A Japanese spot serving steak, roast beef and unagi in bento boxes is coming to Helmcken Street in downtown Vancouver.
Bentendo is taking over 955 Helmcken Street, between Burrard and Hornby.
Its latest Instagram posts say it’s “We’re officially opening our doors on October 6!”
The unit was Tokyo Joe’s, a sushi spot that Vancouver Is Awesome reported had run on Helmcken for more than 30 years.
According to that September 18 report, it closed with a note from its founder that read, “After many wonderful years, I have decided to retire.”
Bentendo’s pitch is Japanese comfort food served in a jubako, a lidded box that the website says has long carried dishes like unagi-don in Japan.
Every box starts with warm rice, and the team says the steak is grilled, the roast beef sliced and the katsu fried only after you order.
The team also says it wanted to move past the idea of bento as a cold, pre-made meal off a shelf.
The menu on the website leads with a Roast Beef Jyu at $19.95, with roast beef, an onsen egg, lemon mayo and a soy-based onion sauce over rice.
The Steak Jyu uses AAA top sirloin with garlic chips and a rolled omelette.
Unagi, salmon, karaage and gluten-free agedashi tofu boxes round out the list, and the premium boxes come with miso soup.
There’s a short burger section too, including a teriyaki burger built on a Japanese hamburg steak, plus curry rice with add-on katsu or karaage.
Ordering happens at the counter, or you can call ahead for pickup.
The website pitches the boxes as food to take back to the office, home or a hotel room.
Bentendo joins other upcoming Vancouver openings like Bento Cafe in Kerrisdale, Nuan Nuan Beef Noodle House in the West End and Ramen Danbo in Yaletown.
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Address: 955 Helmcken Street, Vancouver BC
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