I'd heard about this place many times, but Tuesday was my first visit. They offer a wide variety of side dishes, and we picked up four bentos, each with different selections. Everything was tasty, though the pork chops were a bit tough to chew. read more

Bento Express is my favorite Taiwanese Bento restaurant in Bay Area! For the bento, you can select your main entree first, and choose your 4 sides from huge varieties. My favorite entrees are Braised Pork Knuckles, Fried Chicken Leg and Fried Red Yeast Pork Belly. And the selections of the sides are always amazing! Will different choices from vegetables, noodles, fried eggs to bean curd, tofu etc. All very tasty! They used to have tables and seats for people to dine there, but not after COVID. read more

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Taiwanese Bento to a person who has never been to Asia? Choice of the following entrees: 1. $13.75 braised pork bento 2. $13.75 braised pork belly bento 3. $13.75 braised chicken leg bento 4. $14.75 fried chicken leg bento 5. $13.75 basil chicken leg bento 6. $14.75 braised pork knuckle bento 7. $14.75 braised pork chop bento 8. $14.75 fried pork chop bento 9. $14,75 popcorn chicken bento 10. $14.75 fried fish fillet bento 11. $14.75 Taiwanese sausage bento 12. $14.75 fried red yeast pork belly bento 13. $14.75 combination bento 14. $15.75 fried chicken chop bento. Each entree comes with white rice and four sides: eggplant mapo tofu tofu broccoli napa cabbage cabbage celery with fish cake mushrooms bok choy orange chicken glass noodles boiled chicken leg/thigh fried rice with vegetables tomato egg noodles/vermicelli Prices in September 2019 were at $9.99 and $10.99. 5% discount with cash, take out only, no indoor dining. There is a picture menu, but the portion sizes are much smaller than in the picture. My pork belly bento came with three small slices of pork belly, and with sizeable amounts of fat which I cut off and threw away. Otherwise, delicious and tasty and not too greasy pork meat. The braised pork bento portion size was even smaller, although again the pork tasted well-seasoned and not too salty. If you want maximum portion size, get the fried pork chop bento, or fried fish bento. My wife doesn't eat deep fried food, so I'm SOL here. The orange chicken had too much breading for my tastes, but only a hint of orange flavor, which was a plus. The eggplant was to die for, absolutely wonderful, cooked just right, and not mushy. The mapo tofu was spicy tofu with tiny bits of red chili peppers mixed in, a bit too broken up, although my wife would have preferred even spicier food, and she's white. Came back here Tuesday 11:55am, and no line. Got the fish fillet bento, with a breaded 8 ounce catfish fillet. Even my wife, who avoids fried food, thought the catfish was very tasty, with a minimal of breading on a thick juicy fillet of fresh fish. Previously picked up a 5 box order and was given the pork knuckle bento by mistake, and found it to be full of lean meat, with not too many bones and tendons. Hope the other guy liked my pork belly bento. read more

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Super friendly people who walks you through how to build your bento. The issue is most likely unable to decide what you want! They have a huge variety of meats and sides to choose from. The portion is also very large and can easily feed two. Everything here tastes good and you will be craving coming back again and again. read more

This has been our favorite place for many years. It is our default place for "eating out". The food quality and varieties are super. The side dishes are clean tasting and not oily. When we first discovered the place. The bentos were $9.99. Its bento price is now used by us as a yard stick for dining inflation. read more

I can see why people like it. I'd probably frequent this shop if I lived nearby. I wouldn't recommend getting the fried chicken chop. It was not juicy and not very flavorful. It seems like you need shop that specializes in making junk food to get good Taiwanese fried chicken, not a home-style restaurant. I'd say Shihlin (the chain restaurant you can find in the Bay) does it way better (and way more unhealthy). read more

Bento Express - Fried chicken chop, braised pork chop - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Delicious and generous portion size - could not have asked for a better Taiwanese bento! Not my first time having it but finally getting around to reviewing it again this time I usually go for the fried big chicken but have also enjoyed the pork chop many times, as well. You really can't go wrong I appreciate the option to forego rice and add another side for an extra dollar The usual suspects for sides are eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, celery, mushrooms, and bokchoy Great quick service and super filling meal - be prepared for leftovers :) Cheers, Bento Express! read more

