What you need to know about this new anime-inspired Japanese eatery in BKC

Tori shoyu ramen and Tamago sando. Pics/Ashish Raje, Dweep Bane

Naruto and this reviewer have the same motto - no ramen, no life. While Naruto has Ichiraku Ramen on the show to down bowls of ramen at, in Mumbai he would probably be slurping at Supa San - and as a loyal shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, we followed suit. When you walk into Supa San, you are bound to spot hints of the manga and anime universe across the space; partitions are adorned with motifs from Naruto; ninjas are printed on cocktail glasses, and there is a permanent pop-up kiosk by The Comic Book Store (from Linking Road).

Prawn tempura and Buta gyoza

Our favourite is the T-shirt worn by the staff, with a vivid print on the back, that is available on sale. The vibe is playful yet detailed, much like the menu, prepared by chef Hideki Hiwatashi (who has previously worked with Michelin-starred properties) and executive chef Dayamani Singh. They boast of a special selection of sake, among other spirits, and the cocktail menu is by Trisha Koparde, who welcomes us with calpico (Rs 850), a refreshing, smooth shochu highball with vanilla and whey soda.

The eatery has anime- and manga-inspired elements

We are attending a pre-opening dinner; we notice that the bar is in full capacity, almost making us feel as if we are starring in an episode post a ninja mission. It's the perfect spot for post-work corporate ninjas of BKC. As we muse while looking at the swanky façades from the glass window, our attendant serves the tamago sando (Rs 490) and ebi tempura (Rs 790) on the table. Eggs are usually ranked at no. 5 on our eating list, and tempura tops the list during a tasting session in a Japanese restaurant. The prawn tempura is textbook Japanese perfection - airy, crisp batter encasing plump prawns. You can hear the crunch. There's no greasy aftertaste; it's so good that we skip the dip. They also serve different house-made salts to sprinkle on top.

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Horenso gomae

Their veg tempura pales in comparison. A surprise hit for us is the classic egg sandwich which is all about texture - the eggs are silky, almost custard-like, cradled between fluffy slices of lightly toasted bread. It's delicate and supremely comforting. We are served another comfort dish - buta gyoza (Rs 590). These minced pork dumplings rest on a light spicy sauce, and are juicy and flavourful, each bite bursts with a light zing.

Tori karaage hiraki and Calpico

Horenso gomae (Rs 390), a cold plate, is a beautiful contrast: this spinach dish with earthy greens in a nutty, slightly sweet sesame sauce, topped with crunchy lotus root crisps goes smooth on the palate, the kind of greens we would want in our diet daily. The tori karaage hiraki bao (Rs 590) also crafts a beautiful contrast of textures. Here, Japanese fried chicken is tucked into a soft steamed bao, with spicy mayo bringing the heat. The chicken is crispy outside, juicy inside, and the bao is pillow-y, making it a satisfying handheld snack.

It's now ramen time, and a massive bowl (we would take a whole day to finish it) of tori shoyu ramen (Rs 990) makes its grand entrance. Picture-perfect and soulful, the bowl is topped with grilled chicken, bamboo shoots, silky soy egg, bean sprouts, pok choy, and springy homemade noodles, all swimming in a shoyu-laced broth that's deep, savoury, and with lilting notes of soy sauce. The eggs alone are the reason for us to return. We don't manage to finish the bowl, as we are saving space for Hokkaido milk bread (Rs 590).

Supa San isn't just a meal, it's a comfort zone with precise flavours. The pricing isn't low, similar to some of the other restaurants in the same block. But if your idea of happiness includes anime, authentic Japanese flavours and delicious small plates, consider this your summoning jutsu to BKC.

TIME 12 pm to 11.30 pm
AT Raheja Tower, next to CinCin, G Block, BKC, Bandra East.
CALL 7045029920