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Japanese food has taken Mumbai by storm. From spicy tuna sushi to experimental ramen bowls, and even fusion Japanese dishes – you can get it all in the city.
Till about 10 years ago, all we knew about Japanese food was that it served raw fish with rice. Slowly, Mumbaikars have managed to shed inhibitions and venture into sampling unagi (eel), custard buns, red bean paste buns, and the city even got its first Japanese-Peruvian restaurant.
The face of Japanese cuisine in Mumbai has transformed. You can now get more than sashimi, sushi, and ramen bowls to slurp. Restaurants are also importing ingredients from Japan and are offering closer-to-authentic dishes from Japanese cuisine. It’s truly an exciting time to be sampling the cuisine across the city and learn how restaurants and chefs are raising the bar with their offerings.
So, whether you are a beginner at sampling Japanese cuisine in Mumbai or a seasoned sushi eater, head to the best Japanese restaurants in Mumbai and lift some of the finest sushi, okonomiyaki, and more with your chopsticks. We've curated a list of best Japanese restaurants Mumbai has to offer.
1. Wasabi by Morimoto
The best Japanese restaurants in Mumbai list must begin with Wasabi by Morimoto at the Taj. This upscale contemporary restaurant with views of the Gateway of India serves plates with ingredients imported from Japan. Led by Chef Morimoto, the team here is renowned for their dishes including Tekka Maki, Nego Toro Maki, Black Cod Miso, and Wasabi Crème Brulée.
Location: The Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba
Price: Rs 12,000 for two
2. Akina
Replacing Royal China on Turner Road, Akina is a contemporary izakaya that’s priced like a fine-dine. The glittering red and gold ambiance is reminiscent of Chinese restaurants, but the menu here features Japanese cuisine with a Latin American twist. You can sample their taquitos – sushi wrapped like a taco – which come with the seaweed wrapper dipped in tempura batter and fried, holding the sushi rice, chicken/fish and other toppings like a taco would. They offer robatayaki (charcoal-smoked grills) and warayaki (straw-smoked grills), along with staples like sushi, dim sum, and more.
Location: Turner Road, Bandra West
Price: Rs 6,000 for two
3. Koishii
The latest entrant in St. Regis Hotel, Lower Parel, Koishii offers a different style of Japanese food in Mumbai. Serving Nikkei cuisine – a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine – the restaurant is one of the first to offer this fusion of Japanese cuisine in Mumbai. The menu has an interesting mix of Peruvian ingredients used to cook Japanese food. Their signature dishes include Mango Ceviche, Hamachi Ceviche, Corn Ceviche, Salmón Tropical, and more.
Location: The St. Regis, Lower Parel
Price: Rs 7,000 for two
4. Wakai
Designed to look like ramen shops in Japan, Wakai’s colours are a reminder of Tokyo’s buzzing streets. Complete with a live sushi bar, the restaurant offers contemporary Japanese cuisine in Mumbai as the kitchen is helmed by Chef Parvez Khan. Ingredients are flown in from Japan to create Wasabi Cornettos, Spicy Crispy Maki Roll, Alaskan King Crab, Lobster Robatayaki and more.
Location: Mumbai Samachar Marg, Fort
Price: Rs 3,000 for two
5. Taki Taki
With dramatic décor that wears a luxurious look, a well-stocked bar, and obviously great sushi – Taki Taki in Lower Parel is a curious mix of a Japanese restaurant and a nightclub of sorts. The roomy restaurant has various sections and even a private dining area for intimate groups. And while their menu does showcase pan-Asian stapes as well, the Japanese dishes worth trying include Crispy Quinoa Maki Roll, Taki Taki Maki, Spicy Tobanjun Avocado Maki, Katsu Curry, and more.
Location: World Crest Lodha, Lower Parel
Price: Rs 3,000 for two
6. Origami Japanese & Korean Restaurant
With locations in BKC and Powai, Origami is taking over as the ‘it’ place to dine at for Japanese and Korean cuisines, especially when you don’t want to spend big. The restaurant wears a classic Japanese restaurant look with cane shades, light fixtures with Japanese lettering, and features a vast menu that includes interesting bites. You can sample Sake No Carpaccio, Sashimi Salad, Okonomiyaki, Tori No Kara-age, Tobanyaki Steak, among several other Japanese cuisine staples as well.
Location: Standard Chartered building, BKC and Hiranandani Gardens, Powai
Price: Rs. 4,000 for two
7. Izumi
Once a celebrity favourite, Izumi, off Linking Road in Bandra West, wears a classic Japanese look. With interiors that are wooden and royal blue banners, you can be assured that the focus is on Japanese cuisine here. It would make for an ideal breakfast place in Mumbai. Who wouldn’t love starting their day like the Japanese do? Especially because Izumi serves a wide range of Japanese cuisine staples along with heady cocktails, the menu here is interesting. You can sample Japanese dishes including the Seafood Miso Wasabi Salad, Seared Salmon Teriyaki, Katsu Curry, Mini Unagi Don, and more.
Location: Sunrise Cooperative Society, Bandra West
Price: Rs 2,500 for two
8. Mizu
Classic reds and golds dominate the interiors, and the dim-lighting makes this an elegant restaurant to dine at. You’ll wonder why this is not an open-air restaurant in Mumbai. Regardless, it’s perfect to go along with your family or even a date, Mizu in Khar West is just off Linking Road. Chef Lakhan Jethani along with partner Vedant Malik have managed to keep the menu and the space interesting and trendy enough for celebrities to dine here too. What makes Mizu one of the best Japanese restaurants in Mumbai is that they use Japanese techniques and herbs with Indian ingredients. So, you will spot items like Bhavnagari chillies on the menu too, but they are used to create Japanese food. You should take a bite of the Cold Noodle Salad, Prawns and Manipuri Bamboo Shoot Gyoza, Wasabi Kewpie, and Tsukune with Saffron Miso Sauce, among other items.
Location:14th Road Pali, Khar West
Price: Rs 3,000 for two
9. Tsubaki
Tsubaki's elegant interiors and elegant plates are where you want to go when you're looking for Japanese cuisine in Worli. Tsubaki gets its name from a Japanese flower; and one of its key features is the hydroponic garden. The restaurant is spread across multiple levels with the chefs busy at work on the ground floor. You must try the Tsubaki salad, Cheese Chilli Gyoza, Prawn Tempura Maki, Nasu Dengaku, and the Wasabi Crème Brulee for dessert.
Location: Desai Oceanic, next to Worli village bus depot, Worli
Price: Rs 3,000 for two
10. Kofuku
One of the earlier Japanese restaurants in Mumbai, Kofuku’s reputation remains unmatched. The quality of Japanese ingredients here has always been superior, and it continues to offer as authentic a meal as possible. The interiors wear a wooden look that’s simple and classic of Japanese restaurants in Japan. The menu features Japanese classics like Miso Shiru, Wakame Sunomono, Maguro Tataki, Miso Nagu Shigiyaki, Ton Katsu, Omrice, and more.
Kofuku presently has moved to a new location as Suburbia Mall is under repairs, but you can dine at its new location in BKC instead.
Location: Jio World Drive, BKC and Kailas Industrial Estate, Powai
Price: Rs 2,500 for two
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