A small and quaint sushi joint with a fairly good selection on the menu (of sushi, teriyaki and even some Korean). The service is great and some of the specialty rolls are pretty tasty. Like other reviewers, I think the Kyle Roll is awesome. I also tried the "Smoking Dragon" on the Specials Menu and I loved it. It is slightly pricy but I suppose that's what you get in this area. Nonetheless, you get what you pay for. read more

Bento Cafe - Godzilla Roll - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

Excellent food and wonderful hosts make this small place a gem in the northwest suburbs.

I finally caught this place open. They are open for lunch and dinner but NOT in between and I tend to take late lunches. They will turn you away if you show up at 5 min until 2pm. Service was very prompt but no followup (would've like a drink refill). Sushi definitely excellent. (especially for being off the beatin' path). I will be back for the good food. read more

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Been going here for a while. Always good. The last time, we tried the Ramen (really just in the mood for some plain comfort food) and it was amazing. We also tried the tempura calamari and it was really good too. read more

I've driven past Bento Cafe since it opened - but was a little leary to try it. After reading the reviews on Yelp I decided to give it a shot - so glad I did!! The pricing is reasonable and the fish is always fresh. I enjoy both their maki rolls (love the spicy tuna and negihamachi rolls) and the sushi - the white tuna is so tender. My son likes the tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and the kid chopsticks! I've always done take-out, but the staff is very friendly! Glad to have a delicious sushi option so close to home! read more

Hard to believe it, but you can find a good sushi place in Hainsville, IL. Stopped there for lunch, and was surprised to see how extensive and creative their menu is. They also offer an all you can eat sushi on week nights for $23 per adult - not bad for good sushi. Our waitress was new, and she had a bit of a challenge handling the lunch rush that they were having when we were there, but we will be going there again when we get our next sushi craving. read more

I stopped in tonight for some take-out. I ordered at the counter and it was ready to go in five minutes. I got a Spicy Kyle roll (thanks to the recommendation in a prior Yelp review), and some nigiri pieces. Delicious!!! It was fast and tasty. It's not the best prices, but it's great quality and super close to home, so I'll definitely be back. read more

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I love this place. I live super close to this place, and I'm glad I do!! The prices aren't too expensive per sushi roll. They also give you a soup or salad with your meal, and all the employees are really nice. If you love sushi, you will not be disappointed. read more

Bento Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

Pretty good place, for being in a predominately Hispanic area. We live near by and sometimes driving Vernon hills or elsewhere is not what I want to do. staff is friendly and what I order is always decent. Sometimes I have gotten a tempura roll that doesn't taste all the way cooked, like a batter taste. The Atlanta roll is my go too, really good and satisfying. read more

I was recommended here by some friends and I absolutely wanted to give this a better review. I cannot. My husband and I have traveled the world and lived in Japan and were excited try things out. We ordered a variety of things to try. The salad dressing was off, though neither of us could decide why. The soup was good but had way too much nori. We split 2 rolls and they were both very tasty but very large and hard to eat. Then he had a bowl that was very good, a garlic chicken. I ordered a bento box, with tonkatsu ( essentially a panko crusted pork cutlet) it was a bit dry and the breading couldn't stay on. The potstickers were nicely done with good flavor. The bulk of our less than review was very much based on the staff. We tried to ask questions about menu items but was met with confusion. We decided maybe it was a language thing and took no offense. When we went to pay our bill we wanted to use an American Express gift card and then pay the balance. The woman said no. Not because she couldn't, she simply didn't want to, and said as much. We tried to explain thinking that maybe she misunderstood, she clarified that she could in fact, but wouldn't. So we paid and left and will not be returning. The food, price and service combined was enough to convince us that a return wasn't needed, and without flavor, would have been a 2 star. Disappointed. read more

Bento Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

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I have driven passed this place so many times. Thankful I stopped for dinner moments ago. Everything from the decor to the music was pleasing. Food was spectacular & was complimented by excellent service. Lexi is awesome at multitasking and should be commended. Best sushi in the area! read more

Bento Cafe - View as you walk in. - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

my favorite sushi spot in round lake !! it's so good, i especially love their spicy salmon rolls

