Ever since Tokyo Lobby in the SGV area has closed there has been a void in my life for a good bento box joint. Not to kid myself, but even before it closed it was going downhill. However, it will always be one of my favorite childhood places to celebrate birthdays and other random holidays. I wouldn’t say Shizuoka out in La Mesa matches Tokyo Lobby for its decor or nostalgia but it is run by some very nice people and they do a great job with keeping the cost down while providing great value.
As you can see you can get a large bento box for a little under $8 which is fine by me. Fast food these days can get close to $10 so it’s nice to see a regular sit down restaurant be able to offer this type of food for very little money.
The boxes came with miso soup, cold noodles, a salad, and edamame. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and mixed tempura. The portion size was just right for the money. Tokyo Lobby back in the day used to give you quite a bit more but it also cost a little bit extra. I enjoyed this combo because the chicken wasn’t overly salty or sweet and the tempura was very clean and not greasy. Point being, I didn’t feel guilty finishing it.
Anh chose the california roll and broiled mackerel which she also liked. The mackerel wasn’t very fishy and came out nice and moist. We always seem to forget about Shizouka but we hope to get out there more when we are craving a good bento box.
Shizuoka
9118 Fletcher Parkway
La Mesa, CA 91944
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