I would check an asian market place or maybe Pier 1.

Of course you could get one sent from Japan too!

Note that the cost of bentos will vary depending on what part of the country you are in. They will be most expensive in well-traveled Tokyo and Osaka train lines and will be cheaper in places like Akita, Aomori, southern Shikoku, Kyushu, etc.

Simple bentos have 1 level metal, plastic or wooden boxes.

Elaborate ones are 2 or even 3 stacks and can carry many different side dishes. They’re made in a way that they stack on one another.

Use handkerchief to wrap them or in a nice bag.

as for where to buy them: check your local asian grocery store. i heard you can also ship bento but i don’t know how much i would trust that…

Type: Pasta salad!

This is such a simple thing to do, and there’s no better time to do it than in the summer when so many fruits are in season. Cut up any soft ripe fruit, and put them into silicon cupcake liners or wrap in plastic film. Then stash each cup or bundle in a freezer safe plastic container. You can then take out a cup or two and tuck them into your bento box. They act as an edible cooler for your bento. The container here has a cut up nectarine (divided into two silicon liners) and 2 small bananas (divided into 4).

As far as buying them, I would try your local asian grocer or shop. On-line will probably give you the best selection though. Here are some sites:

I hope this all helps! Good luck!

“….Newly opened branch of Japanese dollar store (okay, $1.50 store). The Daly City branch has a selection of cheap bento boxes, accessories, antibacterial bento sheets and food cups, freezer containers, cooking equipment, metal bento boxes, mini microwave steamers, stovetop fish/veggie grills, home products, dishes, hobby gear, children’s toys and books in Japanese, etc….”

Daiso website in English

Now I went to the top of this page where is says search and typed in “bento”…..
Now why don’t you try and type in bento and you city

* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 cup COLD water
* 2 tablespoons dry white wine
* 1 cup flour

Beat the egg and mix with water. Add flour and whisk quickly.
[Tentsuyu (tempura dip)]

* 1 tablespoon dashi no moto in 1 cup of water, boiled for two to three minutes
* 2 tablespoons mirin. You can replace this with 1 tablespoon sugar
* 2 tablespoons sake or dry white wine
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* ginger root to taste, freshly grated (optional)

After you boil the dashi, turn off the heat and add the rest of the ingredients.
[Vegetables & Fish]
(ingredients and preparation suggestions)

* Carrots, cut into thin sticks (i.e. 1 1/2 inches long)
* Onions, sliced
* Green pepper, cut into rings or any way you want
* Eggplant, thinly sliced
* Broccoli, prepared as for a for salad
* Green onions, (see mixed vegetable tempura — kakiage)
* Zucchini, thinly sliced
* Mushrooms, halved, or whole if small
* Green beans, halved lengthwise, or whole
* Asparagus, bite-sized (deep-fry 3 or 4 sticks together)
* Butternut squash, bite-sized thin slices
* Okra, halved lengthwise
* Snow pea pods, whole
* Cod, bite-sized
* Shrimp, peeled, whole. Dip shrimp in the batter by holding the tail fin, and fry two or three at a time.
* Scallops, whole if small
* Crab, break shell and expose meat before dipping in batter
* Squid, sliced into rings or strips

Dredge fish in flour before dipping in batter.

Cooking time: 1 hour +

Servings: 4

But you get more variety & better prices online:

First off, I use brown instead of white rice, which is very filling.

Second, I load up on vegetables and only bring a skewer or two of grilled meat. Even my stews are mostly vegetable.

Third, I eat with the chopsticks that came with my bento box. You get full a lot faster if you eat slowly.

I want to buy bento boxes for my friends and cook some different Japanese dishes for a picinc!

Happy Bento-making to you!