Supa San — Restaurant in Mumbai

Supa San beckons with the warm, inviting glow of a traditional Japanese izakaya. Stepping inside, I was immediately enveloped by its cozy, lively ambiance, where rich wooden decor and soft lighting create an atmosphere that feels like a warm embrace. The space hums with energy, striking a perfect balance between intimate and vibrant, earning a well-deserved 4/5 for its atmosphere and ambiance. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a relaxed evening, surrounded by the chatter of fellow diners and the sizzle of the robatayaki grill. The culinary journey at Supa San is a tale of highs and lows, with moments of brilliance tempered by a few missed opportunities. The dessert platter (4/5) was the undeniable star of the show, a delightful medley that showcased creativity and finesse. The fluffy Japanese cheesecake melted in the mouth, its lightness perfectly complemented by a silky caramel sauce. The yuzu ice cream brought a refreshing citrus zing, while the choux pastry with its rich chocolate dip was a decadent treat. The wasabi chocolate brittle added an adventurous twist, its subtle heat intriguing yet balanced. However, the pistachio macarons, while beautifully crafted, tipped the scales toward cloying sweetness, disrupting the platter’s harmony. A touch of restraint here could elevate this dessert to perfection. The robatayaki grilled fish (4/5) was another highlight, a testament to the kitchen’s skill with flame and flavor. Perfectly cooked, the fish boasted a tender, flaky texture, its buttery sauce adding a luxurious depth that made each bite memorable. This dish felt like the heart of the meal, embodying the soul of izakaya dining—simple ingredients transformed by careful technique. On the savory side, the chicken karaage (4/5) delivered with juicy, tender bites infused with the unexpected but delightful addition of curry leaves. The seasoning was spot-on, offering a satisfying crunch and a burst of flavor that made it a crowd-pleaser. However, the tempura ebi (2.5/5) fell short of expectations. While the batter was admirably crispy, the shrimp lacked seasoning and vibrancy, leaving the dish feeling lackluster and unappetizing—a rare misstep in an otherwise promising lineup. The Kanpai cocktail (3/5) promised a refreshing escape with its light, citrusy profile but ultimately lacked the bold punch needed to stand out. It was pleasant but forgettable, missing the spark that could have made it a perfect companion to the meal. Overall, Supa San earns a 3.5/5 for its heartfelt attempt to capture the essence of a traditional izakaya. The desserts and ambiance are the true draws, offering moments of joy and comfort that linger long after the meal. While the savory dishes and drinks show promise, a bit more attention to seasoning and balance could elevate the experience to match the warmth of the setting.

For izakaya enthusiasts, Supa San is well worth a visit—a cozy haven with enough charm and potential to warrant a return trip. With a few tweaks, this gem could shine...

Newly opened Japanese-themed restaurant, markets itself as an “izakaya” but primarily it’s a no frills restaurant with good food and a manga wall.

I’m going to start with the best part: the food.

Tamago Sando ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I haven’t been to a Japanese place yet that does egg salad sandwiches in Mumbai, so that itself was a great bonus for me. The egg salad is “fuwa fuwa” or fluffy as clouds and the toast is butter toasted. It was better than I expected! If you’re looking for the authentic conbini Japanese egg sandwich, this isn’t it, but it’s yum!

Chicken Karaage ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Super crispy, very well cooked. Again, as expected and no frills, so you can just focus on eating them crunchy fried chicken.

Kamameshi (Tori) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The staff claim, and they might be right, that they’re the only Japanese restaurant in the city doing Kamameshi. A nice one pot meal with a wholesome jus and meat of your choice, this dish will leave you feeling full and comfy.

Hokkaido Milk Pan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The dessert menu is my favourite part of this restaurant’s offerings! The milk bread was soft and melty, with a citrusy kick of lemon zests. I would keep coming back JUST for the milk pan and the egg sandwich

The drinks were pretty nice too. A nice, no-nonsense cold brew lemonade is a great way to kick off brunch!

Service was decent. Staff were attentive enough, and checked on us frequently.

Now for the bits that could do with some improvement. And honestly, some of these are nitpicks. So if you’re going for the food, the section below is irrelevant.

Ambience: The restaurant is marketed as an izakaya, but it definitely doesn’t fit that vibe. The decor is super generic, as opposed to a very cosy vibes of izakayas. There’s no handwritten menus and stuff posted across the walls. So if you’re looking to experience a Japanese izakaya in Mumbai, this would not be the adequate experience.

The comic book sale section: There’s manga beyond shonen! It would be lovely to see some niche, less available comics on offer, rather than your Narutos and Demon Slayers alone. At the risk of sounding like a total snob, whoever selected the library seems to have a very superficial understanding of the depth of Japanese comics. I went hoping to purchase some stuff but came away disappointed. Tiny anime merch would also fly off the shelves but they simply didn’t have any. Missed opportunity I thought.

Concluding thoughts:

Go for the Japanese food you won’t find in other restaurants! Not quite the haven for manga and anime/ Japanese culture enthusiasts as it’s...

A Deeply Disappointing and Potentially Unsafe Experience – Supa San Falls Severely Short

We visited Supa San in Bandra with high hopes, intending to celebrate a special occasion. What we experienced instead was not just a failure in hospitality, but a complete disregard for basic customer care, food safety, and accountability. Given the price point and the image this restaurant projects, the experience felt not only disappointing — it felt outright unacceptable.

Despite clearly requesting that our food be served course by course, everything was brought to the table at once, turning a special evening into a rushed and chaotic mess. We repeated our request several times, but the staff showed no concern or willingness to listen. It genuinely felt like we were being pushed to finish quickly and leave — hardly the kind of experience anyone expects from a restaurant that takes reservations.

When we brought this up with the floor captain, instead of taking responsibility, he simply blamed the chef — a completely unprofessional and evasive response. No apology. No correction. Just a dismissive attitude that made things worse.

Now to the food — bland, poorly executed, and shockingly below standard. Most unforgivable, however, were the Pork & Salmon, which were clearly not fresh. That alone raised red flags. And unfortunately, our concern was validated when one of our group members fell ill with diarrhea the following day. This isn’t just bad service anymore — this crosses into serious food safety territory. It’s appalling that a restaurant operating at this level would serve anything questionable, especially seafood.

To sum it up:

Service: Rushed, indifferent, and evasive

Food: Bland, overpriced, and potentially unsafe

Ambience: Overshadowed by pressure to vacate the table

We spent our hard-earned money to enjoy a night out, and instead walked away frustrated, sickened, and angry. Supa San might have the ambience, but the fundamentals — food quality, professionalism, and customer care — are completely broken. If this restaurant wants to survive in Mumbai’s competitive dining scene, it needs a full reset from top to bottom.

As it stands now, I wouldn’t just not recommend Supa San — I’d caution others to avoid...