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I found out about this place back when they were slinging $2 burgers but inflation has finally caught and now they sell $5.25 cheeseburgers if you add tomatoes for $.75 and another $.75 for onions you have a $6.75 cheeseburger. I added a macaroni salad which I think was a 4 oz Mac salad that costs $2.50 for maybe 4 bites The burger was good, not spectacular but good. It was a bit pricey for what you get but it is cooked fresh and hot. If I'm in the area and just a snack, I would support small businesses and drop in to order some food. This is a take-out only restaurant and has no where to sit and ate.
I sadly came to find Bento Box Closed today. after reading reviews I was excited to have the experience for myself. I can not post without giving a Star rating so I find myself leaving a 3 cuz I can't really in good conscience comment other than I was excited to come & now sadly disappointed. But I look forward to my return
The OG spot for bentos on waialae (no joke, they've been around for 40+ yrs!) whenever I'm in the area, love to grab tonkatsu or teri-burger and head to the beach to enjoy. Remember to bring cash, as they are a cash only establishment - there is a FBH across the street so you can always pull out cash at the atm.
Best ever. Been coming here since 80s. Everything food wise is the same. Have patience, Lyndon is a one man cooking show. Well worth the wait.
My friend and I used to explore the Bay Area for good burgers. We're not looking for any fancy burger where you add a ton of toppings/sauces and the calorie count is like a million after everything. What we enjoy is a good old fashioned burger or cheeseburger (doubles/triples). Nothing like an old school burger because of the beefy taste of the patty. He recently came to Hawai'i to visit and raved to me about the burger/cheeseburger he had last visit to Hawai'i. As he was describing where he got it from, I didn't have a clue on what he was talking about. He also didn't recall the name of the restaurant. After he searched for it and found Okata Bento, I was shocked I didn't know this place existed. Okata Bento is a true hole in the wall restaurant in the Kaimuki area. It's more of a small hallway with a window to order from and that's it. Their menu is simple and the prices are quite economical. The only thing that was odd about the menu is that they have burgers but don't offer fries. It's all good because I drove down Waialae to pick up an order of fries elsewhere. Okata Bento offers burgers, plate lunches, bentos, sandwiches, drinks and a hotdog. They are cash only and they don't make your food till you order it. I was second in line when they first opened up around noon but the kind person in front of me let me order first since I was in a rush. Since my friend raved about their burger/cheeseburger, I decided to order them. It took about 25 minutes before I got my name called out to pick up my order. After I picked up an order of extra crispy fries elsewhere, I headed home to eat. The burger/cheeseburger was smaller than expected but they tasted good. Their beef patty was soft and juicy! Maybe I came in with high expectations but their burger/cheeseburger didn't blow me away. It's still good for what it is and definitely worth the price you pay. I think next time I'm going to get a bento since I see so many Yeeps raving about them. Great hidden gem in Kaimuki (next to Asuka and across Coffee Talk)!
The home of the 2D bento since 1981. Not joking, no matter what angle you look at it, buggah is flat. Doesn't mean it's not good. Simple, local kine grindz from another era. Fried luncheon meat, not Spam, kamaboko, takuan, rolled egg, a piece of fish and whatever you ordered sliced up in bite sized pieces all atop a bed of rice and slivered cabbage. Marinades are strong. The old school flavors bold. The fish is always overcooked and rubbery but so what? It is exactly what it should be. Nore: All proteins available for the bento can be ordered as a plate lunch (two scoops rice, mac salad but none of the other bento sides). Mac salad can be ordered as a side for the bento; $2. Inexpensive. Everything $10.50 or less. Cash only. Odd anthropological observation - On a recent Saturday, over half of the customers were Zoomer tourists. Watching how they interact with each other and their environment and trying to figure out their bizarre abbreviated language is wildly entertaining. 2D but spanning four generations, impressive. Not destination worthy rather a back of your mind neighborhood place that always satisfies.
