Restaurant India News: Harajuku Tokyo Café Opens in Mumbai With Sushi Belts, Izakaya Nights, and Bakehouse
Harajuku Tokyo Café & Bakehouse, known in Delhi for its Japanese-inspired street food and playful café atmosphere, has opened its first Mumbai location at Jio World Drive. The brand, which started in 2021, has evolved from a quick-service café into a full-service restaurant and bar with an expanded menu developed by chefs Asami Indo and Higuchi Nariaki.
Founded by Gaurav Kanwar, Harajuku was inspired by Japan’s Harajuku district, combining street-side energy with curated culinary experiences. “Opening in Mumbai has always been part of the dream,” Kanwar said. “It’s a city that thrives on culture, energy, and design — everything Harajuku stands for. With this new restaurant, we’ve taken everything we’ve learned so far and turned it into something bigger, bolder, and more immersive.”
The Mumbai location is divided into two connected spaces: a 72-seat Harajuku Tokyo Café & Bar and a 12-seat Harajuku Bakehouse. During the day, the main restaurant offers a Kaiten Zushi (conveyor belt sushi) experience with an open sushi bar. At night, it transforms into an izakaya-style setting with sake bombs, interactive bar service, and high-energy dining. The Bakehouse features a pastel-toned space with live baking, Japanese cheesecakes, soufflé pancakes, breads, and a pet-friendly menu.
The design reflects Tokyo’s visual energy with manga murals, neon signage, layered textures, and holographic elements. The Bakehouse contrasts with a softer, pastel palette, creating a distinct identity.
Chef Raaghav Jandroia leads the kitchen with a focus on balanced flavors, integrating traditional techniques with innovation. “Japanese food should be approachable, fun, and deeply satisfying,” he said. The menu includes cold plates like Salmon Carpaccio with serrano citrus and Hamachi with truffled ponzu; sushi rolls such as the Rainbow Roll and Spicy Avocado Cream Cheese roll; and street-style dishes like shrimp dynamite, Korean corn dogs, and the UFO Chicken Platter. Robata-grilled items like Coal-Fired Miso Salmon and King Oyster Mushrooms add smoky depth, while ramen, bento bowls, and sandos round out the offerings.
The bar program, created by consultant Fay Antoine Barretto, draws from Japanese pop culture, nightlife, and anime. Drinks include Tokio Drift (Tequila Silver, Hibiscus, Sichuan pepper, Grapefruit), Call Me Kimchi (Tequila Reposado, chili, coriander, house-made kimchi), Nori Fire (Mezcal, Sake, Miso), and Naruto’s Rush (Vodka, Gochujang, Ramen broth). Other highlights include Hanami Highball (White Rum, Cherry Blossom, Sencha) and Totoro’s Garden (Gold Rum, Shiso, Gingerale). The bar transitions from daytime highballs to evening karaoke and sake bombs.
The Bakehouse continues the brand’s bakery focus with its signature jiggly pancakes, cheesecakes, and boba teas, adding a live baking counter and playful interiors.
With this opening, Harajuku Tokyo Café aims to create a multi-sensory dining and bar experience that combines food, design, and culture, differentiating itself from conventional hospitality formats.
Dining and Cooking