Bento Express - Big Chicken Bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Good customer service, very warm and friendly greetings. Good value. It's a small shop front with no seating. It's just a to go place focusing on Taiwanese cuisine. You pick an entree of meat from the menu board (they have pictures to show), then pick 4 side dishes from whatever that's available there. The sides are in good portions too. It also naturally comes with white rice. I like this bento place for its side dishes. They are more the ones that I would eat. All Taiwanese bento restaurants offer the same kind of entree dishes, the basil chicken, pop corn chicken, fried pork chop, fried chicken steak; but what really distinguish them from each other is the side dishes. I like tomato with egg, eggplants, plain veggie, egg with preserved turnip, and they have these in good portions. One bento is good for 2 meals for me. They win compared to Orange Square which always have this weird kimchi cabbage side that we don't eat. read more

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Like many others have said, there aren't too many Taiwanese options in the area. The only one that's similar is O2 Valley. To be honest if I want O2, I always have to check the sides and that determines if I go or not whereas bento express allows you to choose the sides. I came across bento express by accident. During dinner time the line was out the door as the interior is small and can really accommodate two at a time. The staff here are super friendly and it really felt like home. I ordered the big chicken which is a really big chicken breast that has a bone on it. The fry is crispy albeit a little too oily but really good. My partner got the pork chop which came on the bone and was great indeed. For the sides, you can select 4 sides. I got tomato egg, noodles/vermicelli, orange chicken, and mapo tofu. The noodles and mapo tofu were slightly spicy but had a numbing which was nice. The orange chicken was okay (can't compare to panda) and the tomato eggs were great. Overall, a great Taiwanese spot with super friendly staff and great food. I'm definitely coming back to try other items. read more

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One of my favorite bento places in the area! The side dishes selection is good and the quantity of food you get is insane. You choose one main protein, and 4 side dishes from their serving area. There is always a good selection of tofu, eggs, and vegetables in the trays. Servers are friendly and efficient, pricing is more than reasonable for what you get. I can stuff my face and maybe end up finishing only half the box. Like I said, one of my favorites in the area, I can always count on it delivering delicious food consistently. read more

Bento Express - Chicken steak entree - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Bento Express is a perfect meal! Prices have gone up since COVID. They seem to always have lines but it goes through quickly. Pick your protein, and pick 4 of the dishes. I go for the #8 pork chop, rice (with gravy if you want it), double eggplant, and double broccoli. Sometimes I'll switch one of the doubles for something new. If you're not too hungry, this bento can easily feed 2. 5% discount if you pay in cash! Comes out to about ~$14. Lots of parking in the plaza. read more

If you're looking for a good deal on food, it does not get much better than Bento Express in the bay. For around $15, you get a choice of four sides and a protein with an extensive selection to pick from. My personal favorites are the sliced pig ear and scallop with garlic and vermicelli paired with the stewed pork knuckles, but you really can mix and match however you want. The style is akin to a cafeteria so you can see all the food items which makes it much easier to determine what you want even if you don't know the name of the dish. There also is no indoor seating but there are a couple tables outside that you can sit and eat at. Come to Bento Express if you are looking to get full while not spending a lot! read more

