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    Joy Bento

    4.2 (95 reviews)
    InexpensiveSushi Bars, Korean, Japanese
    Open 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Joy Bento Takeout or Delivery

    Joy Bento Photos

    Business Info

    JOY BENTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Joy Bento

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    Miso soup, California Roll, sparkling water, bubly water

    Free hot miso soup for the winter, it's a cute easy to walk into place, right off the G line towards downtown. Lots of Bubly flavored water flavors I hadn't seen before! Like coconut pineapple. The rice on the California roll was not quite soft enough for me, but overall food was good quality People who worked here were so nice and got me a chair when they noticed I was going to eat here. The window faces the sun when it's out and it was so enjoyable to sit there people watching and feeling the sun on my face. Also super easy kiosk to order if you have social anxiety like me

    Chicken Katsu Lunch
    Philip P.

    This place has gone through some changes, but have persevered and survived the covid pandemic. Honestly, I haven't been coming here a lot because there wasn't anything that real stood out to me that I couldn't get anywhere else. Until, I recently saw that they started offering the hip new inari sushi which was a huge game changer for me. Not that many sushi restaurants make these since it's a bit of a fad if I'm being truthful, but it's still very delicious. People usually come here for teriyaki and poke, but I feel like they're missing out on the inari sushi. It's a great deal and very unique that you can't really find at most places. So definitely a shock to see it offered at a random little teriyaki joint like this. They have quite a bit of variety of inari sushi and all seem to be very good options. I've tried the unagi, seared salmon, and spicy salmon. All were pretty good and easy to eat. Because it gets busy on the work days, ordering in person will cause a wait, so recommend to order online to avoid the line. This is purely a take out food spot, so there aren't any tables or chairs to squat and eat at. It's also a very small restaurant and you usually can see the line out the door. It's mostly people waiting for their order to be complete though. I know I've mostly spoke about the inari sushi, but do check out their teriyaki since most seem to come for that. I've had their Katsu Chicken and it's totally fine. Nothing to rave about, but it's the closest near my office where I can get that if it means anything to anyone. So yeah, swing by if you like teriyaki, poke, or sushi.

    Menu first half
    Jeremy L.

    This used to be my go-to lunch spot. Unfortunately after a few ownership changes, I feel like the meals I get here for the price just are not that good. I ordered the karaage bento, and while the fried chicken was good, the amount of rice (a thin layer half the box) and chicken was not great. In addition the potato salad used to be creamy and delicious but this was just bland and tasteless. Overall I wouldn't go out of my way to come here anymore.

    Chicken teriyaki
    Brooke A.

    This is a small and efficient lunch spot that serves a ton of downtown office workers. We came here on a weekday lunch hour and were greeted with a line out the door. Clearly, Joy Bento has built up a good reputation locally. I ordered at a kiosk, and this was quite straightforward, though it took me a while to look at all the options. I loved that all the menu items had pictures. The food came out quickly and was quite fresh. I got the spicy chicken teriyaki bowl, which had ample chicken and a good amount of rice and veggies. In the future I'd opt for regular teriyaki, as the spice took away from the flavor. For a quick lunch, this is an amazing option!

    Chicken karaage, California roll, gyoza, sauces as given
    Kali R.

    Bit of a wait, but not too bad. A feasible lunch spot. Food was generally underwhelming. I had the "today's suggested" chicken karaage, which was lacking the distinctive garlic and ginger flavor and fried in massive pieces. I was also only given a few millimeters of sauce since I requested it on the side. No soy sauce was provided for the California roll. The gyoza were ok. My rice was kind of dry, but my friend's was perfect. My friends chicken teriyaki was really good. However, she didn't get the sauce she requested at all. Another friend said the chicken katsu was okay, but a bit dry.

    chicken x pork bento
    Sarah C.

    huge portions, spicy pork was good, teriyaki chicken could be juicier. salad was normal, potato salad was too sweet and inadequate textural contrast. the place is really small (no seating) but you can order from a single kiosk or from the counter. on this cold day, they had free hot tea outside.

    the menu of the restaurant
    Amanda N.

    Such a great spot tucked away next to a parking garage to pick up lunch. There's no seating inside, so you'll have to take your food away. You can order at the counter or there's a self-serve kiosk that you can put an order in yourself too. I tried a nigiri bento and the seared salmon inari. Everything was so delicious and fish tasted super fresh! I'd definitely come back again another time for lunch.

    Inari (spicy salmon/spicy tuna/seared salmon/bulgogi/eel)

    This is one of my go-to lunch spots! Joy bento has many good food options but chirashi bowl has been my favorite by far! Their sushi is so fresh and you can never go wrong with good sushi! If you want something on the side, I highly recommend their inari as well!

    Florence H.

