Bento Sushi
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Ballard8501 15th Avenue N.W.
Seattle, WA 98117 (206) 782-3000
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
29 Reviews for Bento Sushi
I am no expert on Sushi, but for the price this place really is great. I enjoy this place at least once a week, and have yet to find fault with them for anything. I could do without the flies in the interior, but I used to live in Los Angeles, so you just get used to it. This place is great, and not too expensive, compared to other Sushi places that I've tried since transplanting here in Seattle.
For sheer value, it's fine. I don't know of anywhere else where you can get 14 pieces (2 rolls) for $6.95 during dinner hours, 6 days a week.
It's gotta be 'take out' which is totally fine, since their dining area is nothin' to write home about.
The sushi is fine and when I get it to go from here, I stick to the basics like spicy tuna and the California roll.
Not bad. Not extraordinary. Just about as cheap as it gets without risking your health, and it'll do ya in a pinch..
Much like the Contour HH..
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NO! just....no.
All 4 of us got SICK after partaking of this place.
The service was terrible - our first contact was young annoyed waitress, who kept repeating what I said verbatim. Apparently MSG, Tekka and Hand Roll are foreign terms to her.
After horrid treatment, we got up and asked to do take-out, as we didn't have the time to be batted about in 85 degree heat and sip from dirty water glasses while flies partied around us.
The rude waitress left while we waited an extensive 25+ minutes for food with no other customers....however, the waitress that handed us our food was kind and thanked us.
We ATTEMPTED to consume the food within 10 minutes after the Styrofoam order was placed in our hands. No time for spoilage on our parts.
We ordered:
Kal Bi - BURNT beyond recognition. see pics.
The meat was sour, a different shade of tang, less vinegar, more roadkill. We refrained from eating it after we each tasted.
Generic chicken noodle + veggies - pretty basic hard to screw up, but it made one of our party fall ill quickly.
Albacore Nigiri (@ 3.95 each!) - Each piece had the stringy flossy flesh in it and could NOT be bitten through. Luckily, we then realized it had turned after it came close to the tastebuds and nostrils. That is the lowest of low - handing someone meat that is rancid. See pics.
Several fancy-named hand rolls - our friend ordered separately from us, and he advised he was queasy that evening.
The only things we all shared from this place were water, fish and rice.
Perchance someone forgot to wash their hands, or all the fish had turned.
One thing is correct - they give you a plethora of food.
However this is not a bonus if it is crap and not edible.
And to spend the next day cursing the place as a group of ill patrons was just the rotten cherry on top.
Health code violators for sure.
They tie the take out bags tight, but save yourself some trips to the loo, and open/inspect your order before you leave, if you insist on eating here.
So disgusted, only time on yelp I have ever hoped for -1 star.
Will now be VERY sure to spread the gospel that this place is to be avoided like the plague.
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Updated to bring this place down to 1 star!
Erik and I are regular customers to this place and we came in on Friday for our usual take-out order. There were very few orders before mine yet we waited around over a half hour for our food. Didn't bother us too much since we knew we were about to partake in a delicious sushi dinner. They even gave us some free soup for having to wait. Cool, right?
I'll tell you what's not cool. It's not cool to go in after I've paid with my debit card and manipulate the transaction to get an even bigger tip. I checked my account today and the transaction from Bento Sushi was $10 more than I had authorized.
Good job Bento Sushi for pissing off a regular customer who'll make sure to tell everyone what you did. I can safely say I won't be recommending your establishment anymore to friends and am currently scouting out another place in the neighborhood to grab some delicious take-out sushi on a Friday night. Thanks for ruining such a good thing, bitches!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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08/13/2006
This place is pretty cool. I had probably driven past this place hundreds of times and never given… Read more »
Their sushi is decent if you can put up with their god awful service. Today I called up and put in an order... and the lady said it would be 10 minutes. I arrive 10 minutes later... and it is not ready... which is no problem. Then I proceed to stand there for almost 20 minutes... when finally she is like "oh, looks like your order is ready"... it had been sitting there the whole time!!!!!! She wasn't even sorry about it! no apology. This is not an isolated incident either... I've had much trouble with them.... and this is just the final straw. I'll make sure none of my friends eat there.
