Mom's Go-To Healthy Food Partner I'm a self-proclaimed "super lazy" cook with a very active son who eats 4-5 meals a day. Honestly, just figuring out what to feed him every single day used to leave me completely stressed out. We eat out about three times a week, and we usually reserve one day on the weekend for a big, indulgent feast where we don't worry about calories or nutrition. For the rest of the week, however, I try to keep things as healthy as possible. That's why "Bentonlicious" has been such an incredible partner in my child's growth for over a decade. When the owner first started her group-buy service more than ten years ago, I became a loyal customer right away. The reason is simple: she sells exactly what she cooks for her own kids. Of course, the fact that my son absolutely loves "Auntie Jessica's" homemade meals is a huge bonus! A few years ago, Bentonlicious opened a physical storefront, which made me rely on them even more. On school days, my son eats three meals at home, and it used to stress me out so much that I would stock up on Costco frozen foods just to survive. Then I had a lightbulb moment: since I was serving frozen food anyway, why not replace the processed stuff with Bentonlicious? Now I buy their freshly packed frozen wontons and hot bentos, then freeze them for later. This has become my ultimate "lazy mom" healthy survival hack! As for food safety and quality, you really don't need to worry. Just try it once and you'll immediately understand why I trust them so much. They're a truly conscientious business! read more

Small place with only a couple tables. Most people just order to go and eat elsewhere. Taiwan comfort food, bento (lunchbox) styles. Reasonable price. You get to pick one protein and 3 sides. Protein: Fried Chicken- supposedly their known dish. It was alright. Fried Pork Chop - dried and tough. And soaked in some overly salty sauce. Meh Sides: Fried pumpkins - not bad Mapo tofu - not bad Eggplants- not bad Stir fried Bean Sprouts - meh They also have special soup of the for additional cost. read more

BentoLicious - Fried chicken with 3 sides - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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Bentolicious is located around the corner from Ssam Korean BBQ, down in Pleasanton. It's across the street from a popular Indian spot, so if you don't know where Bentolicious is just keep walking towards where there's tons of people just waiting outside of the restaurant, and Bentolicious will be across from them at the other building wedged into the last corner of that shopping strip. Bentolicious offers the Taiwan bento lunch experiences, which, as someone who grew up in Taiwan, I can tell you the menu and feel certainly gives off that feeling. It's also interesting they offer specific types of bentos that will mirror the famous bento train box styles that Taiwan has with their rail system, so that's fun. Since this is mainly a takeout spot, just know that the food is already cooked out, and put into trays so when you order they will just scoop and do the takeout for you. Of course the drawback is it may have been sitting there for awhile, but the upside is it will be relatively fast so that's good. Price wise, it's reasonable, particularly for Pleasanton, so good affordable lunch or dinner takeout spot. The basic menu item seems to be pick your protein, and then it comes with 3 sides. There's a variety of sides available here, which is some of the basic stuff you would usually find with the bento like cabbage and stuff, but there's also some stuff that's not so typical of a Taiwan bento, which is fine too. For the side dishes, they were actually pretty decent. The egg plant was tasty. The cabbage was so-so, it's cabbage. The fried squash was yummers. The tofu was also good and delicious. Egg was fine too. However, the fried chicken was underwhelming to say the least. I feel the ones we had today was completely overdone, and just dry and not good anymore. When we ordered, they did offer to fry it fresh, but I assume that just means they refried it, and refried it too much as a result because it was not even remotely what I had hoped for. The breading too, I got really excited because it looked like Taiwan jipa, but when I ate it, it unfortunately was not that. Final verdict? Bentolicious was okay. While there were certainly a lot of upsides with the sides, as those were actually pretty good, and for the price to include 3 sides, makes it all worthwhile. However, if your main feature (the chicken) was not good, it kind of ruined the experience altogether. While I may go back again in the future for some of those sides, I will have to see what other protein options to try out because that fried chicken was not it. Overall, I would still recommend it to anybody looking for a good takeout spot. Who knows, maybe they just overfried it that day for some reason, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. read more

