I called to make a reservation. Tuesday night at 7pm. The restaurants in this area can get busy and I didn't want to take any chances. Parking lot was mostly full but we found parking out front. We were seated right away. Quiet table on the restaurant side, not the sports bar side. We ordered sashimi but received the sashimi combo with California rolls and spicy tuna rolls. It also came with a side of miso soup and salad. We also ordered three specialty rolls and a draft beer. Rolls were hearty, but covered with lots of sauces. This is the kind of sushi we were looking for so it hit the spot! We had some leftovers what were delicious the next day! Specialty rolls are about $16-$17 each. Our bill was $103 before tip. Loved our meal and would come back again! read more

Fantastic as always. Great everyday happy hour! Great rolls. Great service. Great bar & special drinks. read more

Kobe Japan - Menu Feb 2026 - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Wow, sushi, hibachi and a sports bar all in one! The interior looks different depending on where you get seated. Came here for the first time a few weeks ago and was amazed by the options. It was a busy Friday night for dinner, but my boyfriend and I were able to get spots at the bar. Appetizers - Can't go wrong with miso soup, especially on a chilly night. The garlic edamame had LOTS of garlic, enough to ward off vampires. Enough to share for 2 people. While we finished the bowl, I personally wouldn't order it again. Sushi - We ordered 2 rolls. My favorite was the Anita, which had tempura shrimp and escolar, one of my go-to items. Soo good! We also shared the Alligator, which had yellowtail, salmon and tuna. Together, it was a good mix of crunchy (Anita) and smooth (Alligator). Paired with Sapporos, it was a great way to start the weekend! Wouldn't mind checking out the hibachi section or happy hour. read more

Kobe Japan - Anita roll with escolar and shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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We always enjoy our time here! We came to celebrate my daughter's best friend's birthday while they were in town. The service was great - we were seated quickly and they took our order shortly after (we knew what we wanted!) They asked if we were celebrating anything and brought out a crown for the birthday princess. The chef was funny, entertaining and engaging. The food was delicious and the ambiance was busy, but nice. We enjoyed eating with another birthday celebration and will make sure to be back soon! read more

An awesome place for birthdays, celebrations or just to have some amazing food. We love watching to food made in front of us, the dinner and a show is also great for kids!! read more

Decent place. Came on Thanksgiving. Had a dynamite roll. About 10 pieces. Very filling and the rice held up tight and well. Daughter had the chicken fried rice, it came in a large bowl. Not too busy. They also have a hibachi side also. Nice ambiance on both sides. read more

Kobe Japan - Dynamite roll - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

My husband & I came here for dinner on a Friday night & opted to sit in the dining area, not the hibachi room, which was super busy! We got seated right away thankfully, because the restaurant continued to get more & more packed. It was decorated like one would expect a hibachi restaurant to be, more traditional with lots to look at! The service was a bit lacking, but our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. It was hard to get our waitress' attention to get anything extra, so we came to terms with it. To start, I ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri which was super yummy! He ordered a Sapporo. We went to order their miso soup, but unfortunately it's made with a fish broth, & I don't eat meat, so couldn't enjoy a soup. We also ordered their veggie tempura & it was a pretty big portion. Thankfully they had quite a few vegan sushi options, so we opted for their Green Dragon Roll (tempura pumpkin, Inari, cucumber, mango & asparagus, topped with avocado) & their Veggie Verve Roll (crispy yam, jalapeno, cucumber, fresh mango, seaweed salad, avocado & crunches, topped with spicy sauces). Both were huge rolls & packed lots of flavor! We may return on a less busy night, since their parking was also a nightmare. read more

Kobe Japan - Green Dragon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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The hibachi side of restaurant is fun, inviting and room enough to be a shared experience without rubbing elbows with the couple next to you. read more

Came to this establishment for my birthday. Food, service and ambience did not disappoint. The drinks were equally as good as well read more

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I have yet to experience the hibachi here, but I've been coming back for years just for the sushi. Out of all the sushi restaurants in the area, this place gives the most amount of rolls. You leave here full, which honestly I can't say the same for other places. Truly a bang for your buck and amazing food. read more

