What is bento?
Bento is a Japanese single-portion meal that is eaten on the go (like take-out). Traditionally, a bento contains a small portion of fish or meat served with rice or noodles that’s accompanied by cooked/pickled/raw vegetables. Bento served in restaurants or for dinner are often presented in large lacquered boxes or trays, and convenience stores (in Japan anyway) often sell bento in disposable containers. Japanese moms pack bento lunches for their husbands and children – it is almost a contest in some circles to see who can pack the cutest lunch for their children. Check out the About Bento section for more info.
Simply put, “bento” is “boxed lunch.” Most people think of it as a specific style of boxed lunch, with Japanese-y food inside, but not necessarily. It can be any kind of boxed lunch. Even a Happy Meal is, essentially, a bento lunch. But it’s a lot more fun to make ones with a touch of the exotic, isn’t it?
