Asian Bento Express

I noticed this place over the weekend near the Village 8 theaters in St. Matthews -- it's in the same building as Senor Iguanas. A sign on the door said they're opening Monday. The door was unlocked, so I went in and glanced at their menu -- they'll be serving Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. Their website is supposed to be asianbentoky.com, but it's not working yet.

[Robin Garr]

Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes.

Mmm! I like all three. Thanks for the scouting report, Rich!

This will be my first bad review of anyplace. Have eaten in places I did not like but never wanted to write about them. I preferred to let others make up their own mind. Perhaps they have their own dining criteria.

I tried this place yesterday. About 4 pm (yeah I know, weird time but the place was empty.) I had the beef pad Thai . The beef was, once again, that strange extruded gelatinous textured stuff. I ordered beef and I wonder if it was something like "beef stomach lining" . The texture was gelatinous like sea slug. So I pushed all the "meat " to the side and just ate the noodles. There was, honest to goodness, no flavor at all. No usual beef flavor that usually comes from sautéing something with meat . The noodles were just plain dull. The salad was just chopped lettuce with the often used ginger dressing. The egg roll that came with it was supposed to be pork but had more of that fake, pink meat. It's like it's made of that almost clear connective tissue found in animal joints.
I often justify eating some subpar meals by remembering that it was , after all, cheap but that didn't even help this time. I see no reason to return.

[Robin Garr]

I often justify eating some subpar meals by remembering that it was , after all, cheap but that didn't even help this time. I see no reason to return.

Thanks for taking one for the team, Carla. Ick!

My mom and I ate there recently. I don't think we will be back. The food was mediocre. For a place that is supposed to be healthier, it actually tasted saltier than most places (especially the seaweed salad).

We actually were anticipating a place that had "bento boxes"- wooden serving trays that have a variety of sushi, rolls, teriyaki, and Asian trimmings. My family was introduced to them when visiting with relatives in South Jersey. We were treated to Miyabi Restaurant in Mount Laurel.

clockwise from top left): pineapple, crab dumpling, rice, California roll, wasabi, pickled ginger, a fish and rice square, veggies, chicken skewer, and eel teriyaki

Too bad this is not what came to Louisville!!!

My mom and I ate there recently. I don't think we will be back. The food was mediocre. For a place that is supposed to be healthier, it actually tasted saltier than most places (especially the seaweed salad).

We actually were anticipating a place that had "bento boxes"- wooden serving trays that have a variety of sushi, rolls, teriyaki, and Asian trimmings. My family was introduced to them when visiting with relatives in South Jersey. We were treated to Miyabi Restaurant in Mount Laurel.

clockwise from top left): pineapple, crab dumpling, rice, California roll, wasabi, pickled ginger, a fish and rice square, veggies, chicken skewer, and eel teriyaki

Too bad this is not what came to Louisville!!!

Marie - for a GREAT Bento Box go to Hiko-a-Mon in Westport Village. We love them for sushi, for cooked fish, and for their noodle soups, but I think their Bento Boxes are the best in town. They come in two layers, and are more than enough for dinner, much less lunch! There are many more places that serve them - don't give up on us! - but we like Hiko best.

[Robin Garr]

They come in two layers

Is that the one that looks like my grandfather's old fishing-tackle box? If I'm recalling it correctly, it is indeed quite a deal.

They come in two layers

Is that the one that looks like my grandfather's old fishing-tackle box? If I'm recalling it correctly, it is indeed quite a deal.

If your grandfather's fishing-tackle box was made out of highly polished lacquer, then yes! Seriously, I hadn't thought of it but that is the size, and it lifts out into two full "boxes".

Marie - for a GREAT Bento Box go to Hiko-a-Mon in Westport Village. We love them for sushi, for cooked fish, and for their noodle soups, but I think their Bento Boxes are the best in town. They come in two layers, and are more than enough for dinner, much less lunch! There are many more places that serve them - don't give up on us! - but we like Hiko best.

Thanks!!! Will try!!!