oChef » Bentoful – Seattle » Bentoful – Seattle – Reviews
Bentoful - Reviews
501 Fairview Ave N, 98109 Seattle
All reviews at a glance
173
Reviews
76.3%
Satisfaction
29
negative
12
neutral
132
positive
What people say about Bentoful
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Visit Type
Meal Type
Service Type
Group Type
Group Size
Price per Person
Wait Time
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
7
Variety Over Quality, But Fun to Explore
My experience at this restaurant was centered around its unique concept, offering a vast array of choices. Unlike typical establishments, you have the freedom to select the exact quantity of each item, creating a personalized plate that resembles a buffet. However, the payment is by weight, which encourages a focus on higher-value items like meats.
I was able to sample 16 different foods, including 9 meats. Some of the meats were quite good, such as the decent salmon, good teriyaki, and the beef meatball. I also enjoyed the bulgogi and spicy pork.
On the downside, the chicken breast was astoundingly dry, and the Korean fried chicken lacked any distinct Korean flavor. For non-meat options, the combination of yakisoba and kimchi fried rice was excellent and paired well with the meats. The price is around $13 per pound, which felt reasonable for the amount of meat.
Overall, this place prioritizes variety over quality, but it's a worthwhile spot if you're looking to try many different things. I'd rate it a 7/10.
- variety8
- salmon7
- teriyaki8
- chicken breast2
- Korean fried chicken3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
3
Disappointing Chicken Wings, Okay Salmon
My experience at the restaurant was disappointing, primarily due to the chicken wings. They tasted stale, like leftovers that had been sitting for days, which was definitely not what I expected for a freshly prepared meal. The salmon was just okay.
I hope the restaurant improves its quality control.
- salmon5
- chicken wings2
- quality control3
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
7
Great Service, Food Needs Sweetness Balance
Bentoful is great! The service and atmosphere were both a perfect 5/5. However, the food received a 2/5.
I wish there was at least one meat option (chicken/beef) that wasn't sweetened, similar to the chicken topping at Chipotle. Currently, all the meats are marinated in sweet teriyaki, which is a bit too much for my preference. If a non-sweetened option were available, I would be going every day!
- service10
- atmosphere10
- food2
- meat option3
- sweet teriyaki3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
5
Mixed Experience with Some Hits and Misses
My experience at the restaurant had some components that were good, like the spring roll and the avocado salad. However, other items were dry, such as the salmon.
- spring roll8
- avocado salad8
- salmon3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
7
Good Food, Questionable Portions
My lunch experience was a bit of a mixed bag. While the chefs clearly know what they're doing and the quality of the food is always very good, the portioning felt a little off. Specifically, the restaurant's definition of '2 salmon slices per person' seemed to depend on who was paying, as we received three slices across two distinct meals.
Despite this, the food quality itself was excellent.
- chefs9
- quality9
- salmon slices4
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Vinegar Policy Frustrating
My experience at the restaurant was marred by a frustrating policy regarding condiments. After paying, I was not allowed to add a bit of vinegar to my tiny salad. The reason given was that the salad is priced by weight, which I found ridiculous.
- vinegar2
- tiny salad3
- policy2
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
3
Expensive Lunch with Poor Service
My experience at this restaurant was mixed. The food was decent and of good quality. However, the price was quite expensive, especially considering its location inside the Amazon building.
The customer service and overall attitude of the staff were disappointing.
- food7
- price3
- customer service2
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Delicious Lunch Spot with Sweet Owner
My husband and I stumbled upon this place during one of our visits to Seattle and now we go out of our way to stop here whenever we visit! They offer tons of options, and the food is always quick and delicious. The last time we were there, we had the pleasure of meeting the owner, An, and she was so sweet.
She generously gave us samples of other dishes we hadn't ordered and even some baked goods from her coffee shop next door. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious lunch option downtown!
- tons of options9
- quick and delicious10
- owner An10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
9
Convenient Self-Service & Friendly Staff
My experience at this restaurant was very positive, largely due to the new self-service salad/hot bar setup, which I found really convenient. The owner and staff were consistently so nice. I believe any past negative comments about service were due to customers not following directions, like repeatedly needing reminders to print tickets.
However, with the current self-service model, this is no longer an issue. The food was great, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.
- self-service salad/hot bar9
- owner and staff10
- service6
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Korean Food Buffet Style!
This restaurant offers Korean food in a buffet-style bento box format! Although the restaurant name sounds Japanese, it primarily serves Korean cuisine. The owner is amazing!
The coffee they also serve is wonderful!
- Korean food9
- owner10
- coffee9
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