So - realizing we are in Seattle, and our access to fresh fish is abundant, you might actually have to search for a BAD sushi restaurant, but Bento Sushi, displaying its Yelp sticker proudly on the front door, is my kind of sushi place in a city filled with such joints. It's not a bad thing that I only have to walk 7 blocks to get there, either.
Affordable, large portions of well-prepared sushi seem to be the trademark of this almost nondescript restaurant, which is the least fancy sushi place I've entered in years. I will say, the bathroom frightened me a bit as every step I took was accompanied by a sticking, slurping, sucking sound as some indescribable gunk on the floor attempted to swallow my shoes. Hmmmm......pail and a mop, perhaps?
I quickly forgot my shoes (which had survived the attempted consumption-by-bathroom-floor and were still on my feet) when crunching into their spider roll, however. Good sushi is good sushi; affordable sushi is manna.
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Don't be scared off by the huge yellow sign on this mobile home looking restaurant from the outside. Don't call it a first date place either, because it will surely brand your name on the restroom walls forever.
However, if looking for a super lunch deal and you can appreciate fresh and well prepared sushi. Look no further. I have a sensitive taste for seafood and a need to quiz the wait staff on when and where the fish was caught. They seem to have a general idea of where the good ones came from and who can argue with the prices. Try the firecracker, spider roll and any of the eel.
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Every time I have gone to bento sushi it has rocked. I love their roll special, and the food is prepared quickly weather you are dining in or taking it to go. The chicken katsu is my favorite. If you order it to-go they really hook you up with tons of chicken and rice. The chicken also seems like it is pretty good quality. I'm really picky about the meat I get from chinese/teriyaki places. It always looks kindof grey and unidentifiable, but the chicken at bento looks like normal, white chicken breast. It's tasty too!!
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Bento Sushi is great if you are looking for a lot of good food for cheap. Their bento boxes are great. You get a huge pile of rice, some sort of main entree like teriyaki, salad, and soup. Their sushi isn't bad either. What's even more amazing is that if you go for lunch the prices are cheaper, but you get the same amount of food. So what's not so good about Bento? Well, my only complaints are that sometimes the service lags a little. There were definitely times when I could've used a refill or two. I also remember eating their for lunch one time and remember feeling like the needed to vacuum a little. All in all a great place though.
It's small, and the young folks who wait the tables and run the register can be a little unreliable. But the sushi is good, and inexpensive. I like sitting at the sushi bar (four total seats) and chatting with the sushi chef. The guy's a laugh riot!
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just.
effing.
gross.
Don't get that "16 pieces for 6.95" deal. You wonder why it's so cheap? Because it tastes like Safeway sushi. Even their expensive rolls are flavorless and have a nasty texture.
I'm so mad at myself for using up my once-in-a-blue-moon sushi binge here.
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I used to really love Bento sushi. It's not expensive, the fish was fresh, close to home, fast take out. My go-to take out sushi place. But I'm downgrading my 4 stars to 3, because of the following:
- the sashimi smells a little too much like fish. If it's fresh, it should smell like nothing or just slightly sweet
- they routinely forget at least one thing from our order
- they do not have horenso (spinach salad which I LOVE)
I will still probably get my sushi there, because there's not really a better option in Ballard (there's Sam's, but it's too expensive for being just slightly better in quality). So I hope you'll all come eat there when I open a sushi place in my 'hood since we clearly need a good one! Horenso for all!
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I would give 5 stars, I really would. Unfortunately, despite the excellent sushi at this little gem, I have to give 3 stars. Don't get me wrong. It's fine, if you're ordering take-out.
Today we ate in, though, mostly as a celebration of my wife's first sale in her new position. We waited close to five minutes to be seated, which we were fine with, as the staff was processing and taking payment for take-out orders. We were then seated.
The wait was not bad, and we were happy to be together. I ordered the "hot pot," which is a Korean dish that features cooked vegetables, steak, and an over-easy egg in one delectable piping-hot pot with rice. It was divine, although it burned the shit out of my mouth.
