14 Japanese Seafood Restaurants in Kobe Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Apr 29 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Seafood is definitely one of the foods that you'll want to eat while in Japan! The most well-known Japanese seafood dishes are sushi and sashimi, which are appealing not just in taste, but also in the delicate way they are arranged and served. Here are 14 restaurants where you can enjoy these delicacies for yourself around Kobe.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Kobe.

1. Kako Usui (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)

This casual kappo* is located in Sannomiya, the center of Kobe. While it is highly recommended to visit for dinner, lunch is a great time to go as well. This is when you can order their lunchtime course [Hime Sushi Set], of which only 10 servings are available every day. The highlight of this course meal is the temari sushi (ball-shaped sushi), which are made from fresh seafood delivered directly from the city of Akashi. Besides their colorful and cute sushi, they have many other dishes that change to match the seasons. The seafood they use in their cooking are kept in a fish tank inside the restaurant, and are cured in-house, too. Everything is prepared with the utmost care for each and every ingredient.
*A kind of high-class Japanese restaurant that is arranged so that the kitchen and the guest seating share the same space, giving guests close proximity to the chef.

Kako Usui

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Holidays] 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (last order 1:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (last order 1:00 am)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY
Access: A six-minute walk north from Hankyu Sannomiya Station (take the West Exit).
Address: B1F Crystal Tower 1, 1-16-9 Nakayamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo (Map)
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2. Sozai Kitchen Kikucho (Harborland / Japanese Cuisine)

A 5-minute walk from Kobe Station, this restaurant is an izakaya (Japanese pub) located in the popular bay side area, Harborland. The wooden interior gives the restaurant a calming ambience. You can comfortably enjoy your meal and drinks at the counter seats, where you can take in the city's night scenery, as well as in the private horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu table) style rooms. The [5-Kind Sashimi Assortment], which uses fresh seafood brought in every day from the market, is incredibly popular because of just how fresh all the ingredients are. Their signature dish is the [Akashiyaki]*, which is made with chewy octopus from Akashi.
*A local specialty in Akashi City, Hyogo, made with wheat flour, egg, dashi (broth), and octopus. It's formed into a ball shape and cooked on a copper sheet, then dipped into dashi before being eaten.

Sozai Kitchen Kikucho

Open: [Monday - Friday] Breakfast 09:00 am - 11:30 am

[Monday - Sunday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (last order 2:30 pm)

3. Tabemonya Miki (Nishi-Akashi / Izakaya)

This izakaya is just a 7-minute walk from Nishi-Akashi Station. Inside a relaxing space with the sound of jazz music drifting through the air, you can enjoy your meal late into the night. Their [Sashimi Assortment] is very fresh and filled with just-caught fish that are mainly from Akashi! The colorful and beautifully arranged platter is a prized dish of the restaurant. The head chef specializes in egg-based dishes, so you'll also have plenty of egg dishes to choose from, like their original [Akashiyaki-Style Tamagoyaki], which has a soft and creamy texture that you won't be able to resist! Pair it with some sake (Japanese alcohol) for an amazing flavor combination.

Tabemonya Miki

Open: [Monday/Wednesday - Saturday] Normal hours: 5:00 pm - 2:30 am [Sunday/national holiday] Normal hours: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am

Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: Near Hotel Castle Plaza and a 7 minute walk from Nishiakashi Station.
Address: Kano Bldg., 2-7-1 Matsunouchi, Akashi-shi, Hyogo

4. Sakaya (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)

Located in Sannomiya, Sakaya is a restaurant where you can enjoy creative dishes in which food compatibility with sake has been taken into careful consideration. The owner is the one who picks out the fresh seafood ingredients. In addition to fresh fish caught in nearby waters, they also incorporate a variety of other seafood that changes by the season, like shellfish, crab, and uni (sea urchin), so you can enjoy a variety of seasonal delicacies throughout the year. They set a high standard for alcohol, so you'll find an abundance of exquisite offerings there, such as kizake (undiluted sake) sent in directly from sake breweries and valuable brands that are not usually available in stores. They typically have 60 types of alcohol on their menu, including shochu (another kind of Japanese alcohol).

