A lunch plate is supposed to be fast, and as I stand here for the 30th minute waiting for my food (mind you there was only one person ahead of me) I would strongly recommend putting up a sign saying the food is gonna take more than 30 minutes. read more

Consistency is the key to keeping a business going. That being said, Okata Bento has great tasting food that is always consistent. You can tell that the owner takes pride in what he serves. Just like a painter with his picture, Okata Bento makes the food look and tastes simply amazing. He cooks his food from scratch so you need to be patient after you place your order. At least you know that the food isn't simply taken from a warmer and slapped on your plate. The owner usually says 10 minutes so that you can walk off your energy before you start to grind. You won't be disappointed after the wait! read more

Okata Bento - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I think their chicken katsu; bbq meat and the bentos are very tasty and reasonable . The portions are very small and ordering a regular plate is a mini size. It's not enough for my husband and It doesn't fill me up. I wish their portions were bigger! read more

Who doesn't like this place???? Great portions and prices. Quick stop for Bentos and flavorful. read more

Okata Bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Okata Bento is a family owned and operated business. My husband was raised surfing and eating plate lunches in Hawaii and adores this little take out place. 1 Scoop rice, 1 container homemade macaroni and teriyaki meat of your choice on a bed of shredded cabbage makes it a perfect meal. Best to call your order in before hand so it will be all packaged and waiting for you. It's a busy place so no time for chitchat but they consistently have great plate lunches and teriyaki chicken on a bun if you aren't super hungry. Note: They are never open Sundays. We very much miss it now that we moved but It is a must go to every time we go back. read more

I think the high reviews are from those that have a nostalgia with this place as we tried the chicken and beef Teri bentos and they were meh. It had some variety but the luncheon meat wasn't spam and the fish was just ok. I liked the concept but I think they could improve on the food. read more

This sweet little unassuming spot on Waialae ave is great ! They've got a fun sort of quirky feel to them, the spot, the stickers, signage, etc. I love it. The food is great and made to order so I like that it's hot and fresh when you get it. It's best to call ahead your order on your way there if you're in a rush or as starving as I was. It is CASH ONLY tho but luckily there are two ATMs in a super short walking distance (one across the street at first Hawaiian bank, and one a few doors down at bank of Hawaii). It's a real classic bento, plate lunch spot that's nostalgic and everything you want in your little bento; tasty, affordable, and a pretty good variety for made to order in a small kitchen space. I got the mini mix bento with chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken. YUM the little bento had a small piece of mahi-mahi that was perfectly seasoned and cooked for a small portion. It even made me think maybe I need that mahi-mahi sandwich next time I go. There was also a small piece of luncheon meat, Tamago, daikon, fishcake and some cabbage. The katsu was a great crispy fresh piece that hit the spot and the teriyaki chicken was everything and more than what I was craving. Salty, sticky, slightly sweet, and perfectly cooked so it wasn't dry. The rice was also perfectly cooked fluffy sticky rice. Ughhh YUM. It was the perfect option for me since I tend to want to eat a little bit of everything and then end up with tons of leftovers. This portion really met all of my cravings and satisfied my late afternoon hunger. I also got a small fruit punch and it has crushed ice in it and it was perfect. I'll definitely be back again for that teriyaki chicken that I'm sure I'll have a craving for soon. I'll bring a friend or two so I can sample more of the menu with them too hehe. Can't wait to go back... my mouth is already watering just writing this. Seriously check it out if you haven't already. read more

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Wow. What a charming, friendly and tasty mom and pop operation. We particularly enjoyed the dons (oayako, gyu and tonkatsudon) which were reasonably-priced and filling at $10 for a large. The kids ate every drop! I just wish they were open more -- closingvat 5pm is a little early to pick up dinner. read more

