I've been meaning to try this place for a while, I was working in Chinatown but when I got off work at 3 they are closed. They are closed between 3-4. Finally I got to check it out. I know they are more famous for their bento boxes but I was in the mood for sushi which they have now. It was ok, nothing special but still pretty good. They have a pretty huge menu. I don't think there were any tables, it's pretty much just a takeout place. There is pay street parking............ read more

Manpuku Bento - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Have gone here a number of times. Each experience was great but this time -- a bit disappointed by the quality of how the karaage and tonkatsu were fried. It looks like the oil hadn't been changed in a while and you can taste the bitterness of it in the food. The batter was too hard and not as light as it used to be. Hopefully the restaurant will change the oil before frying anything more. read more

Manpuku Bento - Tonkatsu Bento and Karaage bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Nice spot for a takeout meal under $15. Portions are very reasonable. Tempura is nice and tasty over a bed of rice. I got the nori box and really liked the egg, croquette and prawn tempura. Comes with miso soup. There is no room to eat so truly take out to go. read more

Manpuku Bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

It pains me to see this place take such a steep dive from those first few years as my favourite eatery in Chinatown. I don't give 5-star reviews to anything that's not top-tier quality, game-changing, and a highest possible recommendation, and Manpuku met those criteria for me when their servings were so generous and fairly priced, they needed rubber banads just to keep the lid covering the food that still poked out from their take-out containers. Instead of miso soup, their appetizer was tonjiru (think miso soup with thick slabs of bacon and mixed vegetables - substantial enough to almost be the meal). In 2024, the containers are smaller and maybe 2/3 full and prices are up substantially. Predictable miso is served instead of tonjiru, with smaller servings. Lunch for 2 with 2 canned soft drinks came to $45 today when the same order would have been under $25 until just a few years ago. Staff come and go, and while I can't fault the service today, they just seem to be worked harder and don'f offer the familiar chatter where you get to know each other a bit when you're a regular there. Some of these things may be beyond their control, but I simply won't be able to treat myself to their takeout except maybe some special occasions. It was really good while it lasted. read more

I ordered a karaage udon bento here on a quiet Thursday afternoon. Be warned that parking can be tight here, and there is no indoor seating, so you have to take your food to go. The food itself was super yummy. I had not had karaage chicken before, and this place really set the bar. The fried chicken was excellently cooked and was a large portion size even though I got the combo. The udon was a nice treat as well, which included seaweed, tempura bits, and egg. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for some delicious Japanese food to go. read more

When I'm in Chinatown and am looking for a fairly inexpensive place that's filling enough for lunch, I like to come here. I usually order their nori bento that's $10 for a small size and I find that's enough. Contains a variety of things from edamame, croquette, pork and Japanese egg - I quite like it. Knocking off one star because the wait for the food can be a bit long, like around 15 minutes, so not exactly the place to go to if you're in a hurry for something quick to grab! But if you've got time, definitely worth a try. read more

Chinatown has a fair share of tasty Chinese food available street to street but who knew tucked along one of those streets is Manpuku! They serve Japanese bento boxes to go and they are made to order. We ordered the Beef Curry w/ Karaage + Syake Bento. The beef curry was my favourite! It's nice and thick with little pieces of beef and gives off that homey feeling! You can choose to include add ons too that range from karaage, tonkatsu, fry ebi, croquette and more to your beef curry. All the menu items are reasonably price. This is an easy new favourite for take out when I'm the area! read more

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I came across this place randomly since a lot of stores and restaurants are closed on a Monday / boarded up in Chinatown? I got Karaage Bento (#1). It was a good portion of rice and fried chicken. Except it needs sauce! For the chicken, plain rice (not vinegar) and plain cabbage. Miso soup was a good touch. Also, there's nowhere to sit. It was a bit suss in this neighborhood. read more

Manpuku Bento - a bowl of soup and a plate of fried chicken - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

As a regular patron on Main Street between 33rd and Chinatown due to all the amazing local establishments, I had recently discovered a cute little bistro called Manpuku @ 288 East Pender St. in the historic Chinatown district of Vancouver. It really stuck out to me because of the unique appearance of their front entrance. It reminded me of when I visited Tokyo back in 2008 so I decided to give it a try. Pictured: Beef Curry Rice sz. small (soup included) "It's spicy just the way I like it. The Curry is very thick and little sweet. It has an amazing beef taste in the curry as well." Mabo Don sz. small (soup included) Pricing: For 3 beef curries and 1 mabo don, it only costed me a total sum of $25.00 Canadian. That's absolutely incredible considering the generous portions, taste and authenticity. My Favourites: - Beef Curry Rice Bowl - Nashville Style Chicken Karaage on Rice Bento "The Nashville Style is extra spicy and I find it to be perfect. The spicy kick and crunchiness is super delicious!!!. Overall, if you're seeking to taste some REAL Japanese food without spending an absurd amount... @manpuku.ca #japanesefood #vancouverfoodie read more

Great place for quick Japanese takeout! We got the Tonkatsu bento and the karage bento to go and it was prepared quite quickly. There was more than enough Tonkatsu and karage and we were so impressed with the flavour. Highly recommended and we will definitely be back! read more

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Tasty Japanese food with good portion and price. The curry here is very good, the beef and carrots are surprisingly tender. read more

Manpuku always has a huge line up, and for good reason. They are super good value and the food reminds me of supermarket bentos in Japan. I ordered the Mix Fry Bento which included chicken karaage, tonkatsu and fried hoki (fish). On top of a bed of rice with some cabbage. I recommend adding the tonkatsu sauce and salad dressing into your bento before you leave their place. Service is self sever, and they have a standing bar area where you can enjoy your food (before Covid). But honestly during lunch time there's a really big line up that I don't think you'd enjoy eating at the bar. You get a number once you order and pay, and they call out your order when it's ready. I think it's very efficient. Their food is very solid, and feels home made. I would definitely go back again if I'm in the area, but I won't necessarily drive all the way to visit the restaurant. read more

Manpuku Bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Cheap good Japanese food?! Sign me up! This shall be a short and concise blurb. I was pleasantly surprised with the katsu and curry, it was nice. Nothing spectacular but hit the spot. The karaage was a large portion and well done, super crispy. read more

Manpuku Bento - karaage + curry katsu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Ordered through UberEats! I got udon +aji fry combo (17.95 on ubereats ) At first i thought the portion was a bit small for the price . However i have no complaint at all for the taste. Actually i even think they did it well compared to other Japanese restaurants here. The udon was nice. What i liked about it is probably they use home made ten-kasu (crunchy crumbs you get from leftover tempura batter ). That made the udon taste well. The sauce is good and authentic. The Aji fry was also fried well! It was not oily. I wish there were more fries though:) Overall i thought it was pretty filling and great taste. Then later on i found out the Mini +udon combo was actually 13 at the actual store. UberEats just charged extra! If that's the case the portion of the food was reasonable for the price. So i would recommend taking out or delivery from website if you live nearby. read more

This hidden gem in Chinatown is known to many to works in the area. Excellent bento take out place. Reasonably priced,highly recommend the fried fish bento box and the fried chicken bento box. There is also daily specials that the place make. Pastas are great too! They do Get very busy during lunch time so they don't always pick up their phone. If you order at the restaurant then prepare to wait as they need to freshly make a lot of the food. Must try! read more

Manpuku Bento - Manpuku Menu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The boyfriend and I happen to be in Chinatown and stumbled upon this hole in the wall and decided to give it a try. We were a bit early as they open at 11, so we decided to wait for it to open. We were first in line but as soon as they opened, there were 3 others behind us. I ordering a beef curry on rice and added karaage and the boyfriend tried the beef curry on rice with tonkatsu. Our plan was to enjoy it in the comfort of our home but we gave in to the temptation and pulled over to the side of the road to eat. The portion was good and the taste was soooo delicious. It even came with free miso soup. A meal for under $10! This is really a gem and a bang for your buck! I can't wait to go back and try the horse mackerel on rice. Value + taste: 10/10 read more

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Definition of hole in the wall!! Super friendly couple usually working that own this place. Very small restaurant, basically no tables/chairs, but little popup board you can eat over(standing) if you want. Prices are super affordable, and portions are good. I would say, that if you just get something like chicken on rice, its kind of dry. Would really recommend curry rice + chicken or pork, which is what i got yesterday . Also it comes with miso soup!! Had the curry rice + add piece of chicken kaarage. The curry has bits of onion, beef, carrots in it and is a nice mild spicy, very very mild and more than enough to cover all your rice!! The chicken is a nice crispy fried chicken, though not the juiciest. The additional piece of chicken karage is really big which was nice. The miso soup it came with was alright, some onions, carrots in it and nothing too special, though not as MSG filled as some others which is nice. All in alll, it was less than $9!! The curry is super delicous, plenty of rice, and the chickens pretty big for the addon. They also do a special of the day? Week? Which is nice to change things up read more