This place really surprised me! I decided to venture here on my own during a rare long lunch from work. I had expected the place to be pretty empty, but during my visit there was someone at just about every table. I had the sushi lunch special that comes with two rolls - a California roll and a spicy tuna roll. It also came with free miso soup, which was an unexpected bonus. Both rolls were pretty standard, but the spicy tuna roll seemed extra-spicy to me. The service here was excellent. Very attentive and quick. I would love to go back and try some of their specialty rolls. The downfall to this place, in my opinion, is location. While it's intimate and nicely decorated inside past the paper screen, it does not look inviting from the outside. From the outside appearance, I had no expectation of a good dining experience. More importantly, it is a pain to get in and out of the parking area. I wanted to travel west after lunch, but ended up going well out of my way after giving up on trying to turn left. read more

Excellent! Last minute decision to go for dinner one night. We ordered the fried dumplings, free miso soup, and 4 rolls. With an iced tea and a soda, the total was just shy of $60. We actually ordered 2 rolls to start since it was our first time. The Boston roll and the spicy Lexi were very good. We then ordered a second Lexi and a Philly roll. The Philly roll is classic but so many places screw up the ratios. This place figured it out. The presentation was very nice. Other than the Philly, the rolls were very saucy. The sauce was great but I like my soy sauce. I only used soy sauce on the Philly. It's a simple shop that feels comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. We will definitely be back for a sushi fix in a pinch. Thanks for reading and enjoy! read more

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Wow, I am very pleasantly surprised!! We got the spicy salmon, rainbow, and knock out rolls, they were all excellent! The fish is fresh, the veggies crisp, all of course made on order. Service is cheerful and attentive without being annoying. Tea was fresh and the perfect temp, I have not a single complaint!!! read more

Let me start by saying that my husband and I lived in Japan for two years and then we went to San Diego for three. So we know sushi and LOVE sushi. Coming back to the Midwest we knew it was going to be hard to find an equal comparison without having to pay an arm and a leg at Shakou. Not that Shakou is bad, but I dont care to spend 19.00 on a regular roll. We went to Bento Cafe for sushi on a weekday evening, and oh my goodness, the sushi was really good! They have a really big selection of special rolls and also have chicken katsu, Bentos, and like noodles. It's a really big menu for a Cafe style atmosphere and restaurant. I really liked the food. The service was great too. One thing though, they don't have wine. Like regular wine. They have sake and plum wine, but no red or whites. But that's really the only thing I can say bad. If you have a craving for some sushi, this is your place! read more

Terrible food, this place is open a couple of day per week. HOW can you sell RAW fish like that. I got sick, I will never go back to this place. Save your money and stay away from the bathroom read more

Super fresh and delicious sushi in an unexpected place. Great customer service and have taken extra precautions during COVID to keep their workers and customers safe. Highly recommend! read more

This is my favorite local place for sushi. I've always been happy with the quality and service.

After coming here once my wife and I made it our go to for sushi. The sushi always tastes great and comes to the table fast. The outside of the building is unassuming but don't get thrown off by that, the food inside is fantastic. The interior is simple but nice, altogether we will be coming here often. Definitely get their tofu hot appitizer and their nigiri combo! read more

We live in Grayslake, and are always looking for good restaurants in the area. I'd driven by Bento Cafe many times, but never stopped. Yelp reviews made us give it a try. Went for dinner on a Sunday night, and had a nice dinner. We had edamame, Sashimi appetizer, and then had a couple rolls - the best was called the Kyle roll (I think). The food was good, and beyond the bad 80's Sirus channel playing, we had a good experience. We'd go back. Only serve beer & sake, no wine. read more

Open for pick up during COVID which I'm very thankful for. Super easy to order and delicious sushi!

