There is something every comforting about eating a Taiwanese Railway Bento box, with different combinations of side dishes brought together into one hearty, varied and tasty box. You also get reminded of the warmth and sincerity of the Taiwanese people.

These meal boxes first made its way to Taiwan during the first half of the 20th century from Japan, commonly sold in Taiwan’s railway station and train cabins. They are thus packed with balanced nutritious ingredients, and usually drier to endure long train journeys.

While there are many Taiwanese street food kiosks found in Singapore, not many sell the traditional bento boxes. Then I found a shop specialising Taiwanese bentos at Kallang Ave CT Hub, a short distance away from Lavender and café hotspot Jalan Besar (another branch at International Plaza). Hidden find!

Varieties over at Taiwan Railway Bento include Traditional Pork Rib, Red Yeast Pork, Stewed Pork Belly, Fried Chicken Cutlet, Fried Fish Bento (all $6.80) and Braised Minced Meal Bento ($4.80).

Like Taiwanese counterparts, this new shop is full of genuineness when it comes to cooking and packing the boxes.

The kitchen staff is generous with their ingredients. My box of Red Yeast Pork filled with the main item, minced pork, stewed marinated hard-boiled egg, tau pok and preserved vegetables sourced from Taiwan. Indeed a nourishing filling meal.

Oh, they use the shorter-grain stickier pearl rice for more authenticity and no worries about the rice being too dry. The sauce from the minced pork is enough when you mix all together.

My other favourite parts were the tau pok which was flavourfully soaked in a special dark soya marinate, and the ‘suan cai’ which tasted exactly like the ones I had back in Taipei – very homely.

Look at the portion of the deep fried crispy chicken cutlet, peppered with spicy and plum powder, and you would know what it means by substantial. In true Taiwanese style, they do not believe in cutting up their cutlets.

Another new addiction which I would highly recommend is the Chicken Rice Bento ($4.80, $6.80) which can give our familiar Hainanese Chicken Rice a run for its money.

The rice is all-fluffy and evenly enveloped with chicken stock, developed after months of experimental. Every mouthful is flavourful, and I suddenly found myself eating the rice alone non-stop. The chicken is also tender and juicy, reminding me of the popular ‘spray water’ chicken from Chiayi Taiwan.

Lunch-time crowd can get rather busy, and it is encouraged that you come during dinners or order takeaways. Delivery is also available for certain nearby locations.

All the bentos are packed in these recyclable signature wooden boxes, entirely microwavable as well. If you crave for the familiar Taiwanese taste, do head down to Taiwan Railway Bento and you may find that you may not need to make that travel anymore.

Taiwan Railway Bento 台湾鐵路便當
No. 2 Kallang Avenue #02-16 Singapore 339407 (10 walk from Lavender MRT)
Tel: +65 6538 0019
Email: contactus@railwaybento.com http://www.railwaybento.com
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm Daily

Taiwan Railway Bento Giveaway
Taiwan Railway Bento will be giving away 4 Special Packages which includes 4 Bento Boxes in each with a VIP card which entitles you to discounts and other privileges.

All you need to do it to
– LIKES Taiwan Railway Bento’s facebook page
– SHARE this blogpost
– COMMENT below with your favourite bento box from Taiwan Railway Bento (Last day 23 May)

* This entry is brought to you by Taiwan Railway Bento.

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172 COMMENTS

  1. Chicken rice bento! I remember I ate before taking the HSR in Taiwan to Yilan and BOY, DID I REGRET IT! One of my deepest regrets in life. Hopefully the bento can ease my pain! XD

  2. TRADITIONAL PORK RIB! Gotta be my favourite! One of the main reasons I always look forward to travelling to (and in) taiwan, is this!!!!!!!!

  3. Definitely the Braised Minced Meal Bento!!!! I love love love lu rou fan from Taiwan and would love to try Railway Bento’s rendition of this ^^ Plus the prices are really attractive!

  7. Liked and shared~ ! OMG the fried chicken bento looks SUPER AWESOME ! Esp. when i starving at work now hahaah! The last time I went taiwan was ages ago, eating this will definitely bring back sweet memories of taiwan ! Super looking forward to eating it~~♡♡

  11. Chicken rice bento was seriously one of the most satisfying meals I have had! The rice was soo fragrant, was moist and chewy! I loved how the outlet at IP gave a takeaway discount as well,hahaha

  19. My favourite Bento Box from Taiwan Railway Bento is “Stewed Pork Belly Bento”. I love the combination of preserved vegetables, 3-layer pork and gravy minced meat which are perfectly concocted and go extremely well with rice! And from the picture of this dish, can you blame me for drooling?

