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    Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi

    3.3 (324 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi Photos

    Business Info

    BENTO ASIAN KITCHEN + SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi

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    Alesa W.

    We ordered from here for takeout around Christmas, and the food was ready shortly after we arrived for pickup. Overall the prices and portion sizes were a good value, and we all enjoyed our dishes. It's not life changing, but it's solid and would order from here again!

    a bowl of food
    Caroline B.

    This was an AMAZING poke bowl. Best i've ever had! Build your own poke bowl. With salad and rice and cream cheese and krab delight and krab stick and mushrooms and cucumbers and grape tomatoes. and sweet chili sauce and yum yum sauce. AMAZING!!

    Krab wontons
    Shelby C.

    Pricey for the quality--small plate of krab wontons, two chicken bowls, and two drinks were $45 before tip. Staff was nice but the place was empty and not super clean. Sad to say the food was mid.

    Special Mexican Roll
    Nathaniel D.

    Came here and just wanted some to-go sushi. Ended up going with the special mexican roll. Nothing really notable or special about the sushi, it was on par with any other i've had but was pretty expensive for a fast casual restaurant. I would expect to pay these prices at an actual sushi restaurant, with a roll being $13 before tip. Roll itself was decent. More rice than normal but the tempura was cooked well and the sauce was good. I'd recommend not getting sushi from Bento and sticking to bowls.

    Mt Fuji and Red Dragon rolls
    Stephanie G.

    Nice selection of rolls, with the "classic" rolls still fancier than other places. They are a couple of dollars more than other places, but the sushi is really good. I got rolls to go. Ordering online was easy, but we still had to wait a few minutes after we showed up for the scheduled pickup. The site has pictures of all the rolls in case you are unsure what you're getting. I got the Mt. Fuji roll (krab, shrimp tempura, krab delite, scallion, eel sauce) $9. It's a roll with toppings included. My friend got the red dragon (tuna, shrimp tempura, krab, avocado, cream cheese, masago, spicy mayo) $11.50. So the signature rolls aren't much more than the classic and that have some interesting combos to try something new. There's a lot of parking, ordering is easy, and the rolls were tasty. They also have bento boxes (hence the name), bowls, and boba tea. A great variety if you want to come with someone who isn't into sushi.

    Pork egg rolls
    Ann Marie G.

    Great food on a weeknight that came out fast and tasty! I enjoyed a quiet break inside with some wonderful pop music in the background.

    A Bento classic, Spicy Cream Shrimp Rice Bowl :)
    Matthew O.

    Bento is an A-OK restaurant to go to in Gainesville. No, it's not going to blow you away because of exquisite food or decor. You go because it has become a Gainesville classic, a go to hangout place if you will. If you spend any amount of time in Gainesville as a student attending UF (Go Gators!), chances are you will find yourself coming here at least once. If you happen to attend any of the on campus Asian organizations, chances are you probably lost track of the amount of time you've been here and spent here lol. As for the food, it's solid. It satisfies you when you crave it and it fills you up. Like this time as I was passing through Gainesville, I got the shrimp tempura udon soup. It was a good portion size, not too expensive, and the shrimp was fried well. Nice and crispy on the outside while not having too much batter on it. While it won't compare to the food at say Sushi Matsuri, Bento will always hold a special place in my heart. Dropping by here and getting food will always make me feel like I'm back home in the Swamp

    Julie B.

    First off the staff here is very friendly and provided excellent service. My review is primarily about the food and the pricing here. There is a $4.00 upcharge for fried rice. That seems very high upcharge for a dish that is already on the pricier side. I tried the poke bowl with the teriyaki chicken. The chicken was pretty chewy, and the flavors simply were not there for me. I ended up taking some of my husband's pineapple chicken since I didn't like what I ordered. The pineapple chicken tasted really good, but the overall price just seems high. The poke bowl seemed more reasonably priced, but sadly the chicken was not the star of the dish. The fountain machine was broken here, but thankfully the staff was friendly and brought our drinks to us. Overall it was an alright lunch experience.

    Paopao chicken
    Gavin L.

    Bento is one of my favorite lunch spots! My favorite dish is the udon Katsu soup bowl. The soup was piping hot, and the chicken was super crispy. The portions were just right too. I also recommend the teriyaki chicken bowl! On tuesdays, the teriyaki chicken bowl has a discount!

    Sour + sweet chicken; green tea w/ bobba; slush strawberry
    Yasmim C.

    The restaurant was very friendly and cozy, and the food was deliciously served in generous portions. Despite arriving late, the staff were very friendly.

