Okata Bento
3616 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96816
Okata Bento Menu
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Address :
3616 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI, 96816 - Phone (808) 737-6063
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mari S.
If you love local-style Japanese bentos, this is the place for you! Okata Bento is located on Waialae Avenue near the 12th Avenue intersection. Like others have previously noted, it is basically a hole in the wall type of eatery. Their menu includes bentos, burgers and other types of plate lunch items. Over the past few years that I have come here, I've only ordered their mini-bentos. I LOVE their mini tonkatsu bento. It's my favorite! In my opinion, the tonkatsu is cooked perfectly and sliced thin. I sometimes order the mini beef teriyaki bento too. All bentos come with rice, and small slices of luncheon meat, mahi mahi, egg, daikon, kamaboko and an ume. I love these sides, as it really accentuates the flavor of the meat. The bentos are priced fairly reasonable. The mini bento is priced at $4.75 for a choice of one meat. For the heavier eater, you can also order a mini bento with two choices of meat, or a regular sized bento. The only downside is that you should probably call ahead of time to place your order, as it will take anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes to prep. The owner does not begin cooking your meal until you order it, and because it is a small establishment, it will take a little longer than most places. Therefore, I recommend you calling in advanced, especially if you are pressed on time. If you're into bentos and plate lunches, check this place out sometime, especially if you live or work in Kaimuki!
(4)Mark M.
Yes, Okata Bento is seriously a hole in a wall. From the outside looking in, all you'll see of this place is a doorway. When you enter that doorway however, you enter one of Kaimuki's best kept and best hidden secrets. I used to come in here all the time after high school since I worked at Toys N Joys right next to it. I always saw the same guy and lady talking it up and serving it up bento style. Everything here is made fresh to order. There isn't any re heating or warming. It's all on the spot cooking for the best quality. And what about quantity? Okata gives huge portions for the prices they charge. The bentos are packed with a ridiculous amount of stuff! They have sandwiches and burgers of all kinds here. My favorite is the tuna melt which they recently took off the menu but they still made it for me for the sake of nostalgia. They have awesome bentos. Awesome teri chicken, awesome beef, and very lean and flavorful katsu. I never tried anything I didn't like here and that says a lot about an establishment I ate at for years. I invite anyone who hasn't tried Okata yet to do so. Give them some time to make your food and you won't be let down. Read the signs they have in their window for a chuckle and relax. This is some of the very best that K-town has to offer.
(5)Christina T.
Delicious! Super small hole in the wall joint, strange hours, but AMAZING. I had the teriburger with cheese, and mac salad. So delicious!
(4)Hayden N.
The Tonkatsudon is to die for is what my friend told me. I had just the Tonkatsu lunch plate and it was tasty....I'll have to go back to try the Tonkatsudon. Very quick service.
(4)Jerrene T.
I've gone here twice including today. The first time i went for the bento, after all it's Okata BENTO. I have no idea what i ate because it was like a year ago. However, i went today after reading the newspaper about their burgers. Also, my coworker was raving about their burgers, too. Anyway, the husband and i called ahead to order and they told us fifteen minutes. Like other people said, they make to order and you just hafta be patient. And they don't have fries, so find somewhere else to get some fries! We chose BCD but i'm sure there's other places. We walked over when it was time to pick it up and we got two teri cheeseburgers and two green river drinks. My coworker also raved about those drinks. So maybe i didn't grow up in the era of green river but they were okay. Good to quench your thirst and calm your nausea, at least for me anyway. However, the teri cheeses were awesome. They were kinda melt in your mouth goodness, if you ate one of their burgers, you'd understand. There's so much teriyaki sauce it just oozes out. Can you say that for a McDonald's McTeri? Of course not. They were delicioussssssss. The teri sauce was yummy too! So from now on, anytime i'm craving a burger during the hours of 11-4 at work, i'll get a burger from here. Otherwise i'll wait until it's that time again. Remember, cash only and get a teri cheeseburger at least once from here.
(5)Eric A.
Now honestly, do you really want healthy or delicious? I say for now, screw those designer granola, brown rice eatin' bubble heads down the street. Okata on Waialae has a great tasting old school bento with simple and humble (local) Hawaiiana flare. Due to the fact that I work out on the other side of the island and being that Okata has limited business hours, the only day I can make it here is on Saturdays (will post biz hours at end of report). For those that cant find parking, might I suggest the lot up the street from Bank of Hawaii just around the corner? I honestly don't think anyone checks it. So anyway, here I walk into this little nook/side alley to take a geese and gander at their menu: yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Aside from their donburi, plate lunches, burger and sandwiches, their famous Okata Bento is what i seeked. Or sooked? Sucked! Whatever, but each bento comes with white rice, mahi, luncheon meat (not SPAM btw), eggroll, takuan, kamaboko fish cake, ume and shredded cabbage. Sizes are available in both mini or regular, of which you can mix and match with another meat selection. So I decided to go with their teri beef and chicken katsu bento combination for $9.00. Complimentary bento mahi tasted great. Not too thin, flaky or salty but meaty. Luncheon meat, forget the brand but is that salty sweet kind that comes in large squares. Both the teriyaki beef (not too gingery) and katsu (moist and crunchy) were standard but also good. Not sure if you'd like to argue there's a plate lunch and bento version but it tasted more like the bento version; where although its layered with all types of different flavor profiles, every bite is a new textural and deliciously oily food region. I would like to also note that their egg roll, which is not a roll but a fried egg slapped between the meat and rice, has sugar mixed into it. Sounds weird but it adds an interesting bite in juxtaposition to everything around it. Another thing I tried was their cheeseburger ($2.50) which was one of the Okata Yelp picks. By my earlier mention of old school Hawaiiana flavor, along with the melted slice of cheddar/thousand isle sauce, the taste of the beef patty reminded me of the type you get at local hole-in-the-wall saimin shops (and places of the like). There is a certain mixed-salt flavor, which is probably the same type of seasoning they put into their saimin broth. And yes, da cheeze boiga was good. Okata Bento store hours: M-F: 11-4pm Sat: 11-3pm Sun: Closed Also note that Okata is designed only for take out and has no dine-in seating. A "hole-in-the-hall" as fellow Yelper B-Luv puts it. 4 stars Okata Bento on Waialae
(4)Brian A.
"Hole-In-The-Hall" Restaurant: Okata Bento The moment I realized that this was a place to eat, I've had this atop my list for some time. So, what has prevented me from coming here? Well, there's the location where parking sucks and I'm never able to make it over here for their lunch time hours. That's on top of the fact that when it's closed, it looks like some of the other shuttered businesses in the area. Oh yeah, and there was that tsunami thing on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Hey, we drove by it on that day and the roads were clear, so I would've stopped if it was open! Finally, we were able to get here. It's a dinky place. Just a walk-up window in a hallway. It's not a hole-in-the-wall, more of a hole-in-the-hall. You could pass it and not even know it was a business. A lot of non-locals walking by were looking at us funny for waiting outside a hallway. The lady taking orders was very friendly, even joking with us about all the pictures we were taking. There seemed to be tons of locals from the area that frequent the joint and are on a first name basis. Since there is no place to sit and eat, we headed over to Kapiolani Park. Let me say that parking really isn't too bad. It's located right around the corner up the small Center Street. There's two parking lots off to the left. Both are pay lots, but we didn't drop any money in it. When I went to Toys-n-Joys before, they also said no need. Plus, no one else was dropping money into the slots. At your own risk I guess. So after reading the reviews I had to get an actual hamburger, even though I know I was going with the Hamburger Steak plate. I'm a burger guy and that's what the current reviewers on Yelp were talking about so, go with it. The cheeseburger had a tangy mustard thousand island dressing flavor. The patty itself was nice and soft. At OB they claim to cook it fresh and they do. For all those people who spaz over good food taking time to make, they even have a sign for you to chill and wait for your freshly cooked food. Funny and I liked it. Upon opening the white plate lunch box and looking under all that good gravy, I found that my burger patty was the size of an old 45 record! It took a minute to sink in, but it was big. The size didn't take away from the flavor though. It was good. The lady did also ask if I wanted gravy on my two scoops of rice and I was like, "Yeah, Geevum!" For under $7, it's a great deal. It was like the hamburger burger, nice and juicy. The mac salad side was alright. I think it maybe just needed some additional flavoring like pepper. Overall, I'm definitely going back. One of the great things about this place is that they have a variety of ways to try different things here. They have small and large bento plates, donburi's, regular plate lunches, and in addition to all of that you can upgrade to having two items instead of just one. So it has something for everyone from your Great-Auntie who's a light eater to large plate lunches for the big boys. It's an eclectic place, which is obvious by how it's situated. They even post little emailed gems of funny wisdom in the windows. Anyway, just make sure to note the limited window of hours they're open (5 hours at most a day).
(4)Lexis G.
I really enjoy coming here if I want a great but affordable fast lunch, this is was better then going to a fast food restaurant. The chicken has not fat on them what soever very thin but oh so yummy ! Just a little family owned food place. Give it a try you won't be disappointed
(5)Eric A.
Spotted several people waiting in line in front of this place last Saturday after finishing a sandwich across the street at Sprout. I asked one of the people what they were waiting for and they raved about this "hole-in-the-wall" lunch counter. As intrigued as I was about this new find sadly I had just finished lunch and couldn't rationalize eating again. So I went back today. The friendly counter woman nicely warned that burgers will take about 10-12 minutes. I was all set with 18 minutes in the meter so I got comfortable. Well, right on time, 12 minutes later, she handed me my order and said she hoped it would be worth the wait. It was!! If you like In & Out Burger on the west coast, as I do, you will really enjoy an Okata Bento burger. I ordered a Teri Cheese Burger and a Cheese Burger. The regular cheese burger was a handmade patty, cooked just right, on a beautifully fluffy bun with a little lettuce and the usual condiments. The only thing missing (if you are an In & Out fan) is a toasted bun and some special sauce. It was very good nonetheless. The Teri Cheese Burger was just as good but a little salty due to the teriyaki sauce. It was good but just a little over-seasoned. I will definitely go back for a post-surf burger fill up or maybe to try one of their plate lunches, which were popular choices among customers waiting with me. By the way, burgers are only a few dollars each! And the plate lunches seem like a bargain at $7 and $9 for regular or mix plate. Bottom line: a very good burger at a great price. Just bring enough change to get your meter filled for the wait. It is worth the wait!
(4)Z Z.
4 Stars?! What? This place is literally a crappy hole in the wall. I felt that my lunch was overpriced for just average quality food. The portions were also small and pretty disappointing. They even tried to charge me $1 for a cup of water. Lame.
(2)Kaili H.
Grumpy lady owner without a line but says will take 25 minutes after yelling at me because I didn't understand her long winded menu. 1 star for being clean and having options but otherwise food wasn't all that and definitely not the experience.
(1)Eathan O.
This was a place I always looked forward to as a kid and not much has changed 25 years later. The menu, food and prices have hardly changed over the years. I hardly get to go nowadays, so I don't stray from my staple order of a double-teri deluxe burger. Best - by far - teri burger I've had anywhere. It's Japanese style, so please don't compare to W&M, which (to me) is like a glorified May's burger. The Okata teri burger has home-made patties that almost crumble when you bite into the burger. The teri sauce is on point, not too sweet and just gooey enough (think Yoshida). The shredded lettuce makes it easy to bite (hate it when you end up pulling out a whole piece) and the bun is chewy soft. I've also tried their bentos which are good, great if you consider the reasonable prices. The katsu don is exactly what you expect a donburi to be. The area looks run down and it is a hole in the wall like everyone else says, but the food is nothing but high quality, simple, nostalgic and inexpensive. Be prepared to phone order or walk around Kaimuki for a bit as this is NOT fast food. However, it is well worth the wait!
(5)Crista P.
5 stars all the way! Nice people, great service, and delicious food! In my opinion they have the BEST Teri hamburgers & super ONO tonkatsu! Nuff said- you just gotta try it and give it your own opinion! ^_^
(5)Lee B.
Worst service ever...and by the owner! I used to visit here when I worked in Kaimuki, like over 20 years ago and remember this place. I really liked it. Since moving back in this area, I've been dying to pickup a plate lunch here. But parking is bad - rare street parking or pay in the lot on the opposite side of the highway. Well, I lucked out one day and got street parking, asked for a hamburger steak plate, and the lady taking the order turns to someone out of view, who mumbles something back, and she says "It'll be 15 or 20 minutes. We're making rice." I asked could I get it without rice. I'll pay the same price. She asks the person out of view. He grumbles something. She tells me, sorry, but he said no. He's the owner. Sorry. What's up with that? Really? The experience was just so weird - to be treated so rudely by the owner for no apparent reason. This place is now on my "S" list.
(1)Taylor W.
I read some of the bad reviews and I seriously don't understand, they're dumb. Don't complain about how long it takes for your food it literally takes like 10-15 mins and that just means it's fresh and not already ready to order! Duh! You rather have it sitting there under a warmer? I don't think so! First of all don't judge a book by it's cover! You'll see this place just because of the little sign they have outside and the sign is a but work down & missing an A. It's literally a whole in the wall, there's only a order window with no inside or seats. So you just order your food, wait around, and leave. I got an oyako donburi and my boyfriend got a plate with teriyaki chicken and tonkatsu. The oyako don was good and not dry. I probably liked it even more because I love bamboo shoots, onions, and mushrooms. The teriyaki chicken is really good! Just enough sauce and you can definitely tell they marinated the chicken as well. The tonkatsu was good and thin, had no fat whatsoever, and came with legit katsu sauce. I also like the fact that they had green river which was pretty good. And may I add the lady there who I'm guessing is the owner is SO nice, she really is. It was a perfect meal and I would definitely go there again!
(5)Tara S.
(Not so) hidden gem in Kaimuki! I went to this place for the first time after seeing the great reviews. I live in Kahala so Kaimuki is my go-to place for quick bites. I got the Gyuudon Donburi - freshly made beef, mushrooms, onions, bamboo shoots, egg and rice.. Simple but delicious and only $6.75. I also love the signs saying food is prepared to order so "be patient." I'll definitely be back to try some other items!
(5)J W.
Love this place....one of the best hole in the wall joints out here its kaimukis treasure a gem on the island.... Great place great service ono grinds
(5)Brian M.
I love Okata Bento! How do you know when a person takes pride in there food. .. All the fat from meat and chicken is trimmed caringly. Nothing is rushed to make sure your bento is perfect. You can tell the Love and Pride in every bite! My "Fave" is the Tonkatsu and fish, but there different things on the menu you can combine or try. You might want to call ahead and order your food , otherwise there is a wait. Good things come to those who are patient! Hours:Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 pm. Sat 11 am - 3 pm Ph#.737-6063
(4)Grant W.
You hipsters want a hole in the wall, this is it. No tables, no chairs, no parking lot, just a window where you get your food and a line of people waiting to get it. Everything here is soooooo good. My family and I have buying food from them on an almost weekly basis since we were kids. My favorite is the Chicken Katsu. All the fat is trimmed off and you get just the meat, unlike other places where you get pieces of fat/skin katsu. This type of care goes into everything, teri chicken, teri beef, etc. All the Teri items are awesome. Best mac salad on the island. Even the luncheon meat is good, how the hell you make luncheon meat good?? I'm just wondering how people can say how great this place is and not give 5 stars. I would give 10 if I could.
(5)Brandon L.
A small hole in the wall on Waialae Ave., but don't let its appearance fool you. This is one of my favorite places to grab a plate lunch in Kaimuki. Park either on the street or in one of the lots across the street (one is metered, the other is ticket stub). I always get the beef or chicken teriyaki plate. I like that all the fat is cut off and the meat is cut into bite-size pieces. Comes with two scoops of rice and mac salad. The plate lunches are $6.50 The amount you get is decent for the price. I feel like you get a little more meat when you order chicken versus beef. Haven't tried anything else, but that's because I love the beef/chicken teri plates so much. I usually call beforehand to place my order because it takes 15-20min to cook.
(4)Ric C.
Old style charm with a delicious pay-off. One of the best hole-in-the-wall take out lunch establishments located in Kaimuki town. They have been there for decades and serve some of the best ono grinds in the state. Plate lunches, donburi, sandwiches, they offer a variety of stuff but a favorite for me has to be their bentos- and in particular the awesome chicken katsu bento. It also comes with a piece of mahi mahi, tamago, fish cake, takuan, and luncheon meat over a bed of rice with ume. Pretty simple and basic but oh, so ono! The bentos come in a regular and mini size. If your timing is right, these make perfect flight meals to take with you- a much better alternative the usual coach seating offerings (yeeech!) that the airlines offer. Their offerings are not as extensive as many drive-ins but what they do serve is cooked to perfection and they are very consistent with their delicious kau kau. Always a "go to" place when mainland relatives come to Hawaii for a visit, it's the perfect comfort food for transplanted Kamaaina or newly arrived visitors to our fair shores. Make it a new year's resolution to visit Okata Bento in 2015. You won't regret it :) Last review for 2014- Happy New Year Yelpdom :)
(5)Davey D.
What do I say about Okata Bento? Oh yeah,Crappy service but 'ono food. Isn't that always the case? LOL! Even though their customer service skills suck I always come back for the food. I think they've been in business so long they have a take it or leave it attitude. I guess I'll take the abuse because I love the food. Hahahahaha. Char siu chicken bento is the bomb!!!
(3)Lori F.