Our go to sushi place. We love it. The rolls are delicious, filling and flavorful. Definitely recommend this place, we have been here on multiple occasions and never had a bad experience. Service and ambiance are also good. read more

I have come here several times after my last review and have been repeatedly disappointed by flying gnats around my table and bad service. Today was the last straw and I can say I will never eat here again. We had a cockroach crawl across our table while we were eating and I completely lost my appetite. I'm so distraught because I loved the sushi rolls here but I seriously question the cleanliness of this place. PLEASE find somewhere else to eat. read more

Kobe Japan - ocean roll, kobe roll, rainbow roll, alligator roll - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Originally had a reservation for 6:30pm, did not get seated till 7:05 and first served till 7:23. When we noticed a table being cleared we asked the waitress if this is where our party would be and she basically forgot about our party. Already a bad start to our reservation dinner. Used to go here several years ago when they were booming, they still are but things have changed since covid. We were first served soup, which appeared to be mushrooms in warm water. I love soup and mushrooms but let me tell you this was literally warm water and mushrooms. On top of that my partner got close to ZERO actual mushrooms in his soup and I happened to get about 15 in mine. A little inconsistent and lackluster. Our chef was a great spirit, the server and hostess seemed to be a little more all over the place. The floors are a safety hazard in my opinion for elderly and pregnant women. They are coated with oil and you can practically glide to the bathroom without lifting your feet. You always get a TON of food to take home and it's always a good place to take family's and groups. Just so happened to be that one group on that one night that didn't have a great experience. On the flip side it was awesome seeing PHBA team photos from 2011 in there, I was able to notice some familiar faces!! read more

Kobe Japan - Soup? - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Wonderful sushi and great, fresh flavors. But super cheap in their willingness to provide additional condiments . A woman picked up an order costing probably close to $200, clearly a lot of sushi. She asked for extra radish of some sort - which would be a typical request when you order a lot of sushi perhaos . They were absolutely unwilling to give it to her - asking her to pay an addition $3.00 after having closed her tab. Is it petty of me to write this ? Probably . Is it petty or the restauesnt to be this cheap and stingy? You bet. I work right across the street, and my family loves this place . It's a good place ! But cheapness and unwillingness to even go an extra centimeter for a customer makes me wonder where else they're cutting corners . read more

Kobe Japan - Happy hour lounge with a wonderful bar and great happy hour specials . - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Thanks to my friend G.G. for showing me this friendly and diverse restaurant featuring sushi, hibachi, and a sports bar with Happy Hour! I've gone to the bar side both times. In two visits I've had a number of dishes which all were very good. Sushi rolls and Nigiri Sushi were on point, the Sashimi Carpaccio (Hamachi) was wonderful, and on the latest visit I tried the plain fried chicken wings, which were also good. They also can serve it with a honey glaze. Service from the bar side bartender, Tien, is super friendly! He can recommend items and gets to know his customers. It's no doubt Tien keeps customers coming back for more! And they have a diverse menu that will take you several visits to experience. The atmosphere is local yet inviting. 9Bar side has TV and about 10-12 tables. The restaurant side is large and features several Hibachi tables in the middle. Everyone working there seems to be working hard and keeping things moving. All signs point to a well run establishment. Would love to check out the Hibachi sometime with my kids. And there is no doubt I'll be back for happy hour with Tien! read more

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday, and while the evening turned because of some family drama (lol), wanted to share that the food was great and our waitress was even greater. She was super friendly and made sure to check in on us, give us updates on food that was taking a little longer, etc. We didn't tell her it was my birthday but she overheard us say it when we were paying the bill, so she came out and surprised me with a scoop of ice cream. Love the extra touch. As far as the restaurant itself, it was a very nice place and was pretty busy for a Wednesday evening (I take that as a good sign!). Had to use the restroom at one point too and was pleased with how clean it was. read more

Kobe Japan - We already paid the bill but were still talking and our waitress overhead that it was my birthday, came out and surprised me with this. :) - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Really enjoyed this teppanyaki restaurant! Parking was challenging but the food and service were fantastic. Would definitely return!

