BentOn

Good food and friendly service! Highly recommended

Reviewed on Facebook

authentic japanese. i love ramen

Reviewed on Facebook

SummaryI believe the low reviews were before the renovation.  Lots has changed in this go-to Japanese lunch spot in the heart of FiDi. The FoodIn my humblest of opinions, the quality of the food vastly improved since the renovation.  Most notably, the ramen is much, much tastier than before.  It is now one of the best ramen bowls in the area (aside from Kuu).  My only gripe about the better ramen is the higher cost.  But I guess that comes with the territory?The bento box options also greatly improved.  Everything is much fresher.  Although it feels as if the poke/chirashi bowls are much more toned down (and fewer of them), they are much fresher.The ServiceI would say a somewhat noticeable improvement in this area as well.  They are much more organized than before.The AtmosphereIt's still a bit hot in here during the summer.  They really should invest in a better air conditioner that would entice more customers in the door. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Love this place! The food is great and the employees are awesome. I recommend the Kagoshima with Charshu.

Reviewed on Yelp

Good lunch spot. Except no AC!!! Won't be going here in the summer. Food is good otherwise though.

Reviewed on Yelp

Yaaassss first time there and fell in love with the chicken teriyaki and the salad  just love their food it will fill you up but you won't feel heavy at all witch is great I will be coming back also loved the picky matcha flavor yummy also the decor is just so fun and warm

Reviewed on Yelp

Since my last review, I decided to give the place some justice and visit it... several more times. True, some of the bento offerings may not be stellar, but this is relative to the Financial District a gem. On all my visits here, I've been dining in. It is better than getting it to go. This week alone, I got bento boxes to stay, a prepared bento, and one of the bowls. The prepared bentos are more misses than hits, because you're stuck with what you have. On most occasions they don't even tell you what's in them, so choosing among the prepared bentos is a guessing game. The main protein in the one I got was supposed to taste like cutlets, but resembled meatballs. The microwaving also zapped some of the flavoring away.For the bento boxes, I decided to get the karaage. I would say this is their hit. The staff would ask you if you want it with sauce, and I would say you should get it with the sauce. The sauce is reminiscent to if it isn't the Thai sweet sauce. I won't question the authenticity at this point. Hijiki salad seems to be their thing and I had it at least once this week. I also grabbed arugula and the spaghetti salad at different points. Monday, I recall getting teriyaki chicken, but then yesterday I had the chicken Hamburg. The teriyaki needs the sauce, so don't refuse it. As to the chicken Hamburg, it tasted fairly interesting, but I can't say I like it a lot.The best bet honestly is the bowl. The eponymous bento boxes are great, but the display and decorations are actually distractions. Though they give you more options, you get each thing for less. On the other hand, the bowl is a Chipotlization of Japanese-style fast food. The prices change depending on the protein. For the best bet, get the karaage or the chicken teriyaki. It comes over a bowl of rice and you can pick one "side," aka one of different varieties of greens. The karaage I got today came with the spicy mayo. Price - $8.50 before tax.If you're a student, you also get 10% off! They don't have any notice of it at the register, but it is next to the door. So again, this is one of the places where you pay for what you get. Here, for the value of what it is, in the Financial District, this is quite a rarity. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I tried this place using mealpal and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the kale and how it was seasoned. I usually only get kale in salads and it's quite bland but BentOn managed to flavor it while keeping the taste light and refreshing. The rice was perfectly cooked and filling. The chicken was also delicious and cooked well. Service is quick and friendly and i would definitely try this place again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place is such a great deal for lunch! I picked up an "Asian Crispy Chicken Bowl" with MealPal today -- it was the first time I had heard of BentOn Cafe. It was a quick pickup, and a really healthy/tasty quick lunch for a workday. I'll be back! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Really enjoyed my meal. Got to try a few new things like the yellow pumpkin purée with almonds, the quinoa kale salad with pickled cabbage and the inarizushi all really delicious. The teriyaki chicken and the fried chicken w the spicy mayo were also good. definitely coming back here during any lunch breaks. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This review is for delivery only- have gotten delivery for dinner a handful of times and I was always found the good to be fresh and delivered quick. My usual order is the shrimp tempura ramen, and dumplings and they do a good job to make sure that all components are packaged individually. The food is tasty and portions are pretty large. Good for a reliable dinner order which doesn't break the bank. Will stay in my dinner rotation esp during the colder months when I crave noodle soup pretty regularly. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Simple fresh and tasty options, many great choices to choose from and combinations are impressive. Hot foods are available just as well