Laina ordered a flurry of sushi dishes. We definitely over-ordered. The highlight was the "Western Hot Roll" which I would describe as a sushi donut (it's deep fried) with a molten center of cream cheese. Pure heaven, pure over-indulgence. The other sushi items were entirely generous and extremely tasty. We have ordered take-out and have had the same results.
This location does not skimp on product, or substitute, or give you less than what you paid for.
Unfortunately, their customer service leaves much to be desired. To give you an idea of the situation, this storefront is less than the size of a normal Starbuck's, maybe half the size. Our waitress managed to ignore us entirely... for the duration of our meal. We had an empty water for almost the entire meal. My "hot pot" was kicking my ass in hotness, and so was some of the sushi.
I really couldn't believe it. The waitress(es) were always within ten feet but I couldn't get anyone's attention. The other guests were much more assertive (they left). One extremely annoyed couple was not able to receive chopsticks for their recently served meal. They left within ten minutes. I saw several leave with no tip whatsoever, and one person casually dropped his pocket change as a tip into the jar.
After being finished for some time I also approached the cashier and asked for our bill. After an entire meal with almost no water and no follow-up service, we were ready to go home.
It's a shame. Really good food, could've had a little more air conditioning, but it's a nice little restaurant. But the staff has no sense of priority. The sushi chef was literally laughing to himself when our server managed to "forget" giving the chopsticks to our neighbors, who had been trying to get her attention for 5 minutes.
It's a poor reflection on the chef who expertly prepares each piece of sushi. I've been here a dozen times at least and no matter how busy this place gets, the chef does his job. He does not rush anything. However, the cashiers and order-takers rush everything. The result is that nothing is done properly.
These girls need to understand basic customer service. Once they take a minute to deliver fresh water, they will understand that a little extra effort counts. We tipped 10% (out of pity, really). In reality, I should've tipped maybe a dollar. I usually tip 15% unless EXTREME circumstances warrant.
I don't know, maybe this place will be a "take-out" only recommendation.
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Wow, I think our quest for the worst tempura in Seattle may be at an end. :/ Okay, that was never anything we quested for, it just kinda happened to us today at lunch.
Let me start with some positives, though. The rainbow roll was effin' gorgeous and exceptionally tasty - the fish was really fresh, and the mango cubes served with it were a nice touch. A+ for presentation and quality.
We've been in before and as noted by others, the service sucks most days. Not at all unusual for your order to get lost and more often than not they do screw up your take-out order. You're a damned fool if you don't untie the bag and inspect the contents of the box before you leave the counter, no matter how many people are waiting with some (justifiable) impatience behind you. Aww-kward.
Today, we ate in - and the service was great! The tempura was utter crap, though. It's like they pre-cooked the veggies 'til they were mushy then undercooked the batter in not-hot-enough grease. "Shrimp" tempura is two shrimpy pieces of shrimp and a ton of big, ooky veggies. Looks impressive for the price when it gets to your table, but less impressive when you leave half of it.
Terrible disappointment. Head east on 85th to Mori instead (we couldn't today, since Mori is closed on Mondays).
My husband occationally picks up take- out teriyaki for dinner here, on his way home from work. We went here recently and ate in. We had a great meal, the sushi was not the best I have ever had, but pretty good. I really enjoyed the the spicy tuna roll and the Ichi roll.Both very spicy and washed it all down with a Kirin. Cheap,quick,satisfying dinner.
Next time I am trying the Monkey brain........Muaaahahhhahhh! Seriously they have a roll called Monkey brain.
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HORRIBLE SERVICE, WORSE FOOD -- NEVER, EVER AGAIN!
What a terrible, terrible experience. I waited and waited and waited for my to go order, when I asked they couldn't figure out where my order was.
After they dug around in the tickets, they told me it was coming. It was not . I asked again and reminded them that I'd been waiting over an hour. They tried to argue that I hadn't been waiting that long, but I showed them the receipt from when I paid. When I finally got my food it was cold, fishy, and substandard. It was inedible. What a damned waste of time and money. And I'm still hungry.
I was hesitant to go here at first--- but I'm glad I did! Their food really hits the spot for take out sushi. I ordered teriyaki chicken and a couple of Maki rolls and both were very good. I'll certainly be back!
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Great Sushi! Super affordable! Everything that I have tried so far on their menu I have loved. Sushi special 16pc. for $6.99 got to love it!!
