5/5 stars Tried the Sake Salmon bento, White Fish bento and Katsu Chicken bento. Amazing taste very fresh and quick service! 100% recommend. read more

Inside this tiny restaurant is some of the best Japanese comfort food! It hides in a small strip mall that somehow manages to have enough parking available. Inside there are 6 little tables and a counter where you order and can see them preparing the food. Staff are friendly; when you arrive you are greeted in Japanese, and they are very accommodating if you need anything. Next to the register there is a small refrigerator with canned and bottled drinks for purchase. They do not offer water cups at all, which I'm fairly certain is required by California state law. This was frustrating, but we managed fine without. I have tried the oyakodon and the pork katsu plate. Both are delicious! The oyakodon has a perfect amount of chicken and egg, and is topped with some veggies that gove a nice flavor. I love the flavor of the onions in this, too. The pork katsu is an easy favorite; I have ordered this at many places but this one has the best sauce! The pork was crispy and flavorful. It included a small side of potato salad and some veggies that included lotus root, edamame, I think sweet potato, a mushroom, and something else I couldn't quite identify. Average meal price is around $16 each, so not too bad. We will definitely be back for other delicious meals! read more

Neighborhood Bento was a place that had been on my radar for a while, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to try it. I ordered the Nanban Karaage bento and was impressed by both the quality and portion size. The meal came with a ton of chicken and was so filling that I actually got two meals out of it. I also appreciated the variety of sides, including tamago, simmered vegetables, and potato salad, which helped round out the meal. My only minor complaint is that I wish there had been a little more nanban sauce since I like coating every piece of chicken, but that's mostly personal preference. Ordering was simple at the register, and I liked the handmade-style posters that showcased the different bento options. The food came out quickly, making for a smooth and easy lunch experience. The shop itself is on the smaller side, with a counter for ordering and a handful of tables across from it. It feels like most customers are probably grabbing food to go, but it's nice that there are seats available if you want to enjoy your meal there. Overall, I had a great experience and am already looking forward to coming back and trying some of the other bentos. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Chicken Nanban Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The Hamburger steak was hot, juicy, and full or that savory flavor I was craving. It's also nice to see staff that are always welcoming and helpful, and in an atmosphere that is relaxed yet still professional! read more

See all

Saw this place while driving by and was meaning to always check it out. Came on a Wednesday around 1130. Parking lot was FULL and small with small compact spaces. I ordered on Door Dash pick up. Bill came out to be under $40. Ordered salmon bento, egg sando and an onigiri. Inside is super small with maybe 4 tables. Workers were pleasant. You could see them cook from their grill which was cool. Food was superb. Would come back to try other foods on the menu but parking lot is something I wouldn't look forward to dealing with. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Salmon Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I ordered the hamburger steak bento, the food was just average nothing special but for $20 I expected a little more out of it especially since the portion size was not much. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Hamburger Steak Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Chicken katsu donburi was good. The salmon nigiri was dry and the salmon did not have any taste.

This is tough. It's accurately a 3.5 star spot but I couldn't quite give it a 4 but this is comparing it to the Japanese places in South Bay so it's a high bar. We got the katsu curry, salmon rice balls, oyako don, and katsu don along side the kimpira gobo and vegetables. First, the people are super nice and friendly. The inside is pretty plain with limited seating and it seems like a lot of people get food to go. Given there's nothing special about the restaurant, I might agree with that option. Overall, the food is fine. The katsu is okay, not super crispy, the chicken is a little dry. The katsu don and osaka don were a little too sweet. The rice balls had pretty limited filling so a lot of rice to salmon. The veggies were also a little too sweet. It's nice to get bento type food here but I might just go to Tokyo Central and get bento-style food there. Love the concept, just execution was so-so. read more

See all

Introduced me to bentos for the first time ever and I was quite surprised! the Oaku Don is crazy, it's the entire family of a salmon, and the roe tasted like orange candy. You gotta get that egg sandwich too. Friendly team made the whole first-timer experience easy. If you want authentic Japanese food this is your place. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Order online - user friendly Small parking lot Welcoming friendly service 3 tables inside and face the kitchen Clean functional simplistic Serves Bento rice bowls side and sandwiches and specials Online or in person order Fresh made to order Easy to share / leftovers Tasty with the potato salad and veggies including taro lotus root carrots nori and shredded veggies Children friendly dishes read more

