I love Kobe-ya its been one of my favorite spots to eat chicken teriyaki for many many years. It's a bento box with a generous portion of chicken teriyaki either while cucumber noodles as a side and a house salad with seasonal dressing. Very delicious and affordable. It's about $15 with taxes and a drink and I recommend the shrimp spri g rolls and glass noodles as well. The service is friendly and there's usually only 1 or 2 people working so if there's a line it might take 15 min. There's seating if you like to eat there, I usually order gor puck ip but today my sister and I decided to eat at the restaurant which was nice and pleasant. Not to much hoping on since the lunch rush was over. Definitely an Alameda Gem. read more

I've been coming here for years with my family ! The prices are very fair and the food is great! read more

The Sushi, tempura, and katsu here are delicious. We keep coming back to order again.

Ordered to-go from here based on a recommendation. I was a little hesitant based on how many stars Kobe-Ya has on Yelp, but decided to give it a try. Food: - Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box: comes with cucumber noodles, rice, and salad. This bento box came with quite a bit of rice and chicken teriyaki (could be one hefty meal or a meal with leftovers). - Side of cucumber noodles: these noodles were actually really good. This was probably my favorite of all the dishes. The side comes in a good size tub - Lion king roll: not the best I've had - the salmon was dry and it was lacking the sauce a Lion king roll usually comes with - Sake roll: comes with avocado in the roll. This was a pretty big roll - came with eight large pieces Miscellaneous: - Parking is available via metered street parking - The sign isn't the most obvious. Kobe-Ya is located right next to Sidestreet Pho (right on the corner of Encinal and Oak) Overall, not super satisfied with this place. The lady who helped me was really nice and the cucumber noodles were good, but the rest was average. read more

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I went to eat there when it first open when the owner was Tom, great service and food.It changed ownership, had a bad experience with the new owner a Vietnamese guy.I ordeted a takeout and when l got home it was all wrong, and just ate it, not driving back to Alemeda from Hayward, next time I came in he said I owe him money from the mistake, you gave me the food idiot it was your fault! I walked out and never went back, it's been twenty years plus since I've been there. read more

From high school til now Kobe-Ya maintains how I remember their food. I rate Kobe-Ya 3 stars because like a previous review said, its not the highest quality of food and you may not get 5-star service but if you need a japanese food fix Kobe-Ya may hit that. Even though Im a supporter, I have to base my review realistically and not emotion based. I really love their White Noodles and Tokyo Noodles; the ONLY place Ive gotten white noodles so when I get their bento boxes, I get only white noodles as sides. Ive gotten their chicken teriyaki and ton katsu a countless number of times over the years and its a baseline for the items. Dependent on the time of day you go, parking right outside or on the block may be tough but usually after school-hours and late weekends youll find a spot. read more

Kobe-Ya - Menu - 4/2023 - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Hands down best bento box place! Most of the places I've been to, their chicken would be super dry or they don't give enough sauce. I've been going here for years and ever time I get a bento box it doesn't disappoint. Their salad and noodles ARE THEY BEST (although some of my friends haven't been big fans), I personally love it! Service was quick, you just order and sit down and when your food is ready they'll let you know. The inside may not look the best or look the cleanest, but the bento boxes are amazing! read more

Kobe-Ya - Chicken Teriyaki with California Roll - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Best bento boxes in Alameda. The teriyaki sauce on the chicken is super tasty and the katsu is cooked well and super crispy. Service is great, would recommend to come if craving a bento box. read more

Kobe-Ya - Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Katsui - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

First time trying. Inedible the chicken tastes like fish. Regular bento. Never again.

Still good food! Teriyaki chicken is my go to. My Vietnamese sandwich this last time seemed to be missing some jalapeños but minor inconvenience read more

Kobe-Ya - New prices 4/2023 - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

It's definitely a family style Japanese take out spot. Nothing fancy. Not a good place to take someone you want to impress. But predictable and _mostly delicious food. Cracks me up to see photos with the very old prices! Take out service is usually pretty quick, but every restaurant can get busy. Pick up via car is a 2 person job, as parking is fugedaboutit. Bentos are your best bet, and the Ca roll, if you don't mind fake crab. read more

Kobe-Ya - Menu as of Aug '24 - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I love this place! I've been coming here for years and always recommend people to try it out! I LOVE the super roll they have. a huge roll for a GREAT price!! if you love to support local business and want a cute, no frills spot to get some great quality sushi, Kobe- Ya is the place for you read more

Been coming here for 20 years and surprised its still around. Its nothing great but thats what you should expect. Sushi is relatively affordable but the entrees are definitely overpriced especially for the quality. I've heard about overcharging so make sure you look at what number they're putting into the register. Its ok once in a while but don't expect quality. read more

Love this place.. been coming here since 2004 or 2005. My go to stop for bento box .. good flavorful food ... at a great price. U must try the egg rolls they are soo good., I usually get the chicken teriyaki bento box with fried rice all salad.. or half chicken half beef .. I like my food extra saucy so I always get an extra teriyaki sauce on the side.. did I mention they cater.. and have some sushi rolls.. read more

Kobe-Ya - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

This is a no-frills establishment. The food is tasty and budget friendly. The owner is super nice too.

