The food is great but the service is horrible! We waited 40 mins for an imperial dinner and a sushi roll. The table behind us had 6 people, came in after us and got their food ahead of us! Also, for my party of 2, the automatically added a 15% gratuity... And we didn't even sit at the hibachi tables!! read more

Pretty standard for a Japanese steak house/hibachi. Very flavorful and had a great time.

Horrible. The stuff of nightmares. Don't do it. I should've known when the salad came out with croutons that it was going to be bad. Fried rice with corn in it? WTH? read more

This place has horrible service. They brought food out for half our table 45 min before the other half, their "special" was to charge you more for your meal than the menu price and not telling you til the end. There are many places nearby with better food, far better service for the same price. I can't believe this place is still in business. read more

While catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in months in Smithfield, we ended up at Kobe and were extremely happy with our service. What was funny to us was that we had gotten there at about 4:40 pm and did not know that the restaurant didn't reopen until 5pm! So when we were finally inside, we were seated immediately and had a wonderful waitress named Kaprise. She was funny and on top of our table. We ordered, received our drinks, and soup less than 5 mins after we were seated, as did the people who walked in and were seated at our table. I ordered steak and chicken which was great. Our cook whose name I don't remember (sorry!) was very engaged and made conversation while he cooked before leaving us to enjoy our meal. Our drinks were never empty and every need we had was taken care of. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Great staff that are very entertaining! Food is delicious and cooked in front of you in a classic "dinner and a show" fashion. I recommend the combinations and especially the steak and chicken. Great flavor! A good experience but a little pricey. read more

Food was fairly good... One of the better Japanese restaurants in the Raleigh region we've tried. As usual, tons of food. Chicken was extremely tender. Shows do vary quite a bit by Chef so if you're coming for the show, be aware of that... Some are extremely active and others are very quiet. Food is still pretty good. read more

No service. Really wish somebody cared. The food isn't bad but you can't get it. Go to Clayton if you really want sushi.

This would be only one star but this was the first really bad experience we've had there. We went on a Monday a little before 6:00. They were not busy at all when we got there but it did get pretty busy a little later. We sat at the hibachi grill and my husband ordered his usual hibachi meal and my friend and I ordered something from the kitchen, as well as an appetizer. One waitress took our order and turned us over to another one. The chef came out and did an excellent job cooking for the others at the table, however, my husband (who eats very slowly) was nearly finished and we didn't even have the appetizer, much less the dishes we had ordered from the kitchen. Apparently, the order never got turned in. We asked the waitress to check on it, and we told they were "literally putting it on the plate right now," and my friend got hers about 20 minutes later. She was almost finished when I got mine, then the appetizer came after mine finally came. We waited over an hour for my plate from the time it was ordered. We have been regular customers there for several years going there about once a month, and the only reason I am writing this review is that my husband asked to speak to the manager/owner, and after waiting 15 or 20 minutes to see him, we were told he was too busy to come out. I know they were short-staffed, and it was very chaotic but I feel like he should have at least come out to speak with us. That is not a very good way to retain business! read more

We've been going here for a few years as our sushi spot. I can't comment on the hibachi. Our most recent visit was just okay and not up to the usually high standard we expect. We found out that they no longer have a classically trained sushi chef and one of the regular cooks is filling in. It makes all the difference and I hope they get one again. As it stands, we'll hold off coming back until they get it sorted. read more

Not bad. Sushi was fresh and good. Friendly waitress. The restrooms are clean. Other people around me were getting served fast. I'll be back. read more

Take it from someone who worked there for over a year... KOBE IN SMITHFIELD IS THE RESTAURANT FROM YOUR NIGHTMARES. No one preparing your food wears gloves or washes their hands. Chicken is left out for over 24 hours. I've seen the guys in the back who prepare the trays of food to go out to the grill side dig in their butt and proceed to put your steak, chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, zucchini and onions, etc on that tray. They NEVER wash their hands, so there is ALWAYS dirt and god knows what else under their fingernails. The hyeine is poor on EVERYONE who prepares your meal. Hopefully the cook doesn't mess up your food because I've seen the Manger stick his unwashed hands in someone's plate of food because he put mushrooms on it when they didn't want any. This was a regular thing. Don't order your steak well or med well because they will use old steak, so you won't taste the rotten meat. Horrible problem with roaches. Take a peak in the back when you come and you will see. Sushi seems good, but they don't prepare it up to code and lots of cross comtamination goes on. Can't forget the 30 dead roaches found underneath the fish laid out before you and all the dead ones in the drink machine. I've seen the servers making your soup and salads with no gloves. Many times sneezing or coughing in one hand and putting your lettuce in the bowl with the other. I would NEVER eat there. If you saw half of what I did, you wouldn't either. This place needs to be shut down. The Manger brides the health inspector for a better rating and the rating is pretty low as it is. Many people have gotten food poisoning off this food, my little brother included, don't let it be you next!!!!! For your health's sake just drive to Kanki in Raleigh. read more

Kobe - No gloves for any of your food. - Japanese Near Me - Smithfield, North Carolina

NASTY!! Good was less than desirable!! Noodles were ramen cheap noodles, sushi was aweful...don't waste your money!!

