This wasn’t our original destination for dinner. Originally we joined the line for ramen across the street, but without the option to make reservations and having paid $12 for 1.5 hours of parking downtown, we decided to cut our losses and try Bentoya out of convenience. But maybe we should have took the visual queue of an empty restaurant as a hint. Although in hindsight, I always believe everything is worth trying, so you know. Plus there seemed to be numerous food delivery companies picking up take out orders, so that was a good sign… ?
Given the limited seating, the fact there are more single stools versus multiple people party tables, it is safe to assume they serve more as a lunch spot. That, and the fact that bentos are synonymous with a quick meal. Though their menu also includes rice bowls, noodles, and appetizers. But as a first time taste, I insisted we try their name sake.
My guest got one of the regular bentos. The Spicy Pork Bulgogi Bento featured sliced pork marinated with a Korean spicy bulgogi sauce. It was pretty basic as it went. Meat and cabbage with a side rice, side salad, and miso soup. Nothing memorable.
I went for one of their deluxe boxes that also included two additional small sides and some pickles, on top of the same side salad, bowl of rice, and serving of miso as above. The Katsu & Ebi ball Bento gave you a choice between Tonkatsu or Chicken Katsu (I went with the former), accompanied by a handmade shrimp ball cut down to size and drizzled over with sweet chilli and creamy mayo, and a potato croquette with bits of vegetable embedded within. Like the meal above, this too served its purpose to fill, but couldn’t quite hit the level of satisfaction we were looking for. The food was mediocre with nothing to set it apart, nothing to make it memorable, or to have us returning for another try. The pork was dry, its seasoning bland. The shrimp ball tasted like something frozen for hot pot and it sauces something you can buy in a bottle. The croquette had a great texture with a crispy fry on the outside and a fluffy whip on the inside, but taste wise it had nothing going for it.
Overall there was nothing all that impressive about our experience. It all felt bare minimum and as a result we ate to be full, but not to fill. In the future I would skip this one; and instead practice patience, staying in line for the restaurant we originally wanted to visit.
Bentoya Bento
500 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7
(604) 569-0289
obentoya.ca
