This weekend I went to Albany CA and visited a Japanese Restaurant that I have had my eye on for some time now. This restaurant has the classics from Dunbori’s to Udon’s and Bento Boxes…..and of course Sushi and many more. Today I will be reviewing one of my favorite dishes, the ” Tonkatsu Bento Box”. I will be rating this restaurant on a scale from 1-10 which will be based on service, looks, and of course the taste of the food.

When you first walk in, it is very cosy, there’s plants, paintings and pictures of food. The waiter kindly allowed us to pick our own table since it was lunch time and it was not that packed, he then brought us the menu.

Once you order your food they bring you your drinks which is accompanied with a delicious green snack of edamame. 

It does not take long until they bring you your delicious miso soup that is included in the Bento Box. Miso soup includes : Seaweed, Tofu, some green scallions, white fermented-soybean paste, and Dashi. The Flavor is absolutely amazing when you get a spoonful of the soup with the seaweed, tofu and scallions.

The waiter eventually arrives carrying four Bento boxes for my family and I. The tonkatsu Bento box comes with a salad ( no dressing for me) but it is always included unless you say otherwise. It also comes with four California Rolls, which you can replace with tempura or any other side dish( it may or may not be more expensive), a side of rice and the tonkatsu. Tonkatsu is a breaded deep fried pork cutlet and it is covered in tonkatsu sauce. The sauce (Usutah So-su) can be compared to Worcestershire sauce. The sauce is thick and is not overpowering, therefore it does not take away the flavor from the pork.

Ratings include: Service, Looks and taste

Service: The service is amazing, they check up on you enough times that allows you to get a refill for your water or tea (etc).. I give it a 10!

Looks: the food looked really delicious, and the place is nice, it really gives you a feel of who they are as a business. Parking can be really hard to find since the street is very limited if you wish to park right in front of the restaurant but there are about two parking spots in the back which are useful sometimes. I give it a 8!

Taste of food: The food was delicious, since the beginning. Ever since the miso soup arrived it was flavorful and really set the tone for the whole experience. The bento box was really tasty and is a really filling dish for less than $10 during lunch! ( depending on which one you get)  I give it a 9!

It was a great experience, the total was about $54 for four Bento Boxes and drinks. I one hundred percent recommend this restaurant to everyone !

Sumo Japanese restaurant : 977 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706