This restaurant is closing December 23, 2017. You have to try the shrimp tempora before it's too late! The tempura is light and crisp. The rice is winderful with a crisp layer on top. The miso ramen soup is also good. The portion is huge! What a shame to lose this gem. read more

Bento39 - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

I love the taste of each item. They are made carefully and mindfully from scratch by a Japanese chef. Also, the price is very reasonable.

Super quick and super delicious food! I ordered the tonkatsu curry for myself, but my partner's shrimp tempura donburi bowl satisfied a craving I didn't know I had. The cooks in the back were Japanese, and lots of local Japanese customers came through, so you know it's authentic. Their English menu was easy to miss since it was on the side wall, not behind the counter. Behind the counter their whiteboard is filled with their specials in Japanese, and I ordered the mitarashi dango-super good!! I will definitely come back when I want a quick bite to eat in Novi. read more

Wow! My family and I just came back from Japan a few weeks ago, and I decided to try this place based on reviews. It was delicious, super hot and fresh and had the same items I had in a similar Bento box in Tokyo (this was better). Easy parking by the CVS. I'll be back soon. read more

Bento39 - Menu as of 5/13/17 - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

See all

Piece of crap place. I went a out of my way to come here for it to be just closed!!! In a Thursday noon!! What's the bloody reason? Death in family? Vacation? I mean this is the way to find out?? I will never come back here again read more

Bento39 - Unreliable joint. Closes whenever they feel like. Never again - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

I got the beef teriyaki bento and it was fantastic! Also the gyoza wa delicious!! Loved the food here and the man working the cash register is very kind and knowledgeable. The woman making the food behind the counter does a fantastic job too. Happy I found this little gem read more

It's back and better than it was. Plus they have Chicken NaN Ban for Friday's special. "What is Chicken NaN Ban?" Fried Chicken with sweet soy sauce and tartar sauce. Great combination. I have had most of the other dishes and I would recommend them all. read more

OMG! The Steak is amazing!!! It was a perfect medium rare with a great sear and out of this world seasoning! Potato salad was a bit chunky. read more

Bento39 is a hidden gem. I live a mile away and had no idea it even existed until stumbling across it on Yelp. It is in the old strip mall on Novi Rd. tucked away next to China Crown. You'll have a hard time seeing the sign unless you pull into the parking lot. I walked in to a small, modern looking take out place and realized that all of the signage was in Japanese. The owner saw my confusion and immediately came out to explain the Bento Box concept and showed me an example. I was sold! The prices are amazingly reasonable for the food and variety you get -- a Bento Box special of the day is $8.50. I wussed out and got the teriyaki beef, which was amazing! Thick, tender slices of sirloin cooked with onions and broccoli in a delicious teriyaki sauce. It came with a scoop of rice and a mini ginger salad. All of the food was fresh and clearly from scratch. All of this was only $7.50. I love finding awesome new places like Bento39 and can't wait to try a Bento Box special! read more

Low key place in an unassuming strip mall with great food. Bento, katsu, curry, can't go wrong with anything here. Service is always great and polite. read more

OK, if you're looking for it from the road you probably won't see it. They have a sign in the window, but not on the facade. It's next to the Chinese place. There you go. Stopped in today and had the daily special Bento. I had no Idea what was in it because I'm a dumb American, but I didn't want the fast-speaking Japanese gentleman at the counter to have to slow down and repeat himself, so I went with it. There is an English -translated menu on the wall, but I already ordered so what the heck. I had the exact special that Jack M. helpfully posted earlier, and it was quite good. Panko fried shrimp, pork, squid and fish. All were good, the pork was amazingly tender as was as the squid and shrimp. Squid is tricky. Nice job. Not rubbery at all. The standout was the fish. Really flaky and tender. Along with a few pieces of veg, rice, a little noodle salad and some katsu sauce it was a great lunch. Really, just look at Jack's pic. It was exactly like that. I do wish the squid was bigger, but that's a quibble. Nice spot. read more

Fantastic place for Japanese Bento box take out. This little shop is tucked away in a small strip mall, next to a CVS pharmacy and Chinese restaurant. Definitely never would have found it if I wasn't looking for it, and I am sure glad that I did. Legitimate Japanese Bento. They make a variety of lunch boxes with your choice of protein. My personal favorite is the Pork Katsu Don. The savory pork and egg are balanced well with the rice. The portions are plenty for what you get. They have picture menus that are helpful for your first time if you don't know what to get. I've not had a disappointment on their menu yet. For your future orders (and there will be), I would recommend calling ahead for take out to save time. The actual dining space is pretty small and limited so I've never dined in. Thank you, Bento39, for being there for me when I am hungry and too lazy to cook. I appreciate your reasonable prices and delicious food. Until we meet again... read more

