If you've ever stayed at a traditional Japanese inn, you might've been greeted at breakfast with a lacquered tray filled with tiny, artful dishes—this is Asagozen (朝御膳). It's a Japanese breakfast bento box rooted in the Ichijū-sansai (一汁三菜) format with rice, soup, and three side dishes. This kind of bento breakfast isn't just a meal—it's a celebration of balance, flavor, and tradition. While tackling this first thing in the morning might seem daunting, many items can be prepped ahead, making it perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch. There are no hard-and-fast rules—just a delicious opportunity to start your day with something nourishing, beautiful, and satisfying. Here are some bento box breakfast ideas to get you started.
Jump to:
1. Japanese Breakfast Salmon (塩鮭)
No Japanese breakfast feels complete without a piece of grilled fish. Shiojaké, or salted salmon, is a classic: the fish is cured in a simple brine, then grilled until the skin turns crisp and the fat melts into the flesh, leaving it silky and savory. Salting the salmon not only seasons it but also draws out moisture, concentrating its flavor and firming up the texture.This also helps it keep for up to a week in the fridge, making it a perfect make-ahead item for your bento breakfast.Feeling fancy? Try swapping in miso-marinated cod or salmon. And if you've got leftovers, flake them into rice for salmon onigiri—an easy win at lunchtime.
Salted Salmon Recipe
2. Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)
Tamagoyaki adds a gentle sweetness and a soft, custardy texture to your bento box breakfast. Made by rolling thin layers of egg into a golden spiral, it's as beautiful to look at as it is satisfying to eat. Lightly seasoned with soy sauce and sugar, each bite melts on your tongue with a savory-sweet balance that pairs perfectly with saltier sides. It's also endlessly adaptable—try folding in nori, grated carrot, or even a bit of cheese for a twist. For other egg options, consider dashimaki tamago, a juicier version infused with dashi, or onsen tamago, a silky hot spring–style egg that adds a luxurious richness to the meal.
Tamagoyaki Recipe
3. Kinpira Gobo
This crunchy blend of julienned burdock and carrot is quickly stir-fried and glazed with soy sauce, sake, and a bit of sugar. Earthy, nutty, and just a little spicy, it provides a fantastic contrast to the softer textures in your bento breakfast. This is best prepared the day before to allow the flavors to meld. I also have a beautiful version of this dish featuring lotus root, Kinpira Renkon, over on my other website, Marc's Recipes.
Kinpira Recipe
4. Spinach Ohitashi (Japanese Spinach Salad)
Simple, clean, yet deeply satisfying, spinach ohitashi is one of my go-to recipes when I want to add a pop of green that's more than just garnish. Blanched spinach is soaked in a light dashi broth, allowing it to absorb delicate umami without overpowering its natural sweetness. Topped with grated ginger or katsuobushi, it's a cooling counterpart to warm rice and soup. This is another dish that's best made the day before.
Ohitashi Recipe
5. Japanese Pickled Cabbage (Asazuke)
Japanese meals almost always include a small side of pickles. Whether it's umeboshi (pickled plums), takuan (pickled daikon), or a quick batch of asazuke like the ones pictured above, these pickles bring crunch, color, and a burst of brightness to the plate. Unlike Western pickles, they don't take long to make—but for the best flavor and texture, it's worth starting them a few days ahead. You can also check out my roundup of 6 Japanese Pickled Vegetables to see more delicious pickle recipes.
Asazuke Recipe
6. White Miso Soup
A warm bowl of miso soup is a key part of that traditional Ichijū-sansai meal structure. With a base of umami-rich dashi stock and seasoned with miso paste, it's simple, savory, and satisfying. Add-ins like tofu, wakame, or scallions are the generic choice, but here in Japan, we add odds and ends from the veggie drawer, making this endlessly customizable.
Miso Soup Recipe
7. Japanese Rice Recipe
Rice is the heart of a Japanese meal—so much so that gohan means both "rice" and "meal" in Japanese. Short-grain Japanese rice has a subtle sweetness and just the right amount of stickiness, making it ideal for picking up bites of side dishes. Its mild flavor acts as a blank canvas, allowing the other elements of your breakfast bento box to shine. A rice cooker makes the process foolproof, but if you don't have one, I've got a simple stovetop method that turns out perfectly fluffy rice every time.
How to Cook Japanese Rice
I hope these breakfast bento box ideas gave you some tasty inspiration. If you're hungry for more, check out my Breakfast category for even more recipe ideas.
Kathy Stroup says
What a great idea for Mother’s Day! Or any Sunday morning really.
Marc Matsumoto says
I don't eat breakfast very much, but when I do it's usually some variation on this 😅