Bento-ya
Quick info
About Bento-ya
On Warren St, Bento-ya is a Japanese restaurant serving bento boxes, donburi, curries and sushi from a small space with counter-top stools and no tables, a layout that suits solo diners or pairs rather than larger groups. The menu runs to 38 dishes, with chicken katsu curry and salmon teriyaki among the regular orders. The katsu curry comes with a broccoli side, and portions of sauce, salad and rice can be adjusted to preference. It operates walk-in only, with customers ordering at the counter, and a queue is common around lunch. The restaurant opens for daytime service Monday to Friday and stays closed on weekends. Salmon dishes can sell out before the day is through.
Menu & Prices
38 dishes · mains £3–11- Chicken Katsu£9.99
- Chicken Teriyaki£9.99
- Salmon Teriyaki£11.49
- Japanese Fried Chicken£9.99
- Prawn Katsu£9.99
- Pork Katsu£9.99
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chicken katsu curry, salmon teriyaki bento, queue at lunch and counter-top seating only.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chicken katsu curry, salmon teriyaki bento, queue at lunch and counter-top seating only.
Customer Review Summary
Chicken katsu curry draws the most praise, described as crispy, tender, and well balanced, with the salmon teriyaki bento mentioned alongside it, plus a broccoli side one reviewer recommends. Reviewers repeatedly note queues at lunch and cramped, counter-only stool seating with no tables, and call prices a bit high, though most say the freshness and flavor justify the wait.
Customer Review Summary
Chicken katsu curry draws the most praise, described as crispy, tender, and well balanced, with the salmon teriyaki bento mentioned alongside it, plus a broccoli side one reviewer recommends. Reviewers repeatedly note queues at lunch and cramped, counter-only stool seating with no tables, and call prices a bit high, though most say the freshness and flavor justify the wait.
Featured reviews
- MEI MEI S
“Came across this cute shop today. Salmon are sold out. Chicken katsu is exceptional! It's perfectly crispy on the outside while the chicken inside is tender, juicy, and slightly chewy. The overall flavor is very well balanced, and the …”
- Z A
“The food was very good. We ordered the salmon teriyaki bento and a chicken katsu curry. I loved the way we could customize how much sauce/salad/rice we wanted. I would definitely recommend the broccoli as well because it was a great side dish for the katsu curry. It was a little cramped in the actual restaurant but the quality of the food was good and the chefs were very friendly.”
- Keith Howell
“Good food, good service. Always busy so food is always fresh. A bit pricey and basic counter-top seating with stools (no tables). Be prepared to queue but the queue is worth it if you have time.”
- Tom
“I went for lunch here on a Tuesday. It gets busy and there is often a queue. That generally means that the food is worth waiting for! I ordered the katsu curry which was about £12-13 which is comparatively expensive with somewhere like Wasabi (£8) but the quality was much better. The chicken was succulent and the crumb was light and wasn’t dry. The sauce had a decent depth of flavour. I really really enjoyed it. Service was quick and efficient. I ate in, and it’s just a simple counter top so would t really recommend eating in if there is more than two of you. Great find. I will definitely go back”
- Maria Vasileva - Grinfeld
“The best lunch find in the area and there’s always a queue outside during lunch hours. This place is an authentic Japanese bento joint and provides delicious lunches. Seriously, I thought I was back in Tokyo.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Good to know
“Unassuming Japanese eatery in a tiny space offering bento boxes, donburi, curries & sushi.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Location
Japanese Restaurants near Bento-ya
- Hikaru Sushi & Donburi4.91984.8 mi
ramen, sushi, teriyaki chicken rice
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bento-ya | 4.8371 | — | chicken katsu curry, salmon teriyaki bento, queue at lunch |
| Hikaru Sushi & Donburi | 4.9198 | 4.8 mi | ramen, sushi, teriyaki chicken rice |
The 1 nearest japanese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
