Sushi Bento Express

Sushi Bento Express
1258 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC

It was one of those days I had to walk away from my workplace for lunch. It wasn’t that bad, it was just stressful and couldn’t just buy something, bring it back, eat it quickly and continue working – I needed a break by… I had to take a stroll, relax and “reset” myself. While walking up Robson Street, just past Hon’s and Don Guacamole’s, I noticed a new shop setting up: Donburi-ya. That really make me want to eat a bowl of steaming rice with some soy sauce and meat. Ah, some comfort food… The first place in my mind with such menu would have been Hon’s but didn’t really want to go there. Instead, that gave me a reason to drop Sushi Bento Express, a place better known for their sushi but still…

So, what is Sushi Bento Express’ claim to fame? It seems the fish they use are sustainable. Well, that is a long topic we can go on and on but, I was there for my lunch so I will not go into details. As for their location, I will admit that I had some hesitation before walking in: it is sandwiched between two restaurants I have been previously, All India and Vinada, and, in both cases, there was disappointment. So, third is the charm? Hopefully…

There wasn’t table service in the straight sense of the word, you just order at the counter and wait for your food at the table (if it is eat-in) or just wait there for your order, if it is to go. I am not sure how practical it is in there is a sudden rush but there was none on the day I was there. Notice this is not something that bothers me but I thought I should point out… I mean, when you might need to grab some tea by yourself…

Now, to the food itself: since I mentioned I wanted some steamed rice with soy sauce, I already knew what to order: donburi. The question was rather, would it be just by itself or something else. Given Sushi Bento Express’ claim to fame, I thought I should order some sushi as well. Hot, steaming rice with soy sauce along with some more-room temperature, vinegar-ed rice? Odd combination but, hey, if they have it listed as a combo!

First, the sushi: four pieces (from left to right, salmon, tuna, ebi and unagi). I was not particularly impressed with the taste, as it was just average. As I have mentioned previously, with so many sushi spots in this area, you got to make something unique enough. In this case, there wasn’t anything unique. OK, let me take that back, there was something “distinct” but not in a good way: the size of these were small compared to a lot of other places. Now, I am not referring to those mammoth pieces in some sushi spots; rather, I am comparing it to the reasonably sized ones (which, can be debatable at times but, suffice to say think bite size).

But, I wasn’t there for the sushi – instead, I was there for the donburi, in this case, I chose the teriyaki donburi. Yes, it is a simple dish: steamed rice with some soy sauce and teriyaki chicken on top. However, and this is a big “however”, unlike a lot of restaurants serving “teriyaki”, the chicken cutlet was not a fried/pan-fried piece of chicken laden with a sweet “teriyaki” sauce. Instead, it was a broiled piece of chicken cutlet. No “teriyaki” sauce in the sense most people is used to. And how was it? It was darn good, the soy sauce sipping through the rice, followed by a chunk of juicy, moist piece of chicken. Repeat until you finish the bowl!

Overall, if I were to come back, it will not be for the sushi but dishes like the donburi. However, as mentioned at the beginning, there is notice for this donburi-only shop. Until then, Sushi Bento Express remains, oddly, an option for cheap, quick, non-sushi dishes.

Tagged under: Japanese • Lunch • Sushi • Vancouver • West End