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Name: Asian Box
Address: 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
Telephone: (650) 391-9305
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.65

Asian Box

855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

(650) 391-9305
Store is closed

Asian Box Menu

Start your Box

Short Grain Brown Rice

Long Grain Jasmine Rice

Asian Vegetable Salad

Chilled Rice Noodles
Pick your Favorite

Chicken

Pork

Beef

Tofu

Shrimp
Vegetables

Steamed

Wok Tossed
Box Toppers

Fresh Jalapeno

Bean Sprouts

Crispy Shallots

Scallion Oil

Chopped Peanuts

Fresh Herbs

Pickled Vegetables

Fresh Lime Squeeze

Caramel Egg
Sauces

Tamarind Vinaigrette

No-Oil Fish Sauce

Hot Box It

Miss Jones' Sriracha

Asian Street Dust

Peanut Sauce
Sides

Tofu Spring Roll

Shrimp Spring Roll

Glass Noodle Salad

Jungle Jerky
Drinks

Vietnamese Iced Coffee

VC Iced Tea

Lemon Lime Marmalade

Healthy Meal suggestions for Asian Box

Start your Box

Short Grain Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Long Grain Jasmine Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Vegetable Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chilled Rice Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pick your Favorite

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetables

Steamed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wok Tossed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Box Toppers

Fresh Jalapeno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Shallots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallion Oil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chopped Peanuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Herbs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pickled Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Lime Squeeze [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramel Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sauces

Tamarind Vinaigrette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

No-Oil Fish Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Box It [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miss Jones' Sriracha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Street Dust [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Tofu Spring Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Spring Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Glass Noodle Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jungle Jerky [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Vietnamese Iced Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

VC Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Lime Marmalade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Palo Alto for healthy meals suggestion.

Palo Alto Breakfast Kitchen ( 2706 Middlefield Rd )

Palo Alto Golf Course Club House & Restaurant ( 1875 Embarcadero Rd )

Palo Alto Breakfast House ( 2706 Middlefield Rd )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Teresa P.

"Do you want to eat Asian Box?" my Yelp friend Janet O. asks me by text. "Um, Excuse me!?" I replied. The lack of the prepostion in her [mis]text made it sound more like a propositon...and lesbihonest, that's what started the onslaught of bad comments that had the two of us laughing until our bellies ached. Well, It didn't help that we were hungry, too. The food here is great. I've been here several times and brought my co-workers since then if that tells you anything! You basically build your own box by: 1) choosing your base: brown or white rice, asian veggies or rice noodles in mushroom broth 2.) then pick your protein: Chicken, Pork, Beef, Tofu or Shrimp 3.) then choose your veggies of either steamed or wok spiced 4.) then add your toppers: jalapenos, pickled veggies, crispy shallots, etc. 5.) then a sauce. You can put all of them actually, if that's your thing. Tamarind Vinaigrette, Sriracha, Peanut Sauce, etc. I'm partial to the Beef (tender and with nicely charred edges) with the Asian salad with the Wok Spiced veggies and all the toppings including the caramel egg, finished off with the Tamarind Vinaigrette. Crisp, light, refreshing but very satisfying and so pleasant to enjoy under the sun with the outdoor seating. A very flavorful, healthful and wholesome meal under $10. If you work in downtown PA, I suggest you walk the 'secret trail' to the Town and Country shopping center, as parking here during lunch time is nuts! Wholesome? I wish I could say the same of our conversation. I'll have to submit it to SNL as a skit with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey in an exchange of sexually charged quips ("How do you eat the pink thing?" "Just munch on it.") that would otherwise sound like normal discourse over a yummy salad if not taken out of context. Ah, Janet - you put the O in LOL!
(4)
VICKY K.

Really good box, portion is perfect! Ordered takeout for a meeting, and the personal boxes are really good - especially working with people and certain dietary restrictions. They have pretty healthy options, I would agree, almost like a Viet Chipotle. Tasty tasty tasty
(4)
Mrs. L.

It's ok. For the most part, its healthy fast food. Some of my wok veggies were on the burnt side. Be warned....if you pick the chicken, the skin is attached. It's definitely not something I will crave, but good fast food.
(3)
Patricia V.

Pick a base: rice, noodles or salad Add a protein: chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp Add toppings: bean sprouts, shallots, etc. Add: steam vegetables or spicey vegetables Add: dressing(s) The Asian Box meal looked way better then it tasted! Lemonade drink...too sour and thick yucky tasting. Small place gets super crammed at lunch time. Very expensive considering you only get about 2 ouces of meat in your box. I asiant gonna be eatin here again!
(2)
C N.

A let down. I've tried this place twice, to see if it could redeem itself. It did worse the second time around. The first time was somewhat forgivable as it was the week directly after the "grand opening", and they were still working out kinks in the ordering system. Stars off this time around: one for accuracy, one for flavor, and the last for price. They did not get my order right. They charged me for the caramel egg, which I did not receive. When I called to let them know (I was back in the office, lunch break over by now), they just said, "OK, so... what do you want us to do?". Well, I'm not asking you to bring me an egg, but don't be so lame about customer service responses. The flavor was meh... The peanut sauce was cool, which created a lukewarm creamy mess of noodles. The coconut curry of the tofu was pretty bland, all I got from it was a slight kick of spice, but otherwise no real flavor of that curry. Toppings were disappointing: not nearly enough. And the vegetables? Two enormous hunks of halfway cooked broccoli and a small pile of overcooked carrot chunks. Price: About $10 for an Asian take-out dish that was incomplete (as mentioned above). What a rip-off. I guess it's the only way to make money, to dupe Palo Altoans into buying mediocre Asian food at higher prices, and boxing them in eco-friendly containers. I will not be returning. Twice is enough to give this place a try, and both times it has disappointed.
(2)
Ryan T.

Asian Box is one of those new, trendy food joints that the Silicon Valley hipsters demand. However, very much like the hipsters themselves, Asian Box is not nearly as fulfilling as its clever marketing and packaging would lead us to believe. Located in a prime location in Town & Country Village, Asian Box offers customized meal boxes of starch, protein, and veggies. Prices start in the high $7-range and can reach $10-11 depending on your choice of protein, sauce, and extras. I chose the long-grain Jasmine rice with chicken and topped it off with crispy shallots and a squeeze of lime. The price was ~ $8.50 because I didn't add anything extra. The employees were nice and the place was certainly organized and well-staffed, which is why I was so surprised by the time it took to receive my food. With no one in front of me, it took nearly 5 minutes for my box to arrive. Keep in mind that all of the ingredients are pre-made, including the chicken, so all the employees have to do is literally throw everything in a box. I don't know why it took so long, but stronger store organization is clearly needed. As for the food itself... I was disappointed. The chicken was good - I liked the spices and the charcoaled skin. The crispy shallots were delightful and I highly recommend them. However, the combination of everything just tasted ordinary. I felt like I was eating a simple chicken and rice dish in a school cafeteria. It was nothing great... or even that tasty. The free vegetable addition is just a standard mix of broccoli and carrots. I ended up throwing the box away after I finished the chicken and shallots. Overall, the most delicious part of my lunch was the overpriced can of Diet Coke that I bought to have with my meal. Lulu's is right across the way and offers much more interesting and tasty food at similar prices. Unless you're really in the mood for plain old protein and starch, I'd choose another place in Town & Country for lunch. There is indoor stool-seating at a long table in the middle of the restaurant. There are also 6 or 7 tables outside the store in the nice California sunshine. Accepts all major credit cards.
(3)
Jake G.

I feel an obligation, as most that write negative review do, to be plain, honest and brief. The concept of Asian Box is to provide good Asian fast food. In my opinion they fulfill neither of these seemingly simple requirements for a restaurant who serves a diverse clientele comprised mainly of high school students and small business owners. To say the least, I was disappointed when the (rather simple) meal I ordered arrived 20 minutes after I ordered it during a time of relatively no activity. The quality of food was another issue. I must admit to having a bit of an ego when it comes to Asian foods. If you make the trip to Asian Box, expect poor quality American food pretending to somehow relate to Asia. Overall, a 1 for service, attitude and quality.
(1)
Nisat C.

Went here for the first time today for lunch and I have to say I was very disappointed. I ordered the jasmine rice with shrimp and vegetables. The rice and vegetables were fine but the shrimp smelled strongly of fish. I'm not sure if it was the shrimp itself or the sauce they put on the shrimp, but either way, I felt like I was in a fish market. For the portion size, I believe they are overpriced. Edited to add: Girl taking my order at the counter was very friendly. Staff/employees seem great and I have no complaints about the service.
(2)
Lindsay S.

100% Gluten Free! It is so rare that I am able to walk into a restaurant and order anything I would like off of the menu. Since learning I have celiac's disease, I am typically forced to order from a few menu items, that may not be what I would really like to eat. However, at Asian Box, not only am I able to order anything that they have, I don't have to ask a confused sales person for information that they don't know - a situation that tends to be frustrating for both of us. Now I know that the gluten free factor is not enough of a reason for most people to be excited about this place, but this is becoming one of my favorite places because not only do I really enjoy it, but anyone I bring with me becomes a big fan. You get to choose the type of rice or noodles that you want, meat or vegetable to go on top, and then a range of "box toppers" and sauces to top it all off. You can adapt it to your personal tastes and the meals are pretty reasonably priced ranging from $6.95-$8.25 (watch out for the unfiltered ginger ale though - it is delicious but it is also $3.50). I only wish they would extend the hours. They close at 7pm most nights which makes it difficult to grab dinner there after work.
(5)
Ray T.

Nicely designed restaurant, clean and bright. Unfortunately, the food is just mediocre. The meats are underwhelming and so are the flavors of their sauces. I tried all of them and none of them tasted very good to me. It takes more than a clever 1-2-3 ordering system to be considered the "Asian Chipotle." The wait time to get your order is pretty long, even when the line is not ridiculously packed. They've obviously got good enough marketing to draw in the crowds, but those who know better will soon realize that there's MUCH better Vietnamese and Asian eats out there, and for a better value.
(2)
Joseph J.

I ordered the pork with brown rice, caramelized egg, and sriracha sauce. The guy at the counter recommended that I add fish oil, which turned out to be an great addition. The box was chock-full of different elements and flavors but was really balanced. I was surprised to see chef Grace Nguyen (of Charles Phan's Out The Door) in the open kitchen when I was there, slicing pork and tossing veggies into my box. It may be takeout food, but the gourmet pedigree behind this place really comes through.
(5)
Amy D.

Rounding down from 3.5 stars. I came to Asian Box last night to check it out, since items on the menu looked really tasty. I ordered the below for take-out: -Short grain brown rice w/beef (garlic and soy glazed), wok spiced vegetables, almost all the box toppers (bean sprouts, crispy shallots, scallion oil, chopped peanuts, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, fresh lime squeeze), w/ the tamarind vinaigrette and Asian Street Dust (a dirty blend of sweet, salt and spices for an extra $0.25) for the sauces $8.50: The beef was really good, and not overcooked. The edges were a bit charred, but other than that it was very tender. I couldn't taste a difference with the Asian Street Dust that was sprinkled on, and wouldn't pay the extra quarter next time. -Short grain brown rice w/shrimp (lime basil tossed), wok spiced vegetables, almost all the box toppers (fresh jalapeno, bean sprouts, crispy shallots, scallion oil, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, fresh lime squeeze, caramel egg for an extra $0.95), w/ the tamarind vinaigrette and Miss Jones' Sriracha for the sauces $9.20: Only 3 shrimp!! =( I was quite sad.. I know shrimp are expensive, but really, only 3?!?!?! They were on the larger side, but I wouldn't preferred additional smaller shrimp versus having only 3 on my dish. The sriracha wasn't very spicy, and they didn't put on a lot, so I had to add my own sriracha when I got home. Even though it seems like you would have a TON of things in your box, the ingredients work really well together. They give you a lot of rice- I wish they gave you less rice and little more veggies. -Vietnamese Iced Coffee $2.95: I tried some of the one my friend ordered and YUCK, one of the worst Viet coffees I've had. It was too sweet (even though the sign says semi-sweet), and didn't have enough of that pungent coffee flavor or that sticky sweetness of the condensed milk. A definite pass for me! Parking can be tough since it's in the Palo Alto Town & Country, kind of diagonal from Kara's Cupcakes, but further into the center. The food is prepped pretty quickly, so you don't have to wait for too long. Overall, I would come here to check it out once, but don't have much motivation to return. Maybe for the noodles with a peanut sauce. Maybe.
(3)
Patricia K.

Asian Box is yuppie Asian take out - something to grab and go when you are running late and have nothing prepared for dinner at home. Like the Whole Foods grab n go section. The food is tasty, albeit the portions are small for the price, but the gimmick is all about convenience. This is not the place to go if you had all the time in the world and wanted to "go out for dinner" with friends or family. That said, since we do find ourselves running late without anything ready for dinner quite often, we've put Asian Box on the rotation of take out spots.
(3)
Sam W.

I had a problem with my order and the manager corrected it 1000%. Wonderful food and ownership. If you want an easy, light and healthy option at the right price, this is the place.
(5)
Eric C.

Someone told me that Asian Box was the hot new chain and the food was good. The pics on Yelp didn't really entice me but I decided to give it a shot since I was already in the Town and Country Center and it was a convenient lunch option. The shops name is fairly descriptive. You essentially order by making one selection from each posted menu until there are no more menus to chose form. BASE...rice...MEAT...pork...VEGGIES...wok fried...EXTRAS...herbs...SAUCE...tamarind. Your order of freshly prepared Asian inspired food comes in a....(wait for it)...box. The food is mediocre, maybe a hair better than say Panda Express but still food court level. The bonus being that you get to "build" your meal that's freshly tossed together. I tried both their pork and shrimp. The pork was nicely marinated, I could taste a bit of anise or 5 spice which married perfectly to the pork. The shrimp were nicely cooked but EXTREMELY salty. So salty that my lips burned after eating one. WHOA! One shrimp probably contained a years worth of sodium so that was a major fail. On the upside the meals are relatively cheap at about $8 a pop (with no drink) and they're quickly prepared. I wouldn't really recommend Asian Box unless you're looking for a quick, cheap meal and happen to be convenient to one of their locations.
(2)
Jessica M.

I would love to have given this place a much higher star rating as I used to eat here a couple times a week - reasonably healthy, fast, cheap. However, today I was basically asked to leave the store while waiting for my meal because I was caught holding a bag with a Mayfield cookie in it and apparently I was violating their gluten-free zone/policy. When I asked why this policy was not posted anywhere or mentioned on their website, I got no response. Not the best customer experience to be told I was offending their customers. Apparently they didn't see me as a customer they would like to keep.
(1)
Patrick E.

A friend of mine raved about this place and invited me there a few weekends ago. It was a nice day Sunday early afternoon and I was excited to eat there for the first time. I liked the location, fun to sit outside, nice green concept and promising food. Maybe my friend made it sound to special or it wasn't their best day, I wasn't blown away. I was glad to eat healthy and fill on nutrition but I found the food rather blend; not necessary a bad thing, great after a workout etc... I also didn't enjoy their beverages very much, our group tasted through all of them & it had nothing I really liked that day. I would give the place 3.5 Stars if I could but being sure they'll consider the feedback and improve I'll rate it 4 Stars rather than 3 and will check back for another round soon.
(4)
Anaelisa C.

OMG! Bomb.com Went her today to eat lunch with some coworks. I have to say i give this place all 5 starts. Freshness, flavor and services. It was great. I am sitting her at work in love with the meal i just finished. I got the brown rice with chicken with the wok spiced veggies and the bean sprouts fresh herbs fresh lemon squeeze and the miss jones sriracha sauce. My taste buds are are having a party in my mouth. The best part is i feel full but not in a greasy way but a health perfect way. I will defiantly be coming back for more lunches here. Oh best part, everything is fresh and gluten free.
(5)
Fred T.

I am always a bit skeptical when I see "interpretations" of Vietnamese food. Many years at SJSU eating Bahn Mi and the most excellent Vung Tau coupled with forays at Slanted Door and Le Colonial have set the bar somewhat high. Asian Box was really good. The austere interior and to go only menu belies the complex flavors and outright tastiness of their offerings. My box: Beef Brown Rice Wok Spiced veggies All toppers (except the carmel egg) Tamarind Vinaigrette and hot box on the side My wife had the chicken (same as above but with the steamed veggies) and my son had just rice with beef. The beef in my box had a nice char but was mid rare inside (tasty) the toppers were all good and the pickles were excellent. The Tamarind Vinaigrette was off the hook. My only complaint was it was a bit small. Aside from that we will be back and often.
(4)
Lea F.

This place came up on my feed and got me curious. It hasn't even fully opened yet and it has a ton of good reviews already?! Wow! So I went to check it out last week. The tables weren't fully set up, they didn't have chairs yet, but the food line was long. I just had to see what the buzz was about! Got myself the chilli noodles with tofu and veggies and added the Siracha sauce. Sssssoooo good!!! I really want to keep coming back here and try everything else on their menu. Try it out, it's a great addition to Palo Alto cuisine!
(4)
Erin J.

Having a really hard time deciding on my rating for Asian Box. It really is exactly 3.5 stars. Not 3 and not as good as a 4. PROS: -good place to get asian take out -quality and flavor of the food is very good (better than most take out places) -lots of good choices for sauces and meat CONS: -I've been a few times and I've had varying amounts of food in my box. Once it was enough, another time, the staff member skimped on my rice and meat and I certainly was left hungry -price is a bit high for take out since this is not really a restaurant (there is only one communal table to sit at, plus some chairs and tables outside) All in all, good option to get some good food really quickly!
(3)
Brandon L.

Very Good Spices Chicken is extremely fatty; suggest asking for No Skin on the chicken. 'Wok Fried' Vegetables were Raw and Flavorless. They have water but don't offer cups or have any out The female teen taking orders on 3/21/13 at 5:15pm seemed unhappy to be there. Maybe better to go weekdays for lunch.
(2)
Mario C.

Will give it one more try, since the whole idea and restaurant look amazing.
(2)
V b.

Love this place! Food is really fresh and good.
(5)
Annie c.

i like the concept of healthy and tasty fast food for my first visit, i was a bit overwhelmed at all the choices and selection of toppings but once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad. i generally get the beef, pork or tofu the tamarind sauce is my fave very solid
(4)
Helen C.

I went there for lunch with some co-workers and I would have to say that the ingredients are extremely fresh, organic, and gluten-free. When you get there, you would grab a piece of a paper with all the options that you select for your order. My typical order: 1. Asian Vegetable Salad 2. Shrimp - Lime Basil 3. Steamed. Box toppers: Fresh jalapeno, bean sprouts, crispy shallots, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and fresh lime squeeze. Sauces: No-oil fish sauce, Hot Bot it, Miss Jones' Srircha Once you reach the cash register, you hand them the order that you filled out and pay. Wait and your food will be called for pick up by number. It was absolutely delicious. Great for those on no-carb or paleo dieters. This was like eating at home but without the hassle of making it yourself. You could control what went into your food (piece of mind i tell ya). Its like having someone cook for you by your exact instructions. There are also a great variety of proteins: six spice chicken, lemon grass pork, garlic soy beef, lime basil shrimp, and coconut curry tofu (so it caters to vegetarians as well). I tend to change it up. It can be pricey because each order will run you about $10-$14, depending on what you select and if you want double meat and the delicious caramel egg (95Â¢, which is worth it for more protein). I would pay to have quality fresh ingredients.l I would definitely recommend eating here. I suggest that you go early because the line can get quiet long but it moves pretty fast.
(5)
L P.

I work every Sunday at the spa in Town and Country village. I must admit that the highlight of my Sundays is to go to Asian Box. The food is ready fast and its always fresh. I always order the chilled noodles, beef or pork (always tender), steamed veggies and all the toppings. It is a little expensive but I think its worth it.
(5)
M. S.

Some of the best healthy takeout in the area. This is a nice addition to T&C shopping center. They added "work out box" to their menu which is brown rice, skinless chicken, extra veggies, sprouts, and sauce. For under $10, it's a great meal!
(5)
Sarah F.

Pretty good stuff and super fresh. Order your sauce on the side or they will completely douse you box with sauce (no pun intended).
(4)
H T.

I wanted to try this place as soon as they opened. I emailed in my order (this is Silicon Valley after all) ahead of time and never received any confirmation back so I gave them a call to confirm the order and they had to re-take the order. Sort of annoying to offer a service (email orders) and then drop the ball on it. Anyway, I went by and picked up the to-go order. The restaurant itself is super small and there's not too much seating. The employees were nice and the good was simply OK. Definitely not the best Asian food in the area.
(3)
Lusi F.

An Asian restaurant run by no Asians? Would probably be a good lunch spot but not dinner. The inside was smelly so everyone sat outside. The five spice chicken didn't really have much flavor, and the rest of my food was drenched in sauce that it was so salty I couldn't really finish it. I liked the ginger ale though!
(2)
B. C.

Excited to find parking (a recurring theme at Town & Country), I took a chance on buying lunch here today without having looked at reviews in advance. I wish I had, because I would have noticed that not a single review mentioned anyone actually ordering Shrimp. I did, along with brown rice, steamed veggies, all the free toppings, sriracha sauce, and an add-on caramel egg (the latter after the friendly cashier upsold it as a delicious-sounding delicacy). Almost everything was fresh and tasty, but the exception was the prawns -- 3 overcooked and charred prawns, for which I paid $1 more than I would have for my second-choice chicken. The poor sea beasties deserved a better fate. The egg, alas, wasn't very special either -- it was just a small hard-boiled egg, with a bit of extra flavor on the very outer section of its white. I also ordered vietnamese iced coffee, which tasted like it came from a can (not necessarily a bad thing; but for $2.95, even though it came in a "green" cup and lid, eh). Also, after reading the other reviews here, I'm looking suspiciously at my leftover ice, wondering if it was made with the tap water the restaurant won't let anyone have. If I luck out and find parking again someday, I will try another box, only with chicken instead of prawns, plus no extra expense of an egg or iced coffee.
(3)
Mceja C.

My review here is long over due! I LOVE THIS PLACE-don't know where to start other than the food is so good and healthy. Dont let the name fool you i still cant Figure out what type of food it is other than delicious. It's about 10 min from my work so it's a usual for us. Staff are all very pleasant and nice. I think the icing on the cake for this place is that there gluten free, I heard not even employees are allowed to bring on food that's not gluten free. Also, the reginal manager ( I think) called me to ask how my experiences are here which is such good management because it makes me feel he actually cares..which not many restaurant managers do... I would highly recommend this place!! Love you Asian box keep up the good work!
(5)
Todd W.

Like any new restaurant, there were some early hiccups. But these guys totally get it and are now clicking on all cylinders. Fast, fresh, tasty, and seemingly healthy. Fairly priced and properly portioned. Each ingredient perfectly executed. Great service, recognizing their repeat customers. This is partly a reflection of the weak restaurant scene in Palo Alto, but Asian Box IS the best food that has hit the area this year. Keep up the great work. Your food is great!
(5)
Audrey L.

Yes, the food is "Asian" and it comes in a box. Truth in advertising! Flavors are reasonably, vaguely Asian - you do get to customize what sauces/spices/topping, etc. Serving size is a bit on the skimpy side for the price. Often end up here in an attempt to please varying appetites and palates at the office. Parking at T+C is a nightmare at lunchtime, especially when Paly's in session.
(3)
Elena K.

I was super excited to hear that Asian Box was opening so close to where I work and live. I popped in last weekend for a solo-lunch and was pretty disappointed. My box was composed of the following: long grain brown rice, lime basil topped shrimp, wok tossed veggies, fresh jalapeno, bean sprouts, crispy shallots, fresh herbs, and Miss Jones' Siracha sauce. Sounds pretty bomb, right? Well, the taste was definitely great, but the portions sucked. I literally got three pieces of shrimp, a couple broccoli florets, and less than a handful of all the other add-ons. It was mostly a giant bed of rice. At least it was only $10... Asian Box is a great concept. But honestly, I'm usually a lot hungrier than three shrimp. Maybe I just got an off serving or something, but it wasn't worth the time or money. Just go to Whole Foods down the street and stuff your face with their prepared stuff.
(3)
Lola Z.

Most of the food is pretty tasty and their ingredients are fresh and seeming of good quality. What I did not care for was the noodle salad side and the mint tea was gross. Time after time, what is most annoying is the smallish portions. I am not too terribly pigly, but I still like to feel sated after a meal. I don't really get that here but maybe because I order shrimp or the more expensive ingredients which they are not at all generous but if I am ordering a salad, give me a big friggin salad! No diet salads, please!
(2)
K. R.

They've definitely improved since their grand opening. I give this place a solid 4 stars for providing a healthy and quick dining option in PA. I had the noodles with pork and 2 sauces (peanut and tamarine). Yum! They served a generous amount of pork which was filling and gave me my protein for the day! Will repeat this combo again!
(4)
Liz F.

It loses a star for being a buck or 2 too pricey (o palo alto!!!), but I relished my box. Tried the jasmine rice + shrimp + asian dust + tangy terrific tamarind sauce + steamed veg + fried scallions n bean spouts n YES PLEASE. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found the portions to be spot-on and left feeling very full & satiated. Another plus? The happy staff and their happy smiles telling me, "Welcome to the box!" Well, right back atcha! Welcome to the neighborhood Asian Box! I will be back!!!
(4)
Guillaume R.

Can flavorful, healthy, spicy and Palo Alto be in the same sentence? I guess yes, Asian Box makes awesome to go boxes filled with flavorful veggies, rice, meats, and it's even worth the walk from downtown Palo Alto. Add to that some cool people working there and we have a winner. Big plus for the portion size that are reasonable without being oversized.
(5)
Bryant C.

The food was good. The shrimp was slightly overcooked, but the seasoning was amazing! I could taste the hint of citrus. The portion sizes were just right. The staff was really friendly. It was a little expensive for to-go food, but that's what you get in Palo Alto, I guess.
(4)
Hannah K.

I have seen this place and wanted to try it out, so I dragged a friend during our lunch (half) hour. I got the Asian salad with Shrimp and he got his with Chicken. I got the Tamarind Vinaigrette, which was on the sweeter side, but good. I don't usually get seafood at places because I am a worry wart, but it was nicely cooked (if not a little over but I, like them I am sure, like to err on the side of caution so it was all good) and the tamarind vinaigrette complimented it quite well. The waitstaff suggested the TV with the shrimp, so props to them for being on top of it. When asking for 'all the toppings' you really get a bevy of flavors, which I enjoy. I will definitely be asking for extra 'chopped peanuts' next time though because that stuff was wonderful. I overheard an exchange between some of the waitstaff and an angry customer and they handled it quite well. It was a very hospitable, the customer is always first kind of environment. We tried the Jungle Jerky, which was spiced deliciously but definitely more sweet than I expected it to be. Overall, I got the bare bones of the Asian Box experience, whereas my friend went all out with the jerky and one of their drinks and both of our meals were under $20. Mine was 9.something and his 12.something. I wouldn't call this cheap, but then I wouldn't call anything in this part of Palo Alto cheap. It was fast, a nice environment, healthy and tasty. I will be going back.
(4)
G W.

I stopped in here for an early lunch around 11:30 midweek. The place was empty... yayyy, I got to take my time going through the menu. ;) The girl who took my order was very friendly and patient, explaining how to pick and order your items. Step 1 - pick your "base", like rice, noodles or veggie salad. I went with brown rice. Step 2 - pick your protein. I chose lemongrass marinated pork. Step 3 - pick your "add ons". I went with wok tossed veggies, crispy shallots, chopped peanuts and fresh herbs. Then for my sauce, I chose the "Asian Street Dust." For $8 it was a good, satisfying, quick meal. :)
(4)
Cedric L.

