Okata Bento

Wow! Wow! Wow! I’ve lived down the street for years and have never tried this hole-in-the wall local bento shop! After a recent visit to Japan, I have been craving Japanese food and this place is it! Simple, delicious, and affordable this place is fantastic and will definitely my new go to spot. I got to meet the owner and operator Lyndon who was very personable and makes a mean Teri-beef and chicken katsu plate! This place is small but packs a delicious punch, no wonder it’s been around since the 80s! A must try next time you’re in Kaimuki :)

I had just done shopping across the street at the Crack Seed shop, and spotted Okata Bento. I suddenly had craving for old school Bento. I ordered the mix large bento, selecting Char sui chicken, and mahi mahi fish. Okata bento embodies the Japanese way of eating where quality over quantity is the rule. I enjoyed every bite. It was interesting to watch the chef at work, he has a nice cooking setup, and his way of creating each bento was focused. Overall I am looking forward to trying his other bento creations. Highly recommended.🤙🏾😊

Been going here for 40+ years, perfection takes time, Unko Okato always take care. You in a rush , maybe look for other options, Unko does he thing and u ain't gonna change that, nor should you try.

Always the best from Okata bento. The food is cooked to order and the menu is simple, and delicious. I've been going there to eat for over 30 years now and will continue to do so until i leave this earth🤙🤙🤙🤙

Call in your order. Everything is made to order even their bentos. We waited 30 minutes for ours because it was lunch time and they were busy.

Hole in the wall. Bento made to order. No tables and chairs. Cash only.

Best chicken teriyaki bento box on the island under $15. The Teri burger with cheese is better than any other burger on Oahu except Kua Aina in Haleiwa. Call in order ahead or wait 10-15 minutes for walkup orders. They're only open 11am - 4pm. Been buying their bentos since 1993 and they're always awesome. 1000% better than Zippys.

Small portion but still good. I would order again.

We found a literal hole in the wall food joint. We walked down a little hallway and ordered out of the window the man cooked it right in front of us. We ordered to Teri burgers. We could smell it right through the window. It was super quick service and very straightforward. I got two thumbs up for my son, would go again.

Okata Bento is one of my favorite okazuyas, alongside Tanioka's in Waipahu, Sekiya's, and Fukuya's. The service is great and the staff are cordial and helpful. There is paid parking, so be aware of that. I would come here more often, but the parking is a nightmare. They are a cash-only place, so always go to the bank before coming here. Mr. Okata, the owner, has been doing this for years and is truly a legend. He is such a hard worker and deserves respect.

I sadly came to find Bento Box Closed today. after reading reviews I was excited to have the experience for myself. I can not post without giving a Star rating so I find myself leaving a 3 cuz I can't really in good conscience comment other than I was excited to come & now sadly disappointed. But I look forward to my return

Super ono !!! But open hours are very spotty and phone seems to be always full and cant take messages . Free Parking is a little difficult here not much available but worth looking for one . Bring someone with you so that they park and wait in the car at the paid stalls The Teri beef and char shui chicken Bento is delicious and everything else

This is always a great spot to visit. If you are expecting it to be ready quick, then I suggest you go when you have more time because they make the food to order so it is always fresh. The prices are reasonable and the taste is consistent. My favorite is the burgers as it reminds me of the "old back store" that used to reside in back of Washington middle. Iykyk. Love the green river and grape drink. Their Oyako donduri and char siu chicken are also yummy. Can't say there isn't anything on the menu that I didn't like. Give it a try, you won't regret it.

The OG spot for bentos on waialae (no joke, they've been around for 40+ yrs!) whenever I'm in the area, love to grab tonkatsu or teri-burger and head to the beach to enjoy. Remember to bring cash, as they are a cash only establishment - there is a FBH across the street so you can always pull out cash at the atm.

Best ever. Been coming here since 80s. Everything food wise is the same. Have patience, Lyndon is a one man cooking show. Well worth the wait.

I have been a customer since the early 1980s. Everything on the menu is excellent, and I eapecially like the Bento which had teriyaki chicken plus a small piece of fried fish and a half slice of fried luncheon meat, all perfectly seasoned and served in a bento box on a bed of white rice and chopped cabbage. This is a real old school Hawaii-style bento. It all tastes and looks almost exactly like it did in the '80s and that's a good thing! Highly recommended! Please note that they may not always answer the phone if you try to call-in a phone order. Keep in mind they may only be a one or two man operation (dad and son) depending on the day. They have to prep food, cook it to order, and serve as cashier for each purchase. So you have to be understanding of this cherished-legacy of a Kaimuki small business. If they don't answer, just drive over and park in the metered stalls on street. Then stand in the short line (sometimes no line) to place your order. The prices are very reasonable and the food tastes great. It will be well worth your while!

