LDNReview
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Bento Ramen
If someone told you that London was a slow, sedate place, you’d probably simultaneously laugh at them whilst rushing past to nab the last free seat on the tube. This is a city that thrives on speed-walkers, fast food, and being able to shower in under a minute so you can still make it to work on time despite your hour commute. Which is exactly why all Londoners need a list of casual and quick restaurants they can dive into, eat something, and be on their way. Restaurants exactly like Bento Ramen in Camden.
The most crucial information about this Japanese spot is that they claim they’ll feed you in under fifteen minutes. But on one of our meals here they didn’t feed us in fifteen minutes. They fed us in ten. This place is a quick-fire, go-go-go, regimented machine turning out huge bowls of ramen, sushi rolls, and big bento boxes full of salmon teriyaki don and California maki, all to the rhythm of Daniel Bedingfield’s Gotta Get Thru This. In fact, Bento Ramen’s speed to decent sushi ratio, and location, is hard to beat when you need a lunchtime drive-by where you’re back in the office in half an hour, or a pre-show catch-up in a lively space that looks like one big, living breathing advert for the Japanese tourist board. It’s affordable. It’s two minutes walk from Camden Town station. And no matter how busy it is, they’ll have you seated and ordering in no time.
Your order will probably be the most time-consuming part of your visit here, as there are over 130 things on the menu. Despite the name, this place stretches far beyond bento boxes and a tonkotsu ramen. There are Japanese classics like sashimi platters, a huge selection of sushi, donburis, and noodle dishes. They also serve a selection of dim sum. And though some things on the menu, like their spicy yaki soba, might miss the mark, stick to the sushi, ramen, and dim sum, and you’ll have a perfectly decent meal. Sure, this isn’t a restaurant that’s designed for long winded chats over their great golden tiger maki, but this is London - who has time for that anyway?
Food Rundown
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Char Siu Buns
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Mixed Dim Sum
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Golden Tiger Maki Platter
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Rainbow Maki
Traditional Tonkotsu Ramen
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli