Press PLAY below to hear Emilia’s review

When you walk into Kobe you’ll notice it’s split in two, sharing a lobby – it’s both a Japanese restaurant on one side and a teppanyaki restaurant on the other side. It’s in a strip of shops just off Blackburn Road.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I love the little hidden gems that only those in a 5km radius know about. When I drive past a strip of shops/restaurants in the suburbs I wonder … “whose favourite restaurant is in one of these shops? Whose Friday nights are spent walking down to get take away? Whose birthdays have been spent in one of these shop windows”. It’s the small businesses like Kobe that build local communities.

Let’s get into the review, the word teppanyaki is derived from teppan, the metal plate on which it is cooked, and yaki, which means grilled, broiled, or pan-fried. Not naming names but I’ve been to some expensive teppanyaki in the past and we always come back to Kobe – it’s reliable, fresh and always full of joy.

Despite being invented in Osaka, you wouldn’t consider teppanyaki traditional Japanese, in fact, when you think about it it’s quite the antithesis of Japanese culture. Japanese people are known for being polite, traditional and a little shy whilst teppanyaki is vivacious, loud and immediate. What they both have in common though is the performance of it all, the personality.

If you haven’t been to teppanyaki before, imagine up to 10 people gathered around a large hot plate. Your chef stands on the inside of the grill and cooks a variation of meats, vege and rice for you. They’re generally part chef, part performer and chat to you throughout whilst telling stories, flipping ingredients and (if you comply) even throw the food for you to catch in your mouth or in a bowl.

Our chef was Howard, he delighted us with musical equipment, quick chopping and fabulous stories like the time he flicked egg into someone’s throat and had to go around to give him the Heimlich maneuver whilst his mates cried with laughter.

We chose the Kobe menu, at $70 a head it’s not the cheapest night out but easily justifiable with entrees and desserts included, BYO wine and a full drinks menu also available. There’s a choice of signature, seafood, wagyu, Kobe and meat lovers as well as a $45 option for kids. On the Kobe menu you get: garlic chips, fried potato, miso soup, King Prawn, White fish fillet, Chicken Maryland, Eye fillet steak, assorted vege and fried rice.

I highly recommend having the grilled prawn head when asked, they leave it on the grill throughout all the cooking and when you get to the end you’re left with a delicious, crunchy bite.

My favourite was the fish, they keep it seasonal and whatever is market fresh. So, this week we got Basa- beautifully crispy on the outside and still creamy on the inside.

The food at Kobe is always so wonderfully fresh – not just because it’s just been cooking right in front of you, but you can really taste how fresh the produce is. From the seafood to the steak, each element is bursting with smoky flavour.

If you’re someone who likes to sit up on the bar and watch your food get made, teppanyaki is for you. Being able to see each step and the skill that goes into making your food makes you enjoy it and savour it just that little bit more. Don’t think about the oil that goes into it though, when in Rome.

They have an extensive drinks list as well so you can really enjoy yourself, as well as BYO wine list. I tried two different sakes: A Kawaii Shiroi Litchi – a lychee sake; almost milky, perfect for a hot day and a IppinYuzu Sake – Japanese Limoncello.

Some tips:

Come hungry, you’ll roll out the door and leave having had some laughter therapy.

There’s parking available underground for free after 6pm.

Say yes to the games, when else do you get to play with food? Just do it.

Do be careful if you’re drinking sake. Some are up to 15% alcohol, so two can put you over if you’re driving.

Book for teppanyaki