Advertisement

Customers Flock To Hello Kitty-Themed Pop-Up Café In California

Irvine, Calif. just got a whole lot cuter. The city is now home to America’s first Hello Kitty Café, and consumers are flocking to the pink shipping container refurbished into a walk-up counter and dining patio area. In fact, the crowds were so big that the café had to temporarily close for a few hours.

The café, which opened on July 15 and will remain open for a year, features a menu filled with Hello Kitty-adorned pastries, hand shaken teas and custom-made beverages.

The popularity of the café is not surprising, as the Sanrio character is practically a fictional icon. Hello Kitty is the subject of many attractions around the world, including a Hello Kitty Beauty Spa in Dubai and a Hello Kitty Dreams restaurant in Beijing. There is even a Hello Kitty-themed airline.

Advertisement

Japanese and Korean trends are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. Korean beauty (also known as K-beauty) has already made its way to the States, and it seems as though “character cafes,” which are also huge in Japan, are following suit.

Sanrio has already tested the waters with a Hello Kitty Café Truck, which has been traveling around the country for the past year, and rumor has it that the café will have a permanent home in Irvine in the future. 

“Since its debut last year, the Hello Kitty Café Truck has delighted fans in every city it has visited,” said Jill Koch, Senior VP of Brand Management and Marketing at Sanrio in a statement. “The Hello Kitty Café Pop-Up Container is an evolution of our café experience, offering a new selection of treats in a modern, open concept space.”

Featured Event

View the Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series on-demand to uncover key 2025 retail trends, from AI and personalization to social commerce. Gain expert insights, data-driven predictions, and actionable takeaways to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Uncovering What’s Next in Retail

On-Demand Limited Video Series

Q1 is a pivotal time for retail, with experts analyzing holiday sales and forecasting trends. View the full lineup of the Retail Trendcaster video series for insights on consumer spending, AI, personalization, social commerce, and more—helping you focus on what truly matters in 2025.

Brought to you by
Retail TouchPoints
Access Now
Retail TouchPoints is a brand of Emerald X LLC. By clicking the button and submitting information, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be shared with corporate affiliates of Emerald X LLC, and other organizations such as event hosts, speakers, sponsors, and partners. Please read our Privacy Policy and our Terms Of Use for more information on our policies.

Access The Media Kit

Interests:

Access Our Editorial Calendar




If you are downloading this on behalf of a client, please provide the company name and website information below: