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. Bento soon became a local favorite, and the growing demand for its dishes prompted the opening of its second location…and third….and fourth.
Today, there are over 20 locations and growing across the Sunshine State, and a team of over 900 individuals that make up the Bento team. What started nearly 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.
