A popular solution for grabbing your lunch on the go in Japan and other Asian countries, the bento box is an ingenious container that offers different compartments to organize your meal more effectively. You can pack individual foods more conveniently, whether you plan on including a full meal with side dishes or just some quick snacks. Thanks to the eco-friendly trend in recent times, it’s not surprising to see an increase of popularity for bento boxes. It’s better for the environment to reduce plastic waste and disposable bags in favor of a more practical reusable container.
Bento boxes come in different sizes, materials, and styles. It all depends on your more specific needs. A high-quality bento box needs to be sufficiently large to cover your portion size requirements. It’s recommended to opt for sturdy materials to reuse the container confidently over time. Another aspect to keep in mind is the style of the bento box. There are many kid-friendly options with cute designs but you can also find more elegant models suitable for adults. Find the best bento box for your needs and budget through our top picks.
Best Compact Bento Box
1. Bentgo Classic Stackable Bento Box
With lots of great features for the cost, the Bentgo classic stackable bento box could be the right answer if you need a reliable food container that can be used on the go. It’s available in lots of stylish colors to match your style. This is a compact bento box made from food-grade plastic that’s lightweight and durable. It includes some great accessories aside from its two stackable containers.
There’s a convenient utensil set supplied while the added strap ensures that contents won’t spill from the box. The containers are separated with an internal lid so you can eat your individual meals without combining them. It’s recommended to use the bottom container for storing bigger portions while the top container has been separated for easier compartmentalization of snacks and other food items. Aside from the center divider, all elements can be safely cleaned in the dishwasher and put in the microwave.
Best Leakproof Bento Box
2. UMAMI All-in-One Bento Box
If you want to eat healthier meals at work or school, your best option is to grab home cooked food in a portable container. Take a look at this practical bento box from UMAMI. It relies on some traditional design elements that have been updated with a fresh, modern style. As opposed to cheaper lunchboxes on the market, this model makes use of advanced sealing technologies to prevent any unpleasant leaks or spills.
The containers are crafted from top quality polypropylene plastic that’s more durable and simpler to clean compared to classic bamboo options. However, to keep that old-school vibe, the top lid is built using bamboo so it’s definitely a more attractive bento box. There are two main containers to pack plenty of food. Organizing different parts of the meal more effectively can be done with the help of adjustable dividers. Another great feature is the little container dedicated to sauces. It’s equipped with a sturdy screw-cap to avoid any kind of leakage issue.
Best Large Bento Box
3. GRUB2GO Large Bento Box
Designed with a larger capacity compared to regular bento boxes, this GRUB2GO model can become an essential accessory for encouraging healthier eating habits. This convenient container allows you to bring a fresh home cooked meal in a customized style by organizing various parts of the dish. You can also pack snacks and sauces without worrying about spills thanks to the container’s excellent sealing performance.
Each stackable container in this bento box comes with leakproof abilities as well as good airflow. The top lid is crafted from solid bamboo while the main body of the bento box relies on durable plastic. This is a smart choice for keeping a low weight and improving overall portability. The large bento box arrives complete with utensils and a drawstring carry bag. In the package you will also discover the air-tight dedicated container to store the sauce.
Best Bento Box For Kids
4. NUFR Bento Box Kit
One bento box kit that’s more suitable for children comes from NUFR. This unit shows off compact construction qualities with a set of three compartments for keeping the food. Individual components of the meal can be separated to avoid unwanted mixing. You can integrate a side dish or a couple of extra snacks. It’s all about using your creativity to design your ideal bento box meal for use on the go.
When it comes to the construction quality, you get some pretty decent value for the money. The bento box is made from BPA-free plastic mixed with wheat fibers. It doesn’t particularly stand out in terms of durability but the lightweight style makes it a breeze to carry to work or school. Aside from the bento box containers, the manufacturer also provides some handy accessories such as food picks and colorful baking cups.
5. Bentoheaven Bento Box
The Bentoheaven bento box fuses traditional Asian design with a solid touch of modernity to bring you a more practical way to eat lunch on the go. Instead of eating unhealthy takeout food, this bento box offers a set of organized containers to eat your own prepared food and snacks. You can save money and eat healthy without sacrificing style considering the elegant polypropylene body with a bamboo top of this model.
This reusable bento box can be cleaned in the dishwasher and offers a total of two big compartments that can be easily filled with a diverse amount of foods. Use the divider to separate the ingredients. There’s also a sealed cup intended for sauces that’s perfectly-sized to fit inside one of the containers. The bento box is equipped with insulation plugs for maximum freshness while the rounded corners provide a more attractive look.
6. Edtsy Bento Box
Great for both adults and kids, the Edtsy bento box can be a solid pick if you’re tired of typical lunch box options that are often too impractical. This model doesn’t have leaking issues while keeping your foods tidily organized to avoid combining ingredients in undesirable ways. The containers offer small portion sizes but you can grab a decent amount of food to match the needs of children and adults alike.
In terms of construction quality, the bento box is built using standard BPA-free plastic that’s harder to the touch for improved long-term durability. There are three stackable containers supplied here and each of them offers compatibility for usage in the microwave. It’s safe to clean the bento box in the dishwasher for added convenience. When it comes to style, this bento box arrives with a fun selection of colors including pink and light blue.
7. Iteryn Bento Box
Anyone looking for a kid-friendly bento box should try this Iteryn model. It’s crafted from premium food-grade plastic that’s lightweight and simple to clean. The design features multiple stackable containers with a removable divider to organize the ingredients of the meal. Whether for school or camping, this convenient lunchbox offers great value for the cost. The size of the container isn’t particularly large so it’s ideally suited for children or quick snacks.
The leakproof construction of the bento box is fairly solid though in some cases you might still run into issues if you don’t properly stack the containers. Similar to other bento boxes on the market, the manufacturer provides some basic utensils but they’re not very well built. However, it’s nice to see that you can grab them easily inside the box for eating on the go with minimal effort.