First time back in several years and unfortunately it's gone downhill in quality. The chicken katsu is a generous portion but it was WAY overcooked, like biting into rubber. And the amount of rice is ridiculous, it probably makes up half the box. California roll and gyoza sides were okay. I'll go back to try some other things but definitely will stay away from the chicken. read more

Joy Bento - Chicken Katsu Bento with Cali Roll and Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hands down my new favorite on the go lunch sushi place in the heart of Seattle. I couldn't believe how fresh the sushi and rolls were. We had the memorable Seattle Roll, Red Dragon, and the Washington Roll which all were standouts for sure. The staff and vibe of the store were excellent and I can't wait to come back and have more! Thank you Joy Bento! read more

Joy Bento - Red Dragon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The lunch here is fantastic. I got the teriyaki chicken combo with dumplings and a four piece California roll on the side, and all three were five stars and not that expensive! The California roll in itself was one of the best of that staple that I've ever had, and it made me wish I had ordered a sushi roll or two. There are no inside seating options--this place is grab and go, and when I worked for the day in the Federal building a half block away, we were in and out in five minutes. Not only would I come back here, I'm excited to. read more

Joy Bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Fair prices Generous portions Top quality Been going here for years and have never been disappointed with the food or the awesome people behind the counter. Very small interior so most take their food to go. There is a small wall table with three seats but you'll not want to be in there during the lunch rush. read more

I ordered to go, love the food! Just didn't get any soy sauce or wasabi for may bento

Free hot miso soup for the winter, it's a cute easy to walk into place, right off the G line towards downtown. Lots of Bubly flavored water flavors I hadn't seen before! Like coconut pineapple. The rice on the California roll was not quite soft enough for me, but overall food was good quality People who worked here were so nice and got me a chair when they noticed I was going to eat here. The window faces the sun when it's out and it was so enjoyable to sit there people watching and feeling the sun on my face. Also super easy kiosk to order if you have social anxiety like me read more

Joy Bento - Miso soup, California Roll, sparkling water, bubly water - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place has gone through some changes, but have persevered and survived the covid pandemic. Honestly, I haven't been coming here a lot because there wasn't anything that real stood out to me that I couldn't get anywhere else. Until, I recently saw that they started offering the hip new inari sushi which was a huge game changer for me. Not that many sushi restaurants make these since it's a bit of a fad if I'm being truthful, but it's still very delicious. People usually come here for teriyaki and poke, but I feel like they're missing out on the inari sushi. It's a great deal and very unique that you can't really find at most places. So definitely a shock to see it offered at a random little teriyaki joint like this. They have quite a bit of variety of inari sushi and all seem to be very good options. I've tried the unagi, seared salmon, and spicy salmon. All were pretty good and easy to eat. Because it gets busy on the work days, ordering in person will cause a wait, so recommend to order online to avoid the line. This is purely a take out food spot, so there aren't any tables or chairs to squat and eat at. It's also a very small restaurant and you usually can see the line out the door. It's mostly people waiting for their order to be complete though. I know I've mostly spoke about the inari sushi, but do check out their teriyaki since most seem to come for that. I've had their Katsu Chicken and it's totally fine. Nothing to rave about, but it's the closest near my office where I can get that if it means anything to anyone. So yeah, swing by if you like teriyaki, poke, or sushi. read more

Joy Bento - Chicken Katsu Lunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This used to be my go-to lunch spot. Unfortunately after a few ownership changes, I feel like the meals I get here for the price just are not that good. I ordered the karaage bento, and while the fried chicken was good, the amount of rice (a thin layer half the box) and chicken was not great. In addition the potato salad used to be creamy and delicious but this was just bland and tasteless. Overall I wouldn't go out of my way to come here anymore. read more

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This is a small and efficient lunch spot that serves a ton of downtown office workers. We came here on a weekday lunch hour and were greeted with a line out the door. Clearly, Joy Bento has built up a good reputation locally. I ordered at a kiosk, and this was quite straightforward, though it took me a while to look at all the options. I loved that all the menu items had pictures. The food came out quickly and was quite fresh. I got the spicy chicken teriyaki bowl, which had ample chicken and a good amount of rice and veggies. In the future I'd opt for regular teriyaki, as the spice took away from the flavor. For a quick lunch, this is an amazing option! read more

Joy Bento - Chicken teriyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Bit of a wait, but not too bad. A feasible lunch spot. Food was generally underwhelming. I had the "today's suggested" chicken karaage, which was lacking the distinctive garlic and ginger flavor and fried in massive pieces. I was also only given a few millimeters of sauce since I requested it on the side. No soy sauce was provided for the California roll. The gyoza were ok. My rice was kind of dry, but my friend's was perfect. My friends chicken teriyaki was really good. However, she didn't get the sauce she requested at all. Another friend said the chicken katsu was okay, but a bit dry. read more

