Bentoville Food Theater Is Now Open on the Bentonville Square and It’s Not Your Typical Dinner Out

The former Pressroom space on the Downtown Bentonville Square has a new life, and it’s worth knowing about before you make your next dinner plan.

Bentoville Food Theater is not a restaurant in the traditional sense. There’s no menu to browse, no table to claim for the night, no ordering from a list and waiting for a plate to arrive. Each experience is staged — you choose your stage, your server walks you through what’s happening that season, and the food comes as it’s made. The kitchen is part of what you’re there to watch. Three stages run simultaneously under one roof, each led by a chef with a distinct background and a specific craft. You pick one for the evening and give it your full attention.

THE DEETS

📅 Opens June 2, 2026 — Early Summer season runs through June 28–29
🕐 Lunch and dinner daily
📍 100 NW 2nd St Suite 106, Bentonville, AR 72712
💵 $20–$50 per person depending on experience (beverages not included)
🎟️ Reservations recommended; walk-ins welcome for select experiences
ℹ️ Reservations may be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance
🔗 Reservations | Follow them on their Facebook account for more info and updates

What’s on Stage

Bentoville Food Theater runs three culinary experiences across three stages, each with its own format and price point. The menus rotate by season — the Early Summer lineup runs through late June, with new programming to follow. Ippudo at the Chef Stage is a permanent presence.

At Center Stage, the Early Summer Temaki runs June 2–28 and puts fresh fish — chef’s choice, at their seasonal peak — hand-rolled in nori right in front of you. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Plan for 75 to 90 minutes at $50 per person. Note any dietary restrictions, including gluten, when you book. Beverages are not included.

Fire Stage is where the grill runs. The First Fire: An Early Summer Robata runs June 2–28 and sears early-summer vegetables and premium cuts of meat over Japanese binchotan charcoal, served hot off the skewer as they come. The menu is chef’s choice for the season. Plan for 75 to 90 minutes at $50 per person. Note any dietary restrictions, including gluten, when you book. Beverages are not included.

Chef Stage is home to Ippudo, a permanent fixture at Bentoville Food Theater with locations around the world. The Early Summer season runs June 2–29, with the Tokushima Whirlpool Ramen as the featured bowl — a dark, soy-rich meat broth with sweet-braised pork belly, a glossy egg yolk, and firm medium-thick noodles. Your server will walk you through the featured bowl and classic options. Pricing is $20–35 per person. This experience cannot accommodate gluten allergies. Beverages are not included.

The Chefs Behind Each Stage

Chef Koki Shabanguh leads the Fire Stage. He trained alongside Chef Masashi Nabeta at Yakyudori before serving as Executive Chef under Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at Momosan Ramen & Sake. His approach to cooking is grounded in Japanese tradition and shaped by omotenashi — the understanding that great food is a gift given without expectation. Live-fire Japanese cooking demands both technical command and instinct, and that’s what he brings to every service.

Chef Justin Murrah leads the Center Stage. He trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in San Francisco — under Laurent Manrique at Aqua and Roland Passot at La Folie — before a season cooking for an Antarctic research station shifted how he thinks about food and purpose. At Bentoville, he’s built on years working under Chef Billy and hands-on experience across many of the theater’s past performances. The precision from fine dining and the perspective he found afterward both show up in what he puts forward.

Chef Keisuke Yanagimoto oversees all Ippudo operations at the Chef Stage. He has spent over 20 years with Ippudo developing products and menus for domestic and international markets, playing a central role in the brand’s global expansion. Every bowl he shapes at Bentoville reflects the same standard he has spent his career building.

Before or After, There’s Onyx

The Food Theater also houses an expanded Onyx Coffee Lab connected to the original Downtown Bentonville location. You can order at the walk-up window or settle in — there’s indoor and outdoor seating, and a full menu.

Grab Your Seat Before the Season Turns

The Early Summer lineup runs through late June. Once the season closes, the menus change and a new program takes the stage. Snag your tickets at the link in their bio before this one wraps up.