The first thing I noticed while reading Kobeyaki’s menu is the number of vegetarian items they offer. The roll, bowl, and salad categories all contain at least one option rooted in vegetables and/or tofu(unfortunately, there aren’t any meatless burgers available as of yet). Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the veggie-friendly fare! There is an adequate amount of seating in the restaurant, though it does cater more towards the to-go crowd. Upon selecting and paying for your food at the register, the cashier hands you a device with a number on it that buzzes when your food is ready. You then pick it up at the kitchen window to the left of the register. During this particular visit, I went with the grilled vegetable roll($ 8.27); this gigantic sushi roll features tempura sweet potato, carrot, zucchini, avocado, miso onions, scallions, and Kobeyaki’s special sauce. Like I said, the portion is huge, but it’s so good that I didn’t have any trouble finishing the entire meal. While placing my order, I had requested soy sauce on the side. It turned out that I didn’t even need to open the extra topping because Kobeyaki’s sauce was fantastic as is. In addition, all of the roll’s components were so flavorful that they complemented each other and held their own, especially the tempura sweet potato. Sadly, the dish fell apart(quite literally) upon eating it. The roll itself wasn’t tightly packed, and its individual pieces were so large and unwieldy that it was impossible to eat with chopsticks. Every time I attempted to pick it up, it immediately broke apart and the ingredients ended up right back on the plate. It was a bit frustrating, but I still enjoyed it and would order it again. I haven’t tried the other locations of the fast casual chain, but assuming they’re as great as this spot in Chelsea, I’d definitely recommend Kobeyaki to those in search of quick, high-quality Japanese cuisine!
Wilda R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 New York, NY
The teriyaki dish with steamed tofu and vegetables is delish! I’m a huge ramen lover so I wish their ramen dish had a vegan or vegetarian option. Unfortunately it has pork pieces and pork broth — a veggie broth option w/tofu would be ideal & draw so many more veggie lovers to Kobeyaki. Other than that, the ramen addition to the teriyaki tofu and veggies makes for a nice substitute dish. You can’t beat the quality for the price and the staff is über friendly.
Michael W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Las Condes, Chile
Quite confusing, but I’d say in a good way. Very American food with Japanese-inspired«twist.» Not authentic to either style at all — it’s exactly what you would expect from this kind of fusion place, but it’s done well.
Jillian C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Manhattan, NY
We are finding that the Kobeyaki app on our smartphones is getting much better these days.
Brittany P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Auburn, CA
I tried the Kobeyaki burger and the Spicy Tuna roll. Both amazing! The burger reminded me of my favorite pizza(Thai chicken pizza from CPK). Everything about the burger was well executed; the bun was firm but not crunchy, the patty(medium) was flavorful, the toppings were unexpectedly complimentary and the sauce was just the perfect glue for a great Japanese fusion burger. The Spicy Tuna roll had a great sauce combo. Avocado on the inside and Tuna on top. The cashier was a girl with glasses, she was very nice and accommodating. The inside is easy on the eye, modern and clean. I would definitely recommend Kobeyaki to anyone looking to try something new.
Mallory L.
Rating des Ortes: 3 San Francisco, CA
Not much of an ambience. Just a fast food joint. I tried one of the burgers,(I think it was the chicken one) which sounded unique. Actually, all the burgers sound pretty unique with interesting combinations of toppings. However, I was pretty underwhelmed by my food. It was ok but really nothing stood out. I saw that people wrote about the tempura sweet potato fries. Too bad I don’t like sweet potato.
Xiao Ling Z.
Rating des Ortes: 4 MIDDLE VLG, NY
Per the advice of my friend who insisted that we grab lunch here instead of Wasabi AND that this was his favorite place in the world, I reluctantly agreed(just kidding, I had no preference). The décor of this place was interesting… but I was really here to grab food and run. Oh my goodness, GETTHEKOBEYAKIBURGER(if you’re into meat and that sort of thing). There is so much juice and flavor in that baby… –mouth watering– I also ordered the sweet potato fries(since my friend ordered a burger and udon, which is a crazy amount of food for one tiny tiny man). You have a nice selection of dipping sauces for the fries 1. Spicy Mayo 2. Wasabi Mayo 3. Teriyaki Ketchup. I got the Wasabi Mayo. It was great, I just couldn’t stop tearing up because Wasabi does that to me. However, I was unable to finish my fries due to how full I was(and that’s disappointing because I LOVEFRIES). But they were nice and crispy, the way I expect my sweet potato fries to be. They have other dishes, which reminded me of chipotle… but I cannot give you an opinion since I did not try it.