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This is a great spot for a quick meal or takeout order. Favorite choices are the Chiayi organic chicken and the ichiban fried chicken for entrees. All of the sides I've tried are great too but the pumpkin is the standout. Love getting the HK style lemon iced tea as well. There is some seating inside but a lot of people get to go orders. They usually have a steady flow of customers when I've been there but service is still quick and friendly. read more

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Since our office moved to Pleasanton, this has been a go to spot for lunch as it provides really tasty and high-quality food, with the ability to customize your Chinese bento each time. The owners and crew are friendly and efficient, and they also do an outstanding job catering at a cost-effective price. One of my favorite dishes is the organic shredded chicken, which is served over white rice and topped with both the soy sauce and oil-based sauce, with a choice of three sides. My favorite sides are the fried pumpkin along with the spicy eggplant and whatever sautéed greens they have that day. They have plenty of other main dish choices (eg, basil chicken, fried chicken, braised chicken leg, pork, etc. ) and various sides to choose from as well The restaurant isn't large but there are a few tables inside and outside to eat at if you like, along with bottled drinks if you want to purchase them. Would definitely give Bentolicious a try! read more

BentoLicious - Organic chicken bento (Sep 2025) - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

This place has become mine and my wifes favorite place to eat when were in pleasanton. The food here is SO good, the railroad track pork cutlet is a must. They also do the hot sour soup sometimes which my wife loves esp during the cold months. The service is always spot on and its a great little place to grab a bite any day of the week. read more

BentoLicious - Railroad pork - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Amazing food and service as always! Ingredients are never too heavy/oily. Authentic food with owners who have genuine passion about their mission and serving fresh food made with care! I usually get the railroad pork chop bento or the chiayi organic chicken bento. For my most recent visit, I got the railroad pork chop bento with the following 3 sides: tofu, eggplants, and fried pumpkin. The fried pumpkin is my favorite side. It's fried wonderfully and has a light and crispy batter. Their night market party wings are also one of my favorite items. The batter and seasoning is spectacular. Handful of tables inside. Plenty of parking in the lot. Love their concept and variety! read more

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I've ordered the chicken due to my special diet and the woman server in the store is very rude when I upgraded to the bento portion and had lectures me when I got there to pick up ... very poor customers service read more

The fried chicken was the only good thing, and the pumpkin the basil chicken was really bad. We didn't eat it. Not sure why so many good reviews read more

It's very Taiwanese taste and delicious! I recommend can add fishes to the main menu. read more

I actually came here a number of years back (pre-COVID) and glad to see it's still around and doing well. Even on a Monday, people were bustling in to get their bento boxes. The staff speak Cantonese, but they understand Mandarin and English as well. Bentolicious has a selective menu with some seasonal specials. You pick a main entree, three side dishes, and rice. I opted for the basil chicken entree with the stir fried eggplant, steamed veggies, and fried pumpkin (seasonal). Portion sizes are generous. The basil chicken was mildly spicy and the stir fried eggplant and fried pumpkin were cooked to perfection. If you're looking for a place with good Chinese/Taiwanese/Hong Kong style (take your pick) food with quick and friendly service, and generous portion sizes, come check out Bentolicious! read more

