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Bountiful boxes of flavor

A La Carte

November 10, 2019

Story By: Brandon Bosworth | Photos by: LAWRENCE TABUDLO

Mattake Mushroom ($16.75)

If you’re craving great taste as well as convenience, Obento Rinka offers high-quality traditional Japanese grab-and-go bento. Located on South Beretania Street, it offers enough bento options to satisfy a variety of tastes.

Want something meaty? The Roast Beef Bento ($13) combines tender, rare roast beef with rice, gobo, and vegetables, all topped with a poached egg and dashi dipping sauce.

Misoyaki Butterfish ($14.75) is a bento classic, and Obento Rinka’s version comes with succulent butterfish, nishime, two types of pickles, okura, tofu and rice. For an extra kick, shishito peppers accompany the butterfish.

Roast Beef Bento ($13)

Obento Rinka also offers a variety of ever-changing daily specials, such as pork cutlet with tomato-cheese sauce, fried oysters, garlic shrimp and fried eggplant with meat. A calendar near the cash register displays the specials for the month.

Speaking of specials, throughout November, customers can receive a 10 percent discount on order under $100 simply by posting a photo of one of Obento Rinka’s bento on Instagram and tagging it #obentorinka.

Misoyaki Butterfish ($14.75)

Be sure to show the staff the photo when ordering.

If you’re already planning ahead for the New Year, Obento Rinka is taking orders for Osechi, specially prepared meals traditionally eaten in Japan on New Year’s Day. They are available in a $500 set that feeds three to five people and a $300 set for one or two people. Various dishes are carefully crafted then lovingly arranged in an artful box. Osechi are only available with reservations and require a deposit equal to half the set’s price. Orders can be picked up Dec. 31 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Obento Rinka.

FALL ‘SHROOM IN BLOOM

Just for November, Obento Rinka is offering a Mattake Mushroom Bento ($16.75). Sometimes called “the king of mushrooms” in Japan, mattake mushrooms are known for their rich, earthy flavor. Obento Rinka complements the mushrooms with chestnuts, seasoned rice, nishime, pickles and tempura. This bento won’t be available much longer. “We’re only offering it in November,” says assistant manager Yasue Okumoto. “Mattake mushrooms are hard to get in December.”

Honolulu, HI 96814

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