Asian Box serves very affordable to-go boxes that are pack with Asian flavors and yummy ingredients. The menu is pretty simple: a box made of rices (you can pick from the regular suspects: white, brown, jasmine...), vegetables (steams or wok spiced), meet (chicken, beef, pork...) cook in their unique sauce, a set of add-ons (caramelized shallots, herbs, sprouts, peanuts, eggs...) and finally a sauce among 6 options. I've got the chicken with its Six spice Mix that went along very well with the Tamarin Vinaigrette dressing. It was a great mix and got very interesting flavors. Too far from the place I live, Asian Box is definitely an option I'll consider during my next visit to Palo Alto. Pro: - Efficient service from order to delivery - Nice tables outside - Affordable and generous size - Eco friendly Cons: - I was told that this place is a zoo during lunch hours on weekdays, but even though the line is moving fast so this shouldn't be a big deal. Cedric's tips: - You can go full vegetable by not asking for rice and meat. This will double your serving of vegetables to fill up the box ;-)
(4)
Peter B.

I really really like this place. Been here several times, and while I've tried many of the things on their menu (e.g. pork, beef, rice noodles, etc.), I have to say that this is by far my favorite combo: 1. White rice 2. Beef 3. Wok-spiced vegetables 4. All toppings, including the caramel egg 5. Fish sauce (on the side) The beef is ridiculously tender and well-marinated, and the fish sauce -- which usually makes me nauseous -- was sweet and went well with my meal. I'm well aware of regressing to the mean, so I made sure to come back here several times. The food is consistently good. I just wish they had better store hours (11 AM - 7 PM). I would come here more often for dinner if they stayed open much later. Also, I hope they adjust their servings. While current portions are filling, I wouldn't mind if the portions were a little bigger.
(4)
Sabrina W.

asian veg salad + tofu steamed veg all toppers except egg SRIRACHA yes i want to eat this every day of my life yums
(5)
Mohamed J.

super quick, friendly service, tastes amazing, (relatively) healthy, and cheap! what else can you ask for. i've gone twice and loved it. got the shrimp both times, once with noodles and the hotbox sauce, the other with brown rice and sriracha. street dust is a must, as is the egg. this is gonna end up being a weekly lunch (or dinner) spot.
(5)
Alice C.

It's a refreshing concept. Fresh, quick, easy, healthy Asian "boxed" food. Your choice of starch (various rices and rice noodles) or vegetable salad as your base. Then a protein: the beef and chicken are both very tasty. Then there are the free add-ons (veggies, herbs, lime, scallion oil, peanuts, etc) and sauces (no oil fish sauce, sriracha, etc.). I'm looking forward to going back and trying the pork and shrimp, maybe with their caramel egg, which sounds intriguing. Selection-wise, there's not much else, but if you're in the mood for fresh Asian-style (leaning toward Vietnamese) food that is light, but satisfying, this is a great spot.
(4)
Lauren S.

Pretty good. I was excited to check this place out when I heard it was Chipotle-esqe, and they are definitely pretty similar in style. You get some kind of base, i.e. rice or Asian salad, then a bunch of toping options, including several different sauces, a bunch of veggies, and some meat options. The salad is a good base if you're not too hungry, but I thought there was a little too much dressing, so I would order the dressing on the side next time or get it dry...actually, I was still a little hungry after my last meal at Asian Box, so I actually might go with the rice, but if you do get the salad, be prepared for a fair amount of dressing. My table ordered the chicken, the shrimp and the pork as the meat topping, and the pork was definitely the winner. Really good bbq'd pork and they're pretty generous with the portions. I also tried the caramel egg, which was interesting in a good way. I'd recommend trying it out at least once! Definitely a good place for a casual, quick meal! I'm sure I'll be back soon.
(4)
Kevin H.

This place is great for vegetarians! Yummy and convenient. You order in three layers: (Layer 1) I usually get the Asian veggie salad base, but brown and white rice are also options. (Layer 2) The tofu mixed with wok-tossed vegetables are the mainstay of the meal. I've only gotten wok-tossed, as opposed to steamed, because I heard this was tastier. (Layer 3) Get all of the veggies on top of that -- everything ranging from beansprouts to herbs -- and it makes a complete meal. (I've tried both tamarind sauce and "Asian dust" spices to season, both of which were good). The substantial box was flavorful and filling, and really does remind you of street food. (I dropped by after finding out the food truck rally was closed, and it still definitely hit the spot). The price of the veggie box is less than the meat options, which I thought was decent of the restaurant. Overall, relatively inexpensive (~$7), quick and delicious. Good call for an easy dinner!
(4)
Paolo C.

As many before me have said, this is like an asian version of chipotle except you don't have to walk down the line being passed on to the next person to make your meal. I got the chicken with brown rice and added most of the free stuff and added the egg. Overall, the meal was really good all the flavors were great and the topping enhanced the well seasoned chicken and brown rice. The egg was good too although it was a little bit on the salty side. I wish they had the option to double the meat since I was still hungry after the bowl I ordered. The staff was very friendly too. Overall, this place is great for a quick, healthy and cheap meal (total was less than $10), which is always good for someone who is trying to live a healthier lifestyle like me.
(4)
Laura S.

I've eaten here only once and have already fallen in love. The establishment is very green, (LEED materials used for building the space, composting galore, etc) and I when I asked if the coconut curry was vegetarian or vegan I found out that everything in the restaurant (besides the obvious things- meat, egg...) besides the specialty drinks from behind the counter is vegan. When I looked at the menu ahead of time I wasn't sure if I wanted all the included items from step 3, but I followed their advice and got all of them after all. I was worried it might be a weird combo, particularly the pickled vegetables, but everything blended really nicely. My box + soda can (no fountain drink sodas available) came to $9.63. Even though I ordered along with my bf, I know exactly how much mine was because their receipts conveniently list the price per box, plus drink/extras and tax, separately. Such a basic receipt move, but saves a lot of time if you need to figure out how much someone owes you because you spotted them : ) I hope to go back sometime soon. It won't be during lunch time during the week though. I made that mistake once and after circling for a space for about 20 minutes, I gave up and drove to Stanford Shopping Center instead. If you're like me and not a regular to the PA lunch time scene, be warned of the parking nightmare at Town & Country!
(5)
Jade D.

My new spot for a quick lunch or dinner to go :D
(5)
Chanh N.

The food is delicious but I came here a month ago and they didn't have free tap water. Instead of complaining on yelp I told the manager. He said something about water not being installed? what? Anyways a month later and they still don't have water. Otherwise this place is pretty unique and fresh although it's a bit expensive. The iced coffee is good.
(4)
Miles C. H.

The coconut curry tofu with the peanut sauce, bean sprouts, pickled veggies and jalapenos is very close to my ideal everyday meal--better than any pad thai! If only this place was everywhere like Starbucks. Maybe someday it will be. Bravo!
(5)
Jessica P.

I loved the food at this place. It was tasty, healthy and delicious. Will surely go back to this place. Had the rice noodles with veggies and non fish sauce with basil marinated shrimps.
(4)
Vienna S.

I was meeting a friend for lunch and she suggested this place. OMG! The food was excellent going again tonight. I had a warm greeting right through the door, called my number and made sure it matched my receipt, delish!!!
(5)
Rob C.

surprisingly tasty. not judging for authenticity of course. in direct competition with spice kit. better than tava if compared head to head. had the salad with wok tossed veggies (little soft) and lemongrass pork with tamarind vinaigrette and all options. pork was charred but not dry. nice crispy shallots. the vietnamese coffee here was good, better than spice kit. like the quick grab and go. still great and popular. got the chicken jasmine rice this time with the fish sauce and added asian street dust. still think the tamarind sauce is the way to go. still popular here, sometimes the vinaigrette is lighter than other times so can be inconsistent, but makes do as a quick lunch with veggies. catering from here is good too. large party trays all topped with those crispy shallots.
(4)
Chris F.

Nice and simple
(4)
Karrot L.

Really like the customization aspect and the quality of the ingredients is really good. One of our lunch boxes had a moderate amount of sauce, and the other lunch box had too much sauce. The portions are somewhat inconsistent too. Chalk that up to only being open for a couple of weeks. We also had Vietnamese Ice Coffee and the flavor was excellent. The person taking orders was very good and knowledgeable about the food. Yes, we will be going back! For the price, the food is a great value.
(4)
SeÃ¡n O.

Fairly standard fast Asian-style food place. Portions are small for the price, in my opinion. On the other hand, the service is fast and the quality of the food is good (fresh, tasty). I'd probably consider coming here for a snack or an off-peak lunch, when parking is not going to be too much of a problem.
(3)
P L.

I cannot overstate my love for this place. Think Asian Chipotle, with bowls instead of burritos. Your box comes with: (1) a base (rice, noodles, salad), (2) a protein (meat or shrimp or tofu), (3) veggies (steamed or wok-tossed), (4) a bunch of toppers, and (5) sauce. For the toppers, save yourself some effort and just ask for all of them rather than picking and choosing (including the egg!), and keep in mind you can layer the sauces if you want more than one. I'm a fan of the chicken with the tamarind vinaigrette, beef with sriracha, or tofu with peanut sauce. I eat here... way more often than I should. It's super fresh, cheap, and packed with veggies, the servers are nice, and there are lots of outdoor tables. Love.
(5)
Nicole S.

My new favorite place! Healthy and yummy- a crowd pleaser for everyone from vegans to carnivores. You start with a grain, add a protein (tofu for me beef for the hubby), add toppings (pickled veggies and caramelized onions are a few of my favorites) and then add a sauce (I love the Asian street dust spices!). I usually pick up food to go around 5pm and it's ready in less than 10 minutes.
(5)
Melanie H.

Yay, another great vegetarian option nearby. I had the spring rolls to start and they reminded me in flavor of items I've had in other places but now I can get the flavor closer to me, they are crunchy with a delicious dipping sauce that's both savory and sweet. My main dish was Asian salad with spicy sauce and tofu in peanut sauce, delicious. Enough food to bring home half, the ginger drink went really well with it. There's not much space to eat in, but I will probably pick up and take back to work. Oh just one negative, unpleasant, loud music. If they play something nice at a lower level it will be a more pleasant experience.
(5)
Roxana N.

Got the salad which was good, the tamarind sauce was also good and not overpowering; the only disappointment (which made this a 3 vs. a 4 for me) was the chicken that had skin and fat. Maybe I missed it in the menu, but I wish I was explicitly given the option of skinless chicken breast. Quick service and good environment for a quick lunch.
(3)
Sahil M.

It's okay. Perhaps it's the healthy was that takes away from the flavor though. The chicken was good, but would not eat here regularly.
(3)
Windsor M.

I'm surprised at the many less-than-stellar reviews for Asian Box and I'm impressed by management's respectful replies to these harsh criticisms. First of all, this is an Asian street food/ bricks&mortar hybrid take-out in a Palo Alto shopping center. If my child went to Palo Alto High, I'd be thrilled they'd have a burger/pizza alternative (though I'm a big Howie's fan too). As it was, I took my young adventurous eaters to Asian Box, we had them pile on all the fun extras and we had a culinary blast. Lemongrass pork, egg and all the fixings left me satiated and happy.
(4)
Peter L.

Asian Box...so peculiar is the name (sounds like a maneuver you'd see on soft core porn) but so delicious is the food. I had Asian Box for the first time a month ago, wreaked havoc on my stomach but the food was so delicious I had to come back for a second try, if nothing else then for the sakes of science. Since I had the day off this time I decided to try the "Hot Box It". Since it was a to-go order they put the hot sauce in a separate container, I mixed in about half of it completely singed my tongue. I don't know if I have gotten totally weak sauce or the combination of spicy and sour was just too much or what, but my stomach burned like the Kilauea for a good three hours after I consumed the meal. And THEN...the real fun began, know what I am saying? I think the food here is superb but I'd definitely not recommend the "Hot Box It" option...unless you are a masochist...or you enjoy going to the bathroom 6 times a day. Good times!
(4)
Jane H.

Went for lunch 6/3/13. Food was terrific, but the cashier/server was extremely attitudinal and unpleasant. It was like she was doing me a favor when she took my order. She seemed annoyed and when I asked if they had Vietnamese Iced Tea (I thought I had seen that they had that on their website), she said that they only had regular iced tea - again, seeming annoyed I didn't know that. While waiting for my order, I saw that they had Vietnamese Iced COFFEE. It would've been a perfect lunch had she been pleasant and willing to help the customer have a better experience. To be honest, the food was so good that I will definitely be going back. I just hope I am served by a different, nicer cashier.
(4)
Jacqueline N.

Love the variety! No matter what combo you create, it's always so refreshingly good! It's perfect for me, since I always like to try new things/combos.
(5)
Karen R.

if you're looking for authentic Asian cuisine - this is not the place to go. It's an Americanized version of Asian cuisine. Works for many (especially the non-Asians), but not for me.
(2)
Linda L.

Tried it again, and they didn't char the meat this time! it was perfectly cooked and flavored. I hope this wasn't a fluke. It also looks like they got rid of the mushroom broth noodles and replaced it with chilled rice noodles. I like the sound of that, so I'll probably return to try it.
(5)
Chris J.

Solid, fresh food. The varied options for meat (chicken, beef, tofu, and pork) coupled with the various sauces is a nice idea. Perhaps I just haven't found the right combo, but I've yet to be blown away. Space is very limited as well. In sum, a perfectly fine option--but not something I ever really crave.
(3)
John R.

Great concept. Pick carb, protein, veg, sauce for cheap.
(4)
Kim N.

Went to a party that was catered by the folks from Asian Box. Had the vermicelli noodles with nuts/raisins/fish sauce, chicken pineapple meatballs, spring rolls, banh mi and chicken/beef skewers. They had commandeered an alley a couple doors down from the venue and were cranking the food on a grill and some makeshift tables. Definitely looking forward to the full fledged finished shop operations. Great start though!
(4)
Philip L.

Love this place...their pork is lean and tasty, can easily customize with veggies and sauces and brown rice. Wish they had more locations closer to Redwood City or San Mateo. Rare combination of being healthy and yummy, just like Chipotle.
(5)
Loz L.

I am not a fan of the chicken, but the coconut tofu is SO GOOD! I love the layers of flavors in the box (the crispy onions are my fave). Compared to Asian Box, my husband deemed Tava, in the same shopping center and a similar concept ("Indian chipotle" rather than "Asian chipotle"), "just sad" and I totally agree. The shrimp is also great. I recommend mixing the sauces: Miss Jones + Tamarind is such a good combo. The only thing that keeps me from frequenting this place more is the parking lot. Once Gott's opens there, I'll be scared of fighting the parking nightmare.
(4)
Cathy W.

We didn't make any food last week, so I had to resort to buying lunch for a few days at work. I decided to give this place a try after having a below-par experience at Some Kind of Place Korean BBQ right across the street. Had two different lunches in 1 week: 1. long grain jasmine rice + chicken + wok tossed vegetables + all toppers (except jalapeno) + tamarind vinaigrette/peanut sauce The food was delicious! They put a little too much sauce, though, so it got a little too salty when I got to the end of the my lunchbox...but overall, very very yummy! 2. chilled rice noodle + shrimp + wok tossed vegetables + all toppers (except jalapeno) + tamarind vinaigrette I wanted to try something different the second time around, and this combination is very similar to Pho vermicelli. I was slightly disappointed when my box only came with 3 shrimps, but I guess it's quite a lot for the size of the lunchbox, ha ha. I really love the food here and wouldn't mind coming back here again in the future if I ever need a lunch! =)
(4)
Neesheet P.

More like a 3.5. Good Asian, but seemed slightly limited. One of our friends calls it the Asian chipotle. It's kind if like that. Meal could have been a little more hot. Probably a few more choices, although the simplicity if it was nice. I had the tofu, everything. Tried a few different sauces as well as the hot box. Could have been a bit spicer.
(3)
Linda C.

Asian Box is a good concept but the execution is not so great. Just like Chipotle, you build your own meal from a set of component choices, and just like Chipotle, the target is clearly a somewhat healthier fast food alternative. Unfortunately, the components are fine but not delicious, the portions are a little small for the price, and the food is quicker than a restaurant but much slower than Chipotle or Panda Express. I tried the beef, and it was a little gummy and fishy tasting. The veggies were good, and the sauce was okay but somehow a little unbalanced (not enough of the right flavors and too much of some others). It takes a lot longer than Chipotle because rather than dishing out food from different vats, they take orders and make the food in the back. This slows things down and it also limits the customizability of the dishes a little. I like that at Chipotle I can say, "Just a little rice" or "Extra salsa, please" and it happens right in front of me. Finally, after all that, my bowl was $10. For that price, they need to do a bit better.
(2)
Victor C.

While this place makes decent tasting food, it has plenty of shortcomings: 1) I asked if I could have two types of me. The lady informed me that an extra meat is 5 dollars (WTFFFFF, thats almost the price of an entire chipotle bowl). I asked if i could get half and half, and she said no...again WTFFFFF it's a freaking assembly line business, why would they not be able to give me half and half 2) Asked for a spring roll...was rudely pointed towards the self serve area, where the spring rolls were 3) Way too much rice, not enough of anything else that goes into the bowl Again, the food is decent, but the rest of this business doesnt deserve a 4+ star rating
(3)
Pierre B.

Great concept and tasty bowls: I usually go for half noodles/half rice with the steak (which is usually cooked rare as it should), and add the no-oil fish sauce, asian street sauce, hot box sauce, and peanut sauce. The peanut sauce is one of my favorites: the lime and coconut give it a nice little kick. Portions are good and feels quite healthful. However, I wish you could pay a couple dollars extra for a bigger portion when you're feeling hungry. The food is well priced, but with add-ons and drinks, you should be prepared to pay around $15 for your box, which is kind of pricey for "fast food." Also, the line/ordering area can get a bit messy during lunch hours; this is something they should probably work on as/if they expand to other locations.
(4)
Jon K.

I first heard about, Asian Box when I was reading through Bon Appetite- a eatery nearby had an article so it obviously got my attention! Centered in the middle of the Stanford shopping mall grounds right off El Camino, Asian Box can be seen as one of the go to places during the lunch hour. My friend and I were driving around and he mentioned he was hungry, maybe some Chiptole and *snap* I immediately though of Asian Box. We got there a bit after the peak lunch time around 1:30 so we were fortunate to not have to wait in a long line. The moment you walk you could smell all the wonderful flavors wafting about- from the grilled pork to the viet coffee machine whirling in the back of the room, your senses will be on a ride. I've been there a couple times before and the staff is always cheerful, welcoming and definitely helpful since the menu can be slightly daunting for first timers. Ordering lunch is really systematic: you pick your starch (rice noodles, brown/white rice), then your protein (grilled beef, chicken pork or tofu), steamed or stir fried veggies, an array of toppings (jalapenos, bean sprouts, carmelized egg, etc) and finally a house sauce ( i recommend the tamarind with the chicken and Asian dust with the pork!). The bento box that you just created usually comes out quite quickly and is worth the price. If you're in the area, I really suggest that you stop by! Get the caramelized egg topping for sure! Also, Grace Nguyen, the executive chef is usually behind the counter working the line making sure all the food comes out awesome- say hi and let her know the food's awesome!
(4)
Malerie B.

I had just gotten done swimming at Stanford and was starving but wanted something healthy. I stopped here for lunch. The atmosphere was nice and the food came out pretty quickly, but a was very disappointed with my meal. I ordered the jasmine rice with chicken, steamed veggies, herbs, lime, and the tamarind vinaigrette. The portion was small. They barely gave me any veggies, but loaded it up with rice. Everything was ok except for the chicken and the sauce. That was nasty. The chicken was dark meat (which I do not like), and it was super fatty. I am sure a lot of people like this place, but I will not eat here again just because of my taste preference. I like the idea of the place, but I think they can do so much better. They even advertise that their produce and meat is natural, fresh, and sustainable. The veggies tasted like it, but the meat did not.
(2)
Melissa S.

Super yummy and most importantly HEALTHY! The "workout" is my absolute fave! I love this place!
(4)
Jon W.

I came here on afternoon starving, looking for a quick bite. I saw the nice exterior modern design of Asian Box and I was attracted to try some of this modern Asian food. I walked in and saw that this was a customizable meal; you start with your rice (I got brown), then choose the meat (I got chicken), then move on to toppings (I got bean sprouts and jalapeÃ±o, and then finally sauces (I got Miss Jones' Sriracha) Now there are many different combinations you can get, but the combination I seemed to get was too heavy for my taste. The sauce seemed to overpower everything else, so I suggest you add it little by little. I also got the sweet sauce on the side and that sauce was FAR too sweet, so be wary of how much you add. The rice itself seemed undercooked by the meat was good. Overall, might have been an enjoyable meal the sauces weren't so overpowering.
(2)
Foodie F.

Gimmicky I ordered the lemongrass pork on brown rice with everything on it, and was recommended to get the fish sauce and sriracha. TOO MUCH SRIRACHA. I knew I should have ordered it on the side. It ruined the whole dish because it was covered completely in the sauce. I had to scrape it off and it still sucked. The pork could have been cooked longer, it was chewy. Sorry, not into this place.
(2)
Melissa L.

3.5 stars. Pros: -friendly, fast service -quality ingredients -decent (relatively filling but not disgustingly excessive) portions -tasty, yet healthy (fresh veggies!) Cons: -not authentic (yeah, I realize I just said it was tasty, but it's similar to how Chipotle is tasty but not authentic Mexican food - don't come here looking for Vietnamese food) -bad seating (one table with 8 or 10 chairs - AKA people standing around with their food waiting for us to finish so they could take our seats) -on the expensive side for what it is Also, is it just me, or is the name "Asian Box" an odd name for a restaurant? It doesn't elicit any sort of "man, I'm hungry" feelings from me. Am I just a weirdo?
(3)
Paige B.

I would eat here 9 times outta 10 over Chipotle. So much more flavor!!! I had the lemongrass marinated pork over brown rice, woked out veggies, fried scallion and bean sprout topper with the peanut sauce. I love that you could eat something entirely different every time. This is a great little secret that I hope explodes into more outlets, and I get one closer to home!
(5)
Nicole B.

I love the concept and generally think they get it right at the Mountain View location, but both times I've eaten here it was a real disappointment compared to Mtn View. The veggies aren't as good and tend to be limp and overcooked, and there is less variety (mostly cabbage). I think I'll stick to Mountain View.
(2)
Vaijayanti B.

My favorite food in Town and Country! Twice a week I am eating this box and I cannot get tired of eating the same food again! The amount of vegetables I eat in this box, I do not remember eating and enjoying the vegetables so much! The hot sauce and crushed peanuts topping are a must to complete my Asian Box meal! For Vegetarian and vegan it is a really good choice!
(5)
David L.

Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here for lunch with a friend around 12:20pm on a weekday. Got jasmine rice with chicken and caramel egg, with vinaigrette and sriracha on the side, $9. Overall, not bad, but I would have preferred more chicken, and they forgot my friend's sauces.
(4)
Hagit K.

3 smallish shrimp for $10? I'd only recommend it if the rest of the so-called box wowed me. I won't leave you in suspense: it didn't! I've tried Asian Box twice because so many have raved about it but either I was unlucky in my choice of base/veggies/topping/spices or it is just all-around mediocre. Either way, I won't be going back.
(2)
John F.

The food is very good... I would go 5 stars, but it is a bit pricey. I had the chicken and it was very flavorful. All the veggies were fresh and the brown rice was good. It could have used 20% more chicken.
(4)
Sera H.

Been here several times now and I'm definitely a fan of the flavors, it's a great place to pick up something quick and flavorful to eat. My typical go-to is a box with Brown Rice, Lemongrass Pork (by far the best tasting protein imo), wok tossed Veggies, all of the box toppers (including that caramel egg), and a mix of the Tamarind Vinaigrette & Fish Sauce with the Sriracha mix on the side (it's not pure Sriracha, I think it's mixed with vinegar and sugar, for those worried about spiciness). This runs me a little under $10, and is a solid amount of food. If I had any gripes here it would be mainly with consistency. I realize I started coming here when they first opened, so hopefully they've hammered most of it out, but I remember once getting an amazing tasting box (perfect rice, ample pork, perfect blend of sauce) and the next week getting one that had mushy rice and drowning in Sriracha (which is why I get it on the side now). I know a lot of that has to do with whoever made the box that day, but you know, it's hard to forgive soggy rice. The good times have way outweighed the couple of meh times though, so I will definitely continue coming here.
(4)
M L.

This is my favorite lunch place in PA. If you don't like flavorful food don't go here. Fresh, healthy (well depending on the combo you choose), gluten free, quick and well priced. The restaurant is small, and there is limited seating inside and out and parking during lunch hour is tight. But stop your whining and get there at 11:30 or 1pm if you don't want to deal with the crowds. This place is busy because it is good. I've had all the combos, and they are all tasty depending on what you're feeling like. Favorite combo is the shrimp with noodles, or maybe the tofu with brown rice, or maybe the pork with brown rice....they're all good. The Vietnamese coffee is a little intense for me but I like all the other beverages.
(5)
Carolyn P.

Seems like there are a lot of Chipotle-ish type restaurants popping up recently. I like how you customize your bowl with the various vegies/meats/sauces. Fresh, filling, delicious, and cheap...I like it!
(4)
Lyn C.

Vietnamese food as a healthy alternative with nice service and accepts credit card... definitely something you can't find in ESSJ. I got: Chicken +brown rice +wok steamed veggies +all toppers +siracha on the side +asian dust No tables yet? inside, but it was a nice enough day to eat outdoors. Also, I have not figured out what was special about the asian dust but next time I'll pass and I want to try the other stuff, including the coffee.
(4)
Joycelyn L.

Tasty food, but not as filling as I thought. Came here with my bf for the opening night and I got the lemongrass marinated pork, rice noodles with mushroom broth, wok spiced vegetables, all the box toppers except the egg, and the sriracha and fish sauce. It tasted yummy, but the noodles reminded me of spaghetti noodles and it was a kinda wet, next time I'll stick with the rice. My bf got the six spice blend chicken, with rice, wok spiced vegetables, all the box toppers, and the sriracha and hot box it sauces. His tasted a bit more spicy and had less meat in it. We both felt the portion wasn't large enough to fill us. Their lemonade was pretty good, just make sure you don't suck up the portion of the pith. We'll be back if in the area. Note, they missed some of my toppings, but I guess because it was the opening night?
(4)
Melissa K.

Really tasty! We were walking by looking for a snack and saw "GLUTEN-FREE" on the wall. Our server very patiently helped us to order a box for me and my husband to share that was gluten and dairy free, and made a few suggestions on what would go well together. We ordered the pork with brown rice, all the toppings, the creamy peanut sauce and also had the caramel egg at the server's suggestion. The food came out quickly and well cooked. I found my "box" to be a bit protein-light and carb-heavy but not a bad deal for $8. The sauce was an extra 75 cents (I think) which was worth it because it made our rice bowl taste almost like a curry. The caramel egg was almost a dollar extra... it was ok, but just ok so I probably won't order that again. We considered getting a pre-boxed appetizer as well but we did not go for it because it was a single spring roll, cut in half with dipping sauce, not quite worth $3.75.
(4)
Betty P.