Eh...this is within walking distance...10 minutes. Same dude making rolls, haven't been there in a minute. Not inspirational. Not good. Next. read more

Kobe Japan is the best hibachi in the East Bay, the entertainment while the chefs cook is incredible. The food is great, especially the bacon fried rice! read more

Kobe Japan - Shrimp - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

I visited Kobe Japan in Pleasant Hill, where you can choose between hibachi or dining in for sushi. and tried a variety of dishes. I loved the Volcano Roll--the outside was crispy, and the fish was fresh. The Nigiri Trio was also good. However, the chicken gyoza wasn't great, and the Bento Dinner (I chose chicken teriyaki, pork katsu, and chicken gyoza) was just average--I wouldn't order it again. The East Bay Roll was flavorful, liked the fried shrimp. The service was good, and the ambiance was casual. It's an alright spot if you're in the area, but I'd probably just stick to the sushi next time. read more

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Definitely a happening spot with a variety of areas you can choose for your eating experience-teppanaki/hibachi, sushi bar, sit down and eat sushi/bento and bar/eating darker setting. Food was a great selection including drinks. Nice specials so checkout the board. I really liked the classic sushi you'd see then their specials. Well done here if that is what you are hunting for. Service was ok. read more

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came in and had the pork gyoza, miso soup, and the side salads to start. ALL delicious, the gyoza was crispy and hot, the salad was refreshing and crunchy! My boyfriend had a nigiri sampler/ platter and it was great, but the chicken garlic udon noodles were SO good, perfect udon and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. incredibly attentive and friendly staff! thanks!! read more

Kobe Japan - Sautéed Chicken Garlic Udon - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Gil was the best Hibachi chef! Lively, egg yolk juggler and sake bomb birthday chanter! Amazing show, steaks, veggies and bacon fried rice!

Fantastic sushi! Everything tasted fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The staff were attentive and welcoming, and the atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing. Definitely one of the best sushi spots around. I'll be coming back often! read more

For every birthday we love to come to Kobe Grill. We came here in December for my son's birthday. I had totally forgot to write a review. We used to go to Benihana's however. Benihana's has became real rowdy. Kobe is my type of atmosphere laid-back, classy and casual and not crowded with tons of people. This time when we went we had a lot of fun, for my son's 18th birthday. We had a lot of cooks from both Benihana's and Kobe grill. But the one that we had this time around. It was by far the most excellent. He had introduced himself by the name Bobbe but goes by the name August. He was so funny and entertaining. Professional, did a lot of fun tricks. Was just a joy to be around, thank you August for your great customer service. I hope we get August again the next time we go. Our server as well by the name of Ricardo. He was an excellent server. Very attentive professional, we sang happy birthday to my son. It was such a good time. You can never go wrong choosing Kobe. The food is good , you get a lot for your money. Always such a good time. I wish I had got pictures of our food. I believe I have a video I can share. The restaurant is clean, bathrooms are clean, spacious and less rowdy. However the parking is shared between other restaurants. Almost always we had found parking each time we went. Five stars for Kobe !! read more

Unfortunately i will no longer be coming to this sushi spot. time after time, ive ALWAS given Kobe the benefit of doubt. From their horrible service and making us wait significantly one time bc they forgot to bring our roll even though we were the first to sit, having to swat gnats as part of the experience, and their questionable water with dirt flying around. Despite that, their yummy food has always brought me back in. But not ANYMORE as while me and my gf was finishing our rolls, a HUGE cockroach runs across our table as we eat. GRANTED WE SAT NEXT TO THE SPOT WHERE ALL THE WINE IS, it is NO EXCUSE FOR A RESTAURANT TO BE THAT DIRTY. WILL NEVER COME BACK, WE WILL NOW BE LOOKING FOR A NEW SUSHI SPOT. never have i ever felt like i wasted money on a meal more than this. sad to say that in a recession i threw away $60. read more

Kobe Japan - Ocean Roll * Lafayette * - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Our absolute favorite sushi spot! Service here is great and the food never disappoints. The rolls hit the spot every single time and the flavors are the same as we remember each time we come. Our favorite and always a must are the alligator and Tokyo roll. We'll also usually order a roll of their monthly special list. read more

