Kobe Express Aims to Impress

 

 

Location: 4450 Highway 17 Unit D7, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Phone: 843-651-3867
Offers: Dine-in, Take out 
Signature Dishes: Teriyaki Chicken, Hibachi Filet Mignon
Cuisine: Japanese cuisine
Year of establishment: 2006

Murrels Inlet is the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, and has a cluster of seafood and barbeque restaurants. Murrels Inlet can also boast about having something for Japanese food fans after Kobe Express opened in 2006.

Before taking over this restaurant, owner Jason Zhao did a thorough investigation, researching local demographics and their dining preferences. Through this research he learned that people in Murrels Inlet have a strong passion for Japanese food. Thus in 2006, Mr. Zhao took over the restaurant, and shifted the focus to Japanese cuisine.

As a take out eatery, the restaurant doesn’t rely on hokey gimmicks or flattering décor. The restaurant is remodeled to feel like other takeout eateries that can be found in the surrounding area. It has decorative Japanese inspired pictures, neat table settings, and potted plants which adorn the restaurant.

Being adjacent to the sea, this area is blessed with a large selection of fresh seafood, providing Kobe Express with the means to include a wide variety of delicious seafood on the menu. There are a host of fresh options at Kobe Express including tuna, eel, salmon, and more. The menu covers a wide range of Japanese food, consisting of bowls, hibachi, noodles and teriyaki. Topping the lengthy list of menu items are more than 20 kinds of sushi, made to order, including the traditional California Roll, Soft Shell Crab Roll, Philly Roll, and Boston Roll. There are also some combos to choose from, e.g., the Lily (8 pcs of sushi), Rose (1 pc of sushi & 6 pcs California Rolls), Tuna Boy, and Salmon Boy. They are beautiful presentations with very attractive names. You may also want to order sushi for large parties. Try the Shogun (32pcs, $24.99), Ocean Garden (64pcs, $37.99) and Emperor (76pcs, $49.99).

In addition to the numerous sushi choices, the entrées Teriyaki Chicken and Hibachi Filet Mignon are surefire crowd pleasers. Teriyaki Chicken is a popular dish that is flavored with teriyaki sauce. Kobe Express’s chef approaches it in another way: fry the chicken on the teriyaki iron till medium well, then flavor with seasonings and teriyaki sauce. The green and red peppers serve as a beautiful garnishment resulting in a delectable concoction of chicken chunks doused with pungent yet sweet teriyaki sauce.

Hibachi Filet Mignon is another dish that Mr. Zhao strongly recommends. The beef filet is fried until tender and moist. It is presented on the sizzling plate, and it adds zing to the dish.

There are some combinations, such as an order of Hibachi Shrimp and Teriyaki Chicken which are reasonably priced at $ 6.75. On top of that you can also customize your meal, e.g., changing the Teriyaki Chicken to scallop. Their attentive staff will try their best to cater your meal to your requirements.

People today tend to be more aware of their health, and they care more about what is in the food they eat. To catch up with the current healthy dining trend and provide diners with a healthy dining experience, the chef at Kobe Express uses no MSG, and only a little salt or oil.

Food quality comes to mind when it comes to choosing a restaurant, and it is really a tough task to deal with. Mr. Zhao keeps it in mind and considers freshness as the first priority, thus he tries to source the ingredients on a daily basis, “to keep the dish fresh,” explains Mr. Zhao.

Great skill is needed to make the dish a perfect combination of color, aroma, taste and presentation, especially for Japanese dishes, the so-called “edible art”. Mr. Zhao has eight years of experience under his belt, and knows the essence of Japanese cooking.

“I insist on providing customers with quality food and I try to instill this concept into our management,” says Mr. Zhao.

You will never have to wait a long time for food at Kobe Express. The chef prepares orders within 10 minutes, and makes sure that it is well packed.

The phrase “customers are the kings” rings loud in the restaurant industry. Mr. Zhao also knows it well. At Kobe Express, customers are treated with respect. The friendly and knowledgeable staff also provides helpful suggestions when diners are not sure what to order. Dedication to detail is apparent in all aspects of the dining experience. 

Mr. Zhao is eager to add some new creative dishes for the sweltering summer. Kobe Express is a charming eatery that is definitely worth a visit.