-KH News Desk (cbdigital@imaws.org)
Wakai that translates its meaning to ‘fresh’ offers a luxurious Japanese dining experience in Mumbai. The philosophy of the restaurant is to interweave authentic Japanese recipes with contemporary influences with the help of its highly trained team of chefs.
Wakai Bandra, a two storeyed restaurant, serves the signature dishes like Truffle Sea Bass Gyoza, Black Cod Miso as well as a diverse selection ofSushi, Sashimi, and Nigiri. Among the foods provided are tsukune, yaki tori, miso soup gyoza, as well as the Wasabi cornettoes and Tuscany-inspired sushi. Japanese ingredients are often much more expensive than pan-Asian ingredients hence a lunch at Wakai costs around Rs 3,000 without alcohol.
Parvez Khan, the restaurant’s chef, and one of the co-founders has some familiarity in Japanese cuisine. He worked at Wasabi before founding the first Wakai location in South Mumbai in 2021, thus garnering the experience and skills by working under the renowned Japanese chef, Masaharu Morimoto who is exclusively known for his peculiar style of presenting food.
The award-winning Japanese restaurant of the Taj Mahal Palace & Hotel in Mumbai was regarded as the premium when it initially debuted in 2004. Izumi, another restaurant specialised in Japanese cuisines opened on the other side of the creek in Bandra over a decade later. Except for these two milestones, Japanese food was mainly unexplored territory in India. Wakai, promises to provide a wholesome Japanese experience.
The restaurant designed by Rupin Sachak, exquisitely draws its inspiration from the hole-in the wall ramen shops, with the ceiling embellished with the umbrella designs and the magna images on the walls.The overall vibrant setting of the restaurant is synonymous to the pop culture.
“The core idea behind Wakai was to create a space that serves eclectic and unforgettable cuisine surrounded by a luxurious and alluring vibe. We now look forward to. making Bandra fall in love with Japanese food and Wakai.”-
Shardul Singh Bayas.