This place has been here for a loooong time! Kinda nice, esp. when you realize how much Kaimuki has changed over the years. The only other place I can think of that's still in its original spot is the crack seed store. I like the teri burgers. They use relish mixed in with the mayo...I think that's the old school way. Love the fact that food is cooked to order. You can phone in for faster service. Oh & no fries here...gotta get those elsewhere.
(4)Emi H.
Okata Bento is one of those Hawai'i businesses we'll miss very much when they're no longer there. It's a little piece of neighborhood nostalgia that reminds you of when you were a hungry kid who had only a few dollars in your pocket. EATS: Get the teri beef sandwich, not the teri burger, which I found to be rather mushy. Two totally different experiences and in my humble opinion the teri beef is waaaaay better. It made me wish I had magic fairy hands and could change things into a teri beef sandwich. Stop sign (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Small dog (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Husband (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! I could do this all day long and life would be delicious... I also ordered the hamburger steak plate for $6.50 which came with two scoops rice covered in gravy and mac salad. A deal at $6.50 but I was pretty disappointed, so much so I only ate a few bites and threw the rest away. Darn, I sure wish my magic fairy hands were working so I could turn that plate lunch into a teri beef sandwich! LOCATION: Across the street from Coffee Talk, sandwiched in between the Hawaii Symphony and Asuka Nabe. It's basically a hallway with a little window. Everything is made-to-order so if you're in a rush call ahead. It took about ten minutes for them to pack up my lunch.
(4)Krysten I.
I've passed by Okata Bento so many times in my life. I always overlooked it on my way to Kwong On (in the past) and Aloha Crepes (more recently). But I was looking for some good, home-cooked tasting food and found Okata on Yelp. I called in my order, because there is limited metered street parking. I ended up parking in the private lot behind big city diner and ran over to Okata to be within the grace period. The girl working the cash register was funny and nice, but it seemed like she was new. She was having trouble ringing up my order, but I had fun reading the articles taped on the side of the window while I waited. I ordered the char siu chicken and teri hamburger steak, with gravy everywhere (they'll ask). It was so delicious. When you think of local homemade food, this i it. There was great, full flavor. I think some people might think it tastes too concentrated and over done, but I needed it and thought it tasted good. They have very specific hours and I had to be sure to come for lunch because they are not open late. Okata seems to be a keystone establishment in Kaimuki. I'm always very impressed with the variety in Kaimuki and I'm glad Okata is there to represent good, consistent local Japanese plate lunch and bento. I'm excited to come back to try some of the other offerings and bentos.
(4)Joseph K.
If you love little hole in the wall eateries, then this is a place for you. Don't expect any extravagance, just good simple food. The place is run by a husband and wife team (I think) and they are friendly. The prices are okay and the portions are decent. I like their pork tonkatsu and they donburi bowls. Because it's a small family run place, I would highly recommend calling in your order. If not you'll have to wait a while because it's all freshly made. The good thing is they have a bunch of little cartoon clippings on their windows you can read to bide your time. Give them a shot and try their food.
(4)Stephen H.
I was waxing nostalgic and caloric---as in, to heck with the diet one time---so decided to check out Okata Bento in Kaimuki. I'd never tried it before but I'd noticed its sign with the missing "N" several times before while on my way to Jewel or Juice or Hale Vietnam. Ordered a mixed plate of hamburger steak and teriyaki chicken. Wait was only 7 or 8 minutes as I was the first one there when it opened. A generous portion of simple, tasty food like I remember from days gone by. Decades actually as Okata Bento was established in 1981. For $8.25 tax included. And no extra charge for gravy all over like that other old-time and much more well-known plate lunch place down the road a ways in Kapahulu. A large lemon-lime drink aka "Green River" for $1.45. A good combo. For other less obvious reasons too. The 2 scoops of rice were made much more interesting soaked through with savory brown gravy on the top and sweet teriyaki sauce on the bottom. Each bite of food made much more interesting with finely shredded cabbage. Old time food. Old time taste. Old time good. The mac salad, thoughtfully served in a separate plastic cup 'cuz it couldn't fit on the loaded down plate, might be better than Brand R's. Okata Bento is like the girl next door you take for granted as nothing more than a friend. Or the role player on the team. Not flashy. Barely noticeable. But fundamentally sound, consistent, and reliable. I used to go to Kwong On next door for manapua and chow fun all the time in my younger days. Not once did I pay any mind to Okata Bento. I was even a regular at the other place for my hamburger steak plate for $1.80 (remember those days?). Okata Bento has got my attention now . It's earned a spot on my roster of "keeper's".
(4)Lori I.
CASH ONLY. AWESOME PLATE LUNCHES AND BENTOS. This place has been around for EV-ER, but just in case you've never been...go check it out next time you're in Kaimuki at lunchtime! These plate lunches are really good unless you're on a diet, in which case you shouldn't be looking at these pictures: yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… Limited hours M-F 11-4, Sat 11-3. (and they will be CLOSED 4/15-4/28/13). Call your order before you get there because this place is literally a hole in the wall. (No place to sit, no place to stand) My favorite is the teri hamburger and char siu chicken. Hamburger steak w/brown gravy is good too. But this is what I REALLY love...they cut all the fat, skin, and gristle off their chicken, and give you perfectly cut bite-sized pieces of chicken. If you have kids you know what a pain in the ass it is to always de-bone, de-skin, de-toughen chicken for the kids. This is like a dream come true for me, except I don't even give my kids this because I eat it all before getting home. The only thing I don't like is the luncheon meat they use in the bento..it's not spam. But back to the little bite sized pieces of chicken. This is the char siu chicken plate, look at the cute little pieces! yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… I love little mom/pop hole in the wall places like this! Or as Kyle says, it's a "Hole in the Hall". yelp.com/biz_photos/okat…
(5)Cary S.
This place was good the first time I ate there. When I stand there, order my food, and go, it seems okay. Then we had an event and we ordered around 40 plate lunches from them. We got what we paid for, but I must say that they were as rude as could be. Nobody warned us that they accept cash only. We showed up to pick up the food and were told by the woman that they would not accept credit card or check. There's a nice way to say things, but when someone we're spending over $300 with like this gives short, snippy, rude responses to our questions, I've gotta lower my four stars to 2 stars. It's treating us like she's doing us a big favor by even doing business with us. I was always taught to be courteous, polite, and pleasant to my customers. She really needs to be given a lesson in customer service. Maybe it's her restaurant or something and feels like she can be however the hell she wants... and that's fine. If it's her restaurant, she can do what she wants, but then she only deserves two stars from me. Seriously, there were like 4 interactions with this woman, and all 4 were very rude. Regarding the food, their teri chicken tastes oddly sweet. The teri beef was okay. I didn't really like the mac salad that much, although I've definitely had worse. We were also a little surprised and disappointed by the quantity of food we got for our over $8.00 plate lunch - not like the pictures. We had a lot of meals left over from our event, so I got to try a lot. I should say that the gentleman that cooks the food was very nice taking our order. But I'm not goin' there again.
(2)Ed L.
This place is really tucked away in Kaimuki town, and you would not know it till you actually was looking for it. I came to this place when I was a kid and discovered it while delivering newspapers in this part of Kaimuki and would come to Okata Bento and grab food after my route. But anyway, I came down here recently in between my commute home from work just to grab a taste of what I was missing from the good ol days where everything was more carefree and spirited. Like I did mention before, you would not know where it is unless you are looking for it. Directly across the St. Louis / Chaminade campuses, it is housed in the 2 story building that has the signage "St. Louis Drive In" There is a window for ordering, so that makes it stand out. There is a wait on the food here, so I suspect it is made when you order it. I used to eat the bentos when I was a kid, but lately, I come here and buy lunch on my off days. They give ridiculous portions and the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount. Often times, I would eat half and save half and bring it to work. It saves on the money when you do it that way. I definitely recommend this place, like all the Yelpers have done, if you haven't tried it. I yawn at the Zippy's and the L&L Barbeque, when you haven't tried this place. I do like this place, but too bad it's not in the immediate vicinity to where I am in Kaimuki. I wasn't a fan of anything dipped in teriyaki sauce, but Okata Bento made it more palatable, and I developed and discovered an new taste for them. The mahi benti was pretty good, although it could be better. Either way, I recommend this place to anyone who is tired of the old fast food fare and want to try something off the beaten path. While the food choices can be similar, it is the taste, customer care, and the quality of food that can't be beat. Parking is very limited. They have a small lot. Be advised!
(5)Brian H.
I am a former resident of Kaimuki and I used to go to Okata's all the time. I miss it dearly,so when I'm in town I ALWAYS go there to get the Teriyaki hamburger steak plate with sauce over EVERYTHING! I read a few of the reviews and not one mentioned the teriyaki hamburger steak which I think is the ultimate. Forget Zippy's with the over priced plates and L&L's mediocre food. If I am anywhere near town I will go out of my way to visit Okata Bento!
(5)Steve P.
I've had A LOT of plate lunches. I prefer Okata Bento. Try their light and crispy chicken katsu, or their just-right locomoco. Yelp says 5 stars = "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and Okata Bento is just that! They do a truly well-made plate lunch. Street parking is hard to find, but across the street from Okata's, behind Sure Shot Cafe and Gecko Books, veering left, is the janky but for-that-very-reason cheap parking lot. Currently $.25/20mins. Enjoy!
(5)J C.
I love Okata Bento, the chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki...awesome! They even remove all the fat off the chicken before cooking. I tend to not like mac salad from a lot of places, but Okata's tastes so good!
(5)Malibu M.
Been going here for 15 years. I live in CA now so every time I come home I make sure to get Okata Bento. I order the teri chicken and chicken cutlet with rice and mac is to die for. Fat is trimmed from meat and the flavor is amazing! Only open for few hours in the day. Best plate lunch and great prices!!!
(5)Sarah K.
Want a true classic? Okata Bento, one of the few mainstays in Kaimuki is the place for you if you're craving local, Japanese plate lunches and classic take out items. A helpful tip right off the bat is that you should call in your food order since everything is made to order. Or if you have the time to spare then sure you can walk up to the window and order your food, just know that it'll be a bit of a wait. Love their bento plates (mini and mini-mix or regular and regular-mix), choice of beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu, tonkatsu, char siu chicken and mahi-mahi. The mix bento allows you to choose two items from the list I just mentioned. Bentos come with rice, a small piece of mahi-mahi, luncheon meat (sorry not Spam), an egg roll (Japanese style) and takuan. Also tried their gyuudon (donburi) which is thin slices of teri beef with onions, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, egg on rice with their donburi sauce (a type of shoyu-sugar sauce). That is yummy comfort food - I know, it's a lot of rice but you don't have to eat it all. As a creature of comfort, I usually order the same items knowing that I come here because of a specific craving for their bento or donburi. But, I hear their burgers are also "ono" - classic, not fussy with a home-made taste (they don't sell french fries). Must try the burger one of these days...and I hope you will try this place, too, the next time you're in Kaimuki and are craving a classic, old-school take out lunch. Call them at (808) 737-6063. Open from Mon-Fri 11am - 4pm and Sat 11am - 3pm (closed on Sundays). Street parking only.
(4)Faye M.
***MY 200th REVIEW*** When I used to work in Kaimuki, Okata Bento would be one of my favorite lunch spots on my break! Just make sure to call about 20 minutes before you plan on getting there, especially at prime lunch hours! I once called right after clocking out for lunch and the lady told me my katsudon would be ready in 45 minutes. That's 3/4 of my lunch hour!! The food is good though, cooked right after you order - so at least it's all hot and fresh. I just had their Mini Chicken Katsu Bento & it only took 10 minutes! It was around 1:30, but there were still about 5 people waiting around for their orders when I picked up my food. The bento had just enough food to satisfy me - chicken katsu (a small piece), egg, luncheon meat, ume, daikon, and fishcake with rice - of course! The owner, Lyndon is always nice and friendly! It's not the best food to eat on a regular basis, but when I am in Kaimuki - I like to stop by here to grab something and say "hi"!
(4)Terrance Y.
Oh yeah, that bit on the greasy freshly made while you wait bento is sit in the park grind your lunch goodness best eaten while still hot. Don't take too long to find a park as the longer you wait the more soggy your Katsu is going to be haha. But hey its every bit of what makes getting bento's from different places so good. Each place has a little something to make it unique. The teriyaki and Chicken Katsu is good I usually don't eat the Luncheon meat but if I'm hungry I will as I'm not a fan of luncheon meat. For me the special thing is waiting here while your Bento is made heh you can hide in the little cubby hole order area if there isn't a line or you can hang out by the street and make like you really are waiting for a treat as pretty much all you have is those two choices while waiting as it is a real hole in the wall place. Unfortunately I haven't tried the burgers but next time I'm going to need to do that as I remember growing up and getting a cheeseburger, green river sprite mix and fries which is pretty much my standard childhood memory of long gone small mom and pop shops I used to frequent. I really think that the reason I always get the bento is because if I have to search for parking I'm going to get something worth my parking search, but with all the talk about the burgers okay I'm convinced I'll have to get one to see.
(3)Kara K.
Ok, so I saw the review about the cheeseburger and I love cheeseburgers. Plus I saw the comments on how long it takes to make a loving bento here and I had little time left for lunch. Since i only had their cheeseburger, I can only rate Okata based on their cheeseburger, service, and style so you may consider this a shallow review. Thanks to a fellow Yelper, I decided to check out these highly rated cheeseburgers. Yelper, you did not fail me! The cheeseburger was delish, and tasted exactly like the old Maui Dairy Queen cheeseburger (Maui people out there know what I'm talking about?)! I loved supporting this local business with its reasonable $2.50 cheeseburger. I can't wait to go back and try other yummy smoked meats!
(5)Julius C.
What I like: cheap, quality local food. My last order from Okata was two cheeseburger for $5 flat. Mini bentos for under $5. The mini katsu bento comes with rice, daikon, a fish cake and those Japanese omelet squares. It filled me up but I devoured it within minutes. What I don't like: The loco moco is a bit heavy on the gravy. It feels and tastes fatty and doesn't keep well, so eat it up fast. Also, Okata isn't fast food. Its pretty fast food, but you still gotta wait. If you're in the area, I recommend calling in your order. If you're driving, well...can't help you with parking unless you're on a bike. Peddle power!
(3)John C.
Have not been here in quite awhile! Ordered a double cheese burger with a medium Green River and got both for $4.75! The burger featured two fresh (not frozen) homemade burger patties and two slices of American cheese on a toasted bun with lettuce and a nice mayo/mustard/relish spread. Made as you order so don't be in a rush if you eat at Okata. The kitchen is clean and orderly and its as old school as you can get. Much better than the big "McD's"! As all the other posts have stated this place is the proverbial "hole-in-the-wall". Located at the top of Waialae Ave near Toys-N-Joys and yeah, street parking sucks around lunch time. I highly recommend trying Okata if you are in the neighborhood!
(4)Aimee C.
Went here for the first time two days ago bc I found searching for a place to eat around my job. Cheap, delicious, home cooking. The cook and cashier are super nice. I tried a mini bento and a cheeseburger - totally yum!! I thought the $2.50 cheeseburger was better than W&M (yup, I said it). I'll def go back for lunch often...but next time I would call to pick up because they cook it on the spot so it takes a while. * Bonus: They had yum homemade potato chip & walnut cookies ($4) - let me tell you, crack in a tub. So yummy that I wrote a sign on them at work that said, "Very Bad Cookies," so no one would eat them. Gone in a day, what can I say.
(4)John N.
Sometimes you wish you could add a half star but because of the rounding system, 4 stars instead of 3.5 stars will do. Okata Bento is in a small lil nook on Waialae next to Kaimuki Camera. Their menu isn't too large but sizable enough to pick what you want. The sauces are homemade, and everything is cooked to order. Food is good, and in normal proportions. Normally I order the teri hamburger steak since their homemade teri sauce is ono! It would been a firm 4 star if it wasn't for the long wait. Make sure you call in ahead if you know you want to get food there. Otherwise, expect them to start making it when you order.
(4)Derek K.
Just had lunch here the other day, and Okata Bento I will definitely revisit in the near future. This place is literally a "hole in the hall" (quoted from Kyle H.). Near Toys and Joys on Waialae, if you are in the area, looking for comfort bento/Japanese Local food come to this place. I ordered the chicken katsu don and originally I thought for under $7 this bento box is small. BUT, they pack that bento box SOOOOO tight, the amount of food is amazing! The food is cooked to order, which takes some time therefore the 4 stars versus 5 (call in your order, if can), but it's so fresh and tasty, the food is well worth the wait. The other thing that I loved about the katsu don was they cut the chicken into small bite size pieces and then mix it in with the egg and onions. When you don't have to cut your katsu don...1. your lunch disappears that much faster and 2. it tastes that much better and is more pleasant to eat. I definitely recommend everyone to try this place, if you haven't been here. Remember, the hole in the hall because you can walk pass it if you're not paying attention. On top of the great food and prices, we need to keep these mom and pop restaurants/stores open...they literally play an integral part in Hawaii's culture and spirit.
(4)Todd T.
Very small hole in the wall bento place, you will miss it driving by. Lucky for me its walking distance from where I live. Had the hambuger steak plate which was good, a good size homemade hamburger. I couldn't finish it. My wife had the oyakodon which was good and my son had a mini teriyaki chicken bento that he liked. They are a 2 person operation so you have to be paitient. It was a 20 minute wait but we just walked in to Toy's N Joy to kill time which went by fast. Next time I will phone in my order.
(5)Glenn O.
My first visit to Okata Bento. Very small hole in the wall place... similar to a lunch wagon without wheels... you enter through a slot and order facing the counter on the side. No chairs or tables and you have to wait on the sidewalk to hear your order being called. I ordered a katsu donburi... not great (compared to other katsu donburis I've had at other restaurants), but o-kay. Place was crowded at 11 AM and the wait was about 10+ minutes. I might try them one more time... maybe I didn't get their specialty?
(3)Gary A.
Great place to buy a teri burger! A good change up from the burger joint just down the street from this place. They don't sell fries though. So, I went down the street to get some. If you are in the area don't hesitate to pick up a couple of burgers. They are made to order so you might be in for a wait if you don't order ahead.
(4)Aline T.
This place is literally a hole in the wall. There's no door to walk in; basically, it's in a narrow little hallway by Toys n Joys & Payless Shoe store in Kaimuki. There's only a kitchen and an order counter. So, you just take the 4 steps it takes to get to the counter from the sidewalk, place your order, stand around and wait for your food, grab it and go. They serve standard plate lunch items, burgers, sandwiches of sorts, etc. Pretty darn good cheap eats. If you do plan on coming here, you can get street parking on Waialae Ave (and good luck with that!), the meter parking lot by 12th Ave Grill, or the Diamond Head Parking Lot behind First Hawaiian Bank, Cafe Laufer, Collectors Maniac, etc.
(4)James G.
Talk about hole in the wall. This place is literally a whole in the wall. I kid you not. They have good food and are very nice. The only downside is sometimes the wait to get your food. So it is best to call in and order. I love their Tonkatsu Bento. It is awesome. The sauce is good. I don't know where they get this sauce from (its in little packets) but I want some. You are better off ordering the bento instead of the regular plates because for only $7.50 you can get the Regular Tonkatsu Bento which includes rice, mahi mahi, luncheon meat, egg roll, a small slice of daikon and fish cake, ume, and shredded cabbage. The Tonkatsu Bento has got to be my favorite thing to order here. My next favorite thing to order is their Teri Burger w/ Cheese. It's only $2.75. Sometimes mixing a mini Bento with the Teri Burger w/ Cheese is smart. You get the best of both worlds. For first timers, I recommend ordering a Mini Tonkatsu Bento and a Teri Burger w/ Cheese. you will experience what I think are the 2 best things on the menu in one setting for under $8. Now that's a good deal. Be careful the Teri burger is loaded with sauce so it will be dripping you may need extra napkins. Also if you can try the Green River drink is sweet and drinking it makes one feel like a kid again. I haven't tried everything but if I have to pick my least favorite item on the menu it would have to be the Char Siu Chicken. It is not too tasty. Overall Okata Bento is awesome. Be prepared to wait awhile if you do not call in your order, and make sure you have cash handy because it is cash only.
(4)Erika R.
Okata Bento has the yummiest teri burgers. They make their own sauce and it drips just enough off the burger when you're eating it to let you know what you've got in your hands is down-home good! Make sure you call your order in ahead of time or you will wait about 15 minutes!
(4)Ryan I.
As we were driving down Waialae Ave., my son said he wanted a bento. Log onto Yelp, do a search on "bento", and Okata Bento is listed and has great reviews. Meh. I've experienced better. Maybe I just ordered the wrong kinda bento. I figured, how can you go wrong with teriyaki chicken? I saw how it was made - the guy puts two boneless skinless chicken thighs on the flat top, cooks them, chops em up and puts teriyaki sauce on them. Quite possibly the meh-est teriyaki chicken I've ever eaten. My kids bentos were teri beef and suffered the same meh-ness. Points for effort though - it was nice to see a (literal) mom and pop business putting out made to order food. But the charm won't bring me back again.
(2)Jenny K.
I really wanted to love this place for several reasons. It's in my neighborhood; a friend raved about it who's opinion I generally agree with; and it's a local hole-in-the-wall - and I love anywhere that's weird, maybe a lil dirty, and hard to find (as long as the food is ahmazing..) Unfortunately, the food wasn't amazing for me that day. Wanted the mahi bento, but they had catfish instead of mahi that day. So I ordered the teriyaki chicken bento instead. Chicken teri was just ok, not that flavorful or saucy. It came with a lot of cute little tiny sides and also a piece of fried catfish. The breading on the catfish was really soggy, and it tasted really oily. That kinda bummed me out, b/c it made me wonder if the mahi bento was fried the same way, and I would have maybe gone back to try that.
(2)Rylan S.
This place is awesome. Im so happy that I found this place by my work. I seriously eat here like 3 times a week. The food is the way local food should be. First of all, its cooked to ordered! Doesn't matter if its a burger, katsu, teri, whatever. They don't make it till you order it. Its hot n fresh every time and the food is great. Like the other reviews state, they trim all the fat off the chix before they cook. This place is a whole in the wall but you can tell they care about the quality of the food. But the best part of eating here? The prices. $4.50 for a mini bento. $6.50 for a plate lunch that I can usually split into 2 meals. My favorite though is the burgers. They are simple but very satisfying. They make them from scratch daily and the cost? About $2.50! Are you kidding! This burger is better than any fast food or BCD. I hope this place never goes out of business. The owners are very nice too and when I talked to them they didn't even know they had positive reviews on Yelp. I love authentic places like this, too many restaurant chains are ruining Hawaii's food scene.
(4)Joie Y.
Everything I get from here is good, so I don't mind waiting 15 minutes for food. The only thing is that they take off every once in a while for weeks at a time. So it's best to call to see if they're there or Vegas or where ever they go. And when you call, place your order so you don't have to wait for your food as long! It's typical plate lunch food, but it's so yummy. You need to try it!
(4)Courtney T.
This place is right around the corner from my workplace, so i don't have to deal with parking, but i could see how it might be inconvenient for people who have to drive to get here. But for the price and taste, it's worth the hassle. Unless you like to wait, or have things to do around Okata, I'd recommend calling in your order. They make everything as it's ordered, so that's what takes time. But there are funny little things to read on the glass windows where you order. :) I usually have a breakfast plate, like luncheon meat or ham. They give a good amount of food, less than $7. I just tried the cheeseburger yesterday. My co-workers frequently buy the cheeseburgers, so i wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Soooo good! i think it's the sauce they put in the burger, it's some kind of relish, mustard, mayo? mixture, but it really makes the burger yummy. And it's only $2.50. so ono. One thing I wish they had was some fries....that would complete the meal :) But the chinese lady on the corner sells fries, so it's ok. I also wish that they stayed open later in the afternoon so i could order some stuff and take it home for dinner. Oh, and i get sad when they go on vacation, usually once a year....cuz then I cannot order their food :P The lady who works in the front and takes orders is very nice....it has a real family-owned feeling to it.
(5)Danny H.
I've been visiting this place since 1989 as a teenager, and it is hands down one of my favorite places to get a cheese burger or teri burger. A *little* on the salty side (so my wife says), but man -- it is a KNOCKOUT of flavor. I crave the double cheese burger from Okata Bento, and I've done so for over 20 years now. Same owner all these years, and he's rockin' it with the food. The plate lunches are also well done. No massive plate lunches here -- just well prepared, simple and flavorful. So many places around the island consider plate lunches to be more about quantity than quality. Take chicken katsu for example. Anywhere else, you'll get huge chunks of chicken no doubt, but an ample serving of overly breaded gristle and fat. You know what I'm talking about -- half the time you're just separating the oily breading and fat from the meat. Not so with Okata Bento. Everything is neatly trimmed and prepared, so in the end, you're eating all good stuff versus anywhere else I've been. I can't say enough good things about this place. Try their Chicken Katsu, Mahi Mahi, Teri Beef, Bentos and OH MY GOODNESS the Loco Moco (request grilled onions for amped up Loco love). Same beef patty they use for their burgers, with tasty gravy and a nicely cooked egg on top. Neat, tasty and worth every penny. The wikipedia entry for Plate Lunch should have pictures of Okata Bento's food because this is the stuff. Here's hoping for another 20 years!
(5)Julie M.
For my first and last time here, I ate a burger and got nasty food poisoning. I had diarrhea, felt horrible, and was bedridden for a day. The restaurant took like 10 minutes to prepare the burger, which tasted OK. Never again.
(1)Kaiulani K.
katsu, katsu, katsu. must have katsu! so i'm always in the mood for okazu style bento, but the day we came here was the ONE day i just wanted some fruits. not available here. went in and ordered. adam got the katsu (delicious) and i got a burger. waited awkwardly outside the door/ ordering pen for 10-15 minutes for our food. took it home because there' s nowhere to eat and tucked in. had a bite of adam's katsu. very good! i'm not a big fan of chicken and i don't usually eat it unless i hear tales of its tastiness (like kj's or okata's), but i fully appreciated this katsu. my burger was good. can't complain. had it with a nice side of fruit. all in all, wait can be a bit long, don't expect any fruits or veggies, but if you're here for okazu style bento- you've come to the right place.
(4)Lance T.
The Regular Mix Bento (Mahimahi and Teriyaki Beef) was ono. I'll have to try their regular plate lunch and sandwiches next time.
(4)Pamela E.
Okata Bento is the best!!! I love there Cheeseburger and there mixed plate and it made right away when you order,
(5)randi i.
Whenever I'm in the area I always love to stop by Okata Bento! :) It's a hole in the wall kind of place. I don't know of many places where people use nice pieces of chicken for chicken katsu. This is one of the places! I always get the chicken katsu & a green river yum! The only thing I dislike is they lack parking and you have to wait awhile for your order to be made. So I suggest calling ahead! :)
(4)Y C.
A hole-in-da-wall in every sense of the word, Okata offers some of the tastiest plate lunches, bentos, and donburi. It's on the same block as Bankoh, parking truly sucks, and they can take up to 20 mins to prep your food. But if you can snag parking on the street or across Waialae at the muni lot, a jaunt here will make you a convert for sure. Okata's teriyaki sauce is one of the best. It's just the right amount of salt and sweet, and lightly seasons the meats. The katsu is thin, crisp, and not oily at all. The mahi is cooked to PERFECTION, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, well-seasoned, and not at all fishy. I won't eat mahi anywhere else except here (not even at Mavro if they offered it). The donburi is ono and just bursts with saucy flavor over a mound of rice. Call in the order before you pick up and save the wait. I haven't had the burgers yet because I'm hooked on their bentos and donburi. The mix bento is a good choice - get the beef teri and a katsu. And thank me later. By buying me lunch here.
(5)Jennifer D.
Mom and pop joint. Friendly service, no seating, wait for your food but wow soooo sooooo good!!! I got the mix bento of he tonkatsu and chicken katsu and it came with so many goodies. (please refer to the picture of the menu for the list of goodies) we just camped out on the sidewalk curb and grubbed out on our bentos. Just do it!!
(5)Kimo S.
This take-out restaurant epitomizes "hole in the wall" for plate lunches here in town. If you blink driving up Waialae Avenue you will miss this place, so keep your eyes open and drive slow. The draw back is that there is no parking, like most of the shops along Waialae Avenue. The food here... the food! It is amazing in its simplicity, portion sizing and taste. I have not found a better tonkatsudon on the island. Period. The food is prepared without fat, skin, bones, etc. You get choice cuts and don't have to feel bad eating everything on your plate. The chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken plates are still amongst my favorites. You'll probably see me here twice a week... you really can't go wrong with the menu. If you like sauce and don't want to fuss with the cabbage that usually is under the food, ask for all rice. For an extra twist, have them smash the rice down and put the food on top. Trust me. It's great.
(5)J S.
I walked past this place many times and wanted to try and finally did today. It's great! They made food after you order so you have to wait a few minutes but the food you get for a short wait is worth it. The price is cheap with Mini + 2 choice of meat option is plenty of food for me and that's only $5.75. Who would go eat at Mc D anymore...
(5)Eric A.
Spotted several people waiting in line in front of this place last Saturday after finishing a sandwich across the street at Sprout. I asked one of the people what they were waiting for and they raved about this "hole-in-the-wall" lunch counter. As intrigued as I was about this new find sadly I had just finished lunch and couldn't rationalize eating again. So I went back today. The friendly counter woman nicely warned that burgers will take about 10-12 minutes. I was all set with 18 minutes in the meter so I got comfortable. Well, right on time, 12 minutes later, she handed me my order and said she hoped it would be worth the wait. It was!! If you like In & Out Burger on the west coast, as I do, you will really enjoy an Okata Bento burger. I ordered a Teri Cheese Burger and a Cheese Burger. The regular cheese burger was a handmade patty, cooked just right, on a beautifully fluffy bun with a little lettuce and the usual condiments. The only thing missing (if you are an In & Out fan) is a toasted bun and some special sauce. It was very good nonetheless. The Teri Cheese Burger was just as good but a little salty due to the teriyaki sauce. It was good but just a little over-seasoned. I will definitely go back for a post-surf burger fill up or maybe to try one of their plate lunches, which were popular choices among customers waiting with me. By the way, burgers are only a few dollars each! And the plate lunches seem like a bargain at $7 and $9 for regular or mix plate. Bottom line: a very good burger at a great price. Just bring enough change to get your meter filled for the wait. It is worth the wait!
(4)Emi H.
Okata Bento is one of those Hawai'i businesses we'll miss very much when they're no longer there. It's a little piece of neighborhood nostalgia that reminds you of when you were a hungry kid who had only a few dollars in your pocket. EATS: Get the teri beef sandwich, not the teri burger, which I found to be rather mushy. Two totally different experiences and in my humble opinion the teri beef is waaaaay better. It made me wish I had magic fairy hands and could change things into a teri beef sandwich. Stop sign (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Small dog (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Husband (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! I could do this all day long and life would be delicious... I also ordered the hamburger steak plate for $6.50 which came with two scoops rice covered in gravy and mac salad. A deal at $6.50 but I was pretty disappointed, so much so I only ate a few bites and threw the rest away. Darn, I sure wish my magic fairy hands were working so I could turn that plate lunch into a teri beef sandwich! LOCATION: Across the street from Coffee Talk, sandwiched in between the Hawaii Symphony and Asuka Nabe. It's basically a hallway with a little window. Everything is made-to-order so if you're in a rush call ahead. It took about ten minutes for them to pack up my lunch.
(4)Crista P.
5 stars all the way! Nice people, great service, and delicious food! In my opinion they have the BEST Teri hamburgers & super ONO tonkatsu! Nuff said- you just gotta try it and give it your own opinion! ^_^
(5)Cary S.
This place was good the first time I ate there. When I stand there, order my food, and go, it seems okay. Then we had an event and we ordered around 40 plate lunches from them. We got what we paid for, but I must say that they were as rude as could be. Nobody warned us that they accept cash only. We showed up to pick up the food and were told by the woman that they would not accept credit card or check. There's a nice way to say things, but when someone we're spending over $300 with like this gives short, snippy, rude responses to our questions, I've gotta lower my four stars to 2 stars. It's treating us like she's doing us a big favor by even doing business with us. I was always taught to be courteous, polite, and pleasant to my customers. She really needs to be given a lesson in customer service. Maybe it's her restaurant or something and feels like she can be however the hell she wants... and that's fine. If it's her restaurant, she can do what she wants, but then she only deserves two stars from me. Seriously, there were like 4 interactions with this woman, and all 4 were very rude. Regarding the food, their teri chicken tastes oddly sweet. The teri beef was okay. I didn't really like the mac salad that much, although I've definitely had worse. We were also a little surprised and disappointed by the quantity of food we got for our over $8.00 plate lunch - not like the pictures. We had a lot of meals left over from our event, so I got to try a lot. I should say that the gentleman that cooks the food was very nice taking our order. But I'm not goin' there again.
(2)Grant W.
You hipsters want a hole in the wall, this is it. No tables, no chairs, no parking lot, just a window where you get your food and a line of people waiting to get it. Everything here is soooooo good. My family and I have buying food from them on an almost weekly basis since we were kids. My favorite is the Chicken Katsu. All the fat is trimmed off and you get just the meat, unlike other places where you get pieces of fat/skin katsu. This type of care goes into everything, teri chicken, teri beef, etc. All the Teri items are awesome. Best mac salad on the island. Even the luncheon meat is good, how the hell you make luncheon meat good?? I'm just wondering how people can say how great this place is and not give 5 stars. I would give 10 if I could.
(5)Brandon L.
A small hole in the wall on Waialae Ave., but don't let its appearance fool you. This is one of my favorite places to grab a plate lunch in Kaimuki. Park either on the street or in one of the lots across the street (one is metered, the other is ticket stub). I always get the beef or chicken teriyaki plate. I like that all the fat is cut off and the meat is cut into bite-size pieces. Comes with two scoops of rice and mac salad. The plate lunches are $6.50 The amount you get is decent for the price. I feel like you get a little more meat when you order chicken versus beef. Haven't tried anything else, but that's because I love the beef/chicken teri plates so much. I usually call beforehand to place my order because it takes 15-20min to cook.
(4)J W.
Love this place....one of the best hole in the wall joints out here its kaimukis treasure a gem on the island.... Great place great service ono grinds
(5)Brian M.
I love Okata Bento! How do you know when a person takes pride in there food. .. All the fat from meat and chicken is trimmed caringly. Nothing is rushed to make sure your bento is perfect. You can tell the Love and Pride in every bite! My "Fave" is the Tonkatsu and fish, but there different things on the menu you can combine or try. You might want to call ahead and order your food , otherwise there is a wait. Good things come to those who are patient! Hours:Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 pm. Sat 11 am - 3 pm Ph#.737-6063
(4)Ric C.