BentoLicious - Hong Kong style lemon tea and basil chicken entree - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We were in the neighborhood and needed some lunch. We were looking around on Yelp and BentoLicious popped up and we were intrigued. In short, if you're in need to find quick food to-go, then hop on by! L O C A T I O N BentoLicious is located in a shopping complex kind of off on the side. Parking is a bit hard especially when it's a weekend or busy lunch times. We ended up parking near Maverick's and walked over. I N S I D E It's not a huge spot, but they have seating inside as well as outside. You start your order on the left side not at the cash register which is directly in front of the door. M E N U It's fairly straight forward. They have Taiwanese style bentos now....bento is a Japanese word for a preportioned packed meal so it's just used here in a way that it's a packed meal to go. They have a variety of protein to choose from: chicken (variety of styles), pork, beef, and a non protein of veggies which they place on a bed of steamed white rice. Then you get to choose 3 sides which you kind of point at. I wish they had signs of what each was but I hear that if you look at their menu, it's basically a subset of their vegetable entrees from their party tray menu. They had 9 to choose from when we came in. We opted to get the Railroad Pork Chop. It didn't look as crispy as we were hoping for but we still went ahead and ordered it and to get our crispy craving we ordered popcorn chicken which took an additional 10 minutes which we didn't mind waiting. For our sides, we chose the eggplant with tofu, sauteed bok choy and salt & pepper pumpkin. The pork chop was wet which I wasn't expecting though it did look wet when we got it. The flavor was a bit bland. I've never had Railroad Pork Chop, so I didn't know what it was supposed to taste like or how the texture should be, but the overall flavor just fell flat for me. The eggplant and tofu was great and I would easily come back for that pumpkin squash. The bok choy was decent and was really chosen so that we didn't feel too bad about not having veggies in our meal. It did have garlic which of course everything else did have, so I just took a pepcid to combat my ailing old stomach. The popcorn chicken was good, but wish it did have more white pepper to taste. I wish it also was more moist as it felt a bit dry. S E R V I C E We had called in initially to order but since we were only ordering one bento, they told us to come in so that we can choose our sides. We paid at the register easily by credit card. Fast, kind, and easy service! O V E R A L L If you want something quick and filling, definitely give this place a shot. If you're ordering outside of their bentos then perhaps call that order in so that you don't have to wait. Other than that, not too shabby. read more

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This is a friendly Taiwanese-style lunch box place. There are a few tables and they do a brist takeout business. My favorites are crispy chicken, basil chicken, fried fish on Fridays, crispy pumpkin, eggplant, and thai iced tea (summer item). It is relatively healthy and not too salty oily. They support local schools. I have also ordered their family packs. Portions are large. Hygiene standards are high- staff wear face guards. Highly recommend! read more

This place is a hidden gem! You might pass over it thinking it's just another take out spot in the back corner of a complex, but the food here is seriously good. I ordered the Ichiban Fried Chicken Brest Bento (#1), and opted for the Mapo Tofu, Eggplant, and Bok Choy sides. First of all, the chicken was a huge, juicy piece of meat, on top of a generous portion of rice. Such a good deal! The sides are what rally shined for me. THE EGGPLANT OMG. I might even ask to make all 3 of my sides just the eggplant next time lol. The eggplant was just soooo umami and so flavorful, and although I normally am not a bok choy fan, I did really like it here, and it balanced out the oils from the chicken well. The tofu was pretty standard, nothing special although still good. I appreciated the extra protein from the tofu, but I may try the marinated egg instead next time! They had run out of chicken when I ordered it but they were very clear to me that it would be just 5 more minutes and it's be out, and they filled up my sides and rang me up in the meantime. Overall they were very kind and helpful. read more

BentoLicious - Ichiban Fried Chicken Brest Bento (#1) with Tofu, Eggplant, and Bok Choy - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

3.5 Everyone raves about this place so naturally I had to try. I got the bento box with the fried chicken breast bento because when I came, it had just come out fresh. The 3 side dishes that I choose were the stir fried potatoes, bok choy, and pickled cabbage. The chicken itself was a bit dry (probably cuz it's breast) and lightly breaded but definitely needed some flavor which I added some soy sauce. The sides on the other hand were the stars of the show and super flavorful. The flavor was really infused in there and I ate it with the rice. read more

Always nice to stop by here for when im missing some home cooked food! The aunties and uncles here are all very sweet. We always get the tea egg for the kids. read more

Forgot to take a picture of the food but I got the Ichiban Fried Chicken Breast Bento with Bok Choy, Tofu, and Pumpkin. The flavor of the chicken breast was good but it was quite thin, so the portion size felt a little small. The Bok Choy had a slight bitter taste to it, but that might just be how the vegetable taste. The pumpkin was good! read more

