This is a seaweed rice ball shop located outside the Ginza exit of JR Shinbashi Station. It is the fourth store operated by Smiles Co., Ltd., opened on July 30, 2020. One of the features of this store is that it also offers traditional Japanese sweets such as skewered dumplings. I was aware of its existence since the opening, but it was not until I saw a sign on this day that read "Full Moon Special: 20% off Dumplings and Sweets" that I decided to visit. Upon entering, I noticed that unlike the Eki-Ekute stores at Tokyo Station and Shinagawa Station, this store has a kitchen on-site. The side dishes are prepared at the Tsukiji Central Kitchen and then finished into bento boxes at the store. The skewered dumplings available on this day included the classic flavors of seaweed, mitarashi, matcha, red bean paste, and black sesame paste, each priced at 270 yen, as well as a limited edition "corn dumpling" for 340 yen, totaling six varieties. I purchased seaweed, mitarashi, and corn dumplings at a 20% discount. These dumplings are made using a unique method of steaming and coarsely grinding the rice, resulting in a distinctive texture. The dough is not very smooth, but rather has a grainy texture from the remaining rice grains, providing a firm chewiness. It somewhat resembles kitafun rice cakes. Personally, I prefer the soft and smooth dough packed with rice flavor from Tsujibun Dumplings in Shinjuku, but these were also delicious. Among the three flavors, the corn and seaweed dumplings stood out with their savory soy sauce and grilled aroma. The mitarashi dumpling was slightly sweet in sauce and lacked a crispy exterior. The prices are a bit high, so it's recommended to buy them on a full moon day. I later found out that skewered dumplings are now available at other stores such as G-SIX, although I have not seen them myself, so I cannot confirm this.

I bought a bento box on a day when I didn't have time to dine out slowly. It was close to 1pm, so there was no one in the restaurant. There were several delicious looking seaweed bento boxes lined up, but I decided to treat myself with the most expensive one, the "Kaiso Bento Daigyō" for 1,600 yen. The salmon and chicken pieces were large and satisfying. There were also many side dishes, allowing me to enjoy various flavors. However, bento is still bento after all. It's better to dine out when you have time. It's not the fault of this restaurant though.

After seeing the Daihatsu Alegria with my wife in Odaiba, we decided to have dinner around 7pm on Sunday. There were only three options left, so we bought a seaweed-wrapped rice ball and a chicken and boiled egg bento. We heated them up at home, and the chicken and boiled egg were delicious. I thought it would be even better if there was a little more soy sauce on the seaweed. The bento, which cost over ¥1000, was a bit disappointing.

We use the first harvest of seaweed from Ariake Sea each year, known as "shinme," which is soft and melts in your mouth, yet can be easily cut with chopsticks. We use a rare type called "ao-maze," where seaweed naturally attaches, representing the top 1% of high-quality seaweed from Ariake Sea. Grown with the difference in tides, the seaweed gets sunlight exposure, resulting in a vibrant color and unique aroma. The menu includes grilled corn for 324 yen and the popular "Dai-ryou" seaweed bento for 1550 yen, featuring a large, fatty salmon piece and a long chikuwa tempura. The tamagoyaki has a deliberate burnt edge for a home-cooked feel, while the teriyaki chicken is marinated with salt koji for a tender, flavorful finish. Enjoy the nostalgic and comforting flavors of these dishes, aiming for the highest level of home-cooked cuisine.

Nori bento. The salmon was soft, and each side dish and rice had a rich flavor which was very satisfying. The portion size was not too big, but it was enough to satisfy even a hungry lunchtime appetite. The rice cakes bought together were hard and heavy, more like ohagi, so not suitable for dessert.

Visited around 4:00 PM on a Sunday. Opted to sit in the back of the restaurant where there are customer seats available. The in-house dining option includes your choice of bento box, a dessert, a large chawanmushi, and tea for an additional 550 yen on top of the bento box price. In my case, it came to 1,900 yen. Received an explanation at the register that there are only cushions for seating and no tables, making it difficult for tasks like working on a laptop due to no power outlets. Ordered the popular mountain climbing nori bento, which had a rich flavor and left me satisfied. Chose matcha dango for dessert, which was also delicious and quite filling. While the dining set was fulfilling, I felt that a slightly lower price and a seating environment with tables for working would have been better.

I purchased three types of bento boxes: the classic salmon bento with seaweed, the aged mackerel salt-grilled bento with seaweed, and the salmon and chicken bento (all with seaweed). They were all very delicious and came with generous portions of fish and meat, as well as tasty side dishes. The bentos were well worth the price.

