In one of the latest developments in D2C news India, Japanese-inspired casual dining and quick-service restaurant chain Harajuku Tokyo Café has raised $2 million (INR 19 crore) in a seed funding round co-led by Indian Angel Network (IAN) and Samved VC, with additional participation from LetsVenture and venture debt fund Capitar Ventures. The round marks a strong vote of confidence in the brand’s D2C business model India, combining experiential dining formats with a growing direct-to-consumer India vertical through packaged foods.
Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Gaurav Kanwar, Harajuku Tokyo Café operates through two distinct formats: its full-service café and its quick-service Harajuku Bakehouse. Backed by a central kitchen in Delhi NCR that ensures operational consistency and speed, the brand has quickly emerged as one of the fastest-growing D2C food and beverage brands in the Indian D2C ecosystem. Currently, Harajuku has seven outlets across Delhi NCR and Mumbai and has already achieved over INR 30 crore in annual recurring revenue.
The fresh capital from this D2C funding round will be used to accelerate D2C expansion plans, strengthen operations, and fuel entry into new cities. With letters of intent already signed for locations in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Ludhiana, and Chandigarh, the company is targeting 90 outlets across 20 cities by 2027. Alongside scaling its offline footprint, Harajuku is also doubling down on its packaged food vertical, KoiKoi Essentials, which offers ramen kits, sauces, and frozen meals. This D2C product launch strategy positions the brand not just as a dining chain but as a premium D2C brand India with strong online and offline synergies.
The move into packaged foods underlines Harajuku’s ambitions in direct-to-consumer India, reflecting larger D2C market trends 2025, where dining chains are diversifying into D2C retail to capture evolving D2C consumer behavior India. With the growing appetite for Asian cuisine, Harajuku is competing with established players like Shizusan, Mamagoto, and Kofuku while carving its niche with an authentic Japanese café experience paired with innovative D2C offerings.
The brand’s Mumbai debut at Jio World Drive, BKC in July 2025, which also introduced Harajuku Bakehouse, drew strong consumer traction—signaling high demand and reinforcing its D2C revenue growth potential. By blending omnichannel D2C strategy with experiential dining, Harajuku is building one of the most promising D2C brand building stories in India’s food and beverage sector.
As global investors continue to bet on VC-backed D2C brands, Harajuku’s latest raise highlights the appetite for differentiated latest D2C startups combining dining, packaged goods, and lifestyle-driven consumption. With strong financial momentum, rapid expansion goals, and clear pathways for scaling both offline and online, Harajuku Tokyo Café is positioning itself to be one of the best performing D2C brands FY25 and a future candidate to watch in D2C IPO news as the sector matures.
