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Indian Bento
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Indian Caterers, Indian [Edit]
525 Howard St(between 1st St & James Lick Fwy)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighbourhood: SOMA
(415) 200-7625
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 3 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
Brski B. said: "Well, I liked it - it was as tasty and fulfilling as I wanted it to be. The joint spices heartily - in the best way. Some might argue for more delicacy, but for me, I like to eat something that makes me take notice, remember, and crave…" read more »
17 reviews for Indian Bento
Review Highlights
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"Pashmina is such a sweetheart." In 8 reviews -
"Organic Vegetable Tikka Masala." In 5 reviews
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"And make sure you get those roti rolls." In 5 reviews
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17 reviews in English
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Review from Robert K.
San Francisco, CA
3/2/2012
I first and foremost want to thank Pashmina for being the most prompt and prepared caterer i have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. From the very beginning she was a catering superstar, always available, incredibly flexible, even with last minute requests, and simply a lovely person.
I hired Pashmina to cater a lunch for our company full of self proclaimed food critiques and people were very impressed from the very beginning. The food was all incredibly fresh, not incredibly spicy, and very delicious. The butter chicken specifically, won everybody over.
If you need a caterer that wont give you headaches, give Indian Bento a try! you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Nancy O.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2012
I'd read the reviews on Yelp and was intrigued, so I contacted Pashmina and was able to pick up a bento box for lunch. She was very sweet and helpful, and I absolutely appreciated her accomodating me last minute. I thought if I liked what she gave me this could be a new option for office lunches and catering...Now on to the food!
In addition to the bento box, I got one potato samosa, and that was the BEST thing I had...delicious!
When I spoke to her she promised chicken tikka masala, so I was disappointed to see she had given me butter chicken instead. The chicken was very tender, but the taste was just okay. This came with rice (standard) and 1/2 of her famous chicken kati (roti) roll. I was super excited to try the roll, but was severely disappointed. It tasted exactly like the cheap green Mexican burritos I've tried in the past, and let me tell you that was not good.
I also got a green salad (surprisingly good!) and she threw in a little ball of dessert for free (this last I didn't eat, as it was just a bit odd for me).
Like I said, she couldn't have been nicer. And although it pains me to give the place only two stars, the food spoke for itself. Although I liked the appetizer and salad, the main part of the meal left me sad. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
4/26/2011 1 photo
Pashmina is such a sweetheart! Sometimes you can see the spark in a business owner's eye who puts her heart and soul into their business and genuinely wants to put out something that's solid.
I hesitantly emailed her (and I say "hesitantly" because who knows where emails go sometime?) and she responded to me pretty promptly. Apparently she already had two lunches to deliver on the same day but could accommodate me at either 11am or 1pm. I decided to go for it because Indian bentos just sound delicious.
Even though you can't process your payment transaction through the website, you can submit the order of exactly what you want. Among many choices, I chose four different wraps with four different sides.
For me, I ended up tasting the Bento #230:
Organic Chicken Kati Wrap in Roti-Paratha
Organic Vegetable Tikka Masala
The packaging is comprised of sturdy plastic boxes with compostable utensils. Plus. When I opened it up, the wrap was so tiny! It was like a mini breakfast burrito from McDonald's. But little do you know, it was packed with meat and after you finish the sides, you will be stuffed. In particular, my wrap dipped in the yogurt sauce and my side of masala had a nice sweetness to it. Good flavors all around.
I enjoyed it! Pashmina recommended that for parties of over 10, it's better to just order the food family style so there are more options. I like the ease of the bento boxes because they're easy to eat out of it and you know how people get with sharing. I'll definitely order from them again. -
Review from Vicky T.
9/14/2011
Had a craving for Indian food today.... And like always.. I went on yelp to see what's near my work. I wasnt exactly sure how her business worked because it said phone or email your orders, so I called at noon and asked if she had a store front. She said she only does catering BUT she did a huge order that day and had extra food that can be box up for me. She apologized that she only had Chicken Tikka Masala and her famous Roti rolls available. Bless her heart because that was exactly what I wanted. She said to give her 20 minutes since she was walking back from a delivery and would quickly box up 2 orders for me. I walked to her kitchen and she had everything ready... She is the sweetest person EVER!!! I walked across the street, plopped myself down and went at it. It was sooo delish!!!! Its the healthier version of Tikka Masala (which I didnt think I would like as much compared to the richer original version.. but boy was I surprised.. YUMMO).
I will definitely support her business and have her cater my weekly lunch meetings. So excited to have found this gem.
Thanks Pashmina! -
Review from Connie C.
San Jose, CA
9/30/2010
Their motto is "From Slumdog to SF, serving organic Indian food with a street smart twist" - and it is truly fantastic. Don't get confused by their name - it's not Indian/Japanese fusion food. It's simply delicious and healthy Indian food served in bento boxes.