Bento Express - Pork Knuckles - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I've been on a bento box kick lately, and my friend told me her favorite was Bento Express. I found myself with no lunch plans this past weekend and made the drive over for a late to me lunch. I arrived shortly before 1 and the store had reached the maximum capacity of 4. I waited to the right side behind the table outside, and while I was waiting 2 other people lined up behind me. I tried to peek through the window to see what were the main entree options, but due to the amount of employees and customers it was hard to see. Once I stepped in, they asked if I wanted any fried entrees so they could get it started. At first I ordered the popcorn chicken and fried chicken cutlet because I didn't see the fish filet my friend recommended. Luckily I spied it and was able to change my order before they put the chicken cutlet in the fryer. Then I went to the other side of the short counter to pick my side dishes. Keep in mind when speaking in Mandarin the pace is fast. I felt slightly pressured to pick my 4 dishes for each bento box as the customers were also behind me waiting to order. There appeared to be at least 10+ side dish items. I wanted to get as many veggies as possible but it looked like there were also possibly some sides that had meat? Not completely sure, but maybe next time I will ask. After paying, they asked me to wait outside until the fried entrees were ready. Less than 5 minutes later my items were ready to go. When I lifted the plastic bag, it was much heavier than anticipated. They also had utensils, napkins, and sauces at the side for you to take home if needed. When I got home, we dug into the popcorn chicken first. It was deliciously fried. Of the side dishes I got the ones with egg were my favorite followed by the eggplant, mushrooms, and then the shoots and greens. For $13.25 pre tax it was a satisfying and well balanced meal. Will come back to try some of the other entrees and side dishes next time I'm in Cupertino/Sunnyvale area. read more

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Line outside, but ordering and getting food goes quick. Ppl behind the counter are extremely efficient in true Taiwanese style. Got #13, the combination bento for $13. Lots of sides to choose from, love the selection and fresh veggies options. Generous portion, too. Could easily be 2 meals. Cash discount. I actually liked the sides more than the meat in this box, the meat was meh. Love that parking is not an issue too, for my extended length cargo van. Will be returning and trying braised pork next! read more

Bento Express - #13, combination bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Super fast service. There's no sit down option, you line up, order in front of all the side dishes, and take it to go. There are plenty of side dish options available and you get to pick 4 for your bento. I was a bit indecisive, but the workers were really patient. If you like being able to customize your own Taiwanese bento box with a variety of side dishes-- this is the place to go! read more

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Dropped one star due to the Taiwanese sausage I got, it's cold and oily with lot of grease on it, see my photo read more

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Good choices of main dish, plenty good choices of side dish. Other bento's side dishes are mostly close to garbage, when compared to this one. Friendly service. read more

Great value for the price given the variety. It typically comes with 1 entree + 4 sides. Entrees: I love the popcorn chicken and the ground pork is great too for the entree. Sides: In terms of the sides, really you just have to go in and pick what you're feeling. I've gotten this for larger parties and the feedback is generally that the mapo tofu is not spicy or flavorful enough. Generally high marks on the orange chicken, egg with tomato, mixed veggies, eggplant, mushrooms, and glass noodles. I actually debated anywhere as low as a 3-star rating mainly because there was one employee who literally gave 2 pieces of orange chicken as one of the 4 sides twice. Very stingy. Were it not for that I'd consider giving 5 stars to this place. Depending on the time you can have a pretty long line out the door. Definitely try this place out, and hopefully you don't get the stingy employee! read more

Bento Express - Menu - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

So I live about an hour away from my mom so I don't always get to have eat her cooking but when I'm craving for something to taste like home I come here. All the dishes taste like they came out of my mom's kitchen. I always get the minced pork with rice and their bitter melon + other sides. Service is nice, friendly, and quick. There's no indoor seating but there's 2 tables outside. read more

Hidden in the corner inside a subtle plaza, you wouldn't expect anything from them, but they serve some authentic and amazing Taiwanese food! The best part, you can build your own bento box with their wide selection of Taiwanese signature dishes like eggplants, tomato eggs, cabbage, tofu etc. This is a very small place with only 2 tables, but currently with Covid the tables are unavailable. Order process is super easy and fast, you select your choice of protein - pork belly, Taiwanese sausage, fried chicken cutlet, etc and then pick your 4 sides! There isn't really any Taiwanese food in SF so whenever I'm in the South Bay I love to pick up some and I'm glad I found Bento Express. If you've been to O2 Valley, their bento boxes are very similar but makes it more personalize since you can build it yourself with the many selection of sides they offer. read more

Bento Express - a bento box of food - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

What a nice find. A place to make my own bento with a main (melty pork belly) and 4 sides. I didn't know what the side items were, and I don't speak the language - I just pointed. I was greeted when I entered by the cashier so I didn't feel as out of place. I wish I had an idea about what the other items are. read more

