Seasonal Japanese bento boxes, natural wine & sake served in a charming counter-service cafe Farm-to-table bento cuisine in Austin TX since 2015.
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We are on sabbatical as of February 2023, but please visit our website and join our mailing list to be notified of updates.
Happy Father’s Day (and belated Mother’s Day) to Nick & Julie!
I could not have bootstrapped Bento Picnic without them.
Here they are finishing the install for the custom cabinetry that my Dad built for the bento shop in 2018.
Thank y’all for everything you did to support my dreams! 🙏🏻❤️
Hellooo from the UK 🇬🇧✌️
The last three days in London have been a ball! 🪩
1️⃣ 😋 Charlie & I have eaten so well thanks to , , , , & 🙏🏻
2️⃣ 👀 We saw Ian Mckellan as Falstaff (!) and had a sighting of the King himself at Buckingham Palace 👑
3️⃣ 👣 And we’ve trekked all over the city via lovely green spaces 🌳 🦆
➡️ Now we’re in Bath & we’ll be checking out the oldest farmers market in the UK (!) tomorrow
I’ll be sure to share what goodies we find along the way! 👩🏻🌾
I find my way into home kitchens wherever I go!
While I was in India, I was delighted to take a private cooking class in South India, and another in North India. I highly recommend them both!
1️⃣ with Payal in Rajasthan (North India)
2️⃣ with Jacob in Kerala (South India)
Both Payal and Jacob customized their menus based on what Charlie and I were interested in learning.
They’re both passionate about making Indian cooking accessible and they guided us on how to flow between recipes to create complete meals.
And they both taught us specialities from their respective regions and took us to their local markets.
The big difference between the classes is that Jacob provided us with printed recipes and he had all the raw ingredients cut and measured out ahead of time. Whereas Payal talked us through the steps and she involved us in the entire prep process, starting from scratch.
Both approaches were really helpful and quite complimentary. Thanks to them, we feel much more confident cooking with Indian spices than before, and we’re still cooking a lot of Indian food now that we’re back home! 🙏🏻🇮🇳
Thali is like the Indian version of & has strong parallels to principles of , Japanese menu design!
Every features a variety of regional specialties & includes all six tastes, known in Ayurveda as Shadrasa: sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, astringent.
According to the Ayurvedic tradition, a meal is not complete unless it is a full-sensory experience with a balance of all 6️⃣ tastes — because each ‘rasa’ (taste) is not incidental, but rather an indication of the properties of the ingredients. ⚖️ So getting a balance of all the tastes at each meal is important for keeping our doshas in check! ✔️
➡️ Swipe right to see the that I have been enjoying as I travel thru India!
1️⃣ Homestyle thali that I learned to make in Jaipur with Payal of (North India)
2️⃣ Fancy Rajasthani thali at in Jodhpur (North India)
3️⃣ Thali served on a banana leaf a vegetarian restaurant in Thodupuzha, Kerala (South India)
4️⃣ Unbelievably inexpensive thali from .yoga.centre in Tamil Nadu (South India)
Here’s my for ❤️
Dear Tamil Nadu
Modern comforts shine less bright
Now that we’ve met you
Natural beauty
Teeming with dualities
Ripe with life lessons
Lessons that sound trite
But have given way to new
tenderness in Charlie’s eyes
Like NOTHING matters
EXCEPT for experiencing
EVERYTHING fully
Since when we’re present
No matter what we’re doing
Love pours from our being
I can’t get enough of all the tropical fruits in India. 😋 ➡️ Swipe right to see who stole my pineapple the other day… 🤣🍍🐒
Piggy backing on my last post, I wanted to share more about .yoga.centre’s impressive dining program.
Biksha (Isha’s dining hall) serves flavorful yogic cuisine. A team of local chefs run the kitchen like clockwork and an army of volunteers help serve the food.
A typical meal includes:
🌾 Rice (my favs are lemon rice with nuts, coconut rice with herbs & sweet black rice)
🍛 Pongal (SO many kinds of millet!) always served with some kind of saucy dish (ie. curry or sambar) And sometimes chutney too!
🫘 Legumes (ie. black chickpeas, mung beans, lentils — usually tossed with with shredded coconut, turmeric and curry leaves)
🥕 A raw veggie or salad (ie. carrot, cucumber, or green pepper salad)
🍠 A cooked veggie (usually a starchy veggie or some kind gourd in a flavorful sauce)
🌶 A pickle (chili lime, tamarind, or ginger)
🍉 Fruit (ie. Baby bananas, papaya, watermelon, pineapple)
😋 Many times a savory congee, kitcheri, or sometimes sweet porridge called Sanjeevini
🫓 Occasionally, instead of millet, they serve homemade bread like roti or idly (Which I love!)
