Oishii Bento gives Japanese food a kick
By: Brittany Mayton
Across the street from Peter’s Pub sits a bright orange building, which some time ago housed the cutest little juice bar in Oakland, the Juice Stop. Unfortunately, that juice bar closed at the end of the summer of 2002, and the bright orange building was left empty — until a few weeks ago, that is.
The Juice Stop’s former residence now houses Oishii Bento, or the Yummy Lunchbox. In Japanese, “oishii” is an adjective meaning tasty or yummy. “Bento” refers to lunches served in lovely, small, black-lacquered boxes, which are, appropriately enough, the house specialty. This newcomer to the Oakland restaurant scene serves up a wide variety of Japanese dishes, and the orange banner displaying their name in teal is welcoming enough to tempt even the shyest passersby into the cheerful entrance.
Once inside, a hungry visitor can peruse the menu while people-watching from the front window’s counter or find a seat at one of the tables cozily arranged in the small dining room.
The menu itself is an impressive offering of sushi, rice bowls, side dishes and bento. Bento is served in a disposable partitioned container, each division containing a different taste of Japanese cuisine. It’s served with your choice of kimchi — Korean-style pickled cabbage — or salad. The main dishes include pork, beef and chicken, as well as salmon and vegetable teriyaki options. A cup of Miso soup, consisting of soy-based broth with chives and tofu, is the perfect accompaniment to the diverse tastes offered in Bento.
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When it comes to sushi, Oishii’s offerings come “roll” style — appetizing combinations of seafood, seaweed and vegetables rolled inside rice with a traditional tatami mat. The Ocean Roll includes eel, shrimp, tuna and salmon for those patrons whose palate can appreciate the combination of flavors. And the Vegetable Roll and California Roll — featuring cucumber, avocado and carrot or cucumber, and avocado and crab, respectively — present good options for anyone trying sushi for the first time.
Whatever your choice, it is prepared fresh before you at the counter. There are also Party Sushi Sets that offer a variety of options in types and amounts of sushi for any gathering.
Along with bento and sushi, Oishii also serves up rice bowls, savory dishes served over steaming rice. The Unagi Bowl features barbecued eel, and for the more traditional there is beef and chicken teriyaki. Each dish is served by the friendly and accommodating staff, who are happy to explain any item on the menu.
Oishii Bento presents a cheerful exterior that can only be matched by its interior. The food is reasonably priced, (the most expensive menu item ringing in at $7.50) and the dishes are an appetizing break from the pizza and burgers offered on campus. Furthermore, no place in Oakland could offer a better guarantee to brighten your day.
So stop by and try something new or enjoy familiar tastes at the Yummy Lunchbox.