    Build a poke bowl Lettuce/rice Tuna/salmon Edamame Wakame Pineapple  Jalapeño  Avocado  Scallions/fried onions
    Alesa W.

    I LOVE BENTO! Like theeee best place for me when eating a poke bowl! I was super happy to enjoy my bowl as it's been before covid since I last had it. Omg my bowl hit the spot and some! It made me super happy that the bowl was everything and more than I imagined! I've had their sushi rolls and other stuff but I always come here just for the poke bowls! It always feels like it was made with LOVE! Very satisfying for sure! I think this time I ate a little more than my eyes could handle but it's definitely worth it!

    Veggie Stir Fry with white rice and chicken

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Gabby was awesome! The food is always amazing and fast. But good customer service is hard to come by!

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Store was very clean and food came out almost immediately, would eat here again. The workers very friendly and helpful, especially Alexia

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    2 years ago

    They had great vegan options! The tofu was crispy and the udon noodles were the perfect chewiness! The staff was very friendly.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi

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    Hana

    Hana

    4.3(274 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I'm in town for a work trip and was looking for somewhere to grab dinner when I came across Hana…read more The reviews were great, sushi sounded good, so I decided to take a chance, and I'm so glad I did! The first night it was CRAZY busy. It's a smaller restaurant, and even though I was sitting at the bar, I had to wait a little because the kitchen was backed up. I honestly didn't mind because I figured that was probably a good sign that I picked the right place! I sat at the bar and was taken care of by Will. I overheard that he had literally just come from working his first job and was starting his second shift, and you never would've known it. He was on top of everything, taking care of his tables and everyone at the bar while still being friendly and attentive. He recommended the Lonely Angel roll, and it was a 10/10. I had it with miso soup and a glass of wine and left very happy with my choice. Well, I worked all day the next day and hadn't eaten, and I'm a creature of habit. If somewhere is good, I'm going back! I went back a little earlier this time, so it was much quieter, and to my surprise Will was behind the bar again. I got to talk with him a little more and he was super personable and genuinely enjoyable to chat with. He recommended a tuna tobachi and a Hokkaido roll, and somehow they were BOTH even better than what I had the night before. Seriously, 100/10. Great food, great service, and clearly consistent enough to get me there two days in a row. If I'm ever back in Gainesville, I will absolutely be back. Definitely ask Will what he recommends because he hasn't missed yet!

    I'm from Atlanta and have had some of its finest sushi but this place is a 5 star plus. Leo our…read moreserver and staff were spot on. Their quality of fish absolutely the best I've had anywhere. Chu toro, uni, salmon,scallops, & real wasabi root. Could be best in the South. Try it's fabulous. Cheers.

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    Momoyaki

    Momoyaki

    4.1(365 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Holy fucking buss nuts. Please get the shrimp yaki udon and you genuinely might cream your jeans…read more We also got the Kim chi fried rice with some sushi which was also delicious. Our waiter was fire as well. Very much recommend.

    Listen, the decor in here is incredible. It's cute, it's curated, it's everything a mood board is…read moresupposed to be. The staff? Beautiful people. Attentive. Great energy. But you can't eat the wallpaper. I'm looking at this chicken and I'm confused. I thought we were doing something sophisticated, but they brought out those boneless nuggets you find in the back of the freezer at 2:00 AM. Then they hit it with a drizzle of ketchup like it's a consolation prize. This isn't Korean Fried Chicken; it's a school lunch with a passport. It's dishonest. Then you got the pork belly. I don't know if this pig was an athlete or if it's just been sitting back there since the grand opening, but it's got the texture of a pink eraser. I'm chewing and chewing, just waiting for a flavor that never shows up. My jaw is doing a full-body workout. I didn't come here for a survival mission, I came here for a snack. And please, watch yourself when you pull up. There is a pothole in the lot that looks like a portal to another dimension. An asteroid literally made a home in front of the building. If you hit that thing, your car is staying there forever. The service is elite and the chairs are nice, but the kitchen is confused. It's style over substance. Take a picture for the 'gram, say hi to the nice server, and then go get a burger somewhere else. Don't do this to your suspension or your stomach.

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    Momoyaki - Much better inside!!!

    Much better inside!!!