    This place is perfect to grab a lunch when working in downtown Seattle. I was in the area when lunch hour hit and I didn't know where else to go! Joy Bento came up and it was recommended by Yelp so of course, I had to come and see what is up. I came around 12:45pm and there was a line. A bit of a bummer but hey, it means it's a hotspot for a cheap lunch. For $10, you can't really beat that when lunch gets pretty expensive in Seattle. I got the chicken katsu with potato salad and California rolls. My boyfriend got the salmon teriyaki with California rolls and gyoza. For the price of $9.50 each, it was well worth the wait and price. For the chicken katsu, I thought it was pretty well done because it was was crispy is in texture and the Katsu sauce was well flavored. It was a pretty standard meal with no flairs and exactly what I wanted. The potato salad was super creamy with potato bits. What was nice was that they didn't use too much mayo. The California roll was sort of bland and the rice was just ok. Boyfriend said the salmon roll was delicious as well. Flavorful and texture was perfect for the price. Don't expect this to be your top notch salmon though.. this is a good salmon for your lunch type of deal. Overall, this joint is awesome. For the location, price, and food. I think it's perfect for a lunch while working in the city. You get what you order and it's reasonably priced.

    Menu
    A K.

    Great place, I usually come when at least once when I visit Seattle. Would highly recommend doing pick up orders during lunchtime as they get very busy. Food is delicious and great all the time!

    Rolls
    Candace F.

    This little hole in the wall packs a tasteful of yummy Japanese food. This hidden little gem is a family owned business with the older and younger generation cooking up a mouth full of yumminess. The dishes are a little over $10 but include two sides. There are a variety of choices and everything is made to order. I feel the price justifies the portions and I can never finish what they serve. I always order the chicken katsu and am never disappointed. The made to order dish has golden fried chicken breast that flavorful and juicy. The dish has never disappointed and with the California roll and gyoza there is more than enough food. I am so glad they are back open! It's a place to go to for your Asian comfort food. The staff there are also very friendly and helpful. I will go there again and again to treat myself to a weekly lunch.

    Spicy pork
    Timothy T.

    This is a cute hole in the wall place that's really great for lunch! The flavors were good and the staff were friendly. I got the spicy pork and I definitely would go back again. The ingredients were fresh and this meal had a lot of food so I was able to have some leftovers as well.

    Menu

    My favorite lunch spot in Seattle! It's a hidden gem. They use fresh ingredients and the serving portions are very generous. The team works seamlessly to get the food out fast. This is a huge bonus for anyone that has short lunch breaks. My favorites are the spicy pork, chicken teriyaki, and the chirashi bowl. Grab a roll if you are feeling extra hungry.

    Salmon Teriyaki Bento

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    7 years ago

    Good food, super friendly staff. The daily specials are amazing

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    New ownership, great food and service. You have to try different options to find what is right for your taste but it is here somewhere.

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    11 years ago

    I love the gyoza, the service was great the lady at the cash register was really nice I love the California roll it was the best roll

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    Page 3 of 3

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    Paju - Chips & Dip

    Paju

    4.4(439 reviews)
    1.3 miSouth Lake Union
    $$

    This place hit all the marks for an upscale dining experience I wish more places could offer! The…read moresophisticated ambiance, knowledgable staff, beautiful presentation and outstanding food. I went on a weekday evening and was able to walk in without a reservation and the host sat my party immediately. The space has an industrial vibe, minimal decorations and an open kitchen in the dining area with another kitchen hidden in the back. We started off with a gochujang margarita which had a little spice but the flavor of the gochujang got lost and I couldn't really distinguish it. The NY Tiki Time cocktail was a stunner, the flavors of the citrus, pandan and rum blended smoothly together. I had to take a photo when the drinks arrived. For the apps we ordered the yellowtail and octopus. The presentation really was remarkable and well plated. The yellowtail was in between layer of thinly cut turnip that had a lemon verbena component to it. It was shaped into a flower and placed on a plate in naengmyeon broth. The octopus was tender and in a delicious cream sauce with some roe as decoration. For the mains we got the squid fried rice with kimchi, bacon, smoked quail egg. We also ordered the branzino gui with seasonal vegetables. Both were well seasoned and tasty but I think I enjoyed our drinks and appetizers the most. The staff were slow and intentional with their service and no one seemed in a frantic hurry. The tone of the place was calm and none of our servers gave off an overly pretentious attitude (my biggest gripe with fine dining). Will most definitely come back as soon as possible and can't recommend enough.

    The food presentation was unique and beautiful and we ordered three dishes - beef tartare, the…read moreyellowtail and squid ink rice. The highlight for me was the beef tartare with nori. The yellowtail dish was lemony and the thiny sliced turnip was an art itself . My friend really liked the squid ink fried rice. The rice was made very well but personally I always find squid ink rice to be bland and a bit uninteresting, so the kimchi in the fried rice added some contrast. The restaurant was pretty empty on a weekend night. Service was ok. I love the glass and high ceiling.

