The best thing to bring to Bellevue Downtown Park this spring costs $45 — and it comes from a James Beard-nominated chef. Takai by Kashiba’s takeaway program turns a high-end sushi counter into a picnic just a few minutes from the park.
Bellevue Downtown Park tends to fill up as the weather improves. The 20-acre space includes a central lawn, walking paths, and a canal leading to a 240-foot waterfall, with views of the skyline and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.
The lawn is open year-round and commonly used for picnics, casual gatherings, and midday breaks.
What’s often been missing is a nearby food option that matches the setting.
That changed when Takai by Kashiba introduced its Executive Bento Box — a $45 takeaway lunch featuring premium sashimi over seasoned sushi rice, along with negitoro, or finely chopped fatty tuna. The offering comes from Chef Jun Takai, a 2025 James Beard Award nominee in the Pacific Northwest.
Takai is about a four-minute walk from the park. Orders are placed through Tock for pickup Tuesday through Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with about 20 boxes prepared daily. Same-day orders are accepted until noon, or until they sell out.
For families, it’s a straightforward option—pick up lunch, head to the park, and use the open lawn or nearby playground. For visitors, it offers a way to pair a well-known Bellevue public space with a dining experience that isn’t typically available outside a restaurant setting.
While Bellevue also has waterfront options like Meydenbauer Bay Park—which offers lake access, a beach, and a pedestrian pier—and Clyde Beach Park, a smaller neighborhood beach park with picnic areas and swimming access, Bellevue Downtown Park remains one of the most centrally located and accessible green spaces in the city.
If lunch timing doesn’t work, Takai also offers a Deluxe Omakase Dinner Box for $100 Tuesday through Saturday. The dinner box is built around a chef-selected assortment of premium nigiri, sashimi, and chirashi, along with tamago and seasonal sides, designed to mirror the progression and quality of the restaurant’s omakase experience in a takeaway format. About 20 are available each day at 6pm or 7pm pickup times. Same-day orders are accepted until 3pm, and like the lunch boxes, availability depends on advance ordering and daily supply.
All orders must be placed in advance through Tock, with limited quantities available each day.