No other words except that this is one of the best places in Kaimuki and that Mr. Okata deserves all the support for his one-man show. Truly a gem in the heart of Kaimuki

They (or he) didn't answer the phone for half an hour yesterday so I haven't tasted the food. The pictures look so good. But either he went back to selective hours, or it was just so busy that the phone orders weren't important. Called from 10:30-11am. Still wanna try the food.

My friend and I used to explore the Bay Area for good burgers. We're not looking for any fancy burger where you add a ton of toppings/sauces and the calorie count is like a million after everything. What we enjoy is a good old fashioned burger or cheeseburger (doubles/triples). Nothing like an old school burger because of the beefy taste of the patty. He recently came to Hawai'i to visit and raved to me about the burger/cheeseburger he had last visit to Hawai'i. As he was describing where he got it from, I didn't have a clue on what he was talking about. He also didn't recall the name of the restaurant. After he searched for it and found Okata Bento, I was shocked I didn't know this place existed. Okata Bento is a true hole in the wall restaurant in the Kaimuki area. It's more of a small hallway with a window to order from and that's it. Their menu is simple and the prices are quite economical. The only thing that was odd about the menu is that they have burgers but don't offer fries. It's all good because I drove down Waialae to pick up an order of fries elsewhere. Okata Bento offers burgers, plate lunches, bentos, sandwiches, drinks and a hotdog. They are cash only and they don't make your food till you order it. I was second in line when they first opened up around noon but the kind person in front of me let me order first since I was in a rush. Since my friend raved about their burger/cheeseburger, I decided to order them. It took about 25 minutes before I got my name called out to pick up my order. After I picked up an order of extra crispy fries elsewhere, I headed home to eat. The burger/cheeseburger was smaller than expected but they tasted good. Their beef patty was soft and juicy! Maybe I came in with high expectations but their burger/cheeseburger didn't blow me away. It's still good for what it is and definitely worth the price you pay. I think next time I'm going to get a bento since I see so many Yeeps raving about them. Great hidden gem in Kaimuki (next to Asuka and across Coffee Talk)!

The home of the 2D bento since 1981. Not joking, no matter what angle you look at it, buggah is flat. Doesn't mean it's not good. Simple, local kine grindz from another era. Fried luncheon meat, not Spam, kamaboko, takuan, rolled egg, a piece of fish and whatever you ordered sliced up in bite sized pieces all atop a bed of rice and slivered cabbage. Marinades are strong. The old school flavors bold. The fish is always overcooked and rubbery but so what? It is exactly what it should be. Nore: All proteins available for the bento can be ordered as a plate lunch (two scoops rice, mac salad but none of the other bento sides). Mac salad can be ordered as a side for the bento; $2. Inexpensive. Everything $10.50 or less. Cash only. Odd anthropological observation - On a recent Saturday, over half of the customers were Zoomer tourists. Watching how they interact with each other and their environment and trying to figure out their bizarre abbreviated language is wildly entertaining. 2D but spanning four generations, impressive. Not destination worthy rather a back of your mind neighborhood place that always satisfies.

First time trying this place and I'm all my years of eating chicken katsu this is the smallest piece I have ever received. Small amount and also super small pieces of chicken. See photo for size comparison. My sauce packet was bigger than my katsu. Also my daughters piece of mahi was smaller than a chicken nugget. Food did taste good but don't think I need to go back here.

Okata Bento is a hole-in-the wall place. Have done take out from this place since the 80s. Very good food!! Kudos to the owner (a one man team). He' is very nice and pleasant.

