Food — December 24, 2009 2:00 — View Comments Written by: Jan

Hawaii Eats: The Bento

HawaiiEats

Imagine that you are a first generation Japanese plantation worker in Hawaii, and the year is 1885. You cover up from head to toe in an effort to shield yourself from the harsh sun and from the prickly pineapple crowns and thorny leaves. The work is grueling and you need every ounce of energy you can get in order to make it through the long, sweltering-hot days. Lunchtime offers a brief respite from your backbreaking work. You and your fellow laborers—from the Philippines, China, Portugal and beyond—stop to unpack and enjoy lunch; rice with perhaps some left over meat from the night before. This is the history of the bento in Hawaii, a beloved food-to-go standard that has become a Hawaii Tradition.

Photo credit: CityMama on Flickr

Today’s version of the bento is decidedly grander than its humble beginnings. Yet certain things remain consistent. The bento traditionally features white short grained sticky rice, a portion of protein (fried chicken, SPAM™, fish or teriyaki beef), and possibly a slice of takuan or some other small serving of a pickled vegetable, sometimes served up in a foil cupcake liner to keep it separate from the rice. Plate the entire meal in a plastic container with a clear lid, throw in a spiky, plastic green piece of ‘grass’ for presentation (not edible) and tuck a napkin wrapped hashi (chop stick) under the lip of the lid, secure it all with a rubber band and there you have it; Hawaii’s version of the historic, mouthwatering bento.

Closely tied to another local favorite—the plate lunch—the bento is the Japanese plantation workers’ contribution to our multi-ethnic food tradition here in Hawaii. No matter what ethnic group you belong to, no matter if you are kamaaina (person living in Hawaii) or visiting our islands for the first or tenth time, the bento is a must try, Hawaii Tradition.

Here are some of my favorites:
Bento-ya Iyasume
611 Kapahulu Ave., #103-B
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 735-3530

Okata Bento
3616 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-6063

Ted’s Bakery
59-024 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 638-8207

Zippy’s (Surf Pac and Zip Pac)
Various Locations on Oahu, Maui

Where are your favorite bento places in Hawaii? Share them here!

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