Old style charm with a delicious pay-off. One of the best hole-in-the-wall take out lunch establishments located in Kaimuki town. They have been there for decades and serve some of the best ono grinds in the state. Plate lunches, donburi, sandwiches, they offer a variety of stuff but a favorite for me has to be their bentos- and in particular the awesome chicken katsu bento. It also comes with a piece of mahi mahi, tamago, fish cake, takuan, and luncheon meat over a bed of rice with ume. Pretty simple and basic but oh, so ono! The bentos come in a regular and mini size. If your timing is right, these make perfect flight meals to take with you- a much better alternative the usual coach seating offerings (yeeech!) that the airlines offer. Their offerings are not as extensive as many drive-ins but what they do serve is cooked to perfection and they are very consistent with their delicious kau kau. Always a "go to" place when mainland relatives come to Hawaii for a visit, it's the perfect comfort food for transplanted Kamaaina or newly arrived visitors to our fair shores. Make it a new year's resolution to visit Okata Bento in 2015. You won't regret it :) Last review for 2014- Happy New Year Yelpdom :)
(5)Krysten I.
I've passed by Okata Bento so many times in my life. I always overlooked it on my way to Kwong On (in the past) and Aloha Crepes (more recently). But I was looking for some good, home-cooked tasting food and found Okata on Yelp. I called in my order, because there is limited metered street parking. I ended up parking in the private lot behind big city diner and ran over to Okata to be within the grace period. The girl working the cash register was funny and nice, but it seemed like she was new. She was having trouble ringing up my order, but I had fun reading the articles taped on the side of the window while I waited. I ordered the char siu chicken and teri hamburger steak, with gravy everywhere (they'll ask). It was so delicious. When you think of local homemade food, this i it. There was great, full flavor. I think some people might think it tastes too concentrated and over done, but I needed it and thought it tasted good. They have very specific hours and I had to be sure to come for lunch because they are not open late. Okata seems to be a keystone establishment in Kaimuki. I'm always very impressed with the variety in Kaimuki and I'm glad Okata is there to represent good, consistent local Japanese plate lunch and bento. I'm excited to come back to try some of the other offerings and bentos.
(4)Eathan O.
This was a place I always looked forward to as a kid and not much has changed 25 years later. The menu, food and prices have hardly changed over the years. I hardly get to go nowadays, so I don't stray from my staple order of a double-teri deluxe burger. Best - by far - teri burger I've had anywhere. It's Japanese style, so please don't compare to W&M, which (to me) is like a glorified May's burger. The Okata teri burger has home-made patties that almost crumble when you bite into the burger. The teri sauce is on point, not too sweet and just gooey enough (think Yoshida). The shredded lettuce makes it easy to bite (hate it when you end up pulling out a whole piece) and the bun is chewy soft. I've also tried their bentos which are good, great if you consider the reasonable prices. The katsu don is exactly what you expect a donburi to be. The area looks run down and it is a hole in the wall like everyone else says, but the food is nothing but high quality, simple, nostalgic and inexpensive. Be prepared to phone order or walk around Kaimuki for a bit as this is NOT fast food. However, it is well worth the wait!
(5)Malibu M.
Been going here for 15 years. I live in CA now so every time I come home I make sure to get Okata Bento. I order the teri chicken and chicken cutlet with rice and mac is to die for. Fat is trimmed from meat and the flavor is amazing! Only open for few hours in the day. Best plate lunch and great prices!!!
(5)Steve P.
I've had A LOT of plate lunches. I prefer Okata Bento. Try their light and crispy chicken katsu, or their just-right locomoco. Yelp says 5 stars = "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and Okata Bento is just that! They do a truly well-made plate lunch. Street parking is hard to find, but across the street from Okata's, behind Sure Shot Cafe and Gecko Books, veering left, is the janky but for-that-very-reason cheap parking lot. Currently $.25/20mins. Enjoy!
(5)J C.
I love Okata Bento, the chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki...awesome! They even remove all the fat off the chicken before cooking. I tend to not like mac salad from a lot of places, but Okata's tastes so good!
(5)Aline T.
This place is literally a hole in the wall. There's no door to walk in; basically, it's in a narrow little hallway by Toys n Joys & Payless Shoe store in Kaimuki. There's only a kitchen and an order counter. So, you just take the 4 steps it takes to get to the counter from the sidewalk, place your order, stand around and wait for your food, grab it and go. They serve standard plate lunch items, burgers, sandwiches of sorts, etc. Pretty darn good cheap eats. If you do plan on coming here, you can get street parking on Waialae Ave (and good luck with that!), the meter parking lot by 12th Ave Grill, or the Diamond Head Parking Lot behind First Hawaiian Bank, Cafe Laufer, Collectors Maniac, etc.
(4)James G.
Talk about hole in the wall. This place is literally a whole in the wall. I kid you not. They have good food and are very nice. The only downside is sometimes the wait to get your food. So it is best to call in and order. I love their Tonkatsu Bento. It is awesome. The sauce is good. I don't know where they get this sauce from (its in little packets) but I want some. You are better off ordering the bento instead of the regular plates because for only $7.50 you can get the Regular Tonkatsu Bento which includes rice, mahi mahi, luncheon meat, egg roll, a small slice of daikon and fish cake, ume, and shredded cabbage. The Tonkatsu Bento has got to be my favorite thing to order here. My next favorite thing to order is their Teri Burger w/ Cheese. It's only $2.75. Sometimes mixing a mini Bento with the Teri Burger w/ Cheese is smart. You get the best of both worlds. For first timers, I recommend ordering a Mini Tonkatsu Bento and a Teri Burger w/ Cheese. you will experience what I think are the 2 best things on the menu in one setting for under $8. Now that's a good deal. Be careful the Teri burger is loaded with sauce so it will be dripping you may need extra napkins. Also if you can try the Green River drink is sweet and drinking it makes one feel like a kid again. I haven't tried everything but if I have to pick my least favorite item on the menu it would have to be the Char Siu Chicken. It is not too tasty. Overall Okata Bento is awesome. Be prepared to wait awhile if you do not call in your order, and make sure you have cash handy because it is cash only.
(4)Erika R.
Okata Bento has the yummiest teri burgers. They make their own sauce and it drips just enough off the burger when you're eating it to let you know what you've got in your hands is down-home good! Make sure you call your order in ahead of time or you will wait about 15 minutes!
(4)Ryan I.
As we were driving down Waialae Ave., my son said he wanted a bento. Log onto Yelp, do a search on "bento", and Okata Bento is listed and has great reviews. Meh. I've experienced better. Maybe I just ordered the wrong kinda bento. I figured, how can you go wrong with teriyaki chicken? I saw how it was made - the guy puts two boneless skinless chicken thighs on the flat top, cooks them, chops em up and puts teriyaki sauce on them. Quite possibly the meh-est teriyaki chicken I've ever eaten. My kids bentos were teri beef and suffered the same meh-ness. Points for effort though - it was nice to see a (literal) mom and pop business putting out made to order food. But the charm won't bring me back again.
(2)Jenny K.
I really wanted to love this place for several reasons. It's in my neighborhood; a friend raved about it who's opinion I generally agree with; and it's a local hole-in-the-wall - and I love anywhere that's weird, maybe a lil dirty, and hard to find (as long as the food is ahmazing..) Unfortunately, the food wasn't amazing for me that day. Wanted the mahi bento, but they had catfish instead of mahi that day. So I ordered the teriyaki chicken bento instead. Chicken teri was just ok, not that flavorful or saucy. It came with a lot of cute little tiny sides and also a piece of fried catfish. The breading on the catfish was really soggy, and it tasted really oily. That kinda bummed me out, b/c it made me wonder if the mahi bento was fried the same way, and I would have maybe gone back to try that.
(2)Terrance Y.
Oh yeah, that bit on the greasy freshly made while you wait bento is sit in the park grind your lunch goodness best eaten while still hot. Don't take too long to find a park as the longer you wait the more soggy your Katsu is going to be haha. But hey its every bit of what makes getting bento's from different places so good. Each place has a little something to make it unique. The teriyaki and Chicken Katsu is good I usually don't eat the Luncheon meat but if I'm hungry I will as I'm not a fan of luncheon meat. For me the special thing is waiting here while your Bento is made heh you can hide in the little cubby hole order area if there isn't a line or you can hang out by the street and make like you really are waiting for a treat as pretty much all you have is those two choices while waiting as it is a real hole in the wall place. Unfortunately I haven't tried the burgers but next time I'm going to need to do that as I remember growing up and getting a cheeseburger, green river sprite mix and fries which is pretty much my standard childhood memory of long gone small mom and pop shops I used to frequent. I really think that the reason I always get the bento is because if I have to search for parking I'm going to get something worth my parking search, but with all the talk about the burgers okay I'm convinced I'll have to get one to see.
(3)Kara K.
Ok, so I saw the review about the cheeseburger and I love cheeseburgers. Plus I saw the comments on how long it takes to make a loving bento here and I had little time left for lunch. Since i only had their cheeseburger, I can only rate Okata based on their cheeseburger, service, and style so you may consider this a shallow review. Thanks to a fellow Yelper, I decided to check out these highly rated cheeseburgers. Yelper, you did not fail me! The cheeseburger was delish, and tasted exactly like the old Maui Dairy Queen cheeseburger (Maui people out there know what I'm talking about?)! I loved supporting this local business with its reasonable $2.50 cheeseburger. I can't wait to go back and try other yummy smoked meats!
(5)Julius C.
What I like: cheap, quality local food. My last order from Okata was two cheeseburger for $5 flat. Mini bentos for under $5. The mini katsu bento comes with rice, daikon, a fish cake and those Japanese omelet squares. It filled me up but I devoured it within minutes. What I don't like: The loco moco is a bit heavy on the gravy. It feels and tastes fatty and doesn't keep well, so eat it up fast. Also, Okata isn't fast food. Its pretty fast food, but you still gotta wait. If you're in the area, I recommend calling in your order. If you're driving, well...can't help you with parking unless you're on a bike. Peddle power!
(3)Rylan S.
This place is awesome. Im so happy that I found this place by my work. I seriously eat here like 3 times a week. The food is the way local food should be. First of all, its cooked to ordered! Doesn't matter if its a burger, katsu, teri, whatever. They don't make it till you order it. Its hot n fresh every time and the food is great. Like the other reviews state, they trim all the fat off the chix before they cook. This place is a whole in the wall but you can tell they care about the quality of the food. But the best part of eating here? The prices. $4.50 for a mini bento. $6.50 for a plate lunch that I can usually split into 2 meals. My favorite though is the burgers. They are simple but very satisfying. They make them from scratch daily and the cost? About $2.50! Are you kidding! This burger is better than any fast food or BCD. I hope this place never goes out of business. The owners are very nice too and when I talked to them they didn't even know they had positive reviews on Yelp. I love authentic places like this, too many restaurant chains are ruining Hawaii's food scene.
(4)Joie Y.
Everything I get from here is good, so I don't mind waiting 15 minutes for food. The only thing is that they take off every once in a while for weeks at a time. So it's best to call to see if they're there or Vegas or where ever they go. And when you call, place your order so you don't have to wait for your food as long! It's typical plate lunch food, but it's so yummy. You need to try it!
(4)Courtney T.
This place is right around the corner from my workplace, so i don't have to deal with parking, but i could see how it might be inconvenient for people who have to drive to get here. But for the price and taste, it's worth the hassle. Unless you like to wait, or have things to do around Okata, I'd recommend calling in your order. They make everything as it's ordered, so that's what takes time. But there are funny little things to read on the glass windows where you order. :) I usually have a breakfast plate, like luncheon meat or ham. They give a good amount of food, less than $7. I just tried the cheeseburger yesterday. My co-workers frequently buy the cheeseburgers, so i wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Soooo good! i think it's the sauce they put in the burger, it's some kind of relish, mustard, mayo? mixture, but it really makes the burger yummy. And it's only $2.50. so ono. One thing I wish they had was some fries....that would complete the meal :) But the chinese lady on the corner sells fries, so it's ok. I also wish that they stayed open later in the afternoon so i could order some stuff and take it home for dinner. Oh, and i get sad when they go on vacation, usually once a year....cuz then I cannot order their food :P The lady who works in the front and takes orders is very nice....it has a real family-owned feeling to it.
(5)Danny H.
I've been visiting this place since 1989 as a teenager, and it is hands down one of my favorite places to get a cheese burger or teri burger. A *little* on the salty side (so my wife says), but man -- it is a KNOCKOUT of flavor. I crave the double cheese burger from Okata Bento, and I've done so for over 20 years now. Same owner all these years, and he's rockin' it with the food. The plate lunches are also well done. No massive plate lunches here -- just well prepared, simple and flavorful. So many places around the island consider plate lunches to be more about quantity than quality. Take chicken katsu for example. Anywhere else, you'll get huge chunks of chicken no doubt, but an ample serving of overly breaded gristle and fat. You know what I'm talking about -- half the time you're just separating the oily breading and fat from the meat. Not so with Okata Bento. Everything is neatly trimmed and prepared, so in the end, you're eating all good stuff versus anywhere else I've been. I can't say enough good things about this place. Try their Chicken Katsu, Mahi Mahi, Teri Beef, Bentos and OH MY GOODNESS the Loco Moco (request grilled onions for amped up Loco love). Same beef patty they use for their burgers, with tasty gravy and a nicely cooked egg on top. Neat, tasty and worth every penny. The wikipedia entry for Plate Lunch should have pictures of Okata Bento's food because this is the stuff. Here's hoping for another 20 years!
(5)Julie M.
For my first and last time here, I ate a burger and got nasty food poisoning. I had diarrhea, felt horrible, and was bedridden for a day. The restaurant took like 10 minutes to prepare the burger, which tasted OK. Never again.
(1)Kaiulani K.
katsu, katsu, katsu. must have katsu! so i'm always in the mood for okazu style bento, but the day we came here was the ONE day i just wanted some fruits. not available here. went in and ordered. adam got the katsu (delicious) and i got a burger. waited awkwardly outside the door/ ordering pen for 10-15 minutes for our food. took it home because there' s nowhere to eat and tucked in. had a bite of adam's katsu. very good! i'm not a big fan of chicken and i don't usually eat it unless i hear tales of its tastiness (like kj's or okata's), but i fully appreciated this katsu. my burger was good. can't complain. had it with a nice side of fruit. all in all, wait can be a bit long, don't expect any fruits or veggies, but if you're here for okazu style bento- you've come to the right place.
(4)Lance T.
The Regular Mix Bento (Mahimahi and Teriyaki Beef) was ono. I'll have to try their regular plate lunch and sandwiches next time.
(4)Pamela E.
Okata Bento is the best!!! I love there Cheeseburger and there mixed plate and it made right away when you order,
(5)randi i.
Whenever I'm in the area I always love to stop by Okata Bento! :) It's a hole in the wall kind of place. I don't know of many places where people use nice pieces of chicken for chicken katsu. This is one of the places! I always get the chicken katsu & a green river yum! The only thing I dislike is they lack parking and you have to wait awhile for your order to be made. So I suggest calling ahead! :)
(4)Y C.
A hole-in-da-wall in every sense of the word, Okata offers some of the tastiest plate lunches, bentos, and donburi. It's on the same block as Bankoh, parking truly sucks, and they can take up to 20 mins to prep your food. But if you can snag parking on the street or across Waialae at the muni lot, a jaunt here will make you a convert for sure. Okata's teriyaki sauce is one of the best. It's just the right amount of salt and sweet, and lightly seasons the meats. The katsu is thin, crisp, and not oily at all. The mahi is cooked to PERFECTION, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, well-seasoned, and not at all fishy. I won't eat mahi anywhere else except here (not even at Mavro if they offered it). The donburi is ono and just bursts with saucy flavor over a mound of rice. Call in the order before you pick up and save the wait. I haven't had the burgers yet because I'm hooked on their bentos and donburi. The mix bento is a good choice - get the beef teri and a katsu. And thank me later. By buying me lunch here.
(5)Jennifer D.
Mom and pop joint. Friendly service, no seating, wait for your food but wow soooo sooooo good!!! I got the mix bento of he tonkatsu and chicken katsu and it came with so many goodies. (please refer to the picture of the menu for the list of goodies) we just camped out on the sidewalk curb and grubbed out on our bentos. Just do it!!
(5)Kimo S.
This take-out restaurant epitomizes "hole in the wall" for plate lunches here in town. If you blink driving up Waialae Avenue you will miss this place, so keep your eyes open and drive slow. The draw back is that there is no parking, like most of the shops along Waialae Avenue. The food here... the food! It is amazing in its simplicity, portion sizing and taste. I have not found a better tonkatsudon on the island. Period. The food is prepared without fat, skin, bones, etc. You get choice cuts and don't have to feel bad eating everything on your plate. The chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken plates are still amongst my favorites. You'll probably see me here twice a week... you really can't go wrong with the menu. If you like sauce and don't want to fuss with the cabbage that usually is under the food, ask for all rice. For an extra twist, have them smash the rice down and put the food on top. Trust me. It's great.
(5)J S.
I walked past this place many times and wanted to try and finally did today. It's great! They made food after you order so you have to wait a few minutes but the food you get for a short wait is worth it. The price is cheap with Mini + 2 choice of meat option is plenty of food for me and that's only $5.75. Who would go eat at Mc D anymore...
(5)Lee B.
