Inka by Bastian's new lunch menu brings together the best of two worlds

When Inka by Bastian invited me to experience its newly launched lunch experience in Mumbai, I was curious to see how the restaurant would translate its high-energy dinner identity into a daytime offering. Located in Lower Parel, the restaurant has introduced a lunch menu that brings together its signature Peruvian-Asian cuisine alongside a handful of Bastian favourites, creating a dining experience designed for everything from business meetings to fun afternoon catch-ups.

The first thing that strikes you about Inka is the space itself. Dramatic monochrome interiors, mood lighting, and thoughtful design details make the restaurant feel polished without being intimidating. While Bastian has built its reputation on indulgent crowd-pleasers over the years, Inka has occupied a slightly different lane. Here, the focus is on Peruvian and Asian influences, with flavours that feel bolder, more layered and rooted in cultural inspiration rather than familiarity alone. The new lunch menu continues that approach while also introducing some of the dishes that loyal customers have come to associate with the Bastian name.

Lunch began with the tiger maki, one of the restaurant's signatures. Fresh, balanced and satisfying, it set the tone for the meal without feeling overly heavy. This was followed by the crispy chicken bao, which quickly emerged as one of my favourite dishes of the afternoon. The bao itself was soft and pillowy, while the chicken retained the perfect crunch. Together, they delivered the kind of bite you find yourself reaching for again and again.

The pork belly was another standout. Rich and deeply flavourful, it was cooked beautifully, tender without being too chewy. What worked particularly well was the use of gochujang. The gochujang glaze added warmth and complexity to the dish without dominating the palate, allowing the flavour of the pork to remain the hero.

The lobster roll, however, was the dish that stole the show. Packed with flavour yet remarkably restrained, it struck the sweet spot between indulgence and balance. Every element from the warm butter-poached lobster to the brioche felt considered. It is easily the one plate from the meal that I would return for.

The new menu also reflects Inka's commitment to exploring Peruvian-Asian flavours more deeply. New additions, such as the alphonso ceviche pair classic Peruvian techniques with mango, coconut, and quinoa, while dishes like the Peruvian seabass and animal prawns highlight the interplay between Japanese precision and vibrant Peruvian ingredients. 

To end the meal, I tried the hazelnut crunch pull me up, one of Bastian's most-loved desserts that has found a place on the lunch menu. Rich layers of chocolate and crunchy hazelnut came together in a dessert that felt decadent and unapologetically indulgent, exactly what you want from a dessert at the end of a leisurely afternoon meal.

What makes this new lunch offering interesting is that it carves out a distinct identity, one that combines Bastian's most-loved favourites with Inka's more adventurous culinary perspective. Whether you are looking for a business lunch destination or a place to catch up with your friends over good food and conversation, Inka by Bastian gives diners another reason to spend an afternoon at one of Mumbai's most striking restaurants.

All images: The brand

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