More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 18 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe

While Kobe is renowned worldwide for its Kobe beef, there are actually many other dishes in the city for you to try! Kobe's cuisine features countless dishes including sushi made with fresh ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea, the local specialty "akashiyaki", ramen, and more! This article will tell you all about 10 restaurants in Kobe you've just got to try!

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Kobe.

1. ESPICE

Minutes from Sannomiya Station, ESPICE's white walls enclose an escape from the outside hustle. Savor modern French cuisine by Chef Emi, a veteran of France's three-star restaurants, who blends traditional techniques, Japanese ingredients, and unique ideas. Starting with a seasonal amuse-bouche, the bi-monthly changing course can be paired with fine drinks for a fulfilling gastronomic experience. The earth-themed restaurant features a time-changing spot garden, providing a sensory satisfying experience.

ESPICE

Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (L.O. 12:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 7:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 23,000 JPY / [Lunch] 13,000 JPY
Access: Go west from the site where the Tokyu Hands used to be. Turn the corner of the hotel, the b kobe, and walk 3 minutes to the mountainside. It is on the first floor of a white-walled apartment building at the corner of a cross street.
Address: 1-1, Maison Esprit Ikuta, 2-3-25, Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Map
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2. Nihonshu Bar Komeya Inazuma

Nihonshu Bar Komeya Inazuma offers an appetizer platter of eight seasonal dishes, sometimes including fresh charcuterie. Ingredients are sourced daily from the owner's native Yamaguchi and other regions. The owner, also a rice farmer, offers rice and sake from his farm, along with seasonal Yamaguchi vegetables. The restaurant continually strives to improve its dishes and customer service. Despite its bar-style setting and offering French cuisine and Japanese sake, it caters to all, including beginners. Predominantly popular among young females, it sees a 70% female patronage.

Nihonshu Bar Komeya Inazuma

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: Come out the north side of the east exit of Motomachi station and walk east for one minute, turn left at the 7-Eleven, and from there it is a 2-minute walk.
Address: 1F, KS Building , 3-10-1 Kitanagasa-dori , Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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3. Ryoan Aritomi

The restaurant's appetizer platter captures seasonal sensations with carefully chosen colors and arrangement, making it an ideal starter for a full-course meal. They specialize in dishes featuring suppon (soft-shelled turtle), sourced from Saga and Kumamoto, used in their smooth, elegant soups offered year-round. The team aims to provide personalized service to suit individual guests' needs, including accommodating dietary requests. They cater especially to their many elderly guests, modifying menu items to align with their needs. Guests should feel free to express their portion size and preference requests.

Ryoan Aritomi

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Friday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:00) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,500 JPY
Access: From JR Sannomiya Station, follow along Hunter Hill. Located in Hunter Hill Village Gate Building, 2F.
Address: 2F Hunter Zaka Village Gate, 2-10-22 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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4. Kobe Kitano Sow

Located on Hunter Hill in Kobe Motomachi, Kobe Kitano Sow is surrounded by sophisticated shops. The restaurant, named to symbolize a pairing of two elements, provides unexpected ingredient combinations. The first-floor bar leads to a second-floor sushi restaurant, with a white wood scent, seven counter-seats, and one private room. The "Omakase Course" offers seasonal dishes and sushi, featuring abundant local seafood from Akashi and Awaji for a seasonal touch. Sake or wine is suggested to accompany the meal. The bar is ideal for pre or post-dinner relaxation. It's a perfect place for special occasions.

Kobe Kitano Sow

Open: [Monday-Saturday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) *The first-floor bar is open until 2:00 am
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: Just up Hunter Hill from Nakayamate-dori / The purple door on the right is the entrance
Address: 1-27-9, Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Map
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5. Fudozaka Kikuchi

Fudozaka Kikuchi uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to capture the four seasons of Japan in its dishes. They offer Kyuunabe, a traditional Kyoto dish featuring turtle and vegetables cooked in a rich broth. The kaiseki menu includes a range of courses from appetizers and sashimi to grilled and fried dishes, rice in a hot pot, miso soup, and dessert, all prepared with fresh seasonal vegetables and fish. The chef delights in presenting guests with Japanese dishes that vividly express Japan's unique seasonal changes on each plate.

