The city’s latest obsession sweeping the crowds is the soft, squishy, pastel-coloured mochi. Its name hints at something sweet and adorable, which explains the fascination! What began as a quiet trickle of Japanese-inspired desserts on a few menus has grown into a major trend: cafés are stuffing mochi with gelato, home bakers are experimenting with matcha and yuzu, and even the most diehard gulab-jamun fanatics are sneaking in a mochi treat between meals.
I challenge you to find someone who loves sweets and desserts more than I, but I was skeptical about this tiny, glutinous, oddly colored laddoo. It looks straight from the animated shows we watched as kids. But after trying it, I was hooked—I could eat it after every meal.
Maybe it’s the texture (soft like a cloud, chewy like a dream), maybe it’s the fillings (from mango to matcha to whatever mood the baker was in that morning), or maybe it’s because we love anything that makes for excellent photos (it’s one of the most picture-worthy desserts). Whatever the reason, the mochi wave is here—and growing strong. We are here for it!
Delhi’s mochi craze transforms this dessert into something exciting and creative, from gelato-filled versions to edible art. This guide explores where to find the city’s best mochi, so you can experience the trend firsthand.
Harajuku Tokyo Cafe
If Delhi has a gateway to Kawaii culture, it’s Harajuku Tokyo Café—a bubblegum-pink fever dream where everything from the décor to the dessert feels like it was designed to improve your mood. They were also among the first spots to bring Japanese desserts to the city, including mochi, fluffy pancakes, and a cat pudding.
Their mochis come in the soft, stretchy, classic Japanese style, the kind that makes you do the little “should I poke it?” hesitation before committing to the bite. There are usually two or three varieties offered at any given time—such as strawberry, matcha, and chocolate—so you can pick from a small, rotating selection. The flavours are subtle, creamy, and just sweet enough to make you reach for another without a second thought. They look like tiny bears in pink, brown, and white, and look like they’re made to be preserved, not eaten.
The mochi comes in two distinct flavours: chocolate and seasonal fruit, which change depending on the time of year. I recently had the strawberry—absolutely delectable.
But honestly, the fun doesn’t stop at mochi. This place doubles as a haven for Japanese desserts. There’s the pillowy soufflé pancakes served with Nutella, that wobble like they’re actually made of clouds, taiyaki stuffed with molten chocolate or custard, loaded sandwiches that belong on a Tokyo Instagram feed, and yakitori-style skewers for when you need “real food” to justify the dessert binge. Even the drinks are a vibe—iced matcha lattes, bubble teas, and the kind of fruity soda pops that seem straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.
Harajuku Tokyo Café is one of the best in the city for a hearty Japanese binge. So, if your idea of a good time is soft desserts, incredibly aesthetic corners, and finger-licking food, this is the spot for you.
Address: First Floor, Select Citywalk Mall, Saket District Centre, Sector 6, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110017
Timings: Monday to Sunday (8 am–12 am)
Cost for two: INR 1,500
Takashi: Sushi Bar & Japanese Kitchen
Takashi is popular all across the capital for authentic, delish Japanese food. Step inside, and it makes sense: minimal, calm interiors, soft lighting, clean wooden lines, and a sushi counter where each plate looks and tastes better than the last. No loud crowds, no neon chaos, just soft music to accompany your meal.
Takashi’s mochi is the opposite of the theatrics you’ll find at the dessert cafés—it’s quiet and classic. A chilled, perfectly chewy sphere that feels satisfying just to bite into. You get a choice of three flavours—matcha, mango, or vanilla—simple and done quite well. It’s the kind of mochi you eat slowly, not because you’re trying to savour it, but because it feels wrong to rush something this perfect!
The mochi is not where it ends. Their food deserves to be spotlighted as well. The nigiri platter and the bigger, beautifully balanced sushi/takashi platters are the dishes regulars swear by—fresh cuts, perfectly seasoned rice, and that gentle kick of wasabi that clears your sinuses just enough to remind you you’re alive.
If you crave crunch, the tempura (veg or shrimp) and crunchy uramaki rolls deliver the perfect balance of crisp and soft. On cosy days—or just Delhi days—the ramen bowls and noodle soups are deeply comforting, warm, slurpable, and borderline therapeutic. For a hearty, homey meal, the katsu curry bowls (pork, chicken, tofu or prawn) come piled on fluffy Japanese rice and feel like a hug you didn’t know you needed.
Address: Trilium Avenue Mall, Sector 29, nearest Metro Huda City Centre, Haryana 122009
Timings: Monday to Sunday (12–3:30 pm, 6–11 pm)
Price for two: INR 2,000
Yum Yum Cha
Walking into Yum Yum Cha is like stepping inside a life-sized origami box: bright colours, pop-art walls, patterned tiles, and charming origami-shaped lights. It’s playful, buzzy, and always packed with people ordering just one more thing, even when their table is already full. The food is that good. No wonder it’s one of Delhi’s most sought-after spots for Asian food.
Let’s get to the mochi—Yum Yum Cha served mochi before it became a trend in Delhi. Their mochi ice cream box is a passport to happiness: chewy rice dough hugs cold ice cream in flavours like mango, matcha, pink paan, rocky road, and sometimes a seasonal surprise. Best of all, it looks just like cut fruit. At Yum Yum Cha, mochi is a burst of joy packed into a pastel, edible cushion.
And the food? There’s a reason the brand has a cult. The dim sum menu is a greatest hits album: truffle edamame, spicy asparagus dumplings, crystal duck, and fiery chicken dumplings are staples for anyone who’s been there twice. Their sushi rolls—especially the volcano roll, prawn tempura roll, and the popular crunchy roll—are comfort food in bite-sized form. The sticky rice bowls, teriyaki donburis, and ramen bowls round things out. Their edamame with garlic salt is dangerously addictive.
Address: First Floor, 69, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003
Timings: Monday to Sunday (12–11 pm)
Price for two: INR 2,000
Kofuku
Kofuku is Delhi’s love letter to Japanese dining—complete with sushi, ramen, dumplings, and, yes, mochi ice cream that tastes absolutely delicious. Walking in, you step straight into a warm, wood-panelled space, with soft lighting and a vibe that leans heavily towards a traditional Japanese izakaya: tatami-style booths, bamboo touches, and corners that feel incredibly comforting.
The mochi flavours at Kofuku go beyond the generic: you can often find mango, vanilla, butterscotch, strawberry (and sometimes green tea) on the menu. Each bite of this sugary goodness feels like a quiet, satisfying full stop: chewy, chilly, lightly sweet, and deeply comforting after a spread of spicy sushi or ramen.
When hunger hits, Kofuku spreads out a full Japanese feast. The super crunchy roll with its perfectly crisp exterior and soft centre is almost a rite of passage. Their dim sum, especially the shrimp dumplings or the veggie-melon-water-chestnut ones, strikes that satisfying balance between delicate and hearty. If you want soul-food comfort, the ramen or hot-pot bowls warm you up from inside; for a richer finish, the Balinese-style curry rice offers a creamy, spiced escape from Delhi’s usual safe flavours.
Address: BG-09, Block B, Ground Floor, Ansal Plaza Mall, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110049
Timings: Monday to Sunday (12–11 pm)
Price for two: INR 1,500
Read more: These Matcha Bars In Mumbai Are (Definitely) Worth The Hype
Also read: 5 Best Fine Dining Japanese Restaurants In Delhi NCR
