First Hello Kitty Cafe Officially Opens In U.S.

With her classic pink bow and trademark whiskers, Sanrio’s Hello Kitty recently celebrated her 40th anniversary in a big way. To honor the iconic kitty, Sanrio decided to make history and opened its very first Hello Kitty cafe in the U.S. So, obviously, that means fans can buy tasty treats with the lovable character’s face on them.

The Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Container almost sounds too good to be true for hardcore Sanrio fanatics. The adorably pink restaurant opened up at the Irvine Spectrum Center in California on July 15th and will remain in business through 2017. This cafe comes after Sanrio rolled out their crazy popular Hello Kitty Cafe Truck in the west coast, prompting hundreds of fans to flood the cute establishment wherever it went.

Jill Koch, Senior Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing for Sanrio, released a statement regarding the character’s newest cafe by saying, “Since its debut last year, the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck has delighted fans in every city it has visited. The Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Container is an evolution of our cafe experience, offering a new selection of treats in a modern, open concept space.”

So, if you’re in the Irvine area and looking for something sweet, stopping by the Hello Kitty Pop-Up Container might be an excellent idea. The venue sells homemade pastries like apple pies, mini cakes, fruity tarts, fresh cookies, and a lot more. Of course, Sanrio’s most popular characters like Hello Kitty, Chococat, and Keroppi can be found imprinted on most foods sold at the cafe. And, if you’re lucky, the venue’s baristas may create some Hello Kitty latte art for you since the cafe also sells iced teas, lemonades, and coffee drinks.

Irvine Company Retail Properties CMO, Easther Liu, commented upon how excited the city was to welcome Hello Kitty to their neighbor. She said, “There has been tremendous anticipation for the first ever Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Container to open. We’re proud that the Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Container experience will be available exclusively here at Irvine Spectrum Center for Hello Kitty fans all over to enjoy.”

While this is the first Hello Kitty cafe established in the U.S., there are dozens of Hello Kitty restaurants around the world from Japan to Singapore. As for Sanrio’s Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, the vehicle will continue its business and even make its way to the east coast this Fall.