What is Bento?

Bento, written as 弁当 in Japanese, is a packed meal that is commonly eaten as lunch in Japan. Many school children and workers take a single-portion, homemade meal packed in a bento box to school or to the office every day. Bento is also a popular take-out food, sold pretty much everywhere you go in Japan, from convenience stores and train stations to high-end department store delis. Many traditional restaurants serve bento only during lunchtime—often in a wood or lacquered bento box—or you can sample beautifully prepared dishes from an elaborate multicourse meal in one simple box at a much lower price.