Maidreamin Akihabara Head Store — Restaurant in Tokyo

There are a couple locations within about a block each other, so I'll just review both of them here since it looks like they share staff. There's a smaller establishment occupies 2F+3F and a slightly more spacious location on the 6F of another building around the corner for Live performances (Live = singing/dancing show if you haven't caught on yet).

Fist the 2F one. Features an all-you-can-drink deal of about 1400 Yen + a small food item (karrage, small curry, hot pot etc) per 30 minutes, so I would call this one a bar more than a restaurant. During that time, the staff will be be very moe-moe as they serve you and the other customers, calling out "Kanpai, kyunn~". They'll bring out tiny shots for 50 Yen for everyone to do. At least once an hour, they'll do a more involved idol dance performance.

Next, the 6F location which has a large stage up front, more seating, and a separate staff that was running the kitchen. No nomihodai option here. Instead it was about 2500 Yen for a set meal (shaped into some cute animal) with dessert (also cutesy animal shaped). Same deal here, the girls bring out your order and cast a moe moe kyun~ spell with you, you know the drill by now. For and additional 1300 Yen to request a Live performance (of course I went for it!). You may get more out of it if you are familiar with other J-pop idol songs, as they have a menu to select from. All I could make out from the options was "Snow Halation" from Love Live (which is fortunately, a banger) and just let them pick the second song. You will be encouraged to cheer and clap along. If you're a little confused like me, try to follow along with one of the veteran customers who seems to know all of the moves and forget any shame you have (face it, you're in a maid cafe, you have no shame!).

These were certainly fun experiences, but because of COVID times, the places did feel a little empty. Can't really do anything about that. But if I need a snack, a drink, and a fun way to kill an hour, I'll...

I came because the internet told me to. I came to Maidreamin in Akihabara in particular because I am a solo traveler who doesn’t speak Japanese and I had read online that at least some of the maids have some English speaking ability here. Turns out that wasn’t really true, but I’m a visitor in another country so I can’t be too upset about it.

The inside is is pretty cheaply decorated with a handful of birthday-esc streamers and hanging paper bubbles. It was also much smaller than expected with only 5 tables and a long booth for larger parties. But lets look at the silver lining there and call it an intimately cozy space.

The maids themselves were certainly upbeat and sweet, even with the language barrier. There were only three maids working there when I went on a Monday night around 8pm, but they each came by to introduce themselves and they definitely made me smile. Once an hour one of the girls does a little dance performance up front. It’s a bummer the maids wear their facemasks the entire time because I’m sure actually seeing their smiling faces would add to the experience. Other establishments around Tokyo use the clear face shields that I think a place like this would benefit from

There was a 770yen entrance fee but I got excited when I saw on the menu a “first time visit” deal where you can stay for two hours, enjoy all you can drink, and take a few pictures for 1320yen. But after some back and forth google translate communication with the maids, that 1320 price on the menu is not what it seems and the all you can drink package is actually a little over 2000yen PLUS the 770yen entrance fee. So it actually doesn’t come out to much of a good deal at all unless you drink at least five beers…which seemed kinda creepy and irresponsible in a place where high school girls in cosplay were working. In the end I paid around 1500yen for one beer a 60 minute dose of cute culture shock. Eh, worth doing...

Edit with more details/pictures:

Atmosphere: Maidreamin Akihabara Honten was a fun place to visit!  It's brightly lit and very pink. They ring a bell with each new arrival.  Overall it's very interactive, and, if you're open, you'll be immersed in cuteness.  Atmosphere: 5/5

Staff:  The staff at Maidreamin is what makes this place worthwhile.  A maid promptly greeted us when we arrived.  She was very helpful while ordering, checking back and forth with her manager to find vegetarian food for us.  She was fun, asking us to meow when we wanted her attention, and having us all say "Moe" before she left our table (each time she left our table).  Another tabled requested a live performance, which everyone was able to watch.  The maids made it interactive, starting with prizes for anyone who would meow into their microphone (I won a packet of green tea).  They also handed out glow sticks and pull poppers, cueing during their performance when they wanted you to use them.  Two of the maids danced enthusiastically to a song, which was fun to watch.  Staff: 5/5.

Food:  We had heard this location had vegetarian food, but when we got there we found that was not the case.  Our maid asked if we wanted food, and we asked what was vegetarian on the menu.  She checked with her manager, going back and forth between us and the manager several times.  They came up with a rice and cheese omelette.  That was the option, and since she tried so hard to find something for us, we went ahead and got it (though it didn't sound very interesting).  The omelette didn't really have much flavor, other than the ketchup design she put on top.  Omelette 2/5. The kitty Parfait was so cute, it almost seemed a shame to eat it. The ice cream was very good.  The bottom of the parfait  cup was filled with corn flakes.  I didn't think it would go well with the ice cream, but it wasn't bad at all.  Food: 3/5.

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