Let me just start off with giving this guy 5 stars. Why? Even if I didn't taste the food, I can tell this guy had determination that deserved 5 stars right away. Anyone that can keep a place running for around 40 years deserves all the kudos he gets. To top that off, he is still cooking his own food! To the left of his small ordering area, he has articles about him - yes from 1982! Most of the people reading this might not even be that old. This is pure dedication. Not only that, he is not greedy. His prices seem out of place nowadays. I mean, I paid close to $7 right down the road for a single hot dog. At Okata, this can get you any double hamburger or two teri burgers here. I've been walking by this place but never looked. It's an old sign, weathered and beaten and it looks like a single hallway with a door. I never thought to turn into it and look to the right. In the middle on the right is the ordering window/opening. When I went there, someone had ordered earlier and she said it was good and she usually gets the bentos. Well, when I went to peek, I saw this guy making 4 beautiful teri burgers. Now, I am actually not a fan of teri burgers, as I grew older, I just didn't want that sweet taste anymore, but these were beautiful and I can tell skill when I see it. I already had 3 hot dogs from Muki Dogs (and they are VEGAN hahahaha). But I figured I'd get a bento for my son from this place, just to try. But as soon as I saw these beautiful burgers being made, I knew that's what I was going to get! YES!!!!! Well, as I was waiting to order, another lady came and as an order was being picked up "she said CAN I ORDER, I WANT TO ORDER". Well, I didn't even order yet and I was at the window. I would have let her order if she was really in a rush, but he calmly asked me what I wanted. I ordered 3 teri burgers! YES I DID! The lady impatiently walked in as I walked out and she ordered something. Well, after a while - longer than you might think because yes, he cooks to order like real food the order was close to completion. As I waited I read his stories on the wall. A very interesting and a very dedicated guy. Apparently his two kids are in New York. One is a designer. Anyway, he calls out something about a cheeseburger and asks they want lettuce. OK, this is the lady's order. She says she doesn't care - she just wants her order. Again, he calmly calls out my name and hands me my 3 teri burgers while she is impatiently waiting for her burger to be finished. He's a pro. He knows how things operate. Now to the food. As I said, I am not really into teri burgers, but I can tell this one is good. It was a little too sweet for me, but I know it was the taste of 40 years of cooking local food. This guy takes pride in his food and I am going back for sure. Enjoy these places while you can.

Hidden "Hole in the wall" place. It has character. Yes, it's a bit divey... but the food is good and the price is great! Only thing is that there's NO parking. It's ok, plenty of metered street parking. Fee-based parking lots across the street (About 2+). I ordered 3 mini bentos. Chicken teriyaki, combo bento with tonkatsu with charsiu chx and another combo tonkatsu with Teri chx. All orders are MADE TO ORDER. So please have patience, looks like a ONE-man crew.

What makes a community special, small town Kaimuki, a business that helps to weave the unique character of this east Honolulu spot. Okata Bento has been a backbone small business in Kaimuki town for decades. The owner Lyndon is a one man dynamo who sometimes has an assistant to help. The one consistency has always been his attention to a quality food product. We have always been partial to his bentos, others enjoy his delicious sandwiches while others enjoy the classic plate lunches. Nothing fancy, basic, delicious offerings- when you go to Okata Bento you know what to expect. Whenever our son comes home for a visit, a stop at Okata Bento is always on the list. These are difficult times and small operations do not have the deep pockets of big box stores to survive for a long period. Thank you Okata Bento for being a strong link for what makes Kaimuki Town a special place to live and visit. Support local businesses, let's help them get through the pandemic.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to try out Okata Bento's ono grinds. My wife is from the 'hood, my kids both live off of Waialae Avenue and my mother's care home is up the street close to the Kaimuki fire station which means that I am driving pass Okata Bento almost on a daily basis. As I drive pass heading Diamond Head or going the other way on Waialae I always glance over at the Okata Bento sign and tell myself that I'll head there one day. Well, that one day finally arrived after picking up food at Happy Day for my mother. Our order was going to take a while so my wife and I decided to do some walking to kill time and sneak in some light exercise. We had intended to go to Noods but the line was kind of long so we peeked into Okata Bento. The owner, Lyndon, was manning the grill and I could smell good food coming out of the small pass through window. Teri chicken and mahi combo for me, mahi sandwich for my wife. While waiting for our foods, since every order is cooked to order, I had a chance to listen in on small time chatter between Lyndon and his regular customers. Lyndon has an obivious regular following! The food? While the servings were not massive it was plenty at a very decent price. I could tell that Lyndon was not using pre-made commercial sauces. Check out the photo I posted of the Flux Hawaii article on Okata Bento. It is spot on and I will be back to try his katsu next...

Amazing. Great deal, great food. All around amazing. It's just a cool place filled with history and a great owner! Service is prompt and the meat is always well seasoned.

Best hole in the owner super nice mahi-mahi burger was perfect and the mini hamburger steak thanks so much for the Ono food

Always passed by this hole in a wall place on Waialae (Kaimuki). Finally decided to stop by for lunch take out of course still under stay at home quarantine. Typical local plate lunch place from burgers to plate lunches. Decided to go with the Oyako Donburi I got the large portion for $8.00 good price and I really enjoy the taste as well. Lots of chicken pieces, Bamboo shoots, onion, mushrooms and eggs. The sauce is on the sweeter side but very good. Next time maybe I'll try their Hamburger Steak and a burger. This place looks like they have homemade hamburger style yum. Definitely I be back to try different things on their menu

Although I've passed by this place many times, this was our first time getting food from here. I've always seen folks waiting around outside and it's must be because it takes quite a while to make the food if you order at the window. (Took almost 30 minutes.) To be fair, there is a sign letting you know that food is made to order and to be patient. Portions are on the smaller side but fair for the price. We got the chicken katsu donburi (good), Teri hamburger plate (ok, burger was a bit well-done and sauce strong/salty), and char-siu chicken bento (didn't care for chicken, small hard pieces of chicken and the sauce didn't taste like char-siu flavor to me, but liked the egg and luncheon meat). On the fence if I'd go again, but might just to try other dishes. Definitely call ahead to order.