I saw this shop here and there (*^。^*) I remember feeling disappointed when I tried to buy it at the Tsukiji store before, but it was sold out. This time, I purchased it at Shinbashi Station. When I entered the store, I found that there are several types of seaweed bento boxes, such as salt-grilled golden cutlassfish bento and teriyaki chicken bento. I was a bit surprised because I had thought it was only grilled salmon seaweed bento! I hesitated, but since the most popular one is the grilled salmon seaweed bento, I chose that one and also the cheese and bamboo ring tempura seaweed bento (which has cream cheese in it). The regular seaweed bento was 1080 yen, and the cheese version was 1296 yen. The large salmon with plenty of fat exceeded my expectations and was very delicious, so I was very satisfied! The prices are similar to department store basements or station bento boxes, but the taste is often not as good. Considering the price and taste, I think it's worth it.

During the weekend, the Shimbashi area was crowded with long lines at every restaurant, making it difficult to find a place to eat due to the ongoing pandemic. However, I stumbled upon this restaurant while walking around and decided to get a takeout bento box. I purchased the "Seaweed Bento Box" for 1,080 yen, which included grilled salmon, chikuwa tempura, homemade tamagoyaki, namul salad, yuzu daikon, and spicy cod roe with shirataki. The portion of rice was a bit small, but the seaweed was neatly stacked in two layers. The salmon was not too salty and had a refined taste, showing that the price was justified. Each side dish was well-seasoned, and overall, the meal was delicious. The salmon, in particular, was very tasty. In conclusion, it was a decent bento box, and I would recommend trying it out!

Visited on January 17, 2022. Before watching the early spring Kabuki performance, I went to Yamaya to have their fried chicken set meal, and I was surprised to find that there was a Nori Bento shop across the street! I bought one to have for dinner. It's true that the Nori Bento is a bit pricey, but everything, including the rice, is delicious! So tasty! Will definitely come back for more.

Why does the nori bento cost 1000 yen? The visual presentation is impressive, with the prominent presence of salmon and fried fish cake. Let's start with the salmon. The quality is superb. Then, enjoy the combination of nori and rice. The aroma of the nori comes through, blending well with the cool rice. The amount of rice is modest, allowing the salmon and fried fish cake to shine. The white radish and spicy cod roe salad brings out the heat of the cod roe while the slightly thicker white radish balances it out nicely. The fried fish cake with seaweed also spreads the aroma of seaweed. I have never thought that a bento's rolled omelette could be delicious, but this one is different. It has a refined sweetness and is very tasty. The spinach with sesame oil is a nice touch with its flavorful seasoning. Overall, this nori bento is very satisfying. The concept is clearly conveyed and it is sure to become popular.

I purchased the "Ocean" deluxe bento lunch (grilled salmon, fried chikuwa, rolled omelette, namul, yuzu daikon, and spicy cod roe with shirataki) for ¥1,080- and enjoyed it at the office. It was a luxurious bento with double layers of seaweed. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I found out about Cambria Palace after seeing it on TV and it looked delicious, so I decided to go. I remember them talking about additives on TV, but it was full of additives. Disappointing. Maybe I misunderstood? The portions are generous and will leave you feeling full.

I received a request for a souvenir meal and headed to a shop on the side of Shinbashi Station's rotary. I was able to buy the seaweed bento without much hassle. There were various options available, but I decided to play it safe and purchased the "Ocean" seaweed bento. They packed it in a bag for me and also gave me some disposable chopsticks. I presented it to the recipient, and although there wasn't anything particularly outstanding about it, they seemed pleased with the gift. However, there was some feedback that the Shirataki and cod roe dish was too spicy. Personally, I don't mind it, but it might not be to everyone's taste. Overall, I think it was a good choice.

I have tried all three types of seaweed bento at station stores and they were delicious, so I decided to stop by to purchase just the side dishes. I found that the side dishes had a good amount of volume, enough for two people. Since it was more expensive than the seaweed bento, I hesitated but ended up buying the regular "Seaweed Bento Yam" for ¥1,080. I also noticed they sold individual items like rice balls and milk agar desserts in cups. The Yam bento mainly consisted of grilled chicken thighs on a bed of rice with a thin layer of seaweed. Despite the compact packaging, it was filling. I thought it would be even better if they offered a lineup of side dishes for one person, making it easier to purchase casually.