Manpuku Bento - Special of the week - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This place is a delightful little gem in Chinatown on the corner of E Pender and Gore. Huge portions, affordable prices and the food is tasty. I highly recommend the Nashville-style (spicy) karaage bento box @ $11.95; my roommates and I go here at least once a week! read more

Been awhile since I visited Chinatown so a nice surprise to see this tiny hole-in-the-wall serving up simple Japanese bento boxes. Cheap, with good flavour, this tonkatsu lunch set will fill you up without breaking your bank account. read more

Manpuku Bento - tonkatsu bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Does this place get a star just for having meals under $10? The place is minimal in nature but their food is something to call home about. This is not a dine in place but great it you are able to grab it and eat else where. The Chicken Karaage Bento hit my craving for crunchy breaded chicken to a tee. There were three big pieces/ chunks of chicken on top of a generous portion of rice. Did i mention this Bento cost less than $10? read more

Manpuku Bento - Chicken Karaage Bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Finally, an authentically delicious and no non-sense eatery landed at the heart of Chinatown. I got the Tonkatsu Bento for takeout. The price is way below average and the portion is very generous. $10 makes for a hearty and comforting meal. The pork cutlet is fried just right and the meat is juicy and tender. The complimentary soup also shows that this restaurant cares about customers. The high quality of food at the place is a blessing, especially during the pandemic. read more

Manpuku Bento - Tonkatsu Bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Man. For a hole-in-the-wall-type place, you won't find a better bento deal in Vancouver. For less than $10.00/person, I went out to lunch with a friend yesterday for the first time to Man Puku and I was extremely and pleasantly surprised. While there is no seating available inside the restaurant, you'll have a great experience here, without a doubt. Having a bad day? Man Puku will be there for you. Celebrating a special occasion with a few buddies? Man Puku will provide. Want a meal that is both affordable AND delicious? Man Puku is the place to be, man. Man Puku is a Japanese-operated establishment with a small, but polite and efficient staff, specializing in one thing and one thing only: meat and rice. Specifically, they offer bento boxes with several options including chicken karaage, pork katsu, fried aji (horse mackerel), and tempura on top of rice. There's also a beef curry on top of rice and a few other specials as well. My friend and I both opted for the curry rice and added chicken karaage on the side which came out to literally less than $10.00/person. And, my oh my, did we have a great time. Our food also came with one miso soup on the side, filled with daikon and carrots which was absolutely delicious. The reason why I'm giving Man Puku a five-star is simply because of the whole package. The food was well-portioned and will get you full without overstuffing you, no problem. The curry was a bit spicy, but was exactly what I want in a Japanese curry. The rice wasn't dry or undercooked at all. But by far the star of the dish was the chicken karaage. Perfectly crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside so as to not ruin the tenderness of the meat. Man Puku claims that it has the best chicken karaage in Vancouver. I gotta say that I kinda agree with them, and for the price who can resist! I definitely will be coming back. Beware that you might be in for a bit of a queue (~10 mins) since you won't be the only one hungry for Man Puku! It's not a secret hidden gem, but it is a gem nonetheless. read more

Highly recommend this little spot tucked away. The food is so good, the chicken karaage is really good and the curry rice is unreal. The prices are amazing too, I can't wait to come back again. read more

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Very friendly staff. Walking in the restaurant reminds of me going in to a small restaurant in Japan. Ordered the chicken karaage bento and the fried chicken is deep fried perfectly. There's also a bunch of sauce to choose from and they are all pretty delicious. I tried the garlic mayo which is my go to. Due to covid I did takeout twice and both times have been good experiences. Would recommend if you are in the area craving for Japanese fried chicken. read more

Manpuku Bento - Chicken karaage bento - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The best Japanese curry I've had in Vancouver. Cheap, big portions and tasty food. This place is tucked away in a small corner in Chinatown. Its mostly takeout (Though they have some standing tables). Their Japanese curry is the star. No frills curry with your choice of meat on a bed of rice. Every order comes with a side of soup & salad. Also tried their chicken karaage and fried fish and it is on fleek. The service is super friendly and the place is clean. Food : Great Service :Friendly Ambiance : Hole in the wall Worth the price : Hai read more

