A Valentine’s Day Experience to Remember

With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar is serving up a memorable experience that will have diners falling in love with its special surf and turf combination.

In honor of the highly-anticipated Valentine’s Day celebration, Kobe offers a superb Steak, Lobster and Scallops Combination ($100 for two people), available from 5 to 10 p.m. Feb. 13-15.

The Valentine’s dinner special includes: a starter-size Edamame, Shabu Shabu Soup, Pickled Vegetables and Super-sized Grilled Shrimp Appetizer; an entree composed of a 12-ounce Emperor Steak, 10-ounce Lobster Tail and 4-ounce Nova Scotia Scallops, along with teppan vegetables, steamed white rice and hot green tea; and a special Ice Cream Pie dessert for two. Each couple also receives a complimentary photo by Group Shots Unlimited. Reservations are recommended, as seats for this romantic dinner offering are filling up quickly.

With five decades of pleasing customers, the skilled staff at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar continues to dazzle diners with new menu creations that keep the dining experience fresh and fun. Kobe is situated conveniently on Ala Moana Boulevard between the iconic Ilikai Hotel and Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, and kamaaina and visitors alike praise the generous portions and stellar customer service.

Modeled after a rustic Japanese inn, Kobe serves up authentic Japanese cuisine infused with local flavors and preparation techniques in a comfortable, family-style setting. As the skilled chefs prepare fresh meals on the flat-top teppan grills situated at each table, distinct aromas waft throughout the eatery, all while the culinary craftsmen deftly chop, slice and toss ingredients to the delight of diners — some of whom represent a third generation of customers whose parents introduced them to Kobe, and now bring their own children to enjoy the experience.

“Everything is presented before you, and cooked to order, so you know you’re getting a fresh product,” says owner and general manager Roy Nakamura of the Kobe experience. “It’s a concept that’s always been present with us, but is becoming more popular with other restaurants. As far as freshness goes, it shows in all our items. You get really good food along with an entertaining presentation.”

While Kobe’s Valentine’s Day menu represents a highly-anticipated annual event, the restaurant offers up a vast array of superb selections on a nightly basis in its inviting lounge and dining room.

The lounge opens at 5 p.m. in concurrence with dinner service, and features a daily happy hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The specially-priced menu includes a host of deals including 20 percent off sushi, $3 standard cocktails, $3 domestic beers and $4 wine specials.

Additionally, the lounge also offers up nightly drink specials within the happy hour window, such as: Flavored Sakes ($4, available Monday) including peach, lychee and apple; Heineken and Heineken Light “Green Bottles” ($4, available Thursday); Mojitos ($5.50, available Friday) including coconut, lychee, pineapple, passion fruit, mango and melon; and Martinis ($5.50, available Sunday) including apple, lychee, cosmopolitan, lemon drop and chocolate.

Pupus also play a prominent role on the restaurant’s lounge menu, which includes local favorites and “East meets West” appetizers, including Fried Scallops ($11), bite-sized pieces of tender scallops that are breaded and lightly fried, and accompanied with a homemade tartar sauce. Customers also rave about Mini Lumpia ($8), a local-style pupu featuring porkand vegetable-filled, fried spring rolls served with both sweet chili and shoyu-vinegar based sauces.

“It’s a nice added touch where customers can enjoy a round or two before heading into dinner,” says Nakamura of the Happy Hour and pupu offerings. “Diners can avoid the rush-hour traffic, kick back and enjoy the calm, casual atmosphere.”

Those craving sushi are treated to a host of freshly prepared favorites, including Spider Roll ($13), an inside-out roll featuring soft shell crab and avocado. Sixty-Nine Roll ($18) is another popular sushi selection, and is constructed beautifully as a California roll topped with unagi.

For dessert, Nakamura recommends Ice Cream Pie ($7), which is quickly becoming a post-meal favorite. The light, yet satisfying double-decker dessert is available in multiple flavor pairings: Green Tea/Azuki, Coffee/Haupia, Watermelon Delight/Tropical Medley (a combination of strawberry, melon and vanilla macadamia flavors) each serving as a perfect finale to a memorable dining experience.

Kobe Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

1841 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
941-4444
Open daily, Lounge 5-10 p.m.; Dinner 5-10 p.m. Happy hour 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Note: Valet Parking available for $5. Reservations recommended

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