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    Kobe-Ya

    3.1 (201 reviews)
    InexpensiveJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Kobe-Ya Photos

    Business Info

    KOBE-YA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kobe-Ya

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    Reviews With Photos - Kobe-Ya

    Inside
    Mel S.

    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.

    Menu - 4/2023
    Francois T.

    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.

    Menu as of Aug '24
    Ken T.

    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.

    Chicken Teriyaki with California Roll
    Angela W.

    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!

    Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Katsui
    Luan N.

    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.

    New prices 4/2023
    Con C.

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

    Menu
    Elisha S.

    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..

    Spicy Tuna Mayo, a side of ginger. We found a bug in our food.
    Priscilla V.

    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.

    Temaki.  Unagi.  And.   Tempura

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    Photo of Janice M.
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    6 months ago

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

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    9 months ago

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

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

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    Page 1 of 6

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    Kuidaore Handroll Bar

    Kuidaore Handroll Bar

    4.5
    (132 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Tried this place on Saturday afternoon when I was at Jack London Square with my family. It was…read morepretty good. Ordered the 3 roll lunch special along with 2 extra California rolls. The handrolls tasted fresh and delicious. The servers and the chef were both really polite and provided good service. I was satisfied with my lunch and I would be happy to come here again when I am in the neck of the woods.

    We went to Kuidaore Hand Roll Bar for dinner and overall had a really nice experience. The staff…read morewas incredibly sweet, welcoming, and especially considerate about my allergies. I had a few dietary restrictions, and they were patient, accommodating, and made me feel comfortable ordering, which I really appreciated. The food was fresh and enjoyable, and the overall atmosphere felt relaxed and inviting. You can tell the team cares about creating a good experience for guests. The only challenge during our visit was the speed of service. It seemed like one person was handling both drink service and taking orders, even though there were additional staff members working besides the sushi chef. I think dividing responsibilities a bit differently could really help improve the flow of service and make the overall dining experience even better. That said, everyone was kind throughout the night, and we still enjoyed our dinner. With a few small adjustments, this place could really shine even more.

    Photos
    Sake cocktails
    Sake cocktails
    Salmon King (seared salmon, jalapeño, spicy aioli, unagi sauce, tobiko)
    Salmon King (seared salmon, jalapeño, spicy aioli, unagi sauce, tobiko)
    Truffle salmon

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    Truffle salmon
    Mensho

    Mensho

    4.5
    (653 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience…read more The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it!

    Unpopular opinion: wasn't my favorite. But that's all due to personal preference (aside from…read moreservice and a rocky start). The good: fresh, quality ingredients The bad: started with the host/wait list. I accidentally added my name twice for a solo diner. Host thought it was a mistake and completely removed me from the wait list and seated other parties that came in after me. Thoroughly confused - she didn't even call my name to confirm so I had to go up to her and ask. No apology either. Was seated at the counter where solo diners usually sit. Service was non existent. Server came up to me and ask "what would you like to order?" I've never been there before. No "hi my name is ... I'll be your server" nada. They're just a machine - people in people out. The ramen - broth was fine. The squiggly noodles aren't my favorite. Expected to have kernel corn but had corn ribs instead (good thing I'm good with chopsticks!) The charshu was just okay. Enoki topping was just ... aight. The nice touch was that they didn't put it in the ramen and served it on the side to preserve its crunchiness because it definitely needed the texture! It was loud, busy, and nothing spectacular about the dining scene here. $55 dollars later (ramen, 2 additional toppings, one box of sake) ... I sadly don't think it was worth it.

    Photos
    Waiting area
    Waiting area
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl
    Sushi & More

    Sushi & More

    4.4
    (232 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This is strictly a review for the ramen and udon! Tonkotsu ramen was pretty good! I'm not 100% sure…read moreif it's authentic tonkotsu, but all things considered it hit the spot on a rainy Wednesday. It was savory without being too overpoweringly salty, had two pieces of tender chashu (which is rare in this economy), and the noodles had a nice bite to it. My friend got the udon and she said it was good, although she felt the chicken was a bit bland. We got the chicken karaage as an appetizer and it was good, but the sauce definitely carried.

