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    Kobe-Ya

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

    Kobe-Ya Photos

    Business Info

    KOBE-YA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Kobe-Ya

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    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.

    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.

    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.

    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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    7 years ago

    The nastiest sushi I have ever had. The lion King was utter trash plus the imitation crab tasted old. Do not waste your money on this place.

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    20 years ago

    It is so beautiful to see something fulfilling its potential. I'm proud of this little-engine-that-could, Japanese fast food joint.

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    5 years ago

    Kobe-Ya is an important Alamedan institution that we must protect!

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    Page 2 of 6

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    Hayashi Japanese Cuisine

    Hayashi Japanese Cuisine

    3.7
    (86 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    When: Weekday dinner What: Pork Belly Don, and Beef Udon…read moreExperience: Find the food here being a mix of Japanese and Chinese food. I did not have any sushi so I won't be able to comment on that. Pork Belly Don was on the fatty side for my preference so end up needing to cut fat portions out before eating. Which is fine with me since I know there may be people who would like it. However, the taste was a little too salty and it did taste a little towards soy sauce pork belly, with the only difference that theirs is also very garlicky. Beef udon had reasonable udon though the beef was lacking in flavor. The beef meat could use some light seasoning before cooking so that it's more appealing vs being bland. Good customer service. Granted we were the only one eating in, while there were people doing take outs, they had good customer service. We left an item and didn't even notice, but they called us from our reservation info to get the item back to us - which I appreciate a lot. Due to being the only people eating in, it was on the quieter side with music playing in the background.

    I had a deep craving for some Sushi and decided to search some places using Yelp! I stumbled upon…read morethis place, upon my arrival I noticed that the old business that once lived here was no longer. To my surprise, it is now a Japanese Cuisine restaurant. Based on the reviews I decided to stop by and order a roll to satisfy my craving. Upon entry, I noticed the restaurant was fairly empty (great) and it appeared that only one employee was working at the time. The employee was pleasant he answered my questions and was quick with completing my order. My roll appeared to be made with care and I couldn't wait to dive in. To say the least my roll was A-Mazing. The ingredients tasted fresh. The roll didn't burst open as I picked it up with my chopsticks, etc. My concern is with the prices. This Japanese restaurant food items are priced really high. I paid $25 dollars for a pretty basic tempura roll. I wanted to try some other items but didn't want to leave out paying $50 for a to go meal.

    Photos
    Hayashi Japanese Cuisine
    Dining Area
    Dining Area
    Hayashi Japanese Cuisine

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    Sushi & More

    Sushi & More

    4.4
    (235 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Stopped in quickly for dinner and was very impressed! Beautiful ambience, great service, and the…read morefood was amazing! Definitely coming back to try their bento box next time! (:

    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
    Koharu Japanese Cafe

    Koharu Japanese Cafe

    4.0
    (57 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I found this place on Yelp about a year ago and have been meaning to try this place. Street parking…read morealways scares me especially during the weekend but luckily I had a Monday off and was able to find parking right across the street. It's a cute little spot and aesthetically pleasing. I believe it's a kitchen hall where multiple restaurants are combined into one? You're able to order curry, dim sum, Japanese sandwiches, bento boxes, etc in one spot. Theres indoor and outdoor seating. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and were seated where the cushion chairs were. Then we scanned a QR code on the table and started a group order/tab. I was looking for some comfort food during these gloomy days so I ordered the Japanese curry with katsu which came with miso soup. Our food was served through a robot was pretty cool! The curry was good! My total for two curries with katsu, including tax and tip came out to be about $50. I'm rating this place a 3.5 due to our table not being wiped down prior to being seated, there were crumbs on it and our server just picked some of it up but did not wipe down the table. Other cushion seat tables were also not wiped down and the cushion seats had crumbs and stains on them. A family came in and their high top table was wiped down . We also didn't have any napkins in our holder so I did have to get up and grab it from another table. But I would come back and try this place again, maybe during the weekend.

    Delicious food and great service. I don't know how we've missed this place in all the times we've…read morevisited alameda, but is definitely going to be on our weekly rotation. We got the curry rice with chicken katsu and the tempura udon. The portions are huge -- especially the curry. You could feed at least two with the meal we were served. The tempura is hit and fresh, and the udon noodles are delicious. Gilbert, the owner, is super friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is open and bright. We will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Koharu Japanese Cafe
    Our delicious bento sets and sandos!
    Our delicious bento sets and sandos!
    Our Kurobuta Katsu Sando on Acme Bread ($14.95) a customer favorite!