Joy Bento - Chicken karaage, California roll, gyoza, sauces as given - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cute little takeaway spot between 2nd and 3rd Ave. I got the teriyaki chicken bento and it cost about $15 after tax. The chicken was tender and the teriyaki sauce was perfect! You can choose two sides, I got the california roll (4 pieces) and gyoza (2 pieces). I wasn't a huge fan of how they cooked the rice but overall the food was really tasty and I'll definitely be coming back for lunch! read more

#13 Chicken Breast Bento w/ California roll and Gyoza. Requested dressing/sauce on the side. Basic flavors, yet quick pick up for lunch. Under 20.00 not bad for Downtown Seattle. Co worker ordered chicken teriyaki w/ California roll and korean potato salad. Same option. Chicken has flavor, teriyaki sauce is sweet, rice cooked properly. Potato creamy as expected. read more

huge portions, spicy pork was good, teriyaki chicken could be juicier. salad was normal, potato salad was too sweet and inadequate textural contrast. the place is really small (no seating) but you can order from a single kiosk or from the counter. on this cold day, they had free hot tea outside. read more

Joy Bento - chicken x pork bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Such a great spot tucked away next to a parking garage to pick up lunch. There's no seating inside, so you'll have to take your food away. You can order at the counter or there's a self-serve kiosk that you can put an order in yourself too. I tried a nigiri bento and the seared salmon inari. Everything was so delicious and fish tasted super fresh! I'd definitely come back again another time for lunch. read more

Joy Bento - the menu of the restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was so disappointed that this place wasn't as good as I'd hoped. My rice was so mushy and California roll didn't taste very fresh and for some reason it tasted extra salty. The side potato salad was way too sweet. The seasoning was way off. I hope this is a fluke. I might try it again but order other menu items. The service however, was great. I really like that I can order on this font iPad thing. read more

Popular, fun spot in the business district of Seattle. This place is mostly a to-go spot, I would recommend getting it on the fly. Very fast service, and the food is pretty good. Very typical bento experience, and the food is great. Nothing over the top about this place, no-frills with a wide menu selection. Would definitely stop by again. read more

This is one of my go-to lunch spots! Joy bento has many good food options but chirashi bowl has been my favorite by far! Their sushi is so fresh and you can never go wrong with good sushi! If you want something on the side, I highly recommend their inari as well! read more

Joy Bento - Inari (spicy salmon/spicy tuna/seared salmon/bulgogi/eel) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is perfect to grab a lunch when working in downtown Seattle. I was in the area when lunch hour hit and I didn't know where else to go! Joy Bento came up and it was recommended by Yelp so of course, I had to come and see what is up. I came around 12:45pm and there was a line. A bit of a bummer but hey, it means it's a hotspot for a cheap lunch. For $10, you can't really beat that when lunch gets pretty expensive in Seattle. I got the chicken katsu with potato salad and California rolls. My boyfriend got the salmon teriyaki with California rolls and gyoza. For the price of $9.50 each, it was well worth the wait and price. For the chicken katsu, I thought it was pretty well done because it was was crispy is in texture and the Katsu sauce was well flavored. It was a pretty standard meal with no flairs and exactly what I wanted. The potato salad was super creamy with potato bits. What was nice was that they didn't use too much mayo. The California roll was sort of bland and the rice was just ok. Boyfriend said the salmon roll was delicious as well. Flavorful and texture was perfect for the price. Don't expect this to be your top notch salmon though.. this is a good salmon for your lunch type of deal. Overall, this joint is awesome. For the location, price, and food. I think it's perfect for a lunch while working in the city. You get what you order and it's reasonably priced. read more

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Great place, I usually come when at least once when I visit Seattle. Would highly recommend doing pick up orders during lunchtime as they get very busy. Food is delicious and great all the time! read more

Joy Bento - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This little hole in the wall packs a tasteful of yummy Japanese food. This hidden little gem is a family owned business with the older and younger generation cooking up a mouth full of yumminess. The dishes are a little over $10 but include two sides. There are a variety of choices and everything is made to order. I feel the price justifies the portions and I can never finish what they serve. I always order the chicken katsu and am never disappointed. The made to order dish has golden fried chicken breast that flavorful and juicy. The dish has never disappointed and with the California roll and gyoza there is more than enough food. I am so glad they are back open! It's a place to go to for your Asian comfort food. The staff there are also very friendly and helpful. I will go there again and again to treat myself to a weekly lunch. read more