Excellent service and the food was great and cooked to my order. My server was very attentive and my order was delivered in sequence, appetizer to entree as it should be. My server was very patient as I had to take a business call as soon as I was seated. She returned as soon as I completed my call which shows her attention to customers. read more

Terrible service and untrained help not busy at all and still messed up order for the third visit in a row. No more

Great food and service. Been there a few times and the service and food is always consistent. If you like this type of thing you will love it read more

Ive been here a few times and never been disappointed with the food. Its a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for plus some! It has a sushi bar, which is fantastic, and the cooks all have such great personalities. Only once have I had an issue with them, and that was a waitress I had who was very rude and never came to my table, but Im pretty sure she doesnt work there anymore. One of the only times I tipped a waitress lower than 5 dollars at a restaurant. The plum wine is something I feel like everyone should try as well. read more

Couple of my ex co-workers took me to Kobe and the wait staff acted like they did not care if we where there or not. We set at the grill and the cook was not personally; my friend asked him to cook her vegetables longer and he acted like it was a sin to that. So she ask for more zucchini and the cook said NO and we then said we would pay for it, he said no; then we just ask the waitress and we got extra zucchini. After all that; we where leaving, my friend that had to wait for all of her food was putting it in a box - a COCK ROACH ran passed her plate.... wow...really. The management come out and found it; then stood there for a while like they did not know what to do. Finely we said we are leaving, which we all ready pay for lunch. They only was going to give us a gift card to come back... Wow... never again.... read more

Came in on a Monday night. Kind of skeptical from the previous reviews, I was pleasantly surprised. The waitress was friendly with us and our children. The soup and salad were pretty good, but the main course experience was great. The cook was friendly and humorous, the food was plentiful and very good. The main course was topped off with bananas mixed in a caramel sauce, which I have never seen at a japanese steakhouse. The prices were a little steep. But you have to factor in the amount of food you receive. I will definitely eat here again! read more

This is and has been my favorite restaurant for years. It was starting to get really run down and I was happy to see they have been working on the decor. Our waitress, Kim, was wonderful. Very nice and attentive. The food was amazing! Now here is were the Star was lost. Our chef, Fat Boy (yes, that's what he goes by), started an argument with our waitress over our order. (I ordered extra veggies and my boyfriend extra rice and he couldn't read who was getting what.) He started fussing at her in front of us. She politely asked him to not handle issues in front of the customers and left to go back to the kitchen area. He proceeded to fume to all of us sitting at the table and bad mouthed her. Everyone at the table told him it wasn't a big deal, he left the table and we could hear him yelling in the kitchen. He then came back to the table talking about her incompetence. He cooked a great meal, but made the experience very awkward. He glared at Kim every time she came to the table and he didn't even attempt to put on the show. Our whole table felt bad for Kim, but she stayed polite and friendly. I will go back, but I will always request a different chef. read more

Went in for lunch and we were the last ones to sit down at the table. The poor family sitting with us had been waiting for 30 minutes so the table would fill up. Everything was good til the waitress tells us she forgot to turn on the grill. Our Chef Josh went above and beyond to make us as happy as possible and that is the only thing that made me not get up and leave. read more

Food was decent staff sucks! We were the only ones in there and after we got our food within 5 minutes here's a box and the check. Waited 20 minutes and staff no where to found. Avoid this place at all costs! read more

The one good thing I will say is that my waitress was very sweet and tried hard. The first thing I ordered was steamed gyoza. Oh, my goodness....it was the consistency and thickness of a flip-flop. Jesus of Nazareth walked in more tender sandals. I'm still not sure what the "pork" in the middle was, but I can speak of it no more. I think it might have been an eyeball. I ordered a couple of rolls, one with eel (from the Black Lagoon, I believe). I decided to cut my losses. I was finishing my second Kirin (very limited beer selection....Kirin Light "out of stock" although listed on the menu) when the (hostess? owner? a cousin?) plunked her young children at the bar five feet from me (and apparently her date....like a first date....he was trying to make small talk with them, explaining that mommy had gone outside to smoke, answering their repeated questions about does he smoke, etc., etc.) Next thing you know, the little girl has gone Ballistic Brat and is shrieking about who knows what. It goes on and on and on while mommy is outside having her smoke, and Bachelor No. 1 is starting to look panicked and probably second-guessing that whole Match thing. That is definitely my cue to exit stage left. That's when mommy comes back in and heads to the register (which is how I know she works there) and actually asks me how everything was. Ummmmm.......yeah. Not so much. This place should be renamed "No-be." Can't wait to never come here again. read more