    Photos
    Paju
    Paju - Mushroom

    Mushroom

    Paju - Tofu with Dungarees Crab

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    Chan Seattle - Happy Hour - Pork Sliders

    Chan Seattle

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown
    $$$

    I try to check out new restaurants every time I visit Seattle. Some make the list from…read morerecommendations, some from Yelp reviews, and some from TikTok. This time, I checked out Chan Seattle, and baby, they left NOTHING on the table. I enjoyed my entire experience from start to finish. When I arrived, there was a sign asking guests to wait for the hostess to be seated. I stood there for about 2-3 minutes, but no one ever came to the hostess stand, so eventually I just seated myself at the bar. ‍ Not a huge deal, but definitely worth noting. Chan is located inside a hotel, and the restaurant itself is pretty spacious. The actual bar only seats about three people, but there's also open-kitchen counter seating with maybe 8-10 seats. I grabbed a seat at the bar with my book, although I mainly ended up listening to a podcast while I ate. Perfect little solo dinner vibe. One thing that made me laugh: the restroom is part of the hotel, so Chan staff actually have to give you a key to access it. Top-flight security over there! Now, THE FOOD. I started with a glass of cava from the happy hour menu and the tuna tartare, topped with avocado, radish, and sunchoke. Both were $10 each. For my meal, I ordered the roasted cauliflower from the happy hour menu for $10 and the small portion of Alaskan black cod from the protein menu. Everything was absolutely delicious, but that tuna tartare?! That was the star of the evening. Fresh, flavorful, and easily the dish I'd order again without even looking at the menu. The service was wonderful too. The bartender seemed a little stiff and rigid when I first sat down, but he eventually warmed up and I got to see his kind and friendly side. He was attentive and offered recommendations, which I always appreciate when I'm trying somewhere for the first time. The regular menu prices are definitely on the higher side, but Chan has $$$ on Yelp, so you know what you're signing up for. That said, the happy hour specials are GREAT and make it easy to try several dishes without running the bill all the way up. Between the food, service, atmosphere, and happy hour, Chan Seattle is absolutely a must-try. I'll definitely be back on a future Seattle visit, and the tuna tartare already has a spot on my repeat-order list!

    I've heard about this place for awhile, and finally was in the area to try it. On a weekday…read moreevening, it was quite empty. We were greeted and sat immediately. Service was super friendly and quick. My friend and I shared the pork sliders, brussel sprouts, beef cheek ragu rice cakes, wagyu ssam, and the ginger crème brulee. Everything was so surprisingly yummy. Pork sliders were juicy, flavorful, nice fluffy bun. Good proportion of bun to filling. Brussel sprouts at first were your average well made sprouts, but when we reached the bottom of the dish where the sweet potato puree was, it changed the entire flavor profile of the dish! So good. Maybe better served in a wider bowl so we could appreciate the puree sooner haha Beef cheek ragu was super good too. Flavorful rich sauce and I loved that the rice cakes were extra thick and charred on the outside. Made for the perfect texture: lightly crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Wagyu ssam was great too. Not as standout as the other dishes, but solid steak pieces that were perfectly tender. I think my favorite has to be the ginger crème brûlée. The ginger flavor is light, and the hardened sugar on top tastes like crystallized ginger candy when chewed. The doenjang caramel drizzle balances it out as well. Overall, a fantastic meal. It's definitely on the pricier side, and all the dishes could use a bit less salt, but I will definitely be thinking about that crème brûlée for a long time

    Photos
    Chan Seattle - Part of the private dining table which is separated by a curtain

    Part of the private dining table which is separated by a curtain

    Chan Seattle - Beef cheek ragu rice cakes with beef cheek chili ragu, rice cake, carrot, onion, scallion, Fresno chili

    Beef cheek ragu rice cakes with beef cheek chili ragu, rice cake, carrot, onion, scallion, Fresno chili

    Chan Seattle - Steak Tartare

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    Steak Tartare

    Lil Pocha - Jjajang rice

    Lil Pocha

    4.3(20 reviews)
    1.0 miCapitol Hill

    Visited here very hungry after bouldering for a couple hours. They keep it nice and warm in here…read morewhich I loved (I noticed a lot of Seattle restaurants don't turn on heating :')). It is set up like a cute korean style bar with small round tables which make sharing easier. They have a pretty good selection on their menu and we ordered a couple of items to share. The Rose Ttoekbokki with cheese was very yummy, but it kinda tasted like pasta with rice cakes instead of spaghetti. I think that is the point of this dish, so if you want a more traditional spicy flavor then get the other ttoekbokki option (spicy rice cakes). We still loved this one and the rice cakes were so chewy and delicious. The cheese corn was very yummy and exactly what you would expect. It pairs perfectly with the other dishes. My friends also shared the Seafood ramen and Beef bulgogi. They liked both dishes. One of our favorite things were the side dishes actually! The tofu was so yummy, and the bean sprouts were so crunchy and well seasoned. We even asked for extra! The only aspect that makes it difficult to come more often is the price point. Since the dishes are so big and shareable, it is easy to split amongst a group, but it is a little less affordable to come here for dinner and drinks.