No other words except that this is one of the best places in Kaimuki and that Mr. Okata deserves all the support for his one-man show. Truly a gem in the heart of Kaimuki
What makes a community special, small town Kaimuki, a business that helps to weave the unique character of this east Honolulu spot. Okata Bento has been a backbone small business in Kaimuki town for decades. The owner Lyndon is a one man dynamo who sometimes has an assistant to help. The one consistency has always been his attention to a quality food product. We have always been partial to his bentos, others enjoy his delicious sandwiches while others enjoy the classic plate lunches. Nothing fancy, basic, delicious offerings- when you go to Okata Bento you know what to expect. Whenever our son comes home for a visit, a stop at Okata Bento is always on the list. These are difficult times and small operations do not have the deep pockets of big box stores to survive for a long period. Thank you Okata Bento for being a strong link for what makes Kaimuki Town a special place to live and visit. Support local businesses, let's help them get through the pandemic.
6 years ago
I read all a lot of the reviews and I agree that this place is authentic and yummy yum. I like the Flavors the slice if fish cake, the egg, the slice of savory ham but the Teri chicken was good. The hai fish to me was like chicken. He asked what sauce I like I think he put it on the fish? Because I didn't get any sauce. The chicken tonkatsu was good and I wish I had gotten two packs for sauce. The cons is PARKING. We drove around and then we finally dropped me off to order the food as hubby went to find parking. Lucky I was the only one and he took my order after that he only makes food to order. That has its good and bad. read more
Consistency is the key to keeping a business going. That being said, Okata Bento has great tasting food that is always consistent. You can tell that the owner takes pride in what he serves. Just like a painter with his picture, Okata Bento makes the food look and tastes simply amazing. He cooks his food from scratch so you need to be patient after you place your order. At least you know that the food isn't simply taken from a warmer and slapped on your plate. The owner usually says 10 minutes so that you can walk off your energy before you start to grind. You won't be disappointed after the wait! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
This sweet little unassuming spot on Waialae ave is great ! They've got a fun sort of quirky feel to them, the spot, the stickers, signage, etc. I love it. The food is great and made to order so I like that it's hot and fresh when you get it. It's best to call ahead your order on your way there if you're in a rush or as starving as I was. It is CASH ONLY tho but luckily there are two ATMs in a super short walking distance (one across the street at first Hawaiian bank, and one a few doors down at bank of Hawaii). It's a real classic bento, plate lunch spot that's nostalgic and everything you want in your little bento; tasty, affordable, and a pretty good variety for made to order in a small kitchen space. I got the mini mix bento with chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken. YUM the little bento had a small piece of mahi-mahi that was perfectly seasoned and cooked for a small portion. It even made me think maybe I need that mahi-mahi sandwich next time I go. There was also a small piece of luncheon meat, Tamago, daikon, fishcake and some cabbage. The katsu was a great crispy fresh piece that hit the spot and the teriyaki chicken was everything and more than what I was craving. Salty, sticky, slightly sweet, and perfectly cooked so it wasn't dry. The rice was also perfectly cooked fluffy sticky rice. Ughhh YUM. It was the perfect option for me since I tend to want to eat a little bit of everything and then end up with tons of leftovers. This portion really met all of my cravings and satisfied my late afternoon hunger. I also got a small fruit punch and it has crushed ice in it and it was perfect. I'll definitely be back again for that teriyaki chicken that I'm sure I'll have a craving for soon. I'll bring a friend or two so I can sample more of the menu with them too hehe. Can't wait to go back... my mouth is already watering just writing this. Seriously check it out if you haven't already. read more
3 years ago
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6 years ago
