Maru Bento refreshes after a warm Stone welcome

Stone’s Japanese and Korean-style café has quietly reinvented itself over the past few months, with longer hours, cosy new seating and an even bigger selection of teas and vegan treats.

Since opening in the summer of 2024, Maru Bento has built up a loyal local following on Radford Street. And after listening closely to customer feedback, owner Yu Cheung has made a few thoughtful changes to improve the experience for regulars and newcomers alike.

New seating, longer hours and a warmer welcome

The café recently took a short break to give the space a gentle refresh. There are now four sturdy tables available for eat-in customers, with cheerful cushions adding to the homely atmosphere. It’s still a small space, so booking is recommended if you’re visiting during busier times.

“We’ve had loads of feedback, thank you to everyone who’s shared thoughts with us,” said Yu. “People really wanted dine-in options, longer opening hours, and better seating. We took it all on board.”

Maru Bento is now open from 12 noon until just after 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Yu handles the daytime shift while her partner takes over in the evening, with both jumping in when it gets busy.

Fresh menus and Taiwanese tea

With just one or two staff members running things at a time, the menu has been adjusted slightly to keep service smooth. A few popular items now need to be pre-ordered:

• Sushi, party food and cold platters are available by pre-order only
• Lunch boxes can be ordered Tuesday to Friday and include meat, vegetarian and vegan options
• Ramen is served Friday and Saturday evenings after 5:30pm

A new addition to the shelves is a range of imported Taiwanese tea bags, including black, green and oolong. They’re available to enjoy with your meal or buy to take home. The colourful packaging is already proving popular with tea lovers.

Even more vegan options

Maru has also expanded its vegan menu, with tasty options across the lunch box, poke bowl and hot meal range. Whether you’re plant-based full-time or just like to mix it up, there’s plenty to try.

Thinking of visiting?

With limited seating and just one person on duty at quieter times, booking ahead is a good idea if you’re planning to visit at lunch or dinner. Collection orders are also welcome.

Maru Bento
2b Radford Street, Stone