Lounging around with late-night sushi

The friendliest — and tastiest — teppanyaki spot in town, better known as Kobe Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, thrills customers night after night as highly skilled chefs put an enticing Japanese twist on the best in fresh meat and seafood while grilling away on flat-tops placed at each table.

To complement the excitement of the main dining rooms, Kobe also features an inviting lounge, where patrons in the mood for a low-key evening can nibble on pupus and enjoy drinks in a leisurely setting.

Recently, the restaurant introduced a late-night sushi special exclusively for lounge visitors. From 8:30 to 10 p.m., guests may revel in any sushi item — including maki rolls, nigiri and combination platters — for 50 percent off the regular price. Popular options such as Rainbow Roll, normally priced at $15 for a mouth-watering blend of ahi, salmon, hamachi and avocado on top of an inside-out California roll, is now available for $7.50 during the late-night special.

“We wanted to showcase the lounge area because it’s a very intimate, cozy room,” says owner and general manager Roy Nakamura when describing his inspiration for creating the affordable offering. “We have an eight-seat sushi bar that has a beautiful tile mural background. There are also two large TV screens for watching sports. The half-off sushi just seemed like a perfect fit.”

An even better fit is the artful craftsmanship sushi chefs Eiji-San and Ha-San pair with each piece of divinely fresh seafood for a sophisticated presentation, every time. Their wizardry behind the bar is apparent in classics, including Sixty-Nine Roll ($18 regular, $9 special), prepared with sweet and savory unagi on top of a crab-filled California roll. Spider Roll ($13 regular, $6.50 special) is another dish worth taking advantage of during the special, as crispy soft shell crab, cucumber and avocado are irresistible when wrapped in sesame-speckled rice.

To complete the dining experience, nothing compares to a cold, refreshing beverage. At Kobe, diners can supplement their late-night sushi selection with one of the eatery’s nightly drink specials. Every evening offers something sumptuous to sip on, but be sure to stop in for deals on Wednesdays for martinis, Thursdays for Heineken and Fridays for mojitos.

Kobe Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

1841 Ala Moana Blvd.
941-4444
Open daily, Lounge and dinner, 5-10 p.m.