Mark C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Toms River, NJ
I was really pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the food so much. It’s a made to order, Japanese fast food place. Think Chipotle with a Japanese twist. I ordered the Kobeyaki burger with the tempura sweet potato fries, but got to try a bite of the tuna burger, soft shell crab bun, and some seaweed salad. The crab bun was the biggest surprise in terms of great taste. I think I’ll have to try that next time. The tempura sweet potato fries were really crispy, and everyone loved sharing from my bag so much that my order was gone before I really had a chance to have more than a couple. Haha, I guess I should have ordered two since we were sharing. Definitely give this place a try for a quick, affordable meal.
J W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Forest Hills, NY
This spot is a fast food restaurant with really amazing burgers, sweet potato fries, and some of the appetizers. They’re tasty and nicely packaged with a few variety of self serving condiments(sweet potato fries + spicy mayo = sooooooo good). When I used to work nearby, I used to go every other week. Unlike most other burgers, I don’t feel fat and greased out. It has just enough flavor to not make you feel nauseous after eating. Really hits the spot. I can’t say everything else is good. For example, I would probabaly never order the ramen, as it’s not their specialty. If I wanted ramen, I would go to a ramen restaurant. Being a fast food restaurant, I’m not sure why people would try to compare it with some fancy restaurant that have fancy bathrooms. It’s great for a quick bite, not really meant for a romantic date or anything.
A K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Clifton, NJ
Japanese fast food. Burgers, soup, sushi, beer… You cannot go wrong with the choices. Great quick service.
Cory B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Vancouver, Canada
Stopped in for a quick lunch while exploring the city with my financé. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. We waited about 5 minutes for What we ordered: 1. Grilled Chicken Bowl with Udon Noodles and a Yuenglang Beer 2. Grilled Veggie Bowl with Brown Rice 3. Two green Teas I can see how this place gets packed for the lunch rush. It was quite good, tasted as expected, and my udon noodles carried the sauce beautifully to my mouth. The chicken was moist, tender, with cute little char marks. I was disappointed that the cashier/server forgot to give me a beer after I ordered one. And the green teas took a second reminder. Had it been busy, I would’ve let it slide. However, it was not busy and he was on his phone until I approached him. Overall I would make this definite cheap lunch or dinner spot for those in the Chelsea neighborhood.
Bethany W.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Bellaire, TX
I came here on the tail end of my week long burger craving craze and I was still hankering for a good meaty burger. I think this dinner ended that craving, but not because it was beefy enough to fill my craving. Instead, it was lacking everything I wanted and made me remember that no burger up here can live up to the glorious cows of Texas. When I first walked past Kobeyaki, I thought the idea was so clever — if teriyaki beef is delicious, why wouldn’t a teriyaki burger be? When my burger came(wrapped up in a cute Asian bun shape), however, I was let down. I couldn’t taste any teriyaki flavor at all in the patty. The slaw on top seems more like extraneous carrot and cabbage slices that don’t do much to add flavor(some sort of mayonnaise sauce or maybe pickling them could add a nice level to the burger). Overall, I was left disappointed in a burger with a small patty which lacked both the teriyaki and the beef flavor I was longing for. The only plus side is the unlimited wasabi and spicy mayo they have at the condiment bar. I found myself pouring on the spicy mayo in a desperate attempt to add flavor to my burger.
Owen T.
Rating des Ortes: 3 New York, NY
A bit on the pricey end for a quick bite. Rolls, bowls, burgers, and buns are their game! I got a steak rice bowl with a bunch of veggies in it. It seemed like simple stir fry, but nothing special. If I’m ever in the mood to venture back, I’ll probably try one of the other options, but I’m not itching to come back any time soon.
Bhavi A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Arlington, VA
No matter what you get here, make sure to pair it with the sweet potato tempura fries. They are amazing with siracha, teriyaki ketchup, spicy mayo, and the wasabi mayo! If you don’t like anything here(which is almost impossible), just drown it in these condiments and you’ll be good to go!