As a Vietnamese girl raised on daily homecooked Vietnamese meals and who regularly cooks Vietnamese food, I'm giving this place a total "meh." The ingredients are basically all that makes this place Vietnamese, so I guess that's where the influence is coming from. The flavors are too bland and everything coming out cold didn't help, either. Also, can I get a "say WHAT?" for calling the iced tea "VC Iced Tea"? I seriously did a double-take when I looked at the menu board and have to say that I was incredibly offended. Ok, I totally get that it could stand for venture capitalist given that Palo Alto is full of VCs, but when calling it Vietnamese-inspired food, labeling a menu item as "VC" (Viet Cong?!) should give you some pause. Did these people not have a basic history lesson or what? Came around 11:15 AM on a regular workday to have lunch with a friend. The place was absolutely deserted, so whoop whoop for not having to wait. There's limited seating inside and a few tables outside. Very clean, fresh-looking decor. Ordered the brown rice, tofu coconut curry, wok-tossed veggies, and all the toppings (minus the caramel egg). The guy working the counter suggested the peanut sauce and boy, did I regret it. We waited about five minutes for our order and somehow, in that time, the temperature of our food dropped to absolutely glacial. The brown rice was super soggy, the veggies were totally cold and flavorless, and the peanut sauce absolutely overwhelmed everything. It was like eating watered down, unsalted peanut butter... and this coming from a girl who eats peanut butter alone by the spoonful. The pickled veggies were fine. Everything was in a reasonable ratio. The only redeeming quality: the real ginger ale! They sell this same stuff at the SF Ferry Building's Farmer's Market and I can never resist a bottle with the chunks of real spicy ginger. Brownie points for using sustainable packaging and utensils, but not enough to bump it up a star. Totally not worth the $9 I dropped on this. Save your money and hit up Kirk's in the same plaza instead.
(2)
B W.

This place is a good place to grab a quick and good meal if you're around the Palo Alto area. I don't even dare going at lunch though due to the swarms of kids, but have done so on the weekend. Also, have picked it up for dinner on multiple occasions. It's one of those A+B+C build your own kinda joints. Pick a base (rice, veggies, etc.) + protein + toppings + sauce and done. Unlike Tava, which is a fucking joke, this place works, and the portions are decent for the price. EXCEPT FOR THE SPRING ROLLS!!! Hooly fuck, $3.50/$3.75 for the veggie/shrimp, respectively. I asked them how many you get and the girl said 2, then pointed to the cooler area that held the drinks and these rolls. I quickly said no thanks as i saw a little plastic container that held ONE roll cut in half. Seriously girl??? 2?? My ass. I mean, paying $4 for 2 at a vietnamese restaurant is already a bit pricey, but you expect us to dole out $3.75 for ONE??? Absolutely ridiculous. Were these blessed and hand-rolled by virgin Nepalese monks or something?? Anyways, other than that ridiculousness, the pork and chicken that i've had are nicely cooked. Good char actually on the pork. The brown rice and asian veggies were all good. The sriracha sauce is good, nothing special even though they give it their own name. Save yourself the 25 or 50 cents that they charge for the asian dust. Unless you really love peanuts. Otherwise, it's quite pointless and doesn't add much - you already get plenty of crunch with the toppings (of which i always just get everything). The caramel egg is also good if you feel like adding it. The viet coffee is surprisingly good also. Service is always good, even if their "Welcome to asian box." line sometimes sounds a bit forced. Barely any seating inside, but some seats outside. No bathroom. Definitely will continue to keep coming here.
(4)
Allen C.

My stream of thought when trying this place: "New-age sensibility in my Southeast Asian food? Why, that's positively ridic.....*munch munch munch*...hmmm, this is actually pretty good." It's Asian fast food, your way. If you're gluten-free, no problem! Vegetarian? No problem! Short on cash? Ehhhh probably not the best idea. While Asian Box does give you a large amount of flexibility in customizing your box, it definitely takes a bite out of your wallet for the amount of food you get. It's tasty, no doubt, but you're essentially paying the same price you would in those sit-down Thai/Viet restaurants during lunchtime. The interior and decor are clean, modern, and minimalist, with lots of burnished steel, but the poor lighting and lack of ambiance are sort of depressing. You're better off sitting outside on the patio, where it feels less claustrophobic. Cashier service was quick and efficient, and they seem to be pretty eco-friendly to boot. I'm feeling positive about Asian Box overall, but the prices might keep me away for awhile.
(4)
Ash T.

NASTY! NASTY! NASTY! This place is amazingly bad. They should have paid me to eat here and not the other way around. No, I take that back; I wouldn't eat here even if they paid me. Ordered the six spice chicken over brown rice with fish sauce and vegetables and assorted other accoutrement. The sauce tasted like manufactured crap. Panda express has better sauce. Actually Panda Express has better everything. I couldn't even eat this bullsh*t meal. The "chicken" they gave must have been the scrapings from an old batch. It looked like gristle and I got maybe two bites of meat from the plateful of fat that they served me. Yelp needs a special super sub-par level of rating for this establishment.
(1)
pamela f.

From the minute the sign went up announcing the imminent arrival of Asian Box, I was drooling with anticipation. Since then I've developed an out-and-out addiction to the stuff (once I had it twice in the same week!) All the meats I've tried are great, but I'm particularly fond of the pork, with it's delightful texture. I love all the box toppings, but only rarely indulge in the caramel egg - though it is quite delicious. The brown rice is al dente, and nutty as it should be; not at all over steamed, which it might well have been in less capable hands. My quibble; they sometimes get carried away with the sauces, occasionally resulting in my pork and brown rice inundated in the excellent, but salty no-oil fish sauce. Guess I'll have to start asking for the sauce on the side, and experimenting with the balance on my own. Also, Town and Country shopping center is a royal pain to get into and out of at all but the most off-off hours. Wish somebody would rethink the traffic lights there.
(3)
Mary-Anne C.

Rare find---didn't know that this actually existed until my friend posted a pic on her instagram LOL! I work in Palo Alto so everything is far, well like a 15 minute drive and with not much time for lunch coming here makes it fast and easy. I had the grilled beef over brown with everything except the bean sprouts (yuck!) and I had a side of asian dust. Yum! I assume this is something close to Vietnamese. Well I'm pretty sure it is. Well if it is, I love vietnamese food! The food was fresh and I'd say it falls into the semi-healthy category. It looses a star for the cost but hey, it's P.A. ....can't argue with that. Imaaaaaa coming back for you Asian Box!
(4)
Martina S.

For the times that I have been here, the food has always been great. The only complaint I have is that when I asked for double chicken, the serving seemed like a single serving of chicken. I would have expected more chicken for a meal that cost me almost $20 ("double chicken" box, extra egg, vietnamese coffee.)
(3)
Corinne D.

We got a welcome greeting when we walked in, despite the fact that the place was gearing up for the lunch take-out crowd. Little things like this do matter. Co-founder Chad Newton was there; I asked for his favorite combo -- and got a jasmine rice w/ beef box loaded with fresh toppings and a mix of 2 sauces. Loved the fresh lime and crispy shallots. I can't eat wheat/gluten, so I usually have to skip any kind of onions like this, as they've often been dusted in flour and fried. Nice to find a place where everything really is gluten-free. I would normally have to drive around to two different restaurants + make a stop at Whole Foods to get a nice variety of g-free food and drinks like this. Even though it may not be an inexpensive at some shops in San Jose, this is fast casual at its best in this area. The Vietnamese, iced coffee was labeled as semi-sweet. I would have liked just a bit less sweet -- just so I could enjoy those nice caramel-y, almost chocolate flavors. The ginger soda I picked up to go was also great later over ice at home. The decor, menus, and packaging all incorporated green best practices. Great to think about the cumulative impact that these items can have.
(4)
Anonymous S.

Loved it. Delicious, healthy, and reasonably priced. I thought the portion size was generous---my husband and I shared two boxes and had enough leftovers for one small lunch the next day. Now that I know about this place, I'm sure I will use it for healthy fast food on nights that I can't cook. Update: I went back and I have to admit that the second time I got a disappointing amount of chicken in one box and shrimp in the other. I would guess that they are required to weigh the servings to be consistent, but it sure doesn't seem that way---I got a lot more protein in each box the first time I was there.
(3)
Jackie T.

I give Asian Box a 3.5-4 stars. I ordered the lemongrass pork with brown rice, wok tossed vegetables, all the toppings (including the caramel egg), Tamarind vinaigrette and the fish sauce and Miss Jones' Sriracha on the side. The pork had a lot of flavor, but it's a very lean cut of meat so it's tough. I'd opt for trying the chicken or shrimp next time. I wasn't a huge fan of the vinaigrette (which I think was slightly too tart or something) and I felt like they poured too much on the dish. I did like the fish sauce a lot and the Sriracha (it's not that spicy). I originally ordered the 3 sauces on the side. The girl at the counter was nice and explained that it would be $.50 more if I got three sauces on the side but no charge if I could one sauce on top and the other two on the side. The caramel egg is basically a hardboiled egg (not a lot of taste either), but I like eggs and didn't have a problem with it. The wok tossed vegetables didn't do much for me (in terms of flavor) and I would order the steamed ones next time (might as well save on some of the oil). I did enjoy all the toppings, especially the crispy shallots and fresh lime wedge. Overall, my meal was less than $10 (no drinks) and I was actually happy with the size. To me, $10 isn't that much for quality ingredients. The ingredients tasted fresh and light. I didn't feel heavy and gross afterward. I would go back, but I'd order differently. Maybe try the Asian vegetable salad or chilled rice noodles and definitely order the fish and Sriracha sauces on the side. I'm glad that Palo Alto has more healthy food options!
(3)
Karen C.

Cute gimmick, mediocre food. It's like the Asian Chipotle. (Yes, I see another reviewer said that, but my husband will verify I said that exact thing about two bites into the meal.) I had the lemongrass pork over Asian noodle salad, with wok-charred veggies, lime, bean sprouts, and tamarind vinaigrette. He has the lemongrass pork over jasmine rice with the caramel egg, Asian Street Dust (!), and bean sprouts. We shared the tofu fresh roll. The pork was okay - not a roasted Vietnamese/Thai treatment as I hoped but perhaps a marinated pork tenderloin? The rest of my dish was good, if a bit lacking in flavor. His was okay as well, but the "Asian Street Dust" was basically a dash of Five Spice powder with some roasted sesame seeds. The total for both dishes, extra items, fresh roll, and two drinks was $27. That's $10 more than the same meal would have been at a Vietnamese restaurant, with half the flavor of the real thing. Bottom line: it was a fun thing to try once but we won't go out of our way to return.
(2)
bruce k.

I read a negative comments about Asian Box in the Palo Alto Online website that did not sound fair, so being a little bit the contrarian type I thought I would try it for myself with my girlfriend. We wanted to like it since it is a great idea, and physically a nice interpretation of whatever style it is ... kind of low key, low budget Spartan minimalism. It was easy to figure out, the guy behind the counter explained the simply 1, 2, 3 in seconds, so people who are complaining about that maybe need someone to plan their meals for them so it will be easy enough for them to handle! ;-) Seriously, that is not the problem with Asian Box. By all rights this place should be great. They seem to have a clean space with a lot of light, should have fresh ingredients and a new idea, but somehow the food underwhelmed me. Did the food just look fresh and had really been sitting in the refrigerator for a while or was it just not that high-quality? It was hard to say just what was off, but the taste was bland when I was expecting at least mild taste bud popping! One thing that kind of was sad was how much sugar my Vietnamese coffee had in it. I was wondering if I might have to worry if halfway through a drink it might crystalize into solid sugar and choke me to death on it. It is just way too much by any normal taste. They did tell me it was sweetened and even gave me a sample, but that sample did not really prepare me for that. It seems more sugary than a milkshake or the coffee drinks you buy in the supermarket. This drink just seems inconsistent with the whole idea of what they are trying to do? There are lots of veggies and stuff in these, and I made sure to get veggies and non-oil stuff, but still my food ended up tasting oily. I think physically they cut things up so small and increase the surface area so much that when they put on the dressing or contact with any oil it gets sucked up like a sponge, way too much, and it's too much oil, for me at least. Maybe quality control can be challenging in that respect, but there is a lot of potential here. First thing someone who owns the place should go through and eat there and see what they are doing, because it is probably at best inconsistent. Asian Box is not cheap either. They are fast, and they are customer oriented, it's clear they are trying, but they need to have someone with some objectivity eat their food, it's either not so hot or it is so difficult to make that the quality control is not good. One other thing to mention is that the music on the inside is from speakers pointed down from the ceiling in the direction of the customers, and I think they do not realize how loud it from behind the counter. The choice of music is personal, but whatever they decide to blare at us should not be ear-damaging or offensive. I'll give Asian Box a chance to mature and try them again at some point. If they can get it right I would really like to have a fast place that I can go quickly for this kind of food.
(2)
Arjun A.

5 stars straight up. Awesome food. I went a bit early to grab lunch, around 11:20 am. Tofu rolls were not awake. I waited for 15 mins to get it and they gave me a free drink for being patient. Talk about marketing. This food is in a different league. No question about it.
(5)
Charles Y.

I experienced Asian Box at the Yelp Elite Petworking Event (aka Yappy Hour) a few weeks ago. It struck me as VERY tasty then, so I decided to check out the establishment. But thinking about the meal I had today, I had to go back and confirm that Asian Box was the same company that had catered the yelp event. 1. Cleanliness: We came at about 1:00 p.m. on a weekday. Maybe they had just finished their lunch rush, but the one long inside table was dirty, and the stools were in clusters and not orderly. It wasn't the most welcoming entry. I always hate to see a dirty dining area because it makes me wonder how things are kept behind the counter. 2. Underdelivery: Asian Box's concept seems polished and stands out, but when the staff member came and handed me my plain brown box, it just looked so utilitiarian. There appeared to be too much food crammed into too small a box; most of my toppings were scooped into one side, with the other 80% of the bowl filled with rice, tofu, and the sprout topping. It would have greatly benefitted from being stirred before assembly, but it looked like constitutent ingredients were plunked right into the box. By the time I was half-through it, my rather petite dining partner had finished every bite of her otherwise similar noodle dish. I had the "long grain jasmine rice," curry coconut tofu, sprouts, a few other things, and a caramel egg. My topping was the "asian dust," which is supposed to be spicy and sweet rolled into one. Not to be a Negative Nancy, but the rice just seemed like regular rice to me; I wished I had ordered the noodles. Once I had eaten the tasty egg, I fell into a rut where I began to taste nothing but curry rice. For $10, I guess I had expected something with more character. "How do we make a customer like this happy?" 1. Watch the orderliness of the customer dining area. 2. Offer pre-assembled dishes with flavors that go well together. It was the wonderful flavor combinations at the Yelp event that made me want to try you again, but obviously assembling such a dream meal is beyond my skill, so I need help. 3. Consider renaming the long-grain jasmine rice. It sounds so exotic, but try Chipotle rice and tell me they don't have you beat. 4. Consciously plan how the different types of bowls will be plated. 5. Encourage something spicy to make the other flavors jump.
(2)
Rhett L.

Went to asian box for the first time and couldn't be happier. Lunch was very good. Annabelle was a delight when she helped us. Definitely plan on returning
(4)
A'loyal C.

AN ANT CRAWLED OUT OF ONE OF MY BOXES. Not to mention that one of the guys with longer hair behind the counter has given me lip during 2 of my pick up orders now. You have lost my business indefinitely.
(1)
Jackie S.

My local, sustainably, prepared food box had: Chilled rice noodles- good, not over-cooked Pork- wow!!! Far exceeded my expectations. Was this pork belly? Omg- as tender and delicious as pork can get. Caramelized, and flavorful. This is premium pork, people! I chose all box toppers- plenty of veggies, pickled veggies, my tastebuds were rejoicing. No-oil fish sauce topping- ngoc mum. Perfect. I will definitely return. The portions of meat were spot-on. Nice mix all around. I feel like anyone could enjoy a meal here and be satisfied, including my low-carb husband. I saw some shrimp pass by and they looked nicely grilled and caramelized and grilled- will try those next time.
(4)
Daisy T.

Fresh! Fast! Fun! It's nice to have some affordable Vietnamese food in Palo Alto! My wallet can't handle Tamarine and Three Seasons. I love that everything here is super fresh. They even use all natural meats. And being a completely gluten-free facility is a plus! Everything comes out pretty fast, so you don't have to worry about getting back late from your lunch break at work. The menu may be overwhelming at first, but it's easy after the first time ordering. I like how I get to customize my own box. The menu is pretty simple once you look through it. Step 1: Pick your base - Brown rice, jasmine rice, Asian vegetable salad or rice noodles Step 2: Pick your protein (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp or tofu) and veggies (steamed or wok tossed) Step 3: Pick your box toppers (bean sprouts, crispy shallots, chopped peanuts, fresh herbs, jalapeno, lime, pickled vegetables, scallion oil and caramel egg) and sauces (no-oil fish sauce, Miss Jones' sriracha, tamarind vinagrette, peanut sauce, HotBoxIt and Asian street dust) 1, 2, 3 and you're done! I always try to go for the brown rice or Asian vegetable salad in an attempt to limit my glucose intake, but white rice and noodles are so yummy! =P My personal favorites are the beef and chicken. The beef is flavorful, tender and cooked to medium rare (as it should be!). The chicken is juicy and tender. I love the bit of char on it. It really adds to the flavor. Go for the wok tossed veggies. it's sauteed with soy sauce, lemongrass and garlic. Yum! Definitely try all the box toppers for your first time (unless you have a food allergy and/or don't like spicy stuff). The crispy shallots and pickled veggies are my faves. And go for the caramel egg! A great, little Vietnamese treat! I like to mix the hard-boiled egg yolk with my rice and sauce. Gives another flavor profile to my food. As for the sauces, the tamarind vinagrette is for sure my favorite! Sweet and tangy. Mixing it with the no-oil fish sauce takes it to another level! I really like the flavor of the HotBoxIt (their hottest hot sauce), too. But that one can get a little too hot if I eat too much of it. =P Don't forget to try one (or all three) of their homemade drinks. The iced tea is super refreshing. Lemon-lime marmalade has just the right balance of sour to sweet. And the Vietnamese iced coffee is super addicting!
(5)
Nicole W.

I expected more from a Charles Phan protÃ©gÃ©e. Decent rice bowls. Not a fan of the sauces.
(3)
Paula S.

I feel like I am always finding something new at Town and Country and Asian Box is no exception. I went there for a quick lunch with my friend and was pleasantly surprised by it. I ordered the chicken box with noodles and sriracha sauce and all the toppings. It was really good and packed a surprising amount of heat and heft. At first I was a little surprised that my meal (including a mint green tea) came out to around $12 or so (though it is Palo Alto...), but I ended up having enough leftovers for two more meals after, so it evened out in the end. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Rita I.

Really,really good...l would eat here everyday if I lived closer! It's just yummy Get all the toppings!
(5)
Melissa H.

We have Asian Box at least once a week in my house, sometimes twice. Don't be intimidated if there's a line (which there almost always is) because it moves quickly and you get your food way faster than you think you will. We absolutely love that each one of us can be as particular as we want to be when choosing our boxes. All the ingredients are fresh & flavorful. The grilled meats are so tasty and the beef in particular is very tender. My 6 year old gets the beef with white rice and wok tossed veggies without any other bells & whistles. My 11 year old has the beef with noodles, wok tossed veggies and the tamarind vinaigrette on the side. My husband & I love the lemongrass pork with the Asian Vegetable Salad, wok tossed vegetables, all the box toppers except the Caramel Egg with Sriracha, Fish Sauce & Peanut Sauce. Unless you really love that "so spicy I can't stop sweating and my head is soaked" experience, don't do the Hot Box. The Sriracha is plenty hot enough. Trust me on this one 'cause I learned the hard way. If your family is looking for new, delicious ways to get more vegetables into your diet, look no further. Try the Asian Vegetable Salad as the base of your box and with all the other veggies they throw in there with the pickled vegetables and the wok tossed or steamed vegetables, there are at least 3 servings. I never feel overstuffed when I'm done with a meal from Asian Box and I can even feel a little smug for finally eating enough vegetables, which I never seem to be able to do. Another thing I appreciate is that the ubiquitous tip jar is missing from the counter at Asian Box, yet the staff is always very polite, kind & helpful. So refreshing. And all of their containers can be composted or recycled, so no need to feel guilty about that either. Go try it and I'll see you on one of our weekly trips to the Box.
(5)
Louis T.

My GF dragged me to Town and Country to shop at Athleta today and while I was waiting for her to finish, delicious smells were wafting over so I just had to check out the source ... we stumbled onto Asian Box just across the way and when we saw the gluten-free menu we had to try it. It wasn't crowded at all and the guy behind the counter very enthusiastically and patiently explained the ordering process. My GF ordered the chicken with asian vegetable salad, shallots, lime squeeze, and tamarind vinaigrette. I ordered the beef with peanut sauce, long grain jasmine rice, steamed vegetables, shallots, and lime squeeze. We also ordered the coconut water and real ginger drink. Our meals were prepared very quickly (we had just sat down outside and I was about to go back inside to pick up our orders when one of staff brought our orders - great service!) and *totally* hit the spot - good cuts of beef, fresh vegetables, flavorful rice and seasonings, tender chicken, and the drinks were perfect complements to our meals. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because the chicken had some sections of skin and gristle, nothing major but it would have been perfect if the chicken had been skinless and gristle-free. Pricing is a bit high but par for the course for Palo Alto. There is some seating inside and ample seating outside. We liked the separate trash and recycling bins outside as well. Our appetites were more than sated and we will *definitely* be back - Asian Box rocks!
(4)
Mary S.

Have to say, we were excited to see an Asian spin on Chipotle. Hubby and I ordered the 1. shrimp with asian salad +wok tossed veggies + tamarind vinaigrette + all toppings, and 2. garlic beef with jasmine rice + wok tossed veggies+spicy sryracha sauce + all toppings, and 3. the marmalade lemonade = $ 22 Growing up eating good and "budget" Asian food, the price tag was a bit hard to swallow at first. But after finishing our meal, we both think it is pretty good. It is true that it may not be the most authentic Vietnamese food, but it is definitely much healthier. It is really hard to find Vietnamese food that is not without MSG, and all the additives. The flavors were pretty good, and you can definitely tell they use quality ingredients. The grilled shrimps were all plump, juicy. The beef was tender and cooked really nicely. All the vegetables were crunchy, and wok tossed veggies had just the right flavor (like how my mom would cook it), and we love love loved the pickled daikons. Although the box meal looks deceivingly small, both of us felt full after the meal. The only thing we did not enjoy was the marmalade lemonade, the marmalade was a bit too bitter, and even though we appreciate the less sweet drink, the bitterness did not go well with not so sweet lemonade. We had to do something to our drink (+ moscato and peach sparkling juice) to enjoy it fully. That said, we may not be coming here when we crave pho noodles, but we would come back for fast and healthy Vietnamese meal.
(4)
Liza C.

Went to this place for lunch and its such a great place for healthy fast food. Food is very fast and its delicious! Will definitely be going back
(4)
Drew P.

Quick, fresh, gluten-free, tasty and inexpensive; the world needs more restaurants like Asian Box. This is the perfect place to grab a quick bite and enjoy a few minutes sitting outside or go on your way with your little brown box. The food is flavorful and well-seasoned. Asian Box claims to use all-natural ingredients, meaning they never cook anything that was raised with hormones, antibiotics or pesticides (which I love). They also "make all they can" from scratch and buy from local farmers "whenever possible", which are pretty non-committal claims, but I like their intentions. As takeout goes, Asian Box is a great choice and I definitely recommend it! What to order: Asian vegetable salad with chicken, pork, shrimp or beef. Add any vegetables, toppings and sauces that sound good to you. If you're adventurous - hot box it!
(4)
David W.

The Asian Box is fast, tasty, clean and reliable. The staff are very well trained. You first notice this when being greeted the same way each time, "Welcome to the box!" The cooks are just as good as the front office staff; I have ordered perhaps 200 boxes with no errors in preparation. Especially impressive, considering that they turn around even a large order of five or six boxes in five minutes or so. All of the choices on the menu are good, though I prefer the pork. I would give five stars, except: 1. The meat portions are small. (You can pay $5 extra for double meat, though.) 2. The vegetables, like broccoli and carrots, are not cooked long enough for my taste.
(4)
M W.

Best place in Palo Alto for a quick gluten-free lunch. Every time I'm in the area I grab lunch or a quick take home dinner for the family. We love it. And the hot box is HOT. It's awesome!
(5)
Chris K.

I really enjoy the food here. I've gotten a box with chicken, a box with pork ribs (but only on Mondays !) and a box with beef (the ox box) a few times. It's quite good, and fresh, and I enjoy the spices they put on the meat. For the price ($10-14 for most boxes), it's well worth it and I'll keep coming back. Also the staff is mega friendly, and they all yell "welcome to the box !" when you enter. Normally, I'd be really happy about that since it's quite pleasant, but it brings back bad memories of when I went to "the box" back home in NY (it's a ... bar ? or something ...).
(4)
Amy S.

Just alright. Got the OX Box, and they give A LOT of meat that's also really tender. The flavors are alright and the caramel egg was a little underwhelming, but it's a solid amount of food for the price and a good amount of meat as well.
(3)
Jason W.

The concept sounds great. Execution was a bit lacking. The beef for our orders looked like they were overcooked from the dark sauces, but once you take a bite, it's actually not overcooked. Maybe even a tad undercooked. My wife ordered the shrimp. They looked small, kind of like cocktail shrimp. My son had the oilless(?) fish sauce. He said the sauce was a bit too overpowering, made the rice too flavorful. Decent eats, but a bit overpriced for what you get. Then again, I forget that this is Palo Alto, where everything is overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Nina C.

I don't know if they resent me for asking for extra vegetables or they just don't understand when I ask for "extra vegetables" because this is my 1000th order and my vegetables keep getting lesser and lesser! Other than that, great food! Not going to stop me from ordering but I just thought you should know and listen to your customers when they ask for EXTRA VEGETABLES!!!!!
(3)
Stacey L.

Vietnamese food meets chipotle. Great service. I told the person at the counter that I was a noob and he was very helpful about guiding me through. He gave me good suggestions on what's popular. At the end of the day, I ended up with noodles, lemongrass pork, sprouts, pickled veggie, lime, crispy shallots, and peanuts. Also, the guy at the counter allowed me to pick two sauces because I was between both. The dish was very good for a fast food place. They do use fresh ingredients, which is a plus. I'm not complaining, but it didn't wow me. 3 1/2 Stars. This place is great for lunch if you need a quick bite. I will come back to try their other meats.
(3)
Sylvia K.

I've been to the MV location multiple times. I like the food and the concept. I came to this location in the Town and County shopping plaza for dinner. Step 1 is to pick either white rice, brown rice, or rice noodles. Step 2 is to pick your protein. I always get the coconut curry tofu. Step 3 is to pick your toppings, ranging from pickled veggies, sprouts, jalapeÃ±os, etc. I always just get everything. You can also add a caramel hard-boiled egg for 95 cents. It's pretty tasty. The lady step is to pick a sauce. I always get the miss jones sriracha. I don't think it's spicy, but my friends tell me I have a high tolerance for spicy. It does have a kick to it. There's not a lot of seating inside. There's a long table with maybe 10 stools and some outdoor seating. I got the rice noodles instead of my usual brown rice last time. Not sure if it was cuz of the curry from the tofu, but the consistency of the noodles was too wet - almost like they hadn't properly drained the noodles after cooking/rinsing. I won't be getting the noodles again - back to healthy brown rice next time.
(4)
Mike Y.

