Hello.
An ekiben where you can easily enjoy the taste of Japan.
Many bento boxes are sold in Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto).
As a Japanese person, I have tried seven particularly popular items.
In this blog, I will introduce my review and recommended products with photos.
Review
Omi Beef Sukiyaki Bento
The first is the Omi Beef Sukiyaki Bento.
It is a product of Nanyoken, which has a shop in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture.
The place where I bought it is “Ekiben Nigiwai” at Shin-Osaka Station.
I will carry it in a shopping bag like this.
Purchase date is March 2023.
The price is 1,380 yen including tax. ※2023.3
On the side of the case, there are raw materials and nutritional information.
The calorie per lunch box is 643㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 22.5cm x 14cm x 5cm.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
Sukiyaki rice, simmered dish, and pickles are placed in a container divided into 3 squares.
The meat is topped with a hot spring egg.
Boiled onion is a sweet and salty dish.
“Green onion” is also included.
Besides sukiyaki, there are 4 simmered dishes.
“Boiled grilled tofu”, “boiled konnyaku”, “boiled shiitake mushrooms” and “boiled carrots” are included.
There are two types of pickles.
“Cucumber pickles” and “Yuzu radish”.
When you crack the hot spring egg, the yolk comes out from inside.
The rice is covered with a lot of sauce, and it goes well with the hot spring eggs.
It’s very delicious even when it’s cold.
The meat is very soft, and the umami and sweetness spread in your mouth.
Onions and green onions have a sweet and salty taste.
Recommended for those who like beef.
Kanimeshi two-tiered box
The second is the “Kanimeshi two-tiered box”.
This is an Awajiya product.
It is a company headquartered in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, which is famous for “Hippari octopus rice”.
This is a bento box divided into two tiers.
Purchase date is March 2023.
The price is 1,200 yen including tax. ※2023.3
On the side of the case, there are raw materials and nutritional information.
The calorie per lunch box is 576㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 13.5cm x 13.5cm x 9.5cm.
A plastic bento box that can be used even after eating.
When eating on the Shinkansen, it may be difficult to dispose of the food inside the train or in the trash bin at the station.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
Crab rice is in the lower red box, and side dishes are in the upper black box.
Accompanying the crab rice are two pieces of crab with claws and pickled daikon radish.
In addition, it contains plenty of crab meat.
The rice is not white rice, but soy sauce-flavored rice.
The amount is not so much, but anyway there are plenty of crabs.
On the other hand, this is a side dish.
A bento box divided into 4 squares contains meat, fish, and simmered vegetables.
These are boiled lotus roots, boiled taro, boiled shiitake mushrooms, boiled carrots, and boiled silk pods.
This is “simmered thread konnyaku”, “simmered beef”, “boiled green pepper”, and “boiled green peas”.
And “Ganmodoki-ni”, “Sweet potato simmered” and “Shibazuke”.
In addition, “egg roll”, “grilled salmon”, and “boiled white flower beans” are included.
Luxurious bento box with plenty of loosened crab meat.
There is no fried food in this ekiben, so it’s a light and healthy ekiben overall.
A bento box that you hesitated to throw away.
It’s still in the corner of our kitchen.
Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen
The third is “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen”.
This is also a product of Awajiya.
Purchase date is September 2022.
The price is 1,100 yen including tax.※2022.9
From the side of the box to the back, a sticker with raw materials, nutritional ingredients, etc. is affixed.
The calorie per lunch box is 734㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 22cm x 22cm x 4cm.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
There are a lot of side dishes in the box divided into five.
This is “red rice” with sweetened chestnuts.
“Soy sauce-flavored rice” served with simmered octopus.
Next, “Atsuage Tofu”, “Beef”, “Thread Konjac”, “Burdock”, and “Boiled Green Beans”.
And “ganmodoki”, “pumpkin”, “taro”, “lotus root”, “carrot”, “konjac”, “shiitake mushroom” and “shrimp”.
In addition, there are 7 Kansai-style side dishes in the middle.
Osaka specialties “Takoyaki” and “Pork and onion skewers”.
Hyogo’s specialty, “Ikanago”.
Next to it, there are “egg roll”, “kamaboko”, “grilled salmon”, and “boiled white flower beans”.
In the corner of the box was “pickled radish”.
And the contents of this small bag is sauce.
And the contents of this small bag is sauce.
“Soy sauce rice” looks brown, but the taste is not salty.
“Tamagoyaki” is not sweet, “Dashi roll”.
The simmered food had a solid taste, except for thick fried '' and green beans ”.
There are many side dishes, but there is not much rice, so it may not be enough for those who want to eat a lot.
Recommended for those who want to eat many kinds of food little by little.
Tabi no Makunouchi
The fourth is “Tabi no Makunouchi”.
This is also a product of Awajiya.
Purchase date is October 2022.
