Yep, Vancouver just got another cafe, but this one’s doing things a little differently.
Bento Cafe has quietly soft opened on June 27, taking over the former Kahve Cafe unit that shut down earlier this year.
A Noms Mag community member tipped us off about the new tenant, and we popped by to see what’s cooking.
This Japanese café leans into a clean, modern aesthetic with neutral beige walls, navy accents, and wooden furniture that gives it a warm but minimalist vibe.
On the walls, you’ll spot merch like branded totes and aprons, and a few leafy plants tucked into corners to soften the space.
It’s sleek, but still cozy enough to park with a book or a bento set.
At the heart of Bento Cafe’s offering is the Teishoku set, a Japanese-style meal set featuring a main dish, rice or pasta base, soup, chawanmushi, and sides like pickles and salad.
Do note that their food is only offered at certain hours (check their Instagram).
The mains include options like a baked hamburger steak with organic salad, crispy chicken nanban, and a salmon filet with breadcrumb skin served with tomato cream sauce.
Customers can pick from white rice, brown rice, tomato pasta, or pesto pasta, though based on our visit, we’d suggest sticking with the rice.
For sushi lovers, there’s also an assortment of fresh sushi and sashimi set meals, including a sashimi set, assorted sushi set, and an aburi salmon oshi set.
All of these come with the same thoughtful lineup of sides.
Beyond the savoury options, the pastry case offers treats from La Porte de l’Espoir.
Items include gorgeous almond-based tarts like cherry compote, lemon curd with torched meringue, prune vanilla custard, and jam-topped pine nut tarts.
On the savory side, they’ve got tomato and cheese pastries, mushroom and onion béchamel puffs, and croque du jardinier topped with roasted vegetables.
Drinks are simple and classic – cold brew, hot or cold coffee, and a selection of teas.
You can add one to your set for a few bucks extra.
We tried the Chicken NamBan set and left pretty full.
And while it’s not trying to be flashy, the care in the plating and ingredients does come through.
From what we’ve learned, Bento Cafe is affiliated with Richmond’s SYU Japanese Restaurant near the Olympic Oval.
And from our observation, most of the team we saw were Japanese, lending the space an added layer of authenticity.
Bento Cafe now joins a growing list of new Vancouver food spots like Nin Nin Ramen, Halina, and Red Wasabi.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1822 W 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1G5