298th person to call this "Asian Chipotle," BOOM. (Psst, Lauren C, you blew your chance). Here's how you construct your meal: Step 1: Choose your box (choose 1) - Short Grain Brown Rice - Long Grain Jasmine Rice - Asian Vegetable Salad - Chilled Rice Noodles Step 2: Pick your favorite (choose 1) - Chicken with SIX spice blend (SIX y'all, none of that Chinese FIVE spice blend) - Pork marinated in a lemongrass something - Beef with garlic and soy glaze - Tofu with coconut curry sauce - Shrimp topped with lime and basil Step 3: Add-ons - Vegetables (choose 1): steamed or wok tossed - Toppers: fresh jalapeno, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, crispy shallots, fresh lime squeeze, scallion oil, caramel egg, chopped peanuts - Sauces: tamarind vinagrette, miss jones' sriracha, no-oil fish sauce, asian street dust, hot box it, peanut sauce Sides: tofu spring roll, shrimp spring roll, glass noodle salad, jungle jerky, green papaya, salad Drinks: vietnamese iced coffee, VC iced tea, lemon lime, marmalade The food isn't heavy and there's lots of possibilities in the permutations. The restaurant seating is basically a tall bench and high bar seats in a concrete echoing box; it's really better for take-out or outdoors seating on a nice day.
(3)
Sarah T.

fresh asian food i dont think it should be called Asian chipotle though.. I love that it is actually pretty healthy and made fresh but I went in at 3pm yet had to wait for a while before I got my food (so not as fast as Chipotle!) The portion is relatively smaller than what u expected (especially for the price tag) Service is great. All the staffs are very polite and friendly but I need to take out one star for a rather slow service
(4)
M S.

Fresh, bursting with awesome flavors and serving is just right. (Sorry we were so hungry and forgot to take picture before we started to devour it) promise it's so yummy!!! Veg are crunch and not soggy and the fried shallots adds that extra umph in it.
(5)
Sherry L.

I... LOVE this place! The concept is not original but the food is delicious! Everything is gluten-free and you get many choices to customize your box. You can't really go wrong with any of the options because they all taste great together. As someone who has been trying to eat healthy after the holidays but doesn't want the food to *taste* too healthy, this is the perfect place. First you choose a base (choice of jasmine rice, brown rice, asian salad, rice noodles) and then a meat (pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu). I went with the asian salad for the extra veggies and the beef. You automatically get wok sauteed veggies (or you can opt for steamed) and other veggie toppings such as picked carrots, bean sprouts, etc. My box was literally an explosion of yummy veggies. And of course you get to choose your sauce. I went with the tamarind, but I'm sure the other sauces are delicious too. Tl;dr tasty healthy box of veggies and meat.
(4)
Dan B.

Let me be the 297th person to call Asian Box the "Asian Chipotle." There; now that's out of the way. I've been to this location of Asian Box on-and-off for the last few years, and I've enjoyed the food here in general. The ingredients seem fresh and high quality; and they offer a decent variety, with several distinct sauces, multiple protein configurations, and multiple starch configurations. (Kudos for offering rice noodles as one of the latter). That said, it's not amazing food; after all, the ingredients have been slammed together at the last moment. Like most restaurants in this particular mall, this one suffers from a huge influx of local high school kids at lunchtime, on weekdays. But Asian Box has responded with a smart solution: they have an outdoor window counter that offers three types of super-quick, pre-selected choices. 90% of the teenage mob go there, and the main line inside stays reasonable. My only other nit with Asian Box is the seating. As in: there isn't much, and it's almost all outside. If it's a cold day (or a now-rare rainy day), you may have to get your meal to go. On the flipside, all lunch boxes are compostable and recyclable, with bins outside for each. Can't beat that with a stick. In my opinion, Asian Box is one of the better of the "fast casual" chains popping up everywhere. Not something I'd do for a relaxing dinner, but for lunch it's almost ideal.
(4)
Lilliana W.

Think fast casual, modern fresh takeout with an authentic Southeast Asian flair. Growing up with authentic Vietnamese food in LA (Golden Deli/Summer Rolls/Brodards), I've found comfort in the nuanced refreshing tastes of spring rolls and vermicelli salads topped with crispy spring rolls, shrimp paste, and grilled lemongrass meats. Asian Box brings back this ultimate comfort food in a convenient lunch box form. Fragrant & perfectly grilled lemongrass chicken with roasted vegetables, topped with crushed peanuts & fried scallions over a bed of refreshing vermicelli (thin rice noodles) and a dash of fish sauce makes the ideal summer salad.
(5)
Pa G.

It's a good place for to go lunches & dinners. Tried few times. Recent order was Chicken & pork entrees. Certainly recommend trying their caramel eggs Extra 75 cents for Peanut sauce is not worth it
(3)
Lauren C.

It's a good thing I perused through Asian Box's yelp reviews before I started my own otherwise I was going to be the lame girl calling it the "Asian Chipotle" like everyone else did. So I'm going to call it a Vietnamese Bento Box. If you don't know what a bento is go Google it. I'm not a huge fan of Vietnamese food but I do eat it when it's recommended to be. After two weeks of indulging in meaty and carb-y meals I decided to give my body a break and have a relatively healthy lunch. The choices weren't too overwhelming and it was easy for my to make my decision. I choose rice noodle over the options of white/brown rice or greens. I knew that my body would have probably appreciated the greens more but I'm still on vacation. I couldn't do a meatless lunch and decided to the shrimp is the next healthiest option over beef or chicken. The shrimp wasn't overcooked and paired well with the peanut sauce I chose. I found the choices for toppings to be a bit mediocre and nothing really sounded appetizing to me. I got some pickled vegetables along with some mixed herbs and peanuts and splurged on a caramel egg (reminds me of the Chinese tea egg). I liked that they came outside to deliver my box to me because it was getting pretty crowded inside and standing space was tight. At first glance at my box I was worried that I was going to still be hungry afterwards but I found myself getting pretty full as I worked my way through my box. I really like the idea of a create your own lunch box but I think that the term "Asian" is the wrong term for their concept seeing as the majority of the flavors are Vietnamese based. I would love for them to expand to other Asian flavors as well.
(4)
Shauna S.

What an excellent little lunch treat! I visited Asian Box with a coworker last week, with the chicken box in mind. However, after seeing the promo sign for Pho, I had to go with it (it was a little chilly outside!). I ordered the Chicken Pho, and I was NOT disappointed. It was excellent. I would order it again in a heartbeat. I do have to mention one thing about this place: the smell. Have your coworkers ever cooked fish in the company microwave? That is what it smells like inside. It's almost intolerable. They definitely need better ventilation.
(4)
M A.

It was really great food. I had the cold rice noodles and shrimp. With shrimp spring rolls on the side! I think the shrimp they cook with was a little odd but the spicy sauce was delicious.
(4)
Madhur B.

I'm conflicted about this place. I like that it's quick, and I find myself having Asian Box cravings more than I can justify. On the other hand, I'm rarely blown away by the quality of the bowl that I get - I usually find it to be slightly lacking in flavor. Regardless, I say it's worth checking out, and I recommend getting the chicken with the sriracha and tamarind sauce.
(4)
Diana W.

This is my first time coming to this location. We were able to find parking right away on a rainy Friday night which was nice. We then walked in to see many employees busting on some called in orders. It really seems like they get a lot of those and I guess being 5:30pm it was right before the dinner rush. We walked up to order and the gentlemen rang us up for two boxes. The process went smoothly and we paid for our order. I then walked out in the rain to go to the restroom and realized you needed a key. That part kind of stinks. I came back in when I was done and my dad and already gotten both of our boxes. We always get the beef well down so I was surprised at how fast they came out. We were happy with how full they were and that we were able to it right next to the water. Since we had to get up multiple times for more with that spicy siracha sauce. I unfortunately have to only give 4 stars for a couple reasons. The restroom situation is kind of a bummer wish I didn't have to go through the hassle of getting a key. The inside of this place is sooo small. They have a lot of outdoor seating, but when it's pouring rain outside you have no option, but to sit inside. It is just one long communal table and unfortunately sitting next to us was two very annoying high school valley girls (that conversation was interesting to say the least). Lastly though I'm not sure if I can give any Asian Box five stars until they have another protein option that I like. Chickens all dark meat. Pork is super fatty. Shrimp just no I don't like shellfish. Tofu ummm not in big chunks. So that leaves me with the beef which I only get because they'll cook it well done for me. Overall though I come to Asian Box a lot, because they are 100% gluten free which is perfect for this celiac and almost 100% dairy free besides the iced coffee so this works perfect for someone like me with a severe dairy allergy.
(4)
Sep N.

I've tried pork noodles in Asia and the pork noodles at Asian Box are surprisingly decent in comparison. I had the Miss Jones, which seems a bit greasy. In retrospect, that probably explains why it tastes pretty good.
(3)
Iyore O.

So here it is... let's be real, service is the most important aspect of a restaurant . If you are going to serve me up terrible service , make sure you serve me up some amazing food to compensate . First lets talk about the service . I asked for lemonade with no ice and the cashier gave me a cup of lemonade half empty. When I inquired he said you get more drink with no ice and so we compensate by filling it up three quarters of the way .... That's a new one. It's 50 cent for a sauce that is not their generic sweet sauce and then when I asked for extra sauce they abruptly reminded it would be extra as well. So I paid extra ( of course they forgot the extra sauce) .All in all I paid a dollar just to get some sauce ( which would be less than a normal serving anywhere else) . The food was okay. The chicken wasn't spectacular and the portions were so so. It wasn't even the worst food ever and certainly not the best . Proceed with caution ...
(2)
Mike P.

Really, really like this place, especially over the mediocre Spice Kit. Fast service? Check Tasty food? Check Inexpensive? Well... let's call it a half a check. Asian Box makes Asian bowls with either rice, rice noodles, or salad. The rice noodles are especially welcome since Spice Kit doesn't offer it as an option, and eating a grilled chicken bowl filled with crunchy shallots, lettuce, jalapenos, and fish sauce doesn't feel as right when eaten with rice. but maybe I'm just a Vietnamese food snob. Their meats are tender, flavorful, and very delicious. The obvious complaint will come that they don't give enough meats, but for under $10, it's a steal. If you're really complain-y, just get a caramel egg for $0.50 more. They're really good. I've been to Asian Box enough times to merit a 5 star rating. It's fresh, it's fast, and pretty much a godsend in this hot weather we've been having. Go here! -- sweet: fresh, quality food served quickly. friendly staff. inexpensive. bitter: smaller meat portions than I would like, getting ALL the extras can add a signficant bump in price.
(5)
Alice C.

Update: After going there for a couple times, while I still like the food, I find the service a bit lacking. Drawing comparisons with Chipotle....they never wrap your burrito wrong since you're staring at them while they do it. However, at this particular Asian Box, more than half the time, they get my order wrong!! The other times, there might be too much or too little sauce, making the dish less than optimal. They really need to sort out their staffing issues, because I really want to like this place.
(3)
George C.

Great for lunch! Tasty and healthy, spacious patio and fast service, even on a busy weekday lunchtime. Oh, and did I mention great value?
(5)
MaryAnne S.

Asian Box misses the mark. We tried a few things on top if noodles. The tofu curry was nothing. The chunks of Tofu were huge and hard....impossible to chew. Skip the Spring rolls, again the tofu was inedible. The 6spice chicken was ok. Sadly, they are trying to be too many things at once and it failed. Sorry...just not Asian enough.
(2)
Brenda N.

I ordered the six spice chicken and the chicken was over cooked and burnt. I would take a bite and find a hard burnt piece so I would have to keep spitting it out. The rice was under cooked and hard. The vegetable was probably the best part, but I only got one small piece of Broccoli... I also added the caramelized egg for $0.95.. Don't get it. Not worth the extra cost.
(2)
Jenny R.

Fast, fresh and easy. I wish they had this at SFO so I could take it in the plane with me. I had the brown rice, chicken, all the toppings, and the peanut sauce and am very happy with it. The chicken was nicely done with flavor. The brown rice was also perfect. This is how I like my fast food.
(4)
Catherine C.

They've fixed all minor issues. I probably come here at least once a week if not more. Delicious, healthy and quick. Did I mention fresh so good
(5)
Jefferson S.

Are you sick and tired of flimsy spring mix salads that leave you hungry? Come to Asian Box for a hearty mixed vegetable salad with your choice of proteins and zippy dressings. My "go to" meat here is the six-spice chicken with the tangy tamarind vinaigrette . Cooked and served with the flavorful skin, this chicken is not for the fat-phobic, but go ahead and splurge, it's worth it. Among the other choices, the coconut curry over rice was very pleasant (but boring compared with a Thai curry) and the short rib was a generous portion and well seasoned (but not as meltingly tender as I expected, a bit dry even). I thought the jungle jerky was too chewy. Once you get through the occasionally long line, service is efficient and meals are assembled fairly quickly. The compostable box holds up to the dressings so you can safely pop any leftovers in the fridge without worrying about leakage.
(5)
Ral S.

I tried them last year when I was in Palo Alto for work, and this year, same. I tried different things they offered and I liked them...kind of like a chipotle of Asian fusion food. I liked the spicy box! You can order online and just go pick up and pay! The strong Vietnamese coffee is awesome. Good lunch.
(4)
Ren B.

We went back a second time a few weeks later. 4stars for greeting us upon entering and a quick service!
(4)
Derek L.

So this is basically Chipotle, Asian style. You have your choice of rice (jasmine/brown) or noodles, and an assortment of proteins (beef/chicken/pork/tofu), veggies, and sauces. Some of the sauces are extra, like the hot sauce and the Asian street dust. I tried the Asian box with jasmine rice, lemongrass pork, all the veggies except peanuts and jalapeÃ±os, and the Asian street dust (basically fried crispy onions from what I can tell) and fish oil. The end result was...well, thoroughly satisfactory, though not spectacular. The jasmine rice had this weird aftertaste that reminded me of the rice from chicken teriyaki bowls that I used to have in elementary school. Obviously, that's not a positive nostalgic trip to have. The pork was well cooked though and paired nicely with the fish oil. The Asian street dust was supposed to be sweet, spicy, and salty but like I mentioned earlier it was really just like fried onion crisps. There were a lot of veggies I didn't like either. For example, the picked vegetables only came with cucumber and carrots, whereas traditional pickled Asian vegetables comes with radish. There was also an overwhelming amount of bean sprouts, and they are raw at that. Overall, my Asian box was less than the sum of its parts. Maybe ill be back to try another combination but it's not something I'll go out of my way to have again. 2.5 stars, bumped up to 3 because my server was helpful in explaining things for my first visit.
(3)
S V.

I absolutely love that I can duck into this cozy little spot and get a delicious meal to go within 20 minutes. I love that I can add a bunch of toppings options such as peanut sauce, veggies, and tofu. Yum. Must try: Their caramel eggs, which are marinated tea eggs with a caramelized glaze over them.
(5)
Bevi K.

This place is awesome if you can't decide what you want, or you're with a lot of people who want different things. It's customizable bowls/burritos with a asian flair. The taste is great and the price is manageable.
(5)
laz d.

Come here for a quality meal that tastes great. I love this place because I can eat a tasteful and healthy meal. I have been here quite a few times due to the addictive nature of their food. It is hard to find an establishment that serves quality food for under 10 bucks. Well, this is it!
(5)
YZ L.

I have ordered food, for both lunch and dinner, over a year. After today's visit, I felt very disappointed about 1) quality of food 2) quality of service and 3) amount of food. I ordered Miss Jones today, which I have order a dozen of time. The meat was very dry and the noodles was tasteless. I guess with over ten people were waiting in the line, they might just try to finish the preparation as soon as possible. When I ordered the same meal before, usually the food covered the entire box. Today, half of my box was empty! I did not realize it till I went back home. I ordered a drink today as well. However, the cashier told me I could not have no ice drink! Well, I am pretty sure that I ordered no-ice drink from them before. I ordered my meal 30min ahead to ensure that I did not have to wait in the line. I arrived 10min later since the traffic jam. I hoped to pick up the meal right way since I believe a 40-min window should be sufficient for preparing any meal. However, I had to wait another 10min to get my order ready. When I arrived there, they did not even start to prepare it. It is hard to image that they need 50min to prepare a single box. In conclusion, I think I will move forward and try other restaurants in Palo Alto.
(1)
MJ B.

I used to really like Asian box in the Palo Alto Town and Country Center but they have been so inconsistent with their food since the store manager left a few months ago. Last night I went and asked for the beef to be more cooked like a medium since the Norm is rare. But the cooks either did not see the note or ignored it, When I got my box I looked at the meat and it was the normal rare. So I asked them for new meat or have it cooked a little more. What I got was non-edible charred meat. So gross! And this is not the first time I have gone home disappointed. Last time, I ordered the shrimp with a double order of Shrimp (they charge an extra $5 FOR 4 extra shrimp) and when I got home, it tasted nothing like I had previously had it. So not only did I pretty much pay the price of almost two boxes but I hated it too. Hope this helps. MJ-
(3)
Polina D.

Sooo yummy! I absolutely love the rice box with chicken and tamarind sauce on top. Super friendly and easy service for a great and quick meal
(5)
Lisa H.

My Go-To for lunch! Favorite: Chx with all the toppings, Asian salad topped off with their sriracha and peanut sauce. PROS: There are options to order online for pick-up and delivery, which is convenient. Healthy, fast and filling. Love this place. CONS: I typically order the same plate every time, however, the consistency is not always the same. I would also recommend for the drivers to be more careful during the delivery process. Our food was delivered looking like it was placed upside down in the truck--food, sauce everywhere. At least he apologized?
(4)
Spicy O.

Our family has been coming to Asian Box off and on since they first opened. Knowing their kitchen is gluten-free is a huge draw for us. I also like that the meals aren't overly filling, leaving you completely satisfied but not overly stuffed. However, until recently, we hadn't visited for quite some time because the food and the service had become too hit-and-miss. Our party of three I popped in for a quick meal last weekend when the dinner rush was starting to quiet down. The line was still a few people deep and the cashier could not have seemed less interested in being there. :\ Other patrons complained that the common table eating area was dirty (it was) and, remembering this had been an issue in the past, I was growing more skeptical about how our meals would turn out. When it was our turn to order, we each chose different fillings, sauces and toppings. We even had a hard time deciding how to fill our boxes since they'd added "dinner specials" that hadn't existed on earlier Asian Box menus. I can happily report all three boxes were absolutely drool-worthy. Yum yum yum!!! Despite the lackluster face-to-face service, the kitchen staff was able to redeem our overall experience and leave us looking forward to our next visit.
(4)
Ammie A.

The more I come here the more grateful I am that I have a healthier option for lunch and dinner. I buy an extra one to bring to work and eat for lunch. I like ppl to think I'm eating healthy lol!
(5)
Josie L.

It's definitely not authentic Asian food(surprise ) but I get it, it's catered to diversity of people here at town and country plaza. It's a good price. I got the shrimp spring rolls and it was way too greasy. They drenched it in sesame oil so the rice skin would stay soft but it honestly was just dripping oil all over my hand. So I gotta give it a two star for it was ok tasting and very oily....
(2)
Trishya M.

Wuddup! Asian Box sure did its job. I came after their lunch rush, so it wasn't busy. I wanted to try this place out since I always go by it. I came in and was welcomed with an energetic, "welcome to Asian Box." I was intrigued that they have glutton free options, they use ingredients that are locally grown and that they make themselves, and that they have a clean looking recyclable disposal. Their workers were really nice and took the time to explain how you could make your box, how things tasted, and provided recommendations which was really helpful. When I was waiting for my meal and left my stuff on a table to wash my hands, I came back and my meal was at my seat. That was really nice of them. It has a nice Asian touch, yup, touch. I ordered a customized box with noodles, lemongrass pork, all the toppings (except peanuts and shallots), and tamarind sauce. I also ordered their lemonade marmalade drink. It came to about $11 all together. Their portion size was good! There was enough meat and I did enjoy my meals. Yes, it wasn't true Asian food (come on lol) but it did have Asian flavors. Their lemonade marmalade was great! I loved that it wasn't too sweet! Usually I have to water lemonade a down but this was great. I give it four stars because it did it's job. Food was filling, but it wasn't mind blowing.
(4)
Nicole B.

This place is fast, affordable, fresh and healthy. Options to choose your own rice/noodles, protein, sauce, and toppings. I recommend the carmel egg. This place makes for a great lunch for a super affordable price.
(4)
Stephanie D.

I love asian box. a lot. SO MUCH. more than I care to admit. And my newest reason for loving AB is that I can make it paleo. BOOM. Less than $10, paleo, tasty and extreme convenience. YAY! I worked at Town and Country when they opened, overindulging often, now a days it's more of a treat. We went yesterday and it was fantastic. Paleo approved and the service was quick despite being in the middle of a lunch rush. There isn't much seating inside but there are a number of outdoor tables. I am becoming less of a fan of these chipotle style restaurants but AB is absolutely my favorite and I appreciate their fresh ingredients and kind customer service.
(5)
Sparky M.

I tried the brown rice, beef, veggies, sprouts, peanuts, jalapeÃ±o, shallots, and peanut sauce. It was very good. Much better than I thought it was going to be. Everything was very fresh and had great flavor. I will definitely be back. Hopefully sooner than later.
(5)
Melinda D.

Everytime I am working in this shopping center, I come here. Everything is so fresh and tastes so good. Def a must eat!!
(5)
David V.

Really good place, friendly service, and the food was good.
(4)
Alice L.

Ordered delivery through Doordash. The tofu spring rolls were good, fresh and I liked the house Tamarind vinagerette dipping sauce that comes with them. Unfortunately, the box I ordered wasn't as great. Overall, very dry. I had to add soy sauce to it. Asian box has house-made sauces. Adding more of those would have been nice. I got the shrimp, ordered double protein and there were 10 shrimp; maybe this is normal. Few veggies, except lots of bean sprouts. Yay. Wouldn't recommend the bowls unless you ask for extra sauce, extra veggies and double meat.
(3)
Christina L.

Fresh ingredients and plenty of protein, vegetable, carbohydrate, and topping choices. Enter the door on the right, place your order on the right, and read the billboard menu from left to right. Servers are always courteous, and usually will accommodate customers with pooches at the side window (across from Jamba Juice). Woof! I like that Asian Box offers nearly complete customization of your meal, starting from the protein. You can also ask for sauces on the side. If you can't deal with the options available, direct yourself to a House Favorite (see the right side of the large billboard menu). Keep in mind that you cannot customize or substitute anything in a House Favorite. Should you find yourself as hungry as a moose, there are small appetizers like spring rolls in the display fridge, and Jungle Jerky in a basket on the counter. Note: I find the jungle jerky more spicy than flavorful, and often dry. The spring rolls are more like salad rolls... Fresh beverages always available: Vietnamese Iced Coffee, VC iced tea, and lemon lime marmalade (see labels for sweetness levels). Communal indoor seating at a long table, or outdoor seating at small metal patio tables under the lacy shadow of a large tree. If you plan to sit outside, send someone in your party to listen for and pick up your order. Protein, topping, and vegetable portions at the Mountain View location are a bit more generous. In addition, this Palo Alto location's protein is often overcooked and a bit more dry. For this reason, I often order the Asian Street Dust here, but forgo the sauces in Mountain View.
(4)
Anita T.

Category Vietnamese? Not really. Pan-Asian confusion? More likely. The food is so-so, but I guess they can't really be responsible for good or bad since they're not the ones putting these quasi-Asian franken-dishes together. I got the cold noodles with peanut sauce, scallion oil, crispy shallots, and herbs. Comes with stir fried veggies mixed in. The caramel egg (extra charge -- odd descriptor, it's a marinated egg AKA lu3 dan4) and the seasoned chicken were the better parts. Overall it's somewhat pricey (around 10 from what I remember) for a meal of standalone parts, but the whole Town and Country plaza is on its own little planet in terms of cost. Service is also a little slow and my order was taken by the most stone faced high school / college age cashier I've seen. And no, I did not get sick, seeing that was a comment brought up in other past reviews of this place.
(3)
Samantha G.

Asian Box is definitely one of my go to meals if I want something quick, delicious, flavorful, casual, and cheap. For basically $10 and under, you get an awesome meal that is full of fresh, healthy ingredients. I've basically had almost all combinations of the box, but since they have added the rice noodles, I always go for that (otherwise, it would usually be the brown rice). The shrimp is packed with flavor, which I will get for a lunch time meal. But if I go for dinner, I will usually opt between the beef and chicken. I love the tamarind sauce, and usually ask for extra crunchy scallions. The box is very filling. It's definitely a quick and easy meal that I eat at least a couple times a month.
(5)
Dennis A.

This place has great food and service is always great! I would know, trust me. ;) For those who are too quick to judge and do not speak out how they like their food. Options for these proteins. -Chicken: skin or no skin. -Tofu: Plain or regular. -Beef: well done or medium.
(5)
Cay A.

I loved it! It was a quick, healthy tasty box. 4 steps: 1) Start: choice of rice, salad or noodles 2) Protein 3) Box toppers (herbs/ shallots, bean sprouts... 4) sauce Yum!
(4)
Eric K.

First and last time for me. Nice concept, not so good execution. I ordered a chicken box and mainly got chicken skin, fat or other tissue. Looks like in order to save money they buy the chicken parts that are usually used to make hot dogs (see picture). Disgusting. Extra star is for courteous service.
(2)
Laurel C.

First time here the other day. The meal boxes are refreshing. Bf got the Ox box which I tried a bite of and it was delicious. I got the custom box: I chose chicken (I will choose tofu next visit as the chicken had way too much fat on each bite-sized piece making it less enjoyable to eat the meal as I had o pick the fat off each piece--some people must like this extra fat though! So just a note) with sriracha sauce and Asian salad with all the free extras. I also ordered the caramel egg extra and it sounded strange but was great! It's a good lunch place to grab something fresh and quick.
(5)
john s.

fair prices, wholesome food, responsibly sourced - and the most responsive, earnest, well-intentioned ceo i've ever run into. that said, the prawn box used to be so good we got take out there at least once a week. i appreciate that the recent switch to baby shrimp keeps the food free of additives, but we just don't enjoy the new taste. the boxes are probably still great if you eat meat, which we don't.
(3)
AndrÃ©a W.

This place is awesome! Love the fresh ingredients. Tried the short ribs that they offer for dinner, so tender and the sauce was delicious but they were still a bit to fatty. The steak is also really good and so cool that they make their sriracha in house! The only thing is the last time I came here I said no pickled veggies and when I got home they was a bunch of pickled veggies in my box :(
(4)
Caroline N.

Three things: (1) quality of food was sub par. Chicken was greasy and the skin was fatty. I asked if there was white meat, and honestly, it didn't look like it. There were five pieces of chicken meat, at most. For $8.00, I expect way more. I would question the "fresh" "healthy" ingredients and all the restaurant stands for. (2) the wait was ridiculous. There was hardly a line, yet I still had to wait 15+ minutes after ordering for my disappointing box. The only good thing was the surplus of vegetables in the salad. (3) overall, if you're looking for a yummy, quick and satisfying meal, save yourself the trouble of driving to Asian box and go to a Chipotle. They give way more food for less money in 1/4 of the time.
(1)
Chip S.

