At Little Tokyo in Amsterdam, you can score an amazing authentic Japanese Bento Box
Oh, the beauty of Japanese cuisine… Nothing else really compares, does it? Take the Bento Box, for example—the classy lunch box that makes my heart skip a beat just by looking at it. At the brand-new Little Tokyo in Amsterdam, which opened today, you can buy an authentic Japanese Bento Box.
I don’t know if you’ve ever checked out the hilarious Instagram account Daily Dutch Lunch. It (painfully) makes clear just how tragic our Dutch lunch situation is. I wonder what they think of it in Japan. Probably completely shocked. Because a Japanese Bento Box is both beautiful to look at and incredibly delicious and healthy. At the new Little Tokyo, this box takes center stage.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo was founded by Japanese woman Kumiko Oda, who has recently moved to the Netherlands and is the mother of two sons. For Little Tokyo, she was inspired by chef Hiromitsu Nozaki of ‘WAKE TOKU’ in Hiroo, Tokyo, as well as by her father and mother, who showed her much of the world throughout her life. And now, in Amsterdam, we can catch a glimpse of the food culture of her Japan.
Bento Box
In Japan, these boxes are a regular part of daily life and are taken to work or school as a deluxe lunch box. They also come along on special occasions such as Hanami, the cherry blossom festival. The Bento Box is a complete meal served at Little Tokyo in a traditional cypress-wood box. It consists of steamed rice or rice balls, side dishes and a main ingredient, such as tofu steak or crispy deep-fried chicken.
Matcha & mochi
So with a Bento Box from Little Tokyo, you’re all set in one go, although it would be a shame to skip the Temari, Kyoto-style round sushi, and onigiri, which are freshly made every day. The seaweed-wrapped rice triangles are ideal as a snack and are available 24/7 in Japan. You can also try the finest organic matcha, lightly roasted green tea and Hojicha from Pilgrim Matcha. The homemade mochi ice cream comes in two flavors: Angry Ohmu with raspberry and Calm Ohmu with blueberry.
Shop
At Little Tokyo, you can buy more than just delicious Bento Boxes; you’ll also find chopsticks and all the traditional tools for making the perfect matcha at home, such as bowls and bamboo matcha whisks. And those beautiful boxes, handcrafted in Japan, are also available to buy at Little Tokyo.
Little Tokyo is open six days a week. You’ll find Little Tokyo at Singel 412 in Amsterdam. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