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Wonderfull lunch today. very fresh sushi!!!...our favorite 49er roll and others, taken care of very well by Melony, she was very nice and we look forward to going back there! read more

We had company dinner, very friendly people, of course food is Great and we had a great time read more

Kobe Japan - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Came here tonite for a non-teppanyaki dinner in the bar dining area. Friendly greetings from staff. We got the Dynamite and Rainbow rolls. We also ordered a bento with beef teriyaki, a grilled chicken entree, and the combo tempura. Unfortunately, the entrees came out nearly the same as our rolls so we couldn't really enjoy them. Not a good timing issue. Second issue- the beef teriyaki was sliced way too thick and it was tough- my daughter couldn't bite through it and the pieces were huge. If I was on a date, or an important work lunch, it would've been a disaster. So, please cut your meat thinner and use a more tender cut of beef. But, service was great, as usual. read more

Kobe Japan - Huge tough piece of beef teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

We celebrated our birthdays here. They made it special it's a fun place to go. The service and food were very good. It's a popular place on weekends so make a reservation. I've been there during the week and that's nice too it's less crowded. read more

We really enjoyed our meal here, they have a great selection and offer regular dining or hibachi. Service was good and food was delicious. We are so happy this is in our neighborhood and will be returning for more often! read more

Kobe Japan - Miso Soup Lava Flow - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Such a great experience ! Atmosphere was amazing the food was amazing as usual. Staff were beyond professional and sweet. Food was 10/10. I would change nothing read more

Kobe Japan - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Oysters was pretty good but toro and bluefin tuna sashimi quality was no good but the size of sashimi is way bigger than other sushi restaurants but quality. Service is ok nothing good nothing bad. read more

Kobe Japan - Sake menu - Japanese Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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We took our daughter for her birthday. It was perfect for a mid-week birthday. Not crowded, fun atmosphere, and great entertainment. Honestly the food was better than expected and they give you lots! We only ordered 2 deluxe plates and split it between 4 people. They gave the birthday girl a light up crown and included a bowl of ice cream for dessert. read more

Decent sushi. 5 star food. Service was a 2 star at best, and really made the experience unpleasant. We went there on a busy Saturday night. The place was 90% full. Pretty packed. We sat on the sushi bar side , which was much quieter than the hibachi side. We could hear the dinner crowds Ooooh and aaahing and can see the hibachi chefs entertaining their customers. Everything looked really fun and lovely. We'd definitely try it the next time the kids want hibachi. For tonight's dinner, we got a bento box and a few sushi rolls. The food overall was solid and tasted fine. The sushi rice was a bit mushy and had a gluey consistency. The service was just off, and borderline offensive, with the server slamming down our drinks and plates frantically/ angrily. Some of the drinks splattered on us, and the food was plated beautifully as it was brought out, but it was slammed on the table, and the food fell all over the plate, so it looked like mess of scraps thrown on the plate. It was just odd. Not friendly at all. Our waitress kept walking away before we could finish putting the order in. At one point we needed two things and she turned and walked away before I could finish asking for the second napkin. I literally had to talk to her back. Overall, the service really gave the dinner a weird, uncomfortable vibe. We might come back and give it another try, but first impression was not the best. read more

Meh. Fun for kids on their birthdays, but expensive for bland, uninspired food. More theater than eatery. I would never go there to get "good" food or have a good meal. read more

