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    Bento & Bowls

    4.6 (267 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Soup, Barbeque
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Bento & Bowls Takeout or Delivery

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    BENTO & BOWLS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Inside seating area
    Yee W.

    Seen this place as I was on my way to Oakland Kaiser hospital and decided to get some food. Very small parking lot so I was happy there was one space available. I walked in and looked at the menu while the cashier greeted me. I decided to go with the teriyaki chicken bowl which came with noodles, rice, broccoli and fried potatoes? Or something that tasted like it. It was surprisingly tasty! There was a good amount of teriyaki chicken and I also got extra sauce. I wish there were more noodles because it was delicious. Overall the food filled me up and I was satisfied.

    Spicy Marinated Chicken Bento
    Soo K.

    I've ordered from Bento & Bowls multiple times, and they never disappoint. I love Korean bentos, and Bento & Bowls has the perfect options to suit my taste buds and standards. The seasoning of their proteins and the smoky flavor from the grill are truly exceptional. Every bite is fantastic, as all the side dishes complement each other so well. My only wish is that they would offer additional banchan (side dishes) for purchase on DoorDash. The portion sizes for the bentos are generous and definitely shareable, but I'd prefer to keep it all to myself! Today, I ordered the spicy chicken bento with vegetable fried rice (for an extra $3), but I think I'll skip the fried rice next time. Unfortunately, it lacked flavor and was overly greasy.

    Great spot for an afternoon snack!

    Hole in the wall gem! Great entrees and Korean street food style snacks. Check them out, perfect for carry out.

    Vegan bibimbap $13
    Rachel M.

    During the pandemic, this place offered huge-portioned bang for your buck Korean bento boxes. As it was super close to me when I lived in Oakland, I frequented it several times and tried different options, including the tofu, bulgogi, and chicken katsu. The bento boxes were chock full of protein & veggies and were worth two meals for me. Bulgogi was really flavorful and tasty! I think they also have some bomb-looking chicken wings! Not sure how much prices have increased lately but please support this mom and pop shop- they're doing great things!

    Menu (pg. 1) as of 1/19/22
    Kevin W.

    Thank you, Yelp, for connecting me to this wonderful establishment. I had first noticed Bento & Bowls from the Yelp "Hot & New Businesses". I did a little search and didn't think much of it, since it was a good 10-15 minutes away from work. Having an appreciation for numbers, it would be a 15 minute drive, if I were to call 5-10 minutes before lunch, another 15 minutes to drive back to work, meaning a short 30 minutes to fully enjoy my lunch bento or lunch bowl. After work, one day, I decided to hit the gym and take Broadway to Highway 24. At a stop, I noticed Bento & Bowls and recalled the glowing review from Emma, Stephanie, and the 5-star average review. Well, I know where I'm stopping. I proceeded to make a sharp right (sorry drivers behind me), to cut into the curb that fed into the parking lot (it was also dark, and the lighting was a bit difficult to see). The menu was relatively simple. A good 20-30 items, with the option of bowl or bento. Pictures of the various items adorned the transparent barrier, where you can see the chefs preparing your food. A team of 4-5 were working in the small kitchen area, with one of them shifting to help me. Being a fan of the most basic Korean BBQ meat, I ordered the Spicy Marinated Chicken Bento. With tax and tip, it ended up being just short of $20. B&B made it fresh to order, took the projected 10-15 minutes, giving time to scroll on social media while the barbecue aromas danced around the room. Once it was ready, my eyes were delighted with the nice bento box presentation. They had a separate container for the rice, and 5 sections separating the foods. The salad with dressing, banchan 1 (pickled zucchini, broccoli, and bean sprouts), banchan 2 (kim chi), jap chae, and the barbecued items. The meal felt very balanced and well worth it for the price. I wouldn't say that the bento is big enough for 2 meals, because I usually eat for two, but I appreciated the variety, the various textures, and how fresh the food was. Gold star in my book.