Neighborhood Bento - Tofu Nuggets - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

Picture this: you + me, eating bento boxes at Neighborhood Bento. This is my #1 place to take visitors for lunch in Orange County. Neighborhood Bento is outstanding. Their team is friendly, the food is absolutely delicious, and everything is so affordable. I've now tried both the chicken katsu bento box and the pork katsu sandwich. Both are delicious, but personally, I love the bento. This lovely box comes packed with thin fried chicken, potato salad, egg, veggies, and rice. This spot is famous for its lunch time rush. There's about 10 spots available for dine-in, but the food is the perfect to-go item as well. If you really want to be a local, stop by their neighbor ARC Coffee on the way out for a post-lunch caffeine hit. read more

A lovely morning with chef and owner of Neighborhood Bento in Beautiful Buena Park. They make everything delicious hot and fresh from scratch for each customer and please be patient. Nice clean restroom available inside for disabled people and regular people too. Parking is very limited in this small plaza with Fantastic Japanese eats. Come try all their wonderful comfort foods and definitely try the crab croquettes. It's fabulous my dear. The egg sandwich is Amazing too. Coffee is next door at Arc coffee. But for a real family breakfast with all the fixings then please be patient and give Neighborhood Bento a bite and you will love coming back for seconds and more. Breathe in the sunshine of life today and always remember wholesome goodness and beautiful memories start at the homegrown farmers market in Pico Rivera. They have their own farm for over 20 years now. read more

See all

Yummy hole-in-the-wall! Just ate here on a random Thursday afternoon. It was empty, but they get a lot of call in orders, so maybe I'll do that ahead of time next. The food was very yummy with lots of savory flavors! I got the katsudon (pork), and my mother got a salmon dish. Great Japanese food! Not much room for indoor seating, but it is a bento place, so it makes sense to order to-go instead of dining in. Glad we found a good Japanese place near us! We're excited to come back! read more

See all

Japanese bento spots like this are few and far between theses days, so I was so excited to come across Neighborhood Bento! They offer a variety of different proteins, such as chicken, karaage, hamburger steak, pork, and different kinds of fish. Each bento comes with rice, egg, and side dishes, such as potato salad and cooked veggies. They also have curry and Japanese sandos. I love a bento with variety, so I like getting the Makunouchi Bento ("Assorted") that comes with grilled fish, shrimp, rice, and sides. It was tasty, and I enjoyed having a little bit of everything. If you enjoy fish, the Sake (Salmon) and Saba (Mackerel) Bentos are a good choice. They have a good sized piece of fish, and both were cooked perfectly. Great flavor too! On my most recent visit, I tried the Hamburger Steak Bento and the Fried Fish Bento. The hamburger steak was tender and comes with a thinner sauce that's very flavorful. The fried white fish had a really nice crispy batter that made the perfect crunch sound when you bite into it. It comes with a Japanese tartar sauce similar to what you'd expect to be on a chicken nanban. They have little containers of furikake (two different kinds) on a tray on the counter that you can grab on your way out if you like having furikake on your rice. This spot is definitely a local gem! read more

See all

One of my food quirks is a dislike of room temperature or cold bentos like you would find in a Japanese market. If you have to reheat them using a microwave, it's like eating leftovers from the get-go! Neighbor Bento neatly solves my dilemma by making them hot and fresh to order! Located in a small strip mall in Buena Park at the corner of Valley View St & Cerrritos Ave that also has a 7-Eleven and Ramen & Tsukemen TAO, NB is a small storefront- maybe only 3 tables with a lot of take out service. Customers rarely bunch up, most come in small but steady. I've had the chicken katsu curry & the tonkatsu bento- nothing beats a piping hot cutlet! Unsure which one I enjoyed more- love katsu curry & rice, but enjoy all the sides with the bento- Japanese macaroni salad, omelet, edamame, & vegetables- so that your palate is constantly refreshed with new flavors and textures instead of just protein & rice. Guess I'll have to try more to pick a favorite, lol! Prices are reasonable- most of the bentos and other meals are $20 or less. They take a short break between 2-3 pm to reset and prepare for dinner traffic. NB is a short drive from the hotels I usually use when I visit Orange County, definitely repeat and recommend! read more