Excellent sushi that is reasonably priced, and great service. I think that we have tried most of the sushi places in northern Lake County. Bento is now my favorite. The sushi is fresh, and they have a huge variety of rolls. The prices are very reasonable and the service was excellent. read more

Disappointed that you were closed on Christmas Eve/Christmas this year. Been coming here for years as a family Christmas Eve tradition. Checked the website ahead and it appeared you would be open. Nope, just a piece of paper on the door. Gave Yuri a try, not a bad Plan B. read more

So the food, 10/10 the best Japanese food I've had yet. BEST ramen EVER! I will never eat regular ramen again! And the veggie hand rolls tasted so fresh! I'm definitely coming back! The lady at the front desk was not only helpful but very nice! I have to give it five stars because the food is amazing, although it is pretty pricey, it's worth it because the food is fresh and very well made. read more

Bento Cafe - I couldn't wait to eat so here is one veggie roll - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

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I really like eating here. It is close enough to work that when I get a long lunch I have the time to drive there, decide what I want, order, and eat there or drive back to work and eat. They are very friendly and very quick. I have had sushi at a few other places in nearby suburbs and I can confidently say that this is by far the best overall experience I have had. read more

Great sushi, great staff. Don't be afraid to ask the chef to surprise you with non-menu rolls our favorites include The King and Super Crunch rolls. The udon is always a hit in the winter. We highly recommend Bento to all of our friends. Try it! read more

I absolutely LOVE Bento Cafe! My husband says I'm addicted, and he's right! The sushi is incredibly fresh, great variety of rolls, and service is excellent. They are so nice and welcoming here! I highly recommend the Super Crunch roll, Spicy Kyle, and Spicy Lexi - all delicious and my favorite rolls I've ever had! The fried rice is so good too! My husband and I have been regulars for about 3 years now, sometimes ordering more than once in a week, and we've never been disappointed. Reasonable prices too. I know it's hard to believe that amazing sushi exists in a strip mall in Hainesville, but look past the location and try it! You'll be hooked! read more

Amazing quality sushi rolls & THE MOST OFFENSIVE SERVICE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A LONG TIME! Been a patron for a while now. The hubby & I usually order takeout from here at least once a week & spend an average of $40-$50 each time, for usually no more than 3 rolls & a fancy noodles soup! i have always thought the prices were a little high, especially for a location in Hainsville of all places, NOT somewhere in Highland Park, etc. but alright! They have not had my food ready upon pickup a handful of times, due to: according to the owners: "a lack of staff & a heavy dinner business!" Now, tonight I was admittedly not in a very patient mood.... So, when I explained to the female owner that this was definitely NOT the first time this has happened, & that I was unhappy with the service- the female owner just starts smiling in my face & doesn't offer to do ANYTHING to make the situation better. Then, the male owner chimes in & continues to repeat the same excuses the woman just said not 2 minutes earlier! And now I am pretty pissed off...So, I start explaining how I didn't agree withthe way they were handling CUSTOMER SERVICE! I was rightfully upset as my food was LATE ONCE AGAIN, & instead of them asking what they could do to make it up to me, be it a small discount or something small for free, i basically had to beg for a 5% discount...which, after everything i told them to forget about.... Fast forward 20 minutes... I am now home to eat my 2 overpriced sushi rolls, that I was just craving today, & go figure- 1 of the 2 was not a roll I ordered! I then called the restaurant back to let them know they got ny order wrong, & to truly actually apologize for my having gotten a little loud, & was not surprisingly told that now I AM WASTING THEIR TIME & THAT IF I TAKE ANY MORE OF THEIR TIME- THEY WILL HAVE TO GIVE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE RESTAURANT A 5% DISCOUNT, which they never even gave me! These owners are NOT NICE PEOPLE , & HAVE HUGE EGOS! There is always a reason why they dont have to get your order ready on time or correct! And then for the cherry on top, the boss can tell you that " If you don't like it, you should go to a big restaurant instead!" Well, my answer to that is.... I don't think I'd prefer a big restaurant instead, but, I CERTAINLY WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE A BUSINESS WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS APPARENTLY WRONG- when in reality its the business that's wrong! Sayonara Bento Cafe! On to something better... read more

wow. i was really blown away to get good, filling, staple sushi here. fully expecting to pay for a roll i couldn't eat, i came in here and ate dinner after working late into the night in nearby volo. the plating is really lovely, and the food itself is substantial, delicious japanese lunch staples. the prices are very reasonable. i have no idea where they get their sashimi, they must be raising tuna from fry in the back to have it so fresh and cheap. read more

