, but the management is RUDE and INSULTING...Doesn't matter to me how good the food is, to be treated in such a disrespectful way (yes, Sharon, I'm speaking about you!) I've decided there are far too many places in our area where I can spend my THOUSANDS of dollars annually, where they will appreciate my business and won't make me feel like a bother. Other reviewers have said the same thing about this establishment (and by the way, their sister restaurant next door, named Kobe East, is no different) We can't all be wrong, can we? I'd suggest you steer clear and take your business to a place where they appreciate their customers!
(1)Dana Y.
It was seriously one of the best Tappan restaurant I've ever been to!! The food was exceptionally delicious and the chefs were talented and funny. I've been there several times and it seems like they recently renovated the place - it looks really nice! I like the ambiance of the place. A definite must go!!
(5)Rena V.
Not a good experience and that is gently spoken. It took me 3 times to call to finally place my order. While I was placing during it during my first call, a gentleman placed me on hold to get someone to help, seemed he was not trained to take an order. As he was talking to someone, I could hear what seemed like them fighting in a back round. Then my call dropped. Please put costumers on hold, so they cannot hear your problems. The sushi was not to my taste at all. They were fresh, but no spicy mayo used for spicy tuna or scallop or in anything at all. They use chilly sauce, not my favorite at all.
(2)Connor B.
Kobe is your traditional Japanese grill experience. Location and Ambiance: Its got a fairly normal location in a little strip mall and the ambiance is ok, but could be a little better. Food: The food was great! It was the normal play on Japanese style food grilled up in front of you by your chef. The menu was the usual teriyaki, hibachi, and the like. Staff: The staff was a little robotic, but got the job done. The one exception to this was Sharon, she was really nice and always checked in with us even though it was late at night. Overall, i'm torn between giving Kobe a 3 or a 4. The main reason being: the food was nothing inventive, very expected experience, staff was a little robotic, and in general it was just average. Thanks, Connor Brady
(3)Amy G.
This is a review for Kobe - Food is delicious with quick service however they do not allow time to enjoy the courses they are serving.
(3)Katie Z.
The environment lacks, however the spicy salmon roll was yummy, the soup was good. Not a fan of the salad dressing OR the garlic batter at all. That's where Rokbonki of Arlington heights takes the cake. However we loved the rice, steak, chicken veggies and even the seafood sauce! I could have put the seafood sauce all over everything I ate. They even asked how many cups of it id want with my leftovers. Waitress was attentive to ask for refills. Prices are comparable with other hibachi places. We will be back whenever the craving for hibachi strikes again!
(3)Andy T.
Went to dinner Friday night with the wife and stopped into Kobe.
(2)Matthew R.
We normally go here for lunch without the show and the prices are very reasonable and the rice,indeed , is delicious although a few bean sprouts would perfect it, The grilled scallops,especially , are terrific. One bone to pick with the stingy reviewer,Alice A.,if you look at most guidelines for Groupon or the Entertainment Book they point out , quite fairly, your tip should be calculated on meal value prior to discount.To us that even means 20%,if service warrants.Apparently,this defensive maneuver was required due to the abusive behavior of embarrassing clientele like A.A.
(4)Kevin R.
The food isn't that bad.. A little pricey but overall acceptable. However the service is HORRID. My company has ordered from this place at least 1-2 times a month. Every time the young girl answers the phone, its like you are doing her a favor and she's extremely rude. In addition to that they have messed up on the bill a couple of times and refuse to give the correct number of sauces requested. Now I understand in this economy businesses have to tighten up but when a customer is willing to pay additional, then there really shouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately I nor any of my coworkers will be going here again. Service is key and this is an area that is lacking for Kobe.
(2)Marissa B.
My husband and I love Japanese steakhouses, so we snatched up the Groupon when it came up for this place. We didn't have a bad experience (from the restaurant, anyways, we had the most miserable jerks at our table though!) First of all, if you're going to buy a Groupon ever, please read the fine print. We had a Groupon as did the two other parties at our table and BOTH parties were throwing a hissy fit because they hadn't read the fine print and couldn't use the Groupon for what they wanted. All that being said, we had a so-so experience. The food is definitely not as good as Tsukasa, even though the prices are the same. I don't recall us having an issue with the tip, but I also didn't pay the bill. The only thing I can say is that people should be aware that you are basically supposed to double your tip at these kinds of restaurants because it's split between the waitstaff and the chefs. Normally you wouldn't tip your chef at other places, I know, but they also put on a show for you and I have witnessed in many cases that they will remake something or cook things in a particular way for particular people. I don't doubt the reason they had to add a mandatory tip is because there are clearly a lot of cheap people out there that don't want to tip properly. I know there's controversy about earned tips or not, but it sounds like many of you wouldn't have tipped them a decent amount even if they
(3)Elizabeth M.
Not sure why there are so many bad reviews. I've been coming here since 07 and I have never had a problem. The food is great and the service is great. They have the best fried rice I've had. Don't listen to these reviewers that think this place is bad. Try it for yourself!
(5)Jillian K.
I'm from Lake Zurich and for as long as I can remember, this has been my favorite restaurant in town. The food and atmosphere is great and the service is usually fair -- no problems. Many memories over the years here for birthdays, graduations, etc. This past Saturday, I was planning to go to Kobe with my family to celebrate my birthday. We made sure to make reservations and made sure to arrive on time. When we got there, the restaurant was packed (good for them, I always support a local business), so we checked in with the hostess and began to wait patiently for our table. Over an hour passed and we had still not been seated. We tried to talk to the hostess several times but were not getting any answers. People with no reservation who had walked in after us were being seated. Over the course of the hour+, it seemed that the employees almost began to disappear -- chefs, serves, etc. There was also nobody in the front to help the guests or to give us any explanation as to why we had not been seated for over an hour. There was also nobody to offer reassurance that we, a group with reservations, were going to be seated soon. Guests, including myself, began to get angry and confused with the entire situation. Shortly after, a guest who was already seated at a table came up to the front and let us know that she had been seated at her table for over a half hour and hadn't even gotten their drinks yet. We were so happy she let us know because we decided to leave after that. I honestly don't think I will be making the trip back to this restaurant ever again. It's one thing to be busy, but it's another for the employees to disappear and to wait for a reservation for an hour and a half and still not get seated. TERRIBLE customer service. If you're in the mood for teppanyaki, there is a restaurant at Deer Park (Tsukasa) and also a great one in Palatine (Rokbonki).
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