Haven't eaten at Okata Bento in a while so I was due to visit it once more.. I got there and amazingly no long line this time as sometimes I drive by and there is a long line waiting to order or get their food. I was Second in line so that was a pleasant surprise. I got to the counter and ordered the large Bento mix of Beef Teriyaki and Char Sui Chicken. I waited by the lamppost right outside since as you order your food is cooked Lyndon always is working hard taking orders and making your food. After a few minutes wait lo and behold the Bento was ready! Now the fun part in these Covid times where to eat? So I knew of some benches in the shade where no one was around so off to go and devour my bento. I know I was comparing Teriyaki places and I have to admit I didn't come by here to compare with some other places but let me tell you their teriyaki is up there with the best of them! Although they cut up the meat in small pieces to cook quicker and to eat easier the taste is still great. I did truly miss this place and have to make it a point to come by more often. read more
CASH ONLY. AWESOME PLATE LUNCHES AND BENTOS. This place has been around for EV-ER, but just in case you've never been...go check it out next time you're in Kaimuki at lunchtime! These plate lunches are really good unless you're on a diet, in which case you shouldn't be looking at these pictures: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw#BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw#5ldug2ayIh7-7BUdGsxobw Limited hours M-F 11-4, Sat 11-3. (and they will be CLOSED 4/15-4/28/13). Call your order before you get there because this place is literally a hole in the wall. (No place to sit, no place to stand) My favorite is the teri hamburger and char siu chicken. Hamburger steak w/brown gravy is good too. But this is what I REALLY love...they cut all the fat, skin, and gristle off their chicken, and give you perfectly cut bite-sized pieces of chicken. If you have kids you know what a pain in the ass it is to always de-bone, de-skin, de-toughen chicken for the kids. This is like a dream come true for me, except I don't even give my kids this because I eat it all before getting home. The only thing I don't like is the luncheon meat they use in the bento..it's not spam. But back to the little bite sized pieces of chicken. This is the char siu chicken plate, look at the cute little pieces! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=ke7pGMskZXSmXhufp5N-Wg#ke7pGMskZXSmXhufp5N-Wg I love little mom/pop hole in the wall places like this! Or as Kyle says, it's a "Hole in the Hall". http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=asmo_3Q8FjHHZMOg7ddmSw#asmo_3Q8FjHHZMOg7ddmSw read more
Growing up in Kaimuki, I don't know why I've never gone to Okata Bento before? Oh wait...........now I remember! Probably cuz I neva have enough money as a kid to buy one bento........only had enough moolah to go buy one hamburger at McD's! Das why!!!! Lol! All kidding aside..........I remembered this spot in Kaimuki use to be some sorta of Japanese "Okazuya" place, but in 1981 Okata Bento took over this location. Can you believe it? Okata Bento has been in business for 35 years & counting! I find that really amazing, as they must be doing something right............and I can vouch for them, as Okata Bento really cranks out some onolicious bentos! This little shop is located in the heart of Kaimuki town, sandwiched between the shabu-shabu place - "Azuka", and a Cosmo Prof store. This place is CASH only! There is no parking for this store, as well as no place to sit and eat. But gang, don't let all of this discourage you. It will be worth your time to make the pilgrimage to this little shop in Kaimuki! Here is what I did today............ For parking, I got free parking in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot (it is free if you can get in/out within 20 minutes). If you cannot get parking in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot, you can find metered street parking. As I mentioned before, there is no place to sit and eat when you go to Okata Bento, because this is basically a "grab & go" kinda place. No matter, cuz I just picked up my food & went home to eat. Now if you must eat right away, may I suggest running down to Kaimuki Park? It's just a block away, and they do have picnic tables/benches where you can sit & eat. (just an idea gang!). Upon walking up to the shop, I scanned the wall menu and decided to order the Char Siu Chicken Bento ($8.00). What's inside the Char Siu Chicken bento? You get the Char Siu Chicken, Mahimahi (fish), Luncheon Meat, Egg, Takuan, Ume, and a slice of Kamaboko (Japanese fish cake), on a bed of rice & chopped cabbage. A really great bento for just $8.00 smackaz!!!! Besides bentos, Okata Bento also sells burgers and sandwiches which range anywhere from the $2.50 to the $4.00, plate lunches, donburi, & drinks (water & soda). What can I say about the bento I had for lunch today? ONO cuz!!! I loved the sweet char siu sauce they used on the chicken. I noticed the chicken was cut up into bite size morsels with all the skin & fat cut off. The mahimahi was moist & ono too, but I only wished I had some tarter sauce for the fish. Of course you cannot do a bento without some egg & luncheon meat...........it was a pretty filling bento, and it - "Hit da Spot!" If you know what I mean! Ummmmmmmm, aaaaaaaah!!!! I don't know why it took me so long to try Okata Bento, but if I'm ever jonesing for a bento again.............I'm going to Okata Bento!!! read more
