The great philosophical quandaries of the ages…
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?
Is death the end of existence?
How can a cat with no mouth have a restaurant?
Let’s answer that last one. Welcome to Hello Kitty Sweets, a Sanrio-approved (rare in Taiwan) Hello Kitty-themed restaurant. How did I end up here, you ask? Well, it was Valentine’s Day and my wife loves Hello Kitty.
Need I say more?
Hmm...let's call the interior design "Victorian Kawai-i"
Unfortunately, Hello Kitty Sweets is a very popular place and a reservation is highly encouraged. Being Valentines Day, lunch and dinner hours were booked so we settled for a 2pm tea time.
I wonder if her name is "Josie"?
A warning to those like me who are sensitive to pink: wear protective sunscreen and a pair of Raybans. You’ll need ‘em. Not only is the restaurant decorated in “Hello Kitty pink”, but the waitresses and food are themed to0. Yes, the food. Hello Kitty must have a thing for strawberries. Being tea time, our orders consisted entirely of desserts. I ordered the “Apple & Strawberry Pie”, which turned out to actually be a cake. My wife ordered a chocolate cake. We ordered strawberry ice cream for the kids. The presentation was beautiful.
My apple and strawberry cake (which they called "pie" in the menu)
My wife's chocolate cake.
Aidan and his strawberry ice cream.
We also ordered a tea and latte. One thing I loved is that their coffee is supplied by Lavazaa, probably the best-tasting of the chain cafes. Both my wife’s chocolate cake and my “pie” were very tasty, but nothing to write home about. The ice cream was of very high quality (i.e. made with actual cream) and didn’t last long… .
In the End.
Our tea time was topped off with a complimentary serving of jell-o. Bet you can’t guess what flavor.
Tea time was finished with a free...wait for it...strawberry (surprise) jello.
Take away the obnoxious amounts of pink and slightly overpriced desserts (the cakes were NT$340 each) and the experience was a good one.
Oh, one more plus and something I always look for when I go to a cafe or restaurant: They have FREE WiFi! That’s very useful for tweeting from your iPod Touch about how the massive amounts of pink are making your eyes bleed…like I did.
Of course, all the waitresses are dressed as cute cats.
Hello Kitty Sweets is at #90 Da-An Road section 1 Taipei very near to Sogo.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Brian Q. Webb is a multi-medium photography enthusiast from Los Angeles, California but spending most of his time in Taipei, Taiwan. He is especially interested in street photography as well as large format and pinhole photography.
Professionally, he practices traditional and lifestyle portraiture and occasionally acts as an agent for American local newspapers wanting event coverage in Taipei. He was also on the staff of 
wow! don’t know if i would go there, but i can see this being a real adventure for my daughter in a couple years.
nice pictures!
ah… hello kitty!!
Absolutely brilliant!
@Fili An: Thanks
. Taipei is a weird mix of Chinese, Japanese, and “Western” (notice the quotes) with a touch of Hakka and Aboriginal for national pride.
This is the “kawaii culture” Japanese part showing through very strongly…and in pink.
this is the coolest restaurant i have ever seen in my life. that is awesome how the waiters/waitresses dress up,too. i also love the Hello Kitty jell-o. this will be going on my power point for english, no doubt. thanks. ;]
Thanks for the comment. My wife is a huge Hello Kitty fan and this place was a special treat for her. It’s hugely popular, both in Japan & Taiwan so we may be seeing more in the future.
I am a Hello Kitty fan, would make a trip down to Taipei Hello Kitty restaurant…so sweet n charming.. Can’t miss it!
@Angeline Make sure to make a reservation. After you go, you can walk across Chungsiao E. Rd. to Sogo and go up to the Hello Kitty store.
Hi Brian,
Is the dishes on the menu expensive? Which mrt station shoud I alight from? Waking distance to Hello kitty Restaurnt how many mins from mrt station?
1 day reservation will that be ok?
We only had dessert, but it was slightly expensive (novelty costs extra
) but not hugely expensive. Get off at the Chungsiao/Fuxing station, walk to DaAn and turn right. It’ll be on your right-hand side after about 5 minutes.
Hi Brian, thanks for your detailed info. Be gg down in 2 more weeks. Are u taiwanese?
No worries, glad to help. No, I’m not Taiwanese…I was born & raised near Los Angeles. I’ve lived in Taiwan for about 10 years. What’s really funny is that because have darkish skin and am “round” sometimes Taiwanese mistake me for aboriginal, but the same thing sometimes happens when I visit my sis in Hawai’i… tourists sometimes mistake me for being Polynesian.
Icic, yr son is cute.
Thank you
He’s a twin, too.
It only goes downhill from here. Brace yourself — you’re in for a lot of pink in your life
@hkh It’s not so bad. We have twin sons, so no little girl to use as a Hello Kitty “excuse”.
sweeeet……………….