See all

Great food - authentic tastes and fair prices. Portion on the smaller side and the restaurant smells like grease. Most people do takeouts. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Chicken Katsu Kare - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

glad that I live close by this place and I ordered one of their bentos and it was the best thing! not only the price is affordable. They also have quite a selections and a well balanced meal. It's located in this very small plaza so the parking is a bit hard, but this place is designed for grab and go. The stuff is very friendly and the food came out pretty fast. There's a lot of like anime or cartoon decorations, which I really love. read more

This place is a cute and quaint shop serving homestyle Japanese comfort food. The menu has so many lunch options with different proteins to cater to just about anyone. I ordered the assorted bento which came with fried shrimp, chicken karrage, and grilled salmon as the proteins. It was served with all of the sides: nishime (dashi braised vegetables), potato salad, hijiki seaweed salad, tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelette), pickled radish, shibazuke (picked eggplant and cucumber) and kinpira gobo (braised burdock root). I loved the variety and the portion was perfect to satisfy me for lunch or dinner. The oyakodon was simply delicious as well; tender pieces of chicken thigh embedded in a fluffy dashi flavored egg omelette all over a bed a white rice and topped with the pickled eggplant and cucumber. I was waiting for my order in my car out front since the inside was a little stuffy and crowded- and kind older lady/owner came out to hand deliver my order when it was ready. So sweet! Please go give this place a try if you want a comforting and homey meal. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Assorted bento and oyakodon - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

For a moment I felt like I was in a local joint Japan Total first timer the Owner was there to help guide me based on hunger level and what I was craving. I said I wasn't starving but needed some protein so she guided to the salmon bento and it was so simple but amazing. First of all not greasy not over done had a perfect crisp to the skin and texture was flaky goodness. Loved all the condiments and side dishes but the rice was Oishi, worthy of the deepest bows. For a Japanese dish to be fully transportational(meaning taking me back to Japan) the rice needs to be just as amazing as the main dish. It's not a place that screams extravagant instead As the name suggests it oozes meals made for locals and I love love love the comfort food dishes that are being served here. Seated I saw a few regulars come in and it warmed my heart that the little kids and parents had a connection with the owner. They do take out and sit down but the owner and I both agree food is best appreciated when enjoyed freshly made. My friends ordered quite a variety and I got to sample them. I can't wait to come back and be transported back to that small Japan neighborhood vibe. See yall soon! read more

Neighborhood Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

The chicken katsu was delicious! Soft on the inside and crispy on the outside and paired well with the side items on the bento box. The takoyaki from Tanota is always a good choice as well. Delicious food cooked in a cozy mom and pop store. 10/10 would recommend the service, ambiance and most definitely the food! read more

See all

I've found my Holy Grail of COMFORT JAPANESE food And, who knew the charming unassuming couple serving this fabulous food would be right here in my neighborhood Neighbors- don't OVERLOOK this place just because over the years you've seen a gazillion other food places come & go! I seriously think this couple has the right touch. I have an issue eating right now; I'm in the midst of major dental work. I read their menu here on yelp, called to order what I thought would work. I spoke to the co-owner Tetsuko (Jake Yasumomi is her husband and co-owner). I asked questions about the ingredients and how it was prepared. Since I wasn't wild about the egg & onion mixture steamed on top of the entree', Tetsuko made several other suggestions for me considering the dental challenges. I selected the Gyu Don! which is a beef & onion bowl over rice. She offered to have the chef chop up the beef so it was easier to chew. I'm not certain what the reddish pink and brown thin rectangular food shapes garnishing the top were, but so delicious! I've never had what I would consider Japanese comfort food before. But, now? WOW O WOW!!!! This is IT. Such a savory and tasty mix of beef, onions (and whatever secret ingredients they add) plus the garnishes, all sitting over yummy rice!!! When I shared that I needed food which was fairly moist and wet, Tetsuko offered to include a side of the sauce. When my husband brought it home, there were two separate sides sauces. One was labeled beef bowl sauce and the other was katsu sauce. Both were very good and most appreciated. Their prices are very reasonable and I was more than happy with my selection. I can now say, I DO know what Japanese comfort food is AND, I have some, from Neighborhood Bento. Go try them out, you'll find delicious, unique flavors, a very accommodating staff. All, provided by a couple with a dream of someday opening a farm to table restaurant utilizing produce from their farm. Both wanted to offer affordable Japanese comfort food to the community and opened Neighborhood Bento in August 2019. Jake & Tetsuko - I would say you DID IT, job well done I'm glad you chose this neighborhood. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Side sauces ''beef bowl sauce' & 'katsu sauce' Both DELICIOUS! - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

