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1510 SE Como Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55414

612-331-1432 

http://www.obento-ya.com  

1510 SE Como Ave. Minneapolis MN 55414

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  • Japanese, Sushi
    $$ $$
  • All Major Credit Cards
    Dinner, Lunch
  • Beer/Wine
    Free, Street
Description

If Ikea sold kits for neighborhood Japanese restaurants, Obento-Ya could be its floor model. The room's design is as boxy as a vintage Volvo, its modern, minimalist look reinforced by the long, straight lines of the bamboo laminate booths, the sushi counter, and the dangling teardrop lights. Tabletops are set with smooth black stones that double as chopstick rests, and with tiny soy-sauce pitchers in bright shades of orange and lime. While the sushi is good, skewered meats and veggies--the grilled robata and their panko-breaded cousins, kushi-katsu--are the stars, especially the chicken yakatori and the bacon-wrapped quail egg. Be sure to order them as a bento (Obento Ya means "bento shop"), as the little boxed meals include not-to-be-missed miso soup, sticky rice, tossed greens, and a scoop of creamy Japanese potato salad that's flecked with crunchy bits of cucumber and apple.








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  • citypagesbestof
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    | Minneapolis, MN | 145 Reviews

    For many Americans, sushi is the alpha and omega of Japanese cuisine, give or take a bowl of edamame and an order of tempura shrimp. You can get those things at Obento-ya, and they'll be served up with grace, skill, and gusto. But the beauty of this newly opened Japanese bistro near Dinkytown is that its menu is far broader than visitors might expect. Its offerings of robata—delicate skewers of meat or vegetarian fare prepared over an indoor charcoal grill—are light, cheap, novel, palate-expanding, and absolutely delightful. Negima skewers (chicken breast and scallions with a yakitori sauce, $2.25) are as tender as the dickens and rich with a sweet and salty flavor. Tsukune (meat balls, $3) and quail egg and bacon skewers ($3.75) are both pleasingly fresh approaches to the small-plate concept. The modularity and variety of items on Obento-ya's menu allows a veritable symphony of experiences to please any taste, from a friend in town from Manhattan to your mother-in-law from Bismarck. Obento-ya isn't the priciest or fanciest Japanese place in the Cities. But it's got a crazy amount of moxie and creativity, and that goes a long way.

  • 2008 | BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT

    For many Americans, sushi is the alpha and omega of Japanese cuisine, give or take a bowl of edamame and an order of tempura shrimp. You can get those things at Obento-ya, and they'll be served up with grace, skill, and gusto. But the beauty of this newly opened Japanese bistro near Dinkytown is that its menu is far broader than visitors might expect. Its offerings of robata--delicate skewers of meat or vegetarian fare prepared over an indoor charcoal grill--are light, cheap,... More »

