In search of bento boxes

I have become slightly obsessed with these lunchtime meals. They’re fairly inexpensive and offer lots of food. And the best part is that I usually get two meals out of one.

RA Sushi has been my go-to place for the traditional Japanese boxes. I love the abundance of fresh sautéed veggies, slaw salad, steaming miso soup plus other good stuff.

But recently, I succumbed to the bento boxes at Roy’s in Harbor East and Umi Sake in Cockeysville. You can read more about my lunch at Roy’s in our October issue. But for now, just know that the spicy ahi tuna poke (a traditional Hawaiian dish) in the bento box is worth a return trip.

If you haven’t heard of Umi Sake, it’s a new Japanese fusion-sushi restaurant, located in the spot where York Garden used to be in Cockeysville. Lisa Lee is running the show there now. Locals may remember her from Johnny’s Sushi (now Yamato Sushi) in Timonium.

Lisa left Johnny’s when her daughter was born. Now, she’s back at work. By the looks of the crowd at Umi Sake, followers have found her.

I stopped by at lunchtime to check out the restaurant. The space is pretty. Lisa has changed the color scheme, ditching the pink for soothing beige. Asian artwork hangs on the walls. It’s very Zen.

So I was happy to also be transported with a bento box, featuring a magnificent slab of teriyaki salmon (there are other choices, too). Fried rice, vegetable spring rolls, salad, and miso soup completed the package. I went back another time for sushi and sake. I’ll tell you about that in our November issue.

In the meantime, where do you go for bento boxes?