Reviewed on Facebook

IMO a hidden gem for lunch. Lots of good options for the bento box. My go to is their bibimbap bowls or their crispy chicken bowl. If you like somewhat gentrified Japanese lunch box or bowls this place is pretty solid choice. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The spicy ramen lunch special is a generous portion. It isn't overly spicy and the broth is filled with noodles and vegetables. The lighting design adds to the aesthetic of the restaurant. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great choices and the service is good. I love the selection options and the miso isn't so bad!

Reviewed on Facebook

Taking care of some bussiness downtown this place made up for a great quick stop to refill some fuel. Their misogyny soup is great and large portion is really LARGE. Veggie fried dumplings hit the spot as well. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Here's a review from a healthy weight, excellent bmi, non-model, non-american, asian female after 2 visits to this place for bentos. [Price]: Cheap. 6 dishes for $10 - 2 proteins + 4 sides + Miso soup (Comparing to Fields good chicken, Dig Inn, Niko niko, Roast, Water cafe, Open Market)[Protein Variety]: Good. They have many types of proteins -- Chicken, Fish, Pork, Beef. Different style of cooking that you can choose from -- Fried, Steamed, Grilled, Stewed etc...[Sides Variety]: Can do better. Sides need a bit more work as it always seemed a bit soggy or overcooked so my advice would be stick to salads.[Food Quality]: Average. Not bad, not great. Cafe Standard.[Food Taste]: Okay. Not bad, not great. Cafe Standard.Might be on a bland side for some people.[Food Portion]: More than enough. Been here twice, can never finish so. I would say it's more of a 1.5 meal portion for me. [On Fish and bones]: Seems like its a culture thing. We always have bones in our meat.So not a big deal for me.[Presentation]: Amazing.It's pretty, cute and neat. Makes food looks appetize-able. Best presentation so far for a cafe standard in US. Cleanliness]: Ok. Floor looks clean. Not sure about the kitchen but I haven't got any food poisoning.Verdict: For its' price and variety, I got nothing to complain about. :-) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Breakfast is serene for your bacon egg and cheese. Start your day in a civilized way. Wi-Fi too, it's the phone number.

Reviewed on Yelp

Great salmon great food very cozy place. I enjoyed the menu at a great price. The bento box is full of great food. Very healthy as well

Reviewed on Yelp

It's not just Japanese food, they have KOREAN too!!!! The food is fresh and delicious and I've never had any issues with my food. And the best part is if you're a student, show them your badge and you get a discount! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Bibimbap is great! Bento portion is small?[Experience] I have always ordered delivery from BentOn Cafe. The bento box is well packed and fixed with two rubber bands. They also include a soup I think. My only complain is that sometimes the soup spill and contaminate the whole bento box. I also like the bibimbap A LOT! The serving is huge and there's plentiful meat.[Food] My personal favorite is the Tofu Kimchi with Pork Bibimbap. The texture of Tofu and the spiciness of kimchi are a wonderful combo. Although it still comes with sauce, my recommendation is that the bibimbap is flavored enough and adding additional sauce would cover up the original taste.I also like the Tonkotsu Ramen, and when delivered, the cafe was nice enough to separate the broth and the noodle. However, one major spill happened when I ordered Ramen and it was disastrous... Bento boxes are cute, although the portion of the main dish is usually pretty small. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Surprising spot for wonderful breakfast! Never a line and under $5. Great BLT! Never been for lunch, but a go to for breakfast.

Reviewed on Yelp

Really delicious and healthy japanese food. Good portion and variety on the bento box too.

Reviewed on Yelp

Been to BentOn several times for lunch and it has gotten much more popular and crowded over the past year since it opened. The bibim bap and noodle dishes are by no means huge, but I would say this is a solid fast lunch pick in the financial district. The food is tasty and moderatlly priced when you consider other sit down options in the neighborhood. Even when it is busy I can usally find a seat and there is a restroom. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Went there several time for lunch and for a full healthy and tasty meal for under 10$ it's pretty unbeatable ! Staff is friendly and decor is nice enough. ..I really don't understand the low rating ! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Best Spicy Ramen in the area, definitely a remarkable city-wide. Not sure what they did wrong to get such a low rating but their ramen is well made and a huge portion. And under $10.

