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Bento Box

 Japanese Drive Thru
  (+15, -5)(+15, -5)
(+15, -5) 		  [vote for,
against]

Start a restaurant chain called The Bento Box. It's a Japanese drive thru serving sushi and other types of Japanese fast food.

Every meal is served in a stylishly designed collectable "bento" box. Put each resturant in trend setting markets to establish a brand name.

This should be a fresh and healthy alternative to american fast food.

—Hiremetoday, Feb 03 2005

Ekiben (eki bento = station lunchboxes) http://www.nre.co.j...sh/ekiben/index.htm
Please please please bring it here. [ConsulFlaminicus, Feb 03 2005]

eating on the move is frowned upon somewhat. http://news.bbc.co....nd/tyne/4203375.stm
conviction for eating an apple whilst driving. [po, Feb 03 2005]

Sushi Master http://sushi-master...roducts/robot0.html
Could [jaksplat]'s sushi making days be numbered? [Worldgineer, Feb 04 2005]

hand roll holder http://shop.store.y...rice/sushanhol.html
Put this on your dash board. [jaksplat, Feb 04 2005]

Japanese drive-thru in Houston Texas http://www.b4-u-eat...reviews/rsv1211.asp
Scroll to the bottom (now closed?) [Klaatu, Feb 05 2005]

[link]






       I'd try it. I do think though, that these would be difficult meals to eat while driving which is, perhaps regrettably, one of the chief attractions of "American fast food."
—bristolz, Feb 03 2005
   

       I think it would work better as a drive-in restaurant like Sonic.
—jaksplat, Feb 03 2005
   

       This has got to be baked in Japan - searching.....
—normzone, Feb 03 2005
   

       I would not call Japanese fast food healthy. Except the sushi.
—phundug, Feb 03 2005
   

       so.. is this 'widely known to exist' ?

edit: I meant is drive-through Japanese WKTE, not the bento which is surely a mainstay of a Japanese menu.
—neilp, Feb 03 2005
   

       The "bento box" is a lunchtime staple in Japan, various Japantowns in the US west, and even at some oddball places like Las Vegas tradeshows.   

       I don't recall seeing a "drive-in" in Japan , though I have not been much beyond Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto. (much more interesting are the beer vending machines!)   

       Probably no more difficult to eat while driving than an average US fast-food meal except for remembering to drive on the other side of the road ;)   

       +
—csea, Feb 03 2005
   

       You must be better with waribashi than I am.
—bristolz, Feb 03 2005
   

       Welcome [Hiremetoday] Suggest you place this in category " Business:Drive-through ".   

       Pretty much unknown in Japan itself, where 'eating on the move' is a traditional social no-no. Sooo low class.   

       Are you really allowed to eat while driving in jesUSistan? (if that's where you live)
—ConsulFlaminicus, Feb 03 2005
   

       Bento boxes are really just a convenient way of having a picnic. Eating the contents is about more than just filling your belly. Part of the whole Bento experience is that you take time out from whatever it is that you are doing to relax and enjoy your meal. In essence, Drive-thru and Bento are mutually exclusive.

Fishbone for the idea but croissant for an attempt to popularise Bento boxes. Overall fishcake.
—DrBob, Feb 03 2005
   

       I saw a drive thru yoshinoya in LA late last year - i was living in japan at the time and it was strange - as i've never seen drive thru japanese food in japan - well in kansai anyway,
—benfrost, Feb 03 2005
   

       [una] In NYC, we have japanese fast-food places called "Teriyaki Boy", "Daikichi Sushi", etc. You can get sushi (which is never fresh), but mostly people order specials, which are deep-fried chicken or pork on top of a heap of nutritionless white rice, with a gallon of gloppy gravy over the whole thing. Not healthy.
—phundug, Feb 03 2005
   

       Hear here!
—FarmerJohn, Feb 03 2005
   

       Sushi takes care and time to make. Drive-throughs are meant to be fast and convenient.   

       I see a problem here and the solution is premade sushi.   

       But in Vancouver BC where we have hundreds of sushi bars, and I've not once had good premade sushi.   

       Am I going to go to a drive-through just to get bad/average sushi quickly?   

       A drive-in maybe, but why not get out and eat inside instead of eating awkward sushi in your car?   

       (-)   

       [UniBubba] tempura is breaded deep fried vegetables and meats. I would say a deep fried and breaded potato is rather unhealthy, even by McSulfates standards.   

       On that same note, a friend of mine owns a chain in Ontario called Fast Eddie's. They make a 1/3rd pound burger, but the FDA won't allow that much meat to be cooked on a flat top and serverd. So they finish off the patty in a deep fryer to get the internal temperature up, and serve it up in a styrofoam box.   

       People line up for it. It's absolutely insane.
—Giblet, Feb 04 2005
   

       We have Fast Eddie's here too. Although I've never seen a 1/3lb burger.
—Detly, Feb 04 2005
   

       I love Vancouver BC. A lot. I'd live there.
—bristolz, Feb 04 2005
   

       I can't eat tacos neatly while driving, though I often try. Drives me crazy. (But I can't help myself.)
—Mustardface, Feb 04 2005
   

       Love the idea! I don’t think it’d fly in Japan though, for reasons mentioned, but I’m pretty sure it would work where I live (another Vancouverite). Actually, many major train stations in Japan do have bento box specialty stores; same idea as yours, minus the car (a walk through?)   

       There also doesn’t seem to be many restrictions on consuming food and beverages on public transportation over there (they never seem to leave a mess). I spoze this helps the bento box business thrive.   

       [bristolz]: I know how you feel. I changed countries just to be here….
—TIB, Feb 04 2005
   

       [Giblet] See link for a way to make sushi fast. It's probably not as well-made as hand-rolled, but it should taste as good assuming you use fresh ingredients.
—Worldgineer, Feb 04 2005
   

       I AM a sushi machine... Oh, and handrolls are easiest to eat while driving.
—jaksplat, Feb 04 2005
   

       I'd be afraid to try the dollar menu...
—k_sra, Feb 04 2005
   

       I have seen *numerous* bento/sushi drive-thru's. Most don't do very well.   

       Pretty much baked, even if it's raw.
—Klaatu, Feb 05 2005
   

       Note to self: ... about that new year's resolution.
—reensure, Feb 05 2005
   

       So we are going to eat healthy food and collect stylish boxes...right. Is this sustainable?
—Prolixed, Jul 15 2005
   

       [UB] nailed it in one: human society as it stands is unconscionable from a global future standpoint.   

       Other points: if the FDA won't allow a 1/3lb burger to be served from a flat griddle, then what's up with Hardee's and their 1/2 pounder, or Fuddrucker's and their (gasp) full pounder? I think the Hardee's finishes over a flame, but I'm pretty sure the Fuddy comes off a griddle. A big griddle.   

       Those are minutiae. The original concept itself wins a bun, esp. if the boxes are shaped and sized well for use in more than just food handling.
—elhigh, Jul 20 2005
   
      
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