Ruby Nunez
Hello Kitty has landed in America in a big way. The country’s first Hello Kitty pop-up cafe is now open at the Irvine Spectrum.
The pop-up is a pink cuteness overload built into a converted shipping container that’s loaded with all things Hello Kitty and her Sanrio character friends.
There, you can buy an assortment of drinks and sweets, along with pictures and merchandise.
The cafe opened in July and is located near the shopping center’s Ferris wheel.
Even on a gloomy day, the line for slices of strawberry cake and peach iced tea stretches through the plaza. Just reading the menu is enough to give you a sugar high all day.
Unfortunately, no substantial food is sold at the cafe, but you can choose from a variety of cakes, pies, cookies, lemonades, teas and “cat-uccino” espresso drinks.
According to a cashier, the most popular item so far has been the birthday cake, which resembles a perfectly wrapped present covered in sprinkles and Hello Kitty’s trademark red bow.
Lines might be shorter than they were during the opening weeks, but some of the more popular items still sell out, so go early and be prepared to wait.
One way to pass the time while you wait to pick up your order is to take advantage of the murals and photo ops surrounding the cafe.
Permanent Hello Kitty Cafes exist in Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. The U.S. pop-up will stay at the Spectrum until next summer.
