Bento boxes have been gaining popularity and major cool factor in the US, and for good reason—the compartmentalized Japanese lunch boxes make your lunch look adorable all while facilitating portion control. Traditionally used to pack rice, pickled vegetables, and protein, the bento box has obvious appeal as a way to pack an organized and balancedlunch for your kids, or yourself.
Part of the bento box appeal isundoubtedly aesthetic. Not only do the often brightly colored boxes look cool on the outside, but the possibility of vibrant, perfectly sectioned-off food makes anyone feel like the best version of herself. Plus, bento boxes are great for adult work lunches. So if you've got someone on your gift list with a New Year's resolution to meal plan andpack healthy lunches, a chic lunch box—and a tote to carry it in—are great gifts. Here are our picks.
This simple bento box has two large, layered compartments, plus a built-in packable cutlery set. We love its minimal design and the layering of wood and white. This box is microwave and dishwasher-safe, and its compartments are perfectly designed for healthy portion control.
BUY IT:MERCIER Leak Proof Premium Bento Lunch Box with Cutlery Set, $20 on Amazon
What more do we need to say? This tote speaks for itself. Carry your lunch to work and display your love of pizza to everyone you pass on your commute.
BUY IT:Pizza Cotton Tote Bag, Farmers Market Bag, $12 on Etsy
Takenaka makes beautifully colored, high-quality bento boxes. With two rectangular compartments and a built-in fork, this box makes it easy to pack a salad and a snack, a sandwich and dessert, or whatever multi-faceted lunch combination your heart desires. It also comes with a moveable divider that you can use to section off one of the bigger compartments into two smaller sections. Like the others, it's microwave and dishwasher-safe and BPA free.
BUY IT:Takenaka Expanded Double Bento Box, $31 on Amazon
This ultra-feminine lunch bag, with polka dots and "Out to Lunch" inscribed on the front is perfect for that person in your life who loves cute things. The outside is coated in linen, so it can almost pass for a small handbag, but the inside is insulated to keep your lunch cool and ready to eat.
BUY IT:Kate Spade New York Lunch Tote, Deco Dots (Out To Lunch), $30 on Amazon
For a simple-looking metal bento box, try this one from Green Lunch. According to its product description on Amazon, it's the largest bento box available (quite the claim!) with room for a whopping six cups of food (split between two large containers). It also has a small nesting container—a nice feature that many of the other models don't have—which can hold 3/4 cup of food, and would be perfect for packing salad dressings or sauce.
BUY IT:GreenLunch Stainless Steel 3-in-1 Bento Lunch Box, $27 on Amazon
This vegetable-touting tote is much larger than standard size, meaning it can accommodate a tremendous haul from the farmers market. It's also great for carrying your bento box, and other necessary supplies, to work. Stop by the grocery store on the way home and stuff in some produce while you're at it.
BUY IT:Farmers Market Bag, $20 on Etsy
We love the look of this wooden bento box—there's something about having a wooden lunch container that feels minimalist cool. This small container comes with a removable divider that split the ovular container into three small sections. It's great for picnics and to make work lunches feel way less dreary.
BUY IT:Miraclekoo Wooden Lunch Box Bento Box with Internal Separator, $17 on Amazon
Most insulated lunch bags are oppressively bright, with a plasticky sheen. This one, though, looks like a cool utilitarian bag that we'd love to wear even if it weren't insulated and meant to carry a packed lunch. And, since this bag has external pockets, it can do double duty. Food can go in the central bag, where it will be kept cold or hot for up to two hours, and the outside pockets can be used for keys and cell phones and such.
BUY IT:Ecokaki(TM) Canvas Lunch Bag Tote Insulated Cooler, $12 on Amazon
Another wooden bento box option, this one offers a ton of space, featuring two layered compartments and a divider. And, it comes with a beautiful wooden fork and knife set. The brand, Aoosy, also makes a similar box, but in a rectangular shape (for only about $27),如果那是你的偏好。This is an expensive bento box, for sure, but it's stunning and will last a long time with proper care.
BUY IT:Double Layer Wooden Bento Box Lunch Box with Spoon Fork, $56 on Amazon
These stackable lunch containers are really a two-for-one because they also come with a cool, retro-Boy Scout-looking lunch bag. The stainless steel stackable lunch containers fit perfectly into the bag, which provides extra insulation and has a cross-body strap for easy transport. The set also comes with utensils. And if you don't want such a large stackable container, you can buy asingle-layer, compartmentalized version, too.
This insulated lunch container looks extra fancy thanks to its rose gold exterior. It has a small compartment that can be added in at the top for multiple sections, or it can be used as one large container. It's vacuum-sealed and extra insulated, making it a great option to carry soup.
BUY IT:Insulated Lunch Rose Gold Lunch Box, $32 on Amazon
All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn a small affiliate commission.