Good homestyle Taiwanese food, served Panda-style where you go up to the counter and pick the things you want. We got the basil chicken and pork chop bentos. We got to choose three sides for each, which included various vegetables (bok choy, napa), eggplant, tofu, sweet potato, etc. The rice was high-quality Japanese short-grain. The owner was very nice and had a friendly chat with us about coming to the US to open a business. read more

Quick. Tasty enough to fill you up. Friendly staff. My boyfriend says "Not the worst but not the best for bento." I loved the Thai iced tea. And the garlic fish was decent. read more

BentoLicious - Thai iced tea, my favorite. - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We've eaten here many times and love the BBQ chicken legs. I recommended to my sister with special diet and she loved the chicken legs too, but the legs are usually gone within the hour. She called in to reserve 2 legs since they wouldn't let her pick the side dishes over the phone for bento boxes. She had to be careful with certain food so she decided to pick the side dishes later when she got there, but she was given a hard time by the staff requesting to change her reserved chicken legs into bento box with rice and side dish. Their attitude was you take it or leave it, not accomdating at all which I was very surprised because they were usually very welcome and warm, the kind of services you would get in Taiwan. I wonder did they change the management or owner? This experience has left a very bad impression for us all, not a very good business motto! read more

Their crispy chicken is delicious and there's many sides to choose from. My favorite was the tofu and eggplant. They give way more eggplant than tofu but still delicious. I would say one bento box could feed 2 people. They close at 2pm so check their hours before visiting. read more

Went there recently and they were very friendly, it was not busy around 6p on a weekday. Sadly, the food was not that good. The basil chicken was prob the best. We also had pork chop (very fatty and thin) and the fried chicken (also very thin) and neither was that good. Maybe they were sitting under the heat lamp too long? We had a variety of sides and nothing stood out. They recommended the fried pumpkin but they were dry and had no flavor. Also ordered popcorn chicken and this was pretty good. I was hoping to like this place but I think the nearby chick&tea place is better. read more

This place is excellent and a great value! Very nice quick service and very nice staff. The food is already cooked and you get to pick one main plus it be two or three sides for about $17. The food seems very fresh. My favourite is the eggplant dish but everything was great read more

I loveee BentoLicious. The portion size is pretty big, and I can normally get two meals out of every bento. Food: I always order the Ichiban Fried Chicken Breast bento which comes with the one entree and 3 sides. The chicken is crispy, freshly fried, and is never dry. Always very juicy and tender. I am very picky about chicken, but it is always cooked well and is tasty! Not to mention, the bento always reheats well for me. Fried items in the air fryer and other items in the microwave, and it still tastes just as good as when I first got it. Sides: - Sauteed Cabbage: 4/5 Very tasty, but nothing out of the ordinary. It is a bit crunchy and not soggy which I like. - Szechuan Eggplant with Tofu: 5/5 My favorite side!! The eggplant is cooked perfectly and it is super flavorful. Small tofu cubes are also yummy. Sauce is very good and not too salty. - Salt and Pepper Pumpkin: 5/5 YUMMMM. Hit or miss sometimes though. The pumpkin tastes so good when it's cooked well, but I have come a couple times where it's a bit undercooked and the pumpkin is a little hard. other than that, adds a nice crunch to the bento. Service: They are always very efficient and friendly when I go! Sometimes there is a bit of a wait if they are frying up more chicken or some of the sides, but it is worth it. And then it comes out hot and fresh. Pricing: $ Around $16 per person for a big meal. I think it's reasonably priced :-) Ambiance: A couple tables inside if you want to eat there! I do think the seating is a bit awkward because it's a small restaurant, but it's clean and cozy. Parking: Big parking lot. And they have spaces just for BentoLicious! Will definitely be back! read more

