The term "plate lunch" is used worldwide, although it's "bento" in Japanese. Many plate lunches restaurants are different depending on their culture & cuisine, but offer the same or similar structure - starch, side dish, vegetable, and meat. Why stop there? This article will inform you and how to order a plate lunch.

[edit] Steps

Fried Rice

Choose a starch. Choices may include rice, noodles, or potatoes. A Chinese or Korean restaurant may have more noodle variety, for example Chow Fun or Chow Mein. American restaurants would concentrate on white rice, brown rice, and potatoes (mashed, baked, or chopped).
A delicious variety of side dishes

Pick out a vegetable/side dish. Usually beans, tofu, coleslaw, macaroni salad, and kimchee are offered. These are also usually eaten first since they are cold or refrigerated.
Mix of chicken & vegetables

Choose your meat choice. Depending on the food ethnicity, you'll see a variety of beef, pork, and chicken. Some choices may include vegetables, such as beef & broccoli for Chinese plate lunches. Other choices may incorporate other ethic backgrounds, for example seafood and fusion.
Fortune cookies

Remember to get a little dessert and/or drink before purchasing your meal.

[edit] Tips

Shrimp Plate Lunch

Some places might have their own set of menus that have their own set of food. For example, rice, certain kinds of meat/seafood, and a scoop of vegetables or salad.
The mini plate lunch (or smallest size) will give you a choice of one of each item. Bigger sizes will enable you to give you two or more choices of meat, side dishes, or scoops of rice.
You should use the opportunity to try new stuff while ordering a plate lunch. This can be helpful if you've heard of something, but never tried it.