Convenience stores sell everything that Japanese people need for day-to-day life, from food to household essentials. Among these everyday items, one thing that is particularly popular is the bento, or boxed meal, which is packed with nutrition and available in many varieties. Read on for some bento you should definitely eat the next time you go to a convenience store. Some of these have also just been introduced this spring.
1. Half Your Daily Veg! Rice with Spicy Stir-Fried Beef (7-Eleven)
If you’re looking to eat a lot of vegetables, we recommend this item! There are nine different nutrition-packed vegetables in this bento, including carrots, burdock, and spinach. This one meal contains half of your recommended daily intake of vegetables, so it’s a great thing to eat when travelling. There are two layers to this bento: the top layer consists of the toppings in a small saucer, then below that is a layer of barley rice. When you eat this bento, mix the two layers together. The sweet-spicy gochujang and the gooey soft-boiled egg are an outstanding combination. You’ll quickly eat the whole thing up, as you enjoy the crisp and juicy texture of the vegetables.
Price: 496 JPY (incl. tax)
2. A Taste of Spring! Box Lunch with Bamboo Shoots (7-Eleven)
Bamboo shoots, which are widely known as the taste of spring in Japan, are used extravagantly in this new spring bento. The freshly cooked rice is lightly seasoned, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of the bamboo shoots slices placed on top. The bento also includes other Japanese classics such as tempura shrimp, stewed items, and a thick omelet. This bento is recommended for people who want to enjoy Japanese cuisine on the cheap!
Price: 537 JPY (incl. tax)
3. Shrimp Tomato Cream Omelet Rice (Lawson)
"Omurice" (a portmanteau of omelet and rice) is a beloved Japanese dish, wrapped in rich, gooey egg; here it has been realized in convenience store bento form. On top of the egg is a tomato cream sauce infused with the umami flavor of shrimp, which is then topped with shrimp and broccoli. It looks just like a restaurant-quality omurice! Tying everything together is the tomato chicken rice, in which you can thoroughly experience the umami and texture of the chicken. You’ll find it hard to believe that this dish is really a convenience store bento! This was also newly released this spring.
Price: 498 JPY (incl. tax)
4. Keema Curry and Grilled Chicken Plate (FamilyMart)
The spicy keema curry and the grilled chicken with herbs are the first things to catch your eye in this bento, which was just brought out this March. The arrangement of surrounding ingredients, including pumpkin, broccoli, and penne pasta, makes this one delicious bento you’ll want to eat many times over. The amount of chicken in the bento is substantial, and one of these bento is sure to fill you up!
Price: 460 JPY (incl. tax)
5. Spicy Fragrant Jambalaya (FamilyMart)
This is the perfect bento for a cold day, as the spices will warm your body to the point of sweating as you eat! It's certainly spicy, but thoughtfully so, so there's no worry of it being so spicy you can't eat it. You can really taste the umami (savory flavor) of the flame-grilled beef ribs. This is a substantial dish that will leave you feeling full and highly satisfied after eating. This bento was also released this spring.
*Not available in parts of the Tokai region.
Price: 460 JPY (incl. tax)
Now you know the best convenience store bento out there at the moment. Some of these bento are available for a limited time only, so be sure to look for them next time you visit one of these stores, and give them a try!
*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.