I'm really disappointed. I really wanted to like this place since it was recommended by my partner, but unfortunately a few events occurred. First, we were overcharged. It was suppose to be $33 but we were charged about $50. We did confront the woman at the counter. We received our actual change back. No problem. It was just disappointing to discover a bug in our food. We didn't really know how to handle the situation. We returned about 15 minutes after leaving the restaurant. I told the woman about the bug and showed her a picture. We didn't want a refund but more of an acknowledgment from the establishment. Instead, we were called liars. I was truly baffled about the treatment. I work in a kitchen myself. Mistakes happen, shit happens. It was unfortunate to be called a liar. Overall, I would not recommend eating at this place. You'll most likely be overcharged and find insects in your food. We should have known something was off when the restaurant was completely empty. No customers while we waited for our food to be prepared. read more

Kobe-Ya - Spicy Tuna Mayo, a side of ginger. We found a bug in our food. - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Seriously lacking in ambience. Lacking in authenticity, too. While one may peer into the kitchen to catch a glimpse of the chefs in action like so many other chic eateries, it may not offer the anticipated inward glance better left unobserved here. We ate in, but there was nothing on any of the tables. Looks like they do mostly take-out. In fact, served our katsudon and tempura in plastic containers with plastic cutlery. Quite noticeably adorned with a long strand of hair, we wondered if they hadn't seen it, before bringing us our order. Catty-corner from Alameda High, so maybe serving a less discerning clientele? read more

I've only ever eaten here twice. First experience was decent but second experience was awful. I called to place an order and got hung up on. No big deal, happens. Called a few more times and got through. Placed my order and asked for no ginger since someone in our household is allergic. Lady hangs up without giving me total or time. That's ok. I get there to pay for my order and she proceeds to ring me up for even more than the my actual total then argues with me that prices have increased. I'm not saying your prices haven't increased but how can my order suddenly be 25% more from the prices on the menu that we're both looking at in the restaurant? After some back and forth, she realizes that she entered the wrong prices but still charges me an extra $.25 for a different roll? Unagi roll I ordered was $6.50, whatever. Anything to just get out. I get home to find out there's ginger with our sushi anyways. Salmon bento boxes were really bland. I'm so disappointed with my experience here. Way overpriced for the poor quality of food and service. read more

I don't know what happened; this place used to be good. I can't speak to other dishes but this is what I saw: ungloved hands reaching into the salad bin, grabbing a handful and placing it into the bento. Then, she goes picking into the lettuce to throw away pieces that were bad. Of course everything else also happened by ungloved hand. The chicken - microwaved in a saran-wrapped bowl and then doused in sauce. And it was $18 dollars. I am shocked they are still in business to be honest. read more

My favorite place in alameda love the food here very good and i stop by whenever i'm in town My favorites are Chicken teriyaki White cucumber noodles California rolls read more

For years I ate here. The food was always amazing. The chicken teriyaki and the udon were my go to meals. Always great service here! And never disappointed with anything I ordered. All around great place to eat in Alameda! read more

Kobe Ya peaked my interest the other night when I was at Hang Ten Boiler. So the next day . I jumped into my Whip Black Beauty and rolled to A town . I was able to park my Whip across the street . I street hiked to Kobe Ya . I was greeted by a Mommasan and asked what I wanted. I ordered a Tempura Handroll and a Unagi Handroll . 7 minutes later I was presented with my food . The Handrolls where good sized and the ingrediants were fresh . They tasted very good . Kobe Ya is more of a To Go place than a eat in. read more

Kobe-Ya - Temaki. Unagi. And. Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Yeup, I'm a fan. Decent food for a crazy low price! Oh and the white noodles?? Tangy, creamy, sweet, it's got bite, yum, yum. No salad please, just fill er up with noodles...reason I crave this place. I've been coming here since the 90s because it's just so cheap and fast. Main attraction is the entrees since they don't really serve up sushi and since you do get what you pay for.. I'd go for raw fish elsewhere. But seriously, this place, it is what it is. So don't come here if you're looking for crazy good sashimi or a fab shioyaki, this ain't the place...same goes for many other local japanese places in Alameda for that matter. If you were that much of a sushi know it all.... you would know not to rate this place based on that. You can't compare it to a place that charges $20 for a chirashi/entree... just doesn't make sense. Meant for the AHS kids and people who want to eat a lot for cheap. It's $5-6 for an entree that will really fill you up. To-go containers are generously packed. I've been here with 2-8 ppl over the years and we manage to squeeze in somewhere and walk out smelling like katsu for the rest of the day. It's small, cheap, fast, filling and seriously, Salmon Teriyaki for $15 down the street....same quality. Ain't A+ quality but still good nonetheless. Oh and street parking?? $0.25 for 15 minutes.......eat that downtown SF. read more