This little hole in the wall Japanese restaurant is probably the most authentic Japanese food you'll find in Michigan. It has been open for a little over 2 years now, but only recently got a new sign outside according to the owner. Walk inside and everyone is speaking Japanese, from the owner to the chef and customers. There are a few tables to eat-in, but the place caters mostly to take-out orders. We chose to eat-in and had the friendlies service ever! Everything tasted great, miso ramen, unagi bowl, and katsu bowl with runny egg just the way it should be made. Give this place a try if you're looking for some real Japanese food! I'll definitely be coming back often. read more

See all

Clean, nicely prepared food. Portion sizes are modest but fair given the good quality of ingredients. Menu options are a bit limited but they focus more on quality over quantity. Friendly and efficient service. 4 stars and a nice neighborhood option. read more

For starters, this seemed like authentic Japanese cuisine (not Sushi). I'm not Japanese so it was different from what I've experienced in the past. Not that it's a bad thing but if you're looking for California rolls, better to just go somewhere else. I ordered the daily Bento box and it was extremely tasty and filling. Be forewarned that very little English is used on the menu but I think that only adds to the experience. Come in with an open mind and leave with a full tummy. Now, the Bento box that day came with a fried whitefish, rice, noodles, veggies and palate cleanser. The price was not outrageous and I ordered a green tea. I think the waitress was waiting to refill my cup after every sip, which was fine and a polite "No, thank you" alleviated constant attention. Her attentive service actually helped me feel more comfortable and welcomed. I just don't need that much green tea! In the end, the food and service was superb. I wished the location and ascetics was better but that wasn't my rationale for trying this place. read more

Since I grew up in Japan I was super excited to find an authentic Japanese bento place in MI! Although their menu is super limited, what they do offer makes you feel like you are dining in Japan. My husband had the katsu curry (fried pork cutlet) & I had the ebi fry bento (fried shrimp). I love how they added the Japanese version of potato salad to the bento too! Will be back to this location again! read more

Bento39 - Ebi fry bento & katsu curry - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

I absolutely LOVE this place Its a small restaurant in a strip mall but it has some of the best Japanese food I've had in Michigan. The staff is bilingual which is nice. They have standard donburi (rice bowls, sometimes listed as don) and bento boxes at a very reasonable price. The menu is available in Japanese and English and they also have a menu with pictures available if things like "katsu don" mean nothing to you. They also have daily specials but they are often only listed in Japanese. The staff is very nice and I'm sure if you didn't understand what something on the menu was they would be happy to help. This food reminds me of home. It is my comfort food and I absolutely love it. I can and will eat katsu don everyday if I wouldn't get a heart attack from it. Katsu is pork breaded in panko and deep fried. It is one of my favorite foods so I have only ever had their katsu don and katsu curry. The curry isn't too spicy which is something I like. Japanese style curry is very specific and is much thicker than Indian or Thai curries. The katsu don is covered in a beaten egg that has been cooked with a sweet and savory broth. It is usually a little runny and not always cooked through. This is pretty standard in Japan but might be something worth noting for those in the US that are concerned about consuming raw egg. They also serve nice hot green tea. There is a water machine as well and it has small paper cups. Seating is very limited since there are only two 4-person tables and a small bar that seats around 6 or so. They do sell take out which seems very popular. I go here whenever I can and I love their food! I would highly recommend Bento 39 to anyone that loves Japanese food. read more

Here with my wife and kids tonight. We are beyond impressed. Everything is prepared to order and very fresh. The place is super clean and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. I assume they are owner operators. We ordered 4 different bento boxes. 2 chicken, 1 salmon and one pork. read more

Bento39 - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

Tasty little hidden spot in Novi. This is real Japanese food. Definitely try the pork katsu don (that's Japanese for fried pork cutlets in a bowl). Would have liked to try their ramen, however I was taking my order and not dining in. Nothing fancy, just good food. read more

Cool Japanese concept restaurant. The owner loves his work and the place feels like someone's home. Extremely warm and amazing hospitality. The food was also great, although the rice seemed a bit too much. Very interesting 9/10 read more

I can't believe I found this place via Yelp. I typed in Ramen and bang! I'm giving it 5-Stars for the following: 1. It is Authentic Japanese. Some menu items are only in kanji so you have to ask them what the heck it is... run by chefs whom I've seen in other restaurants over the past 1x years. Next time I'm asking for a smaller portion of noodles. 2. I had Miso Ramen which tasted as if I were in Tokyo. The broth is pretty damned tasty with bits of pork. The Chasu was out of this world but they only slipped in 1 piece as if they were a national treasure. 3. Clean. 4. It's as if you went Japan and your aunt was cooking. 5. Nostalgic good old home cooking - nothing fancy. 6. Made to order - you can hear them banging away in the kitchen. 7. Price is very, very reasonable for the quality. Bento - Sun-Q beri much. (3) (9) Do you get it? 39 is a 3 and a 9 whereby 3 in Japanese is 'Sun', 9 in Japanese is 'Kyu' or (Q) 3 + 9 = Sun Q Say it to someone from Japan and the response will be 'Yu Werukamu'. And Don't Touch the Blinds!!!! read more

Very welcoming. It is my first time here (here right now), the owners are local, and the food is yummy and reasonably priced!

