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Stopped in for lunch. There was just the one server, overwhelmed and unable to spare much time. I ordered the lunch bento box with chicken katsu and tempura. It’s supposed to come with miso but it that never happened. The bento box arrived looking great but looks are deceiving. There was a large mixed green salad included, a large pool of water at the base of the bowl suggested the leaves had been washed but not dried. Wet salad tends to taste like just leaves, as the dressing washes away. The sauce included with the chicken katsu was reddish and very sweet. Never had that served at a Japanese restaurant before. The katsu itself was really all panko. The chicken had been pounded so thin it comprised just a narrow layer within the crust. Then there’s the tempura. Normally, a bowl of dashi, mirin and soy accompanies the dish for dipping the tempura. This was not included. The tempura veggies were fine but the two pieces of shrimp were not shrimp so much as a trick of the eye. The meat of the shrimp had been surgically removed leaving the tail and a long thin thin slice that had been battered and fried. It contained a suggestion of shrimp but was really just a batter stick. When I finally got the waiter’s attention I asked about the miso and he told me they were out so he’d made the salad extra large. Apparently there had been no time available to let me know in advance. I told him about the lack of a dipping sauce, the weirdness of the katsu sauce and the ridiculously thin shrimp. He apologized and then produced the bill.

Wasabi Factory – Menu with Prices – 7415 Hardeson Rd #A, Everett

I used to frequent Wasabi factory when I was living at home a few years ago. Now I wanted to go back and try it again as it’s been a while. I remembered liking their Lion King and Volcano roll and I was craving sushi that was flame seared. I went to the place on a Friday night. It wasn’t full or packed, probably a few people at the bar and another party of 2. Their menu changed a little bit but I was craving a volcano roll and a bento box. I think they are known for their boxes as they are relatively cheap compared to other Japanese restaurants and comes with a lot of food. They have a deluxe and a regular bento box, depending on how much sushi you want and if you want a side of gyoza. I ordered the regular bento box with spicy tuna roll (comes with 8 rolls) and chicken katsu. They have other options you can order with it such as teriyaki, pork katsu, sushi, tempura; etc. On top of picking two things, you get miso soup, salad, and 4 pieces of California roll. I also got a volcano roll to share, which is a California roll seared with spicy tuna on the top. From what I could remember a few years ago, the roll was similar. I enjoyed eating the sushi as it leaves a little bit of a burnt taste. I recommend this along with Lion King if you want seared salmon, and the katana roll which is a shrimp tempura roll wrapped with tempura. The karagee was also ordered to share – it wasn’t super great as it wasn’t as crispy. Staff was friendly and food overall was great. Bento box was great for its value and I left full and content. Will be returning next time I’m in town.

Wasabi Sushi & Noodles – Menu with Prices – 3654 Airport Blvd, Mobile

Stopped in here today for lunch with the family. Got the bento box lunch with Shrimp Tempura. It was delicious! The only thing I didn’t expect was the sauce you dip your tempura into was cold. I have usually only had a warmed sauce to dip it in. This was a tiny bit off-putting as I don’t think that’s traditionally how it is served. However, the Panko breadcrumb coating on the shrimp was perfect, The dumplings were super tasty, the salad has a lovely tangy ginger sauce, and the California roll was as expected. My favorite part of the meal was, however, the tempura veggies- an onion ring, a sweet potato slice, and a nice sized tree of broccoli(my absolute favorite). We will come back, I think.

Sushijun Express – Menu with Prices – 1415 Bonhill Rd #19, Mississauga

Been here handful of times now for lunch and the quality has been on point every time! Starting off with always fresh salad with variety of greens and perfect amount of dressing, and always hot miso soup (barely warm ones are the worst) Bento includes huge variety, crispy shrimp yam & tempuras, fresh California roll with salmon roe, with your choice of protein, I love the bulgogi because it has lots of sauce and pairs perfectly with rice. To summarize I love this place because of its attention to details, tempura is always crispy, ingredients are always fresh, soy sauce and wasabi are always included. I actually feel good after eating it.

Teriyaki Express – Menu with Prices – 1402 SE Everett Mall Way # 11F, Everett

This was the worst teriyaki I’ve had in possibly my entire life. I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki and the chicken was tough, dry and chewy. The sauce wasn’t very appetizing and the salad was horrible. I wouldn’t even call it a salad. Also, the rice served with the teriyaki was very dry and hard. If you’re a restaurant, how do you screw up rice this bad? This is worse than a 5 years first attempt to make rice in a rice cooker at home. My girlfriend ordered the Large Bento Box. The California Roll was made with soggy, squishy overcooked rice. The avocado was brown and old. The ginger was dryer than the desert and browning already. It was probably left out uncovered for days. The shrimp tempura was absolutely disgusting. FYI, they do not clean the shrimp so they are leaving the vein (digestive track) in the shrimp and feeding it to you. It was highly overbattered and was not cooked all the way through. The batter itself did not even seem like tempura batter. It was thick and cakey. To top it off, they did not give us any sauce for it either. I am highly opposed to wasting food but this food was so bad that we ended up throwing over 80% of it away. If I could I would give this place negative stars. We will never return.