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    Our Kurobuta Katsu Sando on Acme Bread ($14.95) a customer favorite!
    Sushi House

    Sushi House

    3.2
    (4.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I've had this spot bookmarked for years and finally got to try it for my daughters sweet 16 let's…read moreget into it . It's right by the alameda beach in a plaza so there's plenty of parking . When I walked in they have a kiosk to put yourself on the reserve list for seating . Lucky for us it wasn't crowded so we were seated immediately. Inside is big and roomy so you can definitely bring a large party here or just a date night . Our waiter was very nice plus all the staff were accommodating. I always get sashimi but I got to have my uni ( sea urchin ) craving knocked out ! They were plump and sweet but still had that fresh ocean taste omg ! Amazing . Salmon sashimi was nice thick cuts and melted like butter . For the roll the waiter recommended the island roll and it was pretty good ! I also got oysters ( kinda on the smaller side ) but still were fresh and the sauce they give to go with it was a nice touch . We also got the chicken teriyaki sushi combo which comes with Cali rolls and nigiri . The cuts on the nigiri were big as well ( but didn't taste as fresh as the salmon nigiri ) and they were gracious with the amount of tobiko they top the Rolls with . miso soup and salad was good . Overall I would definitely come back to try other rolls they have a lot of speciality rolls ! And if you like uni like me , definitely they got you covered !

    The food is good The service is okay…read more The ambiance is pleasant and it is right across the street from the beach so there is a nice view. I like to get their lion king roll!

    Photos
    Sashimi Boat
    Sashimi Boat
    Sushi House
    Inside of the samurai

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    Inside of the samurai
    Sakura Restaurant

    Sakura Restaurant

    3.7
    (306 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Parking: street parking only Entrance: big signs, various…read morepicture menu in front Interior: well lit, high ceiling, no steps, flat floors easy to walk/ roll wheelchair or strollers, table and seats or booth available, baby chairs available Service: friendly, helpful, knowledgeable Food: Fresh, tasty and flavorful Weekday 2pm, lunch rush ended but still so clean and organized Restroom is slightly dim lit but clean

    Came here for dinner on a Sunday night and the place wasn't busy. Parking can be tricky to find but…read moreit's easier to find on the less busy side streets. Once seated, you'll get served either tea or water. The staff were nice and efficient with seating and taking orders. We ordered: - grilled whole squid: such a great appetizer! The presentation was nice, highlighting the shape of the whole squid. The squid was cooked perf with a chewy texture. Also, it had an aromatic charred flavor but was not burnt at all! The dipping sauce was a slightly sour vinegar, but it goes well with soy sauce also. - black dragon: contains tempura shrimp, cucumber top w/unagi, avocado. The cucumbers and avocados were fresh with the cucumber and tempura shrimp adding a nice crunchy flavor. - orange blossom: contains tuna, avocado, salmon, tobiko. The presentation was unique and the sushi was held up well with the salmon wrapped on the outside. Very generous and thick slices of salmon! - lion king: contains imitation crab, cucumber, top baked salmon, unagi sauce, mayo, tobiko. A classic option that you can't go wrong with! The sauce was just enough since I usually prefer when the roll is not drenched in sauce and you can taste the salmon. Overall, this sushi spot is my go to in the area! The staff are nice and attentive with service. The fish was fresh and the rolls contained a generous amount of ingredients. Will def come back when craving sushi!

    Photos
    High ceiling, colorful interior, well lit
    High ceiling, colorful interior, well lit
    More oysters..... :)
    More oysters..... :)
    I know, I'm addicted to oysters, but there are worse vices...

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    I know, I'm addicted to oysters, but there are worse vices...
    Yojimbo

    Yojimbo

    3.9
    (1.8k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    fire ambiance, good food, great service…read more would come everyday if i could

    This is more of a novelty themed restaurant to enjoy anime/manga figures and art. If you want real…read moreauthentic amazing Japanese food, I would go somewhere else. Japanese is my fav, and I have high standards for Japanese food and the food did not impress me sadly. Service was attentive though (the staff kept coming by several times to ask us if we were ok) and they gave us complimentary salad and cream puffs. If you want the most bang for your buck, I'd opt for the bento box options, as portions look big. We ended up ordering a couple rolls (which is clearly not authentic japanese food, and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about). I was trying to avoid all the imitation crab meat, so we ordered the Cowboy Bebop & the Mad Max rolls. But sadly there was imitation crab meat in the cowboy bebop which was a letdown. The Mad Max was pretty good though, I enjoyed how that one included pieces of tuna on the bottom. However, both rolls kept falling apart when trying to eat with chopsticks. Cream puffs were a nice treat to end the meal. I was largely underwhelmed by the menu and the food so I doubt I'll be back. But I was happy to finally check this off my list of places I wanted to visit. Its definitely a fun and decent place for food if you're not a big japanese food connoisseur and if you enjoy anime/art.

