Franchising

Bento opening in Tampa

Provided

August 13, 2020

Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, a fast casual pan-Asian restaurant, is opening its first Tampa location in September.

The 100-seat, 2,800-square-foot restaurant, 5103 East Fowler Ave., is across from Chipotle, Blaze Pizza and the University of South Florida campus.

"Our first Bento location opened in the small college town of Gainesville 18 years ago in 2002 and was an almost instant hit amongst the University of Florida student crowd. Following that success, we've opened in college communities across Florida from UNF Jacksonville to UCF Orlando to FSU Tallahassee to USF St. Pete. Tampa has been one of our highest-requested cities so we were ecstatic to have found a spot that would be easily accessible for USF Tampa students," co-founder Johnny Tung said in a company press release.

The store will offer outdoor seating and feature the chain's signature red sushi bar, warm wood tones and brass accents reminiscent of modern cafes and lounges found in Japan and Taiwan.

"We've been eyeing Tampa for a very long time," Tung said. "Being an economic hub in West Florida, and home to a major University as well as several well-established sports teams, we're thrilled to finally be able to call Tampa our new home. Notably, there's an amazing emerging food culture that we couldn't be more excited to be a part of. The Fowler location will certainly not be the last in the area. We're hoping to open up three more Tampa locations in the near future."

Bento is opening six more locations within the next year in Dania Beach, Lake Nona, Wellington, Jacksonville Beach, Downtown Jacksonville and Sarasota.

Brothers, Jimmy and Johnny Tung founded Bento in the summer of 2002. A business rooted in family, the brothers' father, Steve, along with Johnny created the recipes, Jimmy ushered in sushi, Mama Tung brought the boba tea, and sister, Johanna, guided the hospitality and customer service.

The concept's namesake comes from the Asian lunchbox — a multi-compartment box that holds a well-balanced meal.