Top 10 Must-Try Ekiben at Tokyo Station Gransta | Best Bento Boxes for Your Journey

About 4 min read

Bento boxes sold to train passengers—commonly known as **“ekiben”**—are a uniquely Japanese cultural tradition that has also attracted attention from around the world. Among them, **Tokyo Station**, which serves as a major transportation hub, offers a wide variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese-style bentos, making it an increasingly lively destination in recent years. In this article, we present the **Top 10 Ekiben at Gransta Tokyo**, as selected by **614 staff members working inside Tokyo Station**!

【Advised by】Gransta Tokyo

『専門店で聞いた本当においしい食べ方』 Goodie-Foodie編集部著／彩図社刊（発売中）

Table of Contents

1 1st Place: Date no Gyutan Honpo’s Gyutan Bento with Yuzu Pepper Flavor
2 2nd Place: Aubergine’s Meat Mix Curry Type B
3 3rd Place: Tonkatsu Maisen’s Three-Story Tokyo Station Marunouchi Bento
4 4th Place: Asakusa IMAHAN’s Gransta Tokyo Sukiyaki Bento
5 5th Place: Tsubame Grill’s Tsubame-Style Hamburg Steak Bento
6 6th Place: Mameda’s Gransta-Exclusive Assorted 5 Inari Sushi Set
7 7th Place: Izasa Chaya’s Red Brick Roast Beef Sushi
8 8th Place: Niku Oroshi Kojima’s Yamagata “Yukiburi Wagyu Obanazawa” Sirloin & Ribeye Steak Bento
9 9th Place: Hake Joyu Nori-ben Yamanobori’s “Nori-ben Hizakurige”
10 10th Place: TOUBEI’s “Ocean Three-Color Cup”

1st Place: Date no Gyutan Honpo’s Gyutan Bento with Yuzu Pepper Flavor

The specialty beef tongue restaurant from Sendai, Date no Gyutan Honpo, offers this “Gyutan Bento with Yuzu Pepper Flavor.” Thick slices of beef tongue, about 1 cm thick, are seasoned with refreshing yuzu pepper for a satisfying yet light taste that’s loved by all generations. The bento also includes beef tongue simmered in soy sauce, shiso rolls, and nanban miso pickles—letting you enjoy the full range of Miyagi’s local flavors.

【Price (tax included)】2,020 yen
【Shop】Date no Gyutan Honpo (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

2nd Place: Aubergine’s Meat Mix Curry Type B

Aubergine, a popular European-style curry restaurant, is well-known as a favorite among TV personalities for their on-location lunch boxes. The Tokyo Station–exclusive “Meat Mix Curry Type B” features three types of meat—beef, pork, and chicken—simmered for 10 hours until tender. The richly spiced curry sauce perfectly complements the melt-in-your-mouth meat. Enjoy it together with the whole potato and perilla seeds served on the side.

【Price (tax included)】1,696 yen
【Shop】Aubergine (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

3rd Place: Tonkatsu Maisen’s Three-Story Tokyo Station Marunouchi Bento

The “Three-Story Tokyo Station Marunouchi Bento” from the famous tonkatsu restaurant Maisen includes three popular items: the signature fillet cutlet sandwich, a flavorful katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl), and minced meat over rice. Packed into three separate layers, it’s perfect for sharing or enjoying all by yourself. The exclusive Tokyo Station packaging adds a special touch to the experience.

【Price (tax included)】1,250 yen
【Shop】Tonkatsu Maisen (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

4th Place: Asakusa IMAHAN’s Gransta Tokyo Sukiyaki Bento

Founded in 1895, the long-established wagyu specialty restaurant Asakusa IMAHAN offers the popular “Gransta Tokyo Sukiyaki Bento.” The domestic black wagyu, simmered in a secret warishita sauce, is tender, juicy, and packed with umami flavor. It’s also known for tasting delicious even when cold, making it a hit among both locals and international visitors seeking an authentic Japanese culinary experience.

