It's a nice food truck at UT Austin that's open late. We had just left the Bass Concert Hall, five minutes away, and to get to our show on time, we missed dinner. It was now after 10 pm and we had an hour drive ahead of us to get home. So we turned to Yelp and found this gem. We parked on the street. Students were walking by the whole time, which added to the vibe. You order and pay on an app and they call your name when it's ready. They specialize in bento boxes to go. Not your miso soup and ginger salad bento boxes, though. You won't find sushi rolls and pickled ginger. But it's a dinner in a box with rice, veggies, a choice of protein, you pick one of five sauces, and you have a choice of adding curry for $2. Add the curry! It's a Japanese golden curry. Yum. It's basically gravy. A very tasty gravy. And who doesn't like rice and gravy?! Can they get away with calling this a bento box? A cardboard box with no California roll and no miso? Why, yes, actually! Bento boxes are originally designed to be meals on the go. It's the kind of meal you buy in Japan for a train ride. And this definitely fits the bill. Portions are healthy. The rice was moist and well-seasoned. The broccoli was tender-crisp. The curry came in a separate container so you can add as much or as little as you want (we added it all). We had one chicken dish and one beef dish. The chicken is fried and the beef is braised and shredded, with strips of onion. They were both tastey, and both were designed for quick service from a food truck. Despite the line ahead of us, our meal came quickly. It was a cold night so we ate in our car, parked on the street. But it's a quiet, street and they had picnic tables we could have used if we'd brought ticket coats for the 40 degree, breezy night. Next time I'll check the weather report before leaving the house! We finished our meal and headed out for the long drive home, very full, and very satisfied. read more

Self service, you order on your own on the kiosk. I do miss interacting with people. The food was reasonably priced, I thought it was a really good value, a nine dollar bento box would definitely have lasted me two meals. Plenty of sauces to choose from. While there isn't seating in the parking area of the food truck it's right next to campus and there are plenty of seating areas available read more

Pinch - Chicken bento box - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great bento box spot near UT! The price isn't bad and the food is really good. It's self service, the order may take a minute to come out. I got the fried tofu with spicy mayo- delicious. No seating near by, it's a grab and go spot. Would recommend! read more

Pinch - Tofu bento box - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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great food! for $9-10, you get a nice volume of food. Their tofu itself is very nice- has a silken like interior while maintaining a crispy exterior. Nice plant-based/vegan option on the UT Austin campus! read more

Pinch - tofu - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

My mentee introduced me to this food truck. We ordered there and it took maybe 15-20 minutes. If felt like forever because it was freezing outside. BUT the wait was worth it. My crispy fried chicken was delicious! My student ordered for me so I can't repeat it but it was perfect and I'm already craving it. I think it was spicy Mayo fried chicken bento with rice and broccoli. Highly recommend! read more

Pinch - I think it was spicy Mayo fried chicken bento with rice and broccoli. - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

A small food truck sitting on the beautiful UT Austin campus. Pinch, serving probably the best tasting and most affordable Japanese fried chicken box you'll find in Austin. With plenty of sauce options and hefty portion sizes, this place definitely can satisfy your craving for a quick meal. read more

Pinch - Curry - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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convenient food spot for ut students with delicious asian food. i love the beef bulgogi bowl with free option for extra sauce. the bowl comes with rice, beef, and broccoli. opens late (2am) which is nice for when i'm hungry after studying out late. the service is always friendly but seating is limited and dirty. i would recommend if during the day to take the box and eat it on the main mall lawn! read more

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It's a staple of UT's nearby food trucks. With Don's gone, this is the next best thing. FOOD: great food truck quality, get as many sauces as you like (3 max). Good amount and is hits the spot when craving some rice boxes. PRICE: well, it's Austin. Prices will be higher than expected, but for ~$8 this is pretty good for quantity. WAIT: it's not terrible. Every time I've been it's been relatively short (max wait time 10 minutes)! Do recommend every UT goer to eat here! read more

Pinch - Fried chicken and rice with spicy Mayo, chili sauce, and teriyaki sauce. (Cabbage underneath chicken) - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Pretty legendary spot on campus for cheap quick food with good portion sizes but recently has been skimping on their portion. Rice and chicken used to be incredibly filling and now is just a pittance. Stop the shrinkflation and either put more food or raise the price. Could just be an employee issue. Been told that someone ordered extra chicken and didn't even get any. Cannot confirm this but I am not alone in thinking the portion is not as impressive as usual. read more

This was a pleasant surprise. I went between classes & had time to spare. Service is quick, the food is tasty -wasn't overly seasoned or drenched in sauce while still carrying a nice, rich curry taste. The portion matches the price. They will see me again. There is minimal seating outside this food truck. It's located next to several other food trucks, but their line was the longest & moved quickly. All ordering and payment is contactless via iPad. read more

