Bentgo Lunch Box - Review 2023

Durable. Stackable. Affordable.

The Bentgo lunch box is a prime example of a practical bento set. It’s got both good quality and great design.

And if you damage yours on the way to work or by dropping your bag, you can avail yourself of Bentgo’s 2-year warranty.

Even though the Bentgo Lunch Box is “leakproof” on paper, it won’t hold liquid in it without some seepage. Even the top compartment’s divider can’t hold liquid in place. Meaning your sauce will still spill onto your grapes.

Cleaning this Japanese food container is straightforward. Everything except the lid, the divider, and the elastic strap go straight into the dishwasher.

You can have a Bentgo lunch box in your collection for around $15. It might be the ideal bento box, and its low price doesn’t mean low quality.

Similar to the Bentgo Kids Lunch Box, this classic bento container has excellent quality all around. The organization is typical of a great bento box that can take dumplings and sushi.

The only drawback is the cutlery. While complete and functional–the knife even cuts–the set of three feels slightly flimsy in the hands. Not a deal-breaker, but compared to the Umami box, with its bamboo cutlery, there’s a bit of a cheap feel to them. But the Umami also costs three times as much, so considering that, there’s not much to complain about.

Construction and Design

Most of the bento boxes we tested from Bentgo proved durable, and this one is no exception. Made using food-grade and chemical-free ABS, PP, LDPE, and silicone, you don’t need to stress whether you’re harming yourself with every mouthful you take. And with its robustness, dropping your Bentgo Lunch Box won’t send you into panic mode as glass alternatives would. You can have yours in Blue, Blush Marble, Coastal Aqua, Gray, Green, Khaki Green, Purple, and Slate.

This bento box has the lid and top and bottom compartments stacked together. In the rig, there’s a special compartment in between dedicated to the cutlery set that the Bentgo Lunch Box comes with.

The design is not the most practical, but each bento box falls quickly into place. The bottom container is also larger, so it catches the top. Kept together by an elastic band, it’s not as secure as clasps.

Insulation

No double-wall insulation in the Bentgo Lunch Box. You can’t keep food cold, and there’s no way for hot food to remain hot. For those rainy days when you’re in the mood to bring some gumbo to work, Dacool and Thermos King are reliable leakproof insulated models. Alternatively, you can also utilize them to keep your veggies and fruit slices fresh for a longer time.

Capacity

With 2 200 mL compartments in the top box and 750 mL at the bottom, you can enjoy enough lunch to energize you for the rest of the day. That’s roughly 3.5 cups in total.

However, there are some complaints that the Bentgo Lunch Box turned out to be smaller than expected. It might not be your bento box if you have a big appetite.

Now, remember that this Bentgo box is in no way leakproof. You won’t be able to add liquids, or you’ll have spills inside your bag. If you want to ensure your pasta sauce doesn’t make a mess, keep it light and ensure that your Bentgo stays upright. Its stainless steel sibling with a leakproof lid and a pressure-release valve may be a better option. For dry food, you won’t have a problem separating them. Keep your sandwich in one, some fruit slices in the other, and maybe some veggie salad at the bottom.

We also appreciate that you can use just one of the two compartments. Just place the band horizontally so it tightly secures the lid. A little note, though, you’ll need to keep the cutlery set separately.

Whether you stack up two compartments together or just carry one, going out with Bentgo Lunch Box makes it easy to grab bites and refuel.

Ease of Use

Not for kids and clumsy adults. Keeping it secure and preventing spills requires some conscious effort. We recommend bento boxes with clasp openings and leakproof ones like the Bentgo Kids Lunch Box for your children and the Freshmage Stainless Steel for the young at heart on the go.

The cutlery set could’ve been a plus if they had used sturdy materials like stainless steel. They look cute since the colors match with the Bentgo, but they’re flimsy to use and might be too small for some adults.

Stacking up the two compartments is seemless. The bottom one is bigger, so it holds the top without hassle. Still, you must be mindful of the strap and double-check to ensure it won’t slip. Otherwise, your meal will leave chaos inside your backpack, and you’ll end up with no lunch. And if you ever lose the band, you’ll render your Bentgo useless.

You won’t have a problem with this option if you like investing your attention in whatever you do, even during office breaks. But if you’re always rushing and somehow ham-handed, you might want to check out other bento boxes first.

Came home with some leftovers? No problem. Toss the tray inside your microwave for effortless reheating. However, this has a couple of limitations (we’ll discuss that in a second). The Bentgo Lunch Box is also ok to go inside your freezer.

Ease of Care

Like its little sibling the Bentgo Kids Lunch Box, you can put the tray in your dishwasher. However, since the lid, divider, and strap needs manual cleaning, you might as well do the same for the tray. This way, you can keep the entire bento box in its best condition.

Remember, you can use this Bentgo to reheat food in the microwave, but the temperature shouldn’t be over 120oC. Don’t let it stay inside for more than 2-3 minutes.

Price/Quality Ratio

At around $15, this stackable Bentgo box offers versatility in portion sizing with a solid and chemical-free build. Depending on your appetite, you can use both compartments at once or simply opt for a single. Fill it with 1150 mL of food or cut it down to 400mL or 750 mL.

On the downside, it’s not leakproof, and the band design is not the most practical. You’ll have to keep it upright all the time and never lose the strap. The Bentgo Lunch Box also comes with a plastic cutlery set. They feel a bit flimsy and small for adult use.

This Bentgo is not an all-in-one solution. But for its durability and the option to carry two or one bento box at a time, it’s a reasonably-priced lunch box.