One of our many favourite things about Japan is the range of high-quality bento boxes. There’s something very special about a selection of delicious Japanese dishes arranged neatly in a compartmented box that’s easily transportable.
Whether you’re looking for a takeaway to eat at your desk or a fine-dining version for a special occasion, Canberra has an abundance of Japanese restaurants so there’s a good variety to choose from. We’ve rounded up some of the best places that offer bento boxes in the nation’s capital.
Lilotang
1 Burbury Close, Barton
Located in Barton, Lilotang bring a unique style of modern Japanese cuisine to Canberra. They have a selection of ramen, raw dishes, robata charcoal grill and more. A larger menu is available for dinner and you can choose from four different bento boxes for lunch. They range in price from $24-26 if you dine in, or choose their Bento Express lunch that includes miso, tempura and sake for only $30. If you want to grab a bento box to go, prices start from $20. They even have a vegan and gluten free bento boxes available. Visit their website to find out more.
Bento Tei
Gungahlin and Braddon
Bento Tei’s bento boxes start from $17 and include a good range of Japanese bites including tempura, takoyaki, wakame, potato salad and more. You can choose a bento set if you want some extra sides and they even have a $10 kids bento box with a super cute bear made from rice. Bento Tei is a good casual dining option if you’re looking for a cheaper bento box. Find out more about the Gungahlin store on Facebook or order from their Braddon store on DoorDash or Menulog.
Izumi
34 Marcus Clarke St, CBD
Izumi is a small casual restaurant dishing up a selection of Japanese and Korean dishes. Their bento boxes have a Korean influence with mung bean noodles, bulgogi beef, tempura and more. Prices start from $17.90 if you order delivery or pick up from online delivery platforms, or dine in to see the full menu.
Iori Japanese Restaurant
41 E Row, Sydney Building, CBD
Iori is a popular traditional Japanese restaurant in the heart of Canberra and it’s been operating since 2001. Staff are dressed in traditional Japanese outfits and you can expect refined traditional dishes. They even have Japanese style seating (cushions on the floor around a small table) if you want the full experience. It looks like they’re currently open for dinner only but they do have bento boxes available for dinner.
Expect to pay a higher price at Iori but we think it’s worth it for the high-quality food and unique experience. Dining at Iori feels like you could be in a traditional restaurant somewhere in Japan. You can see the sushi chefs working their magic if you’re seated near the sushi bar. Visit their website to see the menu or find them on Facebook for special offers.
Yori Fusion Bento
Kambri, The Australian National University
Yori aims to raise the bar of traditional bento and their fusion and non-traditional bento combines a selection of sides and mains dished up in a bowl when dining in, or a box when you order takeaway. But is it a bento box if it’s served in a bowl? We’ll let you decide for yourself.
Build your own or choose from their sweet and spicy tofu, grilled unagi and more. If you don’t want something else, you might want to try their katsu sandos or the cheese bomb – a slab of deep-fried mozzarella cheese and sweet corn. Visit their website to find out more.
Kan Sushi and Poke
3/221 London Cct, CBD
Kan Sushi and Poke is a popular casual restaurant dishing up a range of sushi and other Japanese dishes. They have a small indoor and outdoor dining area so you might want to grab your food to go. It’s a short walk or drive to the lake so a Japanese picnic might be a good idea, or stop in for a quick bite to eat before you see a show at The Canberra Theatre. They open from 11am until 8pm so if you’re craving Japanese food at 3pm, you know where to go. If you order a bento box it will come with sushi, tempura prawns, gyoza, salad and miso soup. Visit their Facebook page for more info.
Taki Restaurant
FG16, 148 Bunda St, Canberra Centre
Taki Restaurant recently opened in the new Tiger Lane dining precinct at the Canberra Centre. They’re dishing up Shabu Shabu (Japanese hotpot with meat and vegetables) and Yakiniku (grilled meat) but they’ve just introduced bento box set lunch specials. Prices and options might vary but the price is currently $25 for a set that includes main of your choice, tempura vegetables, salad, rice and miso soup. Their bento box set is available for lunch from 12-3pm, 7 days a week. Visit their website to find out more.
Kagawa Japanese Cuisine
4/55 Woolley St, Dickson
Kagawa is one of our favourite Japanese restaurants for cheap eats in Canberra. It’s small with traditional decor and it feels like you’re in a little izakaya in Japan. We’ve often ordered a selection of dishes for two people and a beer each for $70. Service can be a little slow because they do get busy but we don’t mind because we think the food and experience is worth it for the price. Their bento boxes include tempura, sashimi, tonkatsu and more. Visit their restaurant or find them on delivery platforms online.
Kokoro
46 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin
If you order a bento box at Kokoro it will be served with sashimi, sushi, nigiri, rice and miso soup. Choose from Agedashi (pronounced ah-gah dah-she) tofu, chicken katsu, teriyaki salmon, unagi and more for your main. It’s been a while since we ventured to Kokoro but it’s a bigger restaurant and a good option if you’re looking for Japanese food in Gungahlin. You can order from Uber Eats or visit the restaurant to view their dine in menu.
Ogawa
Shop 102/54 Ernest Cavanagh St, Gungahlin
Ogawa is another great option if you’re looking for Japanese food in Gungahlin. It’s a small restaurant with a big menu featuring a range of fresh and flavoursome Japanese dishes. If you want a bento box you can choose from their teriyaki chicken with a selection of sides or their vegetarian bento with a vegan option available. They also have a selection of lunch specials that come with rice and miso soup. Visit their website to find out more.
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.