Hey, bento addicts!  I couldn't find a website like the one I wish existed, so I decided to create my own. It's very much under construction, but I have posted pictures of all my bento boxes. Next step, start creating review pages for each box with more detailed descriptions, pros and cons of each box, and what I use each box for. I'm hoping others will join in - send me comments or reviews or links to their own bento reviews. Maybe a forum, if I can figure out how to do that.

I'm not selling anything - it's just for fun.

Anyway, my site is    here.

Let me know if you like the idea!

I'd love to start a discussion of different types of bento boxes and how they can be used. I hope that people will comment on how they use their equipment, ask questions, etc. I find it especially useful to get suggestions for what kind of smaller cups and containers fit in each type of box, and what types of food work well for each.

I'll start with this little guy. I bought it from AllThingsForSale.com. They don't have as big a selection as J-List, but prices are lower and shipping is MUCH faster (they ship from warehouses in the U.S., not from Japan). They always have a lot of this type of box in various colors and shapes.

I think everybody who collects bento boxes must have one a lot like this. It's small but elegant, and surprisingly inexpensive. I've read that these boxes are sold in the equivalent of Dollar Stores in Japan and that they don't hold up as well as the more expensive ones. So far mine has survived multiple trips through the microwave and shows no sign of wear. I wash it by hand (don't own a dishwasher).

The Little Red Lube Sheep (Urara) This is what the little stacking bento set looks like from the outside. Dimensions are about 3" wide by 6" long, meant to be secured with a bento band. Both compartments have tight-fitting black lids. There are no interior dividers. The bottom tier has slightly less height than the upper tier, which turns out to be significant when you are looking for interior cups and dividers that will fit. The short tier is 1.5" in height, but the taller tier is 1-7/8"  high. That extra 3/8" makes a huge difference.

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Y'know what I would REALLY like to find?  An online forum for discussing the trivia of bento gear. Like, "I bought this great flower-shaped bento box and I'm trying to find decorative food cups that will fit well inside it."  Or actual REVIEWS of specific bento boxes, with pros and cons, accurate dimensions, and ideas for foods that work well with particular boxes.

If I started posting things like that, would anybody see it?  Or has this community been abandoned?

Does anyone know what company makes these bento boxes? I can't read Japanese to read what it says.

here is my lunch today, crappiest lighting ever but still a good lunch

we have veggie wraps, celery, baby carrots,mini reeses, and some lettece with ranch on the side

My first bento post =D


Peanut butter & Jelly rolled to look like sushi & white grapes!

( 4 More pictures here )

we have a yummy chicken breast slices and spinach wrap held together with my awesome little elephant picks ^______^( and a close up of the bottom tier and what is inside that cute little cup???  )

Hello!

A few years ago I wrote a set of instructions on how to prepare a bento. There have been a lot of questions on where to buy supplies. I've also received many emails from people who do not have a local Asian market. One other comment referred me to this lj community!

I'm fortunate enough to live near ichibankan so I'm putting together bento kits and selling them in my etsy store, Try This. There will be kits of all varieties (starter kits to super deluxe kits) neatly packaged in a gift box with a print of the instructions for easy kitchen reference.

Anyway, happy to have found you all!

clamoring

this weeks theme is fathers since fathers dayis coming up

show us his fav. recipe or a bento that you made for him or whatever you want that reminds you of him just remember to tell us why!!!

My bentos will never be the cute, creative kind that some people create, but it works for me! Not bad for a spur-of-the-moment Tuesday morning decision. :)



green beans, chicken nuggets, &(attempted) tuna-filled onigiri sprinkled with Tony Chachere's creole seasoning. Ketchup in the fruit cup. Diced peaches on the side, not shown. Obviously my Minute Rice is not well-suited for the creation of onigiri, but I'm sure it'll be yummy anyway.

( x-posted to bentolunch )

Hi everyone!
Just wanted to say how much I enjoy seeing everyone's bentos. I just don't have the time to make cute ones anymore but I wish I did. I have now resorted to stuffing last nights casserole in the top half and some cut up watermelon in the lower half and there's my bento x.x;
Wah.
So please keep posting your pictures so I can at least enjoy seeing them!!

I was in Michaels craft store with my mom yesterday since she likes to look at their yarn and threads etc and we thought that they -might- have the food markers I've been looking for and OMG I found bento supply heaven >.< I couldn't afford everything but they had a TON of cut-out shapes - even the alphabet. Here's what I got:



Everything but the 4th of July stuff I got at Michaels though they had some similar things there too. I got those at Walmart actually. I'm planning [somehow] to make patriotic bento's for me and my mom.

I just thought I'd share, if anyone wanders in there and doesn't know it Michaels has great stuff. Actually Bed, Bath, and Beyond had a lot of nice and useful things but I couldn't get them right then.

Hello~

With the increase of members I felt the need to edit & add a few tags~

Please use one of these tags located: here or in the Tag's box to the left, when posting ^_^

You may also suggest tags here that you would like to be added!

I will start a Shopping post & a Recipe post shortly, so look forward to it~! The other mod didn't want it.

Tenshi~

hello all!!!

as many of you already know there are lots of ppl who will totally scam you out of money for bentos. some costing $20 and up

if your into cute girly bentos or even manly / skater boyish stuff or even if you have a small child who loves winnie the pooh be sure to check out ichibankanusa.com they have bento, chopsticks, food, cutters , anything you could ever need and more and most things are only a dollar or two




picture of a boy box they have..its about $10 its a bit more expensive than this.....




they are a dollar for each piece and they have lots more awesome bentos and other accessories


enjoy~