Placed online order Friday 24 Apr 2015 12:18 pm for 12:35 pm pickup. One meal. Went to store at 12:35. Long line. Got to register to be told that they had not yet "retrieved" my online order from wufoo into their local system. I asked how long it would be. The employee stated that it would be now in process with a 15-20 minute wait. I thanked her, declined to wait, and left. I would have done better as a walk-in. I used to be a frequent customer. Also, I suggest Asian Box allow online payment and one could skip waiting in the register line.
(1)
Bob H.

When we lived in Mountain View we visited the store there a lot, at least 2-3 times a week. Since we moved to East Bay I've been craving for it. Today we happened to be in Palo Alto and decided to drop by. I ordered my usual combo with Asian Street Dust sauce. Two orders to go. But when we got home, in our take-out bag we only found two boxed meals and that's it.... Where is the sauce????? Without sauce the rice noodles were flavorless, other than the flavor of beef and toppings. How could you forget our sauce. That sucks. Huge disappointment.
(2)
Joe K.

I enjoy my regular order at Asian Box quite a bit (Beef with Tamarind Sauce). It has excellent flavor, is reasonably filling, and well-priced for the quality of the ingredients. For me, it is a 5 star dinner value. That said, I have gone through a number other combinations that were nowhere near as tasty or filling. I think many people could find an option here that will satisfy them. But I do think there is also the possibility to have a number of underwhelming meals here trying to find that right order.
(4)
Wonhee P.

Within the category of cheap, fast Asian food, I think this deserves 4 stars! I've been here many many times and still go when I crave veggies in Sriracha sauce. I've tried pork, beef, chicken, and what used to be their Monday specials -- short ribs. And I regret to say that I am NOT a big fan of their short ribs. They contain little bones so it's hard to eat them. They are so fatty you might give up eating 40% of the meat. I like their pork the best. It's slightly dry (but again, this is a fast food place, so what do I expect?) but is seasoned very well. The wok-tossed vegetables make me feel like I am having a balanced meal!
(4)
Eric N.

ONE word - Pricey. And with that said, the other comment commonly mentioned in these reviews, is that AsianBox is compared to (by its clientle) as Asian Chipotle and I digress. Simply of the fact that its more expensive than Chipotle (by at least $2-3) and reviewers verify that Asian Box menu/food, does NOT fill you up. Whether that's because its glutten is of no consequence to me or anyone else. Facts are facts. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. You either like this place or you don't. And since I've only felt a few times to patronize it and havent had felt to, since. Then I'm not a fan. Although I have to confess the first time I ate the meat mix with the carmel egg was fabulous. The second go was actually, "blech"! That was it. Meanwhile, I will continue to endure the long waiting lines at Chipotle because it's simply worth it for the price and taste factor. Sorry Asian Box, you're not quite there and I'm even a big fan of asian food. And at this point, my go to place for that would be Panda!
(2)
H C.

Asian box catered for my team of approx 65 people this week. They brought great food: fresh, tasty, and dietary-need-conscious for a good price. We had coconut curry tofu, 6 spice chicken, & lemongrass pork. Both the noodles and the brown rice were very good. This place is a refreshing and delicious option for Asian food! They were also very easy to order from and work with throughout the process. It was delivered in a timely manner, and they brought printouts of the dish specifications- super helpful with a bigger group that has disparate dietary concerns. Will add them to our regular catering vendors for sure!
(5)
Christopher P.

Would give 3*, but their "advance" ordering is anything but, so docked 1 star. First, the food is pretty good - I like the sriracha sauce best, but the others are good. The chicken is tasty, though definitely fattier because they leave the skin on - trying to be traditional, though what Bay Area places don't just white chicken breast anymore? Main complaint is their online ordering - it's pointless. I ordered online, walked over, hoping my food would be ready. Nope. I wait for the register and when I get up there, *then* they go over to the computer, see my order and enter it into the register - what's the point of ordering ahead? In fact, this was actually a time-consumer since I wasted time entering the order online. The woman who helped me said "it depends on if someone sees your order" - huh? To be fair, they're apparently upgrading or replacing their online system...probably a good idea to disable that on your website to avoid other customers getting frustrated. Overall, food is still good, just be prepared to wait.
(2)
A V.

Healthy Asian fusion that really tastes fresh. Is it authentic? No... But you come here so you can walk out feeling good and not greasy. I wish portions were larger thought but overall a good spot.
(3)
Audrey K.

I've been waiting to try this place and finally decided to try it since I was in the area. I enjoy a healthy lifestyle, so this seemed perfect for me. It's located in a plaza like area with many different stores, which I like. First walked in and it was relatively clean and we'll put together. I looked at the menu and did not see anything that caught my eye so I made my own customized hot box. I got the brown rice, no meat(I can't eat too much meat or else I feel sick), extra steamed veggies, all the add ins(except shallots), and I got the homemade sriracha. Since it was a nice day my uncle and I decided to have our lunch outside. As we waited outside, our food came relatively quick! The employee was really nice. It smelled really good and looked quite presentable. I have to stay, I really enjoyed mine and I would definitely recommend it and come back soon again! I think it's my new spot in the Palo Alto area.
(5)
Christian H.

This place is great! I'm so happy to see that this restaurant is Gluten Free and has Vegan options. I come here 1 to 2 times a week just for the Coconut Curry. I love my AsianBox!
(5)
Sara T.

I am a total fan of Asian Box. It has a Chipotle feel only in the sense that you are picking each ingredient that you want. You don't go down a line of food & point, but you follow the steps and order at the register. Step 1: choose your starch - I chose rice noodles Step 2: choose your meat - I chose pork (lemongrass marinated) Step 3: chose your toppings and sauce - I ordered ALL of them minus the caramel egg & the peanut sauce The food tastes super fresh & crisp. This place thinks about the environment & used fresh, local ingredients. The container you get your food in it recyclable too. I really want to try all their options, so I definitely will be back.
(5)
Jackie C.

Rating: 3.5 stars Very fresh and quick! My go-to when I'm too lazy to make lunch/dinner and want something that doesn't make me feel guilty. Flavors are a lot more muted than at a real Vietnamese restaurant (for example I couldn't taste their fish sauce at all!) so I would load up on the sauces. I recommend: - SHRIMP! Very plump and perfectly cooked! (My pet peeve is overcooked shrimp). Chicken is a good 2nd choice. Didn't like the beef. - Get all the free toppings - I get a combo of sauces: tamarind, fish sauce, asian street dust. I thought the sriracha was overpowering (not tooooo spicy, but just the flavor was overpowering)
(4)
Vladimir P.

Asian version of Chipotle, with a more hipster-y vibe. Clean, simple food, you choose what exactly will be on your plate (which can be sometimes a disaster, like in my case) and very pleasant people. I liked especially that there are low fat options for sauces, so I could compose a dish that can adhere to any of the weird diets that people can be on. Overall, thumbs up.
(4)
Gaby P.

Fresh. Cheap. Delicious! I had an appointment in the area and have seen this place many a time prior to it opening. Finally, I was able to make it in right as the opened on weekday and was really impressed with the menu, staff and cleanliness! I had the pork on brown rice with everything on it with the sriacha sauce! I also enjoyed their iced tea - very refreshing! It was very reasonably priced, and while I did have to wait for 15 minutes to get my order, I was really impressed. I will be coming back to try the other menu items! My order was really big and it was filled with fresh produce! I love Asian Box!
(5)
Kristie C.

This place is like the asian version of chipotle or counter burger-- 1. Choose your base (brown/white rice, noodles or salad) 2. Choose your protein (tofu, chicken, beef, etc.) 3. Choose your veg (bean sprouts, pickled veg, etc.) 4. Choose your sauce (fish sauce, etc) Service isn't overly friendly, but eh - it's more of a take-away kinda place. Overall, super healthy and pretty cheap. Couldn't ask for much more, good place for picky healthy eaters :)
(4)
Jennifer R.

Tried this restaurant again, and yes, still as bad as the first three times. And, to address Frank's comments (who did not email me), I don't have any "motivation" other than I don't like gross food that is passed off as organic or quality. This is a glorified fast food restaurant at best.
(1)
Alejandro R.

The food tastes natural and delicious !!! A must for gluten folks ! The icing on the cake was the staff, they were amazing. We were sitting down eating and the guy who took our order stopped by and topped off our Vietnamese ice coffee. If you are in the area and looking to feel good , with a good meal stop by. I ate chilled rice noodles with lemongrass pork and topped with Asian street dust + bunch of other tasty toppers.
(5)
Merry K.

Hubby ordered Shrimp on Salad with Tamarind Sauce. It was quite delicious. Very good job with mainstreaming Vietnamese dishes. The shrimps were succulents and most importantly, you can see them. You dont need a magnifying glass to see them. Yum. I ordered Chicken on chilled noodle with Spiracha Sauce. Meh!!!!!!!!! Bland bland bland. I was looking for fish oil and everything else to add taste to my plate, errrr my box. Daughter ordered Beef on jasmine rice with their dry something something. The beef was yummy. We dont understand the concept of their Dry Something Something sauce. Did they mean no sauce? I think the beef will taste good with Tamarind Sauce. Overall, Asian Box is doing a great job mainstreaming Vietnamese Food. Without Asian Box, the world will not know that Asian foods can be Gluten Free, loaded with healthy veggies and yummy.
(4)
Julianna M.

So I've eaten at the new Mountain View location and the Palo Alto version is obviously the same. This time around, I brought my friends and I explained the concept to them. HOWEVER, they only ordered Sriracha sauce for their boxes and it was basically just straight sriracha with even more peppers added to it. It was to the point of their entire mouths were burning. I couldn't warn them about it because I had combined the Sriracha with the Tarmarind Vinegrette. After the fact, one worker was very nice about giving them extra sauces to cut through the heat. WARNING: DO NOT JUST ORDER THE SRIRACHA SAUCE! Order it with a second sauce.
(4)
Lara C.

I was so excited to dine at a 100% gluten-free restaurant. No worries about cross-contamination or a lack of options! Asian Box may be gluten-free, but the rest of the meal needs some work. I ordered the tofu in a coconut curry sauce, but what I received more closely resembled rehydrated cardboard in a coconut curry sauce. Fix your tofu and you will have a faithful gluten-free customer.
(2)
Yann M.

I used to love their shrimp.. however, last time I went there for dinner, got shrimp as always, the shrimp tasted like detergent. they prob soak the shrimp in some sort of weird chemicals to maintain the texture.. the same night I got food poisoned..
(1)
Tyler H.

I'm sure others have already said this. It's like an Asian Chipotle. Great ingredients, nice flavors, configured-to-order with friendly service. You pick your base, your protein, your toppings, and your sauce, and boom - a delicious box of yumminess for about $8. While the concept is pretty simple in principle, what I like is that they have clearly spent some time in crafting the right flavor combinations and options. it's a nice way to get fast, efficient service at near fast-food prices but still maintain a feel that you're eating something with quality ingredients that won't harden the arteries. I think restaurants like these are what will eat the Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays of the world's lunch. Smaller kids meal, with drink included for $6. Not the cheapest, but a good meal for the little guys. One warning: beware the compostable forks. If you accidentally bite into them a bit, they will shatter in your food. 2 out of 3 of us had that happen. Otherwise, Enjoy the good eats.
(4)
Benjamin L.

Dropped by for a quick dinner. Ordered "the workout" which consists of chicken, extra steamed veggies, brown rice, carrots, bean sprouts, and tamarind vinaigrette. The chicken was tender and flavorful. The veggies were steamed so it seemed there was no added oil or salt, which means it was quite healthy. The bean sprouts and carrots added a nice flavor. For $8, I think it was a great deal. In previous visits, I tried the pork and tofu. The pork was flavorful and the curry tofu was a bit spicy. All in all, this place has good food for the price.
(4)
Kathryn M.

I've been to Asian Box twice now. The first time, I got the rice noodle box with chicken. The flavors were good, but my main complaint was that the chicken was fairly fatty and was not skinless (which is not really pointed out on the main ordering menu.) I liked it enough, however, so decided to go back and try the Pho. Knowing I didn't love the chicken, I ordered the beef. The beef was 95% fat....even worse than the chicken, causing me to throw all of the meat away. At about $10 a meal, that is completely unacceptable. I am going to bring it to management's attention. If it is not addressed I will definitely not be going back, which is a shame because the idea and other ingredients are fantastic.
(3)
Jason H.

Pretty average. You get food and it tastes like someone who cooked once before through a mix of what they had left into a too much oil and undercooked it. Meh. I've experience better.
(2)
Sally C.

I love the concept. Gluten-free, sustainable, healthy. Easy to customize and control what you eat. I got the Asian salad, skinless chicken, steamed veggies, and all the toppings except the oil and the shallots, topped with the peanut sauce. It tasted very light and healthy, yet still delicious. The chicken wasn't that great but everything else, especially the pickles veggies, was very yummy. Around the same price as chipotle, though you get less food. Will definitely come back again to try the beef and the pork!
(3)
Daryl W.

If i were to describe my experience at the Asian box concisely, it would be extremely not bad. The tastes were somewhat on the Vietnamesy side without overstimulating the palate and overall was exactly how i'd imagine Vietnamese food catering to a Palo Alto clientele would taste. I will be the first to admit, that in my initial visit to the Asian Box i was prepared to be thoroughly underwhelmed by my Asian Box full of rice noodles, sauteed veggies, and meat. When i realized that i would be dishing out about $9 for this thing, i kinda panicked and under duress asked them to throw as much hot sauce on there as humanly possible. Fortunately, the pool of hot sauce served to overwhelm any misgivings i might have had about all they stuffed in my box. This place automatically gets + a half star in my book for its cutting edge, boundary defying name. In all, I must say the grilled pork was not too bad...not bad at all. But i felt the whole cost/satisfaction ratio compared to all of the other Vietnamese places i've been to in life was pretty darn high. i'd say eat this if you're in need of a quick fix...if you're actually looking for an Asian box of food...find it elsewhere.
(3)
Allie C.

This is one of my go-to places for lunch when I am near Town and Country Village. The workers are friendly, but the food takes longer than you expect to arrive. I usually get chilled rice noodles with shrimp and tamarind vinaigrette, with all the free box toppers, which is a delicious meal on the lighter side. The serving is a good size, and much better than I expected for an Americanized Asian place. Overall, a place I would recommend when you are close by.
(4)
Joyce H.

Asian Box is a great place to take your gluten free friends. Everything they make is gluten free so you can feel good that there will be no gluten contamination. My box usually consists of rice noodles, skinless chicken, wok tossed veggies, crispy shallots, pickled veggies, and tamarind sauce. They also have some great shrimp spring rolls. My favorite drink there is the marmalade lemonade. Yum! Not sure what they put at the bottom of the cup but it's tasty. Honestly, the Mountain View Asian Box location is the better location to go for food. The staff is much more efficient and seems to have more enthusiasm about their product. The Palo Alto location has the same great food but there is something missing at this location, that makes me prefer the other location. Overall, this is a great place to eat if you are in the neighborhood.
(4)
Katy Q.

I like the general concept of fresh, fast, and customizable food. I also like Asian Box's simple approach, and probably would design the menu the same way if I was in charge. But it just didn't work for me. I frequent oriental restaurants all the time, being Chinese myself, but I'm apparently not very good at choosing the right combinations. My taste buds were confused about all the mush of flavors, was I eating Thai with the peanuts? Or Chinese with the sauce? It wasn't bad... just doesn't come close to saying mm-mm good. I doubt other people are that much better at customizing, but maybe it takes a few tries? Unfortunately the price tag for a tray of cold noodles with 4 pieces of shrimp was too much for me to justify another attempt here. The mint green ice tea was pretty refreshing though... good idea! I will need to start adding my mint leaves to my tea.
(3)
Brian T.

I went here with my hindu friend. He specifically ordered chicken (he cannot eat beef). They gave him beef. Ive ordered from here 3 times and all three times my order was messed up. The food is good though.
(3)
Jay R.

Great clean, healthy food. Excellent decor with a fun environment.
(5)
Abhirup D.

This is basically a Subway for Asian food. You choose your carbs (rice/noodles), protein (tofu/meat/seafood), salad and sauces. They mix it up in a bowl for you. There is also a green tea to make it a meal. Cool concept.
(4)
Vanessa W.

Wow! I was so excited to find such good quality asian cuisine at such an affordable price. I took my best friend here for a night out and we were really pleased that it was a chipotle style kind of service where you can mix all kinds of meats, toppings, and sauces together for around 7-9$ a bowl. We were also really excited that this place used local produce and all natural products, and that they are gluten free! I couldn't ask for more, and will definitely be back. The shrimp with peanut sauce and noodles was a great combo, but i feel like you honestly couldn't go wrong with any of these options.
(5)
Jon A.

I was ridiculously excited to try Asian Box. Call me crazy, but the promise of a great meal was strong and for the most part they delivered. * A healthy dose of fresh veggies. * Gluten Free from the get go. * Nice choice of flavors and sauces. * Friendly, efficient service. * Relatively inexpensive. ....wait for it..... * A measly portion of fatty chicken? * $0.75 for about 1/4 tsp of peanut sauce? Sigh...so close.... I will come back, but portion control needs to be dealt with. I shouldn't have to ration each bite of chicken because there's so few of them. Fix it and I'll be a HUGE fan.
(3)
Franz H.

This place is usually pretty good for what it is, healthy take out food. But the last two times I've been there I've been turned off by the smell. Last night was horrendous, it smelled like fermented gym socks. I walked in and walked out. Get your box together, it smells beat up.
(2)
Edward W.

After trying out Spice Kit, I had to try out Asian Box because of all the side by side comparisons that I heard from my friends. The style of ordering is quite similar at both, you choose what goes into your dish and it's highly customizable. I opted for broiled chicken because I figured it would be much juicier compared to wok-fried. The clerk recommended the peanut sauce, which was most certainly worth the extra cost. It added a lot of flavor and mixed well with all the toppings. On the downside, the portions were a little small. Also the Vietnamese iced coffee was it a bit too BOLD for me, but adding some water helped dilute the taste. It might be difficult to find seating during lunch time because there are only eight seats inside and a few tables outside.
(4)
Elizabeth S.

Asian Box is quite the innovative concept for a fresh, fast meal Vietnamese style. At first, you walk in and look up at the menu puzzled, but if you can remember a place like Chipotle, the process is the same. You start your box off with a bed of salad, rice or noodles. Next, you pick your meat or lack thereof: chicken, pork, beef, shrimp or tofu The box toppers add the zing to your meal. I ordered all these flavorful ingredients: bean sprouts, pickled veggies, jalapenos, scallion oil, crispy shallots, herbs, chopped peanuts and lime I went without the caramel egg. Lastly, depending on your taste you pick the desired sauce or a simple dry blend. I can practically eat Sriracha. So, Miss Jones' Sriracha sauce was a no brainer. If a box isn't enough to satiate your appetite like me, they've got some sides. For the vegan or vegetarian tofu or glass noodle salad spring rolls to devour. The shrimp spring rolls and jungle jerky are for the carnivorous. I don't know how these are, but I have faith, they are probably pretty good too. They even have the Cafe sua da here too! (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) I hope this place takes over. This is truly an innovative healthy, Asian fast food joint. I'd most rather go through a drive-thru like this (if they had one) than our staple unhealthy American fast food chains any day!
(4)
Nathan Y.

Between the Palo Alto and Mountain View Asian Boxes, I've found the Mountain View location to be a nicer place. Service there is noticeably quicker, and the venue feels slightly more welcoming. Asian Box is similar to Spice Kit, although there's a lot more customization available at Asian Box. Spice Kit is quite plain in comparison. I'd like to think of Spice Kit as the Asian Chipotle and Asian Box as a Deluxe Asian Chipotle. For the box, get whatever you want for the base. I recommend the Chilled Rice Noodles because the brown rice and jasmine rice are a bit plain in comparison. However, this is the least important choice since the rest of the ingredients easily drown out the base. For the meat, I typically order beef, though their shrimp and chicken are also good. For toppers, you MUST get the crispy shallots. They are amazing. I like them just as much as I love the legendary grilled onions from Liba Falafel. I also recommend the chopped peanuts, bean sprouts, and scallion oil. The caramel eggs remind me of Chinese marbled tea eggs, except less salty and more caramelized, so I'd skip them. For the sauce, I recommend mixing Peanut Sauce and Miss Jones' Sriracha. It's the perfect blend, and it's not too spicy. Tamarind Vinaigrette + Peanut Sauce and No-Oil Fish Sauce + Peanut Sauce are also great combos. In fact, you just can't go wrong mixing Peanut Sauce. Lastly, although it has an interesting name, I've never found any special about the taste of the Asian Street Dust.
(4)
Gary H.

I was surprised by this pace. The delivery is clever and the food is tasty. Fast and easy for lunch and worth the trip to the Town and Country Village! Beef and Pork will get your attention! Filling in every way! There's a reason the line is out the door every time I arrive!
(4)
Sean B.

Rihanna may have found love in a hopeless place. But I found noms in a surprising place. Generally speaking, I'm a bit of a food snob. Don't judge me. I'm a snob in a number of ways, and I'm just trying my best to be consistent. I often attempt to avoid, well, places that have cardboard boxes and "plastic" (okay, fine, potato) cutlery when I'm dining-in. I tend to like my hole-in-the-wall places to be in a dodgy part of LA, and my upscale places, well, to be in a nice part of LA. I've not been wow'ed by South Bay cuisine, and I certainly haven't eaten a lot of meals out of boxes in parking-lot adjacent patios. So really, I'm about the harshest critic you can find for a venue of this sort. And yet, it was good. Quite good, really. The portions were generous, the flavors were really exceptionally well created. The peanut sauce, frankly, was about the best thing I've tasted in a long time. It's relatively inexpensive, it's convenient, it's really tasty. I wish that it were close enough to my work that I could grab it for lunch (sadly, I work 50 miles away). Thoroughly enjoyed the meal, everyone was quite nice, and they even did well with the setting considering the limitations of, well, a shopping center.
(4)
Yun C.

Asian Box is the "Asian" Chipotle, the menu is simple and the price is fairly affordable for Palo Alto area. I ordered my box with pork and all the items that's already included in the basic price tag, including tax it was a little bit over $8, not dirt cheap but it was not bad for a dinner out in Palo Alto! (btw, it will be more if you order this and that that aren't the basic items!) There are three sauces that are already included in the basic price and I asked for ALL of them (I wanted to sample all since it was my 1st time there and also made my money worth I guess LOL!!). The box toppers were some raw items like bean sprouts, jalapenos, and herbs (mint), chopped peanuts, pickled radish and fried shallots. Unless you're allergic to any of these.. I really recommend you getting ALL of them as they certainly added "body" and flavor to each and every bite! Well.. pass on the jalapeno if you don't like spicy, although, today the jalapeno didn't have any heat at all. The fried shallots were delicious and added some sweetness and fragrance to the meal, yummmmm! The pork was perfectly seasoned, not sure if I tasted the lemon grass though.. it reminded me of the Vietnamese BBQ pork (vietnamese sandwiches). It was lightly salted and lightly charred on the outside, yummm! Those who are watching the weight, they actually used not-so-fatty cut of the meat, so don't worry..it won't be too bad if you ordered the pork :) The sriracha sauce was a bit disappointing as it didn't have the "heat" that I expected as they called it "sriracha." I was tempted to pay extra (I think it was like 50 cents?) to get their "Hot box sauce" for extra heat but I'm glad I didn't...bc maybe it wouldn't be hot at all. The fish sauce was "sweet" and not as fishy as the normal vietnamese fish sauce. The vinegarette was also sweet with a tad of sourness from the vinegar..certainly very very light though. If it was your first time I really recommend getting all the sauces on the side! You can get as much sauces as you want! I ordered all the FREE ones hehe :) I must say that I agreed with several reviewers who complained about their vegetables (not the box toppers) being overly cooked and a bit too yellow!! Yes, most of my broccoli were yellowish and overcooked, the napa cabbage was also too soft and didn't have the crunchiness anymore bc it was either overcooked or sat too long on the heated pan. The portion was ok, perfect for me actually...well.. I could always eat more but it was a good portion :) I will certainly go back to try more items, the caramel egg was calling my name :) BTW, there is a long table enough for 8 inside, but there are outdoor seatings in the front (under a tree) and on the side and most people ordered to-go.
(4)
Aavi S.

Being a Vegeterian, this place has good options. it was a good healthy lunch.
(4)
Liz G.

I'm a fan for sure, it's always a treat to eat there since I discovered it! (sorry LuLu's) Food always tastes good and is usually always consistently yummy! Last time I went it seemed like I waited longer even though it wasn't busy, and the cook put too much sauce on it. I know that it most likely was just a fluke, and I will go back for sure. Probably even tonight :)
(4)
Jen C.

Quick and healthy, gluten-free meal. Tons of options to choose from by selecting one of their favorite choices (with no changes) or building your own box. Start out with a base, add protein, toppings, and sauce. Don't forget to ask for steam veggies if that's what you want. Combinations are endless. So far, I haven't tried to build my own. It can be overwhelming as I don't want to mess up my meal with the wrong choices. Wish there were more pre-selected choices. Of what I have tried, it's pretty good. The hotbox is quite spicy if you like that. Miss Jones has more of the Vietnamese flavor with fish sauce and pickled veggies.
(4)
Tom S.

Way better than the last couple of times we went - everything was spot on including the customer service, ease of ordering, timing and quality of the food. I gave it 4 stars because the last 2 times were hit and miss on all fronts. I will update this upon the next visit but I am looking forward to going back.
(4)
Mona W.

Interesting concept but expensive for what it is. Want a quick meal in Palo Alto area and is sick of deli sandwiches? Asian rice box seems like a wonderful idea. Ordering is simple enough by following their 3 steps instruction. Step 1: Choose from Brown Rice/White Rice/Salad/Noodles Step 2: Choose from Chicken/Pork/Beef/Tofu/Shrimp Step 3: Pick your toppers and sauce Easy huh? After that you just wait patiently for your order. It shouldn't take long. There is one long communal table at the restaurant which could seat about 8-10 but most patrons ordered their box to-go. The pork that came with my box was tender enough. The vegetable toppers were all quite fresh. I am not sure how 'healthy' it really was as my rice was completely drenched in the sweet fish sauce. Serving was more generous than I have expected but it wasn't difficult to finish everything. Lunch came up over $10 without any drinks or appetizers. A bit expensive for what you get. This is not Japanese bento, Chinese rice plate or Vietnamese noodle. It is just western food with some Asian ingredients. If you want something authentic, there are better options elsewhere.
(3)
Dawn B.

not sure how i would survive with out Asian Box....I am celiac so there food is safely GLUTEN FREE! No need to worry about being contaminated. And the food is fresh, flavorful and priced well. LoveLoveLove!!!!
(5)
Pamela T.

I ordered my food through a co worker. So I can't give stars for the line or the wait. I work 5 mins from the place and the food came back lukewarm. The overall appearance was okay..nothing spectacular. I tasted the food and it was okay. I took a couple bites and did not enjoy it. Not enough flavor, the crispy shallots were soggy and the beef was dry. I ordered brown rice, with beef, and boiled veggies with the siracha sauce. I don't think I would come back here again.
(2)
O O.

4.5 Stars - Asian Box catering service was spot on as well - flexible, superb service. Ordered 3 different food combinations, all eye appealing, fresh and easy to serve. Definite comeback as well.
(4)
Lambie L.

The food was superb but what impressed me the most was the beautiful part Mexican girl who works the register. Her attractive personality and positive energy is what makes me want to come back to this place. Great service. Great employee.
(5)
Stephanie W.