    This restaurant is located on a busy street in Alameda where parking is extremely limited. We like…read moreto try to find something near residential and walk, but even then it can get frustrating to find a parking spot. Once you walk into the restaurant, there's indoor and outdoor seating available. The outdoor seating is covered by a patio, and on colder days, I'm assuming they will put a heater out there? I'm not too sure, since I don't actually eat outside often. Indoor is well lit up, and has a decent amount of seating. The biggest table I have seen seats around 6 people, but can be more if you have small children I suppose. We mostly order the rolls here, and to be fair, it's a decent pricing. However, it is a hit or miss. 1. Lion King - Decent. Taste all the same everywhere you go if you ask me. 2. Deep Fried Spicy Tuna - Must have, definitely my favorite. 3. Golden Gate - More on the saucy side with imitation crab meat, it's basic. 4. Dragon Roll - Again, same anywhere you go. 5. Double Salmon Roll - Salmon on the inside, salmon on the outside. Cheaper alternative than to just getting nigiri or salmon sashimi. The customer service here is not the best in my opinion. The first time we took a friend there for his birthday, and it was terrible. The host, waiter/server, and manager disregarded us. However, a table next to us got the friendliest treatment. The type of treatment you give when you expect them to come back so you can address them by their name. The second time we've been here, the customer service was basic. No expectations, just take your order, serve, and a simple question of how is everything. Honestly, customer service could have been much more reasonable at even the most basic level. Overall, the food is ok. I wouldn't say it's like the best, but if you're here for lunch or a quick bite, it's fine.

    Photos
    Glasses and wines and sake. More on the other wall.
    Glasses and wines and sake. More on the other wall.
    Double Salmon Roll, Super California Roll, Double Hamachi Roll
    Double Salmon Roll, Super California Roll, Double Hamachi Roll
    Long day of chores ahead, got our sushi to go today

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    Long day of chores ahead, got our sushi to go today
    Yonsei Handrolls

    Yonsei Handrolls

    4.4
    (396 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    The restaurant was absolutely packed when I arrived, but luckily I was able to get squeezed in as a…read morewalk-in. While I waited, I hung out at their sister ramen restaurant next door, where Lia, the bartender, was fantastic and made the wait enjoyable. That said, reservations are definitely a good idea for my next visit! I ordered the OG Omakase set, which featured all the tried-and-true classics, and every course was beautifully prepared. My standout favorite of the night was the black cod with truffle butter, it was absolutely incredible. I also started with the miso soup, which was the perfect way to begin the meal. The cocktails were sensational. They have such a wide variety, and although I can't remember the names of the ones I ordered, my server was incredibly knowledgeable and helped me choose drinks that paired perfectly with each course. His recommendations really elevated the entire dining experience. Unfortunately, I had a show to catch across the street at the Fox Theater, so I found myself rushing through the end of my meal. The silver lining is that Yonsei is literally just steps away from the venue, making it a perfect dinner spot before a show. I'll definitely be back not only because the food and cocktails were outstanding, but because I want to fully savor the experience next time without watching the clock. Highly recommend!

    Super friendly service and a great selection of tasty rolls. Each roll comes out one at a time to…read moreensure the roasted seaweed doesn't get soggy. They have hand roll flights that are fully customizable and an option to add additional rolls if you want. 6-7 rolls was a good amount for me without being overly stuffed. Faves were def the snow crab and chive, Calabrian chili ebi (some heat to this one), the toro caviar and the miso butter cod. A little fun and interactivity rolling the hand rolls yourself and easily instagrammable. It's a small spot so our party of 11 was split between two tables but they did a great job of keeping us taken care of. They share the bathrooms with the ramen spot next door, which looks like an equally good spot to check out next time.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Salmon belly
    Salmon belly
    Snow crab

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    Snow crab
    Hashi Gawa

    Hashi Gawa

    4.3
    (514 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Lunch and service was great as usual. We pigged out and left no survivors except for a few pieces…read moreof tempura. The ladies were super attentive and very kind to my father. Elaine was on duty again and friendly as always. When it came time to leave, the other woman packed my tempura plus extra sauce! Thank you for the great food and even more spectacular service. Dealing with us and our two hour meals can't be easy. Will see you again.

    Came here on a Sunday with a reservation for 5 people and didn't really need the reservation at…read moreall. The restaurant was empty and it was definitely a shame because we really enjoyed our experience there! All 5 of us ordered the omakase and added soft shell crab, uni sashimi, and a beer. The food came out beautifully plated and they were great at keeping our hot tea cups full the entire time. The omakase was reasonably priced and pretty worth it in my opinion. It was filling and we really enjoyed the different fish. We ordered both types of uni (Santa Barbara and Hokkaido) - the Hokkaido uni was our favorite! Be sure to ask the chef for their opinion too if you can't decide. The soup and the salad with the omakase was good - the dressing for the salad was pretty yummy too, though probably could've used a tiny bit less of it! I think with all the add-ons we really ran up the bill, but it was still really good, unrushed service, and just a nice peaceful spot for our group to catch up. Overall, definitely recommend for omakase in the area and extra plus that it is in a plaza so parking isn't an issue like some of the other popular places in Alameda.

    Photos
    Hashi Gawa
    Hamachi Carpaccio
    Hamachi Carpaccio
    Sushi combo

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    Sushi combo

    Kobe-Ya - japanese - Updated July 2026

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