Haven't eaten at Okata Bento in a while so I was due to visit it once more.. I got there and amazingly no long line this time as sometimes I drive by and there is a long line waiting to order or get their food. I was Second in line so that was a pleasant surprise. I got to the counter and ordered the large Bento mix of Beef Teriyaki and Char Sui Chicken. I waited by the lamppost right outside since as you order your food is cooked Lyndon always is working hard taking orders and making your food. After a few minutes wait lo and behold the Bento was ready! Now the fun part in these Covid times where to eat? So I knew of some benches in the shade where no one was around so off to go and devour my bento. I know I was comparing Teriyaki places and I have to admit I didn't come by here to compare with some other places but let me tell you their teriyaki is up there with the best of them! Although they cut up the meat in small pieces to cook quicker and to eat easier the taste is still great. I did truly miss this place and have to make it a point to come by more often. read more

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CASH ONLY. AWESOME PLATE LUNCHES AND BENTOS. This place has been around for EV-ER, but just in case you've never been...go check it out next time you're in Kaimuki at lunchtime! These plate lunches are really good unless you're on a diet, in which case you shouldn't be looking at these pictures: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw#BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=BzHD3TetbHq7kShcf2Mldw#5ldug2ayIh7-7BUdGsxobw Limited hours M-F 11-4, Sat 11-3. (and they will be CLOSED 4/15-4/28/13). Call your order before you get there because this place is literally a hole in the wall. (No place to sit, no place to stand) My favorite is the teri hamburger and char siu chicken. Hamburger steak w/brown gravy is good too. But this is what I REALLY love...they cut all the fat, skin, and gristle off their chicken, and give you perfectly cut bite-sized pieces of chicken. If you have kids you know what a pain in the ass it is to always de-bone, de-skin, de-toughen chicken for the kids. This is like a dream come true for me, except I don't even give my kids this because I eat it all before getting home. The only thing I don't like is the luncheon meat they use in the bento..it's not spam. But back to the little bite sized pieces of chicken. This is the char siu chicken plate, look at the cute little pieces! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=ke7pGMskZXSmXhufp5N-Wg#ke7pGMskZXSmXhufp5N-Wg I love little mom/pop hole in the wall places like this! Or as Kyle says, it's a "Hole in the Hall". http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/okata-bento-honolulu?select=asmo_3Q8FjHHZMOg7ddmSw#asmo_3Q8FjHHZMOg7ddmSw read more

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Growing up in Kaimuki, I don't know why I've never gone to Okata Bento before? Oh wait...........now I remember! Probably cuz I neva have enough money as a kid to buy one bento........only had enough moolah to go buy one hamburger at McD's! Das why!!!! Lol! All kidding aside..........I remembered this spot in Kaimuki use to be some sorta of Japanese "Okazuya" place, but in 1981 Okata Bento took over this location. Can you believe it? Okata Bento has been in business for 35 years & counting! I find that really amazing, as they must be doing something right............and I can vouch for them, as Okata Bento really cranks out some onolicious bentos! This little shop is located in the heart of Kaimuki town, sandwiched between the shabu-shabu place - "Azuka", and a Cosmo Prof store. This place is CASH only! There is no parking for this store, as well as no place to sit and eat. But gang, don't let all of this discourage you. It will be worth your time to make the pilgrimage to this little shop in Kaimuki! Here is what I did today............ For parking, I got free parking in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot (it is free if you can get in/out within 20 minutes). If you cannot get parking in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot, you can find metered street parking. As I mentioned before, there is no place to sit and eat when you go to Okata Bento, because this is basically a "grab & go" kinda place. No matter, cuz I just picked up my food & went home to eat. Now if you must eat right away, may I suggest running down to Kaimuki Park? It's just a block away, and they do have picnic tables/benches where you can sit & eat. (just an idea gang!). Upon walking up to the shop, I scanned the wall menu and decided to order the Char Siu Chicken Bento ($8.00). What's inside the Char Siu Chicken bento? You get the Char Siu Chicken, Mahimahi (fish), Luncheon Meat, Egg, Takuan, Ume, and a slice of Kamaboko (Japanese fish cake), on a bed of rice & chopped cabbage. A really great bento for just $8.00 smackaz!!!! Besides bentos, Okata Bento also sells burgers and sandwiches which range anywhere from the $2.50 to the $4.00, plate lunches, donburi, & drinks (water & soda). What can I say about the bento I had for lunch today? ONO cuz!!! I loved the sweet char siu sauce they used on the chicken. I noticed the chicken was cut up into bite size morsels with all the skin & fat cut off. The mahimahi was moist & ono too, but I only wished I had some tarter sauce for the fish. Of course you cannot do a bento without some egg & luncheon meat...........it was a pretty filling bento, and it - "Hit da Spot!" If you know what I mean! Ummmmmmmm, aaaaaaaah!!!! I don't know why it took me so long to try Okata Bento, but if I'm ever jonesing for a bento again.............I'm going to Okata Bento!!! read more