    A cozy little Korean bar! There aren't that many tables, but I enjoyed this vibe. Service was quite…read morefast on Saturday evening. We ordered: -Fish cake soup: pretty good, the soup had a good depth in flavor and I liked the variety in fish cake. Perfect for a rainy day. -Tteokbokki: was a bit spicy and the rice cake was chewy and cooked well. I've had better sauce though. -kimchi pancake: wasn't our favorite. Was a bit too thick and had too much batter - I like these to be more crispy and thin. Overall, a fun place for a casual Korean bar food.

    Photos
    Lil Pocha - Beef jeon

    Beef jeon

    Lil Pocha - LIL PO chicken

    LIL PO chicken

    Lil Pocha - Potato croquette

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    Potato croquette

    Gangnam Seattle

    Gangnam Seattle

    4.4(129 reviews)
    0.7 miChinatown, Chinatown International District
    $$

    This little place is awesome!!! It was clean and inviting. We are so glad we stopped here for…read morelunch. The beef bulgogi was delicious. It was perfect for feeding two of us. The service was handled by a very kind Asian woman. She was very polite, helpful and we hardly waited. Would return without question. We really enjoyed our meal here.

    Started with the garlic popcorn chicken here. Despite being drenched in sauce, it actually retained…read morea good crunch on the outside. There was no garlic at all, but what I did get was a pretty large appetizer that did its job and more. The main dish, the hotstone beef bibimbap, was a lot worse. Firstly, this came with ground beef rather than the beef slices I was expecting. The rice at the bottom was dry like it should be in a clay pot, but lacking really any of that slightly-burnt, hard qualities that makes a clay pot rice what it is. It just tasted dry. But the ground beef was probably the worst part. It was dry, lacking in really any seasoning, and the portion was tiny. I'd finished the beef with still half the bowl remaining. This was not a bibimbap I would come back to at all. Overall, there are way too many better places in the international district for me to ever recommend this. 5/10

    Photos
    Gangnam Seattle - How inside the restaurant looks now. This location has gone thru several owner/name changes over the last 3 years or so.

    How inside the restaurant looks now. This location has gone thru several owner/name changes over the last 3 years or so.

    Gangnam Seattle - Bulgogi and rice

    Bulgogi and rice

    Gangnam Seattle - Menu

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    Menu

    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari - Octopus, pork belly, and pork shoulder + potato noodles

    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari

    4.0(392 reviews)
    9.2 mi
    $$

    RUN, don't walk to Hae-Nam! This is next-level Korean food that will make you happy and cry at the…read moresame time. You can tell a lot about a restaurant from the banchan it serves. This place doesn't have potato salad--that would be too pedestrian. Instead, you get pickled perilla leaves, pickled okra, pickled eggplant, pickled dried radish, and more. Also, my wife is vegan, and they had an entire vegan menu available, all ready to go. We used to live up in Shoreline and loved this place years ago. We were back in the neighborhood and decided to pop in on a whim. It is all spiffy and new and under new management. The owner and head chef was there, and she is a delightful lady. The service is top-notch, as her daughter was working there. The staff was very attentive. It feels less like eating at a restaurant and more like eating at your favorite Korean friend's mom's home after being spontaneously invited for dinner. The restaurant is meticulously clean and elegant, which makes you just want to eat. In fact, the food was so wonderful that I hardly spoke a word between moaning and eating. To cap off our meal, they provided this delicious cinnamon ginger drink to help settle our very full tummies. I wished the owner would come running out with packed banchan for me to take home, just to make sure I was eating well at home -- just like in those K-dramas. To sum this all up, this is food heaven. 감사합니다 to the Hae Nam and we cannot wait to come back and try more!

    Under new ownership. This place was very welcoming and the staff informed us of the new ownership…read moreand menu items upon seating us. The service was great and the waiter explained many of the new dishes to us herself. The food came out very fast after ordering and though there were several other tables full of groups, they also got their food out quick as well. The noise level is moderate, but the high walls on the booths and the partitions between the larger seating area and the table and booth section helps to buffer the noise pollution between the areas. The La kalbi was very flavorful and cooked to perfection. The dish came with a side bowl of rice and assorted bon chon. You could share this dish between a group of 2-3 or individually order it and be fulfilled.

    Photos
    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari
    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari - LA kalbi

    LA kalbi

    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari - Army stew, Budae Hot Pot

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    Army stew, Budae Hot Pot

    Joy Bento - sushi - Updated August 2026

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