Worst service ever...and by the owner! I used to visit here when I worked in Kaimuki, like over 20 years ago and remember this place. I really liked it. Since moving back in this area, I've been dying to pickup a plate lunch here. But parking is bad - rare street parking or pay in the lot on the opposite side of the highway. Well, I lucked out one day and got street parking, asked for a hamburger steak plate, and the lady taking the order turns to someone out of view, who mumbles something back, and she says "It'll be 15 or 20 minutes. We're making rice." I asked could I get it without rice. I'll pay the same price. She asks the person out of view. He grumbles something. She tells me, sorry, but he said no. He's the owner. Sorry. What's up with that? Really? The experience was just so weird - to be treated so rudely by the owner for no apparent reason. This place is now on my "S" list.
(1)Davey D.
What do I say about Okata Bento? Oh yeah,Crappy service but 'ono food. Isn't that always the case? LOL! Even though their customer service skills suck I always come back for the food. I think they've been in business so long they have a take it or leave it attitude. I guess I'll take the abuse because I love the food. Hahahahaha. Char siu chicken bento is the bomb!!!
(3)Lori F.
This place has been here for a loooong time! Kinda nice, esp. when you realize how much Kaimuki has changed over the years. The only other place I can think of that's still in its original spot is the crack seed store. I like the teri burgers. They use relish mixed in with the mayo...I think that's the old school way. Love the fact that food is cooked to order. You can phone in for faster service. Oh & no fries here...gotta get those elsewhere.
(4)Z Z.
4 Stars?! What? This place is literally a crappy hole in the wall. I felt that my lunch was overpriced for just average quality food. The portions were also small and pretty disappointing. They even tried to charge me $1 for a cup of water. Lame.
(2)Kaili H.
Grumpy lady owner without a line but says will take 25 minutes after yelling at me because I didn't understand her long winded menu. 1 star for being clean and having options but otherwise food wasn't all that and definitely not the experience.
(1)Jerrene T.
I've gone here twice including today. The first time i went for the bento, after all it's Okata BENTO. I have no idea what i ate because it was like a year ago. However, i went today after reading the newspaper about their burgers. Also, my coworker was raving about their burgers, too. Anyway, the husband and i called ahead to order and they told us fifteen minutes. Like other people said, they make to order and you just hafta be patient. And they don't have fries, so find somewhere else to get some fries! We chose BCD but i'm sure there's other places. We walked over when it was time to pick it up and we got two teri cheeseburgers and two green river drinks. My coworker also raved about those drinks. So maybe i didn't grow up in the era of green river but they were okay. Good to quench your thirst and calm your nausea, at least for me anyway. However, the teri cheeses were awesome. They were kinda melt in your mouth goodness, if you ate one of their burgers, you'd understand. There's so much teriyaki sauce it just oozes out. Can you say that for a McDonald's McTeri? Of course not. They were delicioussssssss. The teri sauce was yummy too! So from now on, anytime i'm craving a burger during the hours of 11-4 at work, i'll get a burger from here. Otherwise i'll wait until it's that time again. Remember, cash only and get a teri cheeseburger at least once from here.
(5)John C.
Have not been here in quite awhile! Ordered a double cheese burger with a medium Green River and got both for $4.75! The burger featured two fresh (not frozen) homemade burger patties and two slices of American cheese on a toasted bun with lettuce and a nice mayo/mustard/relish spread. Made as you order so don't be in a rush if you eat at Okata. The kitchen is clean and orderly and its as old school as you can get. Much better than the big "McD's"! As all the other posts have stated this place is the proverbial "hole-in-the-wall". Located at the top of Waialae Ave near Toys-N-Joys and yeah, street parking sucks around lunch time. I highly recommend trying Okata if you are in the neighborhood!
(4)Aimee C.
Went here for the first time two days ago bc I found searching for a place to eat around my job. Cheap, delicious, home cooking. The cook and cashier are super nice. I tried a mini bento and a cheeseburger - totally yum!! I thought the $2.50 cheeseburger was better than W&M (yup, I said it). I'll def go back for lunch often...but next time I would call to pick up because they cook it on the spot so it takes a while. * Bonus: They had yum homemade potato chip & walnut cookies ($4) - let me tell you, crack in a tub. So yummy that I wrote a sign on them at work that said, "Very Bad Cookies," so no one would eat them. Gone in a day, what can I say.
(4)John N.
Sometimes you wish you could add a half star but because of the rounding system, 4 stars instead of 3.5 stars will do. Okata Bento is in a small lil nook on Waialae next to Kaimuki Camera. Their menu isn't too large but sizable enough to pick what you want. The sauces are homemade, and everything is cooked to order. Food is good, and in normal proportions. Normally I order the teri hamburger steak since their homemade teri sauce is ono! It would been a firm 4 star if it wasn't for the long wait. Make sure you call in ahead if you know you want to get food there. Otherwise, expect them to start making it when you order.
(4)Lexis G.
I really enjoy coming here if I want a great but affordable fast lunch, this is was better then going to a fast food restaurant. The chicken has not fat on them what soever very thin but oh so yummy ! Just a little family owned food place. Give it a try you won't be disappointed
(5)Eric A.
Spotted several people waiting in line in front of this place last Saturday after finishing a sandwich across the street at Sprout. I asked one of the people what they were waiting for and they raved about this "hole-in-the-wall" lunch counter. As intrigued as I was about this new find sadly I had just finished lunch and couldn't rationalize eating again. So I went back today. The friendly counter woman nicely warned that burgers will take about 10-12 minutes. I was all set with 18 minutes in the meter so I got comfortable. Well, right on time, 12 minutes later, she handed me my order and said she hoped it would be worth the wait. It was!! If you like In & Out Burger on the west coast, as I do, you will really enjoy an Okata Bento burger. I ordered a Teri Cheese Burger and a Cheese Burger. The regular cheese burger was a handmade patty, cooked just right, on a beautifully fluffy bun with a little lettuce and the usual condiments. The only thing missing (if you are an In & Out fan) is a toasted bun and some special sauce. It was very good nonetheless. The Teri Cheese Burger was just as good but a little salty due to the teriyaki sauce. It was good but just a little over-seasoned. I will definitely go back for a post-surf burger fill up or maybe to try one of their plate lunches, which were popular choices among customers waiting with me. By the way, burgers are only a few dollars each! And the plate lunches seem like a bargain at $7 and $9 for regular or mix plate. Bottom line: a very good burger at a great price. Just bring enough change to get your meter filled for the wait. It is worth the wait!
(4)Emi H.
Okata Bento is one of those Hawai'i businesses we'll miss very much when they're no longer there. It's a little piece of neighborhood nostalgia that reminds you of when you were a hungry kid who had only a few dollars in your pocket. EATS: Get the teri beef sandwich, not the teri burger, which I found to be rather mushy. Two totally different experiences and in my humble opinion the teri beef is waaaaay better. It made me wish I had magic fairy hands and could change things into a teri beef sandwich. Stop sign (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Small dog (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! Husband (BLING), now a teri beef sandwich! I could do this all day long and life would be delicious... I also ordered the hamburger steak plate for $6.50 which came with two scoops rice covered in gravy and mac salad. A deal at $6.50 but I was pretty disappointed, so much so I only ate a few bites and threw the rest away. Darn, I sure wish my magic fairy hands were working so I could turn that plate lunch into a teri beef sandwich! LOCATION: Across the street from Coffee Talk, sandwiched in between the Hawaii Symphony and Asuka Nabe. It's basically a hallway with a little window. Everything is made-to-order so if you're in a rush call ahead. It took about ten minutes for them to pack up my lunch.
(4)Crista P.
5 stars all the way! Nice people, great service, and delicious food! In my opinion they have the BEST Teri hamburgers & super ONO tonkatsu! Nuff said- you just gotta try it and give it your own opinion! ^_^
(5)Ric C.
Old style charm with a delicious pay-off. One of the best hole-in-the-wall take out lunch establishments located in Kaimuki town. They have been there for decades and serve some of the best ono grinds in the state. Plate lunches, donburi, sandwiches, they offer a variety of stuff but a favorite for me has to be their bentos- and in particular the awesome chicken katsu bento. It also comes with a piece of mahi mahi, tamago, fish cake, takuan, and luncheon meat over a bed of rice with ume. Pretty simple and basic but oh, so ono! The bentos come in a regular and mini size. If your timing is right, these make perfect flight meals to take with you- a much better alternative the usual coach seating offerings (yeeech!) that the airlines offer. Their offerings are not as extensive as many drive-ins but what they do serve is cooked to perfection and they are very consistent with their delicious kau kau. Always a "go to" place when mainland relatives come to Hawaii for a visit, it's the perfect comfort food for transplanted Kamaaina or newly arrived visitors to our fair shores. Make it a new year's resolution to visit Okata Bento in 2015. You won't regret it :) Last review for 2014- Happy New Year Yelpdom :)
(5)Krysten I.
I've passed by Okata Bento so many times in my life. I always overlooked it on my way to Kwong On (in the past) and Aloha Crepes (more recently). But I was looking for some good, home-cooked tasting food and found Okata on Yelp. I called in my order, because there is limited metered street parking. I ended up parking in the private lot behind big city diner and ran over to Okata to be within the grace period. The girl working the cash register was funny and nice, but it seemed like she was new. She was having trouble ringing up my order, but I had fun reading the articles taped on the side of the window while I waited. I ordered the char siu chicken and teri hamburger steak, with gravy everywhere (they'll ask). It was so delicious. When you think of local homemade food, this i it. There was great, full flavor. I think some people might think it tastes too concentrated and over done, but I needed it and thought it tasted good. They have very specific hours and I had to be sure to come for lunch because they are not open late. Okata seems to be a keystone establishment in Kaimuki. I'm always very impressed with the variety in Kaimuki and I'm glad Okata is there to represent good, consistent local Japanese plate lunch and bento. I'm excited to come back to try some of the other offerings and bentos.
(4)Eathan O.
This was a place I always looked forward to as a kid and not much has changed 25 years later. The menu, food and prices have hardly changed over the years. I hardly get to go nowadays, so I don't stray from my staple order of a double-teri deluxe burger. Best - by far - teri burger I've had anywhere. It's Japanese style, so please don't compare to W&M, which (to me) is like a glorified May's burger. The Okata teri burger has home-made patties that almost crumble when you bite into the burger. The teri sauce is on point, not too sweet and just gooey enough (think Yoshida). The shredded lettuce makes it easy to bite (hate it when you end up pulling out a whole piece) and the bun is chewy soft. I've also tried their bentos which are good, great if you consider the reasonable prices. The katsu don is exactly what you expect a donburi to be. The area looks run down and it is a hole in the wall like everyone else says, but the food is nothing but high quality, simple, nostalgic and inexpensive. Be prepared to phone order or walk around Kaimuki for a bit as this is NOT fast food. However, it is well worth the wait!
(5)Taylor W.
I read some of the bad reviews and I seriously don't understand, they're dumb. Don't complain about how long it takes for your food it literally takes like 10-15 mins and that just means it's fresh and not already ready to order! Duh! You rather have it sitting there under a warmer? I don't think so! First of all don't judge a book by it's cover! You'll see this place just because of the little sign they have outside and the sign is a but work down & missing an A. It's literally a whole in the wall, there's only a order window with no inside or seats. So you just order your food, wait around, and leave. I got an oyako donburi and my boyfriend got a plate with teriyaki chicken and tonkatsu. The oyako don was good and not dry. I probably liked it even more because I love bamboo shoots, onions, and mushrooms. The teriyaki chicken is really good! Just enough sauce and you can definitely tell they marinated the chicken as well. The tonkatsu was good and thin, had no fat whatsoever, and came with legit katsu sauce. I also like the fact that they had green river which was pretty good. And may I add the lady there who I'm guessing is the owner is SO nice, she really is. It was a perfect meal and I would definitely go there again!
(5)Joseph K.
If you love little hole in the wall eateries, then this is a place for you. Don't expect any extravagance, just good simple food. The place is run by a husband and wife team (I think) and they are friendly. The prices are okay and the portions are decent. I like their pork tonkatsu and they donburi bowls. Because it's a small family run place, I would highly recommend calling in your order. If not you'll have to wait a while because it's all freshly made. The good thing is they have a bunch of little cartoon clippings on their windows you can read to bide your time. Give them a shot and try their food.
(4)Stephen H.
I was waxing nostalgic and caloric---as in, to heck with the diet one time---so decided to check out Okata Bento in Kaimuki. I'd never tried it before but I'd noticed its sign with the missing "N" several times before while on my way to Jewel or Juice or Hale Vietnam. Ordered a mixed plate of hamburger steak and teriyaki chicken. Wait was only 7 or 8 minutes as I was the first one there when it opened. A generous portion of simple, tasty food like I remember from days gone by. Decades actually as Okata Bento was established in 1981. For $8.25 tax included. And no extra charge for gravy all over like that other old-time and much more well-known plate lunch place down the road a ways in Kapahulu. A large lemon-lime drink aka "Green River" for $1.45. A good combo. For other less obvious reasons too. The 2 scoops of rice were made much more interesting soaked through with savory brown gravy on the top and sweet teriyaki sauce on the bottom. Each bite of food made much more interesting with finely shredded cabbage. Old time food. Old time taste. Old time good. The mac salad, thoughtfully served in a separate plastic cup 'cuz it couldn't fit on the loaded down plate, might be better than Brand R's. Okata Bento is like the girl next door you take for granted as nothing more than a friend. Or the role player on the team. Not flashy. Barely noticeable. But fundamentally sound, consistent, and reliable. I used to go to Kwong On next door for manapua and chow fun all the time in my younger days. Not once did I pay any mind to Okata Bento. I was even a regular at the other place for my hamburger steak plate for $1.80 (remember those days?). Okata Bento has got my attention now . It's earned a spot on my roster of "keeper's".
(4)Lori I.
CASH ONLY. AWESOME PLATE LUNCHES AND BENTOS. This place has been around for EV-ER, but just in case you've never been...go check it out next time you're in Kaimuki at lunchtime! These plate lunches are really good unless you're on a diet, in which case you shouldn't be looking at these pictures: yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… Limited hours M-F 11-4, Sat 11-3. (and they will be CLOSED 4/15-4/28/13). Call your order before you get there because this place is literally a hole in the wall. (No place to sit, no place to stand) My favorite is the teri hamburger and char siu chicken. Hamburger steak w/brown gravy is good too. But this is what I REALLY love...they cut all the fat, skin, and gristle off their chicken, and give you perfectly cut bite-sized pieces of chicken. If you have kids you know what a pain in the ass it is to always de-bone, de-skin, de-toughen chicken for the kids. This is like a dream come true for me, except I don't even give my kids this because I eat it all before getting home. The only thing I don't like is the luncheon meat they use in the bento..it's not spam. But back to the little bite sized pieces of chicken. This is the char siu chicken plate, look at the cute little pieces! yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… I love little mom/pop hole in the wall places like this! Or as Kyle says, it's a "Hole in the Hall". yelp.com/biz_photos/okat…
(5)Tara S.
(Not so) hidden gem in Kaimuki! I went to this place for the first time after seeing the great reviews. I live in Kahala so Kaimuki is my go-to place for quick bites. I got the Gyuudon Donburi - freshly made beef, mushrooms, onions, bamboo shoots, egg and rice.. Simple but delicious and only $6.75. I also love the signs saying food is prepared to order so "be patient." I'll definitely be back to try some other items!
(5)J W.
Love this place....one of the best hole in the wall joints out here its kaimukis treasure a gem on the island.... Great place great service ono grinds
(5)Brian M.
I love Okata Bento! How do you know when a person takes pride in there food. .. All the fat from meat and chicken is trimmed caringly. Nothing is rushed to make sure your bento is perfect. You can tell the Love and Pride in every bite! My "Fave" is the Tonkatsu and fish, but there different things on the menu you can combine or try. You might want to call ahead and order your food , otherwise there is a wait. Good things come to those who are patient! Hours:Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 pm. Sat 11 am - 3 pm Ph#.737-6063
(4)Cary S.
This place was good the first time I ate there. When I stand there, order my food, and go, it seems okay. Then we had an event and we ordered around 40 plate lunches from them. We got what we paid for, but I must say that they were as rude as could be. Nobody warned us that they accept cash only. We showed up to pick up the food and were told by the woman that they would not accept credit card or check. There's a nice way to say things, but when someone we're spending over $300 with like this gives short, snippy, rude responses to our questions, I've gotta lower my four stars to 2 stars. It's treating us like she's doing us a big favor by even doing business with us. I was always taught to be courteous, polite, and pleasant to my customers. She really needs to be given a lesson in customer service. Maybe it's her restaurant or something and feels like she can be however the hell she wants... and that's fine. If it's her restaurant, she can do what she wants, but then she only deserves two stars from me. Seriously, there were like 4 interactions with this woman, and all 4 were very rude. Regarding the food, their teri chicken tastes oddly sweet. The teri beef was okay. I didn't really like the mac salad that much, although I've definitely had worse. We were also a little surprised and disappointed by the quantity of food we got for our over $8.00 plate lunch - not like the pictures. We had a lot of meals left over from our event, so I got to try a lot. I should say that the gentleman that cooks the food was very nice taking our order. But I'm not goin' there again.
(2)Grant W.
You hipsters want a hole in the wall, this is it. No tables, no chairs, no parking lot, just a window where you get your food and a line of people waiting to get it. Everything here is soooooo good. My family and I have buying food from them on an almost weekly basis since we were kids. My favorite is the Chicken Katsu. All the fat is trimmed off and you get just the meat, unlike other places where you get pieces of fat/skin katsu. This type of care goes into everything, teri chicken, teri beef, etc. All the Teri items are awesome. Best mac salad on the island. Even the luncheon meat is good, how the hell you make luncheon meat good?? I'm just wondering how people can say how great this place is and not give 5 stars. I would give 10 if I could.