Pinch - Curry ckn bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you like a great place to eat for decent prices, Pinch is your place! This is located in a "Food Truck" right across campus. They serve mainly chicken or tofu bowls. Coming to the area, the register is in front and you order for yourself. Someone is there if you are confused what to do and they will explain the process. The process is generally easy though and not back breaking. I ordered the chicken bowl with extra meat and rice. Chicken bowl- Really good! Every piece I got was really juicy. I got it with the spicy mayo sauce and the sweet n spicy? Either way it is good. they use to have more veggies in the past BEFORE the pandemic however this is not the case anymore. I definitely recommend getting extra meat cause it is $1 extra. The extra rice is free. Would order this again. Overall, I like how simple and easy ordering from this place is. They also have vegetarian options which is helpful too (aka fried tofu). Would definitely come back and keep getting food from here even though I am not from here. read more

I just to be a really big fan of Pinch and I loved and adored how it was a go-to spot for cheap casual eats on campus. However, more recently, I haven't been having the same experience as I had in the past. This past week, I stopped by for a quick bite and got their Classic Chicken Bento. And initially, there really wasn't anything amiss, their chicken was chickening, the rice as there, etc,. until I took a bite into a piece and the chicken was PINK. I had to do some googling and some external validation with my friends to see if I should be concerned, but there were a few pieces that were just more on the pink side than I would be comfortable with in my chicken. But other than that, I've never had a bad experience. You definitely have to be smart about when you go to avoid lines! read more

super affordable and you get so much bang for your buck. would def recommend getting the extra rice. this place has saved me many a time when i'm too mentally spent to cook at home. read more

Food truck at UT Austin. Close to the Catholic center. Portion sizes are great. I ordered the chicken with vegetables and rice. Delicious. Every bite had sauce and was very flavorful. This is my roommates' favorite spot to stop at after class. Would come again. Quick service and lasts a couple meals. Definitely recommend. read more

Good tasting food at a good price! Located conveniently on 21st street, this food truck is very popular amongst university students, and for a good reason. The food portions are big enough to last two meals, and the fried chicken bento or tofu bento are only $6. I always get the chicken with spicy mayo and ranch. The beef is more expensive at $8, but I personally think the cuts of meat are very fatty and I am not a fan of the sweeter marinated taste. When ordering on the tablet, you can also add extra rice, broccoli, cabbage, and radish for free! The only caveat of this place is that because it is a food truck, there are only outdoor seating options. The closest place to find indoor seating is on campus, such as McCombs Atrium or you may try the cafe area in Rowling Hall. However, don't bring Pinch inside Dobie because of their strict policy against outside food. I got yelled at and learned my lesson the hard way. There used to be a time where I ate here 3 times a week. That's just how great this food truck is! Hoping one day they will get big enough to have a restaurant location. read more

Pinch - Fried chicken bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So good! Bang for your buck compared to everything else on campus and everything is just yummy. read more

Pinch - Fried Chicken Bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Vegetarian option had cold broccoli but everything else super hot. Was 80% just rice, had 3 pieces of broccoli, and mid fried tofu. not worth the price. read more

The tofu at pinch had a really thin fried layer and there wasn't a distinct crunch when I bit into it HOWEVER I did enjoy how I had teriyaki sauce in every bite the broccoli did make me sad tho. it was just there, very plain :( BUT I will give Pinch some extra points because it's a food truck and I love food trucks ‍ read more

Pinch - tofu and broccoli in a box - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Loved their food - quantity as well as taste was spot on. We had Tofu and went for combination of sauces & did extra Tofu and rice in one. That ensured enough quantity that could be shared by 2 for a late lunch. Best part - the girl who was taking our order was an UT student (she was listening to a lecture in parallel!!) and hence ended up tipping her 20%!! Will definitely go back to Pinch when we are over next time. read more

I love finding good cheap eats that are review worthy. Saw this place had 4 stars on yelp and thought I'd give it a try... ..The food was really bad. We got the crispy tofu a d the fried chicken. Not sure if the chicken was real (lol it prob was but it left you wondering...). The broccoli that came on the side was cold (meanwhile the rest of the plate was piping hot). The whole thing tasted superrrr super cheap. I'm assuming that's the appeal since it's in the college area. Won't give it a second chance, too many better options in Austin. read more

Good food and large portion sizes for a cheap price. It's also a really convenient location on campus! They give very little veggies with the box but you can ask for extra for free. I really like the spicy mayo and sweet chili sauces! read more