Main Menu
Salads
Original Mix Of Japanese Salads
$8.00
Tofu
with spring greens & sesame dressing, daikon, nori, & tomato
$10.00
Octopus
with spring greens & sesame dressing, daikon, & nori
$15.00
Kaisen Sashimi
yellowtail, tuna, salmon, & mackerel with spring greens & sesame dressing, daikon, nori, avocado
$8.00
Seaweed
with spring greens & sesame dressing, daikon, & nori
$3.75
Spring Green
with house dressing
Udon
A Traditional Noodle Soup
$11.00
Tempura Udon
shrimp & vegetable
$11.00
Niku Udon
with beef & tempura flakes
$8.50
Kake Udon
sliced fish-cake & scallions
Soba
A Traditional Buckwheat Noodle Soup
$11.00
Tempura Soba
shrimp & vegetable
$11.00
Niku Soba
with beef & tempura flakes
$8.50
Kake Soba
sliced fish-cake & scallions
$8.50
Zaru Soba
served cold with dashi dipping sauce
Ramen
a traditional egg noodle soup
$12.00
House Ramen
with ginger pork
$13.00
Hiyashi Chuka Ramen Salad
sliced asparagus, sweet bell pepper, cucumber, & egg custard atop cold noodles with shrimp, spring greens, tomato, wakame & served with sesame-ginegar dressing & japanese mayo
Izakaya / Small Plate - Cold Plate
served for dinner only
$4.00
Japanese Creamy Potato Salad
$5.25
Edamame
soybeans with sea salt
$4.50
Hiyayakko
cold tofu with shredded ginger, scallions, & dried bonito flakes
$9.50
Tuna & Avocado Wasabi
cubed tuna sashimi & avocado with ponzu wasabi sauce
$12.00
Salmon Tartare
with wonton cracker salmon with spicy creamy japanese mayo & scallions tartare
$14.00
Tuna Flat
sashimi tuna on crispy grilled flour tortilla with miso sauce, onions, jalapeno pepper & shiso
$9.50
Maguro Natto
cubed tuna sashimi served with fermented soybeans
Izakaya / Small Plate - Hot Plate
served for dinner only
$4.00
Kinpira-gobou
spicy burdock root saute
$3.00
Yaki-onigiri
grilled rice ball with miso sauce
$5.00
Miso-nasu
lightly fried japanese eggplant served with miso-vinegar sauce
$6.00
Petite Katsu (5 Skewers)
vegetables lightly fried with japanese breadcrumb
$5.50
Agedashi Tofu
ight tofu fry with dashi sauce
$5.00
Tem-musu
shrimp tempura with unagi sauce & ikura on rice ball
$6.00
Gyoza
dumpling filled with pork, shiitake mushroom, & vegetables
$6.00
Shrimp Shumai
dumpling with shrimp
$5.75
Takoyaki
octopus pancake ball
$8.00
Okonomiyaki
bacon & asparagus. pan-fried batter cake with ginger, cabbage, scallions, bacon & asparagus
$8.00
Yakiniku Lettuce Wrap
sauteed beef with yakiniku miso-garlic sauce & lettuce
$9.00
Buta-kimchi
ginger pork fused with spicy korean kimchi & egg
$9.50
Mori Tempura
chef's choice of 5 vegetables & two shrimp
Sharing Plate
$16.00
Robata Plate
grilled skewers of chicken: negima, momo, tsukune, & asparagus & bacon, octopus, vegetable
$16.00
Kushi-katsu Plate
katsu skewers of: 2 pork, asparagus & bacon, zucchini, shiitake mushroom, japanese eggplant
$20.00
Sushi Plate
7 pieces of chef's choice nigiri & kappa roll
Sushi - Nigiri
palm sized sushi with seafood atop (2 pieces)
$4.00
Tamago / Egg
$5.00
Tako / Octopus
$5.00
Ebi / Shrimp
$6.00
Unagi / Eel
$4.75
Masago / Capelin Roe
$5.00
Tobiko / Flying Fish Roe
$5.25
Wasabi Tobiko
$5.50
Ikura / Salmon Roe
$5.00
Ika / Squid
$4.50
Saba / Mackerel
$5.00
Maguro / Tuna
$5.00
Sake / Salmon
$5.00
Kani / Crab
$5.00
Bincho / Albacore
$5.50
Hamachi / Yellowtail
 
