KOBE Japanese Steak House

Drive down the valley’s main thoroughfare and you’ll come across a replica of a 300-year-old Asian country inn. It’s surrounded by a traditional Japanese garden with a handmade water wheel, tsukubai fountain, and koi pond — some of the colorful fish have lived here since the restaurant opened 40 years ago, about as long as many of Kobe’s regulars have been circling up with family around its teppan griddles.

A red footbridge ushers you in to the teppanyakifocused steakhouse, where chefs slice and dice delicacies at 18 communal tables while putting on a memorable show. Angus steak, lobster, tiger prawns, scallops, and halibut sizzle before your eyes while tofu-and-vegetable plates are available for those with a vegan or vegetarian diet. Kobe also has an intimate sushi bar serving sashimi and cut rolls along with house specials like blackened tuna with smelt eggs and hamachi with jalapeño and ponzu sauce. The full beverage bar, set apart from the main restaurant in a cozy izakaya atmosphere, beckons for happy hour or after-dinner drinks.

Lively family-style dining makes the restaurant a frequent choice for special occasions and has attracted luminary clientele like Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are two private rooms for special events.