Bento Kitchen Cravings — Restaurant in Lansing

Ate there for first time today. Service was great. Food was amazing. Had the chicken teriyaki bowl. The lady behind counter explained everything and was very kind. She knew her stuff. Great service. I can't wait to go again. I was kinda upset when my food was gone it was so good! Lol. The eating areas were very clean with customers inside. Everything was organized and labeled including the condiments. A friend of mine brought food from there few times and suggested I try it. It's affordable! My bowl was 8.00. I got alot in that bowl. I didn't get paid or anything for this review. I genuinely loved it there and the food. Def going to be a fav. Oh and it tasted home cooked authentic. That's what made it really stand out to me. Not gonna get this kind of food at any other asian restaurant. They also have texting service to tell u when it's ready for pick up. But I ate in. She brought it out to me streaming hot. The veggies were amazingly fresh. Well everything was. There chicken did have little bits of fatty pieces but not enough to pull it off. Everything was completely cooked. They have wifi and flat screen tvs on the walls. The outside doesn't look like much and it's quite simple and the interior was nice but simple also. Wish I had thought to take pics but I was so amazed by the food when she set it in front of me I dug right in lol. I asked how long it would take to be ready. She said 7 to 10 min and it was like she said. UPDATE AUG 1.19 : BEEN HERE NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL REVIEW. THEY HAVE A WHITE GIRL WORKING TODAY AND SHE IS NOT PLEASANT. THE NORMAL LAST IS HERE NOW EATING LUNCH. THE WHITE GIRL DIDN'T SMILE AT ALL. CAME ACROSS AS IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE. I ASKED FOR MY SAUCE ON THE SIDE LIKE I ALWAYS DO. SAY AT TABLE SHE BOUGHT FOOD. I ASKED WHERE IS THE SAUCE. SHE POINTED TO THE BOTTLE ON TABLE AND IN UN PLEASANT WAY SAID IT'S RIGHT IN THIS BOTTLE. I ALL FOR SAUCE ON SIDE BECAUSE I DIDN'T PLAN ON EATING IT ALL IN ONE SITTING. WILL STILL COME HERE BUT NEXT TIME I WILL LET THE MANAGER KNOW THIS NEW YOUNG LADY NEEDS TO BE FRIENDLY AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE BENTO HAD...

The appetizers: Dumplings or Mandoo are very good, they ARE fried to a slight crunch. Not the steamed variety. Wings, a lightly sweetened sauce with a bit of heat, very good not unique though. The main dishes we've had: Bulgogi, beef steak seasoned terrifically and served with kimchi (a spicy version of pickled cabbage) and lettuce with zucchini, red bell pepper and ginger and onion. Served with rice. This was one of their "rice bowls" Teriyaki chicken served as the above with same assorted veggies and rice. Both were terrific, solid packed bowls. Very nicely done. They come with the restaurants "bento" sauce on the side, a slightly sweet and savory sauce with just a tiny bit of heat. Sort of a take on a bbq sauce without the smoke. Now what I truly enjoy is the KIMCHI it's truly remarkable I have actually gotten an entire container just of this, it's perfect. Overall a fine place for a meal, a few truly divine dishes, depends on your taste. What stands out above everything else in the restaurant and above most other places lately is the staff. Truly an incredibly good crew. Yes I have had a couple things I wouldn't order again but that's a matter of taste not poor quality. We've tried quite a few menu items and between the two of us we've traded etc and devoured everything....

I ordered takeout from this restaurant and thought it was pretty good. I liked how it was packaged. I ordered my usual go-to at a Korean Restaurant. Bibimbap, Short Ribs and Dumplings. The Dumplings were chicken, steamed, and crunchy around the edges 😋 Short Ribs carried a nice taste but needed to be a little bit sweeter. I can taste Gochujang was inside the marinade used -it can be overkill if my Bibimbap also incorporates that sauce also. I enjoyed the purple rice from the Bibimbap as it had a unique taste but not a fan of zucchini in it. I'd add shittake mushrooms and cucumbers instead. Overall experience was wonderful and from general Uber take out -that's difficult since food is generally cold by the time it gets to you.

Update: I just downgraded this restaurant since I got burned short ribs. What I mean by this is: Shorts Ribs once cooked in one pan or grill tends to have burned bits in high heat. My Short Ribs were all cooked in either reused pot, reused oil or there was too much marinade. Either way a good cook typically can tell the difference. I've made Short Ribs many times in my life and if it's in medium heat, it won't burn as bad. I also had Chicken Wings and it taste like they went with sweet and sour sauce so I wasn't impressed.

P.S. This place doesn't have White...