【Price (tax included)】2,592 yen
【Shop】Asakusa IMAHAN (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

5th Place: Tsubame Grill’s Tsubame-Style Hamburg Steak Bento

The restaurant Tsubame Grill brings its most popular dish—the “Tsubame-Style Hamburg Steak”—to the station bento world. Each hamburger patty is handmade from freshly ground meat at the attached kitchen and carefully grilled. The juicy, meaty steak is topped with homemade beef stew sauce, making it a perfect match with rice. A hearty and satisfying choice for those with a big appetite.

【Price (tax included)】1,980 yen
【Shop】Tsubame Grill Ekiben (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

6th Place: Mameda’s Gransta-Exclusive Assorted 5 Inari Sushi Set

The inari sushi specialty store Mameda offers this Gransta-exclusive set of five assorted inari. It includes the classic Mameda, along with wasabi, gomoku (mixed vegetables), anago (eel), and Tokyo Station–exclusive tuna simmered in soy sauce. The anago and tuna inari feature a brick pattern branding, symbolizing Tokyo Station. The juicy fried tofu skin makes it irresistibly delicious—an ekiben worth picking up.

【Price (tax included)】979 yen
【Shop】Mameda (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

7th Place: Izasa Chaya’s Red Brick Roast Beef Sushi

The “Red Brick Roast Beef Sushi” from Izasa Chaya is inspired by the red brick facade of Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building. This bento rivals the shop’s signature kakinoha (persimmon leaf) sushi in popularity. The low-temperature cooked roast beef is tender and flavorful, wrapped around vinegared rice. It’s delicious as-is, but you can also dip it in egg yolk sauce for a sukiyaki-style twist.

【Price (tax included)】1,540 yen
【Shop】Izasa Chaya (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

8th Place: Niku Oroshi Kojima’s Yamagata “Yukiburi Wagyu Obanazawa” Sirloin & Ribeye Steak Bento

Niku Oroshi Kojima offers this luxurious bento featuring Yamagata’s premium “Yukiburi Wagyu Obanazawa.” The high-quality marbled fat of the wagyu melts delicately, releasing rich umami and sweetness in every bite. The steak is topped with a mildly sweet sauce specially crafted to complement wagyu. The side vegetables add a refreshing crunch that balances the dish perfectly.

【Price (tax included)】From 3,650 yen (100g)
【Shop】Niku Oroshi Kojima (1F Inside Ticket Gate, Central Passage Area)

9th Place: Hake Joyu Nori-ben Yamanobori’s “Nori-ben Hizakurige”

The “Nori-ben Hizakurige” from seaweed bento specialist Hake Joyu Nori-ben Yamanobori is a popular choice. The rice balls wrapped with top-grade Ariake seaweed release a rich aroma with every bite. It also includes classics like fried chicken, simmered egg, and seaweed tempura. Its compact size and moderate portion make it ideal for enjoying comfortably on the train.

【Price (tax included)】1,380 yen
【Shop】Hake Joyu Nori-ben Yamanobori (B1 Inside Ticket Gate, Square Zero Area)

10th Place: TOUBEI’s “Ocean Three-Color Cup”

Produced by seafood delicatessen brand Ajino Hamatou, TOUBEI offers this best-selling seafood rice bowl bento. It features three luxurious toppings—salmon roe, boiled whitebait, and tuna—making it both visually appealing and delicious. With its slightly smaller size, it’s perfect for children, seniors, or anyone looking for a light yet satisfying meal.

【Price (tax included)】750 yen
【Shop】TOUBEI (1F Inside Ticket Gate, Central Passage Area)

Tokyo Station is lined with such a dazzling array of bento boxes that it can be hard to choose just one. When in doubt, these ten exclusive Gransta Tokyo selections make the perfect travel companions for your journey.

【Advised by】Gransta Tokyo

An in-station shopping area that stretches from the first floor down to the basement level of Tokyo Station. It features a wide variety of shops offering gourmet food, daily goods, and souvenirs. Under the concept of **“TRY NEW TOKYO ST.”**, Gransta Tokyo brings together long-established brands, famous restaurants, and trendy new stores. With many Tokyo Station–exclusive bento boxes and souvenirs, it’s a must-visit spot for travelers.