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This is a cute hole in the wall place that's really great for lunch! The flavors were good and the staff were friendly. I got the spicy pork and I definitely would go back again. The ingredients were fresh and this meal had a lot of food so I was able to have some leftovers as well. read more

Joy Bento - Spicy pork - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My favorite lunch spot in Seattle! It's a hidden gem. They use fresh ingredients and the serving portions are very generous. The team works seamlessly to get the food out fast. This is a huge bonus for anyone that has short lunch breaks. My favorites are the spicy pork, chicken teriyaki, and the chirashi bowl. Grab a roll if you are feeling extra hungry. read more

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I keep coming back for their salmon teriyaki bento with brown rice and house salad and Cali roll (sometimes I choose potato salad)!!!! Good portions, good food, fast service. There's usually a queue when you go around lunch time. Will try something else on their menu next time like their poke or sushi!!! read more

Joy Bento - Salmon Teriyaki Bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Joy Bento was about a four minute walk from my work place, so we'd often swing by to grab some lunch if we had a short lunch break that day! I had their katsu on my first day of work, and it was really good! They also offer sides, and I got the potato salad, which I wouldn't really recommend. I did get their salmon poke bowl another time and thought it was pretty yummy too. Prices are pretty fair, it's very convenient because they're also pretty fast, and the workers are super sweet! I wouldn't say that the food was super special or anything, but it's definitely a solid choice that won't disappoint! read more

This is my go-to sushi lunch spot for the past few years. However, I changed it up and ordered something different on the menu than my usual so I tried their salmon poke bowl. umm no bueno. I love salmon sashimi and salmon anything but the salmon poke here isn't up to par. The salmon poke cuts still had the gray areas from where the skin come off. The taste of the salmon was off and it did not melt in my mouth. I'll keep coming but will not be ordering the salmon poke. Tried to finish my bowl but in the end I mostly ate rice and veggies. read more

Joy Bento - Love salmon but not the pieces with gray texture. hard pass on their salmon poke bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was happy to see that Joy Bento survived the pandemic. I ate here a couple times back when I worked downtown everyday, pre covid. This was my first time back and will probably be my last. Ordered the spicy chicken teriyaki, it wasn't good. The places was popular and has a fancy new digital ordering system, but the food unfortunately hasn't kept up. The chicken was dry and low quality, and the rice wasn't properly cooked, it was clumpy. They got rid of their noodle dishes which I used to enjoy. Yes, I realize times are tough in the downtown lunch business, but that doesn't mean I will settle for a sub-par lunch. Sorry, Joy Bento, please do better. read more

Never ever noticed this tiny little place, maybe because it's so tiny. It's located around the corner from 3rd & Madison, you sorta have to walk into the parking garage as the entrance is to the left. Watch out for cars! I saw they had a Chicken Katsu Curry lunch special so I decided to get that and was quite surprised how tasty it was. You get to choose 2 sides to go with your special, so I got Gyoza and Seaweed Salad. Chicken Katsu was freshly fried up, not greeeezy, curry sauce was quite good and flavorful with chunks of potato & carrots in it to dump over your rice! Gyoza was nicely pan fried and seaweed salad was fresh and tasty too. They gave me stir fried green beans too, I told the lady that, she just said keep it. Overall, it was a pretty good lunch, my coworker also enjoyed his meal as well. Slight mix-up of orders when they were ready, called our names but didn't quite get the order right, then had to fix it, then had other people's names called and gave out the wrong order. Then one guy already started eating.....uh oh. It was all good, they figured it out and was very nice about it and apologetic. They quickly remedied the confusion but it got dicey for a sec. Prices and portions are great for lunch, quite tasty, decent sized menu for such a small little place. No place to eat inside except a few stools, so it's mainly take out. Line will get long going out the door and into the parking garage. Definitely will come back for lunch at this mom & pop shop. read more

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Stopped in here for lunch yesterday. Been meaning to try this place out since I have tried majority of the places near my work. Small shop, no tables, they have a couple of bar stools for counter seating. I saw there special of the day and got that: - Chicken Katsu Curry - comes with 2 sides, I got 4x Cali Roll, and seaweed salad Big portions. Ordering it to go, curry was on the side, not enough curry for all the chicken and rice they give you. It was tasty though. Came out to around $9. I would come back again! Service was pretty fast, I got there before noon so the line wasn't very long. read more

Joy Bento - Chicken katsu 2 sides Cali roll and seaweed salad. (Curry on the side not pictured) $9+ - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Seriously delicious and fast sushi! Wish I lived in Seattle because I'd go here all the time! It's just a counter and takeaway place FYI.