Heather L.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Winter Park, FL
This was a decent place to grab a quick lunch. Kind of like a chipotle with their options, but without being able to see the food being made :(. They did offer gluten free soy sauce and made my rice bowl without sauce which was a huge plus. The guy running the counter was nice enough and explained the menu. Definitely not bad, but definitely not something that will have me coming back for more.
Art C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 New York, NY
Great little lunch place in Chelsea! Of all the options in the area we think this will be our go-to lunch spot. Why? First, great food. We had the chicken udon noodles, beef rice bowl, and the pork bun. All excellent with just the right proportion of protein, starch, and vegetables. We actually felt like we were eating healthy for once(not counting the pork bun– it was delicious porky fatty goodness). Add in a nice casual atmosphere, pleasant service, decent prices, with hearty portions and I think we have a winner.
Nicole B.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Boston, MA
I’d give Kobeyaki 3.5 stars if I could. This is basically a Japanese«Chipotle style» fast casual restaurant. I ordered the veggie bowl with tofu, which was decent, but the tempura fries were delicious! I’d go back to try some of the noodle bowls or burgers.
Boris D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Paris
Une espèce de fast-food asiatique. C’était trop bien ! Pas trop cher et avec un choix sypathique de plats traditionnels asiatiques, essentiellement basés sur le riz ou les pâtes, évidemment. J’ai pris une salade d’algues et des yaki-udon, un plat de nouilles sautées. Seul bémol, c’était un peu épicé, mais ça passait quand même plutôt bien. Je connaissais pas ce restaurant, je né sais pas si c’est une chaîné, mais en tout cas très bonne surprise et une alternative plus healthy que le McDo, that’s for sure, dawg!
Tyler B.
Rating des Ortes: 3 West Hollywood, CA
It’s ok for the price. The chicken bowl was decent but overly sauced. It reminded me of Chinese food in the mall food court. The tuna roll was huge and the tuna fresh. The rice was overwhelming and tasted like it came out of a package. While it wasn’t amazing, it’s fairly priced and quick. I’d go back if in the area.
Zei K.
Rating des Ortes: 2 New York, NY
Let me be straightforward about why 2 stars. The pork in the ramen noodle soup was raw. Not completely but enough to where it was pretty concerning and because of that I didn’t finish the rest. Pork is not one of those foods you can eat raw because of tapeworms and those are scary Other than that, the sweet potato fries were good and the chicken burger with coleslaw Was pretty good too. Maybe this was a rare occasion but I don’t think I will be back. Go to Ajisen Ramen around the corner instead for excellent sushis and ramen.
Matt B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 New York, NY
Kobeyaki’s a four-star spot, it’s clear; The food is really just that great here. Flavorful meat and vegetable bowls, Fresh burgers, soups and sushi rolls. The average price is ten dollars a meal, For portions so ample, ten is a steal. It’s a midtown lunch spot but we came for dinner, I would come back, this place is a winner.
Christian F.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Wilmersdorf, Berlin
Ganz trendiges quasi Selbstbedienungsrestaurant mit sehr guten japanisch orientierten Speisen– und Getränkeangebot. Zwar nicht ganz billig, aber die Qualität der Speisen rechtfertigt das. Man bestellt und bezahlt zuerst an einer Theke wie bei einem Fast Food, bekommt einen Buzzer, der einen nach kurzer Zeit an ein Ausgabefenster ruft. Das klappt ausgezeichnet. Die Tische sind etwas spartanisch, aber sauber. Insgesamt sehr guter Gesamteindruck. Das Menü umfasst Sushi, Reisgerichte und Burger mit Pommes frittes. Das Lokal ist landesübliche auf Kühlschranktemperatur runterklimatisiert.
Michael Z.
Rating des Ortes: 5 München, Bayern
Super leckerere Crossover Burger. Für mich ein Highlight nach dem ganzen Burger Einheitsbrei. Preis & Leistung für dieses Fastfood ist Ausgezeichnet. Ich muss noch mal hin den Tuna Burger probieren. Nachtrag: Tunaburger auch gut, aber der Beefburger ist um einiges besser. Den Udon haben wir auch probiert ist ok hab ich aber schon besser gegessen ist ein bisschen überwürzt.