Bento Nouveau
“Bento was one of my go-to lunch spots when I worked in the Financial District.”
“The udon is good on a cold day, and is tasty – though it's mainly the protein, noodles, and broth – you won't get a lot of vegetables along with it.”
“I picked up the pre-cut sushi in the cooler by the door.”
Bento Nouveau
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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Randomly walked in just to grab sushi for lunch. Since they promote the new spices of california roll.. I decided to walk in and try it. around 6 dollars for it.. I had a little high expectation..
When I reach home and I opened it up, the 5 or 7 spices( i don't remember" california roll is tasteless.. They should name is 1 spice california roll or something.. or maybe there were too much spices and they just complicated the taste of it..
Disappointed.. 🙁
Look, if you're coming here, it had better be because you work nearby. As in next door, like me. And you need a really fast, somewhat nutritious lunch.
If that's what you want, then I recommend the brown rice vegetable sushi to go. Not because it's particularly any good. It's really not – it's cold, and a little too firm, and so on. But it's brown rice with decent vegetables; it's filling; it's not too expensive; and the lines aren't very long at all. I can't imagine buying anything with raw fish in it here, but more power to you if you venture that far.
I can't say the udon looked promising, but I'll try it some day in any event.
Rushed in here because I was starving after doing the Statue of Liberty tour with my sister and her husband.
I got the huge Salmon lovers platter of sushi for $13-14 and a plain udon noodle $4-6.
The udon noodles came out piping hot and I actually burned my tongue. That was pretty good.
The sushi however, was rock hard and cold. I was not a fan. The pieces of fish didn't taste that fresh which was I guess what I get for buying sushi out of a fridge case.
Doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
There is sushi available as well as udon. I saw seaweed salad, mini tuna rolls, quinoa and avocado california rolls, etc. I ordered the vegetable udon, and it was adequate. I have been to the other one on Broadway, and it was the beef flavor–that one is heavenly. The veggie had mushrooms, arrow shoots, a handful of cut green beans, and stirred onions. I found the the celing decor is moderately nice with wooden interlocking slats similar to ones found in a fancy garden. It is made to be a fast food joint but with healthier options. You have to bus your own table, and there is no waitstaff. The guy working at the counter was decent, but the food was not bad. I still prefer the other Bento Nouveau better.
First thing's first: Let's remember this is Japanese fast food. Anyone looking for fine Japanese cuisine is at the wrong place.
When I walked in, I saw the open refrigerated counter of raw fish in the form of sushi, nigiri, and the like. Also situated were a few cooked items. I was hesitant to try anything from there in fear of how long it's been sitting there and some other Yelpers reviews of getting sick, so I walked towards the back and ordered the Beef Teriyaki Udon Noodle Soup ($6.69 + $0.59 tax = $7.28). The first thing that shocked me was that two Indian workers were running the shop making me feel a bit regrettable that I had decided to check this place out and brought a coworker along for the ride. I watched as the chef took the frozen pre-packaged blocks of udon and threw it into the metal baskets to boil. The frozen udon was typical of what you find in every Asian supermarket. Not exactly the most appetizing if you take notice. Sigh. As soon as the noodles were done in a few minutes, they were poured in a bowl. The beef teriyaki originating from a mass produced steam tray was thrown on top, and then steaming hot brown broth filled to the brim. Fairly quick and easy to prepare, making me realize a kid could do it.
Yet somehow and miraculously, I and my coworkere were satisfied with our Beef Teriyaki Udon Noodle Soups. The beef, somewhat in the form of bulgogi, was well-marinated in a sweet soy sauce making for a decently flavorful protein. The udon noodles were soft as one would expect. And the brown broth, although not typical of what one would expect from udon broth was tasty in all its sodium glory. Although they tout no MSG is used, it still reminds me of those artificial instant powder broths one would be familiar with if they eat a lot of instant noodles. Those little pink packets of spices/seasonings, available at the noodle pick-up counter, also amped up the flavors slightly. Maybe I had low expectations when I walked into this tacky fast-food Japanese restaurant manned by Indian workers, but I was relieved that the udon wasn't half bad. For the price, it is slightly high, but let's not forget this is the FiDi.
And another note: They do take credit card for purchases under $10 (definite thumbs up), but it must be Visa/Mastercard. Sorry AMEX!!
This was ok. Service was quick, although I went during the lunch rush. The staff was friendly, although very busy.
Food wise: the roll was ok. The salmon was smokey tasting. That really threw me off, along with the crunchy onions not being very crunchy. SO it ended up tasting like cold friend salmon? weirdness…
The miso soup is good and only a $1 extra.
If in a rush I'd recomend it, maybe I picked the wrong item?
Decent food at a great price. If you go late at night, all their sushi is like half off or something (I forgot the exact sale/price reduction).
lots of choices too. hot foods, soups, noodles, sushi, etc.
I really didn't want to walk in there.
I really didn't even want to buy the udon after I saw them make it in the little window.
I really didn't even like the prices especially after seeing them make it in the little window.
But goddamn, I'm always in the mood for udon during my lunch breaks and this is the only place with noodle pictures on the outside. The udon isn't good and I think even the cooks know it. They never look happy and I'm sure that packaged chicken doesn't necessarily make them feel deserving of the title "chef".
I ordered the chicken udon the last time I went there and they didn't even hide the fact that they were putting pre-cooked and packaged chicken in my udon bowl. I think that's when I had enough. Udon pictures won't lure me anymore. Sadly, it worked the first three times but honestly [and I'm a beginner cook] if I can cook that udon myself I really don't want to pay you 10 dollars for it. So really, I wasn't even surprised how quick they were able to make it…. Because it doesn't take much. They have the soup already made. They have packaged everything. So it's bada bing bada boom and there I go out the door.