【Foodholic Niko @ Taipei】

This is the best healthy bento I've encountered in the past few years!!!

P.S. Another healthy bento I think is also great is "Ye Fan Tian Zheng Kao Bento" near Taipei Main Station, I recommend everyone to give it a try~

"Jin Mu Zi Healthy Bento" is located near Shuanglian Station, about a 2-minute walk from Exit 2, hidden in a small alley next to Mackay Memorial Hospital. The location is very discreet, and unless you're following a map, you probably wouldn't pass by here normally.

The overall decor is in wood tones and white; it looks brighter and cleaner than typical bento shops or buffet places. There's a designated area for dining in, making it very convenient if you want to eat in.

This healthy bento somewhat combines the style of a buffet and Hawaiian poke bowls. The ordering process starts with choosing a base (purple rice, lettuce, or udon, which can be chosen half and half), followed by selecting toppings, proteins, and sauces. If you choose the lettuce base, you can also select a sauce on the side.

In addition to the cold foods commonly found in poke, there are many hot dishes (like roasted vegetables), and the selection is incredibly vast—enough to not get tired of it even if you eat here every week. The protein main dishes are more like what you would find in regular bento or buffet places, including chicken thigh, chicken breast, mackerel, salmon, beef shank, and more.

Today, I chose the teriyaki boneless chicken thigh for my protein main, which was priced at $150. It was a whole piece of chicken thigh, uncut, and the teriyaki flavor was perfectly infused with the chicken skin, tasty and chewy! The chicken meat was also juicy and elastic, not dry at all—so delicious!

For toppings, I chose edamame, broccoli, kelp strips, and zucchini, and each one was delicious. The seasoning was refreshing, and the cooking method wasn’t greasy, yet it didn’t taste like I was just eating grass—very impressive! I highly recommend the zucchini, which was cut rather thickly, retaining moisture perfectly without any bitterness (some places leave bitterness when not treated well, but this one doesn’t).

There are many toppings I regrettably didn’t try, such as tamagoyaki, tofu, and water lily, which all looked great—I need to try those next time!

For my base, I simply chose purple rice. To be honest, the portion was a bit small, but I personally felt it was just enough for the entire bento because the quantity of the main dish and toppings was substantial, making the meal low in carbs and very healthy!

For the garnish, I chose shredded seaweed, but it was more like seaweed crisp, which added a nice finishing touch when eaten with the rice. There were also options like crunchy onion, purple onion, and a very Taiwanese spicy radish to choose from.

My takeaway after eating is that delicious and healthy bentos are truly hard to find; this place is definitely worth keeping in mind for repeat visits!