Absolutely terrible service. Waited 1-1/2 hours to sit down 6 of us then there was 12 people on one side so we moved to another grill then no one turned it on so we waited and waited then 3 hours later the grill cut off and still no food and the management kept telling us to wait so we just left. Then the chef wanted to argue with us telling us we could wait because we have been waiting for 3 hours 30 min wouldn't hurt. Then he threatened me saying he would f*** me up. WILL NEVER GO BACK! read more

Horrible service!! The grill was dirty and the chef was in more of a hurry to leave than to entertain!! Waited 20 min for our check and they made excuses instead of comping anything. Never again!! read more

This place needs Restaurant: Impossible I just want to start saying I've worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and I usually give restaurants the benefit of the doubt. We came here over an hour before they closed on a Saturday night. We sat at the bar to get some quick sushi, and from the second we got there it was obvious from the employees' comments they were irritated we came in and wanted us out. We ordered the gyoza appetizer and it was inedible- flavorless grey pork mixed with corn and deep fried (gyoza is usually pan fried). We tried... and were hesitant to send it back especially since everyone around us was already sweeping, shutting down, and eating their post-shift dinners next to us... but it was awful so we sent it back anyway. Then a server eating next to us (who might have been the manager) told the people next to her that it was "okay... the workers in the back will eat it." That same woman and another worker then became angry because another table walked in to eat- and were talking about it right in front of us. We decided to take our sushi to go, and are literally eating in the car outside the restaurant. A Saturday night should be busy and their chance to make good money, but clearly this place is in need of new management. I mean come on... if you're going to have a sh**** attitude and talk about us, at least do it where your customers can't hear you. I will say that our server, Kristie, was really nice. Kristie- get out of that place! You can do better! read more

Yeah, no, not good. Waiter was a disaster and food was not nearly "good", and our order was wrong. Way too much $$ for a pretty subpar experience. Go to Bob Evans instead. read more

this place is the worst. sorry. that's just the truth. the service is literally horrific. our waitress had has two tables including us and it took her 20 minutes to get us water. food took over an hour. got our appetizers at the end of the meal? and then it was wrong? lol. don't bother. read more

NO! NO! NO! Place is outdated, dingy and very rundown inside. Service was bad. Food was ok. It's not worth your time or money.

A customer service NIGHTMARE! If the whole review was based on service they would need negative numbers. The main offender is what appears to be one of the main chefs, a younger male probably early 20s, and the tolerance of his behaivor by the rest of the staff. Rudeness towards customers, loud obscenity towards wait staff while cooking; and makung fun of customers behind manager's back when concerns are addressed with management. COMPLETE NIGHTMARE! I will say their salad dressing is quite good abd the only reason for the 2nd star. Their sushi is subpar on a national level but better than we have found in surrounding areas outside of Raleigh. Their grill is quite bland. Japanese steakhouses are built upon great customer service, good showmanship, and good food. This restaurant accomplished failure in all 3 aspects. I can't get back the time wasted by this establishment, but I can make sure I never go back Save yourself grief and go somewhere else. read more

It takes too long to get your struck and chicken and they put vegetables in the rice and egg what if someone is allergic to that

Tried this place on a recommendation from a friend. So glad I did. We decided to get some sushi to start and about the time we had started eating it, a friend came in and said "Fatboy is here tonight. You've got to come to the grill" Long story made short, Fatboy was one entertaining chef and we laughed so hard we ended up taking most of our food home for later - especially after the sushi - but what we did try was absolutely the best Japanese we've ever had. read more

best Japanese restaurant i have ever been too!! chefs and severs are extremely entertaining! best food around!

This has to be the absolute worst restaurant that I have ever been to. The manager, Tony Kuang was completely incompetent. We were overcharged $20+ and he refused to acknowledge it. When we asked to speak to someone else he stated that there wasn't anyone else and proceeded to give me his brother's name who manages the Clayton location. After calling the Clayton location I was told that all of the information was incorrect that Tony had given to me. We were forced to pay a 15% gratuity because we have a family of 5(2 adults and 3 kids, ages 4,4,&7). So we were essentially penalized because we have more than 2 kids. Our server Molly was atrocious. Our drinks were never refilled and ticket was delivered but never picked up. The prices on the menu are different than we were charged. Tony refused to acknowledge the discrepancies. We will be contacting the Better Business Bureau. Tony is the absolute worst manager that I have ever encountered. I would not recommend this establishment to my worst enemy. Save your money! read more