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The food here has homestyle flavor. No msg which is a plus. Best part about this establishment is its for reals #cheapeats I ordered the tonkatsu, teri combo. I'm always trying to find yummy but not over marinated teriyaki/teri beef. I decided to give this place a try. If you like the thick and sweet teriyaki sauce, you will like it. I believe they use the same sauce on their teri burger. Tonkatsu was simply seasoned and on the thinner side Hamburger steak was a good portion but gravy not flavorful but that could just be because they don't use msg. I really appreciate that. read more

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Great small local place with unfortunately very limited hours of operation. When my son, daughter, and I went by around 10:45 and planned to wait till their normal opening time of 11:00, there was a small sign in the window they're opening at 11:30 today. To say the least we left. When they are open, yes, we came back later, their food is very good and reasonably priced. Son got three Teri cheese burgers, daughter a to katsu bento, and I a chicken donburi. They make everything fresh to order. It's good cause it's fresh. The bad is you have to wait to either place your order and he only does a few at a time or you have to wait till he cooks/makes your order. It's a one man show. He even has a sign in the window explaining that and asking you to be patient. Biggest suggestion I can give you is call ahead to place your order so wait time is shorter, assuming he's not too busy to take your order. I've not tired this but my daughter says it's the way to go. Of course she says this after we arrived and had to wait to place our order. So just be patient knowing when you get you food, it will be worth the wait. read more

Great little hidden gem! Short hours of operation, but the food is really good! Prices are super reasonable! We will be visiting again when back on vacation! read more

I've passed by Okata Bento so many times in my life. I always overlooked it on my way to Kwong On (in the past) and Aloha Crepes (more recently). But I was looking for some good, home-cooked tasting food and found Okata on Yelp. I called in my order, because there is limited metered street parking. I ended up parking in the private lot behind big city diner and ran over to Okata to be within the grace period. The girl working the cash register was funny and nice, but it seemed like she was new. She was having trouble ringing up my order, but I had fun reading the articles taped on the side of the window while I waited. I ordered the char siu chicken and teri hamburger steak, with gravy everywhere (they'll ask). It was so delicious. When you think of local homemade food, this i it. There was great, full flavor. I think some people might think it tastes too concentrated and over done, but I needed it and thought it tasted good. They have very specific hours and I had to be sure to come for lunch because they are not open late. Okata seems to be a keystone establishment in Kaimuki. I'm always very impressed with the variety in Kaimuki and I'm glad Okata is there to represent good, consistent local Japanese plate lunch and bento. I'm excited to come back to try some of the other offerings and bentos. read more