    Kimchi fried rice on left, spicy pork bento on right, beef bulgogi bento in background and yes they include the spicy cucumber salad

    Ok this place is hella good. I've gotten delivery from here before which was great but today a friend and I went in for lunch (it's spring break at Oakland Tech so it was miraculously not that busy). She got the beef bulgogi bowl and I got the spicy pork bulgogi and we also got a kimchi fried rice. We ended up sharing everything because it was all so delicious. The cucumber spicy salad was a huge surprise, the glass noodles with veggies (japchae) were light and delicious, the bulgogi was outstanding (AMAZING, so juicy and fresh and sweet but savory and yummm delicious) and the spicy pork was fab. I would recommend both. They have extra sauce for 50 cents but if you order a full meal they might even include it. The business owner was there for the beginning of our meal, and he helped us choose our dishes. It's 2:15pm and I'm already craving it again. Another star was the sweet spicy crispy yams like whaaaat spectacular give me 14 more of them Ps the kimchi fried rice was awesome too. I did ask for a little extra kimchi on the side because I love it and it was perfect Ambiance was a cross between the best LA strip mall x Oakland family restaurant... perfectly clean, staff was amazing, if you don't go here that's your bad

    Musabi
    Xavier M.

    Edit: Ok so this place has great food 100% like it, but they have changed the Spam Masubi recipe and now there is less teriyaki on it! Guys what happened?? I don't if it's just me but the lack of teriyaki kinda disappoints me. It's still good, just not what it used to be. Overall besides that the food here is amazing!

    Spicy Marinated Chicken Bento (Kimchi Fried Rice upgrade)

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    9 months ago

    Vegetarian versions taste oily and synthetic rather than fresh and well flavored. Fast service.

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    2 years ago

    Best spicy pork in the east bay! And they didn't gouge the prices during the pandemic like everyone else did. Super fast and friendly!

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    2 years ago

    Meh- I'm sorry I spent any of my money here, will avoid in the future. Food is mid and something is sketch here.

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Smokin Woods BBQ

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    3.8
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I can't speak to the ambiance of the establishment as I had take out…read more There was a wait, but not extremely long. The brisket was delicious albeit a little fatty. The BBQ sauce was phenomenal. The baked beans were fine. The Mac and cheese was OK. I would go back and try something different like links and collards. Overall good.

    Food is EXCELLENT however, trying to order from them is a nightmare. They always have to close…read moreordering because they get so busy. I tried ordering yesterday and the ordering was closed at about 11:30 a.m. Because of this I ordered a day early (through Uber Eats). I keep getting updates but wanted to call the store to confirm. Glad I did because they didn't have the order and now at noon the ordering is closed for two hours. They should hire a couple of people just for take out orders for an order for four. After this it will be a while before I order again if at all. Update: at 1:00 they cancelled the order I placed at approximately 11:30 am. Second day in a row- you can't pay me to order from here again. Bad services ruins good food. Update two: I called them to express my frustration and sheer disappointment she listen said she would check on it - took my number and said she would call me back within 10 minutes. If I got a call the person reading this got one as well!!! If I wasn't done with them I definitely am now.

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    Blackberry Lemonade
    Blackberry Lemonade
    Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed
    Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed
    Cool looking bar inside