Bento Express - Pork belly bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Such a good place for a GREAT and heartwarming Taiwanese bento box. The bento itself is GINORMOUS. You choose a meat (pork belly is amazing - 3 giant and filling pieces) and then 4 side dishes. When you go into store to order, they have all the side dishes laid out behind the counter so you can see what you're getting. They have a variety of side dishes - egg and tomato, stir fried vegetables (cabbage, tofu, mushroom, etc), bitter melon, tofu skin, bamboo shoot. Just thinking about all the food again is making me hungry!! The price ranges from $11-14 depending on what type of meat you get. The entire bento box, again, is huge and could be split up into two meals. The line can form outside the shop, but it moves very quickly. No complaints with the (quite friendly!) staff and order process! read more

Bento Express - combo meat bento box - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Came by for lunch the other day and it was a mediocre experience. Parking was plentiful in the private parking lot. There was a line with a dozen or so people right when they opened at 11:30. It took around 30 minutes to finish the queue and get the food! Ordered the popcorn chicken and it was mediocre. The chicken was fresh enough and the seasoning on the chicken was decent. They had a couple basil leaves for additional fragrance ...Shih Lin is probably better! read more

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Popcorn Chicken or Fried Catfish. I have tried all of the main entrees, these are my top 2. read more

Bento Express - Braised pork belly (not recommended, not as soft and tender), love the sides! - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I usually visit this mom-pop shop once a week during lunchtime. I've tried various main courses, but I've found the braised pork to be both healthier and more delicious. It's like a candy store where you can choose four sides as you please. Sometimes, you just need that variety to try pork ear once, haha. read more

Woot, found another gem that does amazing Taiwanese bentos! Located on the Homestead side of this plaza (where Nick the Greek is), this place is basically to-go only for Taiwanese bentos and snacks. 14 different bento options - including fried chicken cutlet (huge portion!), fried fish fillet, braised pork chop, popcorn chicken, etc. Each bento comes with 4 sides, rice, and your entree of choice, and ranges from $10.99-$12.99. If you go in person, you can pick your sides (they have lots to choose from - such as cabbage & bacon, bamboo shoots, tofu, egg & dried cabbage, broccoli, bitter melon, etc). Otherwise, if you call ahead, you can tell them what you don't want and they'll pick some for you. We called ahead and they made sure to pick a variety of side dishes for our bentos! Menu is posted on their wall or check out some photos on Yelp to see what they offer. Only downside was there was a line wrapping around the building (social distance apart), and I wasn't sure if I should wait in line to get let inside or cut to the front, so I ended up waiting with the regular in-person orders until I could walk in and let them know I had arrived. But other than that, staff was super nice, the food was delicious - authentic Taiwanese taste, big portion size and at a great price - and it was super quick to pick up (even ordering in person didn't seem to take that long). Everything is already made, so you just pick and choose and then grab your bento to go. They do accept card and parking is definitely not a problem. Would definitely come back again! read more

Bento Express - bentos! #14 chicken cutlet ($12.99), #10 fish fillet ($11.99), #12 red yeast pork belly ($11.99), #7 braised pork chop ($11.99) - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Haven't been here for awhile, I remembered the fried chicken was huge and tasty. Got the same one unfortunately the fried chicken is more than 1/3 less than before and it seems not fresh and crispy. Not going back. read more

I grew up in Taiwan and this place is nostalgia to the max! Bentos were part of my childhood and I love this place. I came here with some friends and we were in and out the door fairly quickly. I got the braised pork bento with napa cabbage, bamboo shoots and noodles. They packed up our bentos quickly and with a friendly smile. Food is absolutely delicious and authentic. Yes, it's a little greasy but that's typical--greasy food and boba are what make Taiwanese people happy =) The portions were pretty generous and the price is reasonable, especially for San Jose. read more

As of Sep 2023: $15.99 for popcorn chicken bento, $1.50 to substitute rice for an additional side. They also have large sides for $8.99. The two large sides weighed 10oz. (tofu skin) and 14oz. (orange chicken) While the bento weighed about 28oz, so the bento was definitely a better deal because you also get the popcorn chicken that weighs about 10.5oz. read more

Yummy. Totally worth. Went back the next day. It's not gourmet or fancy but very well done good food.