Okata Bento - Funny stuff to read while you wait - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I was in the mood for a bento the other day. And since I have yet to brave the crazy crowd at the new Shirokiya, I decided to try somewhere close to my house. I always see Okata Bento but I've never really tried it out. I looked on Yelp and they had a lot of positive reviews about it. Thanks to Yelp reviews we were able to find out that it takes about twenty minutes to make the bentos. We found the menus online and did a call in. They have several types of bentos but the one that stuck out that was different was the char siu chicken. I've always wondered how to make it and one day I'd like to really try to make it myself. But anyways, we ordered the char siu chicken bento mini. It was $5 a bento, which really is a great deal. The bento came with the chicken, rice, egg, fish, kamaboko, Takuan, and luncheon meat. It was so cute how everything has its own little place in the bento box. It was arranged perfectly. The bento was really tasty and just enough food for me. The char siu chicken was good and the little fish was so cute in there. It was truly a mini meal. If you haven't tried Okata Bento, give it a try. It's well worth the price and food is delicious. I guess the only downside is the parking. We called ahead so one person ran to get the food and the other person waited in the car. So if you want the bento, either go with a friend to pick up, walk there, or you're gonna have to pay for parking in one of the lots. read more

Okata Bento - Char siu chicken mini - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Woow one of the best bento places I've been to. Its great pricing for what you get. I got the tonkatsudon and it was wonderful. Only problem is parking is hard to find in this area. read more

Okata Bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Just finished my mini mix bento (chicken katsu + beef teriyaki) from this hole in the wall bento shop and it was delicious! When I first saw the portion size I thought aw, how cute. Having just finished eating it, it was the perfect size and I am not over stuffed. The amount of sauce was perfect and I enjoyed the sides too. As mentioned in other reviews, these are made to order so you might have to wait a little longer. I waited a bit before being able to order. After putting my order in my bentos were ready about 10 minutes later. The prices are really good for the value of food. Be sure to bring cash with you as this business is cash only. read more

Okata Bento - Mini mix bento with chicken katsu and beef teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Legit! Love their old school plate lunches in the cardboard box! I wish the portion was a little bigger for the Mahi Mahi but the flavor is there! Quality over Quantity wins in this case. read more

Okata Bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

5 stars all the way! Nice people, great service, and delicious food! In my opinion they have the BEST Teri hamburgers & super ONO tonkatsu! Nuff said- you just gotta try it and give it your own opinion! ^_^ read more

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We love this little hole in the wall! Great food! Great value! This is now a one man show but Lyndon Okata has been around since 1981! With some awesome customer service treating us like family! Yes he does remember our orders and our life! Those mini combo bentos with no cabbage! My twins grew up on this favorite even when we lived in Colorado for two yeats and came back during every school vacation! We retired military and came back to settle back on the island, but I am truly sad that I no longer work in the Kaimuki area. For six years I was able to get those mini combo bentos at any time I wanted them on the way home from work, but now only on Saturdays. read more

Still going after all these years! Not the greatest but damn good for the prices. It takes a lot to stay in business for so long (esp) with pandemic, so they must be doing something right read more

You can't get a fresher bento, everything is made to order, by one hard working guy! The food is tasty and seasoned just right, not too salty like many other places. This time I tried the chicken katsu and mahi combo bento. The meat and fish are thinly sliced but cooked well. If I ever need to pick up bentos, I'd order them from here. read more

We got the mahi mahi plate. Was good. Portions are a little small which explains the lower prices, so be aware when ordering. One plate was enough for me, but I'm a light eater. Nice local literally "hole in the wall" joint. Staff was nice, but busy. Expect to wait a little bit even if you order ahead of time. The cook was also manning the service window. Nice local feel! read more

Good bento. Owner makes to order, so it's fresh and hot when you eat. The variety of little sides is great- loved the fried ham. I'd go back! read more

Worth the wait in line! Their teri burger with cheese, teri beef, and chicken katsu are all delicious. Everything is made to order. If phone is busy, it's easier to just go there and order at window. Expect a 10-20 min wait. Cash only. read more

Okata Bento - Mix plate - beef teri & chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

All foods are cooked to order. Takeout only. Cash only. Prices are good for the bento. Food was good. While waiting for my food walked down to Cowcow's Tea read more