Sakaya

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 0:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm) Hours of operation may be changed according to our conditions.
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from the south exit of Hankyu Sannoiya Station
Address: B1F, Sand Stone Court, 1-3-4 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo

5. Sosaku Waraku Tsurugi (Takarazuka-minamiguchi / Original Japanese Cuisine)

A restaurant serves original takes on Japanese dishes and is located a minute's walk from Takarazuka-minamiguchi Station. They have many delicious and gorgeous dishes, which are made with fresh and wild-caught fish, organic vegetables from farms, and brand-name beef and pork. The menu changes depending on what ingredients are available, but some of the top recommendations are the fresh sashimi platter [Tsurugi Omakase Sashimi Assortment] and the [Seafood Carpaccio Served as Fresh Spring Rolls]. This spot is great for a number of occasions, such as meals with your friends in a private room or solo drinks at the counter.

Sosaku Waraku Tsurugi

Open: [Sunday, National Holidays] Normal hours: 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (Last order: 10:00 pm)

[Monday - Thursday] Normal hours: 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Last order: 10:00 pm)

6. Meat and Fish Bar × Private Room ZIPANG Sannomiya (Kobe-Sannomiya / Izakaya)

This izakaya is just a 1-minute walk from Sannomiya Station. Within the stylish interior, it has private rooms that can be occupied by anywhere from 2 to 60 people. A recommended dish is the sashimi platter [Akashi Hiruami 7-Kind Sashimi], which matches beautifully with various sake, and uses seafood caught in Akashi. This restaurant serves Japanese cuisine, but they also have many Western-inspired dishes on the menu, such as seafood carpaccio and acqua pazza as well. The course meals are quite popular, with generous portions and affordable prices.

Meat and Fish Bar × Private Room ZIPANG Sannomiya

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: Near Sankita Dori at Kobe Sannomiya Station west exit on Hankyu Kobe Main Line or 1 minute walk from Sannomiya Station on JR Kobe Line.
Address: 6F, Kotobuki Chiso Bldg, 1-9-1 Kitanagasadori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo (Map)
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7. Kisetsu Ryori Shiosai (Sannomiya / Japanese and Kaiseki Cuisine)

Located a 3-minute walk from Sannomiya Station, this restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine. The restaurant has a comfortable ambiance due to its kind and attentive owner. They can accommodate your preferences and needs, as they have both counter seats and private rooms with horigotatsu. The dishes change monthly to match the seasons, with course meals being their main focus. The head chef has experience as a pastry chef, which shows in the gorgeous and fine arrangements of their dishes. You'll be able to enjoy the taste of the seasons with both your eyes and your tongue! You can also have dishes that use ingredients typical of Kobe, like Kobe beef.

Kisetsu Ryori Shiosai

Open: Normal hours: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (last order 10:00 p.m.) *We charge 1,050JPY as an appetizer fee (tsukidashi) / Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (last order 2:00 p.m.)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: Three minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station West Exit, two minute walk from Hankyu Sannomiya Stagion West Exit.
Address: White Rose Tower 3F , 1-7-6 Kita Nagasadori , Chuo-ku,Kobe-shi, Hyogo

8. Okinose (Sannomiya / Seafood Izakaya)

Located not far off from Sannomiya Station, this restaurant has gained popularity with its delightful cuisine, which uses exceptionally fresh seafood. The ingredients are carefully checked over and brought in fresh every day from ports in Akashi and Shikoku, as well as the Kobe Central Market. They're known for their style of letting guests pick their choice of fresh seafood from a bucket. After you choose which seafood you'd like, a chef with 30 years of experience in Japanese cuisine cooks it in various ways, like sashimi, nitsuke (simmered), shioyaki (salt grilled), and agemono (fried). You can tell them how you'd like your choice to be cooked, or you can leave it all up to the chef!

Okinose

Open: [Weekday/Saturday/Holiday] Normal hours 17:00 - 01:00 [Sunday/Holiday] Normal hours 17:00 - 00:00
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: Five minute walk from JR Hankyu Hanshin Kobe Municipal Subway Line Sannomiya Station. Immediately after entering Higashimon.
Address: Yuberu Bldg. 3F , 1-4-6 Nakayamate Dori , Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Map

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9. Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)

A restaurant that serves dishes with the traditional flavor of a well-established Japanese conventional hotel. It was established so that the owner, a fan of the Akashi area known for its rich and abundant seafood, could show people the great quality of the ingredients. The menu is varied, from a-la-carte dishes to course meals, and is based around fresh seafood like sea bream, octopus, and conger eel, some of Akashi's famous local products. As for drinks, a wide variety of beer and sake are available to choose from, but many people let the sommelier choose for them. Sit at the counter and watch the chefs show off their skills, all while enjoying some delicious food and drinks!

Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya

Open: [Weekday/Saturday/eve of national holiday] Lunch from 11:30 am -2:30 pm (last order at 1:30 pm) / Dinner from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (last order at 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
Access: A one-minute walk from Sannomiya Station. Go north between Sukiya and the Shirogane liquor shop on Ikuta Shinmichi. It is on the second floor on the Konan Asset Sasahara Building,
Address: Konan asset Sasahara Bldg. 2F, 1-20-2 Kita Nagasa Dori, Chuo-ku,Kobe-shi , Hyogo (Map)
More Details Reservation

10. Kairenmaru Kobe Branch (Kobe / Japanese Cuisine)

A restaurant is run by a fisherman with over 20 years of experience under his belt. Their specialties are the seafood dishes and sushi, wherein you can have your fill of their fresh catch of seafood from Akashi. Freshly caught seafood like [Akashi Sea Bream] and [Akashi Octopus] are sent over directly to the restaurant, where they are cooked within that day, so you'll be able to enjoy the seafood's freshness and high quality. For sushi, you can order platters or course meals, but you can also pick and order your seafood from the display at the counter. Make sure to check it out yourself to see just how fresh and delicious their seafood is!

Kairenmaru Kobe Branch

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch from 11:30 am (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner from 5:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY *Mandatory charge of 200 JPY per person, comes with small appetizer / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 2-6-6, Tamon-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

11. a-Booja (Kobe / Izakaya)

An izakaya with a retro atmosphere located in Shinkaichi. Surrounded by the comfortable and welcoming wooden interior, you'll be able to enjoy seasonal flavors in their fresh ingredients. In particular, the seafood brought in every morning is exceptionally fresh. The menu offers a variety of different dishes, like sashimi. Besides seafood, other items like [Tonteki], pork loin cooked on an iron griddle, are also popular. They're also known for having a large selection of local sake from Hyogo Prefecture. Why not come here for an exceptional meal of local sake with seasonal vegetables and fish?

a-Booja

Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Sunday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY
Address: 105, 6-1-5, Shinkaichi, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

12. Rokko Kobe Harborland (Kobe / Izakaya)

An izakaya is on just a 7-minute walk from Kobe Station. It's on the 18th floor, so after sunset, you can see Kobe's beautiful night scenery from the windows. Within this remarkable place, they serve dishes centered around local ingredients. Their menu is filled with dishes that are both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat, such as sashimi. If you're having a hard time choosing what to order, try the course meal that includes both seafood and Kobe beef. They have an expert on sake carefully pick out only the finest bottles, so you'll have plenty of different options from all over Japan, including Hyogo Prefecture.

Rokko Kobe Harborland

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
[Weekdays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
[Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
[Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Food L.O. 9:30 pm, Drink L.O. 10:00 pm)
[April 28 - May 6] 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
*Reservation enquiries: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY *400 JPY service charge per person, includes a small appetizer / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 18F, Information and Culture Bldg. CULMENI, 1-5-7, Higashi Kawasaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

13. Sekitei (Motomachi / Japanese Cuisine)

A high-class restaurant located on the 14th floor of Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. With a view of the Port of Kobe, you'll be able to savor authentic Japanese cuisine, featuring seasonal fish and vegetables carefully prepared by a skilled chef. The tables are filled with a huge selection of delicious, fragrant, and colorful dishes that you can enjoy with all of your senses. The [Kaiseki] (traditional Japanese course cuisine) is a particularly popular option at lunch and is reasonably priced. You'll also be glad to know they have a broad drink menu, with sake, shochu, and shaoxingjiu (a type of Chinese alcohol).

Sekitei

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm)
[Weekdays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
*Opens on Tuesday if it falls on national holidays or any busy seasons
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Address: Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, 5-6, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

14. Mouri (Shin-Nagata / Izakaya)

An izakaya with a Japanese style that serves a wide variety of cuisine. The menu contains full dishes that incorporate fresh seafood, such as sashimi that's hand-picked by the owner, firm and meaty hokke shioyaki (grilled mackerel seasoned with salt), and seafood salad, where you get to eat sashimi with colorful vegetables. The [Angel Shrimp] sashimi is highly recommended for its exceptional umami (Japanese savory taste) and sweetness. Large shrimps are selected, so they're very filling, and you'll love how tender they are!

Mouri

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 7:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY
Address: 106, Asutapia Shin-Nagata Esta Plesios, 3-2-15, Wakamatsu-cho, Nagata-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

The port city of Kobe has so much delicious seafood to offer. If you're in the area, be sure to try some of the many delicious and gorgeous seafood dishes there!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.