Kobe-Ya - Newer menu on the wall - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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I have been eating here for so many years I think the first time that I ate here was probably 1997 the reason why I remember this is because that was the year that I moved to Alameda. Did my last two years of high school there and this was always a go to Spot during lunch to get the Bento box. It is now 2022 and I still eat here about once or twice a month truly addicted to the sushi rolls. Been the same owners the whole time never changed never changed recipes if you like something why I go somewhere else this place I totally recommend and I will always go here until I'm no longer capable read more

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Their food is good and at an affordable price. And I love the person who owns the restaurant. She looks like a hard worker and she is working all the time. I really love supporting this restaurant! read more

So not so great.... that is to say, not horrible. But a girl has got to compare it to the awesome quality of 10 years back, when it was Japanese-owned and not now Vietnamese-owned, whereby the quality has slipped a few notches. Tonkatsu ordered. Same portions, prices have only inched higher (thank you), but the overall quality of the meat preparation and taste/texture lacks... one can spot it within a few bites compared to its glory days. What of this new Kobe-Ya business? It's been the same Vietnamese proprietors for at least a year now, T. The charm has faded... time to move on. read more

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Wanted a yummy lunch and hadn't been to Kobe-Ya in awhile but they never disappoint. Combo noodles with huge shrimp and California rolls...AMAZING!! So good to get food that satisfies your want for the food you're eating. Do yourself and your taste a big favor and try Kobe-Ya. Note, staff very friendly, not a lot of seating and when students are on lunch the wait is longer. But we'll worth it!!! read more

Shockingly good sushi. Excellent miso soup - - even a little bit spicy. And the edamame was fresh and hot. I ordered 3 teka maki (tuna rolls) and I received 3 spicy tuna rolls. But those were some outstanding roles. Storefront is void of everything. Dining area is frighteningly drab and disheveled. Walking up to this restaurant is the most uninviting experience you can imagine. And seated next to me was one of the Proprietors young daughters with a live pet bird in a styrofoam takeout container. Occasionally the bird would get loose and fly around. That's a little odd in a restaurant. All that aside, I was quite pleased with my Sushi dinner. And the price was right too. read more

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Cute little sushi spot. It's not fancy. Its just a place for you to get sushi & other foods 'to go' or 'sit in' for a little bit. I think it has a decent amount of a seating area, for a 'to go' place. If you like something with teriyaki sauce, get the teriyaki bowl! So worth getting! It's actually a really good size for a decent price. Its really filling too. At least my chicken teriyaki & rice were. :-) California roll & the New York roll were also good. My boyfriend said that the chicken curry wasn't that great though. He said it didn't even smell like it either. :-( Overall, this place is cool. Check it out! :-) read more

Kobe-Ya - Lion King roll, chicken teriyaki bowl, California roll, New York roll and chicken curry. - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Skip the sushi and get a Bahn-mi or "Vietnamese Sandwich" they have hidden in the corner. Great price at $7, good flavor. Got the Swamp Roll and was not impressed, interested to try their Bento next, but I'd skip the sushi. The rice was weirdly cooked-- too firm but the grains were also too bloated? It did hold up well in the fridge and maybe even tasted better than when I picked it up. Just moved to Alameda and am getting worried about the restaurant scene here. read more

Love this place! Not fancy but it's great food at great prices. Went here with a bunch of friends yesterday around 230pm. Was a good time because h.s. kids weren't out yet. All the food was delicious. Can't beat $1.35 miso soup, and not all broth. Will post pics. read more

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Nostalgic shop for us AHS kids. It's a small establishment for low value meals. They offer a decent variety of bento boxes and good portions for what they're worth. Their service may not be the best, but I have never had any problems with their staff. I only come here for the food, not for the experience. Chicken Katsu - breading is crunchy enough for texture but not rock hard like Hawaiian Grill Express. I can actually enjoy the chicken meat. Teriyaki Sauce - I prefer their teriyaki sauce over their katsu sauce (it's a bit too strong in flavor). read more