Okata Bento - Mini mix bento, mahi mahi and Teri chicken - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love Okata Bento! No matter how many years it's been this place still stands strong! Despite the ever changing shops on Waialae you can count on this hole in the wall shop to always serve the best quality home made to order bentos at an affordable price that never changes! Located on waialae next to the canon camera shop literally a little hole in the wall! It's a small tight little walkway you go in and just order at their small window to go. There is no indoor or outdoor seating. But still it's menu and variety of options to choose and mix and match your plate lunches and bentos at such a great prices, I would be so sad if they closed.. Owned by a local husband and wife they are always very sweet and kind. And everything is made to order so you can always expect a hot plate! The wait times are pretty decent as well I say about 10 to 15 minutes for two bentos and a grilled cheese! And I like that they already cut the grilled cheese for you. We ordered the teriyaki chicken bento and mahi mahi bento. I love that the teriyaki chicken was served in small easy to bite pieces over a bed of rice with luncheon meat, one piece mahi mahi cabbage, ume and daikon! So delicious! And the mahi mahi bento had 4 decent small size pieces that were surprisingly very filling. And it came with tartar sauce on the side. Even after a few years of not coming here the food is still very delicious! I highly recommend this spot for anyone whose never been. You would be supporting local too! And that is always a win win! read more

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Super good food I would recommend the Katy's sandwich and char siu chicken. Food comes out quick and love how everything's made to order. Ambiance good. read more

Oh how I love the little mom & pop shops where the food practically comes straight outta mama and papa's home kitchen. You can just taste the love. No different here at Okata Bento. It's no wonder every time I pass this place right before 11:00am, I see a line forming already. I just had to check it out this time because I was hungry for a hearty cheat-worthy lunch. I found myself here at 10:50am already 3rd in line waiting for the place to open. The first people in line were a couple of first-timers just like me, and the second guy in front of me was a customer of 20+ years. It was cute that they were chatting up and the guy in front of me was telling the other couple about how awesome this place was and how it was worth the wait (because there IS a bit of a wait). I was in no hurry and just listened to the polite chatter. 11:10 came and the place still didn't open up yet. The guy in front assured us that this was normal and that as long as we see the light on inside, they'll surely open up... eventually. Haha. So they finally opened at 11:15, no skin off of my back because I had that extra time to scan the menu on Yelp (thanks to the awesome Yelpers who post pics of the menus) and figure out what I wanted to order. I decided on a mixed plate of teri hamburger and mahi mahi. I placed my order when it was my turn and was told that it'll be called out when it was ready. Note: tartar sauce for the mahi is upon request so don't forget to ask for it if you want it. It typically takes about 10-15 minutes for your order to finish (says guy in front of me) and that was true even when you only order one plate. It's posted on signs that "everything is made to order so please be patient" so it was to be expected. Guy in front had the right idea: He headed a few doors down to get fresh malasadas while he waited for his order. I was tempted to follow but even on cheat days I TRY not to get carried away. 10 minutes later, my order's ready and i'm on my way. Cut to chow time. DELICIOUS!!! Truly cheat-worthy in every sense. Teri sauce was thick and rich, hamburger patty was homemade and flavorful, and the mahi mahi was lightly fried just right and not over-seasoned. Good old homestyle cooking. Can't wait to come back and try other things! Parking tip: best bet is to park across the street in either of the metered lots behind Coffee Talk or FHB and just walk across. Try to come before 10:30 because they fill up fast as it gets closer to 11:00. read more

Okata Bento - Teri Burger and Mahi Mahi Mixed plate. $9.00 - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

When I say this is THE BEST chicken katsu, I mean it. I've had it all over the island and you cannot beat the quality and price here. Is it a hole in the wall? Sure, but I don't care. The fact that this family is able to provide consistent, affordable and delicious food for so many years with the same man cooking day in and out is to be celebrated! Call ahead to make sure you don't have to wait. If they don't pick pick up the first time just keep trying, they're a small operation and you can be patient with perfection. read more

