Contents
Moriya Butcher Shop
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $
Moriya Butcher Shop is a must-visit Kobe food destination, definitely among the top three. Originally a butcher shop, Moriya has gained fame for its croquettes sold at a small window beside the store. Their croquettes are delicious and affordable, making it a well-known spot for this treat. The most popular item on the menu is the domestic beef croquette, priced at just 90 yen, which is a great deal. The top two items are beef, followed by black pork.
We tried the top three: one beef croquette made simply with minced beef and potato, another with added onion, and finally the black pork croquette. After tasting all three, my favorite was the second beef option with onions.
Sannomiya Ikkanro
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $
Located at the end of the Motomachi shopping street, the buns at Sannomiya Ikkanro are another famous snack in Kobe. Normally, I'm not a big fan of Chinese food in Japan, but I decided to try it anyway. The freshly steamed pork buns were decent.
- Hotel search. Booking / Agoda
- Activities & tickets. KKday / TripAdvisor
- Travel credit cards (US only). My card picks + beginner tips
Nishimura Coffee Shop
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
After a long day, don’t forget to experience Kobe's Western-style charm. Nishimura Coffee Shop, located in Motomachi, is a quiet spot mostly frequented by locals. Their signature coffee cups, made of Arita porcelain, have been in use since the cafe opened, adding a touch of history to the experience.
Kobe Beef Teppanyaki – Ishida
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$$$$
When in Kobe, you can’t miss out on Kobe beef. We made an online reservation ahead of time for the famous teppanyaki restaurant Ishida.
We visited the Ishida Kitanozaka branch in the early evening, arriving just as they opened. Our seats were ready, and we had pre-ordered the meal. Be prepared—eating Kobe beef is expensive no matter what you order. Since this was a special occasion, we went all out and ordered the top-tier fillet and sirloin set. The marbling on the Kobe beef was beautiful, and it truly melted in your mouth, unlike any other beef I've ever had. Even the fried rice at the end was incredibly tasty, leaving us fully satisfied.
We filmed the entire cooking process, and the chef even explained things to us in English while preparing the meal.
Kikucho Akashiyaki
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
Kikucho Akashiyaki was one of the most memorable food experiences I had in the Kansai region. Akashiyaki is quite famous in Kobe, although not as well-known as Osaka’s takoyaki. Kikucho, located on Kitanozaka, is a popular Akashiyaki restaurant with a small interior, so expect to wait in line. During our wait, we saw a steady stream of locals coming to order takeout, a testament to the restaurant’s popularity.
Akashiyaki is soft and looks somewhat like takoyaki. At Kikucho, you can order different fillings like octopus and shrimp. The proper way to eat it is to dip it in a bowl of broth before eating. The Akashiyaki absorbs the broth and tastes amazing—like a steamed egg dish filled with octopus and shrimp,
I initially came just to try something new but ended up loving it. I’ll definitely return the next time I visit Kobe.
Torikizoku Yakiniku
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
We ended up at Torikizoku, a chain yakitori restaurant, without much planning. Feeling like some grilled skewers at night, we stumbled upon the Sannomiya branch and decided to give it a try. Although I love grilled chicken skewers, I didn’t expect much from a budget chain. However, Torikizoku really surprised me—it's both affordable and delicious. Every skewer is priced at 280 yen, so we didn’t hold back and ordered almost every chicken skewer on the menu. The salt-grilled chicken thigh skewers were especially good, so we ordered two more.
Yazawa Kobe Beef Ramen
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$
If you're not in the mood for an expensive Kobe beef steak, why not try Kobe beef ramen instead? Yazawa specializes in Kobe beef ramen, which is a unique experience. We ordered the salt-based broth and the seasonal herbal broth. The beef itself was good, but the broth was fairly average.
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