Such a wonderful cozy and friendly restaurant! We are pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and variety of the options! It's our first time dining here, we enjoyed our order-Chicken Karaage and the Beef Teriyaki Bentobox. Food is freshly prepared, the chicken has been marinated and cooked perfectly - crispy, juicy and not oily. We loved it so much that we ordered more to take home for dinner. The beef is tender and very tasty. The restaurant seating area is not big but overall very bright, tidy and clean. What a great experience & definitely will come back frequently! read more

Bento39 - Beef Teriyaki Bento Boxe - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

See all

Our saving grace in a sea of basic eateries. Creative speciality rolls, fresh/crisp vegetables, sushi rice prepared perfectly. Respectful of food integrity and Japanese tradition. Thank you Bento39! read more

Bento39 - Bento Box Special - Japanese Near Me - Novi, Michigan

It was awesome Authentic Japanese Cooking Bento opened again. Tasty and delicious. I will come back again. read more

Best bento box I've ever had. So much variety and every component was just delightful and prepared perfectly. They accommodated my gluten free and dairy free diet - huge points from me for that. My husband has been obsessed with this place for years and I now get why. read more

This place is legit! A little gem tucked in the strip mall, the food is pretty authentic unlike most of the fake Japanese restaurants that serve mediocre food. I like their Katsu curry the best bit other stuff are pretty good too. read more

Excellent bento. This is the Real McCoy. Same as you would get in Japan. Totally worth the $$. I've never had bad food here. Eat here. You won't regret it. read more

A hole in the wall in a nondescript shopping center, the menu is very short and simple. I was visiting the area from out of state when I decided to get take out from this place. I ordered a fried oyster bento box and the meal did not disappoint. The quality of the food was very high and even eating the meal at the hotel room was a pleasant experience. I wished I had another opportunity to try something else on the menu, but not this time. Thank you to the nice staff who were patient in helping me make my choice. I will definitely come back when next time I'm in the area. read more

I wish I lived closer because this would be a regular take out spot. The Chicken Karage and Beef Teriyaki were awesome and super cheap. If you find yourself in this area be sure to swing by. read more

Authentic, fast, easy, and quality service. I wish this place was bigger and opened more places like this all around the metro Detroit area. Would recommend to anyone. read more

Customers almost all Japanese. Inexpensive, delicious, and genuine. Packed house.

Good fresh authentic Japanese bento box. Price is just right. Cheaper than eating at Japanese restaurant.

There is no shortage of Japanese restaurants in the Novi area and most are pretty good. I finally made it to Bento39 today which is near the corner of Novi Road and 9 Mile Road in the CVS shopping center. Bento39 is relatively new and seems to be a family run business. They were fairly busy during lunch time and it took about 20 mins. to get my fried oyster bento box, which came with three large panko fried oysters, two type of Japanese vegetables, cabbage and tomato, big serving of white rice, and miso soup. Everything was fresh and delicious! It was more than enough food for one person and came to $9. I think I found my new lunch spot! The menu has about a dozen items all similarly priced except for the rolls which are lower priced. There are two tables that seat four each, and an L shaped counter with stools. read more

This is my go to Japanese place for lunch. It's amazing and the food is always super fresh. The staff is super nice and friendly. This and Ajishin are the two best in novi hands down read more

wow love this place!! i live in ann arbor but my family regularly drives half an hour to pick up some bento 39 lunch boxes because they are AMAZING!! the place is a hidden gem, tucked on the border between novi and northville. the katsudon is always super tasty and flavorful and the bento boxes are always bomb too. would highly recommend to anyone searching for authentic japanese food. read more

See all

Very authentic Japanese food! The food is fresh and the curry is the best I've had. Would definitely come again

I LOVE this place!! I've tried katsudon at many other restaurants in michigan and none of compare to the one served here! The pork cutlet was tender and juicy and the dish was full of flavor. My brother who had just came back from Japan recently even said this is probably the most authentic he's had in Michigan! The staff is very friendly too! Overall very satisfied bento39! read more

I love this place-excellent food and wonderful owners. I pick up a bento box at least twice a week and enjoy every bit of it. Chef Yukari and her partner are the owners and the nicest people. They always greet me warmly when I come in and accommodate any special request I make. I am glad I found them! read more

No frills, no fuss just authentic good food. Ordered the shrimp bento which came promptly and piping hot. Everything is being freshly prepared and this is easily seen since the kitchen is in full view. The restaurant is very clean and neat. Service was efficient and friendly. Truly a hidden gem! read more