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    Sensei Asian Bistro - Hamachi Nori

    Sensei Asian Bistro

    4.1(97 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I've been coming here since they've opened and it used to be fairly priced. Overtime, they've since…read moreincreased their prices and decreased their portions while keeping the quality the same. So for a while, I actively told my friends and family not to come here because it was the same quality, for an exorbitant price. This year, I gave it another shot. I came to this restaurant at different times with different guests, and although the original Sensei Asian Bistro I've known and loved is gone, they've definitely changed -- for the better this time! The quality of the food you eat definitely matches the price. The staff is well trained, and sweet. The ambiance is chill, I like the wingback chairs and the background music. The entire restaurant feels like it's improved drastically -- from the food, to the vibes, and the service. - I ate the lobster wontons, this was really good. - The tonkotsu ramen they have is seasonal from their summer menu but it is fairly priced -- probably cheaper than a lot of ramen places in Gainesville. However, you can definitely taste the quality. The noodles were chewy and bouncy, the broth was nice and thick. - I had the NY Strip too, that was good as well, very soft. I liked how it wasn't overcooked. - The nigiri set, has wasabi already put in between the fish and the rice, but you can definitely ask for more wasabi (or no wasabi). - I also ate the lamb chops -- the taste was delicate compared to a lot of places that serve lamb chops. I think I prefer their style because it did not feel as heavy in the stomach. - I also got the Grand Cru NY Strip. It is definitely worth $150. I literally choked on the fatty juices that came out of one piece. The Grand Cru is no joke. The flavor literally bursts in your mouth. It's very filling because it's so fatty. - For dessert I got the Kakigori. Personally, I like the shaved ice part -- I didn't like the crème brûlée part. It was too sweet. I know they sometimes have a tasting menu so I'm definitely waiting for that to come back!

    Let's start with the bad. The service here is severely lacking, not sure if it was just a one night…read moreshort staffing thing, but it seemed very disorganized and inefficient. They were friendly but man you couldn't get a second drink or a sauce or anything for long stretches of time. It took over 20 minutes for the first round of drinks. We asked for a second round and mine took about 15-18 minutes and only came after I flagged him down and reminded him. Which is crazy because we were sitting AT THE BAR. My husband's second never came at all. The food was pretty good although the appetizer portions were insanely small for the price. For my entree I ordered the NY strip. $45. It came with the steak and nothing else. No side or anything. Now for the few positives. The steak was perfectly cooked. The ambiance is nice & romantic. The drinks were well made if you can actually get one.

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    Dragonfly Sushi and Sake

    Dragonfly Sushi and Sake

    4.2(1k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Dragonfly is an experience from start to finish. It's one of the best restaurants in Gainesville…read morefor a special occasion, especially if you're a sushi lover. I was a little hesitant about sitting outside since, well, it's Gainesville and it seems to rain all the time. But the patio was incredibly comfortable, and the atmosphere was just as enjoyable as dining indoors. Even if outdoor seating is your only option, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The food was phenomenal, easily a 10/10. The sushi and sashimi felt incredibly fresh and authentic, and I had one of the best sushi rolls I've ever eaten. The service was just as impressive. Our server was genuinely kind, attentive, and made my birthday feel extra special throughout the evening. Between the incredible food, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service, Dragonfly absolutely lives up to the hype. I can't recommend it enough.

    I've been to Dragonfly a few times now. It lives up to the hype! The space is large, dimly lit, and…read moreperfect for a date night or special evening out. Every time we've visited, we have tried something new. For their appetizers, we always order the Brussels sprouts, Shisito peppers, and tuna fried rice. For rolls, we have really enjoyed Kobra Cai and Bomb. All of their drinks are also delicious. Our servers have been so friendly each time and always provided great service! The food comes out quick and they always check in periodically to make sure we don't need anything. I would highly recommend visiting!

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    Liquid Ginger - Crispy Tofu with Red Curry Sauce