Pashmina, the creator of Indian Bento, is not only an amazing chef, but such a lovely lady. Her story inspires me to one day go from mediocre cook to the next Giada, and maybe be lucky enough to have a husband like hers who encourages and supports my passion (and even designs and builds my website!).
We tried an array of chicken and veggie dishes, which were all wonderful. The true stand out item though is her chicken roti roll. I could eat them all day long!
She caters to groups of 5-200 throughout the city and Silicon Valley (she's located in SOMA), and personally makes and delivers the food. I would love to have her cater every meeting/conference I'm in. Best part is that the food doesn't feel heavy or make you go into a food coma, like a lot of Indian food can do.
Call her up or place an order online for her yummy food. And make sure you get those roti rolls. I'm dreaming of them right now! -
Review from ruggy j.
9/27/2010
I'm pretty sure that Pashmina from Indian Bento just changed my life.
You see, I've been trying to take the savvy advice of Michael Pollan to heart by only eating "real foods" as of late. One of my favorite quotes in his book The Omnivore's Dilemma is, "You shouldn't be fueling your body at the same place you fuel your car." In a crafty, sticky way, he's essentially advising against eating crappy junk food that you'd find on the shelves of just about any gas station or convenience store you'll find from here to Topeka, Kansas. It's clearly great advice since it's a no-brainer that you should be avoiding Cheez-Its and Pringles when you could be eating fresh fruits and veggies. Well, I feel like after noshing on the amazing, yet healthy eats from Indian Bento, I'm going to take on a similar approach to actual meals as well!
How many times can you count being at an Indian food restaurant and mowing down your saag or chicken tikka masala, only to be put immediately into a food coma about 20 minutes later. You get a little sleepy, your vision begins to blur, you feel a shooting pain down your left arm, and a whole host of other maladies associated with eating pure crap from the kitchen of these hole-in-the-wall Indian/Pakistani spots. And by "crap," I mean the additives that make the dishes taste the way they do. Because by all means, I love the taste of that "crap" in the food (Shalimar is one of my favorite places in all of San Francisco), but I know I'm living on the edge by putting items in my body that really have no business being there. Well, with the operation at Indian Bento, that's a concern that needs not cross your conscious anytime during or after your meal.
What Pashmina brings to the table is a perfect balance of authentic Indian fare (she grew up in Bombay), paired with a sort of California Cuisine that uses only fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients. Her eggs, meat and veggies are all organic, she uses none of the sleepy additives that 99% of the other guys use, and her commitment to taste is unmatched. Don't believe me? Just pop in one of her soon-to-be world famous kati rolls and let your taste buds do the talking. They're absolutely phenomenal, and healthy to boot!
Her husband makes myself and just about every other man on the planet look like a complete wanker. She was in the airline industry for years, and one day, her well-to-do (I'm guessing) boo encouraged her to ditch the 9-5 gig for a new career doing what she loves; making healthy Slumdog grub for the masses. She's been selling her creations for a little over 2 years, and her hard work and perseverance seems to be paying off big time with blog coverage, meetings at huge juggernaut grocery outlets looking to sell her goods, and catering assignments at just about every big name tech company in the Bay Area you can think of. It's really a cool story, and the success couldn't happening to a sweeter young lady. She's just a peach, and if her amazing culinary delights don't hook you in, her bubbly, vivacious personality will.
She runs shop in the SOMA area, and because of the lack of a brick and mortar storefront, she'll deliver her stuff right to your work or place of residence. Check out the website for a list of everything she offers, and prepare to have your mind blown! I really don't think I'll find myself eating the grease bomb type Indian food ever again, and it's all because of the spiritual awakening given to me by Pashmina and Indian Bento. -
Review from Monica S.
9/22/2010
You know those moments when you love something so much you just have to race to your computer to Yelp about it? That's what happened this afternoon after noshing on Pashmina's Indian Bento. A little bit about this mom 'n 'pop operation.
Pashmina used to be a flight attendant working hard for the jet-setting first class tycoons. It's not surprising either -- her meticulous presentation and affable smile and candor points to a history in the people service industry. Where words fail, it's important to note, she's just so sweet. After moving here from Hong Kong (where she was based in her high-flying days) her husband encouraged her cooking, often complimenting her on how delicious her food was. And long story short, her unexplored talent became her career and now she's catering to lots of familiar tech companies in SF.
Pashmina isn't just a nice and happy story, she's the real deal. Where most other Indian food fails in the "light" department, Indian Bento focuses on a healthy alternative to Slumdog food (that's street food). Her cooking is so tasty, even a major, organic grocery store has taken notice.
What sets her apart from the rest? Just ask her for the chicken roti wraps. You'll wish you could eat them everyday for the rest of your life.