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    Horn Barbecue

    Horn Barbecue

    3.5
    (320 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I visited Horn Barbecue and I NEED management and ownership to read this carefully--because what I…read moreexperienced deserves to be recognized on a higher level. First of all, my order was TO-GO. And let me tell you... when I got home and opened that bag, I was honestly blown away. My food was packaged with so much care, precision, and pride--it was neat, organized, and handled like it actually mattered. That alone told me everything about the level of service in that building. Candalen--YOU DID THAT. The attention to detail on my plate did not go unnoticed. You treated my food like it was being served in-house, and that speaks volumes about your work ethic and pride in what you do. Aaron--listen... that peach lemon drop??? BABY. That was my first time trying one and it was EVERYTHING. Smooth, flavorful, perfectly balanced--you made that drink an experience all by itself. I will be back JUST for that. And let's talk about the vibe--the music, the energy, the atmosphere--it all came together in a way that made the entire visit feel GOOD. Not just food... a whole experience. But what really stands out is this: It has been a LONG time since I've experienced service this genuine, this intentional, and this excellent. Not rushed, not careless--EXCEPTIONAL. Management, if you are reading this--please understand--you have some powerful people on your team. Candalen and Aaron are the kind of employees that elevate a brand. They are the reason people come back. They are the reason I will be telling others. This wasn't just a good experience. This was the kind of experience that turns customers into loyal supporters. I will absolutely be back--and I will be bringing people with me. Until next time, WUHAPN NATION

    I have been telling my friend about how satisfying and delicious the food at Horn BBQ is, but every…read moretime we came by the restaurant was closed. Finally, we were so excited to see it was open on a Saturday an we came in for lunch. To order you need to scan the QR code and pay plus tip before a single person spoke to us or offered us service. From the menu we saw they were out of beef ribs, smoked chicken, rib tips, no peach cobbler, no banana pudding and no kool aid. I come for their brisket and my friend loves ribs so we went ahead and ordered combo plates to share. Mine was the brisket with a side of collard greens, she had the pork ribs, a hotlink with a side of Mac-n-cheese, & cornbread. For drinks we had lemonade and an Arnold Palmer. I'm not sure what has happened over the last few months but the quality of the food, the service and the expectation to pay and tip up front were very disappointing. The greens, Mac cheese, brisket and ribs were cold. The hotlink wasn't BBQ'ed it was pan fried. Everything tasted like warmed up leftovers and we will not return. For 2 of us to eat it came to $100 and we were not satisfied. The dining room is an attractive space, it was completely empty. The staff was unclear about what we ordered, had to be told to bring our drinks, bartender is also working as server and apologized for his uncertainty. I suggest this restaurant hire and train more staff if they intend to keep their doors open.

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    Bar area
    Bar area
    Brisket, beef rib
    Brisket, beef rib
    Full bar, paying homage to legends.

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    Full bar, paying homage to legends.
    The South Smokin BBQ

    The South Smokin BBQ

    4.4
    (734 reviews)
    15.7 mi
    $$

    Best BBQ in the Bay Area hands down. The flavors a great and not overwhelming. You get great…read moresouthern hospitality here.

    What a gem of a restaurant!…read more We were looking for some bbq on a Sunday funday and were so glad we stopped by. It's in the grocery outlet plaza. Order at the counter and sit and enjoy kind of place. It's decorated simply with a tv that was playing ufc and we were welcomed by Tim who was so warm and hilarious our entire visit. First thing I noticed was how fairly priced the place is. 1lb of brisket is 30 dollars, potato salad is 5 dollars and soda is 2 dollars (some places charge like 4 bucks for a can!) Ordered, sat down and enjoyed some convo with the order and our food came out in about 10min. If there's one thing to get, it's the brisket fries!! Oh my word, the sauce and cheese all go so well with the bbq. I like how their sauce has a kick to it and isn't overly sweet. The brisket was really tender and smoked well. I personally enjoy fattier pieces of brisket but I bet if I would've asked for those cuts he might've accommodated. The smoked potatoes salad is almost a must. Very unique style of potato salad and pairs well with everything. We noticed they also do catering, and the prices for that also look very reasonable. Would definitely considering using them for our next party!

    Photos
    Inside, if you can catch Tim working you are in for a treat
    Inside, if you can catch Tim working you are in for a treat
    Pulled Pork Cheese Fries ($18)
    Pulled Pork Cheese Fries ($18)
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    Everett & Jones Barbeque

    Everett & Jones Barbeque

    3.2
    (2.4k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Huge shout out to Dorcia--best food in the town!…read more I come over from work frequently to indulge on some of my favorite food and service. Thank you!

