There was a time when you could count all the Japanese restaurants in Mumbai on your fingertips. But now, you need to compute the data or go through endless listings of restaurants. It is not just Mumbai but the whole nation that seems to be undergoing a matchafication. Oh, sorry, Japanisation! But, I am not complaining (except for the matcha-enge trend), I love Japanese food. And, I have found a perfect slice of Japan, right here in Mumbai, err, BKC (it is a world within the world of Mumbai)! Say konnichiwa to Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse, which has spruced up the second-floor corner of Jio World Drive with its maximalism.
From Delhi, With Love! Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse Makes Mumbai Debut
Image Courtesy: Rachna Srivastava
Jio World Drive takes special care when curating experiences for its patrons. So, it was not surprising for team Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse when they got approached to open an outpost here. The brand has taken Delhi-NCR by storm. Thanks to rave reviews of its food and ambience, what started as a 12-seater passion project during the COVID-19 pandemic, turned out to be a scalable business venture with love for Japanese food at the core of it.
The man behind the brand, Gaurav Kanwar, 29, tells me that he used to have Katsu Curry every other day during his college days in London. So, when he came back to India, the craving for a good Katsu Curry was strong enough for him to open a brand that spotlights Japanese street eats for Indians. His frequent trips to Japan helped as well. And now he is on a mission to open 90+ outlets by 2027.
Within the umbrella of Harajuku, there are two brands — the cafe and the bakehouse. They started with the cafe first and used to have katsu curry and select items on the menu. The demand for the baked items exceeded the supply and their expectations. So, within the brand, they are internally divided into a cafe and a separate bakehouse. Further, the themes at Harajuku Cafes are inspired by various districts of Tokyo. At the one in Mumbai, you are in the Shibuya district with bright, neon signage that is central to the place!
Also Read: With Sushi, Robots, And Manga, Harajuku Tokyo Cafe’s Quirky Culinary Wonderland Takes Over Gurugram
It Is Kaiten By Day, Izakaya By Night
Image Courtesy: Supplied
Designed by Minnie Bhatt, the interiors resemble a Japanese game centre with kawaii maximalism as the core. You will find retro signage, holographic accents, and vibrant lighting that all transport you right to Harajuku, Japan. You can also read manga while waiting for your order at this 72-seater space. On the table itself, the design elements are fairly prominent. Be it in the dancing glasses you sip water from or the educational placemat laid out in front of you. If interested in some merch, you will also find a dedicated corner stocked with it.
The kaiten-style experience — kaiten-zushi, the conveyor belt sushi dining experience — will keep you hooked through the day with its own menu to choose from. Come evening, the bright place transforms into a lively izakaya-inspired haunt. Think sake bombs, shareable platters, yum cocktails, a Robot DJ, live karaoke and more fun! No wonder they promote the concept of fun dining here. The cafe comes with a full bar serving curated cocktails that are created by bar consultant Fay Antoine Barretto.
It has what is touted to be Mumbai’s first sushi conveyor belt. There used to be another place that bore the title of bringing the first conveyor belt to the city, but then it shut down, and the title has now been passed to Harajuku. Interestingly, Mumbai used to have another Harajuku (completely different from this chain), too, which was known to serve Taiyaki (fish-shaped waffle ice-cream). But that, too, shut down.
Food And Drinks At Harajuku Tokyo Cafe
The menu is curated by Japanese chefs Asami Indo and Higuchi Nariaki and is brought to life by Chef Raaghav Jandroia. I tried Goma Ae, Tofu Carpaccio, Tuna Tataki, Dynamite Mushrooms, Chicken Karaage, Salmon Inside Out, Prawns Enoki and Seaweed Dumplings and more. And, trust me, the food is really good here. While my stay was short, I was surprised to have devoured so much. I plan to go there again and try their sashimis, sandos, bentos and grills. The drinks are equal parts potent and equal parts yum.
12-seater Bakehouse That Serves Jiggly Pancakes, Japanese Cheesecakes And More
Image Courtesy: Rachna Srivastava
Right across the main restaurant is the Harajuku Bakehouse which with its pastels and big neon pink “Feed Me Cake & Tell Me I’m Pretty” sign, calls to you! Boasting a bake bar where you can watch all the baking live in action, the bakehouse’s boba teas, sandos, and fresh bread are any Pinterest pinner’s and pistoriophile’s dream. Do not forget to try their shokupan sandos that are all the rage in Delhi NCR. What’s special about the Mumbai Bakehouse of Harajuku is that they have a special pet-friendly menu that your fur babies will love when you bring them along at Jio World Drive. Yes, pets stroll with their pet parents at this mall.
So, if you are looking for aesthetics, good food, great drinks and to travel to Japan without travelling to Japan, then run, don’t walk, to Harajuku. You will be impressed by the attention to detail. Throughout the evening, I kept looking up at the neon signs and they were trippy. On the way home, I dug into the Japanese Cheesecake; its cloud-like texture and creaminess made me wanna go back to their Bakehouse and bag more treats (IT IS THAT GOOD!). Go, check it out and let me know what you think of it!
Also Read: Newly-Opened Harajuku Bakehouse Brings Japanese Sweet Delights To Delhi With 1000 Free Boba Teas!
Where: 2nd Floor, Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East
When: Bakehouse, 10 am – 10 pm (all days of the week) | Cafe, 12 pm – 12 am (weekdays) and 12 pm-1:30 am (weekends)
Cost: Bakehouse, ₹1,200 (For two) | Cafe, ₹2,500 (For two)
The editor was invited by Team Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse for a preview. Harajuku Tokyo Cafe & Bakehouse is opening doors to the public on July 14, 2025.
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied
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First Published: July 14, 2025 6:16 PM