Amaebi / Sweet Shrimp
Sushi - Rolls
specialty artisan sushi rolls
$4.75
Kappa
cucumber (or replace with avocado)
$4.75
Shibazuke
shiso flavored pickled cucumber
$7.50
Vegan
avocado, shiitake, age tofu, sweet bell pepper, yama-gobo, cucumber, & lettuce
$5.50
Tekka
tuna (or replace with salmon)
$8.50
Spicy Tuna
tuna, yama-gobo, cucumber, lettuce, & spicy mayo
$8.00
Spicy Salmon
salmon, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, & spicy mayo
$8.50
Spicy Trio
tuna, salmon, yellowtail, cucumber, lettuce, & spicy mayo
$7.50
California
crab, avocado, cucumber, & capelin roe
$16.75
Rainbow
crab, avocado, cucumber - with wasabi tobiko & chef's choice of fish layered outside
$13.00
Flying Caterpillar
eel, egg omelet with avocado & tobiko layered outside
$7.75
Robata
yakitori chicken & sauce, yama-gobo, shiso, & lettuce
$7.75
Bistro
shrimp, shiitake, egg omelet, kanpyo, yama-gobo, & cucumber
$14.00
Spider
soft-shell crab katsu, yama-gobo, & lettuce
$8.75
Ebiten Big Ten
tempura shrimp, yama-gobo, cucumber, lettuce, & eel sauce
$16.00
Summer
tempura shrimp & gari, yellowtail marinated in spicy ponzu with julienne daikon & carrot atop
$15.75
Winter
tempura shrimp, salmon, eel & sauce, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, spicy mayo, & tobiko & tempura flake
$17.00
Double Spicy
tuna, cucumber, asparagus, avocado, & spicy creamy sauce with spicy tuna tartare layered outside
$16.75
Yellow Submarine
lightly fried tempura roll with salmon, asparagus, carrot, sweet bell pepper, shiso. served with spicy creamy eel sauce & tentsuyu
Robata - Fish
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire. served with our miso-vinegar sauce
$7.00
Sake
salmon with miso sauce
$6.00
Saba
mackerel with miso sauce
Robata - Seafood
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire. served with ponzu or our miso-vinegar sauce
$8.00
Hotate / Scallop
$6.00
Ika / Squid
$7.50
Tako / Octopus
Robata - Chicken
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire. choose sea salt or an original seasoned yakitori sauce (2 skewers)
$5.00
Negima / Breast & Scallion
$5.00
Momo / Thigh
$5.00
Mune / Breast With Ume Shiso Or Wasabi
$7.00
Tsukune / Meat Ball
Robata - Beef
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire. served with an original seasoned yakiniku miso-garlic sauce
$8.00
Steak Roll (2 Pieces)
$12.00
Filet Mignon Tataki Steak
Robata - Bacon Roll
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire
$7.50
Asparagus & Bacon
$7.50
Quail Egg & Bacon
Robata - Vegetables
grilled skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables on an open fire. steam grilled asparagus, eggplant, pumpkin, sweet bell pepper & shiitake with ginger sauce
$8.00
Add Lamb $7.00
Garden
Classic Bento
our signature lunch bento served with steamed white rice, spring greens with house dressing, japanese creamy potato salad, & served with miso soup
$10.00
Chicken Classic Bento - Yakitori
grilled. skewers naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned yakitori sauce
$10.00
Chicken Classic Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce
$10.00
Beef Classic Bento - Yakiniku
sauteed. tender slices naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned yakiniku miso-garlic sauce
$10.00
Pork Classic Bento - Shoga-yaki
sauteed. tender slices naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned shoga-ginger sauce
$10.00
Pork Classic Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce
$10.00
Shrimp Classic Bento - Tempura
fried. battered shrimp naturally seasoned & served with an original japanese tentsuyu sauce
$10.00
Shrimp Classic Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce
$11.50
Fish Classic Bento - Sake / Salmon
grilled. salmon fillet sea salt seasoned & served with an original japanese miso-vinegar sauce
$10.00
Fish Classic Bento - Saba / Mackerel
grilled. mackerel fillet sea salt seasoned & served with an original japanese miso-vinegar sauce
$10.00
Vegetable Classic Bento - Tempura
fried. battered vegetables naturally seasoned & served with an original japanese tentsuyu sauce
$10.00
Vegetable Classic Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce
House Bento
$17.00
Makunouchi
our popular house bento with an assortment of japanese cooking: grilled salmon on steamed white rice, yakiniku beef, fried panko shrimp, tempura pork shrimp shumai, seaweed salad, japanese creamy potato salad, spicy burdock root, japanese egg omelet, edamame, & served with miso soup
Sushi Bento
a premier sushi bento combination served with spring greens, japanese creamy potato salad, spicy burdock root saute, japanese egg omelet, & miso soup
$15.00
Sushi Classic
combines 4 pieces of chef's choice nigiri, & 6 pieces of classic california roll
$21.00
Sashimi Bento
combines 4 different fish of chef's choice sashimi, & served with steamed white rice
$23.00
Sushi Combo
combines 5 pieces of chef's choice nigiri, 6 pieces of spicy tuna roll, & 6 pieces of kappa roll
$30.00
Sushi Tempura Deluxe
combines 6 pieces of chef's choice nigiri, 6 pieces of spicy tuna or salmon roll, & 6 pieces of tempura
Combo Bento
a classic dinner bento combination served with steamed white rice, spring greens with house dressing, japanese creamy potato salad, spicy burdock root saute, japanese egg omelet, & served with miso soup
$14.00
Chicken Combo Bento - Yakitori
grilled. skewers naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned yakitori sauce. combo also includes vegetable skewers
$14.00
Chicken Combo Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce. combo also includes vegetable skewers
$14.00
Beef Combo Bento - Yakiniku
sauteed. tender slices naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned yakiniku miso-garlic sauce. combo also includes vegetable saute
$14.00
Pork Combo Bento - Shoga-yaki
sauteed. tender slices naturally marinated & served with an original seasoned shoga-ginger sauce. combo also includes vegetable saute
$14.00
Pork Combo Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried . breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce. combo also includes vegetable skewers
$14.00
Shrimp Combo Bento - Tempura
fried. battered shrimp naturally seasoned & served with an original japanese tentsuyu sauce. combo also includes tempura vegetables
$14.00
Shrimp Combo Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce. combo also includes vegetable skewers
$15.50
Fish Combo Bento - Sake / Salmon
grilled. salmon fillet sea salt seasoned & served with an original japanese miso-vinegar sauce. combo also includes seaweed salad
$14.00
Fish Combo Bento - Saba / Mackerel
grilled. mackerel fillet sea salt seasoned & served with an original japanese miso-vinegar sauce. combo also includes seaweed salad
$14.00
Vegetable Combo Bento - Tempura
fried. battered vegetables naturally seasoned & served with an original japanese tentsuyu sauce. combo also includes seaweed salad
$14.00
Vegetable Combo Bento - Kushi-katsu
fried. breadcrumb skewers naturally battered & served with an original seasoned katsu sauce. combo also includes seaweed salad
Featured Specials
$10.00
Monday Lunch - Ramen
with ginger pork
$10.75
Tuesday Lunch - Katsu Don
$9.75
Wednesday Lunch - Japanese Fried Chicken Bento
$10.00
Thursday Lunch - Curry Rice Or Udon
$12.00
Friday Lunch - Yakitori Don
$12.00
Saturday Lunch - Tempura Don
$15.00
Sunday Dinner - Sushi Bowl
Sides
$2.50
Steamed Rice
$2.75
Miso Soup
$4.00
Inari
$5.95
3 Onigiri
Beer - Asahi
21 Oz. $8.00
Asahi - Super Dry
14.5 Oz. $6.00
Asahi - Super Dry (draft)
12 Oz. $5.50
Asahi - Select
11.3 Oz. $6.50
Asahi - Black
Beer - Sapporo
16 Oz. $5.25
Sapporo (draft)
20.3 Oz. $7.50
Sapporo
Beer - Kirin
16 Oz. $5.25
Ichiban (draft)
22 Oz. $7.50
Ichiban
Beer - Hitachino
11.2 Oz. $7.50
White Ale
 
