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

Update-date: May 08 2023
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!

1. Akashiyaki: Sozai Kitchen Kikucho (Harborland / Japanese Cuisine)

1. Akashiyaki: Sozai Kitchen Kikucho (Harborland / Japanese Cuisine)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
Akashiyaki is a local dish hailing from Akashi City in Hyogo. The dish is made by covering octopus pieces in a mixture formed by putting together egg, flour, dashi (soup stock), and starch before grilling. At the 45-year-old Sozai Kitchen Kikucho, you can enjoy the best, chewy [Akashiyaki] (630 JPY). The key to the restaurant's popularity is that they have continuously preserved their dishes' flavor since the store's founding. Sozai Kitchen Kikucho is a 7-minute walk from Kobe Station and can be found within the popular Harborland sightseeing spot.

Sozai Kitchen Kikucho

Open: [Monday - Friday] Breakfast 9:00 am - 11:30 am
[Monday - Sunday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm)
[Tuesday - Sunday] Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Dinner time on Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: A five-minute walk from Harborland Station of the Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line.
Address: 2F Culmeni, 1-5-7 Higashikawasaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo

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

2. Ramen: Temma Ramen Ako Main Branch (Banshu-Ako / Ramen)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
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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3. Kaiseki Cuisine: Japanese Restaurant HA-ZE (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine, Kaiseki Cuisine)

3. Kaiseki Cuisine: Japanese Restaurant HA-ZE (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine, Kaiseki Cuisine)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"Kaiseki" is a type of course-style Japanese cuisine served at formal gatherings. Its origins lie in "ichijusansai", wherein a basic Japanese meal is comprised of rice, soup, and three side dishes. At Japanese Restaurant HA-ZE, you can enjoy seasonal kaiseki courses made with ingredients centering on those found in the local area. The [Sazanami] that features 8 dishes is the most popular lunch item on the menu! For dinner, look foward to kaiseki courses with 10 or more dishes, such as the [Kobe Beef Kaiseki]!

Japanese Restaurant HA-ZE

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: 12-minute walk from [Sannomiya station] of JR Kobe Line / 12-minute from [Shin-Kobe station] of Hokushin kyuko Hokushin Line and Kobe Municipal Subway Yamate Line
Address: 3-1-8, Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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4. Kaiseki Cuisine: Kaiseki Kappo Nagasaka (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine, Kaiseki)

4. Kaiseki Cuisine: Kaiseki Kappo Nagasaka (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine, Kaiseki)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
Kaiseki cuisine is focused on "ichijusansai", which was introduced by historical tea master Sen no Rikyu for the purpose of serving guests at tea ceremonies. At Kaiseki Kappo Nagasaka, it is recommended to try the [Omakase Course] (12,000 JPY (excl. tax)) which is made up of a variety of small dishes that use seasonal ingredients, such as the [Goma Tofu], a sesame tofu dish with a firm texture that's accompanied by the matching scents of sesame and perilla.

Kaiseki Kappo Nagasaka

Open: [Weekdays and Saturday] Lunch 12:00 am -  *Reservations only. Please reserve at least two days in advance. / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Sannomiya Station on multiple train lines. Located on Nakayamate-dori (street).
Address: 1F L Nakayamate, 2-11-1 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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5. Sushi: Sushi Hamaiso (Motomachi / Sushi)

5. Sushi: Sushi Hamaiso (Motomachi / Sushi)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
Sushi is one of Japan's most well-known dishes, incorporating fresh seafood and vinegared rice. "Nigiri sushi", or thinly sliced pieces of fish placed atop a small bed of rice and pressed by hand, is especially popular worldwide. On the first floor of Hotel Okura Kobe resides Sushi Hamaiso, a restaurant offering sushi made with carefully selected seafood caught from the Seto Inland Sea. Highly recommended is the [Premium Nigiri Platter - Setouchi] (7,500 JPY (excl. tax)), which uses the day's best seafood.

Sushi Hamaiso

Open: [Lunch] 11:30 am - 2:30 pm / [Dinner] 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: Hotel shuttle bus service runs daily from the Mint Kobe 1F bus terminal on the south side of JR [Sannomiya Station] *Inside Japanese Restaurant Yamazato
Address: 1F, Hotel Okura Kobe, 2-1, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo

6. Tai-Shabu: Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)

6. Tai-Shabu: Hitomaru Kadan Taian Sannomiya (Sannomiya / Japanese Cuisine)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"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)

7. Anago Cuisine: Himeji Sushi-Ichi (Himeji / Japanese Cuisine)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"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. Okonomiyaki: Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

8. Okonomiyaki: Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"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!

Teppanyaki Kobe Fuji

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from Sannomiya Station on JR Line, Hankyu Line, Hanshin Line, and Municipal Subway Line
Address: 1-9-5, Yamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Map
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9. Teppanyaki: Kobe Steak Sai Dining (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)

9. Teppanyaki: Kobe Steak Sai Dining (Sannomiya / Teppanyaki)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"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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10. Jidori: Dining Izakaya Toribal (Motomachi / Izakaya)

10. Jidori: Dining Izakaya Toribal (Motomachi / Izakaya)
More than Kobe Beef: 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe
"Jidori" refers to chicken that has met specific standards to be recognized as a species native to a particular region in Japan. At Dining Izakaya Toribal, you can enjoy chicken dishes featuring Tamba Red chicken from Hyogo Prefecture. The meat from this chicken has a nice, soft, and chewy texture. The must-try dishes at this restaurant are the [Jidori-Chicken Hot Pot] (1,680 JPY (excl. tax)), which has been cooked for 6 hours, and the [Tamba Jidori no Sumiyaki] (950 JPY (excl. tax)).

Dining Izakaya Toribal

Open: [Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:15 pm (L.O. 1:45 pm) / Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Thursday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Motomachi Station on JR Tokaido Main Line. 2-minute walk to the east from the street behind WINS
Address: 1F, 2-6-16, Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

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.
Update-date: May 08 2023
Author: SAVOR JAPAN

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