The price is 950 yen including tax.※2022.10
Raw material names, manufacturers, etc. are written on the side of the box.
The calorie per lunch box is 757㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 22cm x 22cm x 4cm.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
A lot of rice and side dishes are contained in a bento box divided into 9 sections.
These are shibazuke and sweet beans.
“Chicken meatballs” and “Nanohana pickled in soy sauce”.
And “white rice” and “umeboshi”.
Next is simmered beef, simmered burdock, and simmered thread konnyaku.
This is “red rice” with sweetened chestnuts.
Next is simmered dish.
“Vermicelli simmered in purse”, “pumpkin boiled” and “carrot boiled” are included.
There are 3 types of fried foods.
They are “fried green pepper”, “fried shrimp wrapped” and “sweet potato tempura”.
Next, “egg roll”, “kamaboko” and “grilled salmon”.
Lastly, “soy sauce flavored rice”.
“Boiled octopus” is on top of the rice.
“Chicken meatballs” are soft, and “Nanohana” is a strong seasoning.
“Umeboshi” is bonito flavor.
The simmered vegetables have a firm texture.
“Boiled beef” seems to have a strong taste at first glance, but it is easy to eat.
“Soy sauce-flavored rice” looks brown, but the taste is not strong.
“Tamagoyaki” was not sweet and was “dashi roll”.
Each one has an elegant flavor.
There are many items, and it is more satisfying to eat than “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen”.
Comprehensively considering the contents, taste, and price, it is a bento with high cost performance.
Okame Bento
The fifth is the Okame Bento.
This is a product of Maneki Foods in Hyogo Prefecture.
The shop is also famous for Manekino Ekisoba, which is popular as Himeji’s soul food.
This bento is named after the Okame of “Okame Hachimoku” because it is topped with various side dishes.
Purchase date is November 2022.
The price is 980 yen including tax.※2022.11
Ingredients and nutritional information are printed on the side of the lid.
The calorie per lunch box is 714㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 19.5cm x 15.5cm x 5cm.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
Rice flavored with dashi is topped with many ingredients.
The toppings are “pickled wild vegetables in soy sauce,” “boiled shiitake mushrooms,” and “boiled octopus.”
“Kinshi-tamago,” “edamame,” and “clams boiled in soy.”
“Shimeji simmered” “sweet chestnut” “beef burdock” “minced chicken”
“Boiled bamboo shoots” “shrimp” “chopped conger eel”
And plenty of “chopped pickled ginger” is also included.
The rice has a light color, but the soup stock has a slight taste.
It has a modest flavor that complements the toppings.
The topping ingredients are generally sweet and salty.
It goes well with lightly seasoned rice.
The taste is different depending on the place, and it is a very fun lunch box.
It is a satisfying lunch box with plenty of ingredients.
Aki no Irodori Bento
The sixth is the “Aki(autumn) no Irodori Bento”.
This is also a product of Awajiya, and it is a series that changes depending on the season.
By the way, from 5/10, “Natsu(summer) no Irodori Bento” has appeared.
Purchase date is November 2022.
The price is 1,150 yen including tax.※2022.11時点
From the side to the back of the box, a sticker with raw materials, nutritional ingredients, etc. is affixed.
The calorie per lunch box is 815㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
The size of the box is about 18cm x 18cm x 4cm.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
A colorful bento box divided into 9 pieces.
The contents are “Takikomi gohan” with fu boiled in the shape of autumn leaves.
Soy sauce flavored rice with sweet potato.
Side dishes include dashi rolled egg, kamaboko, kelp roll, grilled salmon, and pickled ginger.
Boiled Vermicelli Purse, Boiled Taro, Boiled Shrimp, Boiled Kinusaya.
And 3 fried foods.
“Sweet potato heaven” “Shishito heaven” “Shrimp heaven” is included.
This is “rice with chestnuts”.
And “beef boiled”, “thread konnyaku boiled” and “boiled green peas”.
This is the dessert “Walnut sweet boiled” and “Mochi with bean paste”.
Next to that, “kinpira renkon”, “komatsuna dipped”, “sanma sansho”.
The last dish is “sekihan,” which is served with carrots in the shape of autumn leaves.
The dessert “Mochi with bean paste” is shaped like a cute persimmon. (doesn’t taste like persimmon)
There was white bean paste inside.
A bento packed with autumn flavors.
The seasonal sweet potato was sweet and delicious.
Every side dish is elegant with gentle seasoning.
It is a bento that is fun to look at and eat, with a sense of the season in every detail.
Boiled walnuts were moderately sweet, but it is also a good point that two kinds of sweets are included.
Winter, spring, summer, and other seasonal flavors are also interesting in this series.
Rokkosan Juso Bento
The seventh is the “Rokkosan Juso Bento(Rokko mountain traversing bento)”.
This is also a product of Awajiya.
Purchase date is April 2021.
