Serving Chinese takeout and bento boxes, Rice Bowl is now open in the space that used to be Howdy Burger. The new restaurant is located in Campustown between Shawarma Joint and Mid Summer Lounge.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
I visited the restaurant today for lunch. Inside, there were a few small tables and a high top with barstools. I saw some delivery drivers pick up packaged orders while I ate.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
The menu is simple. Diners pick one, two, or three entrees in a bento box, and there are options to order appetizers, soups, or non-alcoholic beverages as well.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
All the food is behind a glass guard, and you can see what’s available.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
I ordered a two entree bento box ($9.49). The bento box starts with a choice of chow mein, fried rice, or steamed white rice. I ordered the chow mein and two entrees. I tried to order kung pao chicken, but it was out. I ordered pepper chicken (which wasn’t on the menu but looked good) and Mongolian beef.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
My meal came with a fortune cookie, and the lunch portion filled an entire takeout container. It was a lot like a mall food court combination plate. The food was warm and pretty good. The pepper chicken was battered and slightly crispy with sautéed fresh jalapeño and green bell pepper. The sticky sauce on the chicken had a honey flavor, and it was a good sweet and spicy chicken dish.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
I also ordered vegetable spring rolls ($1.99). They came out super hot, fresh from the fryer, and the outer layer was crispy. The shredded cabbage and veggie filling was tasty, too.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
The new Campustown restaurant is open for lunch and dinner six days a week. It is a quick, affordable option for a warm meal. Rice Bowl does not have a website at this time, but it does appear to have delivery order options through several apps.
Rice Bowl
625 E Green St
Champaign
M-Sa 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Top image by Alyssa Buckley.
