Tanoshi Bento
“It's obviously mostly a takeout or delivery place.”
“Definitely got my bang for the buck for the omakase at Tanoshi Bento.”
“Tiny place with just a few counter seats.”
Tanoshi Bento
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Solid lunch. They take quite a while to prepare but it's totally worth it. I believe it's take-out only which is fine for me and my coworkers. We've gotten the bento boxes and the bowls and both are very solid. One dude I work with is Japanese and actually swears by this place. Quantity and quality in one conveniently packaged box, what more could you ask for?!
This place is TINY. Literally 10 seats at the sushi bar and that's it. So I wouldn't count on getting a spot. Requires a bit of luck. Also, don't look at the tasty items on the wall when you go for lunch. Those are for dinner only. Too bad!
We ordered the "bento" box (figured that's what they're known for). You start with a miso, which was really good – the tofu and seaweed were quite good – better than your average packet miso. The salad was also quite good. The ginger sauce was not overwhelming and the vegetables were fresh. The Bento box itself (I got Pork Katsu) came with a small shumai, pineapples, rice, seaweed salad, and the pork cutlet on a bed of more veggies. I thought it was quite a nice display for the price of the meal ($10). The pork was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Overall, just a really nice meal. It's definitely not for groups, but if you happen to crave a cheap Japanese lunch box on a given day and want to step out for a quick meal on your own, this is a great option.
They have super fresh sushi here and i am definitely impressed. I came on a monday night so it wasn't too packed but i did leave my credit card for reservation through yelp reservation just incase. Got here right when it opened and there was already quite a line, this place is super small so if you plan to come definitely make reservation or get here five minutes before 6 so you are guaranteed a seat, unfortunately i didn't get the head chef but the girl i got was just as good. This place is quite expensive and i was not expecting the price tag for 10 pieces of sushi but none the less this was a good place. This place is an omakase only place so they first ask if you have any allergies and if there are any fish you dont like, i personally dont like mackerel so i notified my chef.. i really liked the venezuela big eyed tuna which was different.. ive had plenty of big eyed tuna but none like this, i also really enjoyed the poached scallop it was delicious and my most favorite was the king salmon roe (OMG mouth watering goodness, it pops in your mouth with every bite LOVED LOVED LOVED this peice) everything was really good the only one i didn't really like was the spanish mackerel because she sesasoned it with cooked soysauce and scallions so it reminded me of chinese cooked fish.. which i am not a fan of. the bill came out to be $200 with tax and tips for two people… which i found quite expensive but if you can afford this price tag definitely come give this place a try.
I had originally posted this as an update for Tanoshi Sushi, but I didn't realize there was a separate listing for the newer nextdoor Bento. I think if they had made it clear that my reservation was for Bento, I would not have been so disappointed upon arriving and seeing my name on this door rather than the original location, especially after talking it up to my guest.
Here is my original review from last month:
I went back with a friend visiting from Istanbul. We were seated on the other side, which though they're both holes-in-the-wall, I also felt was even more casual to the point of being lax and inattentive.
I was on time this time, but our seating ran late. There were people lined up outside in the cold waiting to get in. My friend still had her suitcase, and they checked it next door. We had to interrupt their meal to collect it, and they all looked mightily annoyed. (NOTE: I had the same impression last visit. I feel unwelcome here.) It's such a narrow space to pull her luggage through.
The freshness and quality of the sushi were top notch.
68 dollar omakase for some of the best sushi you can get in this city? Just amazing. Add to the fact that Rachel (proabably one of the few female sushi chefs is just a pleasure to talk to). There's no other omakase place in the city that I would go to. It's seasonal fishes are always a nice little add on if you are still hungry after the omakase. But I highly doubt it. The portions are nicely sized and you will not go hungry afterwards.
Best deal in town!!!
** BYOB **
Omakase here is top 5 sushi places (maybe not top three, but it changes by the day you ask me) and very affordable. Book now!