Pinch - Tofu bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's $6.50 for a large box of chicken nuggets over rice. How much better can it get? The chicken is crispy and flavorful. The different sauces make it fun (I opt for the spicy mayo but the teriyaki and ranch are nice too). The truck is one of the best quick lunch options on campus. You order on a tablet and pay without having to talk to anyone. They yell your order when the food is ready. read more

Pretty solid! I got the spicy mayo + sweet chili fried chicken bento to go and the line was very short + food came out quick. The portion is good for $8 and the chicken is seasoned nicely and crispy. I like how you can add multiple sauces too. It also comes with rice and broccoli and cabbage which are all standard. Also the cashier guy is super nice! The only downside is since the food is fried, it would taste better with some pickled radish. Otherwise, it's pretty good and what you expect. This place is really affordable and tasty for college students so I would definitely come by again! read more

Pinch - Fried chicken bento - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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GREAT FOOD. Loved the teriyaki fried chicken. eat here a lot since I live so close by and it never fails to satisfy. read more

I passed this food truck often and appreciated the aroma that fills the air. So today, I decided to give it a try. I went with the Teriyaki Fried Chicken Bento Box. They were fast and it was fresh and hot. The sauce was delicious, but I just wish there was more of it. The veggies were perfectly steamed and the rice was fluffy and light. read more

Pinch - Teriyaki Fried Chicken Bento Box - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

so amazing! chicken is awesome! service is even better! would definitely recommend for any late night students wanting a low price meal that is super duper tasty! read more

Fresh crispy hot and no wait time .. for the price and quality with quality can't beat it read more

Pinch - Teriyaki - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great late night location with good portions for the price. Friendly staff and is definitely worth checking out. Spicy mayo and sweet chili sauces are the best imo. read more

Really delicious fried chicken with special flavor. The bento is filled with a big portion of crispy and juicy chicken，fresh veggies and rice at a good price. Super convenient for me to grab one after class. Especially recommend the curry chicken， the rice with its unique sauce is super delicious！ read more

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The person working was so kind and the food was made super fast. My group came super close to closing and it was no thing at all! I really appreciated how pleasant the worker was :). The food is also amazing!!! read more

Fantastic Chicken and rice. Great for after a workout. Big portions and extra rice is free. Most bowls here are only $7-9. I recommend getting all three sauces as well. read more

Pretty cheap and close to campus! They do run out of ingredients so def get here when you can and don't plan for them to always have what you want read more

Stopped by for a quick and easy dinner, I was pleasantly surprised with how delicious and crunchy the fried chicken was. They gave a big portion of chicken too which was really nice. My boyfriend got curry chicken and thought it wasn't better than the fried mayo chicken that I got. I definitely recommend it for an affordable, filling, and delicious meal. You order on an iPad at the food truck and the food is served pretty promptly. I don't think I would be a repeat customer but I recommend trying it. read more

Pinch - Curry chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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such an amazing and cheap food place! first pic was my first order ever and second pic was my second. really filling portions for affordable college student friendly prices. i will say i did not receive pickled radish in my second order which they usually give (maybe they changed it) so that was a bit confusing, not sure if they excluded it due my extras or not. overall, great choice for a quick lunch! read more

Pinch - spicy mayo fried chicken bento with extra spicy mayo sauce - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Get the fried chicken bento box with all three sauces! I enjoy the food and the service is good !

You guys should get the spicy mayo fried chicken bento box! Great service and food and in a convenient spot!

Awesome staff, the Asian auntie here makes the best Asian food on campus. It's super affordable, but the only drawback is that it's located at the busiest part of campus so the line is long! read more

fried tofu with extra teriyaki was pretty good and filling for less than 10 bucks. service was quick too.

Quick note: If you're ordering normally, this place is a good bet. However, they don't seem to be entirely aware that they're on MealPal, so be ready for some trouble if you're trying to MealPal here. Food [4/5] - The food here is enjoyable for the most part, and each box has a wide variety of ingredients that complement each other well. My one development area for Pinch would be to throw in some more sauce to avoid the dryness associated with dishes that consist mostly of chicken and sticky rice. Service [4/5] - Staff get food out in a timely manner and are efficient at taking orders most of the time. Read note above regarding MealPal. Ambiance [3/5] - It's a small food truck in an empty parking lot across from Dobie. Not exactly a romantic date spot, but good thing Pinch is portable by nature. Value [5/5] - This isn't the most filling Asian-style food box on campus (can never compare to Don), but you should feel pretty full after finishing it, mostly due to the bed of rice underneath all the other ingredients. read more

I freakin love this place! Prices are great and service is fast! I always get extra chicken it is inexpensive for extra! I usually have left overs :) read more