Hello Kitty Cafe in Seoul, Korea! Sanrio theme cafe & gift shop, Hongdae.
Life is now complete (joking, sort of)… because I’ve been to the Hello Kitty Cafe in Seoul, Korea!
I know you want to step inside this Sanrio theme restaurant, and eat Hello Kitty cake… so let’s hop right to it.
First, how to get to this pink house? If you’re taking a taxi, tell the driver to go to this address: 헬로키티카페: 서울시 마포구 서교동 358-11
In English, this says Hello Kitty Cafe: 358-112 Seogyo-dong, Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul
If you’re riding the subway, disembark at Honggik University station (aka Hongdae) and walk out of exit 5. The tall pink facade, topped with her signature bow, is impossible to miss.
Hello Kitty’s most diehard fans come to Seoul specifically to visit her theme cafe. Try to come on a weekday and during off-hours, since this is a popular destination and the two floors may be packed. If you’re lucky, you can nab a table and plush chairs, overlooking the Kitty-faced window.
At the entrance, you can place your order for cakes, waffles and lattes decorated like Hello Kitty (6000-10,000 won each, or $6-10).
How can you resist getting a cheesecake shaped like Hello Kitty’s face? It comes in three different flavors and colors.
The pink one tastes like strawberries. Only sweet dishes are served here, so be prepared for a blood sugar spike.
I also ordered a tiramisu. I don’t usually have much of a sweet tooth, but this is one of my favorite Italian desserts.
Rounding up the sugar-loaded meal: a decorated mocha and cappuccino, a pink milkshake that celebrates her 40th anniversary…
… and chocolate-covered waffle, shaped a la Hello Kitty. This one looks more like an earless Scottish Fold cat face to me.
To be honest, the pastries are priced on the high side, and look far better than they taste.
We cut Miss Kitty open, and poked at her sugary, bland insides. Not exactly the meal of a lifetime.
But if you’re a fangirl, the “kawaii” decor — including a Hello Kitty statue in a sparkly pink dress! — make up for it.
On the back wall, there’s a mural showing Hello Kitty shopping in Paris. Visitors write notes or leave their signatures here. One of the customers seems to be giving me the side-eye…
Another window shows white stones, scrawled with Korean wishes. (Photography by Ken Yuen and Noircorner)
“Kitty’s room is full of fun and play!” Why not. I’m a fan for life.
Downstairs, you can shop for special edition Sanrio souvenirs, including Korean-style ones. Shop for Hello Kitty items below >>
I was tempted to get this keychain of Hello Kitty in a hanbok (traditional Korean dress).
Let me warn you, the hurried staff is not known for its customer service. They pointed aggressively at an English sign, to make sure we understood we had to return the plates after eating. I guess some naughty diners tried to smuggle the custom dishes home as souvenirs.
Since the cafe has such a high turn-over, the tables and restrooms may not be satisfactorily maintained either. Perhaps I came on an off-day, but there was no toilet paper in the stalls — not even a square to spare! — and the staff neglected to mop up a spilled drink.
However, this didn’t damper the mood of these smiling Korean girls. Most of the customers are young and female, and come here in groups.
The “cottage” doesn’t really exist (unless I’m mistaken), but the Hello Kitty Cafe is a must-see if you’re in Seoul, and a lover of all things Sanrio.
● For more tips about places to see in this neighborhood, check out my Hongdae guide featuring Eat Your Kimchi.
● I’ve covered various Hello Kitty attractions in Asia; here are my blog posts about Japan’s Puroland theme park, and the Hong Kong Hello Kitty pop up cafe. And don’t worry if you aren’t in Asia; you can still find her products below!
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LA CARMINA
46 Comments
Luv the popping colors in ur pics …dennis
Thanks Dennis.
is beautiful
really COOL! Sanrio forever <3
4evs
So kawaii! That Hello Kitty cake is to die for!
Cute food ftw.
I had not visited your blog in the longest time- blue hair looks amazing on you! You look just gorge :__)
Thanks for revisiting! Tons of coverage coming up from tokyo.
Hi! Glad I found you. How do you feel about blogging for each other?
Very nice!
How are you enjoying it?
Loved korea!!
this is a fun photo…and fab look!
It was a fab day.
I like it!
+ Great photo:)
Thanks :)
cool!
Xxxx
Oh how cute!!! I never knew it existed, thanks for sharing! Looks well worth the trip… one day..
Fortunately there are locations in other parts of Asia, and there’s apparently a food truck that just opened in San fran!
Super cute I only wish the food was just as good. But it’s definitely still worth it to be surrounded by so much Hello Kitty.
Too bad that almost all cute theme restaurants have bad food.. But I’ll still go for the experience !
aww T.T
Sounds yum!
Was not so yum but really fun ;-)
I did see it when I was there, but as I’m not a Hello Kitty fan I just snapped a pic & kept going. Gosh it’s great for photography tho. Your blue hair vs the pink interiors really pops!
Korea is full of so many funny places! Where you off to next?
Have to go back to Tokyo n New York again this year!! Just recently went to Ko Lipe which I loved, so that’s the beach holiday done!
Your smile :3
Xoxo
Oh that’s awesome! This Hello Kitty Cafe definitely kills the one I’ve just been to in Hong Kong!!
Agree, the one in HK isn’t great but apparently a new and better one is opening soon!
Mmmh…. Good to know :))
*______________________________*
Love it!
Carmine Kichi
check out Alice Oon Wednesday in Tokyo
I’ve been , love it.
Welcom! I live in seoul. I want meet~♡
Sadly not there anymore but wanna come back.
Long time no see!
I’ve heard about this cafe from other die hard Sanrio fans! Thank you for your tips – I will take them into account if I ever go!
Awesome, so glad you found it helpful!
I don’t know how I missed this both when I lived in Korea and then again when I went back to visit last spring :( gahh
Aww next time! Check out the other Seoul travel posts too, for more ideas for places to visit :) http://lacarmina.com/category/seoul/