Bento (弁当) is Japanese for a single-portion takeout meal. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. Containers range from disposable mass producedd to hand crafted lacquer ware. While bentos are readily available at convenience stores and bento shops (弁当屋; Bento-ya) throughout Japan, it is still considered an essential skill of a Japanese housewife to prepare an appealing boxed lunch.
See also Japanese cuisine.