Came here for a work lunch and it was really good. I got the noodle shrimp box with all the sauces combined and it was delicious. It felt fresh and healthy and it also filled me up! The spring rolls were okay. They also did the nicest thing by letting me switch the Marmalade drink to the lemonade. The lemonade was excellent and I would highly recommend it. **This place is inside the Country center and is hidden in the back!
(4)
Michelle T.

My fiancÃ© and I come here when we want some "healthy" gluten-free Asian food. I usually order my box with: rice noodles, beef, steamed veggies, all the toppings + extra shallots sans caramel egg, tamarind vinaigrette, house made sriracha, no fish fish sauce, and Asian Street dust. My fiancÃ© gets the same but with brown rice. Portions are generous. I've tried Chicken and wok veggies there before and they aren't so delicious in comparison to the beef. The wok veggies were kind of mushy. They make the beef with a little bit of pink so it's not tough. IMO I like my combo the best. I also tried the mint green tea here which was nothing special am didn't give me a nice zap of energy so if you are a caffeine freak it's not going to do the job for you. It wasn't so tasty either... Maybe just a splash of lemon in there will do!
(4)
Randy F.

**2.5 Stars** Friendly service + clever marketing + lack of nearby ethnic options = Asian Box success as the Asian Chipotle. Asian Box was crowded on a weekend day and it's easy to see why. The menu is simple to understand, orders are made quickly, and there aren't any Asian options nearby to complete. You choose a starch (white rice, brown rice, rice noodles or veggie salad) combine with a protein (tofu, chicken, pork, or beef) and finally choose a sauce and toppings. Key words like gluten-free, no oil, and healthy help make it a hit with the locals. But for almost $8, I honestly expected more. The bento box is small and given its mainly starch, a more generous size would have been nice. The protein was skimpy and the little chicken present was completely charcoal burnt dry. Veggies were similarly lackluster. Sure, choosing your made-to-order options is fun, but I'd prefer the real deal with more protein and more flavor. It's largely average food truck quality fare with a smart and friendly ordering system. Credit cards are accepted including Amex.
(2)
Chris H.

That was nasty. The company used these folks to cater a three hour meeting. Those pictures with all the meat? Not what we got. The brown rice was over cooked, the beef was nice enough, the little that there was. Fresh herbs means Cilantro. YUK! What is it with restaurants that they use cilantro like parsley? Parsley comes in big bits and doesn't have a flavor that many people have a problem with. The other tastes like soap and is usually chopped fine so it is impossible to eliminate from your food. Would I use them again? Well, I didn't pay the bill, and at that price I could find something to order. Would I go there by choice? Not a chance.
(2)
Jenny J.

B+ for taste, B- for portion size. Probably not a great place for a quick workday lunch since the traffic is horrendous and seating is VERY limited. I had a pork vermicelli bowl and the pork was just okay - not very flavorful - but the portions were teeny tiny. For around the same price (and likely lower), you can get a giant vermicelli bowl from a legit Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)
Marianna M.

Loved the idea but there was hardly any chicken and the sauces left something I be desired. The flavor of the sauces, I tried the siraacha and the tarmind, were just not great asian inspired fusion stir fry sauces. Sad. I really wanted to love this place.
(2)
Janet O.

I'll try to be very normal about my review. But pardon me if I just can't ! It's the name! Its just asking to be called out! Asian Box? First time my food radar picked it up was when fellow yelper Daisy T checked in a couple of times. She mans the counter here. Then lunch time with Teresa P came. The jokes started right away. We behaved just enough to order. I chose the Pork with Brown rice with sirachai sauce. While waiting I noticed that with the minimalist decor comes with only one long communal table to enjoy the meal. We opted to sit outside to savor the content of the box. Everything was fresh. Very flavorful and the pork was burnt on the edges and just perfectly seasoned and tender. With it I had the wok fried vegetables. Very good. Crunchy broccoli, fresh sprouts and some pink veggie. After tasting their excellent food I am now worried that if this place explodes and gets really busy that one long communal table is going to be the source of a crouching tiger flying dragon style of fight. Teresa and I shared that delicious Asian box with all the pink parts and she squirted and I didn't. I mean the lemon. I was just not into lemons on my dish. ( You- yes you. What were you thinking?:)
(4)
Danster L.

3.5 stars Asian Box is located deep inside the Town and Country village and serves Viet and Thai takeout. I tried the steamed jasmine rice with lemongrass marinated pork with wok tossed veggies, crispy shallots, fresh herbs, peanuts, lime, and fish sauce. I also got a can of Yeo's soymilk on the side. The down side though is that the can is $1.85. So it made my inexpensive meal to $11. The portion size was great and nicely presented in the biodegradable box. By being able to customize your order, it's what makes it different from other places that serve Asian food. Of course nothing beats Vietnamese food in San Jose but this will do if I am in the Palo Alto area. I believe the owner use to work at The Slanted Door or is a protege of the restaurant, something like that. The guys sitting near me looked like they enjoyed their meal and drinks. I gotta try the Viet iced coffee and lemon lime marmalade next time. One last thing, I kinda wish the fish sauce was on the side. The sauce was already all over the rice and meat. I believe you can request the sauce on the side. All in all, the takeout was good and simple. I like the easy ordering experience.
(4)
Michelle K.

Asian Box was kind enough to move in across the street from campus so I decided to give it a shot. Their hours are still a bit up in the air, so the first time I stopped by they were closed. But that didn't deter me, I went back the next day (and thank goodness I did, such a great place!). There are quite a few menu choices so you can make plenty of combinations. Since I'm a veggie (for the time being), I asked the employees what options went best with the tofu. They steered me toward the brown rice, wok spiced veggies, and peanut sauce with Asian dust. So freakin delicious. Next time I'm going to branch out and try the rice noodles since I hear they are great as well. I found the portion to be quite large (meaning I probably shouldn't have eaten it all at once...), but the price wasn't too outrageous. I will be going back often!
(4)
Earl G.

The "Asian" Chipotle. ...has come to a suburban strip mall near you aka the Town and Country Plaza. Over the years the TC plaza has transformed into a mini food mecca, I just loooove what you've done with the space! The menu is straightforward; pick a carb, protein, how you want your veggies cooked, sauce, and toppings. It's ($7-8) for a bento lunch = Bargain bite eats I ordered lemongrass marinated pork over jasmine rice, with wok fried veggies, all the toppings (pickled veggies, peanuts, jalapenos, lime, etc) and topped it with their house sriracha. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) It was sweet, savory, spicy, salty, and filling for lunch. They go skimpy with the meat, but I'd come back if I was in the area. Mrs G loved her six spiced chicken with brown rice and tamarind vinaigrette. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) I liked their jungle jerky ($3). Soft, chewy, tender, and plump. The best home made jerky I've had in perhaps ever. I wish they would do different flavors. This one had some curry, cinnamon, 5 spice action going on. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) Notes - MENU ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) - Located across from the toy store along the northernmost row. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) - Food took about 5 minutes from when I ordered. - Long communal table inside, with tables outside for al fresco dining. - Interior ( yelp.com/biz_photos/huHxâ€¦ ) Solid 3.5 star but I'll round up since their jerky was legit.
(4)
Jeffrey C.

I'm loving the flavors here. Nice variety of options for lunch and they are all health conscious AND delicious. They can be a bit slow and the food tends to not be the best if it isn't during the rush hours.
(4)
Mia N.

This is literally the Chiptole or Pluto's of Vietnamese food! This particular location is packed and parking is bad but believe it or not, there's free valet in this plaza. Super customizable! It really does have the Viet feel, without you wondering how dirty the kitchen is behind the mom and pop joint (lol you know what I'm talking about if you've ever been to a hole in the wall tasty viet joint). 1) Choose rice, salad, or noodles 2) Choose chicken, pork, beef, tofu, or shrimp 3) Add-on (jalepenos, shallots, sprouts, etc) 4) Sauces (asian street dust, tamarind vinaigrette, etc)
(4)
Dawn N.

Definitely not /Asian/ Asian, aside from the two Vietnamese phrases on the doors (the tone marks are wrong on a few words, by the way), but no one's really led to expect that, anyway, so that's hardly a problem. Relatively cheap/filling lunch, especially considering Town & Country, when you're in the mood for a bunch of flavors just mixed together. (Is there a way to say that that sounds positive? Because it's meant that way.) I wish they had more non-meat options. The "coconut curry tofu" is just super dry. Update: I was contacted by the manager and invited to come back. Goes to show the commitment to customer satisfaction here. Always a good sign!
(3)
Rebecca S.

As a regular of both their Palo Alto and Castro street locations, all I can say is that I LOVE Asian Box. Fresh, healthy, and flavorful ingredients always make for the perfect meal. The consistency at both locations is great. I love that I know exactly what I'm getting and am confident that it will come out perfect each time. My usual: Asian salad, extra steamed veggies, coconut curry tofu, pickled veggies, bean sprouts, fried scallions, lime squeeze, plus peanut sauce and fish sauce. The only thing that could make Asian Box better is if they offered punch cards where you could score a free box after so many purchases. *Hint Hint* As a super loyal Asian Box patron, this would be the icing on the cake. If you haven't been here already you've GOT to try it. DIY Asian style Chipotle. What's not to love?
(5)
Patty O.

Friendly service, clean facility, healthy food. It is what it is, basically an Asian style version of Chipotle. Don't expect this to be authentic Asian food though. If you're looking for a quick, healthy, and affordable meal, this is the place to go! Hidden inside of the Town and Center plaza on El Camino and Embacadero.
(3)
Henry L.

I've been here a few times and work also gets catering from here every so often. My favorites are the beef and the chicken. Maybe it's because instead of 5 spices they use 6. Yeah, it's gotta be that extra spice. Unfortunately for me the order is always on the small side. For being the Asian Chipotle, I definitely don't get the value I get from Chipotle. I always order the egg, but that's just because I like eggs. I always find it a little disappointing though because it's not very flavorful. When I come here I try and avoid the rush hour. The line can be annoying and then you still have to wait for your order. It can be a bit of a mess in there.
(4)
Bianca A.

My favorite place in Palo Food is great, service is great and fast, and never disappointing!
(5)
F M.

I've been here twice now. Both times I got jasmine rice, beef (served as medium rare steak), tamarind vinaigrette, and all the free toppings (the second time I omitted the jalapenos). Both meals were fantastic and there's plenty of food. A definite improvement over Panda Express, which previously was the closest Asian fast food. Asian Box is fast, but not "fast food".
(5)
Amy G.

This place hasn't done me wrong so far. I eat here atleast once a week and enjoy it everytime. Introduced a few friends to this place and they love it too and want to go back for their asian box fix often.
(4)
James L.

I've been here a few times and it's alright; I've had some version of shrimp or tofu over rice each time I've been here. Each time I've been struck by the fact that the flavors are a total jumble: not in a pleasing, fusion way, but in a con-fusion way where flavors that would have been nice on their own ended up canceling each other out. Case in point: my last order, with coconut curry tofu, had a bit of Thai flavor with the curry, but the pickled vegetables mixed in gave the food a Korean/Japanese feel and watered down the flavors of the already mild curry, while some of the herbs placed on top made me feel like I was about to have a bowl of pho. It wasn't bad but what could have been bold, interesting flavors all just clashed with each other into an overall "messy" flavor. This is a nice, cheap (for Palo Alto) lunch option, but I'd much rather have an actual Thai meal or Chinese meal than what I can get at the Box. It's definitely food for people who want Asian flavors but aren't in the mood for the aromas/spices/herbs/tastes of real Asian food.
(3)
Gina L.

Initially the menu is overwhelming, however, if you think of it like chipotle, it's not bad. My only gripe is that I wish it was more like chipotle in that there is a staff member with you every step of the way, and you could really "see" the ingredients. Oh well. Of the meat options I've had, they're all good, just not authentically vietnamese. Don't get me wrong, the asian flare is there, it's just not the same. Don't expect authenticity. My favorites are the pork and chicken (a little fatty) and the tofu. As for the vegetables, they are well cooked and fresh. Again, this isn't really vietnamese so the pickles are a little weak, but still, at least there's an option! The toppings are all delicious. The scallion oil... oh god. How can you not like it, it's like, the best. Combined with crushed peanuts and fried shallots? Beautiful. The sauces are pretty good, my tip is to order them on the side! That way you can test them before you douse your "box". My favorites are the peanut (because it's deliciously blended with mint or something, genius), tamarind (a little tart), fish sauce (MUCH less fishy than the ones I'm used to), and sriracha. Asian street dust? I've gotten it and I couldn't detect it. Disappeared somewhere. Customer service is outstanding. The cashiers are very patient and helpful. They really have it down. Overall kind of pricey and not authentically vietnamese, but it's my favorite quick, healthy lunch option on Castro.
(3)
Steve M.

Ordered ahead for an 11:20 pickup. Told to wait 5 min. Got food at 11:35, though they were nice and threw in a free drink and a spring roll. Food is good, really like the shrimp spring roll.
(4)
Sam V.

Great selection of ingredients. "Miss Jones'" sauce more hot then sweet and spicy. We both enjoyed our dinner.
(5)
Vicky T.

3.5 AP workshop day three.. recommended by one of the teachers who was at the conference. Light lunch that was filling without the food coma. I got the slaw with curried tofu, steamed veggies and the crispy shallots. I had about eight pieces of tofu which was plenty for me in addition to my sides. It was tasty! The iced tea was also good. Tamarind sauce I would like to have on almost everything.
(3)
Cynthia A.

Vietnamese food but different? Its not really authentic vietnamese food oviously. Lets call it fusion? Anyways, I understand what they are trying to do here but execution leaves alot to be desired. Maybe since I was raised on authentic vietnamese food, its just too hard to get past their "updated" version. Flavors are off and prices are a bit high for small portions. But I give them higher marks for trying to offer healthier options. Make sure you get the sauces you request on the side, that way you can control the flavorings because they can be heavy handed with it. The sriracha is good but not a fan of the peanut sauce. Overall its a ok place to add to the lunch rotation 3 stars
(3)
Chocolate I.

Super yummy, super quick, pretty healthy food, and fun to choose all the different ingredients for our meal. And for Palo Alto, reasonable prices. Compostable containers a big plus but wish they pointed out where to put your compostable containers after using. Have a feeling most end up in non-compost bins. Really nice folks behind the counter. Have loved every meal here. Not sure why Merry K thought the Sirachi sauce (sp?) was bland because mine was super hot, and even my hubby, who eats the hottest of foods w/o wincing, thought it was spicy. Only had the fish and veggie dishes so can't comment on the meat. Love this place
(5)
Christine J.

I used Asian Box to cater a workshop (~40 ppl) - I couldn't have asked for better. I was looking for something more interesting boring sandwich boxes, and something both healthful and sustainable - and Asian Box was perfect. The food was flavorful, fresh, and wholesome. Also, because they serve buffet-style, it was much more flexible than having to guess at a set number of individual units. Also their iced mint green tea was great (and way better than soda!). I would definitely recommend them to anyone for catering.
(5)
William E.

Very excited that they pride themselves on being a gluten free environment! The food is always good here, I have never left unhappy. Watch out for the parking on the weekends. Love the chicken the most but the shrimp is great too! I also love the simplicity of the drinks. They offer coconut water and ginger aid which is tight
(4)
Sinclaire H.

Was curious to see what the big deal was about Asian Box but I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it! My favorite to get is the coconut curry tofu on the rice noodles with tamarind sauce. It's filling enough, a decent price and the workers are really friendly. Sometimes it gets packed during the lunch rush but it usually doesn't take them too long. My only complaint is I wish they could add a bit more sauce or make it slightly stronger but it's still delicious!
(4)
Erica E.

This review will remain incomplete until I go back and try every possible combination, but the two that I have had so far have been aces!! Thanks Abby S for the review that lead me in their direction. Just a bike ride away and totally worth a ride twice the distance! PS- you must try the caramelized egg- sooooooooooo good. Stay tuned.
(4)
Sherrie H.

I want to give Asian Box 4-stars, but the service as of late is dreadful. Plenty of staff with one person tending to guests. On my last visit the greeting was yelled across the the establishment as an announcement that I had entered the building. I have been here a dozen times for "fresh sustainable takeaway" food. Asian Box uses quality ingredients from local farmers and vendors in its flavorful cuisine with greatly diverse flavors. Keep in mind that there is one community table and a counter seating area. There are also a few outdoor tables for alfresco dining on nice days. With dozens of possible combinations, there is something here for everyone, it is the "Asian Chipotle" per say with build your own meal options. I have always opted for the Asian Vegetable Salad base as it is light and low on calories. There are a variety of proteins: chicken, pork, beef, tofu and shrimp.... being your bay area vegetarian Yelper, I of course choose the tofu! Do your self a favor and select ALL of the "add-ons," although I have not indulged in the carmel egg option. Pick a sauce, and viola! FYI, I like simple foods and prefer the Asian Street Dust sauce. I also LOVE the Tofu Spring Rolls here!! New Mountain View location & coming soon to Burlingame!!
(3)
Brian J.

Wow, that was one of the worst dinners I've had in a while. I ordered the brown rice bowl with chicken + toppings + peanut sauce (+$1) which came to about $10. There were about 3-4 pieces of chicken max, roughly equivalent to the amount on a single chicken thigh. I'm pretty sure the pieces came from thigh meat, since 2 of the pieces had that nasty rubbery lobe (tendon maybe?) that you find on drumsticks. The "free" toppings were barely there--2 pieces of broccoli and some raw bean sprouts on the side. As for the sauce, at first I thought they forgot to add it. Closer examination revealed about a half tablespoon of the stuff. Definitely not worth the extra $1. To sum up, I basically paid $10 for a tasteless bowl of brown rice. For that I could (should) have gotten a delicious reuben at the Village Cheese Shop or half a pizza at Howie's. Lesson learned.
(1)
Enza P.

My fiance and I were looking for a healthy place to grub and this place popped up on our Yelp app! I really appreciate the flavors and foods that they offer here. The best part is that you can pick whatever you want to go into your box, similar to Chipotle. It's very healthy here, giving you options like brown rice and different veggies. For myself, I ordered chilled rice noodles, beef, jalapeno, fresh herbs, picked veggies, crispy shallots, lime squeeze, scallion oil. with a tamarind vinaigrette. Although I truly enjoyed my food, I was disappointed with the portion size. I think that they definitely should give bigger portions because I wasn't full once I was done eating it. The flavors are all there, the service is great, the price is okay, but they really need to give people bigger portions to appreciate it more. They could also improve the wait time also. I remember I was there on a weekend afternoon and the wait was quite long. I'm really rooting for this place though! I think that its a great healthy alternative to eating fast food.
(4)
Jennifer W.

Well after several times of giving this place a try, I'm not too sure anymore. Every time I get the shits after I eat it! I'm not trying to slander anyone, as my last review of this place was 3 stars - but I just don't know what's going on! Maybe it's just my stomach...
(1)
Adrienne M.

I'm surprised this place doesn't have a higher rating. I really enjoyed my lunch here. The "build your own box" concept is similar to Chipotle and Tava Kitchen, the "Indian Chipotle" place that's also in Town & Country. You choose a starch (brown or white rice or noodles), a meat or tofu (which determines the base price of the box), a style of vegetables (steamed or wok tossed), toppings (most of which are free but some for a small charge), and a sauce (again, some free some not). I had brown rice, chicken, wok tossed veggies, crispy scallions and chopped peanut toppings (both free) and peanut sauce (extra 75 cents). The portion was really big and everything in the box tasted fresh and light and not at all overprocessed. The highlights were the soft, fluffy perfectly cooked rice, the white meat chicken, which had a really nice flavor, and the crispy scallions. The peanut sauce was pretty good, although it had a lime-y flavor I could have done without (although this was listed on the menu so it was not a surprise) and I felt like there was a bit too much sauce. Next time I'll tell them to go light on the sauce. Still, since it was a paid ingredient, its nice that they give you your money's worth. Thanks to the fresh, quality ingredients I didn't feel at all gross afterward, even though I ate a decent amount of food. My husband had a beef/noodle/tamarind sauce box. He didn't hate it, but tried mine and liked it a lot more. There was no line to order and the boxes came out very quickly. With tax, they were about $9 each. That's really not bad for Palo Alto, especially Town and Country village, which is overpriced in general. This place is a great addition to T&C will definitely go into our regular lunch rotation.
(4)
Shanna N.

Jasmine rice, tofu coconut curry, all the toppers + caramel egg + tamarind vinegarette! Great portion size, lots of yummy tofu but the sauciness of the tofu curry plus the tamarind was a little too much... The cold noodle salad was pretty good too- loved the sweet and salty, chewy and crunchy combo! Could have used a bit of the tamarind sauce. Really cool idea, delicious, service wasn't great and parking is ridiculous but I'll be back!
(4)
Lindsey A.

my mom took me here the other day and it was great. I loved it and will be going back again. I had a sample of the iced Vietnamese coffee and it tasted great. I had the Jasmine rice with beef soy glaze and everything except the caramel egg, I'm not a egg person. the Tamarin vinaigrette was a wonderful finishing touch.
(4)
Luis C.

Had the lemongrass pork, jasmine rice, all the toppers and the Street Dust. The food lined up with my expectations--flavorful, but nothing too adventurous. Asian Box did fit the bill though, since I was looking for a place that was quick and reliable.
(3)
Kevin T.

Horrible horrible food poisoning. Beef was either undercooked or the fish sauce was mishandled. Either way, I was sicker than I've ever been for two days straight. Yes, I'm certain it was from Asian Box. No, I don't have a weak stomach. I spent much of 2009 traveling through South Asia and never had this bad of an issue. So... don't recommend.
(1)
Jason W.

I first read about Asian Box in the San Francisco Chronicle a few months ago and I've tried to stop here a couple of times with no success. The first time, I couldn't find it and the second time I couldn't find any parking. Oh, yeah, the parking. Not Asian Box's fault, but the parking around the Town & Country Village is a complete nightmare! There's plenty of spots, but the lunchtime crowd just can't seem to operate their vehicles in a sensible fashion. Anyway..... me and some coworkers met an old friend (old as in hadn't seen him in a while, not that he's super old) and I thought it might be a good idea to give Asian Box one more try since he works in the area. This time we got lucky and found parking practically right out front! Asian Box is a tiny place. There's no real seating inside (people use the lone table to wait for their orders) and just a few tables outside. For future reference, I'll just get my order to go. The staff behind the counter are super nice and shout out "WELCOME TO THE BOX!" or something like that when you cruise in. I was telling my friends that it reminded me of that Japanese restaurant in Albert Brooks' "Defending Your Life", but none of them had seen that movie, so the reference fell flat. I ordered a box with brown rice, wok fried veggies, beef, crispy shallots, and house-made sriracha. The order came out quickly. The serving was a little on the small side, but just fine since I wasn't super hungry. The beef had a nice charred taste to it, the brown rice was nutty, the sriracha was tasty, and the crispy shallots gave it a nice crunch. I wish there had been some more veggies since I only counted 2 or 3 little bits of broccoli. My friends enjoyed their lunch too. Some people compare this to Chipotle, but I don't think that's a fair comparison. It's more like the Counter burgers in setup and delivery. The place is clean and tidy and a ton of people were there eating lunch, so you might want to go off hours to speed up your lunch and save yourself the trauma of the parking lot!
(4)
Milan T.

Chipotle-esque take on asian/vietnamese food creates a really creative and yummy little lunch box. You can mix and match quite a few items but the process is very well laid out. Overall a cool place, modern design, some nice touches thrown in for an overall quite enjoyable experience.
(5)
Neil Alden A.

Not quite Chipotle/ShopHouse. Way more expensive. $5 for double meat!? Food and service is top notch though for casual dining and it's delicious. The packaging is awesome, wish you could see that sort of stuff in more places. Guess that's where extra money goes. Still, not everyone outside even participates or cares about their trash/landfill/recycling/compost and you often see customers just dumping everything in one place. Lovely store, highly recommended if you are in the area.
(4)
R P.

Average Asian-like food without the Asian efficiency. The wait time is too long to pick up what is a basic lunch box. They need to find a better way to improve the throughput. Most of the ingredients can be prepared in advance. With 5 people working back there, customers shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes to get the food.
(3)
Ziyan C.

Pros: the meat itself was excellent quality. They move fast and have great customer service (even though you're supposed to wait by the counter for your food to come out, the manager saw that we were trying to save a table out on the sidewalk for our group made sure himself to note our order numbers and have them brought out to us). Cons: many of our orders had something missing/wrong (noodles instead of rice/ they didnt' add the caramelized egg/ missing other topping). Other than the meet, there wasn't anything too fantastic about the food. Your receipt may be a little confusing - if you got ALL the toppings, it will say "topless". Overall, I'm glad I went, but I probably won't go again. I got the rice noodle with beef, peanut sauce, spicy stir fried veggies, and caramelized egg. The rice noodle was a little cold and stale, and it's also the thin vermicelli-like type (not the fat wide rice noodles I was imagining). My co-workers said the brown rice was good. The peanut sauce went well with the beef, which was slightly rare (they didnt' ask but I actually like it that way) and perfectly tender. The veggies were mainly steamed carrots (which were cut to very awkwardly large chunks, several of us noticed), broccoli, and fried onions (which were actually delicious). The caramelized egg seemed to be nothing more than a tea egg with a hint of sweetness (nothing special for those of us who grew up in Asian households). I also got to try the pork, which was also tender and yummy. One co-worker got the shrimp WITHOUT fish sauce, but couldn't quite down it because it had a really intense fish sauce flavor! I ended up eating some of her shrimp for her because I didnt' mind it, but you really shouldn't be getting a sauce that you did not order.
(3)
Aaron T.

bottom line: asian chipotle (i said this about spice kit) with a few more options and less seating i was recently introduced to asian box by a coworker. this place is really easy to miss as the storefront is recessed. you build your box in a few easy steps; my first time out i opted for brown rice, chicken, all the fixings including the optional caramelized egg, and fish sauce. the second time, i opted for rice noodles and shrimp instead. the food comes out surprisingly quickly in a compostable box. i really liked the chicken the first time, though i have to say the shrimp had an odd aftertaste. the one main drawback is that seating is very limited. that being said, everything tasted super fresh and healthy (though portions are slightly on the smaller side) and i will be making return trips here.
(4)
Allison M.

Like Asian Chipotle... but so much better than what you're imagining. I promise. Initially skeptical, I LOVED the asian vegetable salad as my base, although the other carby options (all with low glycemic index counts!) looked pretty tasty as well. The wok-tossed vegetables were incredible, as were the coconut curry tofu. And my advice is to just ask for everything as far as toppings go (but pay attention to what you might be paying extra for-- the caramelized egg does cost extra!) The fish sauce was phenomenal, and my fiance said their homemade sriracha wasn't too spicy. The jalapenos were enough kick for me, though! Quick, healthy, convenient... Lovely to sit outside on a nice day. And friendly employees! I just want to crawl inside this box and live there.
(5)
Jen S.

I was reading through some of the negative reviews and I have to think people here are spoiled by so much EXCELLENT food to choose from. AND that is a good thing! We just moved to the area 4 months ago and besides Chipolte there are not a lot of quick, easy...and healthy options (of course Chipolte is only healthy if you have them make it that way). This is fast food. Convenient food. So I am giving it 5 stars based on one going here for fast food. So in my mind compared to pizza, or McDonalds, or Rubios, or LuLu's....this "Asian" option hits the nail on the head. I can get a meal full of veggies and protein for under 300 calories, and in under 5 minutes, that is made will quality ingredients. Would I eat at Asian Box if I wasn't in a hurry and was looking for authentic Asian food, or Vietnamese? No. But for the purpose/clientele it was designed to serve...and the product they claim to deliver....they are doing an excellent job! Fast food people-not 5-star dining! But I will admit, if you are going to serve any cuisine in the is area....you have to do it right...so many good options!
(5)
Diane T.