Seasonal Feature (draft)
11.2 Oz. $8.00
Ginger Brew
18.6 Oz. $12.50
Ancient Nipponia
10 Oz. $10.00
Ancient Nipponia (draft)
Beer - Morimoto
16 Oz. $7.50
Soba Ale (draft)
22 Oz. $10.00
Soba Ale
22 Oz. $10.00
Black Obi Soba Ale
Red Wine
Per Glass $8.50
Per Bottle $30.00
Angeline, California, 2010 (pinot Noir)
luscious vanilla, fresh strawberry, cherry, & raspberry with a smooth gentile oaking
Per Glass $12.00
Per Bottle $42.00
La Grange De Piaugier, Cotes Du Rhone, 2009 (rhone Red)
earthy with hints of mushroom followed by lingering ripe, dark berries, & soft tannins
White Wine
Per Glass $12.00
Per Bottle $43.00
Gunlach Bundshu, Sonoma Coast, 2009 (gewürztraminer)
crisp blood orange, pear, lychee, & kiwi fruit with a vibrant herbaceous finish
Per Glass $8.50
Per Bottle $30.00
Chateau L'ermitage, Costieres De Nimes, 2010 (rhone White)
rich peaches, pears, & litchis balanced with a ripe acidity
Per 187 Ml. Bottle $10.00
Carpene Malvolti, Docg (prosecco)
fresh green apple & grapefruit with a soft acidity & aromatic yeasty finish
Sake
Per 5 Oz. $10.00
Per 8 Oz. $15.00
Dewatsuru Kimoto, Akita (junmai)
robust body with mellow plum & melon & a higher acidity
Per 5 Oz. $10.00
Per 8 Oz. $15.00
Seikyo, Hiroshima (junmai)
gentile aroma, lightly sweet with a smooth, dry finish
Per 5 Oz. $11.00
Per 8 Oz. $16.00
Yuki No Bosha, Akita (junmai Ginjo)
light & soft with hints of peaches & strawberries
Per 5 Oz. $14.50
Per 8 Oz. $20.00
Masumi, Nagano (junmai)
rich creamy body with a hint of sweetness & subtle flavors of melon & banana
Per 300 Ml. Bottle $40.00
Watari Bune, Ibaraki (junmai Ginjo)
floral, fruity, & complex finishing with a bright, lively acidity
Per 5 Oz. $15.00
Per 8 Oz. $21.00
Yuki No Bosha Nigori, Akita, (junmai Ginjo)
light, breezy, & sweet, but still well balanced
Per 5 Oz. $17.00
Per 8 Oz. $24.00
Ichishima Silk Deluxe, Niigata (junmai)
sweet, easy to drink with flavors of ripe honeydew & cucumber
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