Obento

Tucked along the busy streets of Belfast, Obento Japanese Express offers a comforting taste of Japan that instantly reminded me of Tokyo Tokyo back home in the Philippines. The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by warm lighting, wooden tables, and the unmistakable sight of soy sauce bottles waiting to be poured, simple details that bring a wave of nostalgia. Their menu celebrates Japanese comfort food at its finest. From fresh sushi to steaming bowls of noodles, what stood out most for me was their variety of bento box meals. Each tray feels thoughtfully balanced — tender meats, crisp vegetables, fluffy rice, and sides that round out the experience. It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t just fill you up, but satisfies you in that soulful, homey way. The atmosphere is unpretentious yet inviting, the kind of place where you can slow down, savor each bite, and feel like you’ve found a little piece of Japan in the middle of Belfast. Whether you’re craving a quick lunch or a comforting dinner, Obento is worth a visit.

super ambience, the service felt rushed the moment I entered - I understand I was late to go but in the span of my dish being served the place lost 2 tables for the same reason ; that apart the food was delicious and worth the buck!

The food experience was quite good in all aspects. I had sashimi sushi, sashimi, gyoza and others. It was way better quality than I expected. The only bad aspect was a very bad humour of one attendee, which almost spoiled the experience. The other one was really kind :)

Very bad experience. Doesn't know how to talk. Asked for a sushi bento box and asked what sushi were there. The answer was chef's selection. So i asked to reconfirm what type of sushi. So he started asking if I know what sushi is? Later i again asked and clarified in detail. He became annoyed and said whatever chef decides, he'll put. Thats not an answer. If the chef felt like giving two sushi's is that alright Sure it could be a thing but the way of talking was very rude and thought of us a dumb idiots for asking a very genuine question.

Obento never disappoints! The gyoza that comes with the katsu chicken bento box is always so yummy and the portion is always so big I can’t ever finish it and it’s all reasonably priced. The sushi is also nice… I recommend the California roll.

Obento is a great place to have a quick lunch in the city centre. The food is pre prepared and served quite fast which is great if one is in a hurry. I visited Obento recently and ordered a Avocado Maki for a starter and chicken teriyaki udon noodles as a main. The Avocado Maki was well rolled, tasted fresh and had good seasoning. However, I would recommend as constructive feedback to change the seaweed roll as one can tell the quality of it did not match the rice or avocado. Nevertheless, the chicken teriyaki udon noodles that I ordered was delicious as well as being well seasoned and crispy. The portion size was quite good for value. The staff were also accommodating and friendly. I would definitely be back.

The meal arrived fast and tasted decent. Still, I was a bit dubious about the calibre of the cuisine. You ordered downstairs, and there wasn't much service to your table; I suppose that's simply the restaurant's manner. By the way… CASH Only.

I had a very disappointing experience at Obento. I went for dinner around 7 PM, knowing that the restaurant was listed as open until 8 PM on Google. However, from 7:15 PM onwards, the manager repeatedly reminded us that they were closing in 15 minutes. Every few minutes, he kept saying, “We are closing soon,” which made us feel extremely rushed and unwelcome. The constant pressure to finish our meal quickly ruined the dining experience. We had to eat hot food in a hurry, making it impossible to enjoy the flavors or have a relaxed meal. Instead of providing good customer service, the manager’s rude and impatient attitude made us feel as if we were an inconvenience. If the restaurant was planning to close early or had specific last-order policies, they should have communicated this clearly before seating us, rather than pressuring us throughout the meal. Overall, it was a very negative experience, and I would not recommend Obento if you’re looking for a pleasant and relaxed dining atmosphere.