🟤 And sometimes a sweet treat like a sesame ladoo or a mini banana cake
The meals are made with high-quality vegetarian ingredients — many of them grown on site. 🧑🏽🌾 In fact, in the last 10 months the 5-acre organic farm at the ashram has supplied the dining hall with 22 tons of fresh produce! (Pictured is turmeric that I helped harvest last month.)
The dining hall is open for ashram residents twice per day, offering brunch & dinner for thousands of people at a time. 🕖 Doors for dinner open at exactly 6:50 PM and everyone is seated within 8 minutes! ➡️ Then the whole hall gets flipped for the next batch to enter at 7:35 PM. And if that’s not wild enough, we all sit on the floor in silence 🧘🏻♀️ and eat with our hands. ✋
Well, most of us… I broke down and bought a spoon after the first month of struggling to eat hot soupy food by hand. 🥄😜
SABBATICAL UPDATE ✨
A year has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I’ve been missing your lovely faces more than you know. 💕
Since closing the bento shop, I’ve established a daily yoga & meditation practice. 🧘🏻♀️ As a lifelong busy body, keeping this commitment to an inward journey — much of it spent in stillness and silence — has been remarkable.
In 2023, I went to .yoga.centre in Tennessee 3 times to attend their yoga and mediation programs. 🎊 And to kick off the new year, I hopped on a plane to India so that I could do an 8-day silent meditation retreat with at the Isha ashram in the Velliangiri Foothills — in the middle of a mountainous jungle in Southern India! 🏞
I am actually still in India — volunteering to support the ashram’s day-to-day activities — where I’ve had a different job each week! So far my duties have included:
👩🏻🌾 Taking part in their annual turmeric harvest! In total we harvested more than 2️⃣ TONS of organic turmeric as part of the ashram’s impressive farm-to-table program.
🐮 Working at the dairy farm in the center of the ashram 💩 I mostly collected loads of dung which gets used as fertilizer for the vegetable fields.
🌺 Stringing fresh flowers together to make malas to adorn all the temples and to use as offerings 🌺
🍛 Helping serve 2 meals per day to thousands of ashramites in the dining hall — which is WILD. I’ll tell you about what an impressive operation it is in another post soon. 🤗
Funny enough, I haven’t done any cooking at all. This is officially the longest span of time I can remember in my adult life where I haven’t cooked a single thing. Needless to say, I’m relishing this opportunity to be immersed in a new culture and learn to do things I’ve never done before!
I have more to share, and I promise I will continue to keep you posted. 🤗 But I have limited internet/cell service, plus they disallow photography at the ashram as a way to encourage us to be present, so that’s all for now.
PS. On the bento front 🍱 I’m also pursuing an opportunity that would allow me to continue sharing my love for cooking & Washoku with you soon, so stay tuned! ❤️
NEW RECIPE! Miso Banana Bread with Cinnamon Gomashio
Grain-free & refined sugar-free, these muffins are simple to make ➕ the perfect balance of sweet, nutty and umami!
The aroma that they fill the house with is enough to warm even the grinch’s heart ❤️💚
😘 to get the recipe!
📍 Ogikubo, Tokyo
I went to Japan for the first time when I was 26 — over 13 years ago! Little did I know that it would be such a formative journey, and I would come home inspired to embark upon the labor of love that turned into .
With over a decade of hindsight I can appreciate fully the set of circumstances that made it life changing.
Follow the link in my bio to find out the 7️⃣ ways that Japan changed my life! 🌱🇯🇵🙇♀️
Our chefs Leanne & Leah prepared a dinner party in collaboration with for the lovely folks from UT’s yesterday evening!
Featuring produce by & , Local wagyu from & Wine pairings by
Huge thanks to Taz Jamal of for making service such a breeze ✨
Get 20% off our ENTIRE WINE & SAKE INVENTORY now thru Saturday 2/18, while supplies last, for dine-in or takeout. Come shop the sale in person, or use the discount code below to place your order through our online shop (link in bio)! Use code closeout20 to get 20% off ALL SAKE & WINE 💗🥂
✨Closeout Sale✨
We're offering discounts on our ENTIRE WINE AND SAKE INVENTORY from Tuesday 2/14 - Saturday 2/18, while supplies last.
You can come shop the sale in person, or use the discount codes below to place your orders through our online shop (link in bio)
✨ Spend $35 to get 10% off, use code closeout10
✨ Spend $150 to get 15% off, use code closeout15
✨ Spend $300 to get 20% off, use code closeout20
Get amazing deals on our limited edition merchandise too!