Reviewed on Yelp

Second time here, Inexpensive place, with flavorful food! Definitely worth more than the actual unjustified rating! I'll come again when I'm around

Reviewed on Yelp

I don't know why the ratings here are so low... BentOn Cafe has become my favorite spot for lunch when I'm craving Japanese/Korean food. They're probably most well-known for their bento boxes that come with 2 proteins and 4 vegetable/starch sides. It's great for my hungrier days, but this is usually too much food!Instead, I gravitate towards their Soon Doo Boo. For just $4, you get a pint size container that is filled with plenty of soft tofu and seafood-y bits (mussels, squid, crab cakes). You can order a side of rice for a few dollars extra, but I usually find myself satisfied without it. They also have items like udon, chirashi bowls, onigiri, and bibimbop on the menu. If you're craving Japanese/Korean food you'll definitely be able to find something you like!AND! They give 10% off for students! (Yes, I am still milking my college ID for all it's worth.) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I'm surprised at the poor reviews, very interesting concept, decent quality food for lunch.

Reviewed on Yelp

I've been here a few times before and wasn't super impressed (though that was months ago). Those were for rice dishes. I haven't tried anything after their completely changed their menu until recently. I had their tonkotsu ramen and it was actually comparable to the ramen co noodles nearby. While the broth at ramen co is definitely the winner (as well as their perfectly runny egg), the abundance of noodles, less stiff state of their noodles and their price definitely beat ramen co. Can't beat $10 vs my $14 at ramen co. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This is a really nice lunch spot! They have bentos, noodles, rice bowls, Korean bibimbap and some appetizers. The order steps are simple: pick your meal style, the main meat and a side. The taste is not authentically Japanese but more like Asian Fusion. They have great dining environment - big, decorative and clean. Although the prices are relatively higher than other Sushi bars in this area, it deserve a five star for a lunch break place. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The anti-aging bento box is amazing! Flavorful, tasteful and reasonably priced! I like everything at this place. Come here weekly for lunch, dinner and snacks!

Reviewed on Yelp

I was really happy with what I ordered. Timely, accurate, and flavorful. The portion size was just right, and it was a great value for what I paid for my meal.

Reviewed on Yelp

I am so surprised to see a low star rating and negative comments for BentOn Cafe. I work near Wall Street so this is my go to place for my lunches. I have not tried any of their Korean based foods but all the Japanese food have been healthy and wonderful. Just a quick background of the menus - these are created by a Japanese food nutritionist who is consciously selecting food and seasoning for each bento. They're low in sodium, no MSGs and low on fat (this depends on what you order too.) If you're used to MSG/sodium packed soups and sugar loaded teriyaki sauces, you may feel something is "missing". The nutritionist focuses on the true flavors of the food. This place is a wonderful alternative to Yorganics or other healthy sandwich/soup places. The portions are good. Since each bento is carefully nutritionally balanced, you don't feel like you over ate or feel empty stomach in just few hours. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

wow saw all the neg reviews and i guess im an outlier or i dont have very sophisticated tastes.  i recently came back from japan and fell in love with the eki ben ( the bento boxes you bring on the train to eat with you)  was looking for a place in nyc that served them and found one kinda close by.  this place served the bill.  the selection was limited but gave pretty much a spot on bento experience.  of course it cannot compare to japan but we're in nyc.  i especially loved the onigiri that they had.  this is the only place in nyc that didnt have stale, hard, fall apart onigiri.  the seaweed actually stayed crispy!.  theres some others in the city that i heard about and hopefully will get to try em out soon More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Was looking for a good soba fix and found it here. $9 for soba w/beef, miso, spicy sprouts and spinach. Added more of the red sce to compliment it and it was delicious!

