Our Story
Where It All Began
In its inception, Bento was designed to bring the tastes of Asia to the American dining table. Brothers Jimmy and Johnny Tung sought to venture beyond the old-school neighborhood restaurant, creating a menu of popular Asian eats from Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea.
After countless hours of recipe-tasting, and detail-perfecting right down to the lighting and playlist, the first Bento opened up in Gainesville in the summer of 2002. Tucked away in a retail plaza a few blocks west of the University of Florida, the new eatery featured a diverse melting pot of wok-fired entrees, slurp-worthy noodle soups, sushi rolls and freshly-brewed boba tea.
What started over 20 years ago as a family-owned and operated business is still one to this day — with good food and good people at its core.
Bold. Simple. Fresh.
Elevating the Asian Dining Experience.
From the very first Bento, our approach has stayed the same: take the flavors we grew up loving and make them fresh, fast, and approachable. Every dish is built around bold, craveable taste without the fuss — real ingredients, wok-fired to order, and served the way we'd serve our own family.
We pull inspiration from across Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea, then keep things simple so the food speaks for itself. It's Asian dining reimagined for the way you eat today — vibrant, satisfying, and always made with care.
Great food starts with great ingredients, and we don't cut corners. Our produce is prepped fresh daily, our proteins are cooked to order, and our sauces are made from recipes we've spent years perfecting. From hand-rolled sushi to sizzling wok entrées and build-your-own poké, quality is something you can taste in every bite.
That commitment is what keeps our guests coming back — and it's the same standard we've held since day one.