The food here has homestyle flavor. No msg which is a plus. Best part about this establishment is its for reals #cheapeats I ordered the tonkatsu, teri combo. I'm always trying to find yummy but not over marinated teriyaki/teri beef. I decided to give this place a try. If you like the thick and sweet teriyaki sauce, you will like it. I believe they use the same sauce on their teri burger. Tonkatsu was simply seasoned and on the thinner side Hamburger steak was a good portion but gravy not flavorful but that could just be because they don't use msg. I really appreciate that. read more
13 years ago
I've passed by Okata Bento so many times in my life. I always overlooked it on my way to Kwong On (in the past) and Aloha Crepes (more recently). But I was looking for some good, home-cooked tasting food and found Okata on Yelp. I called in my order, because there is limited metered street parking. I ended up parking in the private lot behind big city diner and ran over to Okata to be within the grace period. The girl working the cash register was funny and nice, but it seemed like she was new. She was having trouble ringing up my order, but I had fun reading the articles taped on the side of the window while I waited. I ordered the char siu chicken and teri hamburger steak, with gravy everywhere (they'll ask). It was so delicious. When you think of local homemade food, this i it. There was great, full flavor. I think some people might think it tastes too concentrated and over done, but I needed it and thought it tasted good. They have very specific hours and I had to be sure to come for lunch because they are not open late. Okata seems to be a keystone establishment in Kaimuki. I'm always very impressed with the variety in Kaimuki and I'm glad Okata is there to represent good, consistent local Japanese plate lunch and bento. I'm excited to come back to try some of the other offerings and bentos. read more
I was in the mood for a bento the other day. And since I have yet to brave the crazy crowd at the new Shirokiya, I decided to try somewhere close to my house. I always see Okata Bento but I've never really tried it out. I looked on Yelp and they had a lot of positive reviews about it. Thanks to Yelp reviews we were able to find out that it takes about twenty minutes to make the bentos. We found the menus online and did a call in. They have several types of bentos but the one that stuck out that was different was the char siu chicken. I've always wondered how to make it and one day I'd like to really try to make it myself. But anyways, we ordered the char siu chicken bento mini. It was $5 a bento, which really is a great deal. The bento came with the chicken, rice, egg, fish, kamaboko, Takuan, and luncheon meat. It was so cute how everything has its own little place in the bento box. It was arranged perfectly. The bento was really tasty and just enough food for me. The char siu chicken was good and the little fish was so cute in there. It was truly a mini meal. If you haven't tried Okata Bento, give it a try. It's well worth the price and food is delicious. I guess the only downside is the parking. We called ahead so one person ran to get the food and the other person waited in the car. So if you want the bento, either go with a friend to pick up, walk there, or you're gonna have to pay for parking in one of the lots. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
Just finished my mini mix bento (chicken katsu + beef teriyaki) from this hole in the wall bento shop and it was delicious! When I first saw the portion size I thought aw, how cute. Having just finished eating it, it was the perfect size and I am not over stuffed. The amount of sauce was perfect and I enjoyed the sides too. As mentioned in other reviews, these are made to order so you might have to wait a little longer. I waited a bit before being able to order. After putting my order in my bentos were ready about 10 minutes later. The prices are really good for the value of food. Be sure to bring cash with you as this business is cash only. read more
6 years ago
Legit! Love their old school plate lunches in the cardboard box! I wish the portion was a little bigger for the Mahi Mahi but the flavor is there! Quality over Quantity wins in this case. read more
4 years ago
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6 years ago