Ordered through UberEats recently since I've seen the restaurant on the app a few times and the menu seemed intriguing. I got the Curry Rice with a side of Ton Jiru soup, all for about $7.95 if you don't add any extra protein. And for the portion size you get, it's beyond reasonable. I wouldn't mind paying more for it just base on size alone. The Ton Jiru soup was absolutely out of this world honestly. I've never had such a flavourful bowl of soup before that was also light but hearty. It comes with some vegetables and pieces of chicken so I'm surprised that it's included in the pricing! The Curry Rice is quite similar to the ones I've had in Japan and I love a good subtly spicy but sweet Japanese curry. It also has a few pieces of beef as well along with your standard curry rice vegetables such as onions and carrots. Even something as simple as the rice being nice and fluffy with the right amount of moisture makes all the difference and they definitely do a good job of keeping the it fresh. It's rare to find a good curry rice in Vancouver so I'd definitely put Manpuku at the top of my list. I also noticed that their karaage bento is a must try so I'm definitely ordering from here again! read more

Saw this place pop up on my Instagram feed and was intrigued by its small menu that seemed be offering traditional Japanese bento box lunches; and indeed it did. This place is strictly a takeout only place, do not assume otherwise. Whatever you order is made to order and put into a box for you to eat elsewhere. I'd recommend calling ahead to order to avoid the wait time as it does take a while (approx. 10 minutes). It's a bit of a small place, hence no seating, but when you walk in, walk straight to the end to order and pay. What I got when I went was the kaarage bento, additional Aji fry, and spicy mayo. *They have other add-on sauces I didn't try yet, as well, they have weekly specials on a little whiteboard when you walk to the counter* The kaarage bento, though I haven't tried anything else, is most certainly a big fat hit. For the price you're paying, it is even more of a hit. Like seriously, despite travelling 15 minutes with it in a enclosed in a box and in a bag, it was still a hit. It comes with a daily soup that's made with a vegetables and pork broth (I assume it's the base for their curry), some shredded lettuce, a lemon wedge, a bowl's worth of rice, and of course, the chicken. The soup has a very home-y and hearty feeling that honestly warms your soul on a cold day knowing that it's made with the love of the family that runs the place. It's got rich flavors, and the two times that I went so far, it had with it a little bit of miso undertone. The rice was ok, not much to expect out of it. The chicken was warm, juicy, and most importantly, crispy. Seasoned perfectly, not overly salty or underwhelming flavorless, every bite of the chicken thigh was delightful. I strongly recommend squeezing a bit of lemon on it and getting the spicy mayo to dip it into. Nothing more to say about it but to tell you to just try it. It's honestly so good to the point that I'm not even going to try other menu items until I get sick of it, or I get the opportunity to mooch off of somebody. The Aji fry was scrumptious as well. Fried nice and crisp, and very juicy. I would get it as an add-on if you're feeling extra hungry. Also good to be dipped into the spicy mayo. Overall, I'd give this place a 4.5-5, but for the wait time, it would deserve the solid 5. That .5 is really a nitpicky thing though. It's understandable why there's the wait since it's made to order and could be avoided with a call ahead. Service is there. You can expect the friendly hospitality and mannerisms that the Japanese culture is known for and the Western societies could learn from. Owned by honest a Japanese family, it's truly a place you want to stay around for a longtime. Go and support! read more

Manpuku Bento - Karaage Bento, Aji fry, and added spicy mayo. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The best karaage you can find on earth. Highly recommended! The price is very reasonable and the portion is very good. My number 1 go to place for a good authentic bento! read more