This is a tiny little place. One man does everything, so if you don't phone order it could take a bit to get your food. We had the mahimahi and chicken katsu plate with toss salad and rice. Both were cooked well and tasty. We also had the Teri chicken and char siu chicken plate with toss and rice. The Teri chicken was great, the char siu chicken was okay. I might not have known it was char siu chicken if I didn't order it. It tasted fine just not super char siu-ish. We also had the tonkastsu with rice and toss. Tasted great, crispy and almost no fat, which is how I like it. We've eaten there a handful of times always consistently well cooked and good taste. He is a very nice person also. The only thing is that the plates are on the smaller side. So if your starving, you need to either order more food or maybe not eat there. But we will certainly eat there again.

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.

I was asked the other day my favorite burger place. I couldn't give an answer. I am not going to name who I thought wasn't my fave. Today I went to Okata Bento and now I can name their Teri Cheeseburger as my favorite! The bun is so soft, and the Teri and mayo juices on the burger make it outstanding!!! The chef was polite and friendly despite it being busy and hot. Thus making it all the more reason to get 5 stars! Mahalo!!!

I'm a sucker for Mom & Pop shops! It's just so nostalgic of the Hawaii I knew and loved growing up. I'm stunned as to why I haven't tried this place earlier!! Everything truly is made to order and it's a small place, so please be patient. If you're on a time crunch, I would definitely call in advance. You can grab some Cow Cow while you're waiting lol Yelp BFF and I were in the neighborhood. Neither of us have been here, so we thought to give it a try. I ordered a mini loco moco and BFF got the mini tonkatsu and teri burger. The loco moco comes with a side of mac salad. The loco moco was ok. The tonkatsu was so cute with all the extra sides. The teri burger was pretty good. I like mines saucy and sweet and it was just perfect! Everything tasted like a hug :) Definitely worth a try. I will be back! Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!!

chicken katsu bento box sub toss salad = $10 ! one man in charge of everything, so much respect for him and enjoyed his food very much

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.

I've always heard about Okata Bento, but never got around to trying it. Finally, we decided to try it for lunch a few weeks ago. Okata Bento is a small one-man show. We parked around the corner in the parking lot behind the Bank of Hawaii Building. It's actually designated parking for Pipeline Bakery which was closed that day. If you're lucky, you can find street parking or you can park in the metered lot across the street. We arrived early, around 11:45, so I tried to call in an order so it would be ready to pick up as soon as they open. Unfortunately, I called several times and was not able to get a hold of anyone. They also open at 12"ish" meaning it could really open around anytime. It was a bit inconvenient to wait, not knowing when they would really open. I would recommend arriving around 1 pm to ensure the shop is open. After going back and forth to our cars, we finally got to order around 12:30. It was blazing hot outside, and unfortunately there was no shade or breeze. I wish they had a better ordering system. It's really hit or miss, so you just have to go there at the right time I guess. For food, I ordered a mini loco moco bento and a mini bento with tonkatsu. The bentos are pretty affordable but they are on the smaller side. After placing our order, the food took around 10 minutes to prepare as everything is made to order by one man! He takes orders in pairs and prepares everything, so it can take a while to get your food. I wanted to try a bit of everything so I decided to get two mini bentos. I don't eat a huge amount for lunch, but the two mini bento's are equivalent to a normal plate lunch portion at another restaurant. The loco moco is on the bigger side and comes with a homemade patty, egg and gravy all over rice. The hamburger patty was a delicious japanese style patty. It was juicy and tender! And the gravy was probably my favorite part. I thought the flavor was really rich and so delicious. Although loco moco is fairly easy to make, I thought this was one of my favorites to date! My mini tonkatsu bento came with a slice of spam or luncheon meat, egg, takuwan, kamaboko, and fried fish. This bento was way smaller and the meat sizes were almost miniature looking. The chef trims off the fat on all the meat which is why the pieces are so small. Everything was delicious - the flavor was great and the pieces weren't oily at all! I would recommend a large bento or a plate lunch though if this will be your lunch meal. The food was delicious but ordering ahead is hard and the shop can be unpredictable at times. I would love to see an online ordering system or something to help minimize waiting time!