Venue (4/5) 10 seats approximately and all face the sushi chefs. Close seating to your neighbor can be bad if you get a bad neighbor or a couple that loves PDA (that would be my experience) Very casual and minimalistic. Nothing fancy but does the job! A bit worried when this place becomes too popular.
Food (5/5) Omakase is amazing.
Here are the rememberable items:
Triple X – Uni, quaily egg, salmon roe (GET IT)
Ankimo – Monk Liver (GET IT)
Scallop – (GET IT)
UNI – Great but not as good at Soto
Service (5/5) – Perfection!!!!!
5 stars? For a lunch only casual Japanese food place? You bet.
We have a dearth of good Japanese on the UES.
We have a dearth of bento shops in NYC.
We have a dearth of *anything* good to eat at lunch in the high 60s/low 70s on York Ave.
Rarity = higher rating.
Is this the best bento in the city? Could be as there aren't many bento box shops outside Japanese grocers.
Tiny place with just a few counter seats. Also do take out and delivery.
The bento boxes are authentic and tasty. I can't get past the katsu (chicken cutlet or pork cutlet) and the kara-age (fried chicken). I've always wanted to try the grilled mackerel but every time I walk in my mind turns to fried chicken or pork.
They also have rice bowls and soba and udon noodle dishes. Haven't tried the udon, but the soba is just the right amount of al dente with that rich roasted buckwheat flavor.
Really nice little lunch spot. Has become my go-to spot since opening.
Kampai!
Enjoyed my Salmon Teriyaki BENTO BOX LUNCH at TANOSHI BENTO (blue-purple awning, next door to yellow awning TANOSHI Sushi). FYI-There are 3 TANOSHI restaurants here, 3 separate entrances. So my lunch at TANOSHI BENTO was delicious & just right. I had just come from an East 72nd St doctor's appointment & was starving, & I checked Yelp to see what was nearby. I was so impressed with some of the reviews that I headed right over! And, when I viewed Yelp I saw that I could enjoy a complimentary soda to boot!
My salmon teriyaki bento box came with Miso soup–so fresh, perfectly flavored, one of the best miso soups I have ever had! It was freshly made-home-made, not from some mix–just delicious!! And, my salad, which I ate as my last course because I wanted to get to the salmon ASAP was yummy–dressing was great. The teriyaki sauce on my salmon was so delicious!!! Salmon was very good, & I enjoyed that sauce with my brown rice, too! The single piece of shrimp shumai was very nice. The fresh & light tofu with ginger was nice–there were two kinds of ginger with it…the pickled ginger that usually comes with sushi, & a Julianne red not sweet ginger, almost salty/sour & finely chopped scallions. And my two delicious !!! types of seaweed: my favorite Hijiki, & a green seaweed with a wonderful & most perfect sesame oil & sesame seeds. I loved both!! For my complimentary "soda", I chose a non-carbonated can of Cold Green Tea. I enjoyed that at the end of my meal w/ice. My bento box was $12.99 & worth it for sure! The service was friendly, fine, fun & informative. My server–I'm sorry, I did not ask her name, was working for someone on vacation. I enjoyed chatting w/her, & along with her talent as a friendly & very knowledgable server, she is a dancer, & teaches hip-hop! & other dance. I also LOVED seeing the map on the wall showing where fish come from & seeing warm currents/cold currents on the map. Delicious lunch & a learning experience! How cool is that? Way cool!! The restaurant seats about 12 people at the sushi bar & that is it, so come here when you want to eat. I'm told during lunch time it can be filled & a bit of a wait. I would say it is worth the wait. For today, I was quite lucky. TANOSHI Bento is usually open Mon-Fri 11AM-2:30PM, but today they were open a bit later. They are open Saturday from 11:30AM-3:00PM.
Delicious food-GO!! I'll be there again this week to try other dishes-can't wait!!!