CT Review: I Went For A Dinner Date At Mayouchi, Where Japan And China Intersect On Your Plate

When planning a date night in Mumbai, I am always in a bit of a quandary. Just the sheer number of options I have to choose from. For my partner’s birthday dinner, I went to check out Mayouchi, which is tucked inside The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. So, with my beau in tow, I chose a cosy, intimate space for a date night and got a seat with the best view of Powai Lake in dark mode. Far off, you can see the Powai skyline twinkling with tall buildings and the lake glistening with the harsh, reflective light of nearby construction. Close by, you witness the reflection of Mayouchi’s interiors and mood lights on the tall windows. On rainy days, if one watched closely, one could witness the soundless patter of raindrops, too.

Mayouchi Brings Japanese And Chinese Fare To You

Mayou in Japanese means “being bewildered” and Chi in Chinese here signifies “a path to reach one’s full potential”. Mayouchi serves cuisine that is rightly at the intersection of Japanese and Chinese. 

Known to serve Asian fare, Mayouchi originally opened in 2022, after the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Center Hotel was rebranded as The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. Back then, the vibe and the menu were completely different. After a brief pause, in 2024, the 3,681-square-foot space reopened its doors with its present, refreshed look. 

Now, mood lighting, decorative elements, classy minimalism, artwork, panelling, artefacts, and more elements collectively elevate the ambience. The space is divided into various sections, but the most buzzing spot is the bar. Equipped with a live sushi counter, a cosy PDR, and various kinds of seating styles, Mayouchi appeals to heterogeneous patrons looking to indulge in scrumptious Asian fare.

Helmed by Indonesian chef, Golpin Sianipar, the gastronomy here is rooted in tradition. But dishes are served with a modern flair, plated to perfection. Be it the way the uramaki comes in stone plates with liquid nitrogen smoke oozing out. Or the way the smoking kushiyaki comes sizzling right to the table. A sign of a great restaurant is definitely when table theatrics are on par with the taste.

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Table For Two, And Here’s What We Ate

For my date night at Mayouchi, I decided to keep things light and requested small, tasting portions. That way, I could share the vegetarian options with my partner, but the reverse sitch can never work. He is a picky vegetarian. And I am an overtly enthusiastic eater with a small appetite who likes to try everything. P.S. By the end of the night, he was raving about the food. And, that is the best review, in my humble opinion, Mayouchi can get.

The food menu has 75+ dishes across Salads, Sushi Uramakis, Usuzukuris, Nigiris, Sashimis, Dimsums, Baos, Small Plates, Kushiyakis, Large Plates, Noodles and Rice, and Desserts. 

I began with the vegetarian salad. It was super fresh, the truffle shavings (imported) added nuttiness and umami flavour to the fresh salad. It was a well-rounded dish, and we were off to a good start. Then we tried the Kakiage Crunch Roll and Aburi Salmon Mentai Roll that came with smoky flair. Crunchy, creamy and spicy. The salmon is imported straight from Japan and is the Atlantic salmon, which is milder than the usual varieties of the fish. It is also said to be fattier than most varieties. Honestly, I could not tell the difference. But it tasted really good.

Up next were dimsums – Asian Green Bomb, Edamame Truffle Dumpling and Prawn Har Gao. The Edamame Truffle Dumpling was okay. I think I am overexposed to edamame and truffles in Mumbai, so now they have lost some of their novelty to me. The Asian Green Bomb had spinach, parsnip and jicama (Mexican potato), and that was different. I quite liked it. But the best of the lot was the Prawn Har Gao for me. The water chestnut with prawns is a combo I am looking forward to trying more of.

On To The Mains:

Then, I had Baby Octopus Yaki, skewered and sizzling in front of me. While yakitori is chicken on skewers, kushiyaki is the general term for skewering and grilling. The baby octopus came with chili garlic and sweet yuzu dressing, with a side of lemon with togarashi blend. The yuzu jelly is brought in from Japan and is 100% Yuzuya Honten, an unsalted one. I really enjoyed the grilled baby octopus, the spicy togarashi and the sweetness of yuzu. The togarashi also comes from Japan.

For mains, I pigged out on Prawns XO Sauce along with Edamame Fried Rice, with chicken as an add-on. The rice was nice with the distinct taste of truffle that was imported. The prawns tasted fresh and good, and the XO sauce is housemade from scratch. My partner requested customisation for his side dish to go with the rice, and they were happy to oblige. With bellies full of tantalising food, there was no room for desserts.

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At Mayouchi, Drinks Tell Their Stories

The cocktail program is something that really fascinated me. The menu is a vision to behold. The moodboard is set even before you sip on your order, as you know exactly what your drink will look like. But what fascinated me the most was the storytelling. Each cocktail is crafted with utmost care and tells the story of how it got its name. Be it Cindy, named after the crocodile around the lake, or the century-old mango tree nearby, each cocktail has an origin story written down. I am not ashamed to admit that I spent a good amount of time reading the whole menu and the stories, and completely forgot about my date for that time frame.

I tried colourful cocktails like 

• Behind the Scenes (Tequila, Elderflower Kombucha, Popcorn Mist) that came with a side of fresh popcorn; 
• Under the mango tree (Tequila, Mango Coulis, Spiced Aam Papad), whose aam papad I wanna hoard; 
• Cindy (Pisco, Goodness of Cucumber, Virgin Basil Oil), whose ghost I wanna meet and tell her that she’s a legend;
• Black Velvet (Whisky, Charcoal Infused Coffee, Vitality Elixir) is named after the ex-lounge that once stood at the property. 

All yummy, all heady and all were truly worth every sip. I cannot wait to try more of these interesting cocktails. The happening bar houses a collection of Japanese whiskies, sakes and spirits that would elicit envy from drink connoisseurs. 

When I had gone, they were only open for dinner. But I come bearing some good news. Mayouchi has just introduced a new lunch menu for weekdays. And, you should definitely head there in the daylight to soak in the magnificent lake view. For dinners on all days and weekend lunches, the à la carte menu is available. So is the cocktail menu that I am raving about. 

As for how my date night went? It was splendid and just the way I wanted it to be — full of love, good food, heady drinks, and inside jokes (Tusshar Kapoor’s character from Golmaal may or may not have been discussed)! What can I say? My partner’s sense of humour is broken!

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Where: The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake, Plot No 2 & 3B, Saki Vihar Rd, near Chinmayand Ashram, Mumbai
When: Lunch – 12 pm to 3 pm; Evening Dinner – 5 pm to 1 am
Cost: ₹4,000 for two people

(The editor was invited for a tasting by the brand.)

Cover Image Courtesy: Rachna Srivastava and Supplied