Worth the wait in line! Their teri burger with cheese, teri beef, and chicken katsu are all delicious. Everything is made to order. If phone is busy, it's easier to just go there and order at window. Expect a 10-20 min wait. Cash only. read more
7 years ago
All foods are cooked to order. Takeout only. Cash only. Prices are good for the bento. Food was good. While waiting for my food walked down to Cowcow's Tea read more
I love Okata Bento! No matter how many years it's been this place still stands strong! Despite the ever changing shops on Waialae you can count on this hole in the wall shop to always serve the best quality home made to order bentos at an affordable price that never changes! Located on waialae next to the canon camera shop literally a little hole in the wall! It's a small tight little walkway you go in and just order at their small window to go. There is no indoor or outdoor seating. But still it's menu and variety of options to choose and mix and match your plate lunches and bentos at such a great prices, I would be so sad if they closed.. Owned by a local husband and wife they are always very sweet and kind. And everything is made to order so you can always expect a hot plate! The wait times are pretty decent as well I say about 10 to 15 minutes for two bentos and a grilled cheese! And I like that they already cut the grilled cheese for you. We ordered the teriyaki chicken bento and mahi mahi bento. I love that the teriyaki chicken was served in small easy to bite pieces over a bed of rice with luncheon meat, one piece mahi mahi cabbage, ume and daikon! So delicious! And the mahi mahi bento had 4 decent small size pieces that were surprisingly very filling. And it came with tartar sauce on the side. Even after a few years of not coming here the food is still very delicious! I highly recommend this spot for anyone whose never been. You would be supporting local too! And that is always a win win! read more
Oh how I love the little mom & pop shops where the food practically comes straight outta mama and papa's home kitchen. You can just taste the love. No different here at Okata Bento. It's no wonder every time I pass this place right before 11:00am, I see a line forming already. I just had to check it out this time because I was hungry for a hearty cheat-worthy lunch. I found myself here at 10:50am already 3rd in line waiting for the place to open. The first people in line were a couple of first-timers just like me, and the second guy in front of me was a customer of 20+ years. It was cute that they were chatting up and the guy in front of me was telling the other couple about how awesome this place was and how it was worth the wait (because there IS a bit of a wait). I was in no hurry and just listened to the polite chatter. 11:10 came and the place still didn't open up yet. The guy in front assured us that this was normal and that as long as we see the light on inside, they'll surely open up... eventually. Haha. So they finally opened at 11:15, no skin off of my back because I had that extra time to scan the menu on Yelp (thanks to the awesome Yelpers who post pics of the menus) and figure out what I wanted to order. I decided on a mixed plate of teri hamburger and mahi mahi. I placed my order when it was my turn and was told that it'll be called out when it was ready. Note: tartar sauce for the mahi is upon request so don't forget to ask for it if you want it. It typically takes about 10-15 minutes for your order to finish (says guy in front of me) and that was true even when you only order one plate. It's posted on signs that "everything is made to order so please be patient" so it was to be expected. Guy in front had the right idea: He headed a few doors down to get fresh malasadas while he waited for his order. I was tempted to follow but even on cheat days I TRY not to get carried away. 10 minutes later, my order's ready and i'm on my way. Cut to chow time. DELICIOUS!!! Truly cheat-worthy in every sense. Teri sauce was thick and rich, hamburger patty was homemade and flavorful, and the mahi mahi was lightly fried just right and not over-seasoned. Good old homestyle cooking. Can't wait to come back and try other things! Parking tip: best bet is to park across the street in either of the metered lots behind Coffee Talk or FHB and just walk across. Try to come before 10:30 because they fill up fast as it gets closer to 11:00. read more
3 years ago