    I booked a reservation online, which I'm so glad I did! It was super busy! But we loved the vibe…read moreand the playlist of music. Everett and Jones once had a location in Sacramento many years ago and I used to visit often. I loved their barbecue sauce and still buy it in stores when available. I had that in mind when telling my family, 'Let's go!" I was disappointed with the food when we arrived. The first thing I noticed when our food came out was that the barbecue sauce wasn't as thick as I remembered, it was very runny, it's didn't stick to the mean. I also saw a lot of fat on the ribs, but thought maybe the taste would be good, so we prayed and ate. Unfortunately, the ribs were fatty and tough to find good meat. I also tried the brisket, which was a little fatty but VERY good. I ordered mac and cheese and greens as sides, but didn't like either. The mac and cheese had a bit of charred cheese on top (which I love), but I wasn't impressed afterward. My friend's hot link had zero flavor, just texture, which was strange. I was embarrassed because I had bragged about how hot the links were! Sike! Everyone at the table enjoyed the sweet cornbread. We also loved the mango lemonade. The desserts were outstanding: caramel cake, key lime pie, and pecan sweet potato pie. I highly recommend those! I'd visit again but skip the ribs and links. As a family member said, 'Don't eat your leftovers alone--you might need someone to do the Heimlich if you choke on the fat." jkjk

    Photos
    BAR AREA
    BAR AREA
    Brisket lunch
    Brisket lunch
    SIDES, COLESLAW, YAMS & CORNBREAD

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    Pig in a Pickle

    Pig in a Pickle

    4.0
    (305 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I don't usually crave BBQ but this place has my dolla every time I come into the Public Market…read more Having several BBQs around the Bay Area, I like this one the best. Their brisket is so money, they don't even know it. It ain't cheap but SuperDuper next door is chargin' $12 for a cheeseburger now. Thanks [insert president from the opposing political party].

    After hearing so many people rave about Pig in a Pickle, I finally made the trip over to…read moreEmeryville, and I'm glad I did. This place is located in a food hall, so there are plenty of other choices. If you're looking for barbecue that focuses on the meat first and doesn't rely on drowning everything in sauce, this place deserves a visit. I ordered a plate with brisket, a pork rib, hot link, collard greens, a side of BBQ sauce, and a drink for Super Duper. Brisket Without question, this was the star of the meal. I specifically asked for the fatty point, and it absolutely delivered. The brisket was incredibly tender with a beautiful bark, plenty of rendered fat, and a deep smoky flavor throughout. It had just the right balance of salt, pepper, and smoke without any one flavor overpowering the others. Honestly, this is the kind of brisket you don't even need sauce for, but I couldn't resist trying it with their BBQ sauce anyway. Pork Rib I ended up with an end piece, which can sometimes be a little dry, but that wasn't the case here. It was surprisingly tender and packed with flavor. The smoke came through nicely, and the seasoning had a great balance of pepper and salt. It wasn't falling off the bone--which, in my opinion, is exactly how properly cooked barbecue should be--but it pulled cleanly with each bite. I'd absolutely order the ribs again. Hot Link I've had plenty of hot links that were overly dense or aggressively spicy. These weren't. The casing had that satisfying snap when you bit into it, and the sausage itself was juicy and flavorful. The heat level was very approachable--enough to notice but never overwhelming--allowing the smoky, seasoned meat to remain the focus. A really well-made sausage. BBQ Sauce I mixed the mild and hot BBQ sauces together, and that ended up being the perfect combination for my taste. The mild sauce added sweetness and tang while the hot sauce contributed just enough kick without masking the flavor of the meat. That combination complemented everything on the tray exceptionally well. Collard Greens The collard greens were another pleasant surprise. They were well-seasoned, flavorful, and not overly spicy. The greens still had some texture without being tough. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more smoked meat mixed in. The flavor was definitely there--I just wanted a bit more of the meaty goodness. Overall, Pig in a Pickle impressed me from start to finish. The quality of the smoked meats really stands out, especially the brisket, which was easily one of the better briskets I've had in the Bay Area. The rib was excellent, the hot links were flavorful without being overly heavy, and even the sides held their own. I'll definitely be making the drive back to Emeryville to work my way through more of the menu. If the rest of their offerings are anywhere near as good as this tray, I can see why they've built such a strong reputation. Highly recommended--especially if you're a brisket lover. Simply Wonderful!!

