Oju
Oju is Karan Johar's restaurant, which guarantees it will look extraordinary — the extraordinary part is discovering that the Japanese-inspired kitchen is as compelling as the room it serves in.
Anisha arrived at Oju for lunch expecting a celebrity vanity project and found instead a genuinely ambitious Pan-Asian kitchen operating with precision and intention. The interiors are dramatic in a way that feels considered rather than compensating — dark wood, low lighting, curated tableware, and a soundtrack that sits perfectly between meditative and engaging. The menu channels Japanese sensibility with Indian palate awareness, and the result is an experience that earns the Karan Johar stamp through quality rather than just association.
What Anisha Ordered
The Edamame Gyoza arrived perfectly steamed with a crispy sear on the base — the edamame and tofu filling was clean and well-seasoned, the ginger ponzu dipping sauce cutting through richness without overpowering. 8.5/10. The Truffle Mushroom Sushi Roll was the most theatrically presented dish and also the most delicious — black rice, king oyster mushroom, truffle oil, a torched finish that brought everything into a single umami-rich bite. 9/10. The Miso-Glazed Aubergine arrived impeccably lacquered — deeply caramelised on the outside with a silky, yielding interior, and a yuzu kosho condiment on the side that elevated every bite. 9/10.
The Bill
₹4,830 for three dishes. For this level of Japanese technique and ambiance in Mumbai, the pricing is entirely fair — Oju doesn't exploit the celebrity premium, and the kitchen justifies the investment-piece tier on its own merits.
HEII Score: 2/5 ★★
- Truffle Mushroom Sushi Roll is the table's must-order ✅
- Japanese technique applied with genuine understanding ✅
- Dramatic interiors add to the dining experience rather than competing with it ✅
- Menu leans premium on some specialty items — watch the add-ons ⚠️
Verdict: Oju earns its place as one of Mumbai's most sophisticated dining destinations — not because Karan Johar's name is on the door, but because the kitchen delivers Japanese-inspired cooking that would hold its own in any serious Asian food city. The Truffle Mushroom Roll is a must.