Kiosku

This place is where I go if I want to treat myself to a nice lunch that won’t break the bank. Most people have a problem with the chirashi, but I usually get the baked beef curry and have gotten the guyaki bento box — both of which were amazing. I think this place’s beef curry is by far my favorite in the city. This place definitely has a home cooked feel to it but only a certain number of bento boxes are prepared each day so go a little early if you want a selection or the beef curry.
There’s also a rewards program. Eventually you’ll get a free bento box.

This review is only to what I picked up, KatsuSando. Authentically packaged but not showing what I would get was peculiar at first. But there was not so attractive and small photo attaching to its shelve. What I like about TonKatsu (Japanese pork cutlet) sandwich has been the «thick cut» of lean meat. Meat taste better cut think, that is obviously, if the quality of meat is solid. It is also one of my husband’s favorite Japanese foods, so I got one for him.
This sandwich was tightly sealed in a plastic wrap, and naturally I worried. The sandwich might had gotten soggy, and it was. But seeing the traditionally thick-​cut meat that were sandwiched between soft-​chewy Japanese white bread, relieved me. But after one bite, I noticed something I was not used to… but I kept eating. It was the sauce. Instead of thick sweet Tonkatsu sauce, it was a house special sauce, a mixture of Japanese BBQ sauce and miso. Miso created unique saltiness to the sauce. After I finished half of soggy sandwich, I was unstoppable and made me want to go back for more.
The location is tricky as most mentioned here. Think you are going into the high rise office building with doormen. The lobby is covered by white marble (?), like a gallery. The tiny store is located way back by the elevators on the grand floor. I chatted with only staff, Japanese, to get more info on this place. Their bentos are freshly made every day at the Japanese restaurant Sakagura in the basement of the building.

Tiny shop that’s adorable but overpriced. With a Mitsuwa 5 minutes from my house, I just can’t help but say that I don’t like their choices in diversifying their snack offerings and their meals are. for ants. $ 10 chirashi? How dare they, when Soba Totto has $ 10.50 bara chirashi w/​soba (which is the most BOMB meal you can ever get at that price) right next door?
I’m never going to have an emergency need for a Japanese snack. Coming from a home where there’s NO shortage of same, I’m not coming here unless I absolutely have to. When is that, you ask? Well, today, is Pocky/​Pepperro day (¹¹⁄₁₁) — Unilocaler Rich B. felt an incredible need to get a Pocky or 3, so we dropped by before going to Soba Totto. Given the size of their store, absolutely tinky winky, I wasn’t expecting much anyway. I don’t want a really cold onigiri either. but this little spot sure can be entertaining for many.

More of a 2.5 than a flat 2, but I round down, so a 2 is what Kiosku is left with. The location is a bit strange to get to, it’s inside of an office building or something? I had to ask the front desk where Kiosku was, and they easily directed me to it. Just keep walking straight essentially. It is TINY. The size of a street cart maybe? They don’t have a wide range of fresh items, just a couple bentos from what I saw. Café Zaiya/​Benton Café/​Sunrise Mart have WAY more options. Kiosku seems to focus more on dried snacks, Japanese candies, and sodas. It’s sort of a tiny Japanese deli I guess?
I grabbed an inari trio bento and a chirashi bowl, came out to $ 18.51. The credit card minimum is $ 10, and considering most of their items are under that price you might have to get a couple of things. I personally found the food a bit expensive. For the same price of what I got I could’ve had a much more filling meal in an actual restaurant.
Visually the dishes looked nice, especially the chirashi bowl, but taste-​wise they were pretty lacking. The inari bento came in a convenient box, but the inari themselves were hard, cold, and the fillings weren’t very delicious. One had mushy edamame that just tasted gross. The tamago that came with that bento were soggy and flavorless. As for the pickled side dishes, WAY too salty. I’d gotten this specific order for my boyfriend and he wound up passing on it halfway through and getting a cheesesteak instead. The only things he wound up liking from it were the chicken karaage. My chirashi bowl was edible, but the freshness of the fish was questionable. A few of the ikura (salmon eggs) were browning, the salmon had lots of sinew, and the ika (squid) was very slimy. The best proteins in the bowl were the shrimp and the unagi (eel). I did wind up eating the whole thing, but mostly because I was famished.
Definitely won’t be coming back here again. But maybe if your office is nearby and you want something quick and easy this may be a good choice? Although personally I’d go to Benton Café instead.

Don’t come here. It’s terrible. The food isn’t fresh and authentic and the prices aren’t reasonable.
Please don’t come here.
Please.

Kiosku («Kiosk») is the takeaway version of the excellent and hidden-​away Japanese sit-​down Sakagura downstairs. It offers a selection of 4 – 5 authentic dishes for weekday lunches (no, not sushi!).
One caveat, the selection is limited and once the offer sells out, that’s it for the day. It is best to arrive early (between 11:45−1) to get the best selection. I had the cold soba noodle salad today and it was excellent. The fried pork sandwich is also delicious. They also offer a selection of Japanese products including beverages and candy.
This place is not easy to find, however: There is no exterior sign so be sure you have the address. Enter through the lobby of the office building (like for Sakaguru) but instead of going down the service stairs, keep going down the lobby hallway past the elevators. Kiosku will be on your right, just before the service corridor.
It is reasonably priced and they do have a «stamp» card that will get you a free bento meal after spending a certain amount.
The staff is very friendly.