As much as I love to watch cooking shows on TV, it sometimes leaves me feeling unsatisfied because I can’t actually eat anything I see being cooked — it’s not just “smell-o-vision” we need.
Enter Kobe Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar, where you’ll be entertained by the finesse of trained teppan chefs and can eat everything you see prepared before you.
“It’s good for kids,” says owner Lynn Nakamura, who runs the restaurant with husband, Roy. This month, they celebrate three years of ownership of the 42-year-old establishment.
For starters, the restaurant offers a pupu menu, which features Chicken Yakitori ($6 for two skewers), available in both its lounge and dining room. Tender cubes of chicken are cooked and glazed with teriyaki sauce, served yakitori-style.
In addition to its other teppan offerings, Kobe has been serving up calamari specials for approximately six months. It began as a limited-time offer, but the Nakamuras decided to keep it on the menu because of its popularity with customers.
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- Chicken Yakitori ($6 for two skewers)
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- Seafood Trio ($42.95)
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- Ice Cream Pie ($7 each)
The Seafood Trio ($42.95) features 4 ounces of Nova Scotia scallops, 5 ounces of calamari and 3 ounces of Tristan lobster tail. Teppan shrimp appetizer, grilled teppan vegetables, pickled vegetables, shabu shabu soup, white rice and hot green tea also accompany the meal. The seafood pairs well with mustard sauce and ginger sauce, and you may also ask for butter, which the chef will melt on the grill — it’s perfect for dipping.
Just be sure to save room for dessert. Kobe currently serves locally-made Ice Cream Pies ($7 a slice) in three different flavors: Green Tea/Azuki, Coffee/Haupia and Water-melon Deelite. The pie is made with two layers of ice cream atop a crumbly, sweet crust. Its texture isn’t too creamy or thick, which makes it a refreshing after-dinner treat. The only problem is deciding on a flavor.
The restaurant presents happy hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily in its lounge. At this time, sushi is 20 percent off and drink specials are available.
Reservations are highly recommended, and the restaurant does accommodate large parties.
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
1841 Ala Moana Blvd.
941-4444
Daily, 5-10 p.m. (lounge); 5:30-10 p.m. (dinner)
Honolulu, HI 96815
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