✨ $3 for One / $5 for Two
Saba San's Stemless Wine Glass [50% Off]
*If you'd like to buy a set of 10 or more glasses, come into the shop to get the glasses for just $2 each.*
✨ $4 each
Bento Kitty Greeting Cards designed by Austin TX [Originally $5]
✨ $5 each
Saba San's 2-Bottle Jute Wine Bag
Custom Screen Printing by Austin TX [Originally $7]
✨ $5 each
Custom Saba San's Wine Key
Sturdy Double Hinge Corkscrew made by TrueTap, Available in Teal or Pink! [Originally $10]
✨ $12 for One / $30 for Three
Saba San's Candles, Ginger Pine or Jasmine Sencha
Hand-Poured by .co Austin TX [Originally $19 each]
✨ $16 each
Saba San's 6-Bottle Jute Wine Bag
Custom Screen Printing by Austin TX [Originally $20]
✨ $16 / 2oz Bottle
Medicinal Mushroom Extracts
Organic, Triple Phase Extraction from .official South Carolina
[Originally $36]
It’s time to rally around these lovely humans to make sure they have new opportunities lined up after Bento Picnic’s final day of service on 2/18. I can speak to how respectful ➕professional all of them are, and I also want to provide some additional insight into their individual ambitions in order to attract personalized leads that align with each of their skills and interests.
✨ Bruno - Reliable high schooler looking for an evening/weekend job opportunity in the Holly Neighborhood
✨ Blanca - Key Holder/Kitchen Opener with incredible craftsmanship & a sixth sense for pastry looking for AM BOH opportunities
✨ Hannah - Newly-licensed esthetician seeking a spa-setting to begin her practice in Austin
✨ Lucas - All-around team player & avid horticulturist open to BOH or FOH restaurant work, or possibly farm work 💪
✨ Keiry - Clever line cook looking to continue learning, ideally under the tutelage of a Spanish-speaking chef
✨ Maribel - Experienced prep cook/dishwasher with a heart of gold seeking full-time BOH position in East Austin
✨ Caleb - Friendly, helpful gentleman with 3 years welding experience at top-competing highschool shop in the nation looking to apply himself to a career in residential renovation/ metal work
✨ Kari - Considerate chef with a decade of experience running independently-owned kitchens seeking leadership opportunities in restaurants or catering
✨ Juan - Hardworking cook with 100% on-time arrival stats looking for a steady AM BOH position
To recruit any of these Bento Picnic team members, please fill out the Employment Opportunities form (link in bio).
Thank you 🙏🏻
- Leanne
It’s y’all! Corey is the talented artist who illustrated both of our kitty mascots. She came by the shop for dinner last night and got our chirashi-don & a hot herbal ✌️ We love you big time Corey!
After 8 years of Bento Picnic (and 3 years of Saba San’s), I’ve come to the decision to take a sabbatical - to create space for what’s next.
To our regulars, there are over 800 of you who have been incredibly loyal to us, and I can’t thank you enough.
I’m thankful for all the support that Austin has shown me over the last 8 years. It has been an incredible story to live. I promise to be in touch and keep you posted about whatever may come next.
We’ll still be making bentos with as much love as ever between now and Saturday February 18th — and I hope that you’ll stop by for a meal and a hug!
xo - Leanne
PS. During our sabbatical, we’ll still be available for select catering events and private dinner parties. Please email: [email protected] with inquiries.
PSS. Our bungalow on E Cesar Chavez will remain open by reservation to Sushi Bar guests, and I trust that they’ll take good care of the space and everyone coming through.
PSSS. If you're an employer looking for great people...
So much credit and thanks goes to my incredible team for the success we’ve experienced -- several of whom have been working at Bento Picnic since we opened the brick and mortar in 2018.
My highest priority between now and February 18th is to support every one of my employees to continue advancing in their careers by helping connect them with job opportunities that best suit their skills and interests.
If you’re an employer looking for outstanding people, please follow the link in our bio to share details about the opportunity with us.
This house curry is the perfect fuel for your Saturday. You can add any of our proteins to elevate this dish even further. ✨
Available for takeout, dine-in, or delivery. 📞 🚙 🍽️
This house curry is the perfect fuel for your Saturday.
Pro-tip: Add any of our proteins to elevate this dish even more!
Available for takeout, dine-in, or delivery. ✨
Our tamagoyaki is calling your name.
Six slices of nori-rolled omelette w/ crispy shallots, scallion & smoked ancho sauce only for $8.
