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Pikachu Lunchbox (Jumukbap) + Poké Ball Rice Balls

Updated: 1 day ago

Cute Pikachu bento box with character rice balls, vegetables, and a Poké Ball-shaped jumukbap lunch idea.

Cute Korean Bento Idea Kids Love

A bright, bite-size lunch that makes kids grin before the lid even opens. We turn warm short-grain rice into a Pikachu face (stuffed with creamy tuna-mayo) and two Poké Ball rice balls colored naturally with pumpkin and beet powders. It’s picnic-perfect, lunchbox-friendly, and way easier than it looks.





If lunch could wink, this one would. We turn warm short-grain rice into a smiling Pikachu stuffed with creamy tuna-mayo, then add two Poké Ball rice balls colored naturally with pumpkin and beet. It packs tight, travels well, and makes even picky eaters curious enough to take the first bite.



Pikachu-themed bento box featuring character rice balls, golden kiwi slices, rolled omelette pieces, broccoli, fried chicken, and colorful food decorations shaped like flowers and characters, arranged neatly in a metal lunchbox on a picnic table.
Pikachu bento box made with yellow rice balls shaped like Pikachu's face and ears, a Poké Ball rice topper, broccoli, fried chicken, and rolled egg slices, decorated with star and flower-shaped food accents in a metal lunch container on a marble surface.

At a Glance

  • Serves: 1–2 lunchboxes (1 Pikachu + 2 Poké Balls, plus sides)

  • Prep: 20 min 

  • Cook: 5 min 

  • Total: ~25 min

  • Skill: Easy 

  • Heat: None (kid-friendly)



Ingredients

Flat lay of bento ingredients including canned tuna, cooked white rice, imitation crab stick, sliced cheese, natural seasoning powder, and a pack of Korean roasted seaweed sheets for gimbap, arranged on a white surface.


Rice & Filling

  • Cooked short-grain rice 2 cups (400 g), warm

  • Pumpkin powder 1–2 tsp (for yellow rice; sub: ¼ tsp turmeric)

  • Beet powder 1–2 tsp (for red rice; sub: 1 tsp tomato paste mixed with water)

  • Canned tuna 5 oz (140 g), drained (rinse briefly with hot water if oily)

  • Mayonnaise 2 Tbsp (30 g)

  • Salt & black pepper, to taste


Decoration

  • Roasted seaweed (nori) sheets

  • White sliced cheese (for eye whites and Poké Ball center)

  • Imitation crab sticks (for Pikachu cheeks)




Optional sides

  • Bite-size fried chicken, broccoli florets, fruit, etc.



Equipment

Plastic wrap, small cutters or a straw (for circles), scissors, tweezers, small bowls, Pikachu mold (optional).



Step-by-Step

1) Color the rice

  1. Split rice: ~1 cup for yellow, ~1 cup split for red/white.

  2. Yellow: Dissolve pumpkin powder in 1 tsp water; fold into rice until evenly golden.

  3. Red: Dissolve beet powder in 1 tsp water; fold into half of the remaining rice. Leave the rest plain white.

    Bowl of white rice being mixed with an orange pumpkin powder solution using a spoon, next to a green bowl containing the dissolved pumpkin powder mixture, on a white countertop.
    White rice in a bowl being mixed with vibrant red beet powder using a metal spoon with a yellow handle, on a light countertop.


2) Tuna-mayo filling

Mix tuna with mayo, a pinch of pepper, and salt to taste. Set aside.





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3) Shape the Pikachu (stuffed)

  1. Place yellow rice on plastic wrap, make a shallow well, add tuna-mayo, cover with rice.

  2. Compress into an oval face; shape two pointed ear pieces and attach at the top (use a grain of rice as “glue”).


    Step-by-step process of shaping Pikachu rice balls using plastic wrap: scooping pumpkin-colored rice, filling it with tuna, wrapping to form ears and face, and assembling the Pikachu shape on a cutting board. White and yellow rice, tuna filling, and cling wrap are shown in use.