Fudozaka Kikuchi

Open: Lunch 11:30 AM-2:30 PM (last order 2 PM)/Dinner 5:30 PM-10:30 PM (last order 10:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: Disembark at JR Sannomiya Station. Go north on Flower Road. Go past the intersection at Kano-cho, then head west on the first street after that.
Address: Maison de Yamate 101, 1-20-15 Nakayamate Dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Map
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6. Tai-Shabu: Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)

"Tai-shabu" is a Japanese dish that features fresh sea bream (known as "tai" in Japanese) which has been thinly sliced into bite-sized pieces. These pieces are usually dipped in soup made with dashi from ingredients like konbu seaweed before being eaten. Hitomaru Kadan Taitai reproduces the flavors of their main branch in Akashi, which was founded more than 60 years ago. Here you can enjoy dishes such as the [Tai no Furifuri Nabe] (1,480 JPY), which features fresh Akashi sea bream dipped in dashi and then eaten with their homemade ponzu (citrus-based soy sauce). There are other fantastic dishes here besides tai-shabu, so do try them out!

Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya

Open: [Weekday/Saturday/eve of national holiday] Lunch from 11:30 am -2:30 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 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
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7. Anago Cuisine: Himeji Sushi-Ichi (Himeji / Japanese Cuisine)

"Anago" refers to conger eels, and in Japan, they are usually eaten as "kabayaki" (grilled eel basted with a special sauce), sushi, and tempura. While grilled anago is the norm in Himeji, at Himeji Sushi-Ichi, you can delight in soft steamed anago. The most popular set is the [Anago no Ate] (1,800 - 2,000 JPY (excl. tax)), an excellent dish featuring steamed anago that has been grilled with their secret sauce. Also recommended is the [Conger Eel Sushi] (1,200 JPY (excl. tax))!

Himeji Sushi-Ichi

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Holidays, Day Before Holidays] Dinner 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm / Lunch 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: Exit JR Himeji Station and head toward Himeji Castle. Turn left at the sixth corner, and you will come across the restaurant on the left just before Prefectural Road 62.
Address: 35 Sakamoto-machi, Himeji, Hyogo Map
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8. Teppanyaki: Kobe Steak Sai Dining (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

9. Teppanyaki: Kobe Steak Sai Dining (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

"Teppanyaki" is a kind of cooking where meat, seafood, and vegetables are grilled atop an iron griddle before being eaten. At Kobe Steak Sai Dining, you can enjoy teppanyaki dishes featuring A5-ranked Kobe beef and seasonal vegetables carefully chosen by a vegetable sommelier. The [Kobe Beef Sirloin & Kuroge Wagyu Beef Fillet & Foie Gras Course] (12,500 JPY) comes highly recommended. Wines that pair wonderfully with teppanyaki are also offered.

Kobe Steak Sai Dining

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)

Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 13,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station. Upon exiting the station, proceed west along Sunset-dori Street, make a right at the street after the intersection with Tor Road, and the restaurant will be 150 meters ahead on the right.
Address: B1 Cosmo Building, 3-1-9 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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9. Ramen: Temma Ramen Ako Main Branch (Banshu-Ako / Ramen)

2. Ramen: Temma Ramen Ako Main Branch (Banshu-Ako / Ramen)

Although ramen is of Chinese origin, the dish has taken on a life of its own in Japan, becoming one of the the nation's representative noodle dishes. At Temma Ramen Ako Main Branch, you can enjoy their carefully crafted soup, noodles, and char siu, all of which are handmade at the restaurant. Try the popular [Banshu-Ako Shiro Shio Ramen] (646 JPY (excl. tax)), made by simmering chicken bones for over 8 hours and featuring a heaping helping of collagen.

Temma Ramen Ako Main branch

Open: Normal hours: 11:00 am - 3:00 am (L.O. 2:30 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 1,000 JPY
Access: Take the bus towards Hoyo centre from the JR Banshuako station, the restaurant is located a very short walk from Honmio-nishi bus stop.
Address: 3158-69 Ozaki , Ako-shi, Hyogo Map
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10. Okonomiyaki: Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

8. Okonomiyaki: Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

"Okonomiyaki" is a dish that is made by adding vegetables such as cabbage along with meat and seafood to a mixture of water and flour before cooking atop an iron grill. At Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji, you can enjoy their mainstay okonomiyaki dish called [Butadama Yaki] (850 JPY (excl. tax)) as well as the [Kaisen Yaki] (1,200 JPY (excl. tax)) which features squid and scallops. Of course, there are plenty of other dishes for you to enjoy. It takes around 20 minutes to cook everything, so you'd better order fast!

Teppan-yaki Kobe Fuji

Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm (last order 4:00 pm)[Weekday,Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (last order 8:00 pm)

Lunch 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm (last order 4:00 pm)[Weekday,Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (last order 8:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from Sannomiya Station on JR Line, Hankyu Line, Hanshin Line, and Municipal Subway Line

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So, there you have it! 10 restaurants for you to try in Kobe featuring Akashiyaki, tai-shabu, anago, and more! When you find yourself in the Kobe area, be sure to try some of these dishes along with the famous Kobe beef!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.