Office drones in the Central Library neighborhood only have a handful of lunch options within a couple-block radius, most of them unremarkable, so you really feel almost obligated to give every business a shot, at least once. Today was Joy Bento's shot for me. I thought the long lines over the lunch hour boded well. It's not a particularly inviting storefront, so I figured all these folks lined up by an alley must be onto something. I got in line, decided on the Wednesday special: chicken katsu with Japanese curry. It came with two sides of my choice. I opted for the fried gyoza and California roll. The whole visit took about 15 minutes. The best description I can offer of the food: it's similar in quality and flavor to what you'd get at a supermarket deli. Not inedible, but definitely not something I would willingly eat again. The chicken was a little suspect. I'm not saying I was food poisoned, but I put the off-color bits aside. The one thing this little shop has going for it is the people. Everyone was extremely nice, especially the guy taking my order. So they get a bonus star for friendliness. read more

Joy Bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Chicken teriyaki with salmon poke and shrimp tempura roll! First time here bc of a long working day but totally worth trying! Prices are amazing for what they give and it's definitely delicious read more

Joy Bento - Chicken teriyaki, salmon poke, shrimp tempura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I got the Breast Chicken Bento with Katsu and California Rolls. It was wonderful, honestly the most flavor I've experienced in my time in the Pacific Northwest. The service was very quick and they even started cold when I ordered. It's a neat little shop with very useful touch screens and the whole staff had a smile on their face. Twas a lovely experience. read more

Was in town for meetings at the federal building. Walked to lunch here a few times. Each time more of my colleagues can with. Great food. Awesome employees. read more

The best Inari ever it will be my every day lunch i had spicy salmon, unagi, bulgogi, spicy tuna and shrimp tempura read more

Joy Bento - Amazing the best - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Fresh fish, quick and great service! Their poke, rolls, and sashimi are better than their chicken teriyaki.

Came here with a friend for lunch today. The place is small with no tables, but it's ok if you're taking it to go. Line was not too long and service was fast. I ordered the chicken teriyaki with California rolls and gyoza and my friend ordered the same thing but salmon teriyaki. The food was nothing amazing, but I enjoyed it. Also, I did like the friendly service and fair price since downtown lunch is usually over ten dollars. Overall would say Joy Bento is average place for lunchtime if you want something quick to go. The food was good to average, enjoyed the California rolls that came with the teriyaki. Although I wasn't impressed by anything, I may come back and try something different (will update when I do). read more

First snowy day of the winter in Seattle, and it was really coming down so didn't want to go far for lunch. Joy bento is in the garage of my building so I could go here with out actually leaving the building. Joy bento had a lot of teriyaki and sushi options, even poke bowl though I don't really trust raw fish in this environment so I went with the beef bulgogi and spicy chicken combo. Comes with two sides, and I got the gyoza and potatoes salad. For 10 bucks, good value, though the spicy chicken wasn't as flavorful as other teriyaki places and the beef is kind of tough. read more

Joy Bento - Spicy chicken and beef bulgogi combo with side of gyoza and potatoes salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lunchin Seattle This place is always crowded but it is a very small space. It's a good thing they are fast. Got there and there were 3 people ahead of me. Inside of 5 minutes, there were 7 people behind me....waiting outside the door. The specials are right inside the door so while you wait (all of 2 minutes) you can choose your meal. Got my food and it was tasty. And there are plenty of combinations so you get something healthy. read more

Joy Bento - Great menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was my first visit. Decided to write a review when I opened the bag to see a recycleable box!! Yes!!! Quick, efficient, great customer service. Food is great, menu offers creative variety from their specials to light eating. I ordered the shrimp yakisoba. The tails where cut off which was a nice touch. Next time, I'll just ask for no plastic bag :} read more

Joy Bento - Shrimp yakisoba with side salad. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I used the Yelp app and found out this place, which was just 2 blocks away from my office. It was after 2:30 pm, and most lunch places were closed, but it was still open. It's at the entrance of the parking garage. I passed by so many times, but never paid attention to it. Its location is convenient for people who work in downtown area. I ordered chicken teriyaki and BiBimBap to go. The sign said that we could pick 5 vegetable sides, but in fact they gave all kinds of vegetables unless we made a special request. They began to cook after I placed my order. The amount of food for each box was just perfect for a person, not too much not too little. Both teriyaki and BiBimBap were very delicious. They also included miso soup. Their cashier was very friendly and courteous. Very good service! I am happy to return to buy more bentos. read more