I always get the question, “What is the BEST bento box you recommend?”
And the honest answer is that it really depends on what kind of food you’re packing. 🙂 I know that’s not the answer you want to hear but trust me, after years of packing bento boxes, my best advice is that you choose the right bento box for the right food.
I’m sharing my top nine bento boxes and what they are best used for so you can choose the perfect one for you!
Affiliate Disclaimer
I’m excited to share these bento boxes with you but first, I have some legal mumbo jumbo to go over. If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know I love sharing all the things I love. Whenever I link something, it may be what is referred to as an affiliate link, which means I could earn money if you end up clicking on one and purchase something. It doesn’t come at any extra cost to you and may even save you a little! Any income I earn from these links allows me to continue sharing things that I think you’ll love. As always, I never share anything that I wouldn’t purchase for myself and all opinions are my own. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s go to the post!
Best for charcuterie/”Lunchables” style meals
Images above from Yumboxlunch.com
I reach for this bento box when I’m making charcuterie lunches. I like that it has labeled sections on the tray to remind me to add fruits and veggies. My kiddos love the little treat circle where I always put a little something sweet. While the description says it is leakproof, I find that sauces and watery fruits have leaked out so I use this for only dry foods. (Side note, Little Who said this is her favorite bento box )
Product Specifications from the Yumboxlunch Website:
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Weight: 1 lb 1.5 oz
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Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
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Volume: 5 1/2 cup portions
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Dip/Treat volume: 1 oz
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Outer Box: ABS
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Tray: Tritan
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Seal: Silicone
Pros:
Adorable designs in a variety of colors
Lightweight
Cons:
Not really dishwasher-safe if you want to preserve the designs and longevity
Not leakproof for liquids
2. Yumbox Panino
Best for sandwiches, onigiri, fruits and veggies
I love this bento box for easy sandwich packing. It still allows for a little treat and I can add some fruits and veggies to the side. I find it to be a little more versatile than the Original Yumbox above due to the larger sandwich section. However, the leaking still applies so stick to dry goods.
Product Specifications from the Yumboxlunch Website:
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Weight: 1.1 lbs.
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Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
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Large portion volume: 2 cups
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Side portion volume: 1/2 cup x 2
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Dip/Treat volume: 1 oz
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Outer Box: ABS
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Tray: Tritan
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Seal: Silicone
Pros:
Adorable designs in a variety of colors
Versatile for sandwiches, chicken nuggets, etc.
Cons:
Not really dishwasher-safe if you want to preserve the designs and longevity
Not leakproof for liquids
3. OmieGo Stackable Bento Box
Best for all cold & room temperature foods
When this bento box first came out, I wasn’t all that excited about it but decided to try it anyway. And now it’s one of my absolute favorites! The 3 stackable compartments are completely leakproof and I love that they connect together to make transporting them easier. The largest container can fit a surprising amount of food and the two smaller ones are great for snacks. I throw the bottoms into the dishwasher but I hand wash the lids to keep the snaps from wearing out prematurely.
Product Specifications from the OmieLife Website:
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Three containers and three matching lids
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Weight: 0.77 lbs.
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Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 5.6
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Large container volume: 650 ml / 22 fl oz
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Small container volume: 270 ml / 9 fl oz
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Materials: food grade PP, silicone
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BPA-free, Phthalate-free.
Pros:
100% Leakproof
Versatile for holding small sandwiches as well as rice-based meals.
Interchangeable containers to stack your perfect meal
Cons:
I wouldn’t put the lids in the dishwasher, personally
Only comes in 3 colors
May have to buy multiple sets to accommodate a larger appetite
4. OmieBox Insulated Bento Box
Best for hot foods
If your kiddo prefers to eat hot lunch, look no further than the OmieBox. I love having an all-in-one bento box that can hold hot and cold foods together. I love using this for leftover dinners!
Product Specifications from the OmieLife Website:
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Weight: 1.7 lbs.
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Dimensions: 8.5” x 7.5” x 3”
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Box volume: 47 oz., Thermos volume: 8.5 oz.