I'd have to re-quote quite a few of the previous negative reviews. Bento Cafe really does have some quite tasty quality sushi rolls, but you have to completely overlook their service. If I order carry-out from them, you need to check your order before you leave and make sure you are charged properly because I have been overcharged beforehand and the prices are on the expensive side. Speaking of service, my favorite line from their staff tonight was: "Yes, our vegetarian tempura does contain SHRIMP". Now if someone in my party was allergic to shellfish, we definitely would have had a problem. And yes, the staff apologized for their misinformation, but they don't go out of their way to correct their mistakes and make you feel that they want your business. Now back to the food. I would make sure that you are aware that their current menu doesn't list all the rolls, but you can find out about them on Facebook or if you call, ask about their Spicy Kyle, Spicy Lexi and Knockout Rolls--they always taste very fresh and have the right ratio of fish, rice and spicy mayo. So as long as you know what to expect you can make the best of what should consistently be a neighborhood gem. I don't see them improving their service anytime soon. So unfortunately, right now, Bento Cafe is still just a "diamond in the rough". read more

This is a great sushi joint. Small store front operation in a hard-to-find little strip mall building in Hainesville. What a hidden gem. Excellent sushi, plus lots of other menu choices. Cost is reasonable considering quality of food. Very difficult to get into the parking lot if coming down 120 from the east. Almost need to go further down, turn around and come back. If this place was in downtown Grayslake, it would be bigger hit than Vine. The Kyle roll is great & get it if you like spicy. A good alternative to the much larger Kawa in Grayslake if you just want good sushi without the big restaurant thing. read more

Loved the King roll and Spicy Kyle roll. Service is great. We have been there 3 or 4 times over the past 2 years and the hostess remembers my wife's order each time. read more

I generally like this place. Quaint little Japanese eat close to home. Coming from the gym, got hungry and decided on some ramen. Checked Yelp and closing time was @ 9:30, perfect I have an hour. Walked in the door and was greeted by, 'we're Closed!'. Even if the food is good, I am never going back. Service says a lot about an establishment. read more

I appreciate this place because it's near my job way out there in Round Lake. When my team decides to go out for lunch it's one of the few go to places that is satisfying in the area. Bento Cafe a little quaint restaurant with asian decor and a sushi station. It's located in small plaza next to a Subway; don't get distracted by the familiar smells from Subway (smile). It is a typical sushi and teriyaki restaurant and has all the standard menu items. I usually get the Bento box and share a sushi roll. This time I got the soft shell crab salad and shared a 911 Spicy tuna roll. The reason for my choice was that I wanted something light and did not feel like indulging in all that comes with a Bento box; I had a big breakfast. The soft shell crab was pretty good and it was served over a bed of spinach which is exactly what I wanted and needed. I need my veggies! They were kind of stingy with the dressing but that was fine because it was just ok. Also, the 911 Spicy Tuna Roll was pretty good. It contained spicy tuna, avocado, cilantro, some crunch stuff that was spicy, and spicy sauce. It was very flavorful and the roll was huge...some people could not eat the whole roll and had to bite it. I'm not sure but I think that's an insult to the piece of sushi.. LOL! Plus, not eating the whole role takes away from the full affect of how the sushi should taste because you don't get every ingredient. Overall this is a good go to place and we will back again, I'm sure. read more

Bento Cafe - Soft shell crab salad - Japanese Near Me - Hainesville, Illinois

My fiance and I frequent this place at least once a week. We are lucky to find such great sushi so close to our home considering we are not near major shopping/metro areas. They just added some great new sushi items to their menu and recently received a liquor license so you can get the full Japanese dining experience. We love the owners that always remember our name. read more

This place is fantastic! It's a small sushi restaurant in a strip mall in quiet Hainesville, but their sushi speaks all for itself! Extremely flavorful and reasonably priced too. For as long as I am living in this area, I will always be coming here for my sushi! read more

Food is delicious and the service is wonderful! Thank you for being so yummy and just down the road from me!!

It is always fantastic. Highly recommend. All rolls are fresh and delicious. Service is great too.

This place is awesome. The quality of sushi is great and has a ton of flavor. The spicy Kyle is the way to go. If it gets busy, the service takes forever. I love coming here though. read more