Harajuku Tokyo Café, a Japanese casual dining and QSR chain, has raised Rs 19 crore ($2 million) in its first institutional funding round. The investment was led by Indian Angel Network (IAN), with participation from Samved VC, LetsVenture, and Capitar Ventures.
The new funding comes shortly after the brand’s Mumbai debut at Jio World Drive, BKC, and will support its aggressive expansion plans across India.
Brand Expansion Plans
Founded in 2021 by Gaurav Kanwar, the café has made authentic Japanese cuisine accessible through casual dining restaurants and quick-service formats. The brand currently runs 7 outlets in Delhi NCR and Mumbai and claims Rs 30 crore in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
Looking ahead, it plans to reach 90 outlets across 20 cities by 2027, targeting over Rs 200 crore in revenue. Letters of intent have already been signed for new locations in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Ludhiana, and Chandigarh.
Unique Dining Experience
The café is known for its signature Japanese offerings like jiggly pancakes, conveyor belt sushi, Naruto ramen, and Japanese cotton cheesecakes. Each outlet blends Harajuku-inspired décor with manga libraries, robot DJs, and Tokyo-themed aesthetics to create an immersive dining experience.
The brand also works with renowned Japanese chefs Asami Indo and Nariaki Higuchi, ensuring cultural authenticity while adapting to the evolving Indian palate.
Technology and New Verticals
Harajuku Tokyo Café is also leveraging technology in operations, including AI-powered inventory management, digital ordering, and loyalty programs. In addition, it is expanding into the packaged food space through its D2C vertical, KoiKoi Essentials, which will launch ramen kits, sauces, and frozen meals.
Beyond India, the brand is in talks for franchise partnerships in the UAE and international markets where demand for Japanese cuisine is growing among Indian diaspora communities.
Harajuku Tokyo Café in India
The founder, Gaurav Kanwar, highlights the vision of making Harajuku a Japanese lifestyle brand in India. With its growing outlets, immersive dining experiences, and expansion into packaged foods, Harajuku Tokyo Café aims to become the most recognized Japanese dining brand in the country by 2030.
For Indian food lovers, the café serves as a cultural bridge—bringing authentic flavors of Tokyo while making them approachable for Indian families.
