Harajuku Tokyo Café, a Japanese casual dining and QSR chain, has raised ₹19 crore in its seed funding round led by Indian Angel Network (IAN), an angel investment platform and Samved VC, a venture capital fund focused on underserved and high-potential Indian markets.
The round also saw participation from LetsVenture and venture debt fund Capitar Ventures.
Founded in 2021 by Gaurav Kanwar, Harajuku Tokyo Café has redefined Japanese dining in India by making authentic cuisine accessible through casual dining restaurants and quick-service formats.
Harajuku operates through two high-growth formats: the full-service Harajuku Tokyo Café and the quick-service Harajuku Bakehouse. Backed by a central kitchen in Delhi NCR that handles 85% of food preparation, the brand delivers consistent quality within minutes across outlets.
The brand is foraying into the packaged food segment with its D2C vertical, KoiKoi Essentials, which will bring ramen kits, sauces, and frozen meals to homes across India.
With seven outlets currently across Delhi NCR and Mumbai, Harajuku claims to have achieved annual recurring revenue of over ₹30 crore.
The company is targeting 90 outlets across 20 cities and ₹200 crores+ in revenue by 2027, with Letters of Intent already signed for 15 locations in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Ludhiana, and Chandigarh.
Gaurav Kanwar, Founder and CEO of Harajuku Tokyo Café, said, “This funding milestone strengthens our vision of democratizing Japanese cuisine in India. What began as a passion project to make Japanese food accessible has evolved into a scalable business model that resonates with India’s evolving palate. With our Mumbai launch exceeding all expectations and this funding secured, we’re positioned to become India’s leading Japanese dining destination.”
He adds, “Our vision extends beyond just restaurants. We’re building a Japanese lifestyle brand that encompasses 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.”
Hari Balasubramanian, IAN investor, said, “Gaurav and his team have masterfully executed a complex concept – bringing authentic Japanese cuisine to the mass market while maintaining quality and creating genuine brand affinity. Their attention to operational detail, from the central kitchen operations to the customer experience design, demonstrates the scalability we need to see in today’s competitive F&B landscape.”
Uday Chatterjee, IAN investor, said, “Having visited their outlets multiple times with family, I can attest to both the food quality and the unique dining experience they’ve created. Harajuku is a cultural bridge that makes Japanese cuisine approachable for Indian families while maintaining authenticity.”
Vivek Khare, Partner, Samved VC, said, “I’ve always believed that the best investments come from the heart—and my heart has long been with this brand. I’m a regular customer, drawn back again and again by the flavors I love. But what truly sealed my decision was the founder’s infectious passion—for the food, the menu, the processes, the hygiene, the branding, and the vision for scaling. He lives and breathes every aspect of the business, and that energy is as irresistible as the cuisine itself. Investing here is about being part of something I genuinely enjoy and believe in.”