Okata Bento - Chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Tried Okata Bento for the first time today. I ordered the Teri hamburger steak plate, extra sauce on one scoop rice (versus both scoops of rice). Good customer service, asking if I wanted extra sauce on my rice. The hamburger steak was delicious, made to order so there is a bit of a wait. Better to order ahead and just pick up! The teri sauce was too sweet for me, though the consistency was good. Wish it had more ginger and green onion taste and not so sweet. The mac salad came in a separate container and was chilled and tasty. read more

Okata Bento is one of those Hawai'i businesses we'll miss very much when they're no longer there. It's a little piece of neighborhood nostalgia that reminds you of when you were a hungry kid who had only a few dollars in your pocket. EATS: Get the teri beef sandwich, not the teri burger, which I found to be rather mushy. Two totally different experiences and in my humble opinion the teri beef is waaaaay better. It made me wish I had magic fairy hands and could change things into a teri beef sandwich. Stop sign (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Small dog (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Husband (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! I could do this all day long and life would be delicious... I also ordered the hamburger steak plate for $6.50 which came with two scoops rice covered in gravy and mac salad. A deal at $6.50 but I was pretty disappointed, so much so I only ate a few bites and threw the rest away. Darn, I sure wish my magic fairy hands were working so I could turn that plate lunch into a teri beef sandwich! LOCATION: Across the street from Coffee Talk, sandwiched in between the Hawaii Symphony and Asuka Nabe. It's basically a hallway with a little window. Everything is made-to-order so if you're in a rush call ahead. It took about ten minutes for them to pack up my lunch. read more

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Okata Bento is my favorite spot for a plate lunch. Located in Kaimuki town, on the peak of Waialae Ave, across of Coffee Talk, nestled between the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra office and Asuka. The chef and owner takes great pride in the food he cooks and serves to all his customers. A two person operation -- the chef/owner, and his assistant who takes orders -- are both very friendly and helpful. Being that the owner is the only cook, the orders do take a good amount of time to be ready, but the food is definitely worth the wait. I do recommend calling in your orders. Okata Bento's menu is filled with local favorites, such as plate lunch options of chicken teriyaki, teri hamburger steak, chicken katsu (to name a few), donburi's and sandwiches. They do have mixed plates, with your choice of any two entrees. Interesting fact: he strips the fat from the chicken leaving very lean pieces of chicken. I love their chicken katsu donburi and chicken teriyaki plate. Okata Bento is a local mom-and-pop kind of eatery that hopefully remains a fixture in Kaimuki town for eternity. read more

Okata Bento - Chicken Teriyaki Plate - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love Okata Bento! How do you know when a person takes pride in there food. .. All the fat from meat and chicken is trimmed caringly. Nothing is rushed to make sure your bento is perfect. You can tell the Love and Pride in every bite! My "Fave" is the Tonkatsu and fish, but there different things on the menu you can combine or try. You might want to call ahead and order your food , otherwise there is a wait. Good things come to those who are patient! Hours:Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 pm. Sat 11 am - 3 pm Ph#.737-6063 read more