Located in Kaimuki, Okata Bento is right on Waialae across from coffee talk, it's a small hole in the wall takeout restaurant. The menu is decent, and the food is made to order. I had the burgers here a couple of times, and it's nothing special. But it's not bad. My wife had the mahi-mahi sandwich, which is okay also. There are two difficulties for eating here. One is everything is made to order, so you might wait 20 minutes before you can even order, and then have to wait for it to be cooked, which if you consider this from another light it's actually a strong point! Your food is fresh and hot when you get it. Second challenge is finding a place to park. There's really no parking on Waialae so you might have to park a block away and walk. More 3.5 Stars than four stars...wish yelp had an option to give a 1/2 * All in all it's a decent burger, but a real challenge unless you can find parking and have the have time to wait.

1. The workers are so very nice. 2. Be patient as everything is made to order. 3. The food is tasty. 4. Street Parking Only 5. Limited hours

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!

Called for over 1/2hr to place my phone order only to get a busy signal:( i finally got through and ordered a char siu/mahi-mahi bento... I think i was too excited to try this place(?) it looked really good but it was just meh‍. Char siu chicken tastes nothing like it's name, mahi was ok, and I prolly enjoyed the luncheon meat the most lol. At least there was parking right around the corner. Would I return? Maybe if I was in the area. I'd try the hamburger steak next.

It was great ! We love the price point and portion of this hole in the wall place on our way back to city. I had tonkatsu and beef teriyaki. It was just right amount and it was delicious! We also ordered chicken teriyaki and hamburger steak with gravy. We ate every bit of it. It was a great find

I love the teri meat and the char siu chicken......fantastic bento.....BUT, be prepared to wait. Everything is made to order so the wait to order and the wait to get your food can be awhile. They open at 12 so a little late for lunch, by the time we got home it was 1:15. wish they would open at 11

My absolute favorite bento place hands down! This is what I crave after returning home from the mainland. My go to is the teriyaki chicken bento. The chicken is cut into small pieces and coated in delicious teriyaki sauce! It comes with an egg, luncheon meat, takuan, and a fish over a bed of rice and shredded cabbage. I'll post a pic below. I've also tried the Teri cheeseburger....my god...so good #droolemoji Since this is a small hole in the wall bento restaurant, the hours can be unpredictable and are not always exactly what is posted. Sometimes they open later than posted or are closed over a weekend. I can understand, since it's a small business. It's definitely a good idea to call your order in as the orders can be backed up. Sometimes the phone is off the hook when he's really busy, so you have to keep on trying. They even have really cute shirts and merch. I can't wait to get my hands on a shirt! Overall I love this place so much! I will be back a million and one times :-)

I'm a bit torn on how to review mom and pops such as Okata Bento, especially when it's a one-man show like it is at Okata Bento. It's a little hole in the wall on Waialae, right by Pipeline Bakery, Asuka Nabe, and Cowcow's Tea. It took a few tries to get through to call in my order for two teri cheeseburgers, one double, one single. I was quoted half an hour which seemed long to me but after seeing it's a one-man show, I completely understood. So note to you all, call in your orders. After getting there, I waited as he took a couple's order in front of me. After they left I stepped up to the counter, but as he was busy working on orders, it took a few minutes before he noticed me. I didn't want to be rude since it was just him and didn't want his food to burn so I just waited. Not a big deal. After about 5 minutes, he noticed me waiting there... I paid, got my burgers and left. Oh, another note: cash only! I have heard great things about the teri burgers, and maybe it's just me but I found it too saucy (is that a thing?). I thought the prices were cheap but after noticing how tiny the burgers were, I think it's priced just right. Not cheap, but not expensive. The flavor was okay. Not great but not horrible. I had to go with 3 stars, not for the waiting. I didn't mind that at all and I understand completely, but more so for the flavor. Like I said, it was just okay. I don't think I would go out of the way for it, but if I was hungry and in the area, then sure I'd go back again..and maybe try a bento next time.

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.

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.

I read all a lot of the reviews and I agree that this place is authentic and yummy yum. I like the Flavors the slice if fish cake, the egg, the slice of savory ham but the Teri chicken was good. The hai fish to me was like chicken. He asked what sauce I like I think he put it on the fish? Because I didn't get any sauce. The chicken tonkatsu was good and I wish I had gotten two packs for sauce. The cons is PARKING. We drove around and then we finally dropped me off to order the food as hubby went to find parking. Lucky I was the only one and he took my order after that he only makes food to order. That has its good and bad.

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!!!