Kitchen Cow Readers’ Favorites
In celebration of Kitchen Cow’s Second Anniversary, I’d love to present the favorite bento entries as chosen by you guys. Some of these are my favorites as well, while some are surprise entrants. Still, I love hearing your feedback so tallying everyone’s comments was a fun, albeit rigorous task. So, here they are, your favorites!
Reader’s Favorite #1
Bento 181 Picnic Obento. A relatively recent bento entry, this one was prepared for a picnic celebration with a couple of friends. This is the largest, and most difficult bento I have prepared.
Reader’s Favorite #2
Aki’s Bento. Though not a real bento per se, Aki’s bento ranked highly probably because of the cute factor. Made of real food, the only thing unreal about it is the size. It’s barely 2 inches high!
Reader’s Favorite #3
Sea Monstaaars Bento. Inspired by mutant fishies and monsters from various cartoons that I guess a lot of you folks find endearing. Along with his shrimpy babies of course. A surprise entry for me, or at least, I didn’t think it would rank this high.
Reader’s Favorite #4
Spirited Away Bento. A shoe in entry because who could resist Hayao Miyazaki’s soot sprites? Plus, imagine enjoying a helping of smoked salmon and cream cheese rolls with them. Mmmmmm…it’s something I love so much, I chose it to adorn the site’s banner!
Reader’s Favorite #5
They’re All Eyes Bento. A bento where everything lives! Or at least, have eyes. As I’m sure you can see. ^_^;; For me, what’s more especial about this bento is because this is when I hatched the brilliant idea of using drinking straws as a cutter of sorts for bento eyes. Much much easier to make cute, eyes now.
Reader’s Favorite #6
The Return of the Kyara-ben, aka Giant Onigiri Panda bento. I guess everyone loves Pandas (but not as much as multi-eyed mutated sea creatures).
Reader’s Favorite #7
CCS Keroberos Bento. Most everyone commented the same, they loved how the sauce bottle was incorporated in the design. The truth is, it was done spur of the moment—he really looked like he wanted to grab the strawberry for himself! Though I worry what will happen if he actually bites into it because it was full of olive oil!
Reader’s Favorite #8
Curry Omuraisu Bento. Another surprise entry for me, because it’s not a cute bento. But I guess everyone’s love for Omuraisu came through, hence the need to choose it.
Reader’s Favorite #9
A tie between:
Wormy Teriyaki Bento
Japanese Curry Bento
Cute versus hearty home cooking. Who ultimately wins? You decide.

Reader’s Favorite #10
For #10, it’s a triple way tie among:
Fish Menchikatsu Bento
Chibi Dragon Bento
Guess the Bento Game aka Van Gogh Bento
Mice, baby dragons and earless painters? The first two, I’d understand, but earless painters?



There you have it, the top 10 Reader’s Favorites. 39 more entries were mentioned during the survey but these ones which are included in the list figured the most. If you’re curious about which were the other bentos users liked, the actual survey / contest is here. Thanks for participating and thanks for all the anniversary greetings. And yes, the most important thing, I know. We have a winner!
Congratulations to Jonelle from California! While her favorite, Eeeek! It lives! didn’t make the cut, I’m sure she doesn’t mind since she’ll be receiving all the lovely bento loot from the contest. Thanks to everyone else who participated. I’m sure there will be more contests in the future. *wink*















Congratulations to your anniversary and to the winner!
I still go for the curry bento!
Argghh kainis, I really wanted to join your contest, but your pics don’t appear here at the office (Flickr’s blocked here, booo) and I’m way too tired to go online at home. Huhuhuhu…
Not even Flickr? You can YM but not Flickr? Sucks! Tell them you need inspiration to design from Flickr
Oooh, congratulations to the winner, and to you! Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! to Kitchen Cow! You’re such a great food/snack In”BENTO”r!
Congratulations!! What a very fitting list to capture your best in two years! :3 Woohooo!!
Happy Anniversary and congrats to Jonelle!
My favorite bento barely made it! XP
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, KAOKO!
Wow, congrats, Jonelle!
Happy anniversary, Kitchen Cow!
Thanks for the greetings everyone! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can keep this up for another year. But then, I’m still having fun so I don’t see why not.
you’re such an inspiration, kaoko.
and yey to more contests!
Thanks toni. I’m hoping in the future…when I have money again. ^_^
Congrats on the anniversary~!
I just wish I actually didn’t get too absorbed with work that i missed all the bento give aways.
On a curious note, where did you buy your veggie cutters, soysauce fishi, and mayo cups? Been trying to hunt those down but Hatchin and the coop don’t have those
Just stumbled on your site. This site is great. Now I know what to do to make my office lunch box much more fun!
@Silver Countess
Thanks for the greeting! Most of my bento paraphernalia are from Daiso / Japan Home, New Hatchin Grocery and Co-op too, but stocks tend to vary from time to time. I recommend repeat visits to nab what you want. What exactly are you looking for?
Oh wait! The Dollar Store in Alabang Town Center has some veggie cutters and mayo cups—the ones featured in my giveaway was from there. If it’s too far from you, I can buy you some then ship it, though I’ll have to ask you to shoulder the shipping on top of the actual product cost
@whiff and a sip
Glad you made it here, I hope it helps you with your office lunch box exploits!
You are a god send! :O I easily get lost so I seldom get out of Makati (particularly the south). I don’t mind paying for both myself since I’ve been looking for them for almost a year. (@_@)
Sige, contact me na lang via the contact form so we can arrange something.
Congrats, Jonelle!
Happy anniversary, Kaoko!
That compilation picture looks so good. By the way, Kaoko, you ever thought of making it into a desktop picture?
Thanks for the greeting Nyota. I never really thought of that because it would suck. Imagine, trying to work while a gigantor image of food is stuck on your desktop? I don’t think I can focus! *laughs*