Now honestly, do you really want healthy or delicious? I say for now, screw those designer granola, brown rice eatin' bubble heads down the street. Okata on Waialae has a great tasting old school bento with simple and humble (local) Hawaiiana flare. Due to the fact that I work out on the other side of the island and being that Okata has limited business hours, the only day I can make it here is on Saturdays (will post biz hours at end of report). For those that cant find parking, might I suggest the lot up the street from Bank of Hawaii just around the corner? I honestly don't think anyone checks it. So anyway, here I walk into this little nook/side alley to take a geese and gander at their menu: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=CTSzSTWtPGg74QlNnh1D9A&select=SD21ZyoP84FltL_naAxfeQ http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=CTSzSTWtPGg74QlNnh1D9A&select=2hLLN4Is9WJolC7BNtduIQ Aside from their donburi, plate lunches, burger and sandwiches, their famous Okata Bento is what i seeked. Or sooked? Sucked! Whatever, but each bento comes with white rice, mahi, luncheon meat (not SPAM btw), eggroll, takuan, kamaboko fish cake, ume and shredded cabbage. Sizes are available in both mini or regular, of which you can mix and match with another meat selection. So I decided to go with their teri beef and chicken katsu bento combination for $9.00. Complimentary bento mahi tasted great. Not too thin, flaky or salty but meaty. Luncheon meat, forget the brand but is that salty sweet kind that comes in large squares. Both the teriyaki beef (not too gingery) and katsu (moist and crunchy) were standard but also good. Not sure if you'd like to argue there's a plate lunch and bento version but it tasted more like the bento version; where although its layered with all types of different flavor profiles, every bite is a new textural and deliciously oily food region. I would like to also note that their egg roll, which is not a roll but a fried egg slapped between the meat and rice, has sugar mixed into it. Sounds weird but it adds an interesting bite in juxtaposition to everything around it. Another thing I tried was their cheeseburger ($2.50) which was one of the Okata Yelp picks. By my earlier mention of old school Hawaiiana flavor, along with the melted slice of cheddar/thousand isle sauce, the taste of the beef patty reminded me of the type you get at local hole-in-the-wall saimin shops (and places of the like). There is a certain mixed-salt flavor, which is probably the same type of seasoning they put into their saimin broth. And yes, da cheeze boiga was good. Okata Bento store hours: M-F: 11-4pm Sat: 11-3pm Sun: Closed Also note that Okata is designed only for take out and has no dine-in seating. A "hole-in-the-hall" as fellow Yelper B-Luv puts it. 4 stars Okata Bento on Waialae read more

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"Hole-In-The-Hall" Restaurant: Okata Bento The moment I realized that this was a place to eat, I've had this atop my list for some time. So, what has prevented me from coming here? Well, there's the location where parking sucks and I'm never able to make it over here for their lunch time hours. That's on top of the fact that when it's closed, it looks like some of the other shuttered businesses in the area. Oh yeah, and there was that tsunami thing on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Hey, we drove by it on that day and the roads were clear, so I would've stopped if it was open! Finally, we were able to get here. It's a dinky place. Just a walk-up window in a hallway. It's not a hole-in-the-wall, more of a hole-in-the-hall. You could pass it and not even know it was a business. A lot of non-locals walking by were looking at us funny for waiting outside a hallway. The lady taking orders was very friendly, even joking with us about all the pictures we were taking. There seemed to be tons of locals from the area that frequent the joint and are on a first name basis. Since there is no place to sit and eat, we headed over to Kapiolani Park. Let me say that parking really isn't too bad. It's located right around the corner up the small Center Street. There's two parking lots off to the left. Both are pay lots, but we didn't drop any money in it. When I went to Toys-n-Joys before, they also said no need. Plus, no one else was dropping money into the slots. At your own risk I guess. So after reading the reviews I had to get an actual hamburger, even though I know I was going with the Hamburger Steak plate. I'm a burger guy and that's what the current reviewers on Yelp were talking about so, go with it. The cheeseburger had a tangy mustard thousand island dressing flavor. The patty itself was nice and soft. At OB they claim to cook it fresh and they do. For all those people who spaz over good food taking time to make, they even have a sign for you to chill and wait for your freshly cooked food. Funny and I liked it. Upon opening the white plate lunch box and looking under all that good gravy, I found that my burger patty was the size of an old 45 record! It took a minute to sink in, but it was big. The size didn't take away from the flavor though. It was good. The lady did also ask if I wanted gravy on my two scoops of rice and I was like, "Yeah, Geevum!" For under $7, it's a great deal. It was like the hamburger burger, nice and juicy. The mac salad side was alright. I think it maybe just needed some additional flavoring like pepper. Overall, I'm definitely going back. One of the great things about this place is that they have a variety of ways to try different things here. They have small and large bento plates, donburi's, regular plate lunches, and in addition to all of that you can upgrade to having two items instead of just one. So it has something for everyone from your Great-Auntie who's a light eater to large plate lunches for the big boys. It's an eclectic place, which is obvious by how it's situated. They even post little emailed gems of funny wisdom in the windows. Anyway, just make sure to note the limited window of hours they're open (5 hours at most a day). read more

