San Diego Asian Markets
Sorry for anyone waiting! I’m having trouble finding time to update!
Bento is not prevalent in San Diego. This is entertaining to me as we have a LARGE asian population and many markets. Most of them do not carry bento supplies. I do most of my shopping online, and find “alternative” boxes.
The local stores I know of: (please comment if you know another!!!)
99 Ranch Market
7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
http://www.99ranch.com
Mostly grocery, with a small section of kitchen supplies. They do have a large meat and fresh seafood section.
Nijiya Market
3860 Convoy St.
Ste. 109
San Diego, CA 92111
http://www.nijiya.com
Mostly grocery. Has a very small section of kitchen supplies.
Mitsuwa Marketplace
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd Ste 119
San Diego, CA 92111
http://www.mitsuwa.com
A mini-mall–has a grocery, restaurant, gift shop, pickle area, kitchen supply (with a couple bentos), dish & souvenir type area, sake area, deli, and a Sanrio. The Sanrio carries more household items than the cutesy ones in the big malls that showcase the characters. I get a lot of side containers, molds, sauce containers from here. The gift store changes stock often, but will carry large assortment of bento boxes and supplies at times. Their boxes are mostly children and can be pricey.
Zion Marketplace
4611 Mercury St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Another mini-mall type store. Predominatly grocery, a small kitchen store & supplies in the grocery section.
Lucky Seafood
(Vietnamese)
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA
Sorry, I haven’t been here, yet. But I will check it out!
Daiso Japan
in the Marukai Marketplace (non-membership)
8111 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111
http://www.marukai.com
My newest find: Like a giant 99 cent store, only most things are $1.50, has a large bento/kitchen section. Didn’t see many character/decorated boxes, but they had lots of Tupperware-type and a couple plain boxes and matching side containers. Large section of molds, dividers, picks, sauce containers, etc.
Biggie said,
September 27, 2007 at 6:03 pm
This is a really handy guide for anyone in the San Diego area! I’ll link to it from Lunch in a Box.
kimie said,
September 28, 2007 at 6:08 pm
oh my gosh thank you so much!!!! I have been dying for a bento store!! Woohoo
I’ve been to mitsuwa and found the bentos there super expensive! Plus I had my 2 year old nephew with me in a cart….nuff said 
Thanks again for this list I’m so excited
Leah said,
September 29, 2007 at 12:36 am
Vien Dong is a pretty big grocery store in Linda Vista. They have kitchen supplies, but I don’t know about bento.
allenceFura said,
December 13, 2009 at 1:03 am
Wow loved reading this post. I submitted your rss to my blogreader!!