Quantity. Choice. Value. I love this place. Needed some convenient takeout because I was heading into a meeting, and I was surprised by how much food there was in the bento served here. When I ordered the popcorn chicken bento, I fully expected the popcorn chicken to be stuffed into the box as a meager portion, but they brought out a carry out box filled to the brim with popcorn chicken in addition to my rice and sides. Nonetheless, I was very full and happily satiated from this meal. The choice for 4 sides is the best thing about this place. There are so many options to choose from that selecting 4 items almost becomes difficult; they all look really good. All the food is well cooked, and flavors are there. What this place lacks in "extraordinary flavor" they completely make up for in speed of service as well as variety and value. Everything in this store is takeout, and there are 2 tiny tables outside. I would recommend taking bentos elsewhere to eat. The line moves quick and I was in and out within 10 minutes even around dinner rush time. I know that I will be coming here often.
One year later and this is still my grown kids favorite Taiwanese bento box place. They love the popcorn chicken. I do too. It is better than a lot of tea house's for price, quality, and quantity. Glass noodles are soft and tasty. Broccoli and vegetable dishes are fresh and they have more than one type of tofu dish.
Got a bento box to go with my coworkers around 12:15pm. Selected this place per recommendation of my Taiwanese coworker who says this is authentic Taiwanese food. We all ordered the same thing, and it was great! I wished I would have ordered my sides in a different order as I feel I received way too much eggplant and not enough tofu salad - the order is kind of random though so probably just need to communicate with the server. It looked like we just got ahead of the lunch rush. After we got our food, there was a line of 8 out the door! This is a small to-go only corner store with 2 small tables on the side of the store. They were taken when we arrived but the vibes are not great and there's barely any shade so do plan for another place to eat.
Small inside, takeout only but they have so many protein and vegetarian options. You get so much food under $20. Pick an entree plus 4 sides to choose from. Came here on a Monday around 12:30 and already they ran out of bitter melon. Soon after there were a a handful of people waiting to order. I feel somewhat "healthy" with a variety of cooked vegetables to choose from. Everything tasted great, not very salty, spicy or overly greasy. The bento can feed two adults. What I liked was that they were warm, unlike a lot of other local restaurants with similar side dishes to choose from which are usually cold like a salad bar. Can't really see clearly what's behind the counter until it's your turn to order. Some trays were stacked on top of each other so couldn't get a close look. I almost missed dish because it was hidden behind a sign they had stuck on the glass window. Take out only in a plaza that is not very noticeable and honestly I would have skipped this place based on the outside and the plaza it was in. But I'm definitely coming back to try other dishes. Overall very good value!
So I live about an hour away from my mom so I don't always get to have eat her cooking but when I'm craving for something to taste like home I come here. All the dishes taste like they came out of my mom's kitchen. I always get the minced pork with rice and their bitter melon + other sides. Service is nice, friendly, and quick. There's no indoor seating but there's 2 tables outside.
My wife bought a few boxes with different main dish and mixed combinations of side dishes. We all grew up in Taiwan, so the comparison was based on past experience. All the dishes are great. We will go again!
Super friendly people who walks you through how to build your bento. The issue is most likely unable to decide what you want! They have a huge variety of meats and sides to choose from. The portion is also very large and can easily feed two. Everything here tastes good and you will be craving coming back again and again.
Bottom line: friendly service, hole in the wall vibez, FLAMEY bentos. Vibes: located on the corner Stelling and Homstead on the border of Sunnyvale and Cupertino, in the same shopping center as KFC sits this little shop. Not often you walk into a pentagon shaped shop, but don't let that deter you. Very small inside, you may need to queue outside. Staff is friendly and eager to scoop you a FLAMEY bento. Bentos: essentially you pick a protein (many fried options, some stewed options, some braised options) like pork chop, chicken leg or wings, fish, or ground pork. Then you select 4 sides, out of oh I dunno, maybe 20 options. Choose wisely. Of course you get a nice serving of rice too. I've had many of the proteins, ground pork is fire, Popcorn chicken is FLAMEY, as is the fried pork chop or fried flattened chicken. Wings are a nice healthier option, fish is mostly flavorless crispy fried goodness. The side dishes are the star of the band IMO, with the protein more like rhythm guitar. With dishes like stir fried cabbage or bok choy, stringy tofu, tomato egg FLAMEYNESS, eggplant, and there is many more. Honestly, reminds me of grandmas cooking. Not mine. My in law. She was the sweetest.
EXPRESS is correct. Super small place with tons of entree and sides choices. I found everything flavored correctly, and the portions were generous. There isn't any indoor dining space, so expect to take your food to-go. I got the popcorn chicken bento, which came with an abundance of perfectly crisp and tender chicken. I like how they had a lot of veggie as well as meat sides to choose from.