Love Japanese cuisine? Visit this new restaurant and bakehouse in Mumbai

Veg Gyoza and Rainbow Roll

Between 2013 and 2017, Gaurav Kanwar, like many other kids studying overseas, was looking for comfort food to ease his solitude. Kanwar, who studied business management at The London School of Economics and later, earned a Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Warwick University, found his sweet spot in Katsu curry sold at the stalls in Coventry. The humble "two-pound curry" turned into a full blown obsession with Japanese food and Japan. Once back in India, Kanwar, a vegetarian up until he tried Japanese food, and with no background in hospitality, embarked on a long trip to Japan to try all the food it had to offer, culminating in the launch of Harajuku Tokyo Cafe in Delhi in 2021.

Lamb Chops and Goma Ae

Fast forward to 2025, the property has many more outlets ("We plan to have 21 outlets by this year-end"); it's no longer a QSR, and Kanwar is in Mumbai, explaining every detail of the maximalist restaurant at their first Mumbai outlet in a swish BKC mall.

"People get intimidated by Japanese food, like I was, and had never tasted it for the longest time, also because I was a vegetarian earlier. But once you try it, you realise that it is packed with flavours that we are used to and crave for. We want to make Japanese food accessible to everyone, which is why we worked hard to have a no-pork menu for halal customers. We offer many options for vegetarians [think tofu carpaccio] and the Mumbai outlet also serves a Jain menu," the 29-year-old reveals, as our eyes continue to dart around the 72-seater restaurant. The Bakehouse is visible across the floor.

Jiggly Pancake

Every Harajuku outlet is inspired by different precincts of Japan. The Mumbai outlet is inspired by Shibuya. Here neon lamps that resemble signs in Tokyo are visible from the centre of the restaurant, and tiles similar to those spotted at the famous Shibuya Scramble, sit under solo seating options around the first sushi conveyor belt in the city. The menu has been curated by chef Asami Indo from Tokyo, and chef Higuchi Nariaki from Osaka. "My parents had to fly down to Japan to convince chef Higuchi's parents to let her come to India, I was very young, and of course they couldn't trust an unknown man who was asking them to send their daughter to India for work," he smiles.

A diner sits by the sushi conveyor belt. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE

You can have unlimited plates from the belt for Rs 1495, from noon to 4 pm, post that plates start at just R150. They also have robata options, sando special time, and it turns into an izakaya in the evening. Their alcohol licence is yet to come through, but we recommend that you visit them on a karaoke night to down sake shots and sing your heart out (Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, anyone?). If in the mood for just a sweet treat, the Bakehouse is perfect for Instagrammable desserts, inspired from the streets of Harajuku and Shibuya, and coffee options post a mall dash. They offer mangas and well-designed merch, with no prominent branding on their T-shirts; extra marks for that.

Kanwar makes us try the Rainbow Roll (Rs 350), expertly rolled in an open kitchen you can see the staff hard at work in. Goma Ae (Rs 495), a quintessential dish on Japanese menus in Mumbai now, is served chilled and tightly rolled here, with a sesame dressing for some earthiness. The Veg Gyoza (Rs 250 on the conveyor belt or Rs 445 a la carte) has a delicate casing and crispy lace, and juicy carrot, bokchoy, water chestnut and shitake bits to keep you going for more, even without a ponzu dip. Don't miss the crackers on the side.

For mains, the Katsu Curry (Rs 695), with Kanwar's recipe, arrives. The panko is crisp to perfection; the curry is thick, and warms our soul and belly. The Veg Yaki Udon Noodles (Rs 695) is decadently chewy, and the umami sauce glazes beautifully over every piece. The Lamb Chops (Rs 1095) from the robata section are tender to the bone, charred just as we like it, with some heat from gochujang.

Our highlight, however, is the Jiggly Pancake (Rs 495); we try the Nutella version, and we feel it could be a contender for one of Mumbai's best. It jiggles its way into our hearts with its pillowy goodness. There's a lot going on at this new spot for Japanese fare, and we're sure to return for some kawaii joy with our friends, dattebayo!

Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse
AT Second Floor, Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex.
Time Bakehouse: 10 am to 10 pm; Café: 12 pm to 12 am (weekdays), 12 pm to 1.30 am (weekends)
Call 9818937832