    Photos
    Pig in a Pickle
    Beef brisket
    Beef brisket
    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg

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    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg
    Don Blanc

    Don Blanc

    4.4
    (302 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    Have come here twice in the last two weeks because it's so good. I don't usually like going out for…read moreKorean food because I can cook most things at home, but my partner and I were really craving meat on these occasions and wanted to go out. We've gotten the monster short rib, pork collar and butt, and daechang (large beef intestine), which I've always wanted to try. Servers cook the meat for you (though they're also cool with you taking the tongs to cook on your own) and it's a really nice experience. Nice array of tasty banchan, too. We'll probably be back again soon!!

    Won't be our last time at Don Blanc! We came for lunch yesterday and was impressed with the quality…read moreof meats and found the price to be reasonable as well. My party ordered the Supreme Combo which came with 4 types of meat with cuts of pork and beef. The banchan was also great, I love when spots give some sort of onion mixture to cut the greasiness of the meat. I also love the fact that you were able to order half orders of the cold noodles. I saw that they have gopchang on the menu which I'm excited to try next time, I know it's hard to find in the area! Our server was great, I didn't catch his name but he was extremely friendly and was on top of refilling our waters. The restaurant was quiet when we came, but was in very clean conditions.

    Photos
    It was great to have a professional to cook the meat for us -- everything was cooked to juicy perfection!
    It was great to have a professional to cook the meat for us -- everything was cooked to juicy perfection!
    Pork Collar Butt (up close) | IG @christinesnomz
    Pork Collar Butt (up close) | IG @christinesnomz
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    Pickles N Smoke

    Pickles N Smoke

    4.7
    (21 reviews)
    6.9 mi

    Pickles n' smoke showed up at the Kensington Farmers Market last Sunday. The market's weekly email…read moremessage explained two days before that openings can occur in the market due to family emergencies or vacations, or for other reasons. When that happens, the market will introduce its clientele to "a start-up vendor, or someone who's too small to commit to a weekly gig, or someone who wants to try out a cool new product." The market manager, Chris, cited Pickles n' Smoke as an example of the new surprises we can look forward to. When I showed up last Sunday at noon, there was a short line to order. Customers were curious about the new vendor; perhaps many had showed up expecting Fat Daddy's, which is the usual operation at this corner. During my short walk down the market to the Pickles tent, someone whispered in my ear that the brisket from PnS was delicious. As a result, I ordered the brisket sammi, a relatively small sweet roll piled high with brisket, slaw and sauce. The sandwich cost $19, which was somewhat more than I expected to pay; the price, however, did not strike me as outrageous. I paid in cash and was pleased that there was no tip bucket begging for the dollar bill that I received in change. The sandwich was quite excellent. All the flavors blended together very well, and I wasn't terribly bothered by the sweetness of the roll. If PnS comes back to the market, I'll try buying some barbecued meat in bulk or composing a "plate," which can include multiple meats and sides.

    Spent some time talking with the woman behind the screen @ the Kensington Farmers Market January…read more11, 2026. Pickles n Smoke had a booth there. She assured me it would be really good~~NOT! At least 70% pure fat. How disappointing! And I ordered baked beans side--underdone! Gross! I did go back to let her know: she said she would tell the chef. $22 down the tubes. How very disappointing

    Photos
    Pickles N Smoke
    Pork rib plate
    Pork rib plate
    Menu 6/3/23

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    Menu 6/3/23

    Bento & Bowls - korean - Updated July 2026

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