Bento Boxes a hit at Townsville’s newest Japanese spot

Bringing a staple Japanese lunch to their menu, Terasu at Ardo Hotel on Townsville’s waterfront is hoping to inspire locals to indulge their tastebuds.

Terasu head chef Yukio Ozeki. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Bringing a staple Japanese lunch to their menu, Terasu at Ardo Hotel on Townsville’s waterfront is hoping to inspire locals to indulge their tastebuds.

Already proving a hit with diners, the Bento boxes are a ‘one-stop shop’ according to executive chef Nicholas Redsell.

“The bento boxes include a mix of sashimi, sushi rolls, tempura and hot items including miso soup, katsu chicken and eggplant,” he said.

Bento refers to a compact, balanced meal served in a box for easy transportation and convenience.

Offering a choice of either a standard and premium bento box, Mr Redsell said there is something for everyone, including those who want to try Japanese cuisine.

Premium Bento Boxes at Terasu. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We want to be able to showcase the premium Japanese offerings that we have here, we want to be able to showcase our food on the Japanese menu that is great for a fast lunch offering,” he said.

“We love being able to bring something like this to our restaurant. We did some trials and figured out what worked best to ensure each box had a bit of everything.”

Opening in March, Terasu has become a favourite among visitors for it’s fresh, quality seafood and ingredients.

Standard Bento Boxes at Terasu. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Inspired by the bright lights of Tokyo, Terasu aims to create a take on casual Japanese dining ‘with a punch’.

Tied in with the majestic, waterfront views Mr Redsell said Terasu offers a ‘premium dining experience’.

He said the sunny, ocean front location pairs perfectly with seafood and fresh, vibrant flavours.

“It’s fresh and light and there is a good balance of flavours,” he said.

“Bento boxes are a great way to get into trying Japanese food, you can taste different types and try different flavours and types of Japanese food.”

Terasu is now open for lunch on both Saturday’s and Sunday’s, allowing for a Japanese lunch experience 7 days a week.

The restaurant has a big focus on using fresh produce including wild-caught tuna from South Australia, Queensland prawns, coral trout from the Cassowary Coast and Kingfish from Spencer Gulf in South Australia.

Another favourite choice at Terasu is the ‘Feed Me’ option, where diners can sample some of the top pics from the menu including kingfish ceviche, fried duck bao, Black Opal wagyu and a Japanese donut with miso caramel and macadamia ice cream.

Terasu is open seven days a week at Ardo Hotel on Sir Leslie Theiss Drive. For more information visit ardohotel.au

Originally published as Bento Boxes a hit at Townsville’s newest Japanese spot