BentoLicious - Ichiban Fried Chicken Breast Bento w/ Cabbage, Eggplant, and Pumpkin - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Great and friendly service. As first comers, we were slightly confused on how ordering works (especially since there was no line in front of us), but they were helpful in guiding us. There's a menu, but you order like "chipotle"/"food court" style aka you choose the sides you want + the protein and you're all set to go. I liked the variety of options they had as sides. You order and pay first & then you can choose a table to sit if you want to dine in. Overall, the food was not bad. I'd give it 3.5 stars, rounding up due to variety of options, portion size, and their friendliness. Their food didn't hit the spot for me and my family, unfortunately, but that's just our personal preference. Their fried pumpkin was very good though - I'd recommend getting that. I overhead people (in line behind us) comparing this to other Taiwanese bento place down in South Bay Area, and they liked this place more. For me, I think they're about the same as Bento Express in terms of quality and style (also not my preference, sadly), so if you're from the South Bay, there's no need to trek all the way up just to try this place. However, if you're in this area, do give them a try. read more

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Really tender, juicy, crispy chicken. Kind of wish the portion of chicken was larger for the price of the bento.

The three of us had an afternoon walk at Shadow Cliffs and we decided to eat lunch beforehand. Always looking for new places to try, we Yelped and saw the positive reviews for here and pegged it for lunch. Located at the Gateway Square Shopping Center parking was not an issue. Arriving shortly after 11am, when it opened, there was one customer ordering. Looking at the menu board, they offer 7 Bento boxes where you first choose your main entrée of either Ichiban fried chicken, Basil chicken, Chiayi organic chicken, Railroad pork chop, Beef, Daily special or All veggies. After you choose your main, you select three sides from ten choices. Trying to decide on the entrée, the server recommended the Ichiban fried chicken as it was their most popular entrée. So I went with it and chose glass noodles, deep fried Kabocha and ma po tofu for my sides. The bento box is a good size with the two pounded flat chicken pieces deep fried crispy over a bed of white rice. The chicken was tasty and moist. The three sides were tasty, but I like the Kabocha the best. There were about four tables plus window counter seats, but we sat at one of the six tables outside. By 11:30, there was a consistent stream of customers coming in. Most appear to be workers taking their food back to their office. Service was friendly. A very good choice for Taiwanese bento boxes. So Bentolicous! read more

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After reading the reviews I was excited to try this spot. However it was mid. Overall presentation was cute in the bento box. Ichiban chicken: Wasn't flavorful and we couldn't differentiate if it was chicken or pork lol. I thought it was supposed to be chicken breast but it tasted like dark meat. Bok choy: Too salty for my taste buds. Better if it was just steamed. Salt & Pepper pumpkin: Lightly battered and tasty but it was undercooked. Maybe I'll try another dish next time. The meal was enough for two people so portions are good for the price. read more

BentoLicious - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Quick and easy meal, love their 3+1 selection for bento. Most pleases don't allow sides selection. Have been going here ever since they opened! read more

Hands down best customer service, delicious food, and welcoming environment! I really enjoyed the ichiban fried chicken and the scallion beef bento! Each box comes with one entree, a bed of white rice, and 3 sections of vegetables. I highly recommend the salt & pepper pumpkin side -- I initially thought I wouldn't like it (I haven't really eaten pumpkin), but I am so glad I ordered it! It was absolutely delicious. The entire meal was so filling, and I now have leftovers for later! So glad we stopped and tried something new. I can't wait until we're back in Pleasanton to stop here again! read more

Overall qualities have improved and I have been getting more take outs from Bentolicious because their price is good for its value. Update menu as of 10/2024. I hope they bring the family meal back. read more

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I've come here a few times for lunch since my work is nearby, and it's so consistently yummy- I've never had a bad experience here. I'm usually not the type of customer to come close to closing, but today I was in a pinch of time for lunch, so I went for it. I came about 20 minutes to closing, and the employees and owner were so patient and helpful. This is such a unique and wonderful small business, I think everyone should try if you're in the area. My favorite thing to order is the fried chicken bento, the chicken is NEVER dry and always juicy plus the sides are all so good it's hard to choose just 3! read more

BentoLicious - Fried Chicken bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

