Kobe north side Restaurants
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Kobe north side
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Sannomiya north of station

Caydacira (Turkish). 078-331-0066
Great mezze, kebabs and other authentic Turkish cuisine from owner-chef Ahmet Yilmaz, all at modest prices. The cozy dining room seats 17 people. Lunch is served on weekends only, and starts at Y850; full-course dinners from Y2400.
SunKanocho 4-7-2, Alba Kitanozaka Bldg 1F. Open 5pm-11:30pm daily.
Kanemo (Izakaya). 078-331-3911
This comfortable late-night neighborhood izakaya serves excellent fish and seafood. Budget around Y5000 for dinner and drinks.
SunlateKanocho 4-10-9. Open 5pm-2:30am (LO) daily.
Kankoku Shuke (Yakiniku). 078-392-4444
Top-quality meat is grilled over the best binchotan charcoal and served with authentic Korean side dishes at this upscale yakinikuya. Dinner averages around Y6000.
SunNaka Yamate-dori 1-13-10. (S side of Yamate-kansen, just W of Kitano-zaka) Open 5-11pm (LO) daily.
Ippinshan (Chinese). 078-335-1788
Noodles, seafood stews, dim sum and other budget Cantonese fare; dinner from Y2000.
lateNaka-Yamate-dori 1-5-1. (from Ikuta Shinmichi go 2 blocks N on Higashimon, then turn right) Open 5pm-5am. Closed Sundays.
Ohnishi (Teppanyaki). 078-332-4029
An unpretentious steak house with friendly service and the feel of a neighborhood hangout. Multi-course steak dinners start at Y8000, but you can also order steak a la carte (from Y4000) as well as grilled chicken, seafood, vegetables and okonomiyaki. They also have a decent wine list that's not overpriced.
SunlateNaka-Yamate-dori 1-17-6, Kitano Phoenix 3F. Open 5pm-3am. Closed Mondays.
Tana Totsubo (Italian). 078-322-1028
This may be one of Kobe's tiniest restaurants (14 seats in all, mostly at the counter), but the kitchen turns out top-class Italian cooking built around seasonal ingredients. The wine list is quite reasonable, and wines by the glass are chosen to go with the seasonal dishes. Lunches are Y1000-3000, dinners around Y5000 with wine.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 1-7-6, White Rose Tower 3F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Denja (Sushi). 078-332-7789
Great sushi, sashimi and interesting side dishes in an attractive modern setting. (It's on the second floor, above a narrow shopping arcade.) The nigiri-zushi dinner menu is Y3500.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 1-31-33. (just a tiny door in the very narrow shopping arcade under the Hankyu tracks, between "Vivien" and "Tetto") Open 5-11pm (LO) daily.
Cafe Brugge (Belgian rest/beer bar). 078-333-0887
One of the few places in town where you can find a multiplicity of Belgian beers, in a convenient location right at the foot of Ikuta Road.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 1-1-3. (at the base of the road leading up to Tokyu Hands, at the railroad tracks) Open 11:30am-11pm daily.
Waka (Chanko-nabe). 078-321-4527
This very successful late-night chain from retired sumo wrestler Wakanohana serves modern chanko-nabe (the hearty stew eaten by sumo guys) with myriad toppings (gyoza, chicken meatballs), interesting starters, and wines as well as beer and sake.
SunlateKita-Nagasa-dori 1-9-1, B1F. Open 5pm-4am (LO); midnight Sun. daily.
Kushiya (Kushiage). 078-332-4194
This popular shop lets you cook your own kushiage skewers in a deep-fryer right at your table. It's all you can eat, including various side dishes and a big variety of skewered tidbits. Y2500 per person, with a 90-minute limit.
SunShimo-Yamate-dori 2-1-14, Arccoast Bldg. 8F. (on Ikuta-shinmichi across from Tokyu Hands) Open 4-11pm daily.
A-1 (Steak house). 078-331-8676
The interior here is far from fancy, but the steaks are good and the prices reasonable; full-course Kobe beef steak dinners start at Y6500.
SunShimo-Yamate-dori 2-2-9. (across from Washington Hotel Plaza, on Ikuta-shinmichi next to Kobe Sauna) Open noon-11pm. Closed Tuesdays.
New Mehfil (Indian). 078-321-7579
Good Indian food and plenty of atmosphere, from the tapestries on the walls to the movies playing on the video system. At lunchtime there's a Y1000 buffet.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 2-12-6, K Bldg 3F. (on W side of Ikuta Road, about 1.5 blocks south of Tokyu Hands) Open 11am-3, 5-10pm daily.
Cafe Istanbul (Turkish). 078-391-0235
Authentic Turkish cuisine (prepared by a native chef), including full-course vegetarian options. Dinner with drinks is around Y3000.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 2-9-5, 2F. Open 5pm-midnight; weekends noon-midnight daily.
Aoba (Unagi). 078-321-0339
Many eel connoisseurs consider this well-hidden shop to be the top spot in town for unagi.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 2-8-5. Open 11am-2:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Warung Bali (Indonesian). 078-321-6080
There's plenty of Balinese atmosphere in this tiny ethnic shop, from the gamelan music on the stereo to the aroma of clove cigarettes in the air. Dinner is around Y2000 (food only), weekend lunch around Y1000.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 2-4-5. Open 5-10pm (LO) daily.

