Hi, I’m Captain!
Welcome to my monthly ekiben (train station bento) review!
…Well, to be honest, I actually ate this one back in July 😅 Better late than never — let’s get into it!
Here’s what I picked up this time!
Table of Contents
- What is the Grilled Salmon Belly & Premium Ikura Sushi Bento?
- Ingredients & Nutrition
- What’s Inside?
- Taste Test!
- Final Verdict
What is the Grilled Salmon Belly & Premium Ikura Sushi Bento?
This time, I went with the “Aburi Salmon Harasu to Zeitaku Ikura no Sushi Ben” — which translates to “Grilled Salmon Belly & Premium Salmon Roe Sushi Bento” — by the SUSHI BENTO brand.
The label screaming “ZEITAKU (Luxurious) IKURA & SALMON HARASU” jumped right out at me. There was no way I was walking past this one! 😄
🍣 Quick Japanese Food Glossary for First-Timers
- Ekiben — A bento (boxed meal) sold at Japanese train stations, often featuring local specialties. A beloved part of Japanese travel culture!
- Ikura (イクラ) — Salmon roe (fish eggs), marinated in soy sauce. Bright red, plump, and bursting with rich, savory flavor.
- Harasu (ハラス) — The fatty belly portion of salmon. Similar to the “toro” of tuna sushi — the most prized, richest-tasting part.
- Aburi (炙り) — Lightly flame-seared, which brings out incredible aroma and caramelizes the fat.
- Sushi Bento — A bento centered around sushi rice (vinegared rice) topped with seafood.
The bento is made by Wakahiro Co., Ltd., based in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. Wakahiro is a long-established seafood food manufacturer located along the historic “Saba Kaidō” (Mackerel Road) — the ancient trade route that carried seafood from the Sea of Japan coast to Kyoto. Their specialty is premium salmon and salmon roe sourced from Hokkaido. That expertise, packed right into a bento box — how could I resist?
Ingredients & Nutrition
Here’s the product info from the label:
Grilled Salmon Belly & Premium Ikura Sushi Bento — Product Details
- Product Name: Aburi Salmon Harasu to Zeitaku Ikura no Sushi Ben
- Brand: SUSHI BENTO
- Manufacturer: Wakahiro Co., Ltd. (Obama City, Fukui Prefecture)
- Price: ¥1,695 (tax included)
- Calories: 578 kcal
- Protein: 26.1g ／ Fat: 17.2g ／ Carbohydrates: 79.0g
- Salt equivalent: 4.38g
The sushi rice uses Koshihikari rice from Fukui Prefecture — one of Japan’s most famous and beloved rice varieties, known for its natural sweetness and firm yet sticky texture. A Fukui-based maker using Fukui-grown rice. Now that’s commitment to local!
What’s Inside?
Time to open it up!
Whoa — a sea of bright red ikura stretching across the entire box!
The visual impact alone is incredible. Grilled salmon belly, flaked salmon, and soy-marinated ikura are packed tightly over a bed of sushi rice, with rolled egg (tamagoyaki) and soy-marinated komatsuna greens tucked to the side.
Contents at a Glance
- Sushi rice (Fukui Koshihikari)
- Flame-grilled salmon belly (the star of the show!)
- Flaked salmon
- Ikura (salmon roe) in soy marinade
- Thick rolled egg (tamagoyaki)
- Komatsuna greens in soy sauce
Simple, clean lineup — but the quality of each ingredient does all the talking. This is a bento that earns the word “zeitaku” (luxurious).
Taste Test!
Itadakimasu! (That’s “Let’s eat!” in Japanese 🍽️)
Flame-Grilled Salmon Belly (Harasu):
This is the undisputed MVP of the box. The grilling process gives the skin a beautifully fragrant char, while the fat in the belly is next-level. That richness melts into the sushi rice beneath it — the flavors just keep building with every bite. I literally said out loud: “This is insane.” 😋
Ikura (Salmon Roe):
The signature pop of each ikura bead, paired with the deep umami of the soy marinade — absolutely delicious. Honestly though? I wanted more. 😂 A bento that calls itself “Premium Ikura” had me hoping for a slightly more generous portion!
Flaked Salmon:
This plays the supporting role perfectly — spread across the sushi rice, it adds a quieter layer of salmon flavor that ties the whole dish together. The unsung hero.
Rolled Egg (Tamagoyaki) & Komatsuna Greens:
These palate-cleansers are essential. The richness of the salmon and roe can get intense, and the mild egg and refreshing bitterness of the greens reset the palate beautifully between bites.
⚠️ One tip for eating on the bullet train: The ikura and flaked salmon tend to roll around on the sushi rice, making it a bit tricky to eat neatly. If you can grab a spoon from the shop, definitely do — chopsticks alone made things a little messy! 😅
Final Verdict
That was the “Grilled Salmon Belly & Premium Ikura Sushi Bento” by SUSHI BENTO (Wakahiro). Here’s my personal scorecard:
・ Taste ★★★★☆ (4.0) ”The grilled salmon belly alone is worth it!”
・ Satisfaction ★★★½☆ (3.5) ”Filling enough, but could use a bit more volume”
・ Seasoning ★★★½☆ (3.5) ”Balanced — not too light, not too heavy”
・ Ease of Eating ★★★☆☆ (3.0) ”Ikura rolls around easily — bring a spoon!”
・ Value for Price ★★★☆☆ (3.0) ”¥1,695 is a little steep, but the quality justifies it”
Total: 17 points / 25
📍 Where to Buy
- Store: 車窓食堂 (Shasō Shokudō) — inside the Shinkansen (bullet train) gates at Shin-Osaka Station
- Shin-Osaka Station is the main Shinkansen hub in the Osaka area, connecting to Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and beyond.
- The store is located inside the Shinkansen ticket gates — you’ll need a valid Shinkansen ticket to access it.
- Note: The ¥1,695 price may have included a drink, as I misplaced my receipt. Please confirm the price in-store!
The quality of that flame-grilled salmon belly is something else — it genuinely exceeds what you’d expect from a train station bento. If you’re passing through Shin-Osaka on the Shinkansen, keep an eye out for this one!
See you in the next ekiben review! 👋
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