The price is 720 yen including tax.※2022.7
The box is wrapped with paper on which raw materials, nutritional ingredients, etc. are written.
The calorie per lunch box is 488㎉.
The expiration date was 24:00 on the day of purchase.
Rokko mountain traverse lunch box made with the image of a lunch box eaten in beautiful greenery and a refreshing breeze.
When you open the lunch box, it looks like this.
It comes in a bamboo skin-like package.
It is a compact bento box divided into 3 parts.
The side dishes are “simmered chicken”, “simmered kelp”, “kamaboko”, “simmered beef”, “simmered thread konjac”, “simmered carrot”, and “boiled silk pod”.
Next to that, “Dashi rolled egg” “grilled salmon” “burdock boiled” “octopus boiled” “Ikanago”.
In addition, “Barley Rice Rice Ball”, “Ten Grain Rice Rice Ball”, and “Narazuke” are included.
“Ikanago” is a favorite flavor of Kansai people.
Although it looks compact, the rice ball is quite filling.
Considering the balance of the contents and the price, the cost performance is quite high.
It is a bento box that you can feel Japaneseness such as onigiri in a package like bamboo skin.
My best bento
I’ve eaten seven types of ekiben so far, and each one has its own flavor.
Among them, I especially recommend these three bento boxes.
- Aki no Irodori Bento
- Omi Beef Sukiyaki Bento
- Rokkosan Juso Bento
The first is the “Aki（Seasonal） no Irodori Bento”.
The reasons are “large number of items”, “seasonal feeling” and “beauty of appearance”.
Boiled foods, deep-fried foods, meat, fish, vegetables, desserts, and a well-balanced menu are attractive.
By the way, the “Natsu no Irodori Bento” includes “Boiled octopus” and “Conger eel rice”, so you can enjoy the taste of Kansai.
The second is the “Omi Beef Sukiyaki Bento”.
Even I, who usually doesn’t like beef, was impressed by this bento.
The combination of Omi beef slowly simmered in a secret sauce and hot spring egg is exquisite!
The meat is moist and tender even when eaten cold.
The third is the “Rokkosan Juso Bento”.
Awajiya also has stores in department stores in Kansai.
This bento is often bought for lunch and dinner.
Although it is compact, it contains “octopus boiled” “Ikanago”, and has a familiar taste for people in the Kansai region.
In addition to the well-balanced content, the high cost performance is also one of the attractions.
Shop ranking
What are the most popular ekiben?
Here, I would like to introduce the ranking of each Kansai station, Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station, and Kyoto Station.
Shin-Osaka Station Ekiben Nigiwai
This is “Tabi Bento Ekiben Nigiwai (Alde Shin-Osaka)” on the 2nd floor of Shin-Osaka Station.
There are mainly four ekiben shops at Shin-Osaka Station, but this one has a popularity ranking.
March 2023 ranking of Ekiben Nigiwai (Arde Shin-Osaka).
The No. 1 popular item is the “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen”.
The No. 2 popular item is the“Kanimeshi two-tiered box”.
The No. 3 popular item is the Omi Sukiyaki Bento.
The 4th most popular item is the broiled Matsuzaka beef with tare sauce bento.
And the 5th most popular item was the “Beef Tongue Bowl Bento (Shio Flavor)”.
Osaka Station Ekiben Tabi Bento
Next is “Tabi Bento Osaka” at Osaka Station.
The location is Platform 11 inside JR Osaka Station.
It is located at the platform where Thunderbirds in Fukui, Kanazawa, and Toyama areas enter and exit.
Tabi Bento Osaka’s popularity ranking for March 2023.
The first place is “Tabi no Makunouchi”.
The second place was “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen”.
Kyoto Station Ekiben Nigiwai
Last but not least, “Ekiben Nigiwai Kyoto” at Kyoto Station.
The location is the north-south free passage on the 2nd floor of JR Kyoto Station.
Exit the JR West Exit ticket gate and it is immediately on your left.
Ekiben Nigiwai Kyoto’s December 2022 popularity ranking.
The first place is “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen”.
The second place was “Tabi no Makunouchi”.
Summary
Osaka and Kyoto.
Although they are located far away from each other, the most popular items in common were the “Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen” and the “Tabi no Makunouchi Bento”.
【Shin-Osaka popularity ranking】
1st Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen
2nd Kanimeshi two-box
3rd Omi Beef Sukiyaki Bento
4th Broiled Matsuzaka beef bento box
5th Beef tongue bowl bento (salt flavor)
【Osaka Popularity Ranking】
1st Tabi no Makunouchi
2nd Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen
【Kyoto popularity ranking】
1st Tabi no Nigiwai Gozen
2nd Tabi no Makunouchi
※The ranking and photos of Shin-Osaka Station and Osaka Station are from March 2023.
※The ranking and photos of Kyoto Station are as of December 2022.
Thank you for reading to the end.
I hope you have a wonderful trip.
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