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Materials: 18/8 304 grade stainless steel, food grade plastic & silicone
Pros:
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold
Easy open latch for kids
Deep bento sections
Cons:
Pretty heavy
Thermos lid can be tricky to close for younger kids
5. Lunchbots Large Cinco Bento Box
Best for putting in the dishwasher!
This has an awesome minimalist, sleek design. My favorite feature is that it is 100% dishwasher safe. I’ve had our lunchbots for over 5 years and they still look brand new! This bento box is not at all leakproof so you’ll want to use smaller leakproof containers to hold dips and sauces.
Product Specifications from Amazon:
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Weight: 1 lb.
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Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 1.75 inches
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Materials: Stainless Steel
Pros:
Dishwasher safe!
Easy to open and close
Cons:
Not leakproof
May pop open if dropped (there isn’t a locking latch on this box)
6. Sistema Bento Box
Best for the Budget
Image above from Amazon
This is such a great option that you can usually find in your local Walmart or Target. It’s a great way to get started with bento boxes for not a lot of investment. I love the dividers and the leakproof cup!
Product Specifications from Amazon:
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Weight: 0.67 lbs.
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Dimensions: 8.62 x 7.32 x 3.2 inches
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Capacity: 1.65 L
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Small container volume: 270 ml / 9 fl oz
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BPA-free, Phthalate-free.
Pros:
Affordable
Good size dividers
Cons:
Clear plastic may show food stains
7. Ozazuco Japanese Bento Box
Best for cute factor
My daughter loves this Japanese style bento box and it’s pretty affordable too. She loves the stacking feature and how each level is like a surprise. I found the layers to be quite shallow but it works all for smaller, bite sized food. However, my biggest gripe is that I have gone through two of these where the handles have broken off. It’s not the best quality and wears out quicker if you put it in the dishwasher. However, it is so stinking cute that I keep buying it.
Product Specifications from Amazon:
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Weight: 0.36 kg
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Dimensions: 7.87 x 1.97 x 3.54 inches
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Capacity: 2 lbs
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Materials: Plastic
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BPA-free
Pros:
Authentic Japanese Bento Vibes
Comes with cutlery and a carrying punchbag
Cons:
Doesn’t hold a large amount of food
Handles may break easily
8. Lunchbots Trio Bento Box
Best for Toddlers
This is just like the Lunchbots I talked about above but in a snack size! Make sure to take note of the different sizes for these because it will impact what kinds of meals you can fit in them. You can find them with two, three, four or even just one big section. I love this bento box for preschoolers and toddlers. They are indestructible and easy to open and close. Keep in mind that these are not leakproof!
Product Specifications from Amazon:
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Weight: 10 oz
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Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 1.75 inches
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Materials: Stainless Steel
Pros:
Dishwasher safe!
Easy to open and close
Cons:
Not leakproof
May pop open if dropped (there isn’t a locking latch on this box)
9. Tulipop Nestled Snack Containers
Best for Storage
I love when you share your bento box finds with me! A friend got these for her daughter and I just had to scoop them up for myself! I love that they nestle together for storage, saving tons of space. The bottoms are dishwasher safe and I just hand wash the lids. I use these for all kinds of meals and haven’t noticed any leaking from fruits.
Product Specifications from Amazon:
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3 Containers – Small, Medium and Large
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Weight: 7.1 oz
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Dimensions: 1.97 x 4.72 x 4.72 inches
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Small container dimensions: H12 x W12 x D5 cm
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Medium container dimensions: H10.5 x W10.5 x D4.5 cm
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Large container dimensions: H9 x W9 x D4 cm
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Materials: Food Safe PP and PE
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BPA-free, Phthalate-free.
Pros:
Stacks well for storage
Adorable designs
Cons:
Smaller capacity (but great for snacks!)
Needs a lunchbox to carry multiple boxes
So there you have it, friends! My top nine bento boxes because I just can’t pick one!
They’re all great for different reasons but if I had to pick one that I reach for most often for the kids, it would be the Yumbox Panino because I can pack charcuterie, sandwiches, onigiri and a variety of other meals in that one lunchbox. My kiddos are fine eating room temperature food but if they insisted on eating hot food only, I would pick the OmieBox! The one I reach for most often for myself is the OmieGo.
I hope this helps you find the best bento box that fits your needs and tastes! Have fun with your bentos!
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