  25. Liked and shared! My favorite bento is definitely the fried chicken cutlet bento because the chicken looks so crisp!

  47. Braised minced meat bento. the typical traditional taiwan street food of course. Taiwan food is so tempting everytime.

  50. I want to try Fried Chicken Cutlet bento set! It is a MUST to eat deep fried chicken cutlet for taiwan food! 🙂

  65. I have tried almost every bento at Taiwan railway bento and never get sick of their fried chicken cutlet and pork cutlet! Yummy!!

  67. Red Yeast Pork bento sounds and looks interesting & yum!
    Gotta make my way there soon to try it out – am sure I’ll have a hard time deciding what to try 🙂

  76. My favourite would be the Braised Minced Meat Bento!! Who doesn’t love braised food?! All the sauce. Yumssss~

  77. Oops, entered wrong email add. in my previous comment.

    My Favourite would be the Braised Minced Meat Bento! Who doesn’t love braised food?! All the sauce. yummmmmsss~!

  86. Ahhhh the stewed pork belly bento’s my favourite! It looks so much like the one I had at 福隆火车站 in Taiwan!

  98. I saw on your blog the Chicken Rice Bento seems yummy. I wonder how Taiwan style of cooking Chicken as compared to our local Hainanese Chicken, the tenderness and silkiness of the skin.

  101. Fried chicken cutlet bento! 'Cos the chicken looks so big and juicy in the picture. Just want to have it right now.

  105. Omg. I love the braised pork bento. Thanks for having an outlet in Singapore. Used to have it yearly but gotta missed Taiwan this yr! 🙁 but still looking forward to try the bento!!

  110. Remembering the time I had the railway bento in tw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Slurpppzzzzzz ….. 🙂

    Manzzz …. I wanna try this one in SG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  138. My favourite bento is fried chicken cutlet bento!
    Hope to win! haha!
    WANT to try all the bento if i got the chance
    muahahah! 😀

  143. Liked and shared! My favorite would be the chicken rice bento! I really shouldn’t be reading this post at 12 midnight…. So hungry after reading the reviews and craving for some hot bento now!

  146. My fave-fried chicken cutlet bento! Really hope to try this at CTHub that's near my home, authentic Taiwanese goodness without the hassle of travelling with a plane ticket..

  147. Fried chicken cutlet bento! Really hope to try this at CTHUB that’s near my home, authentic Taiwanese goodness without the hassle of getting an air ticket.

  152. I love to try Taiwan popular Braised minced meat bento!! it’s one of the meal whereby it’s popular among Taiwan!! whenever i’m watching those foodie show they would often introduce them!! but i still never had the chance to try them!! hope i’m lucky on today!! which is my birthday <3 thanks for the awesome giveaway!!

  154. I would love the Red Yeast Pork bento!! I still remember that I got a taiwan bento before, it was served in a tin box (like how real miners have it) :]

  157. It Was Love At First Sight W The Red Yeast Pork Bento…Jus the cripsy looking pork sliced well marinated with red yeast is too alluring to resist!!! Aww….cant wait to eat it!!!

  165. Congrats to Emily Tan, Koh Hui, Xiao Wan Zi, Danny Or for winning bento sets & VIP cards from Taiwan Railway Bento. Check your inboxes for details of collection. Have a great day everyone!

  166. We stumbled over here by a different website and thought I may as
    well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you.
    Look forward to looking at your web page again.

  167. Just returned from a trip to Taiwan and enjoyed the train bento very much. Couldn’t try all of them but now with this shop in Singapore – hurray!

  169. I know I am greedy but Fried Chicken Cutlet and Fried Fish bento sounds so drool-worthy! Also Traditional Pork Rib cos I always like to try traditional or original first. I tried it in Taiwan just few weeks ago and regretted leaving about half a box behind cos I was kinda rushing for flight. Now I really miss the taste… Ok… so my Favourite is Traditional Pork Rib! Thank you!

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