Indian Bento's still a modest operation so Pashmina's driven to cater for parties as small as 5, as large as 200. Best way to go would be to have her pick out whatever she recommends. Your belly will be so happy.
Oh and for any phone-afraid people out there, you can order through her website and she'll personally deliver your food!Listed in: San Francisco Lunch, San Francisco Secrets, Healthy Food in SF, SOMA Lunch
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Review from Jules B.
Redwood City, CA
1/5/2011
Sooooo good! The flavors are very delicious and very unique. Pashmina the owner is also so very nice and accommodating. I've ordered catering from Indian Bento for my work and it has been absolutely fabulous. I've had such bad experiences with late deliveries and shoddy customer service from other Indian caterers and I am THRILLED I found Indian Bento! The roti wraps are DELISH!!! One roti wrap is very filling, but because they are so incredibly good (both the chicken and the veggie) you want another and another. The Chana Masala, vindaloo and everything else - also very very good!
Order from them and you will be hooked! -
Review from David N.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2011
Catered the Yelp Holiday Party at the Payne Mansion. The samosa's and all other foods were incredible. i wish I could remember more about the food to describe, :).
Highly recommended. -
Review from Alison M.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2010
This is such a fabulous alternative to the typical catered sandwich buffet!
I've had the vindaloo, tikka masala, palak paneer, and a couple other things - all are great (and all spicy!). The naan was wonderful and chewy, just how I like it. And most surprising was the bhelpuri - a puffed rice salad in the 'street food' section of the menu. It's a little bit similar to the tea salad at Burma Superstar, and it's really good! (also spicy!) -
Review from Scott W.
Corvallis, OR
6/24/2011
We tried to go and didn't realize the address on yelp is a catering kitchen. Don't go thinking it is a lunch place :).
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Review from Aria Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2011
I needed to order a portable but delicious and nutricious meal for an internal meeting for 10 people at work. They were tired of the usual sandwich and salad combo and the traditonal bento boxes. In my research I came across Indian Bento. I thought the website was innovative and easy to navigate. I first selected many options, but when I spoke with Pashmina over the phone, she said on such short notice (only 24hours) I could only order two styles of bento. I orderd one veggie and one meat option. They were a huge hit! Not only did people say they were delicious they were impressed by the design of the box and healthiness of the meal. Pashmina's customer care and service is rare and appreciated.
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Review from Rachel W.
Oakland, CA
4/11/2011
I had the pleasure of enjoying this delectable delights of Indian Bento at a Yelp event. When I say that this is the best food I have ever had and would eat it every day of my life for the rest of my life. I mean it. I heard that the owner was going to be selling some of the deliciousness in Whole Foods, so I stalked all of the SF Whole Foods for months...keep in mind I live in Oakland! In the end, the owner decided that business was too busy right now so no Whole Foods...waaaaagh! I can't wait until I have the pleasure of enjoying this tasty food again!
Comment from Pashmina C. of Indian Bento 4/12/2011
We're at Whole Foods now in the SOMA and Potrero stores, and… More » -
Review from Ashley W.
Mountain View, CA
Updated - 4/21/2011
Just got my hands on the garlic naan. What a great treat!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/17/2011
The chicken wraps are outstanding and the naan is incredible with their dishes. My entire office… Read more »
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Review from Jan W.
San Jose, CA
4/1/2010
Just tried my first Indian Bento. Today's choice was chicken vindaloo with channa masala. Wow! Really fresh, and great tasting. If you work around the Bridgepointe/Mariners Island area, I recommend you visit the Wall Street Cafe on Thursdays to check it out. Some Thursdays they sell out early, so you may want to try pre-ordering online. I know I will.
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Review from J W.
Oakland, CA
7/8/2011
Thanks, Yelpers. We made a last minute, day-ahead order from Pashmina based on your reviews, and luckily she was able to accommodate my nine hungry guests. Everyone LOVED the food, and she was so kind and thoughtful communicating with us. And the portions were HUGE, so my husband got eat leftovers for dinner, which he loved, too. So much better than our usual sandwiches, and really comparable in price given the delivery and extra fixings and appetizers. A new favorite for the Embarcadeo area.
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Review from N R.
San Mateo, CA
8/24/2010
The Indian Bento boxes are a real treat and just incredibly delicious - but you really have to try it yourself to experience what makes it special. The ingredients are organic and the flavors hit just the right note and the combinations and sides are all just so delicous! One of my favorite boxes is the chicken tikka masala, which is served with perfectly cooked fluffy basmati rice, a crispy samosa stuffed with seasoned potatoes with a little tub of raita, a little tart and a little sweet. And, If you happen to be lucky enough to experience Pashmina's masala chai, OMG! That is the best masala chai I have ever tasted, creamy, fragrant with soft spices like cardamom and clove...
