Children's Day 2011 - Hello Kitty Cafe review

I love Korea. Why? Well, because their are so many awesome holidays.

Like Children's Day, which is a national holiday on May 5th.

Yesterday, being May 5th (I forgot it was cinco de mayo) I met up with my friend Mina and we went to 대학로 for coffee and shopping and sightseeing.

I had been to this area one other time, back when I first arrived in Korea, and I had no idea where I was. I went with a Korean friend and she just showed me around. 대학 is the korean word for university. 로 is one of the words for street or road or lane (just like in English, there are lots). 대학로 is near the best university in Korea, Seoul National University, and is also located really close to 성균관대 (Sungkyunkwan University) which you may recognize from the wildly popular k-drama 성균관스캔들. Anyhow, this is also the biggest theater district in Korea, and the home to about million adorable cafes and restaurants and some of the best and most varied architecture in Seoul (not saying much, Seoul sucks as far as architecture and urban design is concerned).

I am so happy to have rediscovered this area. It's beautiful and I HIGHLY recommend it as a place to visit.

Now, why, exactly, did we pick 대학로? Well, because on April 29th (coincidentally my birthday), a brand new branch of Hello Kitty Cafe opened there. And, well, Mina and I both love Kitty, so we HAD to go. Also, I had to buy some new TOMS shoes because my old ones were getting raggedy, but you can't buy TOMS just anywhere here in Korea. 10x10 is an AMAZING store, by the way. Definitely check out if you are in Seoul. Also, if you are in Korea and looking for toms, tweet @TOMSKorea and they will totally tell you how to find stores that sell TOMS wherever you are.

Old TOMS (left) New TOMS (right) - I'm not gonna stop wearing the old ones.

And, let me tell you, Hello Kitty (henceforth HK) fans, it's a must-visit. If not the one in 대학로, you can also go to the one in 홍대 (Hongdae) or the one in 신촌 (Sinchon). They are all amazing, all the the 신촌점 is my favorite.

Be prepared for a heavy dose of pink, and a whole lot of cuteness when you walk through their sliding glass doors. It's just bursting at the seems with Kitty paraphernalia, which didn't bother me one bit.

The stairwell between 2nd/3rd floor. SO MUCH PINK

The 대학로점 is located on the second floor across from the CGV (go out exit 4 of 혜화 station). The sign is big and pink and on your left. You should be able to find it pretty clearly. You should definitely find a seat before you order because there weren't a lot of available seats (unless you go during dinner time). Otherwise, you'll order your drink and get bounced really fast.

It doesn't look that crowded but TRUST ME. It was full of people, Korean, Western, Japanese and Chinese!

 We sat on the third floor which was a bit quieter, but just as pink. You have to order your drinks at the counter on the second floor the menu is typical of most cafes, except with extra kitty touches. If you order a waffle, like we did, you can expect it to come out shaped like Kitty's head, complete with a waffle ironed bow. On the tops of some drinks (NOT caramel ones... mostly lattes) they will dust images of Kitty. My vanilla latte had her whiskers and eyes and nose, a cafe mocha I think has a side profile, and the green tea latte has the MOST ADORABLE dusted green Kitty bow. Everything comes out in specialty cups and plates emblazoned with a pseudo-hello kitty image logo(the cafe is not actually Sanrio certified, so they can't use kitty's real image in their logo). But, all the decorations are HK inspired, and they sell *real* HK dolls & accessories for relatively reasonable prices.

 Food

 My Vanilla Latte

The waffle was decent. Nothing to write home about, but it was cute. One negative was that when you order the waffle they give you only a fork to eat it. With some waffles this is fine (belgian waffles especially), but this waffle is not Belgian and it as nearly impossible to cut with our forks. We had to ask for a knife. The taste was pretty average for a waffle. But, the price was pretty average too. Luckily, this is a theme cafe that won't cost you an arm and a leg. The choco banana waffle we had was 3,500 won. The drinks are also not too spectacular, but they aren't bad. In my experience, the Americano is quite good (I've had it at the other locations, where they used mini mini ice cubes which I loved) as are the caramel drinks. The vanilla latte I had needed more vanilla and less sugar, imo. But the dusting on top was cute indeed. Also, they offer frozen yogurt with a pureed fruit topping, which is really good, but very sweet. Also, they sell mini HK cakes, which are delicious AND adorable, but a little on the pricey side, at 10,000 won for a cake that might serve 2-3. The waffle is a better deal, but that cake is heavenly. I got one once at the Hongdae shop, two thumbs up.

 Left: Mina Right: Kitty goodies and a kitty wall!

 Kitty on display!

Even the bathroom was decorated to the hilt with Kitty, from the mirror to the soap dispenser to the toilet paper cover. Kitty-tastic:

Clockwise from top L: Toilet Paper Holder; Bathroom Door, Me posing in Bathroom mirror shaped like HK

My favorite thing? The warning signs. I only took a picture of one: 머리 조심! (Watch your head!), but all of them (don't write on the walls, wifi is available, please bring your plates to the 1st floor) were adorable. Those and the chairs were freaking cute:

 Sad hurt head kitty. BOWS ON CHAIRS!!

Anyways, if you don't care about Hello Kitty at all, I wouldn't bother coming, but if you are interested in HK, have a daughter (or son!) who likes HK, or you just want to beat the heat of the fast-approaching summer in a pink paradise, the Hello Kitty Cafe is your place.

Oh, and we drank smoothies at Smoothie King!

Mmmm Mmmmm Good!

Directions to 대학로점:
Go to Hyehwa Station (Line 4- 혜화역).
Exit 4.
Go straight down the main 대학로 road.
On your right, after about 50-75 meters you will see a CGV.
Across from the CGV, on your right, is the Hello Kitty Cafe on the second/third floors.

Directions to 홍대점 (Hongdae Shop):
Go to Hongik University Station (line 2- 홍대입구역)
Exit 9.
Go straight until VIPS.
Turn left.
Walk straight until on your right hand side you see a make up store: Tony Moly.
Tony Moly is sandwiched between two roads, one with a lot of restaurants (right side, looking to Tony Moly) and one with a lot of little stores and coffee shops (left side).
Go down the left side one (you will have to cross the street first).
Walk maybe 50 meters, maybe a little less, maybe a little more.
On your left, tucked behind some stores is the PINK hello kitty cafe storefront.

Enjoy!!