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Talk about hole in the wall. This place is literally a whole in the wall. I kid you not. They have good food and are very nice. The only downside is sometimes the wait to get your food. So it is best to call in and order. I love their Tonkatsu Bento. It is awesome. The sauce is good. I don't know where they get this sauce from (its in little packets) but I want some. You are better off ordering the bento instead of the regular plates because for only $7.50 you can get the Regular Tonkatsu Bento which includes rice, mahi mahi, luncheon meat, egg roll, a small slice of daikon and fish cake, ume, and shredded cabbage. The Tonkatsu Bento has got to be my favorite thing to order here. My next favorite thing to order is their Teri Burger w/ Cheese. It's only $2.75. Sometimes mixing a mini Bento with the Teri Burger w/ Cheese is smart. You get the best of both worlds. For first timers, I recommend ordering a Mini Tonkatsu Bento and a Teri Burger w/ Cheese. you will experience what I think are the 2 best things on the menu in one setting for under $8. Now that's a good deal. Be careful the Teri burger is loaded with sauce so it will be dripping you may need extra napkins. Also if you can try the Green River drink is sweet and drinking it makes one feel like a kid again. I haven't tried everything but if I have to pick my least favorite item on the menu it would have to be the Char Siu Chicken. It is not too tasty. Overall Okata Bento is awesome. Be prepared to wait awhile if you do not call in your order, and make sure you have cash handy because it is cash only. read more

If you love local-style Japanese bentos, this is the place for you! Okata Bento is located on Waialae Avenue near the 12th Avenue intersection. Like others have previously noted, it is basically a hole in the wall type of eatery. Their menu includes bentos, burgers and other types of plate lunch items. Over the past few years that I have come here, I've only ordered their mini-bentos. I LOVE their mini tonkatsu bento. It's my favorite! In my opinion, the tonkatsu is cooked perfectly and sliced thin. I sometimes order the mini beef teriyaki bento too. All bentos come with rice, and small slices of luncheon meat, mahi mahi, egg, daikon, kamaboko and an ume. I love these sides, as it really accentuates the flavor of the meat. The bentos are priced fairly reasonable. The mini bento is priced at $4.75 for a choice of one meat. For the heavier eater, you can also order a mini bento with two choices of meat, or a regular sized bento. The only downside is that you should probably call ahead of time to place your order, as it will take anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes to prep. The owner does not begin cooking your meal until you order it, and because it is a small establishment, it will take a little longer than most places. Therefore, I recommend you calling in advanced, especially if you are pressed on time. If you're into bentos and plate lunches, check this place out sometime, especially if you live or work in Kaimuki! read more

Okata Bento - Tonkatsu mini bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A small hole in the wall on Waialae Ave., but don't let its appearance fool you. This is one of my favorite places to grab a plate lunch in Kaimuki. Park either on the street or in one of the lots across the street (one is metered, the other is ticket stub). I always get the beef or chicken teriyaki plate. I like that all the fat is cut off and the meat is cut into bite-size pieces. Comes with two scoops of rice and mac salad. The plate lunches are $6.50 The amount you get is decent for the price. I feel like you get a little more meat when you order chicken versus beef. Haven't tried anything else, but that's because I love the beef/chicken teri plates so much. I usually call beforehand to place my order because it takes 15-20min to cook. read more

Okata Bento - Chicken Teriyaki Plate Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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