Kantona, who had been curious about the bento for a while, decided to purchase it after learning about its dedication on a TV show. When he entered the shop next to Shinbashi Station, he was impressed by the sophisticated exterior that didn't look like a typical bento shop. Inside, he picked a salmon bento and carefully carried it home to enjoy. The bento was filled with various items, including salmon, fish cake, tamagoyaki, pickles, and other unknown items, all neatly arranged in a rectangular wooden box. The salmon was tender and subtly seasoned, enhancing its natural sweetness. However, Kantona found the salmon lacking as a rice accompaniment. The fish cake did not leave a strong impression, and the high-quality chikuwa seemed overly refined. The seaweed, rumored to be prestigious, had a sticky texture that did not impress Kantona. The rice was layered with seaweed, showcasing Japanese craftsmanship. Despite the fluctuating quality of the ingredients, Kantona particularly enjoyed the "shirataki and mentaiko" dish for its pleasant texture and flavor. Overall, the bento did not meet the high expectations set by the TV show, leaving Kantona feeling unsure about its value. Reflecting on his inflated expectations, he finished his meal with mixed feelings.

Sweet set for 660 yen. Choose two types of sweets, yuzu daikon, and cold green tea. There were no rice cakes. Instead, there were sweet rice cakes and milk agar jelly. The milk agar jelly comes in flavors like orange, strawberry, and roasted green tea. The sweet rice cakes were small and firm. The milk agar jelly was about 1.5 times the size of Seven-Eleven's and quite heavy. The strawberry confiture looked like it would go well with shaved ice syrup. If they had matcha instead of green tea, it might give a different impression. The eat-in space had a sauna-like atmosphere with no tables, making it difficult to eat.

"Seaweed bento box takeaway during the pandemic" As of July 3rd, in Tokyo, alcohol can only be served in restaurants until 7 pm. The restaurants are required to close by 8 pm. Due to the indecision and strict selection, trying to make a reservation for a takeaway meal around 6 pm is already too late as all the desired restaurants are unreachable. The online time information seems to be ineffective, and the previous day I ended up as a dinner refugee, having a room service meal from an Italian restaurant in front of the hotel. So, I decided to try going to Shinbashi this time. However, on Saturday evening, Shinbashi was crowded with people. The big restaurants were full, reminiscent of the hustle and bustle before the pandemic. Feeling fearful, I, a country person, hurried back to the hotel. On the way, I noticed a bento shop near Shinbashi station that a senior reviewer I respect had written about last week. I remembered the elegant shop name and appearance of this shop that used to be in Tsukiji, and I was curious. I bought the bento and some beer to take back to the hotel. The salmon seaweed bento had rice spread thinly by the artisan, preventing excessive carbohydrate intake for middle-aged men. On top of that, there was katsuobushi and seaweed. Is this shirataki mentaiko? The salmon had a strong flavor. Despite being a seaweed bento over 1000 yen, trusting it blindly, I ended up biting into a salmon bone. There was also a sweet tamagoyaki with only one piece of chikuwa tempura. The sweet seasoning of the tamagoyaki made me feel Tokyo, and personally, this was the best part of the bento. The bento only had two main stars - teriyaki chicken and shiso leaf working well together, maybe it was the lotus root shinjo. This lotus root was delicious, and I ended up eating all the chicken, making it the sole protagonist. Lastly, there was sweetened skin-on sweet potato. It didn't go well with beer but could be a hidden dessert that would appeal to women. My stomach was full, and I felt pleasantly tipsy. I was ready to watch the rugby match between Japan and Ireland, which I hadn't seen in two years. Thanks to the seaweed bento box during Tokyo's pandemic, I was saved."

I finally tried the high-end nori bento that I've been curious about with my colleague! I chose the Kinasa saba nori bento. The side dishes were delicious and gave off a luxurious impression. The saba was big and fatty, very delicious. It must be the kind of bento used for celebrities in Shiodome and such. But still, it's definitely expensive.

Soup specialty store "Soup Stock Tokyo" founder Masamichi Toyama and JR East Japan Retail Network teamed up for a seaweed bento business. Currently, JR East Japan holds a 1/3 stake. The "Umi" bento (1,080 yen) was smaller than expected, with the image of the seaweed bento at Koriyama Station in mind. Unwrapping the package, the size was more elegant than anticipated, resembling the size of other bentos. The rice is topped with bonito flakes, soy sauce-coated roasted seaweed, and ingredients such as white radish and cod roe salad, spinach namul, pickled radish, rolled omelette, fried fish cake, and salt-grilled salmon. The flavors are quite robust, with the rolled omelette having a refined taste while the salt-grilled salmon is quite salty. The portion may be a bit small for younger people but just right for the elderly. Crossing the thousand yen mark is a bit iffy.