(5)Brandon L.
A small hole in the wall on Waialae Ave., but don't let its appearance fool you. This is one of my favorite places to grab a plate lunch in Kaimuki. Park either on the street or in one of the lots across the street (one is metered, the other is ticket stub). I always get the beef or chicken teriyaki plate. I like that all the fat is cut off and the meat is cut into bite-size pieces. Comes with two scoops of rice and mac salad. The plate lunches are $6.50 The amount you get is decent for the price. I feel like you get a little more meat when you order chicken versus beef. Haven't tried anything else, but that's because I love the beef/chicken teri plates so much. I usually call beforehand to place my order because it takes 15-20min to cook.
(4)Ed L.
This place is really tucked away in Kaimuki town, and you would not know it till you actually was looking for it. I came to this place when I was a kid and discovered it while delivering newspapers in this part of Kaimuki and would come to Okata Bento and grab food after my route. But anyway, I came down here recently in between my commute home from work just to grab a taste of what I was missing from the good ol days where everything was more carefree and spirited. Like I did mention before, you would not know where it is unless you are looking for it. Directly across the St. Louis / Chaminade campuses, it is housed in the 2 story building that has the signage "St. Louis Drive In" There is a window for ordering, so that makes it stand out. There is a wait on the food here, so I suspect it is made when you order it. I used to eat the bentos when I was a kid, but lately, I come here and buy lunch on my off days. They give ridiculous portions and the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount. Often times, I would eat half and save half and bring it to work. It saves on the money when you do it that way. I definitely recommend this place, like all the Yelpers have done, if you haven't tried it. I yawn at the Zippy's and the L&L Barbeque, when you haven't tried this place. I do like this place, but too bad it's not in the immediate vicinity to where I am in Kaimuki. I wasn't a fan of anything dipped in teriyaki sauce, but Okata Bento made it more palatable, and I developed and discovered an new taste for them. The mahi benti was pretty good, although it could be better. Either way, I recommend this place to anyone who is tired of the old fast food fare and want to try something off the beaten path. While the food choices can be similar, it is the taste, customer care, and the quality of food that can't be beat. Parking is very limited. They have a small lot. Be advised!
(5)Brian H.
I am a former resident of Kaimuki and I used to go to Okata's all the time. I miss it dearly,so when I'm in town I ALWAYS go there to get the Teriyaki hamburger steak plate with sauce over EVERYTHING! I read a few of the reviews and not one mentioned the teriyaki hamburger steak which I think is the ultimate. Forget Zippy's with the over priced plates and L&L's mediocre food. If I am anywhere near town I will go out of my way to visit Okata Bento!
(5)Sarah K.
Want a true classic? Okata Bento, one of the few mainstays in Kaimuki is the place for you if you're craving local, Japanese plate lunches and classic take out items. A helpful tip right off the bat is that you should call in your food order since everything is made to order. Or if you have the time to spare then sure you can walk up to the window and order your food, just know that it'll be a bit of a wait. Love their bento plates (mini and mini-mix or regular and regular-mix), choice of beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu, tonkatsu, char siu chicken and mahi-mahi. The mix bento allows you to choose two items from the list I just mentioned. Bentos come with rice, a small piece of mahi-mahi, luncheon meat (sorry not Spam), an egg roll (Japanese style) and takuan. Also tried their gyuudon (donburi) which is thin slices of teri beef with onions, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, egg on rice with their donburi sauce (a type of shoyu-sugar sauce). That is yummy comfort food - I know, it's a lot of rice but you don't have to eat it all. As a creature of comfort, I usually order the same items knowing that I come here because of a specific craving for their bento or donburi. But, I hear their burgers are also "ono" - classic, not fussy with a home-made taste (they don't sell french fries). Must try the burger one of these days...and I hope you will try this place, too, the next time you're in Kaimuki and are craving a classic, old-school take out lunch. Call them at (808) 737-6063. Open from Mon-Fri 11am - 4pm and Sat 11am - 3pm (closed on Sundays). Street parking only.
(4)Faye M.
***MY 200th REVIEW*** When I used to work in Kaimuki, Okata Bento would be one of my favorite lunch spots on my break! Just make sure to call about 20 minutes before you plan on getting there, especially at prime lunch hours! I once called right after clocking out for lunch and the lady told me my katsudon would be ready in 45 minutes. That's 3/4 of my lunch hour!! The food is good though, cooked right after you order - so at least it's all hot and fresh. I just had their Mini Chicken Katsu Bento & it only took 10 minutes! It was around 1:30, but there were still about 5 people waiting around for their orders when I picked up my food. The bento had just enough food to satisfy me - chicken katsu (a small piece), egg, luncheon meat, ume, daikon, and fishcake with rice - of course! The owner, Lyndon is always nice and friendly! It's not the best food to eat on a regular basis, but when I am in Kaimuki - I like to stop by here to grab something and say "hi"!
(4)Mari S.
If you love local-style Japanese bentos, this is the place for you! Okata Bento is located on Waialae Avenue near the 12th Avenue intersection. Like others have previously noted, it is basically a hole in the wall type of eatery. Their menu includes bentos, burgers and other types of plate lunch items. Over the past few years that I have come here, I've only ordered their mini-bentos. I LOVE their mini tonkatsu bento. It's my favorite! In my opinion, the tonkatsu is cooked perfectly and sliced thin. I sometimes order the mini beef teriyaki bento too. All bentos come with rice, and small slices of luncheon meat, mahi mahi, egg, daikon, kamaboko and an ume. I love these sides, as it really accentuates the flavor of the meat. The bentos are priced fairly reasonable. The mini bento is priced at $4.75 for a choice of one meat. For the heavier eater, you can also order a mini bento with two choices of meat, or a regular sized bento. The only downside is that you should probably call ahead of time to place your order, as it will take anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes to prep. The owner does not begin cooking your meal until you order it, and because it is a small establishment, it will take a little longer than most places. Therefore, I recommend you calling in advanced, especially if you are pressed on time. If you're into bentos and plate lunches, check this place out sometime, especially if you live or work in Kaimuki!
(4)Mark M.
Yes, Okata Bento is seriously a hole in a wall. From the outside looking in, all you'll see of this place is a doorway. When you enter that doorway however, you enter one of Kaimuki's best kept and best hidden secrets. I used to come in here all the time after high school since I worked at Toys N Joys right next to it. I always saw the same guy and lady talking it up and serving it up bento style. Everything here is made fresh to order. There isn't any re heating or warming. It's all on the spot cooking for the best quality. And what about quantity? Okata gives huge portions for the prices they charge. The bentos are packed with a ridiculous amount of stuff! They have sandwiches and burgers of all kinds here. My favorite is the tuna melt which they recently took off the menu but they still made it for me for the sake of nostalgia. They have awesome bentos. Awesome teri chicken, awesome beef, and very lean and flavorful katsu. I never tried anything I didn't like here and that says a lot about an establishment I ate at for years. I invite anyone who hasn't tried Okata yet to do so. Give them some time to make your food and you won't be let down. Read the signs they have in their window for a chuckle and relax. This is some of the very best that K-town has to offer.
(5)Christina T.
Delicious! Super small hole in the wall joint, strange hours, but AMAZING. I had the teriburger with cheese, and mac salad. So delicious!
(4)Hayden N.
The Tonkatsudon is to die for is what my friend told me. I had just the Tonkatsu lunch plate and it was tasty....I'll have to go back to try the Tonkatsudon. Very quick service.
(4)Eric A.
Now honestly, do you really want healthy or delicious? I say for now, screw those designer granola, brown rice eatin' bubble heads down the street. Okata on Waialae has a great tasting old school bento with simple and humble (local) Hawaiiana flare. Due to the fact that I work out on the other side of the island and being that Okata has limited business hours, the only day I can make it here is on Saturdays (will post biz hours at end of report). For those that cant find parking, might I suggest the lot up the street from Bank of Hawaii just around the corner? I honestly don't think anyone checks it. So anyway, here I walk into this little nook/side alley to take a geese and gander at their menu: yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Aside from their donburi, plate lunches, burger and sandwiches, their famous Okata Bento is what i seeked. Or sooked? Sucked! Whatever, but each bento comes with white rice, mahi, luncheon meat (not SPAM btw), eggroll, takuan, kamaboko fish cake, ume and shredded cabbage. Sizes are available in both mini or regular, of which you can mix and match with another meat selection. So I decided to go with their teri beef and chicken katsu bento combination for $9.00. Complimentary bento mahi tasted great. Not too thin, flaky or salty but meaty. Luncheon meat, forget the brand but is that salty sweet kind that comes in large squares. Both the teriyaki beef (not too gingery) and katsu (moist and crunchy) were standard but also good. Not sure if you'd like to argue there's a plate lunch and bento version but it tasted more like the bento version; where although its layered with all types of different flavor profiles, every bite is a new textural and deliciously oily food region. I would like to also note that their egg roll, which is not a roll but a fried egg slapped between the meat and rice, has sugar mixed into it. Sounds weird but it adds an interesting bite in juxtaposition to everything around it. Another thing I tried was their cheeseburger ($2.50) which was one of the Okata Yelp picks. By my earlier mention of old school Hawaiiana flavor, along with the melted slice of cheddar/thousand isle sauce, the taste of the beef patty reminded me of the type you get at local hole-in-the-wall saimin shops (and places of the like). There is a certain mixed-salt flavor, which is probably the same type of seasoning they put into their saimin broth. And yes, da cheeze boiga was good. Okata Bento store hours: M-F: 11-4pm Sat: 11-3pm Sun: Closed Also note that Okata is designed only for take out and has no dine-in seating. A "hole-in-the-hall" as fellow Yelper B-Luv puts it. 4 stars Okata Bento on Waialae
(4)Brian A.
"Hole-In-The-Hall" Restaurant: Okata Bento The moment I realized that this was a place to eat, I've had this atop my list for some time. So, what has prevented me from coming here? Well, there's the location where parking sucks and I'm never able to make it over here for their lunch time hours. That's on top of the fact that when it's closed, it looks like some of the other shuttered businesses in the area. Oh yeah, and there was that tsunami thing on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Hey, we drove by it on that day and the roads were clear, so I would've stopped if it was open! Finally, we were able to get here. It's a dinky place. Just a walk-up window in a hallway. It's not a hole-in-the-wall, more of a hole-in-the-hall. You could pass it and not even know it was a business. A lot of non-locals walking by were looking at us funny for waiting outside a hallway. The lady taking orders was very friendly, even joking with us about all the pictures we were taking. There seemed to be tons of locals from the area that frequent the joint and are on a first name basis. Since there is no place to sit and eat, we headed over to Kapiolani Park. Let me say that parking really isn't too bad. It's located right around the corner up the small Center Street. There's two parking lots off to the left. Both are pay lots, but we didn't drop any money in it. When I went to Toys-n-Joys before, they also said no need. Plus, no one else was dropping money into the slots. At your own risk I guess. So after reading the reviews I had to get an actual hamburger, even though I know I was going with the Hamburger Steak plate. I'm a burger guy and that's what the current reviewers on Yelp were talking about so, go with it. The cheeseburger had a tangy mustard thousand island dressing flavor. The patty itself was nice and soft. At OB they claim to cook it fresh and they do. For all those people who spaz over good food taking time to make, they even have a sign for you to chill and wait for your freshly cooked food. Funny and I liked it. Upon opening the white plate lunch box and looking under all that good gravy, I found that my burger patty was the size of an old 45 record! It took a minute to sink in, but it was big. The size didn't take away from the flavor though. It was good. The lady did also ask if I wanted gravy on my two scoops of rice and I was like, "Yeah, Geevum!" For under $7, it's a great deal. It was like the hamburger burger, nice and juicy. The mac salad side was alright. I think it maybe just needed some additional flavoring like pepper. Overall, I'm definitely going back. One of the great things about this place is that they have a variety of ways to try different things here. They have small and large bento plates, donburi's, regular plate lunches, and in addition to all of that you can upgrade to having two items instead of just one. So it has something for everyone from your Great-Auntie who's a light eater to large plate lunches for the big boys. It's an eclectic place, which is obvious by how it's situated. They even post little emailed gems of funny wisdom in the windows. Anyway, just make sure to note the limited window of hours they're open (5 hours at most a day).
(4)Derek K.
Just had lunch here the other day, and Okata Bento I will definitely revisit in the near future. This place is literally a "hole in the hall" (quoted from Kyle H.). Near Toys and Joys on Waialae, if you are in the area, looking for comfort bento/Japanese Local food come to this place. I ordered the chicken katsu don and originally I thought for under $7 this bento box is small. BUT, they pack that bento box SOOOOO tight, the amount of food is amazing! The food is cooked to order, which takes some time therefore the 4 stars versus 5 (call in your order, if can), but it's so fresh and tasty, the food is well worth the wait. The other thing that I loved about the katsu don was they cut the chicken into small bite size pieces and then mix it in with the egg and onions. When you don't have to cut your katsu don...1. your lunch disappears that much faster and 2. it tastes that much better and is more pleasant to eat. I definitely recommend everyone to try this place, if you haven't been here. Remember, the hole in the hall because you can walk pass it if you're not paying attention. On top of the great food and prices, we need to keep these mom and pop restaurants/stores open...they literally play an integral part in Hawaii's culture and spirit.
(4)Todd T.
Very small hole in the wall bento place, you will miss it driving by. Lucky for me its walking distance from where I live. Had the hambuger steak plate which was good, a good size homemade hamburger. I couldn't finish it. My wife had the oyakodon which was good and my son had a mini teriyaki chicken bento that he liked. They are a 2 person operation so you have to be paitient. It was a 20 minute wait but we just walked in to Toy's N Joy to kill time which went by fast. Next time I will phone in my order.
(5)Glenn O.
My first visit to Okata Bento. Very small hole in the wall place... similar to a lunch wagon without wheels... you enter through a slot and order facing the counter on the side. No chairs or tables and you have to wait on the sidewalk to hear your order being called. I ordered a katsu donburi... not great (compared to other katsu donburis I've had at other restaurants), but o-kay. Place was crowded at 11 AM and the wait was about 10+ minutes. I might try them one more time... maybe I didn't get their specialty?
(3)Gary A.
Great place to buy a teri burger! A good change up from the burger joint just down the street from this place. They don't sell fries though. So, I went down the street to get some. If you are in the area don't hesitate to pick up a couple of burgers. They are made to order so you might be in for a wait if you don't order ahead.
(4)Lee B.
Worst service ever...and by the owner! I used to visit here when I worked in Kaimuki, like over 20 years ago and remember this place. I really liked it. Since moving back in this area, I've been dying to pickup a plate lunch here. But parking is bad - rare street parking or pay in the lot on the opposite side of the highway. Well, I lucked out one day and got street parking, asked for a hamburger steak plate, and the lady taking the order turns to someone out of view, who mumbles something back, and she says "It'll be 15 or 20 minutes. We're making rice." I asked could I get it without rice. I'll pay the same price. She asks the person out of view. He grumbles something. She tells me, sorry, but he said no. He's the owner. Sorry. What's up with that? Really? The experience was just so weird - to be treated so rudely by the owner for no apparent reason. This place is now on my "S" list.
(1)Davey D.
What do I say about Okata Bento? Oh yeah,Crappy service but 'ono food. Isn't that always the case? LOL! Even though their customer service skills suck I always come back for the food. I think they've been in business so long they have a take it or leave it attitude. I guess I'll take the abuse because I love the food. Hahahahaha. Char siu chicken bento is the bomb!!!
(3)Lori F.
This place has been here for a loooong time! Kinda nice, esp. when you realize how much Kaimuki has changed over the years. The only other place I can think of that's still in its original spot is the crack seed store. I like the teri burgers. They use relish mixed in with the mayo...I think that's the old school way. Love the fact that food is cooked to order. You can phone in for faster service. Oh & no fries here...gotta get those elsewhere.
(4)Z Z.
4 Stars?! What? This place is literally a crappy hole in the wall. I felt that my lunch was overpriced for just average quality food. The portions were also small and pretty disappointing. They even tried to charge me $1 for a cup of water. Lame.
(2)Kaili H.
Grumpy lady owner without a line but says will take 25 minutes after yelling at me because I didn't understand her long winded menu. 1 star for being clean and having options but otherwise food wasn't all that and definitely not the experience.
(1)Todd T.
Very small hole in the wall bento place, you will miss it driving by. Lucky for me its walking distance from where I live. Had the hambuger steak plate which was good, a good size homemade hamburger. I couldn't finish it. My wife had the oyakodon which was good and my son had a mini teriyaki chicken bento that he liked. They are a 2 person operation so you have to be paitient. It was a 20 minute wait but we just walked in to Toy's N Joy to kill time which went by fast. Next time I will phone in my order.
(5)Glenn O.
My first visit to Okata Bento. Very small hole in the wall place... similar to a lunch wagon without wheels... you enter through a slot and order facing the counter on the side. No chairs or tables and you have to wait on the sidewalk to hear your order being called. I ordered a katsu donburi... not great (compared to other katsu donburis I've had at other restaurants), but o-kay. Place was crowded at 11 AM and the wait was about 10+ minutes. I might try them one more time... maybe I didn't get their specialty?
(3)Taylor W.
I read some of the bad reviews and I seriously don't understand, they're dumb. Don't complain about how long it takes for your food it literally takes like 10-15 mins and that just means it's fresh and not already ready to order! Duh! You rather have it sitting there under a warmer? I don't think so! First of all don't judge a book by it's cover! You'll see this place just because of the little sign they have outside and the sign is a but work down & missing an A. It's literally a whole in the wall, there's only a order window with no inside or seats. So you just order your food, wait around, and leave. I got an oyako donburi and my boyfriend got a plate with teriyaki chicken and tonkatsu. The oyako don was good and not dry. I probably liked it even more because I love bamboo shoots, onions, and mushrooms. The teriyaki chicken is really good! Just enough sauce and you can definitely tell they marinated the chicken as well. The tonkatsu was good and thin, had no fat whatsoever, and came with legit katsu sauce. I also like the fact that they had green river which was pretty good. And may I add the lady there who I'm guessing is the owner is SO nice, she really is. It was a perfect meal and I would definitely go there again!
(5)Joseph K.
If you love little hole in the wall eateries, then this is a place for you. Don't expect any extravagance, just good simple food. The place is run by a husband and wife team (I think) and they are friendly. The prices are okay and the portions are decent. I like their pork tonkatsu and they donburi bowls. Because it's a small family run place, I would highly recommend calling in your order. If not you'll have to wait a while because it's all freshly made. The good thing is they have a bunch of little cartoon clippings on their windows you can read to bide your time. Give them a shot and try their food.
(4)Stephen H.
I was waxing nostalgic and caloric---as in, to heck with the diet one time---so decided to check out Okata Bento in Kaimuki. I'd never tried it before but I'd noticed its sign with the missing "N" several times before while on my way to Jewel or Juice or Hale Vietnam. Ordered a mixed plate of hamburger steak and teriyaki chicken. Wait was only 7 or 8 minutes as I was the first one there when it opened. A generous portion of simple, tasty food like I remember from days gone by. Decades actually as Okata Bento was established in 1981. For $8.25 tax included. And no extra charge for gravy all over like that other old-time and much more well-known plate lunch place down the road a ways in Kapahulu. A large lemon-lime drink aka "Green River" for $1.45. A good combo. For other less obvious reasons too. The 2 scoops of rice were made much more interesting soaked through with savory brown gravy on the top and sweet teriyaki sauce on the bottom. Each bite of food made much more interesting with finely shredded cabbage. Old time food. Old time taste. Old time good. The mac salad, thoughtfully served in a separate plastic cup 'cuz it couldn't fit on the loaded down plate, might be better than Brand R's. Okata Bento is like the girl next door you take for granted as nothing more than a friend. Or the role player on the team. Not flashy. Barely noticeable. But fundamentally sound, consistent, and reliable. I used to go to Kwong On next door for manapua and chow fun all the time in my younger days. Not once did I pay any mind to Okata Bento. I was even a regular at the other place for my hamburger steak plate for $1.80 (remember those days?). Okata Bento has got my attention now . It's earned a spot on my roster of "keeper's".
(4)Lori I.
CASH ONLY. AWESOME PLATE LUNCHES AND BENTOS. This place has been around for EV-ER, but just in case you've never been...go check it out next time you're in Kaimuki at lunchtime! These plate lunches are really good unless you're on a diet, in which case you shouldn't be looking at these pictures: yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… Limited hours M-F 11-4, Sat 11-3. (and they will be CLOSED 4/15-4/28/13). Call your order before you get there because this place is literally a hole in the wall. (No place to sit, no place to stand) My favorite is the teri hamburger and char siu chicken. Hamburger steak w/brown gravy is good too. But this is what I REALLY love...they cut all the fat, skin, and gristle off their chicken, and give you perfectly cut bite-sized pieces of chicken. If you have kids you know what a pain in the ass it is to always de-bone, de-skin, de-toughen chicken for the kids. This is like a dream come true for me, except I don't even give my kids this because I eat it all before getting home. The only thing I don't like is the luncheon meat they use in the bento..it's not spam. But back to the little bite sized pieces of chicken. This is the char siu chicken plate, look at the cute little pieces! yelp.com/biz_photos/okat… I love little mom/pop hole in the wall places like this! Or as Kyle says, it's a "Hole in the Hall". yelp.com/biz_photos/okat…
(5)Tara S.
(Not so) hidden gem in Kaimuki! I went to this place for the first time after seeing the great reviews. I live in Kahala so Kaimuki is my go-to place for quick bites. I got the Gyuudon Donburi - freshly made beef, mushrooms, onions, bamboo shoots, egg and rice.. Simple but delicious and only $6.75. I also love the signs saying food is prepared to order so "be patient." I'll definitely be back to try some other items!
(5)Brian H.
I am a former resident of Kaimuki and I used to go to Okata's all the time. I miss it dearly,so when I'm in town I ALWAYS go there to get the Teriyaki hamburger steak plate with sauce over EVERYTHING! I read a few of the reviews and not one mentioned the teriyaki hamburger steak which I think is the ultimate. Forget Zippy's with the over priced plates and L&L's mediocre food. If I am anywhere near town I will go out of my way to visit Okata Bento!
(5)Steve P.
I've had A LOT of plate lunches. I prefer Okata Bento. Try their light and crispy chicken katsu, or their just-right locomoco. Yelp says 5 stars = "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and Okata Bento is just that! They do a truly well-made plate lunch. Street parking is hard to find, but across the street from Okata's, behind Sure Shot Cafe and Gecko Books, veering left, is the janky but for-that-very-reason cheap parking lot. Currently $.25/20mins. Enjoy!
(5)Ed L.
This place is really tucked away in Kaimuki town, and you would not know it till you actually was looking for it. I came to this place when I was a kid and discovered it while delivering newspapers in this part of Kaimuki and would come to Okata Bento and grab food after my route. But anyway, I came down here recently in between my commute home from work just to grab a taste of what I was missing from the good ol days where everything was more carefree and spirited. Like I did mention before, you would not know where it is unless you are looking for it. Directly across the St. Louis / Chaminade campuses, it is housed in the 2 story building that has the signage "St. Louis Drive In" There is a window for ordering, so that makes it stand out. There is a wait on the food here, so I suspect it is made when you order it. I used to eat the bentos when I was a kid, but lately, I come here and buy lunch on my off days. They give ridiculous portions and the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount. Often times, I would eat half and save half and bring it to work. It saves on the money when you do it that way. I definitely recommend this place, like all the Yelpers have done, if you haven't tried it. I yawn at the Zippy's and the L&L Barbeque, when you haven't tried this place. I do like this place, but too bad it's not in the immediate vicinity to where I am in Kaimuki. I wasn't a fan of anything dipped in teriyaki sauce, but Okata Bento made it more palatable, and I developed and discovered an new taste for them. The mahi benti was pretty good, although it could be better. Either way, I recommend this place to anyone who is tired of the old fast food fare and want to try something off the beaten path. While the food choices can be similar, it is the taste, customer care, and the quality of food that can't be beat. Parking is very limited. They have a small lot. Be advised!
(5)J C.
I love Okata Bento, the chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki...awesome! They even remove all the fat off the chicken before cooking. I tend to not like mac salad from a lot of places, but Okata's tastes so good!
(5)Malibu M.
Been going here for 15 years. I live in CA now so every time I come home I make sure to get Okata Bento. I order the teri chicken and chicken cutlet with rice and mac is to die for. Fat is trimmed from meat and the flavor is amazing! Only open for few hours in the day. Best plate lunch and great prices!!!
(5)Faye M.
***MY 200th REVIEW*** When I used to work in Kaimuki, Okata Bento would be one of my favorite lunch spots on my break! Just make sure to call about 20 minutes before you plan on getting there, especially at prime lunch hours! I once called right after clocking out for lunch and the lady told me my katsudon would be ready in 45 minutes. That's 3/4 of my lunch hour!! The food is good though, cooked right after you order - so at least it's all hot and fresh. I just had their Mini Chicken Katsu Bento & it only took 10 minutes! It was around 1:30, but there were still about 5 people waiting around for their orders when I picked up my food. The bento had just enough food to satisfy me - chicken katsu (a small piece), egg, luncheon meat, ume, daikon, and fishcake with rice - of course! The owner, Lyndon is always nice and friendly! It's not the best food to eat on a regular basis, but when I am in Kaimuki - I like to stop by here to grab something and say "hi"!
(4)Mari S.
If you love local-style Japanese bentos, this is the place for you! Okata Bento is located on Waialae Avenue near the 12th Avenue intersection. Like others have previously noted, it is basically a hole in the wall type of eatery. Their menu includes bentos, burgers and other types of plate lunch items. Over the past few years that I have come here, I've only ordered their mini-bentos. I LOVE their mini tonkatsu bento. It's my favorite! In my opinion, the tonkatsu is cooked perfectly and sliced thin. I sometimes order the mini beef teriyaki bento too. All bentos come with rice, and small slices of luncheon meat, mahi mahi, egg, daikon, kamaboko and an ume. I love these sides, as it really accentuates the flavor of the meat. The bentos are priced fairly reasonable. The mini bento is priced at $4.75 for a choice of one meat. For the heavier eater, you can also order a mini bento with two choices of meat, or a regular sized bento. The only downside is that you should probably call ahead of time to place your order, as it will take anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes to prep. The owner does not begin cooking your meal until you order it, and because it is a small establishment, it will take a little longer than most places. Therefore, I recommend you calling in advanced, especially if you are pressed on time. If you're into bentos and plate lunches, check this place out sometime, especially if you live or work in Kaimuki!
(4)Mark M.
Yes, Okata Bento is seriously a hole in a wall. From the outside looking in, all you'll see of this place is a doorway. When you enter that doorway however, you enter one of Kaimuki's best kept and best hidden secrets. I used to come in here all the time after high school since I worked at Toys N Joys right next to it. I always saw the same guy and lady talking it up and serving it up bento style. Everything here is made fresh to order. There isn't any re heating or warming. It's all on the spot cooking for the best quality. And what about quantity? Okata gives huge portions for the prices they charge. The bentos are packed with a ridiculous amount of stuff! They have sandwiches and burgers of all kinds here. My favorite is the tuna melt which they recently took off the menu but they still made it for me for the sake of nostalgia. They have awesome bentos. Awesome teri chicken, awesome beef, and very lean and flavorful katsu. I never tried anything I didn't like here and that says a lot about an establishment I ate at for years. I invite anyone who hasn't tried Okata yet to do so. Give them some time to make your food and you won't be let down. Read the signs they have in their window for a chuckle and relax. This is some of the very best that K-town has to offer.
(5)Christina T.
Delicious! Super small hole in the wall joint, strange hours, but AMAZING. I had the teriburger with cheese, and mac salad. So delicious!
(4)Hayden N.
The Tonkatsudon is to die for is what my friend told me. I had just the Tonkatsu lunch plate and it was tasty....I'll have to go back to try the Tonkatsudon. Very quick service.
(4)Jerrene T.
I've gone here twice including today. The first time i went for the bento, after all it's Okata BENTO. I have no idea what i ate because it was like a year ago. However, i went today after reading the newspaper about their burgers. Also, my coworker was raving about their burgers, too. Anyway, the husband and i called ahead to order and they told us fifteen minutes. Like other people said, they make to order and you just hafta be patient. And they don't have fries, so find somewhere else to get some fries! We chose BCD but i'm sure there's other places. We walked over when it was time to pick it up and we got two teri cheeseburgers and two green river drinks. My coworker also raved about those drinks. So maybe i didn't grow up in the era of green river but they were okay. Good to quench your thirst and calm your nausea, at least for me anyway. However, the teri cheeses were awesome. They were kinda melt in your mouth goodness, if you ate one of their burgers, you'd understand. There's so much teriyaki sauce it just oozes out. Can you say that for a McDonald's McTeri? Of course not. They were delicioussssssss. The teri sauce was yummy too! So from now on, anytime i'm craving a burger during the hours of 11-4 at work, i'll get a burger from here. Otherwise i'll wait until it's that time again. Remember, cash only and get a teri cheeseburger at least once from here.
(5)Eric A.
Now honestly, do you really want healthy or delicious? I say for now, screw those designer granola, brown rice eatin' bubble heads down the street. Okata on Waialae has a great tasting old school bento with simple and humble (local) Hawaiiana flare. Due to the fact that I work out on the other side of the island and being that Okata has limited business hours, the only day I can make it here is on Saturdays (will post biz hours at end of report). For those that cant find parking, might I suggest the lot up the street from Bank of Hawaii just around the corner? I honestly don't think anyone checks it. So anyway, here I walk into this little nook/side alley to take a geese and gander at their menu: yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Aside from their donburi, plate lunches, burger and sandwiches, their famous Okata Bento is what i seeked. Or sooked? Sucked! Whatever, but each bento comes with white rice, mahi, luncheon meat (not SPAM btw), eggroll, takuan, kamaboko fish cake, ume and shredded cabbage. Sizes are available in both mini or regular, of which you can mix and match with another meat selection. So I decided to go with their teri beef and chicken katsu bento combination for $9.00. Complimentary bento mahi tasted great. Not too thin, flaky or salty but meaty. Luncheon meat, forget the brand but is that salty sweet kind that comes in large squares. Both the teriyaki beef (not too gingery) and katsu (moist and crunchy) were standard but also good. Not sure if you'd like to argue there's a plate lunch and bento version but it tasted more like the bento version; where although its layered with all types of different flavor profiles, every bite is a new textural and deliciously oily food region. I would like to also note that their egg roll, which is not a roll but a fried egg slapped between the meat and rice, has sugar mixed into it. Sounds weird but it adds an interesting bite in juxtaposition to everything around it. Another thing I tried was their cheeseburger ($2.50) which was one of the Okata Yelp picks. By my earlier mention of old school Hawaiiana flavor, along with the melted slice of cheddar/thousand isle sauce, the taste of the beef patty reminded me of the type you get at local hole-in-the-wall saimin shops (and places of the like). There is a certain mixed-salt flavor, which is probably the same type of seasoning they put into their saimin broth. And yes, da cheeze boiga was good. Okata Bento store hours: M-F: 11-4pm Sat: 11-3pm Sun: Closed Also note that Okata is designed only for take out and has no dine-in seating. A "hole-in-the-hall" as fellow Yelper B-Luv puts it. 4 stars Okata Bento on Waialae
(4)Lexis G.
I really enjoy coming here if I want a great but affordable fast lunch, this is was better then going to a fast food restaurant. The chicken has not fat on them what soever very thin but oh so yummy ! Just a little family owned food place. Give it a try you won't be disappointed
(5)Brian A.
"Hole-In-The-Hall" Restaurant: Okata Bento The moment I realized that this was a place to eat, I've had this atop my list for some time. So, what has prevented me from coming here? Well, there's the location where parking sucks and I'm never able to make it over here for their lunch time hours. That's on top of the fact that when it's closed, it looks like some of the other shuttered businesses in the area. Oh yeah, and there was that tsunami thing on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Hey, we drove by it on that day and the roads were clear, so I would've stopped if it was open! Finally, we were able to get here. It's a dinky place. Just a walk-up window in a hallway. It's not a hole-in-the-wall, more of a hole-in-the-hall. You could pass it and not even know it was a business. A lot of non-locals walking by were looking at us funny for waiting outside a hallway. The lady taking orders was very friendly, even joking with us about all the pictures we were taking. There seemed to be tons of locals from the area that frequent the joint and are on a first name basis. Since there is no place to sit and eat, we headed over to Kapiolani Park. Let me say that parking really isn't too bad. It's located right around the corner up the small Center Street. There's two parking lots off to the left. Both are pay lots, but we didn't drop any money in it. When I went to Toys-n-Joys before, they also said no need. Plus, no one else was dropping money into the slots. At your own risk I guess. So after reading the reviews I had to get an actual hamburger, even though I know I was going with the Hamburger Steak plate. I'm a burger guy and that's what the current reviewers on Yelp were talking about so, go with it. The cheeseburger had a tangy mustard thousand island dressing flavor. The patty itself was nice and soft. At OB they claim to cook it fresh and they do. For all those people who spaz over good food taking time to make, they even have a sign for you to chill and wait for your freshly cooked food. Funny and I liked it. Upon opening the white plate lunch box and looking under all that good gravy, I found that my burger patty was the size of an old 45 record! It took a minute to sink in, but it was big. The size didn't take away from the flavor though. It was good. The lady did also ask if I wanted gravy on my two scoops of rice and I was like, "Yeah, Geevum!" For under $7, it's a great deal. It was like the hamburger burger, nice and juicy. The mac salad side was alright. I think it maybe just needed some additional flavoring like pepper. Overall, I'm definitely going back. One of the great things about this place is that they have a variety of ways to try different things here. They have small and large bento plates, donburi's, regular plate lunches, and in addition to all of that you can upgrade to having two items instead of just one. So it has something for everyone from your Great-Auntie who's a light eater to large plate lunches for the big boys. It's an eclectic place, which is obvious by how it's situated. They even post little emailed gems of funny wisdom in the windows. Anyway, just make sure to note the limited window of hours they're open (5 hours at most a day).
(4)John C.
Have not been here in quite awhile! Ordered a double cheese burger with a medium Green River and got both for $4.75! The burger featured two fresh (not frozen) homemade burger patties and two slices of American cheese on a toasted bun with lettuce and a nice mayo/mustard/relish spread. Made as you order so don't be in a rush if you eat at Okata. The kitchen is clean and orderly and its as old school as you can get. Much better than the big "McD's"! As all the other posts have stated this place is the proverbial "hole-in-the-wall". Located at the top of Waialae Ave near Toys-N-Joys and yeah, street parking sucks around lunch time. I highly recommend trying Okata if you are in the neighborhood!
