Bento Ya - Los Angeles

My piece of salmon was delicious and cooked just the way I like it—maybe my taste is universally appreciated! The tempura, on the other hand, could use a little less grease. I enjoyed the veggie tempura, which I had before, but the panko breading was really dry and crunchy this time. The egg roll was a delightful surprise—tiny but with an impressive crunch! As for the rice, well, it's rice from a cooker. I love rice, especially when I’m in the mood to eat a lot of it. The chicken wasn't dry at all; I've had some teriyaki that was overly coated and dry, but this was perfectly juicy with a light coating. The way the food shone in the sunlight made it feel like I got a much more expensive meal than just $12.99! Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. I even remembered to say "itadakimasu" before eating because one day, I want to speak more Japanese! I’m tired of relying on subtitles for everything. So, is it a num num or not? Definitely some num nums! P.S. I’m coming back for some Tako Yaki—yes, please!

I ordered the bento box (number 10), hoping that a restaurant named Bento Ya would deliver a tasty experience. Unfortunately, while the presentation was nice and everything was cooked well—especially the crispy tempura—it was utterly bland. There was just no flavor to be found. So, if you visit Bento Ya, I recommend skipping the bento box. However, my friend tried the ramen and said it was good!

I visited this place, which is likely the most popular spot in Grand Central Market. I was impressed by the efficiency of the staff, especially as they seamlessly placed tempura items directly into the bentos. I decided to try the deluxe bento, which included grilled pork, assorted tempura, an egg roll, salad, and rice. Everything was cooked perfectly, and I felt the price of $12 was just right.

I'm not convinced that the average rating of 3.5 stars accurately represents how affordable and delicious some of the food is. While many reviews mention that the flavor quality is mediocre, my experience with the #19 Salmon Avocado Sushi was excellent, especially for the price. The Deluxe Box offered a nice variety of items with generous portions, although I did think the side salad of tofu and iceberg lettuce could be improved. That said, the beef, dumplings, and salmon were outstanding—I'd give them a perfect score!

The food is decent, the portion sizes are reasonable, and the prices are the lowest at this market.