Reviewed on Yelp

I've only had a few of their dishes and it's pretty hit or miss. However, when they get it right MMMMMMM. Not a huge fan of the bento boxes. They are way overpriced and the meat is too tough for my looking. I love the Cham Pong, which is like a spice seafood udon but you have to enjoy fishy and spicy to enjoy this dish. The rice balls are nothing spectacular but at $2, you can't complain. Finally, the japchae is also delicious and very inexpensive.This is NOT your place to satisfy your Korean craving! This is, however, a great alternative to all the sandwich and salad places that permeate the Financial District. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This used to be Soma, which I really enjoyed. BentON is Soma 2.0, which added a few racks of asian deliciousness and moved the sushi bar. Aside from that, I'm not quite sure what's the difference. I usually get the Soma Bibimbap, which has 9 veggies, and a meat. I typically go for the ground marinated beef. It's nothing special, but not not delicious. I love rice and bibimbap, so it's just awesome for me. More importantly, it's 1.5 blocks from my office. I've had their rice balls, which sells out if you're having a late lunch. I've had the tuna one, which I think they forgot to put the tuna in. And the salmon, I thought was supposed to be raw, was cooked. Wasn't too big of a fan of that. But at least their bibimbaps are good, and made right in front of you, with a runny egg. mmm... Great place to grab a quick bite during lunch! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Yummy and healthy bento boxes, japanese breads, and onigiri, where else are you going to get that in fidi? I'm super happy they opened up here.

Reviewed on Yelp

It used to be soma by nature. I think they still have the same food that they serve but adding a bento box section where you can just grab a bento box and leave. Perfect for FiDi busy WallStreet ppl..Bento box was surprisingly freshly made daily.. I bought a salmon bento box and it has brown rice, salad, salmon, fried potato, potato salad (you can see the pic).. It is also reasonably price.. There are daily specials.. The day I went was mapo tofu for 5.95/6.95.. don't remember.. but the bento box caught my eyes more.. I am totally full after the whole eating the entire bento box..If you want hot food, you can wait in line and order.. They have bimbimbop, japchae, ramen noodles... It just take some time if you are in a rush.. If you just grab one of the bento box, you can just cut the line and pay for it..Bento box was pretty good.. nothing WOW.. nothing bad.. No complains More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Quick lunch. Good value. Not greasy. A fair amount of options.The $5.95 lunch special chicken teriyaki is why I come back here.

Reviewed on Yelp

Great place for quick, pretty good Japanese/Korean food at about the same price as other lunch options in FiDi. For the freshness and number of options, I'd say this is a great value. You can take out or sit-in at some of the tables. The staff is also quick and they have quite a system going on for lunch rush hour.Japanese Bento Box - Impressive for a quick lunch place in FiDi. You can choose from mackerel, white fish, chicken, combos, and more; the options change daily. The food itself is served at room temperature, but still a bit warm from the kitchen. They all are around $7-8 and include lots of garnishes and extra goodies in the box. Also, as with the sushi, you can skip the line of people waiting for hot food.Chicken Curry - You can't really go wrong with chicken curry anywhere since most restaurants I assume use the Golden Curry mix, and they do a good job here. The curry itself is more watery than viscous, but still a great option for curry cravings. The lunch special also comes with your choice of vegetables (try the pickled bean sprouts if you haven't yet).Bibimbap - Since it's served in plastic instead of stone, the rice doesn't have the same crispiness as you would find at a Korean sit-down restaurant, but the vegetables that come with the dish are still spot-on and fresh-tasting. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Just opened this week! BentOn replaces Soma by Nature, a popular if slightly dingy lunch spot with basic Korean fare (yelp. com/biz/soma-by-nat…).Instead of bibimbap and japchae, BentOn sells prepared bento boxes, sushi bowls, ramen/udon soups, plus some grab-and-go bread/buns and onigiri (yay!) if you've made the unfortunate life decision of allowing office meetings to trump the consumption of food. Soma's sushi bar still exists, but it and the chef have been moved to the back. There are still traces of Soma in the menu - I thought I saw a bibimbap bowl being prepared, and the cold case still had kimchi, but I get the sense these will disappear as time passes.Unfortunately, they are still traces of Soma in the decor, too, but new management has at least managed to brighten up the space significantly. Still a work in progress, and it is still just a lunch spot, but I have high hopes.The "daily" bento changes every day and is surprisingly reasonably priced, starting around $7.50 for a decent amount of food that actually looks fresh and well-presented.Ok, I'm going to go grab an onigiri now before my meeting. More...

Reviewed on Yelp