Taiwan Bento, Fast-Casual Lunch in Uptown Oakland

Taiwan Bento
412 22nd St. Oakland
Phone: (510) 250-9858
Web: www.taiwanbento.us
Status: Softly open

It's been a few months since plans to open Pi Dan Noodle House were abandoned after the unexpected death of founder Allison Chen, and a new business is making good on the location's promise of a casual noodle spot. Taiwan Bento is a project from husband-and-wife team Stacy Tang and Willy Wang, with Tang, a tech worker-turned-restaurateur, learning the ropes with some help from Sophina Uong of nearby Picán.

The new spot is aimed at the lunchtime crowd, with a fast-casual midday offering of beef noodle soup and a variety of Taiwanese-style bento dishes that span options like braised pork, roasted chicken, Taiwanese sausage and a vegetarian eggplant shiitake option, each served with a soft-boiled egg, pickled veggies and rice. More sides and small dishes will be on the way once the restaurant gets going, and hours that extend past weekday lunch are also planned for the future. For now, they are open Monday-Friday from 11:30am-2:30pm (they'll be closed for Labor Day).

· Taiwan Bento taking over Pi Dan space in Oakland [Inside Scoop]
· Pi Dan Not Going Through; Late Founder's Parents Object [~ ESF ~]