HAIR IN ALL OF MY CKICKEN!!!???? Say it aint so! I've posted pictures for your pleasure. Dropped in to pick up some chicken katsu and instead came home with a bunch of pube nose rat hairs with a side of chicken. After calling the owner at Kobe Ya, she acted like she did not understand me, and said to come back for a refund. I returned only to get yelled at by her and the cook. and of course they did not give me a refund. As an Alameda resident for many years, I have tried to support locally owned business's, however, I will go out of my way to protest against this sh** hole. The fact that this place is screaming filth and always empty should have been warning enough. I am disgusted and afraid for any one who eats here. BE AWARE! I HAVE REPORTED THEM TO PUBLIC AND SAFETY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. read more

Kobe-Ya - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Haven't been to Kobe-Ya since the ownership changed hands, so I thought I go back to my old stomping grounds for lunch. Not much has changed, the menu is intact with a few notable additions (Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches on the menu gives you an indication of who's running the place now) The food is still an exceptional value at decent quality. The chicken katsu at $5.80 is a small price to pay considering the portions you get. A large helping of crispy fried chicken, white rice, and sides of vermicelli noodles and green salad with mystery =) sauce. The chicken and rice are spot-on, but the sides were a bit on the salty side. (imagine a salty green salad...weird) Nonetheless, an overall average dining experience. Stars for being fast, convenient, inexpensive and bringing back a little nostalgia. read more

Kobe-Ya - Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Kobe Ya changed ownership a couple years ago and is currently operated by Vietnamese people. They did some remodeling with the ownership change but the food is not as good as in the past. They have about 5 tables, but I take-out when I order from here. The food is decent if you need a quick Japanese food fix. I usually get the chicken teriyaki bento, which includes rice, a vermicelli noodle side dish and a salad. For $5.85, it's a good value. The food order is prepared pretty quickly, so it's like a fast food joint. Though there are better sit-down Japanese restaurants in Alameda, Kobe Ya fits the bill of a fast food place. read more

Today is the last time I come here. The avocado in the avocado rolls were brown and discolored. This is not a result of oxidation. The closer was the sake roll which had salmon and avocado. First the color of the salmon was off. It was pale orange. I put it in my mouth anyway and bit into it. I immediately regretted it and spit it out. It was slimy! Gross!!! I went back to the box and sniffed. Fishy!! Too bad. I grew up patronizing this place. I returned today after being away. New owners. Good bye old friend. read more

Kobe-Ya - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I have been going to Kobe-ya for 20 years. While I have noticed the quality of food diminishing, I have continued to eat there. I hadn't been there since the Pandemic began and decided to order lunch. I was the ONLY customer, when I walked in and placed my order. I thought that she took a bit longer to prepare the food but thought that perhaps she didn't have to grease hot to fry the tempura. She gave me my food and I left. When I got home, half of the tempura vegetables were BURNT and non-edible. Obviously so. There tempura shrimp was also overcooked and chewy and had I not been extremely hungry I would have discarded it too. This will be the last time that I go to Kobe-ya. So disappointed that you had ONE customer, were not rushed and still gave me a meal that was visibly and obviously prepared wrong. read more

Ok let's set the record straight. This is a little ma and pop sushi spot so don't expect anything fancy like sushi house. It's a small establishment ran by 2 people at the most. There is seating available inside but it is limited. Meter parking is available on the street and in the tiny lot in the back. I've been coming here since I was 16, a decade ago. Their prices were always the lowest and their portions were always very generous. They offer varieties of bento boxes, sushi and curries. My favorite dish here will always be the steak teriyaki bento box with a side salad and the white cold noodles. Their sushi doesn't look too appealing but it taste pretty good. I like their lion king roll and the mini deep fried rolls you can just pop in your mouth. I've never had a problem with service here. They're always nice and always smile when giving you your food. Just a side tip: it's located right next to Alameda High School so it does get packed with high school students around their lunch time. read more

Kobe-Ya - Steak teriyaki bento box - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Been coming here since it opened many years ago. Would have to say its gone downhill a little but still OK. The customer service is pretty non-existant. Seating are is really small. We usually do take-out. We come here when we feel like quick, cheap Japanese food. Kids like the Philadelphia roll, California roll and usually the Chicken Katsu. Food is OK, not great. For a more leisurely sit-down dining Japanese experience we prefer other places on the island. OK food, inexpensive, customer service sucks. read more

I used to go to Kobe Ya back when I was in high school and back then I have never had a severe bodily reaction like today. The first time I've been back since high school with my dad to pick up something for lunch. My Dads cold noodles with his Salmon Teriyaki had a piece of glass in it. To top it off I have minor symptoms of food poisoning from the Combo Tempura (only thing I can think of would be the shrimp). I'm very saddened to have to leave this review, but something has changed since I had last been there some 6 years ago. read more