**Limited quantities made fresh daily**
Chirashi-Don
King Salmon, Dayboat Scallop, Wild Albacore Tuna & Avocado on Sushi Rice w/ Ginger, Wasabi, Housemade Furikake & Dashi Tamari ( )
We’re open tonight until 8pm to make your post holiday come true.
Merry Christmas from the & team!
We are closed today for the holidays & will be back open Tuesday 12/27
We would love to serve y’all some warming curry & a hot sake toddy soon! 🍶 y’all stay warm & cozy til then ❤️✨
![We’ve had the pleasure of teaming up with Good Work Austin] for and we will be donating proceeds from all the Albacore...](https://img5.evepla.com/849/973/2050229818499730.jpg)
We’ve had the pleasure of teaming up with Good Work Austin] for and we will be donating proceeds from all the Albacore Onigiri sold to Good Work Austin] and
These are two local nonprofits dedicated to helping our Central Texas community.
Come on by or order online to Give Back With Us. You can’t miss out on this yummy snack! ☺️
In honor of , we are donating proceeds from
all the Albacore Onigiri sold between 11/26 - 12/2 to and (two local nonprofits dedicated to helping our Central Texas community). Come on by or order online to give back with us! 🙏🏻💗
In more happy hour news… From 6-7pm daily:
$2 off Home Fries, Rice Croquettes & Blistered Shish*tos.
🍶We now have our hot sake being served and a new sake on tap both $2 off!
Happy hours should always be this happy!
Get $2 off any , Wine & Sake by the glass as well as select snacks from 6pm-7pm Tues-Saturday.
Austin, TX
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Just 5 tickets left for tomorrow’s event. Follow the link in the bio if you’d like to join us!
Join us next Thursday (9/15) for the Late Summer Harvest Party! Meet local farmers and enjoy a special menu complete with wine pairings at Bento Picnic & Saba San's ➡️ Tickets are limited so grab yours at the link in our bio today. Over the next few days, we’ll be introducing you to all of our Harvest Party farmers... First up, Greener Pastures Chicken! - @greenerpastureschicken is THE🥇top-rated poultry farm in the Southern United States @cornucopiainstitute - They’re the only poultry farm in all of Texas that raises its birds on grass while nourishing them with certified organic feed 🌱 - And they’re a regenerative farm! The Greener Pastures team adds about 1/4" to 1/2" of soil BACK to the land through their rotational grazing techniques 🌍 Like this post to let @greenerpastureschicken know how much you appreciate their contributions to our local food system & follow the link in the @bentopicnic bio to get tickets to come meet them at the Harvest Party next Thursday!
Our May wine club party is one week from today! 🎉🎉 Our bottle shop @sabasans hosts our #wineclub members once a month for a pick-up party complete with #naturalwine tastings and a #secretmenu 😋🤫 We have 3 and 6-bottle membership options and both include access to unique #organic, #biodynamic & #sustainablymade wines crafted by boutique producers (and lots of perks, too!) 🍷❤️ Click the link in bio to learn more ➖ sign up now and you’ll get an invite to our June party! #naturalwinelover #wineclub #cheers #austin #atx
It’s #lunchtime and we’ve got a colorful #bentobox calling your name! 😍🌈🍱 REPOST 🎥@atxfoodandfun 〰️@bentopicnic for lunch today! 🍱📸🙌🏼 #bentobox #bentopicnic #austintexas #austin #austinfoodie #food #yummy #tasty #atx #wow #food #foodblogger #foodphotography #austinfoodstagram
Loved hosting @atasteofkoko 🍱❤️🙌 Come see us over on the east side soon, y’all! REPOST @atasteofkoko 〰️ Have you been to @bentopicnic? Healthy Japanese bento boxes made with farm-fresh veggies, responsibility-sourced proteins, housemade pickles, and gluten-free pastries! #kokoapproved 〰️ snack bento (gf / df) 〰️ miso chocolate chip cookie 〰️ dark chocolate brownie bar 〰️ sake, beer, & natural wine #austintexas #austintx #eastaustin
One week from today! Come out for the @whitecrystalvintage Vintage & Vinyl Pop-Up on July 31 ✌️ ✨Vintage clothing & accessories for adults, kids & babies ✨DJ Hige Kim’s spinning Japanese Vinyl ✨Tasty eats, natural wine & sake
Your weekend needs more Mochi Bun! Yukuzi has the right idea 😋☺️ Stop by the shop for a treat 〰️ dessert is on the menu till 8pm! #mochibun #glutenfreedessert #kidapproved #sweettooth #instacute #atxeats #austin