So I checked this out place for some lunch and decided to get the Gyudon. I did order ahead so the food was ready when I arrived. Parking lot is pretty small sp be mindful of that. The Gyudon had great flavors and everything was fresh, just wish the portion size was a bit bigger. Will be back though! read more

See all

Neighborhood Bento really deserves love. Small business with family vibes. Yummy food with daily specials that I always forget to check because I'm drooling over their OG menu. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Pork Katsu Sandwich with creamy potato salad - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

Neighborhood Bento is delicious, with tasty handmade Japanese entrees. The day I visited I saw Tetsuko (one of the founders/owners) cooking up a storm while an older Japanese woman was helping (her mom?). Pretty cool to actually see and recognize her from their "Our Story" by page of their website! Anyway, the food was excellent (as always, I'm a repeat customer!) with the tonkatsu being crispy but juicy, and the hamburg steak being a savory delight. Add in the fluffy white rice, stewed veggies, tamagoyaki, potato salad and fried chikuwa, and you have a solid meal. The only downside to Neighborhood Bento is that they're located in a small corner plaza that is usually overcrowded (read: no parking) due to diners at neighboring restaurants too. Not their fault, but I wish it was easier to get their food without the parking headache! read more

Neighborhood Bento - Pork Katsu Bento and Hamburger Steak Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Absolutely amazing customer service here. Truly a neighborhood vibe when you walk in with their warm & friendly staff. The yakiniku bento was so delicious and comforting. Great flavor and perfect portion of meat, japanese veggies, and rice. Such a charming spot. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Authentic Japanese food. This is a good place to enjoy the quality foods with affordable prices. Will come back again.

I ordered the salmon bento box and had a good experience. The owners spoke with my significant other and shared that they lived in Japan for over 10 years, which really shows in how thoughtfully the restaurant pays homage to Japanese culture and cuisine. The space itself feels very intentional and personable. We got our food to go, but everything tasted good and I'd love to come back and try it fresh next time. For the price, I thought it was a solid value. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Salmon Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I usually get the bento here every Monday and I do love their foods but today, the rice was really mushy, and the pork matsue, idk after I digest the katsu, I feel my chest burning and stomach feels upset. I heard the ownership changed when I visited today and I was hurry so I didn't had a chance to talk. I'm guessing you guys didn't change the oil read more

Neighborhood Bento - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

See all

We fell in love with this hidden gem! My husband was craving Japanese comfort food, and Neighborhood Bento happened to show up. Initially, I felt ok about trying this place out, but the pictures do not do it justice at all! It is owned by a Japanese couple, and they strive to use fresh Japanese ingredients to their dishes. We decided to order two assorted bento boxes. They came with grilled salmon, karaage, shrimp, and assorted vegetables. Everything was delicious and well made!! The karaage and shrimp were so tender and flavorful. I loved the rice seasonings as well. It was a big portion, and I even had some leftover for the next day. I'm shocked that there is such a delicious and affordable Japanese comfort restaurant in the area. Can't wait to return! read more

Neighborhood Bento - Menu 9/20/25 - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Reminds of little local places like in Hawaii! A little hole in the wall restaurant that offers Japanese comfort food! I just happened to walk by as I was going to check out a coffee place next door. Glad I went in! Bought Chicken Karaage and to my delight, saw they had Nishime! The chicken was very well marinated and tasty with a crunchy crust! The Nishime was delicious, although a tad too sweet. Oh...but I still enjoyed it! I appreciate that the restaurant has authentic Japanese food and side dishes! Rare find. I'll be coming back to try the saba! read more

Neighborhood Bento - Nishime - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

Very hole-in-the-wall establishment, with a small, yet cozy interior. We stumbled on this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. I ordered the pork katsu sandwich and gyu-don (beef) bowl. The katsu sandwich was DELICIOUS! I loved the crispiness from the toasted bread and how juicy and tender the katsu was. They also include potato salad inside the sandwich, which adds some depth and flavor. The gyu-don bowl was just OK. While the flavor itself was good, the beef was pretty dry and not very satisfying. We were the only ones in the store, so our orders were taken right away and food also came out quickly. There's only 3-4 tables inside, so I assume this is more of a take-out than dine-in place (and we did see several people picking up to-go orders while we were eating). Parking is limited as it is a tiny lot that it shares with 7-11 and several other food establishments. read more

