Around Town: Love carrot cake? This Bandra cafe will satiate your craving with a taste of Japan
Founded by Karreena Bulchandani, Mokai is inspired by her adventures in Southeast Asia, particularly the streets of Japan, which are reflected in its design elements.
4 min read
Founded by Karreena Bulchandani, Mokai is inspired by her adventures in Southeast Asia, particularly the streets of Japan, which are reflected in its design elements. (Express Photo)If you’ve strolled through the quaint lanes of Chapel Road in Mumbai’s Bandra, you’ve likely noticed a bungalow with a facade bursting with colourful artwork, predominantly in pink and blue hues. This eye-catching display, reminiscent of Hokusai’s iconic ‘The Great Wave Off Kanagawa’ painting but with a giant moka pot, belongs to Mokai, the recently launched all-day dining and coffeehouse in Bandra.
Founded by Karreena Bulchandani, Mokai is inspired by her adventures in Southeast Asia, particularly the streets of Japan, which are reflected in its design elements.
Expect muted tones of beige, brown, and orchid pink, and wood-clad walls and ceilings harmoniously blending with its coffee counter and table tops that exhibit raw textures. (Express Photo)
Conceptualised and executed by Studio 6158 and Jungle Gym, the 70-seater cafe spread across two storeys reflects Japan’s minimalist aesthetic and celebrates its principle of wabi-sabi — the art of finding beauty in imperfection — offering warmth and ease. Expect muted tones of beige, brown, and orchid pink, and wood-clad walls and ceilings harmoniously blending with its coffee counter and table tops that exhibit raw textures. Adding to its character are the artworks running throughout the cafe — one of its walls features embroidery techniques like Japan’s sashiko and India’s kantha.
We visited the cafe on a late Thursday afternoon, and to our surprise, it was bustling with a constant stream of people coming and going. We took a seat on the first floor, surrounded by two young girls who had just finished high school and a couple enjoying a lazy, indulgent afternoon.
The Berry Good Acai and Tofu Beetroot sandwich. (Express Photos)
“The name Mokai combines ‘moka’, which is a pot of coffee, with “ai”, the Japanese word for love,” shared Mohit Bulchandani, Karreena’s husband and the man behind Seeds of Life, who was running the cafe when we visited. Needless to say they take their coffee very seriously. The menu offers a wide variety made using Singapore’s Common Man Coffee Roasters’ 22 Saint Martin Blend or in-house coffee blend for which beans are sourced from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka. We sampled Tiramisu Iced Latte (Rs 350), which was strong, creamy, and heavenly. If you are a fan of matcha, they source it directly from Japan, and from the orders being placed around us, we gathered that they have created a reputation for themselves.
Moving on to the food, there is an expansive all-day breakfast and dining menu featuring a wide range of egg preparations alongside smoothie bowls, toasts, and curries. We opted for their The Berry Good Acai (Rs 620) bowl, a vegan option featuring a hearty smoothie made from acai, blueberry, mango, and dates, served with house-made granola, mango pieces, and chia seeds.
Tiramisu Iced Latte. (Express Photo)
While we enjoyed the very tangy and delicious salad-like appetiser Burrata & Miso Cherry Tomato (Rs 425), the smoked patty in the Tofu Beetroot (Rs 495) sandwich didn’t wow us. However, we were impressed with the use of coriander wasabi and jalapeno in the sandwich which offered it a distinct taste. Our most favourite item was perhaps their Carrot Cake (Rs 175), which finally ended this writer’s quest to find a soft yet dense carrot cake, subtly spiced and topped with just the right amount of icing. The fact that it is vegan and free from refined sugar was the cherry on top.
Where: Newton House- 54,Chapel road, Bandra (W)
When: 7 am to 8 pm
Price for two: Rs 1,500
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