Okata Bento is one of those Hawai'i businesses we'll miss very much when they're no longer there. It's a little piece of neighborhood nostalgia that reminds you of when you were a hungry kid who had only a few dollars in your pocket. EATS: Get the teri beef sandwich, not the teri burger, which I found to be rather mushy. Two totally different experiences and in my humble opinion the teri beef is waaaaay better. It made me wish I had magic fairy hands and could change things into a teri beef sandwich. Stop sign (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Small dog (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Husband (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! I could do this all day long and life would be delicious... I also ordered the hamburger steak plate for $6.50 which came with two scoops rice covered in gravy and mac salad. A deal at $6.50 but I was pretty disappointed, so much so I only ate a few bites and threw the rest away. Darn, I sure wish my magic fairy hands were working so I could turn that plate lunch into a teri beef sandwich! LOCATION: Across the street from Coffee Talk, sandwiched in between the Hawaii Symphony and Asuka Nabe. It's basically a hallway with a little window. Everything is made-to-order so if you're in a rush call ahead. It took about ten minutes for them to pack up my lunch. read more
Now honestly, do you really want healthy or delicious? I say for now, screw those designer granola, brown rice eatin' bubble heads down the street. Okata on Waialae has a great tasting old school bento with simple and humble (local) Hawaiiana flare. Due to the fact that I work out on the other side of the island and being that Okata has limited business hours, the only day I can make it here is on Saturdays (will post biz hours at end of report). For those that cant find parking, might I suggest the lot up the street from Bank of Hawaii just around the corner? I honestly don't think anyone checks it. So anyway, here I walk into this little nook/side alley to take a geese and gander at their menu: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=CTSzSTWtPGg74QlNnh1D9A&select=SD21ZyoP84FltL_naAxfeQ http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=CTSzSTWtPGg74QlNnh1D9A&select=2hLLN4Is9WJolC7BNtduIQ Aside from their donburi, plate lunches, burger and sandwiches, their famous Okata Bento is what i seeked. Or sooked? Sucked! Whatever, but each bento comes with white rice, mahi, luncheon meat (not SPAM btw), eggroll, takuan, kamaboko fish cake, ume and shredded cabbage. Sizes are available in both mini or regular, of which you can mix and match with another meat selection. So I decided to go with their teri beef and chicken katsu bento combination for $9.00. Complimentary bento mahi tasted great. Not too thin, flaky or salty but meaty. Luncheon meat, forget the brand but is that salty sweet kind that comes in large squares. Both the teriyaki beef (not too gingery) and katsu (moist and crunchy) were standard but also good. Not sure if you'd like to argue there's a plate lunch and bento version but it tasted more like the bento version; where although its layered with all types of different flavor profiles, every bite is a new textural and deliciously oily food region. I would like to also note that their egg roll, which is not a roll but a fried egg slapped between the meat and rice, has sugar mixed into it. Sounds weird but it adds an interesting bite in juxtaposition to everything around it. Another thing I tried was their cheeseburger ($2.50) which was one of the Okata Yelp picks. By my earlier mention of old school Hawaiiana flavor, along with the melted slice of cheddar/thousand isle sauce, the taste of the beef patty reminded me of the type you get at local hole-in-the-wall saimin shops (and places of the like). There is a certain mixed-salt flavor, which is probably the same type of seasoning they put into their saimin broth. And yes, da cheeze boiga was good. Okata Bento store hours: M-F: 11-4pm Sat: 11-3pm Sun: Closed Also note that Okata is designed only for take out and has no dine-in seating. A "hole-in-the-hall" as fellow Yelper B-Luv puts it. 4 stars Okata Bento on Waialae read more
"Hole-In-The-Hall" Restaurant: Okata Bento The moment I realized that this was a place to eat, I've had this atop my list for some time. So, what has prevented me from coming here? Well, there's the location where parking sucks and I'm never able to make it over here for their lunch time hours. That's on top of the fact that when it's closed, it looks like some of the other shuttered businesses in the area. Oh yeah, and there was that tsunami thing on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Hey, we drove by it on that day and the roads were clear, so I would've stopped if it was open! Finally, we were able to get here. It's a dinky place. Just a walk-up window in a hallway. It's not a hole-in-the-wall, more of a hole-in-the-hall. You could pass it and not even know it was a business. A lot of non-locals walking by were looking at us funny for waiting outside a hallway. The lady taking orders was very friendly, even joking with us about all the pictures we were taking. There seemed to be tons of locals from the area that