Motomachi north of station (Tor Road and West)

Patous (French). 078-392-8216
A small, unpretentious dining room serving excellent traditional French fare. Lunches start at Y3000, dinners Y5000, and wines run from Y5000/bottle.
SunShimo-Yamate-dori 2-13-13. (on Tor Road, north of Ikuta-shinmichi) Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Ringer Hut (Ramen). 078-325-1250
This late-night budget ramen shop is perhaps the only place in town where you can find Nagasaki-style noodles - champon and sara-udon.
SunlateShimo-Yamate-dori 2-10-4. Open 11am-5am daily.
Vietnam Frog (Vietnamese). 078-333-1125
Stunning traditional architecture and decor and well-crafted Japanese-style Vietnamese cuisine.
SundecorKita-Nagasa-dori 2-5-8. (on the E side of Tor Road on the first block N of the JR tracks) Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily.
Salathep Tor (Thai). 078-332-7033
Great Thai cooking and friendly Thai attitude in this airy and spacious dining room. Dinner averages around Y2500.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 2-5-9, Grand Plaza Tor 8F. (on the E side of Tor Road on the first block N of the JR tracks) Open 5-11pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Miyasu (Steak house). 078-391-3088
One of Kobe's top-rated places for steaks; full-course dinners start at Y9000, or you can go a la carte.
Shimo-Yamate-dori 3-2-19. Open noon-9pm. Closed Sundays.
Gunai Yamucha (Dim sum). 078-333-7800
This popular shop serves all the dim sum you can eat - Y1200 at lunch, Y3150 at night.
SunNaka-Yamate-dori 3-5-8. (at Naka-Yamate-dori 4-chome crossing (Koikawa-suji)) Open 11:30am-3, 5-8:30pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Wan Zhu Ji (Chinese). 078-334-6760
Interesting Chinese-style ramen, dumplings and stir-fries all at very inexpensive prices from this popular chain.
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 4-4-15. (on Koikawasuji, about 3 blocks north of Motomachi station) Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-11:30pm (LO) daily.
Ippudo (Ramen). 078-335-0581
This well-known Hakata ramen shop serves thin, chewy noodles in a pork-based broth ("red" or "white"), either with or without extra chashu. Numerous condiments line the counter, including spicy bean sprouts and fresh garlic.
SunlateKita-Nagasa-dori 4-3-24. (on Koikawasuji, about 2 blocks north of Motomachi station) Open 11am-3am daily.
Nadaban Dining Kobe City (International). 078-332-8086
Chef Yamashita is the head of the local Kansai slow-food organization, and he takes his cooking seriously. It's international-style fusion with a lot of creative recipes - dishes like grilled Australian scampi with spicy yuzu-garlic sauce; Tasmanian salmon confit with salmon roe; and grilled Kagoshima chicken with Calvados. [See FULL REVIEW.]
SunKita-Nagasa-dori 3-3-5, 8F. (on Koikawasuji, diagonally across from Motomachi station) Open 5-11:30pm; weekends noon-2:30pm lunch. Open every day.

Listings continued from Kitano area (north), and continued in the South Sannomiya/Motomachi section.

See area restaurant map.
Updated 2010/01/15