2.5 /5.0 This place has me filled with mixed thoughts and I've been holding back for a while till I return again and confirm to be so. And I did. Every bento or don is fairly priced when served with a hearty bowl of tonjiru soup. Hell, I could just be served tonjiru soup with rice and I'm filled with bliss. The soup should be a standard at every Japanese restaurant as it makes miso soup pales in comparison. No doubt their tonkatsu is one of the better ones in Vancouver but when eaten with their karaage, I'm convinced to only order karaage forever. Is this the best karagge in the world as they claimed? It's close but not totally. The chicken is juicy and is engulfed with a blistered crispy, tasty batter. However at times, they do get speckles of char spoiling it with a bitter aftertaste. I've had their curry rice with added tonkatsu and karaage, karaage set and ebi fried rice. First off, their food has a lot of love, every spoonful oozes with heartfelt love and care. It's something I rarely find in food sold in Vancouver. Their curry has meat in it; zaczac is nothing compared to them. Boy oh boy. Eating the curry with the fried rice is an unbeatable battle of flavors in my mouth. So where is the problem now if the food is ravingly outstanding. So I've had the curry rice added with a karaage piece 3 times and in all 3 times the piece of karaage was small. By small I mean a morsel of chicken with a mouthful of rice and I'm done. It was so different compared to the size of the pieces when ordered as a karagge set. For $2 plus for a small piece compared to the $2 plus for a whole piece of tonkatsu ,it is expensive as an upgrade. Was I punished for being too greedy to have fried chicken with curry. I really do hope not. Tell me it was just my bad hairdo I was served with small amounts of fried chicken. read more

My go too lunch during work. I am hesitant to even post a review since more people will come to this hidden gem (it gets so busy during lunch hours). The prices are great, almost everything is under $10 with just enough portion to get you full. I personally get the Curry Karaage Combo. Also they have specials - like a pasta/spagetti which is great too! read more

Manpuku Bento - Menu and inside - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I was going to post pics but I ate it all before I could take them. So good. They gave me karaage not tonkatsu, but I didn't mind one bit. So so good. Will not disappoint. I'm going back tomorrow! read more

Good food for Japanese grub and fairly cheap. Not sure if it's just me or have their servings gotten a bit smaller...? On our last pickup, I found a rubber band in the miso soup. I can see how it can happen but I'm not particularly thrilled. read more

Super yummy Japanese food here. Everything literally tastes great. We had sushi, Udon, and ramen and tastes better than the restaurants in Vancouver. Will definitely come back! read more

This is my favourite place to get fried chicken hands down. For less than $8, you get 3 pieces of delicious karrage (Japanese fried chicken), a sizable amount of rice, salad and a cup of soup. One of the best deals around. The service is great too, they are quick to prepare your order and are extremely polite. The place is clean and well organized. Cozy atmosphere too. Would recommend this place 10/10! read more

Absolutely solid. Exceptionally good Ton Jiru soup will make every other restaurant's miso soup seem inferior forevermore. Deep value baseline options but well worth extra money for add-ons (Tonkatsu, extra rice, variety of additional flavorings/sauces, you name it). Best for take-out, no seating or bathroom, gets busy so order ahead if you can during common food rush times. read more

Love this place!!! I have eaten here at least once a week since I discovered it a few months ago. Everything I have tried has been really good. I particularly like the Shake Bento, the Summer Special (Udon) and the Beef Curry with Karaage. If you're looking for really good Japanese comfort food to go I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Amazing! Came here with the girlfriend for a night out and were so happy we got to have a dining experience here. The stone grilled kobe beef was the absolute highlight, followed closely by the omakase sashimi (the fish was extremely fresh and the pieces were thickest I've ever seen). Other things we tried were the cauliflower kara'age, tomato kimchi, the (January special) black cod sushi, and lastly the almond tofu for desert. All were delicious, freshly prepared. The teas we ordered (green / jasmine) were also perfect for the weather. read more

Tasty and fresh offerings at reasonable prices. Their daily/lunch specials are awesome.

Absolutely DELICIOUS bentos here. Got the side order of karaage and tonkatsu. Very fresh and very juicy. Was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the side order of tonkatsu comes with two full cutlets. They also have a side fridge of sauces. I really enjoyed the tartar sauce. Very friendly staff as well too. I see they have weekly specials that varies like cooked salmon to Neapolitan style spaghetti with pieces of chicken karaage in it....me writing it out makes me want it. Would recommend following them on Instagram as they post their specials on there if you have the app. Normally I try to include photos just so people can see but I literally ate them so fast. Definitely coming back when in the area as that part of chinatown really doesn't have that many quick/to go food like this. Made to order too so it's so fresh but they do have pre made bentos. read more

Manpuku is a tiny Japanese bento place specializes in take out bento. They offer make to order bento and premade bento for people who are in a rush. I wish I work near by so i can visit them during my lunch break to grab a bento! The only suggestion I want to make is the lack of veggies in their bento. I'd like a balanced bento please! I still love karrage though don't get me wrong I just think it'll be healthier if there're some side veggie read more