Freaking delicious. After wandering around menlo, every place has disappointed me greatly. The high end places made steaks not even fit for a dog to eat and I was getting ready to give up. I passed this little place going to Cvs and decided to give it a try. I ordered the ox box with shrimp spring roll and a vietnamese ice coffee. I got the ice coffee first and it was amazing. It was really vietnamese coffee and not the kind where its Americanized. Nice and strong. I'm vietnamese so I know lol. Next came the spring rolls, the freshness of the rolls were also impressive. The noodles and wrapper skin were soft and moist, and the sauce it came with was not an over powering peanut sauce but lightly complimented it. The ox box wowed me as soon as it hit my tongue. The nice array of spices accompanied by sriracha was perfect. The beef was tender with a soft pink center. The rice was cooked to perfection with it being the right kind of softness .. not overcooked not undercooked and definitely not soggy. Good job asian box you have kept true to certain asian aspects and restored a little faith back in me for menlo. Keep up the good work.
(5)
Cinnamon Z.

So much hype! They will not omit the toxins like soy and sugar. They won't customize This is sad They don't reply to emails or questions How hard is it to consider dietary challenges? Not in my kitchen
(1)
Margaret G.

I've finally had a chance to sample the whole menu! The lemongrass pork and coconut curry tofu are tied for 1st place in my book. Still my favourite restaurant in the immediate area. I still feel like I'm eating relatively healthy without leaving a carbon footprint from the waste. Win! Must haves- beef jerky and lemon lime marmalade :) Constructive criticism- some days the spring rolls could be a little tighter :)
(5)
Stephanie S.

Went for the first time for lunch today, food was good, guy that took our order was great. What threw me off was the guy making the food- he was popping food in his mouth while he was preparing people's food AND texting on his cell phone with no gloves- grody. Open kitchen, we could see him while we were eating. Not sure I'll be able to get past that one...
(3)
Gigi K.

I've been here at least five times over the past year. I was very excited about it when it first opened (Asian Chipotle!). The novelty has worn down (especially with Spice Kit), I have generally been turned off by the bad service and the food is just OK. Over time (or maybe I just didn't notice in the beginning) the flavors have become really muted and bleh. For example, you'd think in the Vietnamese-style toppings and choices you'd get that yummy cilantro and lime combination, but everything is kind of weak and toned down for Palo Alto palates. The "Asian street dust" is I think my favorite topping, but last time they went, they hardly put it on and I couldn't really taste it. All in all, not memorable, but if you want a rice box-type meal, it fits the bill. Service - there is a Southeastern Asian girl that works there that needs to learn some customer service. One time I was there she literally walked away from the register when I came up to ask for an extra pair of chopsticks like she knew I was going to "bother" her and didn't want to answer the question. Another unfortunate night she was working again and more interested in chatting with the staff and basically ignored the line at the register. There was one helpful guy working there and the others were also rolling their eyes at customized requests of other customers and generally had a not great attitude. I get it, it's a weekend night and they are probably students and don't want to be there. But seriously, you work at Asian Box. The whole point is people ask for random combinations and customizations.... don't roll your eyes when people ask questions. Annoying. Nice to have some variety in Palo Alto but would rather support a more mom and pop Asian or Asian fusion place where the flavors were actually good. Tihs is kind of a corporate-y Asian fusion place that kind of falls flat.
(3)
Ryan S.

Good food for a fast food place. Unfortunately it's pretty slow, at off peak hours you're still going to wait around 20 minutes. Plus the online ordering is basically pointless since they don't start making it until you get there and wait in line to talk to the cashier.
(2)
K C.

Mediocre at best, awful at worst. I ordered the "workout" and I paid for "extra" chicken ($5) - they didn't give me much chicken at all. It wasn't even 4oz. The workout is supposed to have "double streamed veggies", etc. It didn't many at all, but they sure had no problem given me 80% of the bowl as brown rice. The worst part is that it was super bland. I won't be coming here again.
(1)
Janet H.

Asian box = Chipotle restaurant, but Asian-styled! I loved the variety here and of course, the sauces they have! My fav is the vinagrette. Even though I am absolutely in love with Sriracha, their house Sriracha sauce tasted pretty sour to me... not a fan. If this is your first time here, ask for the sauce on the side and they'll put them in souffle cups! Otherwise, I love the veggies and toppings they add into the box. I wish they could've put a little more meat in there, though. Can't wait to come back when I'm in the Palo Alto area!
(4)
Kara M.

Gluten free people rejoice! Not only is everything here GF but it's really good and they make everything there vs. using pre-packaged sauces, etc. I recently had to get super strict with my gluten-free eating so now I carry around the Triumph Dining cards to make sure I don't get glutened. After going to all of my Asian food staples in the area and showing the waiters/cooks my cards I learned that almost every Asian restaurant uses soy sauce and MSG in *everything*, even the rice so apparently all my gluten-free choices in the past had been in vain. They also don't make everything from scratch, with many things (especially the curries) coming from pre-packaged (read: lots of wheat/gluten) sauce mixes, making it very difficult to get Asian food out without getting sick if you are wheat/gluten sensitive or Celiac. So Asian Box is a godsend in a world of next-to-impossible eating out. So far I've had the chicken and the shrimp, both of which are delicious. I get all the toppings except the pickled stuff and the Caramel Egg is awesome...you must try it at least once. I've only had 2 of the sauces so far, the Asian Street Dust (l want a giant bottle of this for home!) and the peanut sauce. Others have mentioned that the peanut sauce is just ok. I have to agree but after attempting to make my own homemade gluten-free peanut sauce I realized the regular version requires hoisin and oyster sauces, both of which have wheat in them, so you have to adjust the recipe to get a GF version. It doesn't taste the same but it's still good on its own merit...just don't expect it to be exactly like the regular version. Another thing I like about this place is it's quick. I've never waited longer than 10 minutes for my order, even when it's super busy. If you want to eat there, the place only comfortably holds about 12-14 max (inside). Even if you're not trying to eat gluten free, this place is great overall. I challenge you to see how you feel after eating a meal here versus a similar meal at a 'regular' Asian restaurant. You might notice a (good) difference. Oh, location tip! Asian Box is in the Town & Country shopping center and is on the same strip as La Belle Day Spa, the 49ers store, etc., what I consider the back side of the shopping center.
(5)
Stephanie N.

I come here at least once to twice a week. This is a good place for take out.I always get the chilled noodles with chicken. I suggest asking for skinless chicken as they always seem to give you a ton of skin and NO chicken when I order the standard. The Sriracha toss is my favorite with steamed veggies. It's basically your standard asian chipotle but I prefer Asian Box!!! Keep up the good work.
(4)
Surai J.

Wow, really flavorful and relatively fast, the sauces here are worth repeated trips. 90% of the time, the staff will steer you to their now famous tamarind sauce (sweet/sour-like) but the peanut sauce is amaaaazing! yes, you do have to pay 75 cents more for it, but the balance nuttiness with the mild tang makes me pour it over everything and sop up every last drop, it's that good. Great for kids too, bec. of the slightly sweetness. The meat here is thoroughly marinated so make sure you taste before your pour (the sauce on) that is. The only improvement they need, is to hire more staff during rush hour. The wait is getting to be beyond "convenient" during dinner time.
(4)
Katharine A.

I have had this place on my list for a while now and I finally got the chance to grab lunch. It was good, albeit expensive and not as good as it could have been had I been a bit farther South (read: in San Jose). However, this is a good option in the area for fulfilling a rice/noodle plate. I got the beef with everything and added a couple sauces. The sauces really shouldn't be additions in price. Hot Sauce, fish sauce etc should be standards when eating this type of food and it made me mad that it pushed the cost factor up for a bit of flavor. Service was a bit slow, even though I was there early. I wasn't given a bag at first for my to go order which made me loose things on the way out. Had to go back and request a bad. Would have preferred being offered the choice up front.
(3)
Chers S.

Delicious and healthy!! I ordered the lemongrass chicken on brown rice. You fill out a form while you wait in line; pick your rice, meat, veggies, and sauce. The ordering process is so simple! The ginger lemonade is delicious too. Can't wait to go back and try some of the other combos. I hear they're opening a Mountain View in the Fall which is much closer to me. Looking forward to it.
(4)
Bransten M.

Service is excellent. My main girl, Audrey Small is on her shit. Real talk. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Donald L.

Frequent rotations of kitchen staff. Quality and quantitive of servings variable. Have deteriorated as of 01/07/2014 evening. Try other branch.
(3)
Malisa D.

If you have a hard time finding this place it's on the same side as the Scott's Seafood, but down a little on the corner. I've heard so much about this place and decided to give it a go. I got the chilled rice noodle with shrimp, and the long grain rice with chicken... Lots of toppings to choose from, these are exactly what I put in my box: BOX#1 1)Chilled Rice Noodles 2)Shrimp (which are pretty darn jumbo which is a major plus) 3)Wok Vegeatables (you have a choice of steamed or wok) ADD-ONS Fresh Jalapeno Chopped Peanuts Fresh Herbs Fresh Lime Squeeze SAUCES Hot Box Itâ„¢ (Add 50Â¢) The final word in fire & flavor (FYI---this sauce is AsainBox made and is pretty delic, it's just like Sriracha, but wayyy more spicy, you don't need to use the whole container of it, trust) For my second Box I got: 1)Long Grain Jasmine Rice 2)Chicken - SIX Spice Blend 3)Wok Tossed Veggies ADD-ONS Scallion Oil (which I thought was really yummy with the rice and the chicken, great combo) Caramel Egg (Add 95Â¢) (it was good, but not worth 95cents... It's just a boiled egg with soysauce and prob brown sugar or something similar tasting) Asian Street Dustâ„¢ (Add 25Â¢) A dirty blend of sweet, salt & spices (this tasted like a mixer of spices with Chinese 5 spices added somewhere with it. For those who don't know what that spice tastes like, it's sorta cinnamon inspired with other spices to give it a nice kick and goes good with chicken) They didn't have Thai Ice Tea so I got a Vietnamese Iced Coffee My grand total was------$22 This is why it only gets 4Stars, it's fun to choose different toppings and let your inner tastebuds take control, but the prices are a bit steep for a quick and easy concept. I will say, everything tasted fresh, even the veggies which is usually my biggest concern.
(4)
Claire W.

Went there tonight for dinner around 7:15 pm and gladly found out they did extend their hours beyond 7 pm. The last time I went, maybe a couple months ago at 7 pm, they were just closing so I did not get to try. So this is basically a healthier version of asian bento box takeout place. I picked the short-grain brown rice with chicken, sprouts, pickles, fresh herbs and steamed veggies and the slightly spicy sriacha sauce. The chicken was grilled very well and kudos to the "antibiotics free", etc. But the brown rice was way under cooked and hard to chew on. That was a big disappointment if an Asian place cannot cook the rice correctly. The veggies were lacking in flavor, but they were steamed and healthier, so I just let that go. For a quick and light meal this is not a bad choice. Oh by the way, no one working there, including the chef, was Asian though. Also the interior decor is more hip than your usual Asian hole-in-the-wall place. The owner is smart to set this up here right by Stanford. They know what appeals to the young hip Palo Alto crowds.
(3)
Jessica S.

This is my favorite restaurant in Town and Country Village. The food is great and you can't go wrong even if you add toppings indiscriminately. The only downside is it's a small restaurant and there's not much seating.
(5)
Sumoki T.

Great place to take an Asian wife. I took my Asian wife here and she loved it and she's Asian!
(5)
Aneesh B.

Completely agree with the "Asian Chipotle" assessment, and I do not think that is at all a bad thing. Been here a few times, and have enjoyed the tofu and also the pork, both with cold rice noodles. Looking forward to sampling the other proteins and starches since so far I have enjoyed the food. Tons of add-ons, sauces, and I really love that if you "hot-box" it, the hot sauce is hot enough for a brown guy like me but also has flavor so it's not like pouring fire all over your food. Tasty lemon-lime drink, too. Haven't tried the other beverages but eventually will do so. I do agree that it's a bit pricey but you get a lot of food for the price and the flavors are there, so it's worth an extra couple bucks. This will continue to be a steady in the lunchtime rotation. An added bonus is the continual inspiration it provides for a neverending supply of "box" jokes.
(4)
Jeff H.

One of the few places I can eat at due to food-sensitivities, this place is a haven for someone too busy to pack a lunch. Great options and you can order online. Staff runs the gamut of attitudes but are generally helpful, friendly and competent. Place is busy before 1:30, so prepare for a wait. Additionally, the shrimp doesn't agree with me, could be my own problem. Get a bigger place with more indoor seating and you'll be solid. Please create a side-chain for gluten free noodle bars - pho, wontons etc. :)
(5)
Kyu L.

so ive been hearing a lot of chatter in regards to Asian Box...some good...some bad...the "bad" being very bad...complaints about things not tasting as they should...expensive prices...yada yada yada... I ordered a very simple BOX for lunch...there are plenty of options at Asian Box...you basically order a carbohydrate in the form of a type of rice or noodle...then you order one of 4 or 5 proteins...then a handful of "box toppers" that you can dress up your box with (all free except for the hard boiled egg which will put you back 95 pennies)...lastly you can choose one of 6 sauces (3 of then cost 25-75 cents each) ive realized that at Asian Box, if you dont enjoy your box, you can only blame yourself... I mean, the way you order the box is completely up to you. If you want extra meat, you order extra meat...if you want no veggies...you order no veggies...its a very simple business model...doesnt take a rocket scientist to put together a tasty meal... my box consisted of.. -brown rice (perfectly cooked...nutty and chewy) -garlic and soy glazed beef (salty, but not too salty...packed with flavor and very fresh) -passed on the free steamed/cooked veggies and went for the pickled veggies, fried shallots and lime juice, and paid for the 95 cent caramel egg -sauce...went for the sriracha, just for some extra kick i opted for extra meat when ordering....a lot of the complaints that i heard was that their portions of meat were a bit on the skimpy side... ima carnivore by nature...when i order any meal, whether it be a sandwich, burrito, or house of prime rib...i always pay for extra meat... i ended up paying for "double meat" according to my receipt...5 bucks extra, but definitely worth it... as for the service...very friendly, and i like the "NICE BOX" they throw on after you order! also the total bill for my box was $14. i also ordered the VC mint iced tea..."that" was overpriced at $2.95, but it tasted good and hit the spot... pricey? could be... tasty? yes. quality? yes. would i recommend? DEFINITELY. if youre on a budget...just go to McDonalds...if you want something filling, tasty AND healthy...come by and get your BOX on!!!
(5)
Doug B.

WARNING... While the flavors are fine (if a bit confused), I have now become really ill 2x from eating their food. I can't recall the last time I had food poisoning from a restaurant - it's been many years. I really should have learned a month ago after my wife and I both got sick immediately after having their chilled rice noodles & tofu w/all fresh veggies. I thought it was probably a one-off deal, maybe the tofu. I went back yesterday and had the brown rice & pork w/all the veggies and was sick again very quickly after eating. There is no doubt that something isn't right in their kitchen - a shame.
(1)
Rey D.

This place is a must if your looking for something different and new. The food is healthy and fresh. We had the Curry Chicken and the Ribs delicious.
(5)
Brandon V.

Not bad at all. Ordered the Mrs. Jones. Noodles were clumped together so definitely not fresh at the time. Pork was quite good actually. Everything else was a jumble not worth mentioning. If they upped their portions, I would definitely come here regularly.
(3)
Sam L.

A.B. has a ton of potential, but at the moment it's a 3 for me. It has a great foundation for success. I am sure that over the upcoming months they will make vast improvements, and I think things can only go up from here. Walking in can feel a bit intimidating, and the things on the menu are certainly not self-explanatory, but the staff is very friendly and willing to explain the mysterious options. I ordered the long-grain jasime rice with garlic and soy glazed beef, wok spiced veggies, and all the "box toppers" except jalapeno (I am admittedly scared of spiciness hahaha). I added the caramel egg (.95 cents extra) to see what the fuss was all about, and I got a side of tamarind vinaigrette and peanut sauce (.75 cents extra). When the total came out to over $10, I really didn't want to buy a drink too. Here's the catch: NO TAP WATER. What?! The staff has literally been instructed not to serve tap water. This is something that HAS to be fixed in order for the place to exceed 3 stars in my book. It may seem extreme or petty, but I am not ashamed of my frugality! (OK, maybe just a little embarrassed.) My order came out quickly, and I sat at the strange, lone counter seating area to eat it. Here's another area where A.B. could really improve -- indoor seating. Their outdoor eating area looks great and will probably be a hit during the warmer summer months, but they do have the room for more seating inside, and they need to capitalize on it! The beef (steak!) was delicious. Although the soy glaze caused it to char (read: burn) on the edges, the beef was tender and not overcooked. I would love if they could limit the char, but overall I think the meat was great quality and delicious. I felt super healthy eating all those spiced (not spicy) veggies, and the peanut sauce was extra delicious. The tamarind vinaigrette was good, though super sweet. It would probably be best suited to shrimp, not beef. The caramel egg, on the other hand -- what's the deal? I have absolutely no idea what makes it special. It's simply not worth the extra buck! The portion was perfect for me, and I think the dish was tasty and relatively healthy (especially if you get brown rice, unlike me haha). That said, it's a bit pricy, especially with the add-ons, and they should definitely work toward offering more indoor seating and tap water!
(3)
Fernando N.

The portions are too small. Their chicken is mostly skin. I asked for more napkins because the table was dirty and they told me that they had already given me one.
(1)
Zin M.

Okay went back a few more times after my swollen upper lip incident, and I still love it AND I've had zero reactions the 4 times I've gone since. It's a plus, it might have just been the luck of the day but I figured it was best to give those with allergies a heads up. YUM!
(4)
Yeongin K.

I like the spicy beef!
(4)
Carla S.

100% gluten free? Partially owned by someone who has a son with celiac? Truth be told, I'd probably go to this restaurant just because I can order anything off the menu board. But...the best part is that it's actually good. Great. Fantastic. I went in and wanted everything, so I asked the nice girl, Natalie, at the counter to create a box for me based on her likes. I ended up with the brown rice and chicken, peanut sauce (so easily worth the extra .75), wok spiced veggies, scallions, the tamarin sauce, a lime squeeze, and the lovely herbs. There isn't one darn thing I'd change about it. It was amazing. The portion was a great size for me, and I'm a good eater. I will be back. Perhaps tomorrow for lunch. See you there? --- Dining parter, B, had the "salad" to be healthier, with the pork. She was full, but didn't turn down a few bites of my chicken! She also had the wok spiced veggies, the lime, the tamarind, and enjoyed them. Quite flavorful, I was told. (I had the same, and had already figured that out!) --- We both had great meals, two drinks (amazing ginger ale) and were out of there (In freakin expensive palo alto) for less than 25 dollars. Pretty good considering it is an entirely gluten free facility and I didn't have to worry about anything! And our food was fantastic. 5 stars. Go - you won't regret it.
(5)
Jasmin C.

One of my favorite places to go for a quick lunch. This place is basically a Vietnamese Chipotle. Same concept: you pick your carb, meat, veggies and top it off with a sauce. Everything taste really fresh. I always get the rice noodles (wasn't a fan of the brown rice there) with pork which is lemongrass marinated. Wok tossed veggies with all the toppers please! I've tried the tamarind vinaigrette and the peanut sauce before. Both were very tasty. I plan to try the Siratcha sauce next time.
(4)
Jules B.

Got a bowl (Bun) take out last evening for my hubby - chicken and shrimp. The food is tasty. But, honestly...$15.00 for an Americanized Bun!?!? What a freakin' rip off! Go to a real Vietnamese take out spot or restaurant and get a much much much tastier Bun (bowl) for less than half the price. Why does every Palo Alto establishment have to gouge you at every turn.? On a bright note, their mint/green tea iced tea and iced Vietnamese coffee (cafe sua da) are tasty and good. The iced coffee is good and strong!
(2)
Guo Xiang T.

I ordered the workout but was disappointed with the portion of chicken provided. Don't expect the taste to blow you away, you're better off heading to panda express
(1)
James R.

Relatively fast, reasonably healthy (I hope) food that does not cost too much. I have been there a ton and never had an serious problems with the service.
(5)
Paul P.

I think I ate at most.. 3 times a week when I first discovered here. Strangely addicted to their Tamarind Vinaigrette sauce. Honestly, the menu is not that overwhelming. (Seriously? It's only 3 steps) Eat healthy here. I recommend.
(4)
Abby S.

Thanks, Asian Box, for an invite to last night's preview/fundraiser! Hosted inside St. Michael's Alley, the purveyors were trying to obtain some honest feedback about the menu AND raise a little money for military veterans. What's not to like about that? I like the gluten-free/healthy fast food/bento box concept. You choose your starch (anything from brown rice to stir fried noodles), one meat and as many dang toppings as you like, along with a sauce or two. Definitely recommend the lemongrass pork, along with the house made Sriiracha sauce. Has a different tang than the stuff you see at typical Asian restaurants. Really good! Apparently they make all of their sauces in house, so I'd be willing to bet that they are all pretty delicious. Food came out fast and service was attentive, especially since they're new and trying to figure out what customers like. Looks like they will be officially open on the 28th, so check 'em out!
(4)
Kenneth R.

Six of us came for lunch yesterday, the day after the official opening. Severe disorganization is what we encountered. Even after 1PM, there was a long line of people attempting to order. The counter man, who seemed great by the way, was struggling to explain things to the customers and to interpret their orders for the software system. He praised each of us with a "great box!" after orders were entered successfully. Back in the kitchen (i.e., 10 feet away), the staff was doing its best to decrypt the incoming order slips and create the boxes that the customers had requested. Everyone's order had a number, but the numbers on the boxes coming out of the kitchen were imperfectly aligned with the numbers that the customers had been given. This was all kind of disastrous, but I'll be willing to stipulate that troubles like this will be gone by the end of the first week. At present, there are no tables in front of Asian Box. You have to take your box home or hunt for seating elsewhere in the shopping center. We found empty tables near Peet's and camped out there without being chased away. After all the effort we had put into finding Asian Box and getting actual lunches out on the Peet's tables, I was hungry and well disposed to like what I had. I didn't. The contents of the box tasted sort of bland, even with all the sauces I had ordered; I was deeply underwhelmed. I asked the other five people in my group to rate their boxes on a scale of 1 to 5. Everyone shouted out "2" simultaneously. So two stars it is. I had an iced vietnamese coffee, which came out of a machine that looked like a lemonade cooler. The coffee was great, but my drink had more ice than coffee.
(2)
Jenn C.

Love the concept and wanted to try this place out! We both got everything on it with added street dust, mine with chicken and my friends with beef. Spice and seasoning were on point, lots of yummy veggies but I just wish there was a more meat! My friend was still hungry after I brought him this for lunch. Definitely a bummer, but great for a snack or if you eat a lot of small meals during the day like me.
(4)
Grace T.

Had chicken on brown rice with steamed vegetables, herbs, and fish sauce / sriracha. The chicken was really good, and I regret not having more of the toppings and sauces. Pretty healthy except the chicken came with skin and fat, and the portion of rice was huge. Kind of expensive for what it is. Will be back to try different combinations of toppings and sauce.
(3)
Kes D.

I like this place, but I don't -love- it. But that may just be me. It sort of reminds me of a fancier version of Sunnybowl in MV-- like if that place had a baby with Chipotle. It's sort of a mishmash of all sorts of Asian cuisine with a Vietnamese foundation, I'd say. It has the pickled veggies of Vietnamese cuisine, but curry and sriracha from Thai cuisine, spices on meat that taste like they're from China, and a "hot box" sauce that tastes Korean. Their meat is fantastic-- the beef and pork both tasted fantastic, and I've heard the chicken is good too. The "asian street dust" is tasty, but I'm not sure some extra spices are worth that much? Neat selection of drinks. Things I wish were different: 1) obvious free drinking water somewhere; self-serve would be fine. All I saw was bottled and it wasn't obvious whether or not I could get a glass of tap water. I was thirsty and couldn't shell out an extra $2-3 for a drink. 2) "wok spiced veggies" are not spiced-- seems like false advertising. they're just sauteed in a wok and one of my pieces of broccoli was still completely raw. 3) the tofu needs some work, I think. It was just really chewy and the curry didn't really make up for it. I thought it was kind of bland for a curry. Things that are great!: 1) The people who work there are super duper nice! 2) Their rice is very well cooked 3) The meat, as I said, is tasty 4) Their veggies are all very fresh
(4)
Tetyana K.

They were catering at one of the Idea-to-IPO event. I tried their vegetarian tofu veggie stir fry. It was pretty good. And the choice of 3 sauces made even better.
(4)
Namita A.

Asian Box is one of the new fresh, healthy quick food restaurants in Palo Alto, and I must say I really really liked it! I iked it so much so that I literally just inhaled my meal! ! Its located in Town and Country so a cute little area so after your healthy meal, you can indulge in Kara's cupcakes ;) I ordered : Shrimp with chilled rice noodles, steamed veggies with all the toppings with the exception of the scallion oil with the fish sauce and sriracha sauce. I think the add of lemon just makes the meal so bright and delicious! 2nd Order: Chicken with brown rice/wok-tossed vegies and peanut sauce. I didnt try it but it appears to also be a hit as its only been 10 minutes the dish is gone. Thanks AsianBox!! Good stuff. PS Love the biodegradable containers PPS Portion size was JUST right
(4)
A C.

The mountain view location is so much better, friendlier staff. The girl with the light brown curly hair cashier is terrible and tries to make you feel that it's a privilege to be in HER presence. Corporate you should fire get and have name tags for everyone.
(1)
Philip Daniel S.

CHIPOTLE...asian style. basically. I love this place. Basically you start from scratch and you pick your meat, rice or noodles, toppings, sauces, etc. and in the end is your finished product! Voi la! (sp?). I always get the grilled beef, I add all of the toppings except the herbs, and I get the siracha and tamarind vinaigrette. What's cool about this place is that you can order food in advance and all of them will be ready by the time you get there. Definitely will keep coming here!!!
(4)
Dena M.

I can't believe I tried this place again after my last experience, but I was outnumbered and pleasantly surprised by the improvement. The meat's no longer burnt to a crisp, no longer dry and much better tasting. Lots of fresh veggies, lots of flavors, very satisfiing.
(3)
Thavy N.

I wanted to like this place, but it's just plain bad. My food came out cold, greasy, over sauced and their so call "Asian dust" is disgusting. I have a suggestion, how about serving actual Asian food and not this fake, disgusting garbage?
(1)
M L.

It looked promising when I saw the sign and before I walked in, but I regret wasting my time and money here. The menu is way to confusing, and the amount of food is tiny for what you pay. Also, they have all of these sauces, and the woman behind the counter said you can have all of them with your meal. How is it that you can get the clean flavors of what one sauce was meant to be if you mix all six of them together? I get the concept of what they wanted to do, and I think with tweaking it could be much, much better, but sometimes Asian foods are not meant to be mixed and matched like a chinese laundry list.
(2)
Stephen P.