Just what Buena Park and North Orange County needed! Japanese comfort food, that doesn't break the bank. From Chicken and Pork Katsu to full-on Bento Boxes, Neighborhood Bento does not disappoint. Keep an eye out for their limited lunch and dinner hours to ensure you are able to snag what you'd like to have. Prompt, attentive, and accurate service will make me keep coming back! read more

Do NOT buy ginger pork bento! It's absolutely awful. I've never had such a bad Japanese bento box. The ginger pork I had before from other restaurants were usually made with pork slices, but their ginger pork here was using at least containing 85% fat, and cut into uneven sizes, looked like leftover pork scraps. There was no ginger flavor at all; it seemed like they just added a few onion skins mixed with soy sauce and cooking oil for the color. It had no flavor whatsoever. The pork inside was still white and incredibly greasy. The side dishes were even worse; they all looked black and tasteless. The potato salad was completely bland. The other dipping sauce looked like mayonnaise, but it was only salty, and I had no idea what this dipping sauce was for. The whole bento box, including the tip, cost $20--it was not worth it at all, I won't be back anymore for sure! read more

Neighborhood Bento - Greasy and tasteless ginger pork and side dishes, bland potato salad and salty mayonnaise dipping sauce for nothing - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I have been following them on Instagram for a while and I finally made it out to Buena Park to try them. I wish I had come sooner! Service was great the restaurant is a cute little place and the food, omg, everything I had was amazing. Best takoyaki I have ever had in California, the pork katsu sando and the plate were both amazing. I cannot wait to go back and soon! read more

Delicious, fresh, and great quality, even for takeout! Ordered takeout on a random Wed, and the yakiniku bento, chicken katsu bento, and chicken katsu sando were all superb. We loved the potato salad, side veggies in the yakiniku, and lightly breaded chicken katsu (more authentic, I think). I love gobo (burdock root), so it is nice when spots serve this less common side. Order came out to about $46, but the portion is decent so I was able to split the yakiniku for a lunch and dinner (I do have a relatively smaller appetite). I called in the order, but they have an online option as well. It took 15 mins for the order. The plaza is small, and so is the restaurant (one row of seating against the wall), but I usually do takeout for bentos anyway. The lady was very friendly. Would definitely bring others back or just order on my own when craving a local bento in the neighborhood :). read more

Neighborhood Bento - Yakiniku, chicken katsu, and chicken katsu sando 5/5 - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The main thing for me is authenticity. Is this a true Japanese restaurant? Yes. Taste and presentation is 100% Japanese, run by Japanese. Same goes for other cultures foods... it must come from deep within the culture and be authentic. This place has delicious Japanese dishes. Please don't close. There are not enough around after Sango, Gekotei, and other Japanese run restaurants closed. read more

We drove from Torrance in the middle of rush hour, so about 1 hr commute. We didn't mind because the food was supposed to be good. When we got there at 6:15pm, the person inside said they were closed. Even though their hours of operation said they were open from 3-7pm on a Friday. Misleading hrs on their website, Yelp hrs, and their sign outside their store. Too bad. Deserves a 0 star review. read more

service was quick! i love to support small businesses :)) staff was very sweet and they prepare bentos on the spoon! Very cozy inside and cute! the bento was good, healthy and filling! i got the assorted bento box! I would definitely come back and try the other bento boxes :) read more

Neighborhood Bento - assorted bento box - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

I should have checked my order before I left. I ordered salmon and got (what I think is) saba . :/ It's possible the cashier misunderstood me since I said the sake salmon but I thought he confirmed salmon when he repeat the order back to me. I still ate it because I was hungry but I wasn't really wanting a very fishy type of fish (this one is usually too strong). It was okay but not what I wanted or asked for. Sour plum onigiri was good. Such a bummer, I've been here before and the salmon was good, I was hoping to have a regular place to go to instead of Takuma in west La. read more

Neighborhood Bento - Saba - Japanese Near Me - Buena Park, California

The Nori Ben is absolutely delicious! The flavors are excellent, the ingredients taste fresh, and every bite is satisfying. Everything was prepared perfectly, and the quality really stands out. I would definitely order it again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a tasty and well-made meal. read more