    Liquid Ginger

    3.5(317 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Came downtown this past Friday for a girls night and didn't realize it was a parent's weekend. With…read morethat being said, most places required a reservation or you had an 1.5h wait ahead of you. After a little wandering around we found liquid ginger. The line wasn't too long inside, so we decided we would try it. They were swamped and very busy still, but the staff was doing their best to accommodate everyone. We waited in a short line for maybe 15min before reaching the hostesses table. We were lucky to get seats at the sushi bar! The interior is very nice and has a nice vibe. This place is really great for nice dinners, nights out, or a good dinner. Service was definitely off that night. Our water specifically seemed to forget about the group of us since we were seated at the sushi bar. It took her 15 to get us waters and our other drinks didn't even come out until after we got out food (a considerable time later). Like I said it was busy, the sushi bar was swamped with orders, but they were working diligently to keep up with the influx of orders. Most of us ordered sushi, so we ended up waiting a considerable amount of time for our meals. My one friend ordered an entree from the kitchen and it came out within 10 minutes of her ordering it. Our sushi was served about 20-30 minutes after her dish. This is frustrating and slightly awkward as my friend felt bad eating while the rest of us didn't have any food yet. Again, this is no fault to the sushi chefs. They were working extremely hard to produce quality sushi for all the guests. My problem came with our server, Emma. She didn't check in on us at all, didn't even serve our dishes to us, and like I said, forgot to get us drinks, etc. While this was frustrating, I do not think this is a reflection of the restaurant overall. It appeared the other serves were fine keeping up with their tables. For the food, we started with the crab rangoons and steamed pork potstickers. These came out within 10 minutes of ordering and were great starters! They each included 6 pieces per order. The crab rangoons were stuffed with ample amounts of cream cheese and crab meat. They were perfectly crispy and I thought these were some of the better Rangoons I've had. The potstickers hit the spot, but weren't anything too special, pretty standard. For my sushi, I ordered the Golden Apple Roll (per our servers recommendation) and a daily special roll called the bonzai Roll. The golden apple roll included spicy crunchy salmon, Fuji apples, mango, and mango sauce. This was decent and something different but not my favorite. 5)3 flavors were super unique but there wasn't a sweetness at all oddly like I was expecting. Instead it had a distinct tart flavor to it. Different, but not my vibe. Now the bonzai roll was a hit! This roll included tuna, salmon, kani, and avocado inside, topped with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and mayo, then flamed & torched, and finished with eel sauce, caviar, and scallions. There was certainly a lot going on in this one, but I could really taste all the different elements. The fish was extremely fresh and just divine. I also tried some of my friend's sashimi and was blown away with the quality of the fish--just amazing. Overall, we all loved the food here and would 100% return. The quality is quite good and the fish is melt in your mouth. You can tell they take a lot of pride in their sushi and it is evident in the taste and presentation alone. Now the service was certainly more desirable. I understand it was a very busy night, but our server just appeared to forget about us. Very disappointing as it slightly spoiled our experience and was not a good first impression. Again, we all agreed that we thought it wasn't a fair assessment of the restaurants service overall. I'm hoping next time the service is better and our server can do a better job serving us and checking in on us. I'm also surprised that she never offered to compensate anything in our bill, like our drinks that took 30+ minutes to come out and were served well after we had received our food. But it's not the end of the world. I would still recommend coming here, I actually think their sushi is better than Dragon Flys, better priced, and dare I say higher quality!

    Liquid Ginger rocks my world! Fantastic sushi and sashimi! Always fresh and delicious. Service is…read moregreat and the prices are very reasonable. I drive by DF around the corner in Downtown GNV and just know they haven't met Liquid Ginger. When they do, they will be hooked as well. Give it a try, you'll thank me

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    Chop Stix Cafe - Oxtail soup

    Chop Stix Cafe

    3.6(388 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    My go to if I'm near Gainesville! The restaurant is unassuming from outside, but once you enter the…read moredining room is decorated to theme and the patio overlooks a large pond with gators. The menu is extensive, you can get everything from stir fry to curries to fresh sushi, and there are plenty of vegan options to choose from. We had spicy margaritas, they were delicious and a bargain at $8 each! My pad Thai was delicious. There wasn't the option to select a spice option and none of the entrees leaned spicy, but sriracha was provided on request. Over the course of the meal we had about 4 separate servers taking care of us, and the food did take quite a while to come out after ordering, but it was well worth the wait!

    So this place really delivered with both flavor and portion size. I ordered the General Tso shrimp,…read morewhich came with a side of rice, and the portion was huge..so generous that I happily had leftovers for lunch the next day. The dish was packed with big, crunchy battered shrimp (seriously, not skimpy at all) tossed in a bold, flavorful General Tso sauce. It had the perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet heat, with pineapple chunks, onions, and peppers mixed in for a fresh, vibrant contrast. Every bite tasted intentional and satisfying. I also tried the chicken spring rolls, which were crispy on the outside and hot and savory inside..classic, comforting, and well-seasoned. And the boba Thai iced tea? Absolutely amazing. It was rich, creamy, and deeply fragrant with that signature Thai tea spice, perfectly sweet without being overwhelming. The boba pearls were soft and chewy, making every sip feel indulgent and refreshing at the same time. One of the better Thai iced teas I've had in town. Overall, great flavors, generous portions, and drinks worth coming back for. Definitely a solid spot when you're craving something comforting and flavorful.

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    Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi - sushi - Updated September 2026

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