frequent the joint and are on a first name basis. Since there is no place to sit and eat, we headed over to Kapiolani Park. Let me say that parking really isn't too bad. It's located right around the corner up the small Center Street. There's two parking lots off to the left. Both are pay lots, but we didn't drop any money in it. When I went to Toys-n-Joys before, they also said no need. Plus, no one else was dropping money into the slots. At your own risk I guess. So after reading the reviews I had to get an actual hamburger, even though I know I was going with the Hamburger Steak plate. I'm a burger guy and that's what the current reviewers on Yelp were talking about so, go with it. The cheeseburger had a tangy mustard thousand island dressing flavor. The patty itself was nice and soft. At OB they claim to cook it fresh and they do. For all those people who spaz over good food taking time to make, they even have a sign for you to chill and wait for your freshly cooked food. Funny and I liked it. Upon opening the white plate lunch box and looking under all that good gravy, I found that my burger patty was the size of an old 45 record! It took a minute to sink in, but it was big. The size didn't take away from the flavor though. It was good. The lady did also ask if I wanted gravy on my two scoops of rice and I was like, "Yeah, Geevum!" For under $7, it's a great deal. It was like the hamburger burger, nice and juicy. The mac salad side was alright. I think it maybe just needed some additional flavoring like pepper. Overall, I'm definitely going back. One of the great things about this place is that they have a variety of ways to try different things here. They have small and large bento plates, donburi's, regular plate lunches, and in addition to all of that you can upgrade to having two items instead of just one. So it has something for everyone from your Great-Auntie who's a light eater to large plate lunches for the big boys. It's an eclectic place, which is obvious by how it's situated. They even post little emailed gems of funny wisdom in the windows. Anyway, just make sure to note the limited window of hours they're open (5 hours at most a day). read more
7 years ago
When I say this is THE BEST chicken katsu, I mean it. I've had it all over the island and you cannot beat the quality and price here. Is it a hole in the wall? Sure, but I don't care. The fact that this family is able to provide consistent, affordable and delicious food for so many years with the same man cooking day in and out is to be celebrated! Call ahead to make sure you don't have to wait. If they don't pick pick up the first time just keep trying, they're a small operation and you can be patient with perfection. read more
15 years ago
If you love local-style Japanese bentos, this is the place for you! Okata Bento is located on Waialae Avenue near the 12th Avenue intersection. Like others have previously noted, it is basically a hole in the wall type of eatery. Their menu includes bentos, burgers and other types of plate lunch items. Over the past few years that I have come here, I've only ordered their mini-bentos. I LOVE their mini tonkatsu bento. It's my favorite! In my opinion, the tonkatsu is cooked perfectly and sliced thin. I sometimes order the mini beef teriyaki bento too. All bentos come with rice, and small slices of luncheon meat, mahi mahi, egg, daikon, kamaboko and an ume. I love these sides, as it really accentuates the flavor of the meat. The bentos are priced fairly reasonable. The mini bento is priced at $4.75 for a choice of one meat. For the heavier eater, you can also order a mini bento with two choices of meat, or a regular sized bento. The only downside is that you should probably call ahead of time to place your order, as it will take anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes to prep. The owner does not begin cooking your meal until you order it, and because it is a small establishment, it will take a little longer than most places. Therefore, I recommend you calling in advanced, especially if you are pressed on time. If you're into bentos and plate lunches, check this place out sometime, especially if you live or work in Kaimuki! read more
More info about Okata Bento
3616 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
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(808) 737-6063
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Ask the Community - Okata Bento
Would you describe Okata Bento as a delicatessen, or more like a drive thru local hamburger stand?
A counter style plate lunch type business with a Japanese bent because of the bentos and donburi.
What's your favorite dish at Okata Bento?
My favorite is the Tonkatsu and Char Siu chicken, but I like the Hamburger steak too.. As you can see I like everything!