(4)Aimee C.
Went here for the first time two days ago bc I found searching for a place to eat around my job. Cheap, delicious, home cooking. The cook and cashier are super nice. I tried a mini bento and a cheeseburger - totally yum!! I thought the $2.50 cheeseburger was better than W&M (yup, I said it). I'll def go back for lunch often...but next time I would call to pick up because they cook it on the spot so it takes a while. * Bonus: They had yum homemade potato chip & walnut cookies ($4) - let me tell you, crack in a tub. So yummy that I wrote a sign on them at work that said, "Very Bad Cookies," so no one would eat them. Gone in a day, what can I say.
(4)John N.
Sometimes you wish you could add a half star but because of the rounding system, 4 stars instead of 3.5 stars will do. Okata Bento is in a small lil nook on Waialae next to Kaimuki Camera. Their menu isn't too large but sizable enough to pick what you want. The sauces are homemade, and everything is cooked to order. Food is good, and in normal proportions. Normally I order the teri hamburger steak since their homemade teri sauce is ono! It would been a firm 4 star if it wasn't for the long wait. Make sure you call in ahead if you know you want to get food there. Otherwise, expect them to start making it when you order.
(4)Derek K.
Just had lunch here the other day, and Okata Bento I will definitely revisit in the near future. This place is literally a "hole in the hall" (quoted from Kyle H.). Near Toys and Joys on Waialae, if you are in the area, looking for comfort bento/Japanese Local food come to this place. I ordered the chicken katsu don and originally I thought for under $7 this bento box is small. BUT, they pack that bento box SOOOOO tight, the amount of food is amazing! The food is cooked to order, which takes some time therefore the 4 stars versus 5 (call in your order, if can), but it's so fresh and tasty, the food is well worth the wait. The other thing that I loved about the katsu don was they cut the chicken into small bite size pieces and then mix it in with the egg and onions. When you don't have to cut your katsu don...1. your lunch disappears that much faster and 2. it tastes that much better and is more pleasant to eat. I definitely recommend everyone to try this place, if you haven't been here. Remember, the hole in the hall because you can walk pass it if you're not paying attention. On top of the great food and prices, we need to keep these mom and pop restaurants/stores open...they literally play an integral part in Hawaii's culture and spirit.
(4)Sarah K.
Want a true classic? Okata Bento, one of the few mainstays in Kaimuki is the place for you if you're craving local, Japanese plate lunches and classic take out items. A helpful tip right off the bat is that you should call in your food order since everything is made to order. Or if you have the time to spare then sure you can walk up to the window and order your food, just know that it'll be a bit of a wait. Love their bento plates (mini and mini-mix or regular and regular-mix), choice of beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu, tonkatsu, char siu chicken and mahi-mahi. The mix bento allows you to choose two items from the list I just mentioned. Bentos come with rice, a small piece of mahi-mahi, luncheon meat (sorry not Spam), an egg roll (Japanese style) and takuan. Also tried their gyuudon (donburi) which is thin slices of teri beef with onions, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, egg on rice with their donburi sauce (a type of shoyu-sugar sauce). That is yummy comfort food - I know, it's a lot of rice but you don't have to eat it all. As a creature of comfort, I usually order the same items knowing that I come here because of a specific craving for their bento or donburi. But, I hear their burgers are also "ono" - classic, not fussy with a home-made taste (they don't sell french fries). Must try the burger one of these days...and I hope you will try this place, too, the next time you're in Kaimuki and are craving a classic, old-school take out lunch. Call them at (808) 737-6063. Open from Mon-Fri 11am - 4pm and Sat 11am - 3pm (closed on Sundays). Street parking only.
(4)Gary A.
Great place to buy a teri burger! A good change up from the burger joint just down the street from this place. They don't sell fries though. So, I went down the street to get some. If you are in the area don't hesitate to pick up a couple of burgers. They are made to order so you might be in for a wait if you don't order ahead.
(4)Aline T.
This place is literally a hole in the wall. There's no door to walk in; basically, it's in a narrow little hallway by Toys n Joys & Payless Shoe store in Kaimuki. There's only a kitchen and an order counter. So, you just take the 4 steps it takes to get to the counter from the sidewalk, place your order, stand around and wait for your food, grab it and go. They serve standard plate lunch items, burgers, sandwiches of sorts, etc. Pretty darn good cheap eats. If you do plan on coming here, you can get street parking on Waialae Ave (and good luck with that!), the meter parking lot by 12th Ave Grill, or the Diamond Head Parking Lot behind First Hawaiian Bank, Cafe Laufer, Collectors Maniac, etc.
(4)James G.
Talk about hole in the wall. This place is literally a whole in the wall. I kid you not. They have good food and are very nice. The only downside is sometimes the wait to get your food. So it is best to call in and order. I love their Tonkatsu Bento. It is awesome. The sauce is good. I don't know where they get this sauce from (its in little packets) but I want some. You are better off ordering the bento instead of the regular plates because for only $7.50 you can get the Regular Tonkatsu Bento which includes rice, mahi mahi, luncheon meat, egg roll, a small slice of daikon and fish cake, ume, and shredded cabbage. The Tonkatsu Bento has got to be my favorite thing to order here. My next favorite thing to order is their Teri Burger w/ Cheese. It's only $2.75. Sometimes mixing a mini Bento with the Teri Burger w/ Cheese is smart. You get the best of both worlds. For first timers, I recommend ordering a Mini Tonkatsu Bento and a Teri Burger w/ Cheese. you will experience what I think are the 2 best things on the menu in one setting for under $8. Now that's a good deal. Be careful the Teri burger is loaded with sauce so it will be dripping you may need extra napkins. Also if you can try the Green River drink is sweet and drinking it makes one feel like a kid again. I haven't tried everything but if I have to pick my least favorite item on the menu it would have to be the Char Siu Chicken. It is not too tasty. Overall Okata Bento is awesome. Be prepared to wait awhile if you do not call in your order, and make sure you have cash handy because it is cash only.
(4)Erika R.
Okata Bento has the yummiest teri burgers. They make their own sauce and it drips just enough off the burger when you're eating it to let you know what you've got in your hands is down-home good! Make sure you call your order in ahead of time or you will wait about 15 minutes!
(4)Joie Y.
Everything I get from here is good, so I don't mind waiting 15 minutes for food. The only thing is that they take off every once in a while for weeks at a time. So it's best to call to see if they're there or Vegas or where ever they go. And when you call, place your order so you don't have to wait for your food as long! It's typical plate lunch food, but it's so yummy. You need to try it!
(4)Ryan I.
As we were driving down Waialae Ave., my son said he wanted a bento. Log onto Yelp, do a search on "bento", and Okata Bento is listed and has great reviews. Meh. I've experienced better. Maybe I just ordered the wrong kinda bento. I figured, how can you go wrong with teriyaki chicken? I saw how it was made - the guy puts two boneless skinless chicken thighs on the flat top, cooks them, chops em up and puts teriyaki sauce on them. Quite possibly the meh-est teriyaki chicken I've ever eaten. My kids bentos were teri beef and suffered the same meh-ness. Points for effort though - it was nice to see a (literal) mom and pop business putting out made to order food. But the charm won't bring me back again.
(2)Jenny K.
I really wanted to love this place for several reasons. It's in my neighborhood; a friend raved about it who's opinion I generally agree with; and it's a local hole-in-the-wall - and I love anywhere that's weird, maybe a lil dirty, and hard to find (as long as the food is ahmazing..) Unfortunately, the food wasn't amazing for me that day. Wanted the mahi bento, but they had catfish instead of mahi that day. So I ordered the teriyaki chicken bento instead. Chicken teri was just ok, not that flavorful or saucy. It came with a lot of cute little tiny sides and also a piece of fried catfish. The breading on the catfish was really soggy, and it tasted really oily. That kinda bummed me out, b/c it made me wonder if the mahi bento was fried the same way, and I would have maybe gone back to try that.
(2)Terrance Y.
Oh yeah, that bit on the greasy freshly made while you wait bento is sit in the park grind your lunch goodness best eaten while still hot. Don't take too long to find a park as the longer you wait the more soggy your Katsu is going to be haha. But hey its every bit of what makes getting bento's from different places so good. Each place has a little something to make it unique. The teriyaki and Chicken Katsu is good I usually don't eat the Luncheon meat but if I'm hungry I will as I'm not a fan of luncheon meat. For me the special thing is waiting here while your Bento is made heh you can hide in the little cubby hole order area if there isn't a line or you can hang out by the street and make like you really are waiting for a treat as pretty much all you have is those two choices while waiting as it is a real hole in the wall place. Unfortunately I haven't tried the burgers but next time I'm going to need to do that as I remember growing up and getting a cheeseburger, green river sprite mix and fries which is pretty much my standard childhood memory of long gone small mom and pop shops I used to frequent. I really think that the reason I always get the bento is because if I have to search for parking I'm going to get something worth my parking search, but with all the talk about the burgers okay I'm convinced I'll have to get one to see.
(3)Kara K.
Ok, so I saw the review about the cheeseburger and I love cheeseburgers. Plus I saw the comments on how long it takes to make a loving bento here and I had little time left for lunch. Since i only had their cheeseburger, I can only rate Okata based on their cheeseburger, service, and style so you may consider this a shallow review. Thanks to a fellow Yelper, I decided to check out these highly rated cheeseburgers. Yelper, you did not fail me! The cheeseburger was delish, and tasted exactly like the old Maui Dairy Queen cheeseburger (Maui people out there know what I'm talking about?)! I loved supporting this local business with its reasonable $2.50 cheeseburger. I can't wait to go back and try other yummy smoked meats!
(5)Julius C.
What I like: cheap, quality local food. My last order from Okata was two cheeseburger for $5 flat. Mini bentos for under $5. The mini katsu bento comes with rice, daikon, a fish cake and those Japanese omelet squares. It filled me up but I devoured it within minutes. What I don't like: The loco moco is a bit heavy on the gravy. It feels and tastes fatty and doesn't keep well, so eat it up fast. Also, Okata isn't fast food. Its pretty fast food, but you still gotta wait. If you're in the area, I recommend calling in your order. If you're driving, well...can't help you with parking unless you're on a bike. Peddle power!
(3)Rylan S.
This place is awesome. Im so happy that I found this place by my work. I seriously eat here like 3 times a week. The food is the way local food should be. First of all, its cooked to ordered! Doesn't matter if its a burger, katsu, teri, whatever. They don't make it till you order it. Its hot n fresh every time and the food is great. Like the other reviews state, they trim all the fat off the chix before they cook. This place is a whole in the wall but you can tell they care about the quality of the food. But the best part of eating here? The prices. $4.50 for a mini bento. $6.50 for a plate lunch that I can usually split into 2 meals. My favorite though is the burgers. They are simple but very satisfying. They make them from scratch daily and the cost? About $2.50! Are you kidding! This burger is better than any fast food or BCD. I hope this place never goes out of business. The owners are very nice too and when I talked to them they didn't even know they had positive reviews on Yelp. I love authentic places like this, too many restaurant chains are ruining Hawaii's food scene.
(4)Courtney T.
This place is right around the corner from my workplace, so i don't have to deal with parking, but i could see how it might be inconvenient for people who have to drive to get here. But for the price and taste, it's worth the hassle. Unless you like to wait, or have things to do around Okata, I'd recommend calling in your order. They make everything as it's ordered, so that's what takes time. But there are funny little things to read on the glass windows where you order. :) I usually have a breakfast plate, like luncheon meat or ham. They give a good amount of food, less than $7. I just tried the cheeseburger yesterday. My co-workers frequently buy the cheeseburgers, so i wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Soooo good! i think it's the sauce they put in the burger, it's some kind of relish, mustard, mayo? mixture, but it really makes the burger yummy. And it's only $2.50. so ono. One thing I wish they had was some fries....that would complete the meal :) But the chinese lady on the corner sells fries, so it's ok. I also wish that they stayed open later in the afternoon so i could order some stuff and take it home for dinner. Oh, and i get sad when they go on vacation, usually once a year....cuz then I cannot order their food :P The lady who works in the front and takes orders is very nice....it has a real family-owned feeling to it.
(5)Danny H.
I've been visiting this place since 1989 as a teenager, and it is hands down one of my favorite places to get a cheese burger or teri burger. A *little* on the salty side (so my wife says), but man -- it is a KNOCKOUT of flavor. I crave the double cheese burger from Okata Bento, and I've done so for over 20 years now. Same owner all these years, and he's rockin' it with the food. The plate lunches are also well done. No massive plate lunches here -- just well prepared, simple and flavorful. So many places around the island consider plate lunches to be more about quantity than quality. Take chicken katsu for example. Anywhere else, you'll get huge chunks of chicken no doubt, but an ample serving of overly breaded gristle and fat. You know what I'm talking about -- half the time you're just separating the oily breading and fat from the meat. Not so with Okata Bento. Everything is neatly trimmed and prepared, so in the end, you're eating all good stuff versus anywhere else I've been. I can't say enough good things about this place. Try their Chicken Katsu, Mahi Mahi, Teri Beef, Bentos and OH MY GOODNESS the Loco Moco (request grilled onions for amped up Loco love). Same beef patty they use for their burgers, with tasty gravy and a nicely cooked egg on top. Neat, tasty and worth every penny. The wikipedia entry for Plate Lunch should have pictures of Okata Bento's food because this is the stuff. Here's hoping for another 20 years!
(5)Julie M.
For my first and last time here, I ate a burger and got nasty food poisoning. I had diarrhea, felt horrible, and was bedridden for a day. The restaurant took like 10 minutes to prepare the burger, which tasted OK. Never again.
(1)Kaiulani K.
katsu, katsu, katsu. must have katsu! so i'm always in the mood for okazu style bento, but the day we came here was the ONE day i just wanted some fruits. not available here. went in and ordered. adam got the katsu (delicious) and i got a burger. waited awkwardly outside the door/ ordering pen for 10-15 minutes for our food. took it home because there' s nowhere to eat and tucked in. had a bite of adam's katsu. very good! i'm not a big fan of chicken and i don't usually eat it unless i hear tales of its tastiness (like kj's or okata's), but i fully appreciated this katsu. my burger was good. can't complain. had it with a nice side of fruit. all in all, wait can be a bit long, don't expect any fruits or veggies, but if you're here for okazu style bento- you've come to the right place.
(4)Lance T.
The Regular Mix Bento (Mahimahi and Teriyaki Beef) was ono. I'll have to try their regular plate lunch and sandwiches next time.
(4)Pamela E.
Okata Bento is the best!!! I love there Cheeseburger and there mixed plate and it made right away when you order,
(5)randi i.
Whenever I'm in the area I always love to stop by Okata Bento! :) It's a hole in the wall kind of place. I don't know of many places where people use nice pieces of chicken for chicken katsu. This is one of the places! I always get the chicken katsu & a green river yum! The only thing I dislike is they lack parking and you have to wait awhile for your order to be made. So I suggest calling ahead! :)
(4)Y C.
A hole-in-da-wall in every sense of the word, Okata offers some of the tastiest plate lunches, bentos, and donburi. It's on the same block as Bankoh, parking truly sucks, and they can take up to 20 mins to prep your food. But if you can snag parking on the street or across Waialae at the muni lot, a jaunt here will make you a convert for sure. Okata's teriyaki sauce is one of the best. It's just the right amount of salt and sweet, and lightly seasons the meats. The katsu is thin, crisp, and not oily at all. The mahi is cooked to PERFECTION, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, well-seasoned, and not at all fishy. I won't eat mahi anywhere else except here (not even at Mavro if they offered it). The donburi is ono and just bursts with saucy flavor over a mound of rice. Call in the order before you pick up and save the wait. I haven't had the burgers yet because I'm hooked on their bentos and donburi. The mix bento is a good choice - get the beef teri and a katsu. And thank me later. By buying me lunch here.
(5)Jennifer D.
Mom and pop joint. Friendly service, no seating, wait for your food but wow soooo sooooo good!!! I got the mix bento of he tonkatsu and chicken katsu and it came with so many goodies. (please refer to the picture of the menu for the list of goodies) we just camped out on the sidewalk curb and grubbed out on our bentos. Just do it!!
(5)Kimo S.
This take-out restaurant epitomizes "hole in the wall" for plate lunches here in town. If you blink driving up Waialae Avenue you will miss this place, so keep your eyes open and drive slow. The draw back is that there is no parking, like most of the shops along Waialae Avenue. The food here... the food! It is amazing in its simplicity, portion sizing and taste. I have not found a better tonkatsudon on the island. Period. The food is prepared without fat, skin, bones, etc. You get choice cuts and don't have to feel bad eating everything on your plate. The chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken plates are still amongst my favorites. You'll probably see me here twice a week... you really can't go wrong with the menu. If you like sauce and don't want to fuss with the cabbage that usually is under the food, ask for all rice. For an extra twist, have them smash the rice down and put the food on top. Trust me. It's great.
(5)J S.
I walked past this place many times and wanted to try and finally did today. It's great! They made food after you order so you have to wait a few minutes but the food you get for a short wait is worth it. The price is cheap with Mini + 2 choice of meat option is plenty of food for me and that's only $5.75. Who would go eat at Mc D anymore...
(5)