Japanese Curry Takes Center Stage in the TenGoku x Gaijin Bento & Co. Box

TenGoku Aburiya is gearing up to launch the next edition of its Bento & Co. lunchtime guest chef series. This time, two West Loop Japanese culinary concepts come together for a midday pick-me-up, with Executive Chef/Owner Paul Virant of Gaijin bringing his pickling and preserving to match TenGoku’s izakaya flair.

For two weeks only, Chef Paul is teaming up with TenGoku’s Chef Danny Rodriguez to serve up a Japanese Chicken Curry bento. The box featuress the duo’s shared love of Japanese flavors, featuring chicken curry with Four-Star mushrooms served over rice and topped with furikake; curry-pickled daikon with marinated tomatoes and pea shoots; and kombu-marinated vegetables. On the side, TenGoku adds shrimp shumai dumplings, ajitama and veggie miso soup.

All for $20, the collaboration runs during weekday lunch hours (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) from Tuesday, March 17, through Friday, March 27. A portion of proceeds from each Bento & Co. box sold will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository, aiding in the fight against food insecurity and providing meals to those in need.