During my exploration of 'Sendai's Asakusa', I found a small bento (take-away lunch) shop that specializes in chicken. If I hadn't been hungry, I might have walked past it, but luckily it was dinner time.
Apart from the yellow box outside, Odorii is a pretty unassuming shop. It does seem to be one of the only shops there that is open all day, however, which is how it caught my eye. Stepping inside didn't change my impression much – most of the space is taken up by the kitchen. There are a couple of stools for waiting customers, but nowhere to sit down to eat. On a small table were a few leaflets for other local restaurants.
The menu is quite modest, but so are the prices. There is plain karaage (like fried chicken) available at ¥150 for one piece and 4 for ¥500. Bento, 6 types in all, are available for less than ¥500, and they claim to be able to make the chicken ones within one minute. I can't say if it's true, because I didn't time it, but it was definitely fast! Also on offer are a limited selection of drinks, mainly bottled tea, and instant noodles.
I decided on the chicken nanban, which I'd never heard of before. It's a specialty of Miyazaki prefecture, and is karaage with a generous helping of sweet vinegar and tartare sauce. It was delicious. It might not be enough if you've got a big appetite, and it's a bit low on vegetables, but for a quick meal it was perfect. It came with a packet of miso, which I presume is for making miso soup, but since I was eating out, it felt like a bit of a waste this time.
If you feel confident ordering in Japanese over the phone, they do deliveries. However, orders must be over ¥1500 and deliveries for 13:00 must be ordered by 11:00 (orders are taken from 10:00, before the shop opens).
For anyone who isn't in the Kita-Sendai area, there is a store in Kitayobancho which seems to offer a wider variety of bento and indoor seating. Also, another will soon open in Kokubuncho.
This bento store is small, but it's already expanding its chain to two more locations in Sendai. It's a modest size, and it has a modest menu, almost all chicken, but this allows for speedy, lower-cost service. And it's still tasty!