Oshima Sushi – Menu with Prices – 11108 Evergreen Way, Everett

The prices are very reasonable and the portions of delicious food are generous here. This is authentic Japanese fare, including rice, dumplings, sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, and tempura, among others. I know a bit about the authenticity from having visited Japan during my working career. After starting with a Kirin beer (my favorite) and others having everything from Coke and Sprite to hot Saki and wine, most at the table ordered Bento box lunch, which featured a bowl of miso soup, your choice of entree (beef, salmon, sesame chicken etc.) along with a big scoop of rice, small house salad and dressing, two dumplings (pot stickers), and a 4 piece sushi or sashimi order of your choice. This runs anywhere from $9.25-$9.95 which is a real bargain. You can also get Katsu plates ($10.25, which my wife ordered in pork) and with the same choice of sides. Hers was like what we Germans would call ‘ Schnitzel’ and was a massive portion sliced into strips with a thick plum dipping sauce. There is also a selection of Ramen combination lunches and too many more options to include here. All the food was prepared properly, served at the right temperature, and tasted wonderful. We left feeling pleased with our choices, sated, and with money left in our wallets.

Hanami Sushi & Grill – Menu with Prices – 11811 Mukilteo Speedway, Everett

My favorite sushi place in the Pacific Northwest as it is only minutes away from home. Located off of the Mukilteo Speedway, this restaurant is always one I love coming back to since their whole staff is friendly and welcoming. I am a huge fan of their tempura shrimp roll and their Katsu. Although the rolls may be big, they are super tasty and flavorful, as they are some of my favorite sushi rolls ever. Their super crunch roll, mountain roll, and volcano roll are also good options to choose from if you’re looking for sushi. Their katsu don and their spicy pork bulgolgi are great options too. They both come with a miso soup and the bulgolgi comes with a salad and bowl of rice. The katsu breading is very flavorful and the bulgolgi is always sizzling hot when it comes out! Their chicken teriyaki is okay – I would definitely choose something else as an option for lunch or dinner! Hanami is definitely a place that you won’t want to miss. The only thing after coming here for 10+ years is that they increase their prices over the years. I guess good food comes with a price; however Hanami is definitely worth visiting if you’re in Mukilteo!

Sushi Love Boat Kaisen – Menu with Prices – 33215 Temecula Pkwy #E, Temecula

This is one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in the area. Their sushi rolls are fresh and delicious and the Bento box menus are such a bargain since it’s definitely a lot of food. I always choose “Danny Roll” there and my hubby gets the (Tempura or Katsu) Bento box. They also serve a bowl of edamame for an appetizer and little orange pieces with whip cream on top as a dessert. When we are with our 7-year-old boy, they even give him a big pocky stick (Japanese snack)! I always feel like we are treated very nicely! Love this place so much that we will keep going back there whenever we feel like eating Japanese in the future!!

Tokyo Shokudo – Menu with Prices – 3631 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Duluth

Came here alone on a Monday evening as I’ve been trying many new Japanese restaurants around my area I haven’t been to. I honestly would have never known about this place if I never searched up “Japanese restaurants near me” into a google search. It just goes to show how much of a hidden gem this place is. It’s located in a small strip right next to a Jimmy John’s and it’s easily missed as the sign and restaurant are both very small. As soon as I walked in, the waitress and chef both instantly greeted me and it honestly felt like I had just walked into their home with the warm vibe they and their restaurant gave off. The waitress was very sweet and attentive, seating me very quickly and letting me know all the menu combinations available. I was very hungry so I skipped straight to their dinner options with the bento boxes standing out the most. I ended up going with a grilled salmon bento box which included rice, a salad, miso soup, sashimi, assorted tempura, and 3 pieces of sushi all for $22! The wait time for my food was small, granted I was the only one inside at the moment, but the waitress always made sure to deliver my food as quickly as possible whenever the bell rang. I honestly can’t stress how nice the service here was, I have never had a waitress be so sweet and attentive before and the chef was always eager to hear my opinion of the meal. The tempura was all very good, with the shrimp tempura being one of the best I’ve had. The grilled salmon was the highlight of my meal as the texture was still nice and soft. I’ve had it at other places where it’s sometimes a little too crunchy and leaves a small burnt aftertaste. I just wish it was bigger portion since it only comes as one small piece but I guess that’s fine considering all the other food that was included. The sushi was good too, it wasn’t anything out of this world but I still enjoyed every bite nonetheless. I’m really glad I came here as I’ve never experienced this type of warm home vibe the restaurant gave me. The service was impeccable and only complimented the delicious meal I enjoyed here. Definitely a hidden gem that everyone around the area should try.