This is definitely my favorite bento box place in Bay Area! What made it stands out from the competition is the freshness & quality of ingredients. None of the dishes are coated with layers of oil. Fried chicken is tasty but not greasy. The real test is the leftover next day still tasted fresh! The owners always open to get feedback from customers to improve and bring more varieties to their daily menu. I love that I can pick my own side 3 dishes. The place is clean and staff is always friendly and efficient. Highly recommended!! read more

BentoLicious - Fried chicken bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

"Tasty, Fast, Pricey" This was our first time at this business, and per the service suggestion, we got the meatball entree and 3 sides. My order was prepared in just a few minutes. The meatballs were tasty, although not very warm. The side dishes were also adequate. They were similarly not very hot. The entrees are about $15 each. This just seems like an okay deal to me. It's quite a bit more expensive than traditional Chinese fast food. I'm not positive the extra price is worth it. read more

BentoLicious - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

I come to BentoLicious for a quick lunch! The service is quick and perfect for on-the-go. The food is always fresh as its always being replenished, I enjoy their fried chicken, eggplant and pumpkin! The restaurant has a small eating inside and some seating outside. I highly recommend for some quick and good eat for a great value! read more

A little on the pricier side for bento, but portion sizes are good and the food is great. Especially liked the fried pumpkin side dish.

The bento box was really good! The pumpkin side was crispy, soft, and salted nicely. The Fried chicken breast is really good too with nice and light flavor. Would recommend buying a box of popcorn chicken too! Service was nice and I got in and out in less than five minutes. The interior has a cozy vibe. read more

BentoLicious - #1 Ichiban Fried Chicken Breast Bento $14.95 - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Excellent authentic tasting Taiwanese bento boxes. Highly recommended. Get a main entree + 3 sides. 1 side I recommend is the friend pumpkin. The customer service was excellent and the seating was good enough. There was always an open table inside and outside. Most people get take out. read more

This is a great spot to get a very quick (in and out in less than 5 mins), very filling, and very affordable lunch bento in the spirit of the classic Taiwanese bentos. You choose a main from those available (you'll need to call in or look at the menu as these do change from time to time) and 3 sides. You absolutely do not need to feel uncomfortable if you don't speak Chinese - I walked in and pretended not to speak Chinese and got by fine using English and pointing at things. Don't feel intimidated. I got the fried chicken as my main, the cabbage for something fresh and crunchy, the marinated egg, and the tofu, which is sort of like mapo tofu but not really. Overall, the food quality was good. The fried chicken was perfectly seasoned, though unfortunately, they seal the bento shut and it steamed a bit on my way back to the hotel. Pro move would be to loosen the lid so the steam escapes - will do that next time. The cabbage was light, refreshing, and crunchy and the marinated egg was SO GOOD. The tofu was alright - I think I would skip that next time and try to the eggplant. Overall, there are so many different combinations, you could eat a totally new bento every day for months. In terms of price, it was about $16-17 all-in with tax. In today's economy, that is pretty decent for the amount of food you get, but if you've ever been to Taiwan, these boxes, albeit smaller, are between 50-100 NT (about $2-3 USD) so it's very expensive by those standards. A solid lunch option with food prepared fresh daily and the ability to configure it as you wish, but having a $16 takeaway lunch every day is a bit expensive, even by Bay Area standards. read more

Yummy! They have an array of entree to select from and even more choices for side dishes. The railroad pork chop was tender, and flavorful. It was delicious! Definitely an entree we will get again whenever we're in the area. Even if it means to take out and eat for another meal. The fried chicken breast was crispy, tender and flavorful. It was so good as it wasn't oily either. You'll want to eat this fresh! The organic shredded chicken was alright. The flavor came from the sauces poured over while the chicken itself was bland. It would have been great had the chicken been blanched with ginger at the least so that the aroma of the chicken stands out. This was the entree we didn't enjoy as much. The sides we enjoyed were: fried pumpkin, green beans, and Napa cabbage. read more

BentoLicious - Fried chicken breast - Taiwanese Near Me - Pleasanton, California