My friend was having a birthday dinner and he decided to go to Kobe Japan. I love hibachi grill, so this would be my kind of place to enjoy the atmosphere, the food and the show. Lava Flow: This was my drink and it was a bit more on the sweet side, which I personally prefer. Not too much alcohol but delicious nonetheless. Salad and Mushroom Soup: These come with the hibachi grill order. They were delicious and serve as a nice complement to the meal. Filet Mignon and Chicken Breast, Veggie Fried Rice and Mushroom Appetizer: I am going to list this all together since I ate them all with each other. My friend told me to get the mushrooms over the shrimp since you only get two shrimps and that honestly is not a lot. The veggie fried rice was good and very crispy since it was cooked on the grill. The main attraction was the filet and chicken. I upgraded to spicy for $2 more and it packed a kick for sure. The steak was cooked perfectly and the chicken had the nice grilling flavor I expect off of hibachi grill. The sauce they had, the "yum yum" sauce and teriyaki gave both meats a lot of flavor that I enjoyed. Overall, the food was very delicious. The Show: I really enjoyed our chef. He was lively and talked to us throughout the meal. He put on a good show and he knew how to entertain us. Overall, I look forward to coming back here again. read more

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Great sushi rolls and awesome happy hour deals! We often will sit in the bar area for a casual meal and love the atmosphere and quick service. The sushi bar is nice too, and hibachi is a ton of fun, but we definitely enjoy the monthly roll specials the most. It's typically a 2 roll with an appetizer combo of some kind, with a set discounted price. Great deal and delicious! read more

Kobe Japan, I have always visited over the years, but haven't left a review yet, which I find strange but it happens. Located in the same shopping center as Wence's and a pretty great taqueira cafe, and across the street from Slow Hand. Kobe Japan has kind of gone through some phases throughout the years, as one of the mainstays of two teppanyaki places in our area, and the other one is Benihana which predates Kobe Japan's existence, but still, they've been around long enough to be considered a part of the area now for all the locals. While mainly a teppanyaki place, they also have an area for those who want to dine in for sushi, which I'll discuss in a bit. Let's first focus on the teppanyaki part, which is really what they've always been known for. Just like Benihana, they are a teppanyaki places that's both a dinner and a show, so that means the chefs here are all going to be putting up a show of some sort. Pricing wise for the teppanyaki it will vary. Of course it's on the more expensive side of things if you are just out looking for a meal, and typically they're always booked up, so just dropping in to eat there might result in a longer wait, though, usually parties that don't fill up all the seats in front of a grill, you might be able to fill in if there's just 2-3 of you around. The menu will vary from reasonably priced (because it's a full course meal), to very, very expensive as there's also market price ingredients on there. The ingredients quality of the food are all good quality, so that's never been an issue. The one thing that is the most inconsistent here though over the years have always been the actual cooking and flavors of the food. In the beginning when Kobe Japan first opened, the food was pretty consistent on the teppanyaki side. It's not just about the show, but the dinner part really matters for people like me who wants to have a nice meal, especially for the price they paid for. After some time the flavors of the food started to drop a little, as the sushi side started to get a bit more focus. After some time again, the focus went back to being on the teppanyaki, and the chefs once again started to pay more attention to flavoring and not just putting on a show. However, having been here recently, it seems that the cooking part of the food has dipped quite a bit, and the chefs are more focused on the show than the food. I feel this last time I went, I really didn't enjoy anything except for maybe the fried rice, as the lobster was way too salty, the steak was way too overcooked, and the veggies had no flavor whatsoever. The chefs spent so much time trying to make a show they forgot to cook, and this wasn't just for my table, it was for all of the other tables I had observed where the chefs just sort of dumped seasoning without even actually understanding what it's there for, or the purpose of cooking. Now the sushi side of things are somewhat different nowadays. It seems like it's back again in the phase where the sushi side is a bit more of the focus now, and the rolls and such are actually better than they were before. The portions are also pretty good, and overall, the quality of the rolls just feel and taste better. However, I primarily come here for the teppanyaki anyways, as there's always an endless amount of sushi spots around, but not an endless amount of teppanyaki places. Overall, Kobe Japan is a nice alternative to people who don't want to just go to Benihana. While the decor of Benihana can't be beat, as it's certainly more up for a show with all of the bar area, and teppanyaki areas, Kobe Japan will be a much more low key environment. The food at Kobe Japan is going to be pretty hit or miss, and have always gone through varying levels throughout the years, and have also changed owners now. While the teppanyaki seems to be on a bit of a downhill decline atm, the sushi seems to be right back on track again, but if I wanted sushi I honestly could go to any number of other places for it since teppanyaki is much harder to find. read more

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