One of the perks of traditional Japanese bento is that it’s great for eating on-the-go. One of the drawbacks is that, unfortunately, not everyone can create these delicious, single-portion meals.
Luckily for us, we have easy access to both thanks to Loveland’s own BentOn, owned and operated by Toru Furukawa, a third-generation Japanese bento maker who skillfully prepares each bento-style meal.
“A bento is Japanese food in one box — carefully balanced, visually beautiful, fun to open, easy to carry,” Toru says. “In Japan, bento is widely known as a convenient, healthy, and joyful way to eat, and BentOn’s mission is to bring that culture to the U.S.”
The Zen of BentOn
BentOn’s meal service plan offers boxes in the Washoku style, meaning the cuisine is traditionally Japanese. “Washoku is not only about taste — it’s about culture, family, beauty, and the way people gather around the table in Japan,” Toru explains. “It focuses on fresh ingredients, simple cooking methods, and natural flavors. A typical Washoku meal includes rice, soup, vegetables, and fish or meat, all arranged in harmony.”
At its core, the concept is you can eat bento every day without getting bored. To that end, BentOn offers more than 200 menu items, in dishes ranging from popular classics like salmon, chicken teriyaki, and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) plus Korean and Chinese fusion styles as well as ramen, yakisoba, simmered vegetables, and side dishes.
The BentOn website features three ways to order — a First Order, where you can try bento and see if it’s for you; an On Demand kit where you can stock up on your favorite meals; and an Omakase Kit, which is subscription-based and delivered every two to three weeks.
BentOn delivers their BPA-free vacuum-sealed meals nationwide. Items are delivered refrigerated and stay fresh in the fridge for up to seven days or in the freezer for up to six months. Kits can be heated in 10 minutes, either in a hot water bath or in the microwave.
BentOn Brings Shipping Hub to Loveland
BentOn, which opened in the states nearly 20 years ago at their flagship location in New York has now grown to four locations: two in New York, one in Tokyo, and one here in Loveland.
Why Loveland? Well, like many businesses during the early 2020s, the pandemic forced BentOn to change their business model. While the focus was on serving bento to corporate New York offices, when those offices closed during Covid, they were forced to pivot from office bento to Japanese meal kits that could be enjoyed at home. This included finding a new location for their shipping hub.
Toru says one of the things that drew him to this part of Ohio was the name. “‘Loveland’ sounded warm, friendly, and positive,” he smiles. “It felt like a good place to start a new chapter.”
And so, the former Tano catering facility on Loveland-Madeira Road became BentOn’s new headquarters, thanks to its logistical location offering geographic balance, lower shipping costs, and faster nationwide access than New York.
BentOn Expands to Local Pickup
In the very near future, Furukawa says BentOn’s local pickup program will expand to make their delicious bento boxes available at a lower price and more accessible to area families after online ordering.
BentOn also plans on expanding their catering services, from employee cafeterias at companies like P&G and Fidelity to smaller, local events like birthday parties, office lunches. and private chef services. “While the foundation is the same, we will continue to adapt and create ideas that fit our local lifestyle here,” Toru says.
Also coming up? BentOn’s 20th anniversary on July 1, with plans in the works to celebrate with the community as a way to thank everyone who has supported BentOn over the years.
“Whether you’re American or Japanese, young or old, bento is not just a menu — it’s a style, a way of eating. Balanced, portable, beautiful, flexible.”
BentOnKit.nyc/washoku | 851 Loveland-Madeira Rd, Loveland
Bento is not just a lunch — it’s culture, creativity, and possibility. We are proud to be in Loveland, and we want to grow together with this community.”