It’s #nationalroséday so come sip #pinkwine on the patio with us! Follow our #naturalwine bottle shop @sabasans to check out some of our selections 🍷✨ #roseallday #rosewine #vinnature #weekenddrinks #cheers #austin #atx
Building beautiful #bento for you today! 🍱☀️🌈 Full menu available till 6pm #feelgoodfood #bentoboxes #eattherainbow #atxeats #austin
Join us for a free wine tasting on the patio at 5pm! It’s a beautiful day to sip on some delicious #womanmade wines and we have 4 tasty bottles for you to try! Stick around for #HAPPYHOUR from 6-8pm for $2 off sake & wines by the glass + 25% off all bottles! #womanmadewine #winetasting #drinkmorewine #naturalwinelovers #cheers #austin @valentiful @sophiesstuart
Get dinner delivered tonight! We’ve got warming➕comforting eats like our Chicken or Cauliflower Curry or warm Carrot Burdock Bliss 😋🥰 Use code WARMMEUP10 at checkout to get 10% off your order this Friday & Saturday! #wintereats #austinfood #healthycomfortfood #nourishyourself #atx
We're looking for an awesome line cook to join our team! 🌟 If you're a team player with a great attitude who loves cooking delicious food, then we want to hear from you! Click the link in our bio to learn more➕apply online! #hiring #jobs #austinjobs #hospitalityjobs #linecook #atx
It’s dinner time! Dig in at the shop or order #curbsidepickup or #delivery till 9pm! #austineats #hungry #washoku #atx
If you haven’t experienced @sushibaratx yet 〰️ the #omakase #popup tucked inside our shop from the incredible team at @sushibarla 〰️ HURRY and grab one of the last reservations right now➖there are only 25 left! 🍣✨ #sush*time #speakeasy #austineats #booknow #atx 🎥 by @atasteofkoko 🤩
It’s #comfortfood weather so you need this Stroganoff Udon in your life tonight! 🥰 It’s made with crazy tender @nimanranch braised beef, miso butter noodles, yuzu yogurt sauce, fresh herbs and (our favorite part!) beet horseradish relish 😋😋 Stop by the shop or get it delivered till 9pm! #atxeats #healthycomfortfood #noodlelover #dinnertime #austin
Just added heaters to the patio!! 🔥🔥 #patiovibes #dinnertime #drinkwineoutside #atx
It's the perfect day for a latte! 🍵☕️ Our MATCHA LATTE and our MOCHA LATTE are both #vegan and made with the highest quality organic ingredients (like premium matcha and decadent dark chocolate!) plus delicious Amazake rice milk 😋 Stop by the shop today (it's cozy & warm in here 🥰) OR order curbside pick-up or delivery online! #lattelove #veganlatte #winterishere #atx
☔️ Rainy Day Discount 👉 Get 10% off our dinner menu TONIGHT only‼️ Stop by the shop to pick up a wholesome meal OR get one delivered to your door! USE CODE RAINYDAY10 AT CHECKOUT 🌟 We have all the #healthycomfortfoods you crave like curry, teriyaki, soups, roasted veggies, gluten-free sweets & more 😋 Visit www.bentopicnic.com to view our menu➕order online! 🙌 Offer valid for food only. #rainydayfood #eattherainbow #healthymeals #austineats #atx
NEW Binchōtan grilled skewer on the menu this weekend!🔥🔥🔥 Stop by the shop tonight to try these Salmon Falafel & Yuzu Yogurt Skewers made with citrus cured salmon & turmeric chickpeas ➕ served with yuzu yogurt emulsion, sumac slaw, grilled scallions & cilantro ✨ 👉 Enjoy them on the patio with a bottle of wine tonight 🍷🍷 (curbsidepickup & #delivery are available, too!) 🙌 #menuspecial #binchotangrill #grilledskewers #weekendeats #atxfood
It’s a beautiful night for dinner outside! ✨🌙 #patiovibes #zengarden #dinnertime #austin
We are a local company making healthy Japanese-style bento boxes available in Austin. In the Washoku tradition of Japanese homemakers, all of our bento boxes incorporate five colors, five tastes, and five elements to deliver truly delicious, nutrient-rich meals.
Our meals and snacks feature a variety of organic vegetables, whole grains, high-quality proteins, and housemade pickles and sauces. And we love helping people keep commitments to their health by offering gluten-free, vegan + dairy-free options! We are located at 2600 E. Cesar Chavez St. where we are open for lunch and dinner Monday - Saturday . We also operate a kiosk inside the Austin Bouldering Project and offer catering all around town. Visit us online at www.bentopicnic.com to see our complete menu!
Gourmet Gals Catering & Events
W Highway 290