We ate here weeks and weeks ago but as we were painting today I asked Chris, "Which is your favorite sushi place we've eaten at so far?" and he said Bento. I was kinda surprised but can see where he's coming from. The Monkey Brains was, indeed, an excellent appetizer, and all the sushi was very good. I think we ordered a noodle dish too which was good though not outstanding. The whole place is so low key that every morsel beats your expectations.
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Overall, I love Bento Sushi, as the food has always been tasty and affordable, and it's close to home.
However, the last time I went there, I was a little disappointed. It was the middle of the week, and early-ish - in other words, not a time that should have been super busy for my order to get as screwed up as it did. I ordered several items, including gyoza, tempura and sushi, among other things. Yes, it was a large order, but not outrageous.
When I got there a few minutes after the amount of time I'd been told it would take had passed, i waited as the girls behind the counter kind of frantically tried to put it together. When it was all ready, i had no reason to think anything was amiss, as there were plenty of containers.
Upon arriving home, I first discovered two containers of tempura, rather than just one. Both orders had lots of veggies, but only 3 shrimp between them, even though I had asked for a dinner order of shrimp tempura. Then I realized that there was no sushi at all, which is when I called. They had realized their error, and told me to come back for the sushi. I asked them if I should bring the extra tempura back, and they said no, understandably. When I got there, I asked them about the lack of shrimp in the tempura, and they said they gave me an appetizer order not a dinner, and only charged me for that, not the dinner. I explained that I asked for the dinner, and I didn't mind paying, but I really wanted the shrimp (it was for someone else, he asked for shrimp). They kind of argues it, but then agreed to get it for me, as they should have, as I offered to pay. I had to wait several minutes for it to be prepared. They didn't charge me, so all in all, I got everything I ordered and more, but it was pretty inconvenient.
This is the first time I've had a problem, hopefully it will be the last, and I can give them more stars, as I would have before!
I love the Sushi here. It is very fresh because it is so busy. Ask for the "monkey brains"(not actually monkey brains). It's avocado filled with spicy tuna and then served tempura style. Oh so tasty. It's an invention of one of the chefs there. The spider rolls are fabulous and very cheap. We've stopped eating at other sushi places because the more expensive places aren't as inventive or as fresh.
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Good, and cheap the way I like it. My favorite Sushi chef used to be in Des Moines but in the last months disappeared to my disapointment but a few weeks ago we hit this place up for some picnic sushi and there he was! He used to make me some crazy concoctions and can see his influence on the menu. The service was fast (about 15 minutes for a large to go order) and only cost us about 30 bucks to feed 5 people. I agree with Johnny the spicy crazy roll was super tasty!
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You want good cheap sushi? Well here it is! The combinations here are a bit different from what you'd expect, for example the philly roll has tuna (not salmon), and also carrots and cucumber. But, just go with it and you'll be happy. I also highly recommend the spicy crazy roll.
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Long wait, mediocre sushi, ridiculously cheap. You get what you pay for.
Very good sushi and excellent presentation, but good luck getting in and out of there during lunch! There are approximately 12 tables and far less parking for the overflow of customers during he lunch hour. If I get there at 12:10 and place an order to go I can usually get out the door by 12:45. Call in your to-go order!
I highly recommend the Seattle roll...apples, cucumber, and carrot! Super tasty.
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Bento Sushi rules. It doesn't look like much (i.e. the lurid yellow sign), and good luck getting a parking space, but the sushi is darn tasty and fresh. Bento's interior is also a bit cramped, but it has a great menu, good service, and reasonable prices. Who knew?
As mediocre as it looks on the outside. Great if you have low standards and love California rolls.
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My favorite place to grab sushi in Seattle. It's unpretentious and friendly, and the fish is damned good and definitely one of the best values around.
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Bento Sushi rules. We've eaven a fair amount of Sushi in Seattle, and the only place that even comes close is Shiro's... but it's about half again as expensive or more. The salmon here is amazing, as well as their changing special rolls. What's more, on our third time here, "Sushi Man" comped us some delicious fresh mussels! Amazing. And reasonably affordable. I kinda want some right now...
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