4) Add Pikachu’s face

  1. Eyes: Two nori circles + tiny white-cheese dots.

  2. Nose & mouth: Micro nori pieces; place with tweezers.

  3. Cheeks: Peel red layer from crab stick; punch/cut two small circles and place on the face.


    Step-by-step decorating process of a Pikachu rice ball using seaweed cutouts for eyes and mouth, and sliced radish for red cheeks; yellow rice shaped into Pikachu's head and ears is placed in a metal tray, with tweezers used to apply facial details.

5) Make two Poké Ball rice balls

  1. Roll one red and one white ball (golf-ball size).

  2. Cut each ball in half; press one red half to one white half to form a sphere. Compress in plastic wrap so the seam seals.

  3. Wrap a thin nori band around the seam; add a white-cheese circle in the center and a tiny nori dot on top.


    Step-by-step process of making a Poké Ball rice ball: pink beet-colored rice and white rice wrapped separately, then combined into a sphere, decorated with a strip of seaweed and a round cheese center to resemble a Poké Ball design.



6) Pack the lunchbox

Nestle Pikachu and the Poké Balls snugly so they can’t slide. Fill gaps with chicken, broccoli, and fruit. Close, chill briefly, and you’re ready to roll.


Finished Pikachu rice ball placed in a metal lunch container, featuring yellow rice shaped into a face and ears, decorated with seaweed details, radish cheeks, and white cheese highlights for the eyes.
Pikachu rice ball decorated with seaweed and radish details, topped with a Poké Ball rice ball made from pink beet-colored rice and white rice, arranged in a stainless steel lunch container on a marble surface.

Step-by-step assembly of a Pikachu bento box: Pikachu rice ball with beet-colored Poké Ball topper is placed in a metal container, followed by additions of broccoli florets and fried chicken nuggets using chopsticks to complete the cute lunch presentation.


Tips & Substitutions

  • No mold? Shape by hand—oval face + two ear triangles.

  • Non-artificial color: Pumpkin/turmeric for yellow; beet/tomato for red.

  • Stick-proof hands: Lightly wet or oil your gloves.

  • Adhesive: Use a grain of sticky rice or a pinpoint of mayo for tiny details.

  • Food safety: Let rice cool to warm before adding mayo; pack and refrigerate within 2 hours.



Pikachu bento box featuring yellow rice shaped into Pikachu's face with radish cheeks, broccoli, fried chicken, a Poké Ball rice ball, rolled egg slice, and decorative food picks, presented in a metal container with squeeze bottles of ketchup and mayo on the side.
Pikachu bento lunchbox with yellow rice shaped into Pikachu’s face and ears, Poké Ball rice ball on top, broccoli florets, fried chicken pieces, egg roll slice, and decorative food picks, arranged in a stainless steel container on a marble surface.
Pikachu-themed bento box with yellow rice shaped into Pikachu’s face, topped with a Poké Ball rice ball, surrounded by broccoli, fried chicken, golden kiwi slices, and rolled egg sandwiches, all arranged in a divided metal lunch container on a picnic table.


Storage

Best same day. Refrigerate up to 24 hours; bring to room temp before eating. Not ideal for freezing.



Approx. Nutrition (per lunchbox; rough)

520–680 kcal depending on sides; carbs 75–95 g • protein 20–28 g • fat 14–24 g.



FAQs

1) What is jumukbap? Korean hand-shaped rice balls—similar to onigiri’s cousin—made with sticky short-grain rice that’s mixed or stuffed, perfect for lunchboxes and picnics.


2) How do I keep the rice balls from falling apart? Use warm short-grain rice, keep fillings light (about 4 parts rice : 1 part filling), compress firmly in plastic wrap, then chill 10 minutes before packing.


3) How do I color the rice without artificial dye? Yellow: pumpkin powder or a pinch of turmeric. Red: beet powder or a little tomato paste diluted with water. Dissolve first, then fold into warm rice for even color.





Recommended from MyFreshDash


• Spam Mayo Cheese Flower Rice Balls — cute, savory jumukbap made for bentos.


• Mayak Eggs (Soy Sauce Eggs) — jammy, no-simmer protein that packs perfectly.


• Egg Bomb Omelette with Katsu Sauce — fluffy café-style omelette that kids love.







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