Harajuku Tokyo Cafe, the go-to destination for Japanese street food and culture in India, has been featured on Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ Season 3, a documentary web series chronicling the growth stories of innovative and impact-driven brands in India. The feature highlights how Harajuku Tokyo Cafe is revolutionising the way India experiences Japanese street food.
Founder Gaurav Kanwar’s love for Japanese cuisine shaped the vision behind Harajuku Tokyo Cafe. His interest in the flavours and craftsmanship of Japan’s food culture developed long ahead of its growing popularity in India. With authentic Japanese food mostly confined to fine-dining restaurants, he saw an opportunity to create a space where casual street-style dishes could be enjoyed in an immersive setting. He spent 40 days in Japan, travelling across cities, exploring food markets, and understanding the essence of Harajuku’s food culture before launching the first Harajuku Tokyo Cafe in Delhi in 2021.`
Since then, the cafe has grown exponentially, expanding to multiple locations across Delhi-NCR, including Select Citywalk in Saket, Ambience Mall, M3M IFC Gurugram and Basant Lok. Harajuku Tokyo Cafe has redefined experiential dining with Instagrammable interiors featuring Manga walls, neon signs, and claw machines. Its menu boasts signature dishes inspired by Japan’s diverse districts—from Naruto Ramen and Katsu Bowls to Japanese cheesecakes and taiyaki ice cream cones. With a 243% year-on-year growth and INR 200 crore revenue goal by 2027, the brand is on an ambitious path to opening 90 outlets across India.
Reflecting on this achievement, Mr. Kanwar remarked, “Harajuku Tokyo Cafe has always been about creating an experience; one that goes beyond just great food and immerses people in the fun, energy, and culture of Japan. Being featured on Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ is an exciting milestone for us because it brings our story to a wider audience and highlights what makes us unique. Every element of our cafe, from the menu to the design, is inspired by the streets of Harajuku, where tradition meets playful creativity. We’ve worked hard to ensure that each visit to our cafe feels like a mini escape to Tokyo, and this recognition validates that vision. With more outlets in the pipeline, we will be offering new interactive experiences and an expanded menu. This feature is a moment of pride, but for us, it’s also motivation to keep innovating and sharing our love for Japanese culture with even more people.”
Harajuku Tokyo Cafe has also launched a dedicated bakery brand, Harajuku Bakehouse, catering to the overwhelming demand for its Japanese-inspired pastries and desserts. Its signature fluffy pancakes, perfected after 2,000 trials, now sell 2,000 pieces a day. Other popular items include the Japanese cotton cheese cake, Kawai cream puff, mochi cookie, boba tea
Further enhancing customer engagement, the brand has introduced a unique loyalty programme with several benefits, and a Japanese passport system where diners collect stamps at various outlets and stand a chance to win a trip to Japan. Future plans include launching a ‘Five Senses Experience,’ allowing guests to enjoy curated Japanese meals in a fully immersive setup from the comfort of their homes.
This Disney+ Hotstar feature places Harajuku Tokyo Cafe’s position as a pioneering force in India’s food industry. By blending innovation, culture, and authenticity, the brand continues to push boundaries and redefine Japanese street food for Indian audiences.
Episode Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G1s73XfVn3vwQHVpEDBL49FBb6Kea2S5/view?usp=drive_link
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