    Photos
    Yojimbo
    Chirashi Donburi
    Chirashi Donburi
    Donut with whipped cream cheese filling

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    Donut with whipped cream cheese filling
    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    4.1
    (195 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    Marugame Udon is such an easy, fast, and satisfying meal any time of day…read more There are so many options to choose from, but I always stick with my go-to: bukkake udon--simple noodles with soup, and it never disappoints. I love that you can now scoop as much tempura flakes and green onions as you want, which makes it even better. The tempura selection is huge, so you really can't go wrong no matter what you pick. Big fan of the self-serve tempura sauce and ginger too--it's nice being able to customize everything exactly how you like it. They've got plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, which makes it convenient whether you're dining in or just grabbing a quick bite. Quick, customizable, and consistently good--definitely a solid go-to spot!

    When the cat away, the mice shall... apparently do as little as possible…read more Masquerading as an elevated udon or ramen shop, it leaves, well, just about everything to be desired about the art and craft of Japanese noodles. Simply making noodles in the house is not a substitute for quality and care. The lack of care, attentiveness, and enthusiasm is clear before you sit down. Bathrooms have graffiti and were unkempt, the tables needed to be wiped down, and the garbage bins in the restaurant were overflowing. On the counter service: each order in the line is fulfilled by a single server, but the layout makes this cumbersome and time-consuming for the staff (the server is also tasked with replenishing the broth and other serving containers). Apparently roles are sufficiently regimented that even when there's a long line, other staff members do not step in to assist or expedite the serving process. (We waited 20 minutes to order, with five people ahead of us; probably unusual, but demonstrates the issue). The noodles were solid, but all else unmemorable and average at best. With so many independent craft ramen restaurants offering an honest and genuine approach to this style of food (at comparable prices), why not consider one of these options? Don't be hoodwinked by the fresh-made noodles and fresh-batter tempura. They feel like a hooks to get you in the door, and they don't make up for the experience. A chain restaurant with an absentee owner is not uncommon, but there's always a hope that someone working there might make your meal memorable for a reason other than its disappointment. Owners: take a moment to ask the staff and customers what could make this a better experience for your team and diners. You might learn quite a bit inspire yourself more of this type of public feedback

    Photos
    Marugame Udon
    Marugame Udon
    Marugame Udon

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    WAKI Japanese Cuisine

    WAKI Japanese Cuisine

    4.5
    (264 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    This is becoming my favorite sushi restaurant. Too bad it is so far from my house. Once in a while,…read morei do make the trip just for their sushi. Their sashimi are cut thick with an excellent mouth feel. Waki is the only place i would order uni. Their Hokkaido uni does not taste like a pouch of sea water like many other places. It actually got texture and taste. The tempura was fried to perfection. I wish it is closer to where i live. Definitely will be back.

    Tl;Dr - Decent sushi in an otherwise non-sushi heavy town. Decent Japanese options, humble service,…read moreoverall pretty good if you in town for an evening. So admittedly I came here twice by accident because I forgot being here the first time. My wife and I will come into town there and again to hang out in Alameda and when we do, this is one of the better restaurants in town. Seems to me its a family operation, service is warm and friendly. Ambiance is laid back, cafe style. The menu has all the typical fare, I got the teryaki salmon meal both times and it was pretty good. Could use a little more sauce but you can always ask and I'm sure they'd be happy to provide at no charge. Also got the salmon collar which was particularly good. Prices are a little high for the area, but I would expect that given there's not a lot of sushi around, so they deserve the bump. 10$/nigiri though on some salmon is a *sconch* too high, they should do this a bit smarter. Only big things for me is just keep the hot sake HOT, it was mildly warm when I got mine, but this a common gripe I say about tons of places so not really gonna make a big deal about it. I'm on a mission to get house hot sake hotter across these lands. All in all, comparatively its great for Alameda, but would not stack up at these prices anywhere in Oakland, or SF. An excellent option of convenience if you don't feel like traveling.

    Photos
    Beautiful dining room
    Beautiful dining room
    Venus Roll
    Venus Roll
    Ika Geso (Squid) Karage

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    Ika Geso (Squid) Karage

    Kobe-Ya - japanese - Updated August 2026

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