Tasty Taiwanese style bento box. Sevice is efficient. Price is reasonable and portion is large. It is a to go place.

My wife bought a few boxes with different main dish and mixed combinations of side dishes. We all grew up in Taiwan, so the comparison was based on past experience. All the dishes are great. We will go again! read more

Came here with my dad on a Tuesday afternoon with no line. The food is ordered at the counter and you pick it up right after they make it! Food: I got the number 3 chicken and the egg, eggplant, noodles and mushroom side dishes! You get a hearty amount of rice too but I didn't get to eat too much. The chicken was huge and I was super full at the end of my meal, you get so much value for cheap here! Service: Easy and quick counter top ordering! Ambiance: There isn't much seating inside but you can eat at the tables outside! It's super casual and small inside. Overall, a solid cheap lunch option that isn't super oily either for a Asian place! read more

Bento Express - Taiwanese Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

This is hands down the best bento place in the Bay Area that I've tried. There isn't really much a place to sit down and eat, so I would get this mainly for takeout. The space inside is quite small, like maybe 3-4 parties can stand inside at a time max, then the rest will be lining up outside. The employees are very efficient. All the side dishes are already cooked and displayed like the deli section in 99 Ranch. You just need to tell them which 3 you want, what main meat you want, and if you want some minced pork juice on your rice. Some main meats will take a few extra min, like the catfish, but it doesn't take too long. Usually though, there is a line for lining up, but it moves pretty quick. The food is so goood and they give so much food. This place is definitely really great for getting your bang for your buck. Like with any bento place, it is a bit oily, but some side dishes will be less oilier than others. I personally really like their eggplant and any of their tofu ones, so I would try those out. Also, they have more traditional side dishes like bitter melon if you have trouble finding them elsewhere! read more

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of vegetable dishes they had, which is uncommon in fast food service. My favorite was the winter squash and pea dish that was flavored with dried shrimp as well as the brown noodles which tasted like it was flavored with a spicy soybean paste. The dishes appear to change seasonally. I look forward to another visit after my dental appointment around the corner. read more

So everyone tells me that this is the authentic bento place in the area. Given that I'm not from Taiwan, what can I say? Does it seem authentic, yep. Based on the line that forms here, I would say that it's a favorite among locals. The one thing that is slightly different than other bento box places is that you choose your sides. I'm used to the other places having two or three sides each day, and you get them no matter what main item you order. Not true here. At this place you get to choose your sides, so it's almost like getting a combo box vs. a bento :-) Quality of the food is good, portion size is good, price is pretty good. Service is quick and efficient. Overall I enjoyed the meal, but prefer some of the newer bento places like O2 Valley a bit better. read more

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This place is definitely recommended if you like reasonably priced and delicious food. For around $15.99, you get a big bento box of one entree item, 4 generously portioned side dishes, plus rice. My personal recommendation would be the marinated chicken legs and the 3-cup chicken. My only negative comment is that sometimes I found unplucked feathers/hair on some of the meat dishes (e.g., chicken legs, duck wings, and pork knuckles). read more

I appreciate the express service! Even though many reviews mentioned that it'd hard to order if you don't know Chinese, my experience didn't match that. It was quite easy to order and navigate. We were just a bit overwhelmed with all the choices. All the staff were friendly! The portions were great for the price. Everything is a bit on the oily side, of course. Everything tasted good, like standard good. There are two small tables right outside, but this place is better suited for takeout. read more

No frills, timeless Taiwanese cafeteria. \\ pork cutlet bento box - large thin slice of pork cutlet that is crispy and a little greasy - comes with four sides and rice - sides: I tried napa cabbage, cabbage, mushrooms, and eggplant and found them to be a little greasy as well Bento Express offers a decent deal. One bento ($15) can be three meals for me. Next time I would love to try the fried fish! read more

I think the photos will speak for themselves but the quality of bento express has really declined over the past year or so. Upon opening my bento, you can see they barely gave me any meat. I got the sausage bento and you can even see how thin each slice is. read more

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