Bend-O Bento Japanese Restaurant
Bend-O Bento is one of the most authentic Japanese Restaurants in Bend. Authentic, Healthy, and delicious just as it says on the front of their to-go menus. The Wife and I are big fans of Japanese food especially since she worked as a waitress in a Japanese restaurant before we moved to Bend. So we were very excited to hear about Bend-O Bento opening up in the old SE NY Sub Shop location on Wilson Ave.
Bend-O Bento Japanese Kitchen
Ever since I started writing about Bend Oregon Restaurants I’ve received many emails from transplants of the Bay area as well as from Seattle asking about any good Bento here. Well, I’m pleased to say that I’d highly recommend Bento fans to give Bend-O Bento a try. You will not be disappointed.
While we waited a very reasonable amount of time for our orders, we received 4 samples along with 2 apologies of the wait. I think we waited all of 6 or 7 minutes and there were 3 people in front of us. The first two samples I didn’t bust out the camera for but I devoured the Pono Pork Curry (all pork is provided by Pono Farms). On the second round we received the Japanese Potato Salad and a noodle dish (forgot the name) – both are side dishes which apparently rotate on what is available.
Bend-O Bento samples
The noodles were light and refreshing. Very good and would go well with any of the Bento combinations. The Japanese potato salad is something I could do without. Now the boiled cabbage, the Asian mystery noodles, the pickled daikon, nimono, all those other sides are dishes that us WhiteBreads don’t normally eat and I’ll gladly take the lovely ladies at Bend-O’s word that they are authentic. Plus they are all great. But c’mon now, we have potato salad and ours doesn’t have pickled cucumber in it. That junk is weird man. I don’t see the common folk of Central Oregon enjoying that one as the expectation of potato salad might be more of what you’d find down the street at Country Catering Co.
The Wife ordered the Bibinba Donburi – rice bowl with Korean style vegetables, beef, homemade kimchee and egg – $6.00. I have never been a fan of Donburi and I didn’t try it. She swears that it is “hella hella” which is her ghetto ass way of saying that it’s amazing. In the top left corner you can see that she also got an Onigir (rice ball) for $2.oo – Japan’s most popular portable snack. Another “hella hella” item that I didn’t try. She’s a little too “Authentic” for me.
Donburi Bibinba Bend-O Bento
I went for the WhiteBoy Bento (delux bento) – Chikinkatsu (breaded chicken cutlet) and Yakiniku (grilled beef) with my choice of sides being boiled cabbage and sunomono salad – comes with rice and miso – $9.99. Everything was excellent and when I was finished, I felt great. Not weighed down and ready for a nap like I do after eating at some places.
Bento Chikinkatsu Yakiniku Bend-O Bento
All in all, the experience was great, service was fast even though they apologized for the wait, samples are always fun, and the food was authentic, healthy, and delicious. So here’s to hoping that Parr Lumber and Bend High can keep these guys in business!!
Bend-O Bento Japanese Restaurant
Accepting Phone orders at 9am
10:30 – 3pm M-F
1375 SE Wilson Ave. Ste. 105
Bend, Oregon 97701
541-323-3357
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