Glad there's a place like this around. Simple, tastes good, pretty healthy, easy, not really expensive for this area. I'm a fan. Only downside is having to park at Town and Country to get there. I swear I almost get into an accident every time I enter that place.
(4)
Z K.

Chicken is skin-on and I don't care for the seasoning. Brown rice is so-so. Today I ordered a tofu dish, which was okay. The curry sauce was well done, but the tofu was overdone. Did not have the same problem with the shrimp dish we also ordered, because the shrimp wasn't cooked fully (raw) and not deveined. Called to let them know, and they refunded part of the bill. Still, won't go again....Quick tip if you get carry-out: open your car windows! The scent sticks fast and lingers.
(2)
Victor M.

I really love the concept that the owners put together here. Ive enjoyed the food twice and liked it the first time but felt that I paid a bit much for it... Today I tried the brown rice, beef, all the toppings, (crispy shallots!!) street dust, and Hot Box, !! I was so satisfied after my meal that I am hooked! The ten bucks feels better now since I heard the founders on kgo radio on the dining around show got me to go again. I think you could plate the same thing at a trendy place and get a better rating on yelp. Go here and really take in the flavors that are available, you will be dreaming about your next lunch, i will! a+ take out, not that msg oily fried steam tray mess, this is the real deal chef prepared excellence!
(5)
amit s.

So goood. Its like chipotle for Asian food, but better! They also have a location in SF now!
(5)
Chantal B.

I wasn't too sure about this place after I walked out spending $16 on a rice bowl, salad, and coffee.... but after one bite of the pork with brown rice I was sold! The bold flavors paired with a gluten-free promise makes it worth it!
(4)
James P.

Add this to the growing list of places that serves *insert cultural food* Chipotle style. You pick a type of starch, a type of meat, a type of veggie, sauce, etc. and they throw it all in a box for you. This place is not bad, but kind of meh to be honest. The food is well-made and the meat is tender and flavorful, but portions are small (for their price) and what I got (I believe it was the pork with the ginger sauce) had a little too many flavors at the same time for it to be good, so it just ended up being really salty and sour. Good for a takeout lunch if you must try it, but otherwise nothing too exciting.
(3)
Katie M.

If you are looking for a healthy lunch in Town & Country, it doesn't get much better than this. I tried the cilantro lime shrimp on brown rice with all of the toppers, fish sauce, and sriracha on the side. Loved the service, the flavors, and the portion size. Nothing was too spicy or too bland, and everything seemed to be cooked perfectly. The ratios in the mix of toppers was just right. Was a little disappointed that it only came with three shrimp for almost $9, so I will try the lemongrass pork or chicken next time (though some of my lunchmates said the pork was a little fatty). Also, I wish they offered cups for water instead of making you buy a water bottle. Overall, a great, healthy lunch! We will definitely be back.
(4)
Logan A.

Overtly pricey for quantity/quality, they claim to be a health option but put Gluten Free Soy Sauce (Tamari) on practically all of their meats (pure soy has myriad health issues, particularly for men) and in the majority of their sauces, and drinks are pricey/small with a charge for refills. Additionally, depending on who takes your order, there is a wide range of menu knowledge/understanding of the ingredients for those of us who are allergic to both gluten and soy.
(2)
Grant S.

Disgusting food. Dry, charred mystery meat with vinegary rice. Try Korean BBQ across the street.
(1)
Terry B.

The chef comes with great background so maybe my expectation was too high especial they just opened. The Shrimp Basil Lime was fishy and did not have much of flavor. The Hot Box sauce looked and tasted like it came from a bottle of Sriracha. My wife liked her Tofu Curry. For the price, it's a great value but I was till hungry since the portion looked like perfect for lunch, but not dinner. Great concept and I plan to try them again in another month or too after they settle down.
(3)
Raphael R.

Asian Box is a really great concept! The food is simple and refreshing, but the menu is complex enough to allow for never ending satisfaction of appetite. You can choose rice or noodles or even brown rice, and then load it up with meat, toppings, and a sauce. It seems that every time I have eaten here, I have tried something new, and I have never been disappointed. My favorite is the noodles, with chicken, all the toppings and the tamarind vinaigrette on top of it all. My one negative comment is as such: the caramel egg is a rip off. The food at Asian Box is already quite expensive for what it is, so charging $1 for a hard boiled egg makes me feel as if I'm being scammed. It would be okay for $0.25 or $0.50, but I think $1 is pushing it. The staff is also very friendly and professional. My advice to you: give it a try! P.s. I wish they would stay open later, too!
(4)
Lina M.

The box was good. I will be returning to try other combinations. I would not get the shrimp because you only get 4 shrimp and I don't think that's right for the price. It was tasty and I liked the fresh ingredients.
(4)
Erin S.

Holy carp this place is amazing. Excellent customer service, easy to order, and I've never had a bad food combo. It's flavorful, fast, and decently priced. I sometimes wish that they would do a little less rice and a little more veggie, but if I'm having a serious veggie craving I'll just get the veggie base. Some might think it's a little expensive, but when you're celiac, EVERYTHING is expensive. Oh, yeah, btw, part of the reason for the 5 stars is that it's a completely gluten free restaurant. They kicked someone out of the (small) eating area who walked in with pizza once. If you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, this place is both safe AND tasty. I'm extremely sensitive to gluten, so knowing that this kitchen has my back is immensely satisfying.
(5)
M O.

I really wanted to like this place. I have tried it 6 times (once for dinner with the kids). Each time I have been there they have made an error on my order. Sometimes it is a small thing like the wrong sauce, once it was putting beef on the order instead of chicken, which I don't eat. They did give me a comp after the beef incident, which was good business. The last time we went it was $42 for 3 "boxes" and two drinks. A little steep for what you can stir fry at home.
(2)
Yetanotherguy S.

I have been here a couple of times at lunch time. I think both times I ordered the Coconut Tofu with ALL box toppers. Such unique flavors. Would definitely go back! The food is freshly made, so it may take up to ten minutes to get your box, but it is worth the wait. Five stars!
(5)
F A.

Really would like a 2.5 star rating. It was 'ok' but nothing special. I got the jasmine rice with 4 shrimp and had to pay for dust (dry seasoning on top) and hot sauce (siracha and other spices). So $10 for my rice bowl. It needed more seasoning than the little dust on the shrimp and was extremely average. Perhaps they should offer chili, other seasonings for free so the customer could jazz up their own bowl.
(2)
Fancypants J.

The name is a little regrettable..but the food we had today was great! I had the lemongrass pork as a salad. The pork was very flavorful and good quality meat. The picked daikon was really good and the crispy shallots added a nice salty crunch. Hubs had the curry tofu in a peanutty sauce over rice. We will be back to try the shrimp, which looked huge and tasty. Service was fast & friendly & restaurant was very clean inside.
(4)
Andrew M.

Hot box it plus chicken plus everything equals tasty but a bit on the expensive side
(4)
J M.

Looks like a hit or miss place from these reviews, but I have to say I'm a fan. I think the problem is that most of the individual components are slightly underwhelming -- I usually get the Asian veggie salad instead of rice or noodles, the fairly tasty wok tossed veggies, one of the meats, all the toppings, and the sriracha sauce. None of the items by themselves are all that great (in fact, the asian veggie salad seems nothing more than just a bunch of raw-ish cabbage until you look a little deeper and see the pickled daikon, beansprouts, carrots and more!) But I really think the overall combination is pretty darn tasty, and that's all I'm after for a good, healthy lunch with fairly high quality ingredients. I'd actually give it five stars if not for the price, which I think is probably about 10-15% too overpriced, but I guess it's Palo Alto! Try it!
(4)
Bonnie S.

I go the the Box every chance I get. I love the food; HOWEVER, the inconsistency in the amount of food from the rice, meats to all the additional extras in really getting on my nerves. One day my meal may have a good amount of everything and the next day next to nothing. One meal consisted of 2 pieces of pickled carrots.1 wok tossed broccoli, and 1 piece of shallot. I don't mind paying the price because if you try to eat on University Ave, you will pay the same or more. Please. Asian Box, teach your employees how to make every meal identical, and, for pete's sake, don't be chinzy with the food!!!
(3)
Prateek G.

Asian Box is an amazing concept to dissolve the myth of fast food is unhealthy. I think they got great real food, fast and healthier. I loved their spicy sauces, and amazing flavors with variety of rice, noodles etc. I would definitely go soon.
(5)
Lella W.

Just finished our take out from Asian Box. I'm going with a somewhat liberal 3 stars, given that the box is still in infancy. But guess what...they spent months getting that teeny joint ready and building anticipation....maybe they should have aimed for perfection from the get. Yes, the flavors were good and fresh. I love that this place is gluten free. Its kind of cute, if its still 2002. (Oh wait....) BUT.... If you are going to make me state my initials with my order and call out in detail everything I want in the box, everything better be correct in the box. Otherwise its just an annoying pretentious exercise. Both me and hubby's box were not right, things were mixed up between us and things were left out. Even the annoying initials were on the wrong box. What's the point of having bean sprouts on the menu as something you can have in the box if you you are just going to throw them in everyone's? Jeez, I hate bean sprouts, that's why I didn't ask for them. Don't call the sauce fire box and charge 50 cents for it like its some scary big deal if I can do shots of it and walk away not noticing. Spring rolls, seriously, don't bother. So bland. $3.25, for like, nothing. No flavor no substance. No one will EVER walk away from here saying they are stuffed. FEED ME, PLEASE. Asian Box, I expect these concerns to be resolved by the time of my next visit in one month. Otherwise I will ask that you change your name to Boring Box.
(3)
Kevin H.

Came here for lunch with a coworker. The shops in the area are nice (you can tell its upper middle class area). This seemed like a unique place that kind of had the chipotle hipster feel to it. I wasn't sure what to expect from it but this Vietnamese place was great. You get to choose the ingredients from the menu (one from each category...noodles, meat, veggies, sauce). They put in a few ingredients that I didn't want but it was still great. Not sure if its worth 8-10 dollars but it sure was delicious. You should come at least once. They're opening in sj and millbrae.
(4)
D. K.

Love Asian Box! So much better than Spice kit on California Ave. The ingredients are fresh, I love how many different options there are, and love the outdoor seating. Great cheap bite to eat when you're in the area.
(4)
Rich D.

Not a customer driven restaurant. They are very inflexible with regard to any customer requests or customer concerns. It actually stands out for as briefly as you interface with the staff or managers. Never going back and they won't care anyway.
(1)
Jen C.

This place is totally yummy and pretty filling, too! I came for dinner and got the pork with wokked veggies and tamarind sauce, and it was surprisingly delicious. The pork was perfectly charred, yet tender on the inside, and the veggies were perfectly cooked (not too soft, not too hard). I also got a side of the lemon-lime marmalade drink (basically a fancy lemonade), which was also delicious. The wait time was not bad, as there was only one person in front of us- I'd say less than a couple of minutes. Anyway, it was filling, and I'm definitely going back. We may have had a great experience because the chef/owner Grace was there, but I'm hoping not! This place is like chipotle, but 1000% better. I also like it more than Tava which is like the Indian chipotle.
(5)
Heidi L.

The food did not taste good...my husband, myself and my daughter ate there. All three of us were dissatisfied with the food. Inside there is a small area - bar like seating - and they were pumping the AC in the winter. Additionally using the restroom was a pain - we had to wait for a key and the people were unfriendly about it. Will never go back. (My shrimp tasted like it had gone bad and my daughters meat was fatty.)
(1)
Marcus K.

Great tasting food, quick and easy, good concept for a restaurant/fastfood, healthy, good portions, nice price point. Nice to have such an awesome place to grab a fast meal when you need one.
(4)
M C.

Fresh and tasty. Always a good standard take out. Steak and chicken moist with good portions. Better at this location then Mountainview.
(4)
H. H.

Great variety, quick lunch with fresh ingredients. Tastes pretty good, just giving it a three star because it is so westernized, doesn't really taste like any Asian food I've had in Asia.
(3)
pui-yun c.

Pretty good. Stopped by here to pick up lunch after an errand. In terms of toppings, they were all flavored quite well. My rice noodles with mushroom broth on the other hand was rather bland and not quite cooked all the way. Will try again, but will try one of the rices next time.
(3)
Cynthia D.

This is exactly the type of place Palo Alto needs!! Fresh ingredients galore! Love all the toppings.... Hello crispy shallots and fresh mint, basil, and sliced jalapeÃ±os! I'm in heaven. This will become a regular spot for me! My only criticism....lose the annoying music. Some indie rock or modern alternative tunes will elevate this joint into a hipster eatery! Food is great but overall ambience can skyrocket to awesome with better music!
(4)
Kevin C.

Good healthy food and FAST. Perfect for a grab' n go lunch, or you can sit outside. Well done to the team, this will become a go-to place for reliably good, tasty and healthy food.
(4)
Shashidhar D.

We had Asian Box food for lunch at office and Woo Hoo, it was such a bit hit. We ran out of food in no time. The meat was excellent, the veggies were excellent, the sauces were awesome. Unfortunately I have no clue what those individual dishes are called, I know I had chicken and tofu, the others had beef and pork and everybody loved the food. We are going to order more from Asian Box :).
(5)
R P.

Really tasty. Great if you want something quick and tasty. The beef option is the best I think.
(4)
Mark N.

I live this joint. Would be inclined to give them 5 stars for the taste but I hate the music they are playing. Was going insane. Sounds like carnival music with a Tokyo twist. Anyway, the food is spectacular and amazingly fresh. Going back for sure but will sit outside until they get some better tunes.
(4)
Sasha N.

It's interesting to see that Asian Box has fixed a lot of their earlier problems - the orders come out quite quickly now, you can get tap water for free and I have never had the wrong ingredients in my order. Anyway! This is good stuff, and I feel fairly qualified to comment because I'm from Australia, where close proximity to Asia means a wide variety of good, cheap Asian food. If you're used to the very generous portions you get at most fast food places, then yeah, this might feel stingy. But as a 145 pound female who gets hungry a LOT, I always feel full after eating here, my advice is if you're not sure, get the egg and you'll feel a lot more full. The flavours are really good, though the tofu is very mild so I'd suggest pairing it with the peanut sauce, hot sauce and/or fish sauce. It probably helped that I first tried it after wandering in on a whim, so i didn't have any expectations!
(5)
amanda c.

Love asian box. The food is fresh and super tasty. Ordered asian vege salad, chicken, wok steamed veges, all the box toppers except peanuts, caramel egg, and tamarind vinaigrette. The wok steamed veges are really good. Carrots were cooked to perfection. Most of the time you go somewhere and you get this overcooked mushy carrot but Not at asian box! cooked perfectly. The caramel egg is awesome too. Def get that! The jungle jerky is super good too!. Sort of reminds me of like korean bbq jerky. just wished it was in los gatos or something. palo alto is a bit far. if it were closer i'd eat here 3 times a week!
(5)
elaine c.

What a great new addition to Town and Country. Fabulous food and amazing staff. Grace is lovely and a talented chef. You have to try Asian Box.
(5)
Marit A.

This is my new favorite place! Everything I've tied so far was delicious, even the tofu... The shrimp are large and juicy, the beef is high quality and the chicken, grilled to perfection. My favorite part: the peanut sauce - sweet, sour, spicy, awesome. Busy during lunch - and there's a good reason for it!
(5)
Grace K.

Bumping this place up a star after my second visit! It's really quite delicious for the price if you don't go overboard with the add-ons, which I made the mistake of doing on my first visit. I highly recommend the Asian Street Dust with the Six Spice Chicken, but pass on the caramelized egg -- it's not really all that great for an extra buck.
(4)
Jose F.

Very tasty! Love the food. Sadly, very tacky "our filter broke and we cannot give you tap water" practice. Even after asking for (unfiltered) tap water they would only offer me bottled water for purchase. Food's awesome though. Bring your Camelback :-)
(3)
Susan B.

I love Asian Box! I work in Menlo Park and my office has it delivered every now and then. On days when we get Asian Box, everyone is quick to come to the kitchen to get their lunch. Asian Box has fresh, healthy and oh-so-tasty food! I get my fill without the guilt. Mmm.
(4)
Yoav G.

I'm in NYC - craving for A box. Bring it on, I need one or two.....
(5)
Nikki N.

I like supporting local businesses that has great idea but I can't all the way give 100% if they don't come through right. It's asian food!!! It gotta have some real serious kick to it...or if not, just tasty foods. I got so excited coming here but unfortunately it's not worth it. Food came really quick (maybe about 5-minute wait)--which is great but it's not hot. Don't they know the simple rule of having the HOT food HOT & not lukewarm. I understand that all the toppings being plated are from a warmer...that's alright when they do it right. Maybe heat up the meat at least for a minute or two. Or even dish out the brown rice straight from the cooker so it would come out nice and hot. The steamed veggies are okay...not overcooked (thank goodness) but its not hot. Another thing is their pork that it's marinated in "Lemongrass" well, I don't even want to finish what I have to write here. They're in the business, they should know better...and cook well. I'm not coming back.
(1)
Andrey F.

Delicious, Fast and Healthy. I've been looking for a restaurant like this for a long time. I really like the pickled veggies and pork.
(5)
Alyn S.

After going to Asian Box twice in one week, I've decided that I am now an Asian Box regular and addict! There are so many different combinations possible that anyone can find their own Asian box. I'm a vegetarian and I love the rice noodles with tofu, wok tossed vegetables, all the toppers, and sriracha sauce! The employees are extremely helpful and approachable.
(5)
Ella M.

Luckily, I ordered takeout. That way, I didn't gross anyone out when I had to spit out the bits of chicken bone.
(2)
Nina M.

Fresh and consistently good food. Good lunch place.
(4)
Alan L.

so much better than spicekit!
(5)
Cheryl E.

Any place that opens with: "Welcome to the Box!" is pretty awesome in my book. Add to that friendly service and great food. The concept is great: 1. pick a grain (brown rice, jasmine rice, vegetable salad or rice noodles) 2. pick your protein (chicken, pork, beef, tofu or shrimp) 3. add veggies and "box toppers" 4. add housemade sauces We had: 1. brown rice with garlic & soy glazed chicken, all box toppers and Asian Street Dust + Sriracha + egg 2. rice noodles with lemongrass marinated pork, all box toppers and Asian Street Dust + Sriracha + egg 3. spring rolls and 4. jungle jerky (note: we may have been a bit trigger happy. Everything was delicious and the portions were very healthy. The team was really helpful and even gave recommendations. Will definitely be back - the food was fresh and delightful and despite only being open for a few days the service was great too!
(5)
Lido L.

My husband and I really enjoyed this place. While I like Asian food, I am not a fan of the Pei Wei style of heavy fast-food Asian. This place is totally different and much lighter in style, which totally suited me. I had the tofu with steamed veggies and tamarind vinaigrette and all the extras. Really delicious. I would totally order that combo again. Quite spicy in a good way, and light but flavorful. And fast...I was on my way to the airport. My husband really liked the peanut sauce. Only quibble...they were going to charge a dollar for an iced tea refilll, although in the end, they gave it to me. Iced tea should come with a refill! Try it. Nice new concept for Asian food.
(4)
Adam B.

Asian Box is to Asian food as Chipotle is to mexican food. And I mean that in the most complimentary way.
(4)
Lanee J.

We've eaten here twice and both my husband and I thought it was meh at best, kind of gross at worst. Collectively we've tried 4 things on the menu and didn't like any of them. Pretty bland, which is a shame since Vietnamese food is usually so tasty.
(2)
Kathy S.

Really wish I could give this a higher rating but the veggies were just tired and old. The broccoli was yellowed, and the bok choy was spotted. I don't mind paying for fresh veggies and the way to order was cool, but the quality of the output just wasn't there.
(2)
Janet H.

No one should pay this much money for so little food that you leave hungry. Advice: never come here if you are seriously hungry. Fine for a snack, not for a meal. Pricey for a snack, though.
(2)
Christy G.

Delicious, healthy take out food, plus they have Vietnamese iced coffee that is addictively good! Definitely worth trying.
(4)
Kalu C.

Great place to get fast and yummy food. I tried here a few times with my husband, so we tried out pretty much everything here. I like the portion size here, not a lot of food, just right. So if you are expecting a big bento box, then here is not the right place for you. Food is fresh, meat is pretty tender, i wish they can give more veggies. I tried all protein options, I like them all. It also depends on how do you pair them with your carbs. (I like noodle with pork, rice with beef, salad with shrimp, tofu with rice, chicken with anything) I like the tamarind sauce the most. the Hot Box It sauce is VERY spicy. Love the crispy shallots, great texture - like chips. The spring rolls are ok, nothing special. The dipping sauce for the Tofu spring rolls taste better than the Shrimp spring roll. Their Lemon Lime Marmalade is good, they are refreshing and sweet, but not artificially sweet. One thing I don't like in Asian Box is their jerky, the texture is good, but I am not a fan of the flavor that they have - a bit taste like fermented beans. I definitely like the concept. it's like a Southeast Asian version of Chipotle.
(4)
Tiffany H.

Huge letdown! :( This place is supposed to be a south-east asian version of chipotle. i love chipotle and I love asian food, so I came as soon as it opened. Here were the problems: 1. with only two other customers waiting for food, i still had to wait 15 minutes. what happens during actual meal times? (it was 2:30 on sat) 2. they got my order wrong, and had to make it again! (they said the computer was not working well yet) 3. the "wok spiced veggies", as far as i could tell, meant 4 half inch pieces of tough broccoli stem. when i cook for guests, i don't even serve them stem! 4. no place to sit. they could at least put benches on the side of the room or something 5. the portion was soooo small, and i am a 110 lb female. for the same price, you can get a huge steaming bowl of pho from other vietnamese places. probably 1/3 or 1/4 as much chicken as you get in a chipotle burrito. the chicken was well flavored, though... 6. they were sprinkling on toppings by hand, with no gloves.
(1)
Heather H.

I feel like its a bit overpriced but the beef here is excellent. I've tried several different combos and I haven't had a bad meal yet. Their veggies and their noodles are better than their rice in my humble opinion and the palo alto high kids which swarm around noon can be a real treat. I tried their lemon lime drink and it wasn't my favorite- but again the beef is a great dish!
(4)
Monina C.

I hate to admit it, but I think I kinda like this place. It's not the best food, but it's pretty good for what it is. Like what everyone is saying- it's the " Asian Chipotle." I wish they had a more flexible way of ordering- like taking online orders and had more ample parking. I love the option of variant types of noodles or rice- see this is the key thing in an area like Palo Alto where people need variety. It's a great addition besides eating Mexican food and sandwiches everyday. I'm glad to see more edible options pop up. My favorite here was the chicken, and I love how they have a lil lemon grass flavored into just about anything. My usual would be to keep it simple- jasmine rice, chicken, chopped peanuts, peanut sauce, and wok tossed veggies. A suspected reason why I see someone wouldn't like this place is cause of their choices of toppings--- too much, or they just don't correlate with each other. Keep your toppings simple and see the difference! Now, the downside to this place is parking, small location, price, and supply. Price wise- because it is a little on the high side. Supply, because the ran out of chicken for a while, and I was forced to try the pork, which I rarely eat, but it was surprisingly good too. Yum!
(3)
Patrice O.

Asian Box is one of my favorite places. I couldnt wait until they opened....and I eat out three meals a day every day. (Sorry..I live alone and I cant cook.). The food at Asian box is fresh, tasty and healthy. The choices are endless because you get to make your own box!! I'm a fan of hot sauce and their home-made one is one of the best. You must also try their cold pre-packed noodle salad near the register..the flavors are so refreshing on a hot day. I live in the city and work in Palo Alto....if I could eat here twice a day, every day I would!! Looking forward to many more great meals at the Asian Box.
(5)
Q N.

Need to bring this to Houston. I was surprise how authentic the flavors are even though it's modern Vietnamese. When you are eating you know you are eating Vietnamese. I had the chef do me a sample of all the meats in my box minus the shrimp. First off, this is what Asian Box does right better than any where else. They don't pre-slice your meats. They only cook small amounts of meats at a time. This leaves you perfect juicy, the most tender meats, especially the chicken. The beef was medium rare in the middle. Where can you get medium rare steak in a fast food joint? Amazing. All of the protein were packed with flavor. I saw boxes with shrimp and let me tell you, they don't skimp on the shrimp. You get 4 huge shrimps. The kind of shrimp you would get if you were in a 5 star fancy place and order a $20 shrimp cocktail. They don't eve use this big of a shrimp at the Wynn buffet in Vegas. My suggestion, what ever protein you get, get all the free toppers and free sauces, it all works well together. Add the Carmel egg, it's not sweet it's more savory. Get a side of the street dust in a cup and dip your food in that. I wanted to snort it like was lines of coke, it was that good! Put that shit in a jar and sell that to me for $6 bucks. Don't get the steam vegs, get wok tossed. They purposely do not flavor steamed vegs for those health cautious California hippies. And they don't do white chicken breast, because white meat sucks. And they leave the skin on yeah baby! In Vietnam they save the white meat for the G.I.s Simply amazing. I can see myself eating here 2-3 times a week.
(5)
Sima T.

My unborn child and I have been enjoying the Box since it opened, but tonight I discovered a whole new level of awesome. I liked the coconut curry sauce on the tofu, but I don't really eat tofu. Hmmm. I asked and Chef Chad delivered - coconut curry sauce on meat! It was so delicious. Baby was kicking away. Sorted. It's not actually on the menu board that you can have the coconut curry as a sauce - but I highly recommend requesting it!
(5)
KAR B.

I had high hopes for Asian Box - the clean, modern layout, friendly service and simple menu listing fresh ingredients all held so much promise. I am sad to say that the flavors did not deliver. I ordered the tofu over rice noodles with a variety of toppings, and it was bland meets unappealing. I probably won't go back. I wish it weren't so.
(2)
Mary P.

I asked to be taken here when friends offered to take me anywhere for a birthday lunch. The four of us ate different combinations, we all the appreciated the flavor & freshness. Everyone has been back since with a family member. The host was friendly and we enjoyed a great outdoor, summer lunch. Bravo!
(5)
Jody L.

When I want my perfect meal I head to Asian Box. My favorite is the Asian Salad, Shrimp, wok spiced veggies, all the toppings and Siracha sauce or hot box it or both. It is the perfect combination of textures, tastes, aromas and presentation. I always feel full and satisfied. I love that all the materials are recyclable or compostable and the food is locally and wholesomely produced. Everything is so delightfully fresh. The service is friendly, attentive, fast and the atmosphere in the small but so well appointed space always feels friendly and homey. Headed there again tonight because I need my fix!
(5)
Formerly Picky Eater J.

Great idea, but uninspiring result. Basically an asian-themed chipotle bowl, but a bit lighter. I got the chicken and wok veggies with almost all the toppings and sauces. Everything was pretty good, but again nothing out of the ordinary...something you could probably make at home without much trouble. Overall I left satisfied and enjoyed my dinner, but was a little disappointed that it wasn't more interesting. Definitely worth a try, but probably won't be back all that soon.
(3)
Gail M.

I love the choices. The concept is so simple but so tasty and fresh! I had the chilled rice noodles wirh chicken and veg. Yum!
(4)

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Address : 855 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA, 94301
Phone (650) 391-9305
Website https://asianbox.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes

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Asian Box

855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

Asian Box Menu

Start your Box

Pick your Favorite

Vegetables

Box Toppers

Sauces

Sides

Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Asian Box

Start your Box

Pick your Favorite

Vegetables

Box Toppers

Sauces

Sides

Drinks

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