Maizuru Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant – Menu with Prices – 5623 Alton Pkwy, Irvine

We came here on a Sunday around 1pm and it was decently crowded, but we were able to get seated right away for a table of 5. The service was quick and decent, checking in once in a while to make sure everything was ok. We ordered the seafood salad (lunch portion), 1/2 order sushi rolls, and 2 item combination bento plate with spicy tuna roll and sesame chicken. Most full entrees come with miso soup, which nicely starts the meal as it’s light and yummy! The seafood salad was large for a lunch portion and we could barely finish it. The 1/2 order sushi rolls are perfect for splitting between people and not being stuck with one large roll and having differentiation for options! The 2 item continuation bento plate hit the spot. I think the sesame chicken is good with some teriyaki sauce if you ask for it on the side and the spicy tuna is solid as well. Recommend going to this place as it’s not as costly/expensive as other sushi/Japanese restaurants and you get a good experience as well!

Shogun J. R Express – Menu with Prices – 700 S Reilly Rd, Fayetteville

Finally a place that can replace the old Bento! The food is super yummy and at a pretty affordable price. We ordered the crab Rangoon’s & 3 for $12 rolls (king crab, crab tempura, & shrimp tempura). The king crab was soooo yummy. Shrimp tempura was good as well. I didn’t really care for the crab tempura. Mainly because I don’t like when the imitation crab is a whole stick. We also got the hibachi filet & chicken and filet & shrimp. The portion size was decent, but there’s a lot of rice compared to the protein. The only 2 meh things about this place is that we ordered our steaks medium and got well done :/ & the music is super depressing lol I’m talking Bruno Mars and Adele depressing lol other than that it was a pleasant lunch date & we will definitely be returning

BENTO Kissimmee – Menu with Prices – 3254 Margaritaville Blvd, Kissimmee

My husband and I checked this place out the other day with our 1 year old. It part of the new Sunset Walk at Margaritaville. I’ve very much enjoyed Bento on Sand Lake and in Gainesville so I was excited to check out this new location closer to my home. There isn’t a lot of parking immediately by the restaurant though there is pretty big lot behind the gift shop that is adjacent to Bento. It is a pretty small location as well and it was quite crowded when we arrived at 6pm on a Monday. It was also very loud. My husband had never been so we grabbed a high chair, which they thankfully have plenty of and grabbed a seat. As I said it is small and quite crowded so there was literally two options for places the two of us could sit with a high chair. We then looked over the menu and chose accordingly. If you haven’t been to Bento you pick whether you want a Poke Bowl, Rice Bowl, Noodle Bowl, or Bento Box. Then you choose meat, sauce, and any extras. You order at the counter, are given a number to place on your table and then food is brought to your table. Our food came out very quickly which was great. My husband had a salmon poke bowl. He said the salmon was great and for the price he felt he got a great deal of meat. He was less impressed with the rest of the bowl, but said he enjoyed it enough to come back he would just try something different. I had a Mongolian beef Bento Box. The noodles and rice were great. The Mongolian sauce was a bit sweet for me. I prefer PF Changs or Pei Wei, but I have previously really enjoyed the Chicken Katsu and Spicy Korean so I think I just won’t order the Mongolian again. The salad had very little dressing, but they were more than happy to get me more. We ordered the kids bento box for my son which for $6 comes with chicken, rice, and string beans. It’s a nice portion for a nice price though I couldn’t get my son to eat any of the string beans. Finally, I had a taro bubble tea which tasted a bit watered down. Overall it wasn’t bad and some of our issues were of our own making. Other issues could be the newness. We will most definitely try it again.

Little Katana Las Colinas – Menu with Prices – 6420 N MacArthur Blvd #140, Irving

My family and I came here for dinner one night and really enjoyed! We shared a few appetizers, the calamari (delicious and crispy. Had some fried jalapeños in there as well) and the jalapeño popper appetizer (also delicious with raw tuna and crab on top and jalapeño on bottom!). We all really enjoyed these. For entree most of my family for bento boxes. You need to ask for the dinner menu bento boxes if you want to order them, since the dinner bento menu is separate from the regular dinner menu. My boyfriend and I shared three sushi rolls, a classic spicy tuna, the spicy crawfish, and the sunny roll. All were delicious!! And really hit the spot of my sushi craving. All in all amazing food and my mom even enjoyed it! And she’s incredibly picky. As for the service, it was decent but a little lacking. Initially we had to wait a bit for them to get utensils/dinner napkin for us when the appetizers were already served. Secondly, when my mom got her bento box, it was supposed to come with shrimp and vegetable tempura but they skipped it on her plate, leaving just lettuce. When we told our waitress, she agreed. Five minutes later another waitress comes and said it didn’t come with the “nigiri” bento but my dad got that bento, not her. We corrected their mistake but it just took an altercation and misunderstanding to get there.