Harajuku Tokyo Café, India’s fastest-growing authentic Japanese casual dining and QSR chain, has raised ₹19 crore in its first institutional funding round. The round was led by Indian Angel Network (IAN) with participation from Samved VC, LetsVenture, and venture debt fund Capitar Ventures to fuel aggressive expansion plans.
Founded in 2021 by Gaurav Kanwar, Harajuku Tokyo Café has redefined Japanese dining in India, combining authentic flavors with Instagram-worthy experiences. The brand operates 7 outlets across Delhi NCR and Mumbai, generating over ₹30 crore in annual recurring revenue, with plans to scale to 90 outlets across 20 cities and achieve ₹200 crore+ revenue by 2027. Letters of Intent have already been signed for 15 new locations.
The Mumbai debut at Jio World Drive, BKC in July 2025 received overwhelming response, marking a key milestone in bringing authentic Japanese cuisine to mainstream Indian diners. Harajuku’s unique offerings—jiggly pancakes, conveyor belt sushi, Naruto ramen, Japanese cotton cheesecakes—alongside manga libraries, robot DJs, and Harajuku-inspired décor, create an immersive Tokyo experience.
The funding round attracted seasoned investors including IAN angels Hari Balasubramanian, Uday Chatterjee, Pradeep Jai Singh, and Sri Prakash, as well as Samved VC and LetsVenture, who highlighted the founder’s passion, operational excellence, and scalable vision as key investment drivers.
Harajuku operates through two high-growth formats: the full-service Tokyo Café and the quick-service Bakehouse. A central kitchen ensures 85% of food preparation is standardized, supporting rapid expansion while maintaining quality. Collaborations with renowned Japanese chefs Asami Indo and Nariaki Higuchi further ensure authenticity.
Beyond restaurants, Harajuku is entering the packaged food segment with KoiKoi Essentials, offering ramen kits, sauces, and frozen meals for D2C distribution. With India’s food-service industry poised to grow from $51 billion today to $123 billion by 2033, Harajuku is well-positioned to lead the Japanese cuisine segment while exploring franchise partnerships abroad, targeting the Indian diaspora.
Gaurav Kanwar emphasizes, “We’re building a Japanese lifestyle brand encompassing dining, retail, and experiences. By 2030, when someone thinks of Japanese cuisine in India, we want Harajuku to be the first name that comes to mind.”
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