Hi there, I’m Captain!
It’s time for my monthly ekiben (station bento box) review!
Every month I pick up a new bento box at Shin-Osaka Station and share my honest thoughts. This time, I found something a little different — let me introduce it!
Atticchi — Kobe Sukiyaki & Steak Beef Bento
This month I stopped by “Ekiben Nigiwai” (駅弁にぎわい), an ekiben shop inside the Shin-Osaka Station ticket gate. It’s been a while since I last visited, and as usual, there were so many options it was hard to choose. Since I had a connecting train to catch, I made a quick decision based on gut feeling.
My pick: the “Atticchi — Kobe Sukiyaki & Steak Beef Bento”!
The maker is Awajiya (淡路屋) — and the name rang a bell. I looked it up and sure enough, they’re the same company that made the JR Freight Container Bento I reviewed a while back! They produce a wide variety of ekiben, and I have a feeling I’ll be coming back to their boxes again.
What Makes This Bento Special — It Heats Itself!
The name “Atticchi” (あっちっち) is a fun Japanese expression that means “Ouch, it’s hot!” — and that name tells you everything you need to know about this bento.
This is a self-heating ekiben (加熱式駅弁) — a type of bento box that comes with a built-in heating mechanism. You simply pull a cord on the side of the box, and a chemical reaction inside generates steam, warming the food from below. No microwave needed — you can enjoy a genuinely hot meal right on the train.
Interestingly, when I looked into it, Awajiya was actually the first company in Japan to sell self-heating ekiben — so this box has some real history behind it.
Once you pull the cord, the box starts warming up almost immediately. The steam gets quite hot, so it’s best to set it aside and wait about 5 minutes before touching it. Patience is key!
Let’s Eat!
After waiting 5 minutes — time to open it up!
I started with the steak beef side. The meat was slightly on the firm side, but since it was piping hot, it didn’t bother me much. The rice was steaming hot too — and there’s nothing quite like genuinely warm rice in a bento box.
One thing I’ll note: the box itself looks quite large, but the bottom section is taken up by the heating unit, so the actual rice portion was a bit smaller than I expected. That was a little disappointing.
Then I moved on to the sukiyaki side — and wow, that was good!
For those unfamiliar: sukiyaki (すき焼き) is a classic Japanese hot pot dish — thinly sliced beef simmered in a sweet soy sauce broth, often with tofu, vegetables, and noodles. It’s rich, savory, and deeply comforting. Getting that flavor in a bento box, served hot, was a real treat.
Honestly, I could have eaten a whole bowl of that sukiyaki over rice. I finished the whole thing before I knew it.
Verdict
That’s my review of the Atticchi — Kobe Sukiyaki & Steak Beef Bento!
Price: ¥1,580 (tax included)
| Category | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Taste | ★★★☆☆ | The sukiyaki was excellent. The steak was a bit tougher than expected, which was slightly disappointing. |
| Satisfaction | ★★★☆☆ | The heating unit takes up space, so the rice portion felt a little small. Could have used a bit more. |
| Seasoning | ★★★★☆ | Both sides were well-seasoned, but the sukiyaki really stood out. |
| Ease of Eating | ★★★★★ | Despite the heat, it was easy to eat — I powered through it quickly! |
| Value for Money | ★★★★☆ | A little pricey for the portion, but the self-heating feature and the experience of eating a hot meal on the train makes it worthwhile. |
Total: 19 / 25 points
Self-heating ekiben are something I don’t come across very often, but I can see myself reaching for one again in the winter months. There’s something genuinely special about cracking open a steaming hot bento box on a cold train journey.
I’m also curious to explore what other self-heating ekiben are out there — especially more meat-based ones. Hot meat on a train? Yes please.
See you in the next ekiben review! 👋
➡ Check out my previous review: Sumibiyakiniku Tamura Beef Kalbi Bento Review
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