Hello Kitty® Café — Restaurant in Mexico City

Wonderful staff, location, and food (except for one mishap). The Hello Kitty Cafe is located inside the mall Palacio de Hierro. There is a Hello Kitty merchandise store outside the cafe, and the front of the cafe is very welcoming. The staff wear pink cat ears, which was adorable. We were surprised to get in without a reservation, but they had some booths available. Even though online said reservations were fully booked, they were able to accommodate us, and the place was not crowded at all. For drinks, we ordered the pink hot chocolate and cold mocha (mocha frappe). The pink hot chocolate was simply white chocolate with food coloring, which was very cute but not expected, as "white chocolate" was not mentioned on the menu. It came with a small cookie which tasted good with the drink. The mocha frappe looked like it would cause a bad case of toothache, but it was to be expected as the theme of the cafe is dessert. We ordered the smoked salmon toast and the ham toast for lunch, which drastically differed in terms of taste. The ham toast was delicious, not too sour, and it tasted very light and not greasy. Served with tomatos, ham, arugala, alfalfa, and pesto, it is a solid option for those coming for brunch/lunch. The smoked salmon toast, as agreed by some in prior reviews, was not good at all. While one could argue that smoked salmon shouldn't be ordered at a cafe such as this, the pairing of the flavors in this dish was off. It was served with capers, vinaigrette, and tomato, as well as leafy greens. The salmon provided a fishy taste and was decent quality. However, the capers, vinaigrette, tomato, and vegetables made the dish extremely sour, which added to the saltiness of the dish. All of the ingredients were sour, the main problem perhaps being the choice of vinaigrette for the toast. The dessert we ordered was the Hello Kitty Cream Cake (tres leches) with strawberries. It was presented very well, and the taste was light and not too overpowering. It may be slightly overpriced. Overall, our experience was pleasant, except the salmon toast is not recommended.

(Not pictured below: Smoked...

We arrived at 330pm on a Thursday, not a peak hour, not a line outside, 5 empty tables visible from the door. Hostess told us 45min wait for a table of 4 (mind you, the 4 of the 5 empty tables previously mentioned had 4 chairs each). Hostess was not nice, as in you clearly got the impression she thought she was above us. Anyway, added my name to the list, 45 min wait. By that time I had already decided I was not going to eat there, but I still was going to make her do her job, although she wasn’t good at it. Conclusion: I refuse to spend my money on a place with poor management, because a restaurant with visible available tables and 45min wait is a sign of poor management. I can’t opine on the food, or the waiter/waitress service as the hostess was literally the reason Hello Kitty Cafe saw my money walk away. Im sure many locals will disregard poor service in exchange for pictures, and the “experience”, but there is literally no restaurant in Mexico City that is worth 45min wait (with visible tables), when there are THOUSANDS of better restaurants you can go to while visiting the largest city in the American continent. Lastly, while we waited, another customer was turned away when he asked about making a reservation for the same day, and the hostess replied reservations were only through OpenTable app, but there were no available tables for that same day (while his party and ours stared at the empty tables right in front of us). 🤷🏻‍♀️ Reader, I’m sure you will find a better spot to enjoy your meal. I know for a fact that the Sanrio family (Hello Kitty, Chococat, Pompompurrin, Keroppi, Batz, et al) would not stand for this type of...

A visit to the Hello Kitty Cafe is truly an experience in visual delight. The moment you step inside, you're transported into a charming, whimsical world that is meticulously decorated to the smallest detail. Every corner is a photo opportunity, from the plush seating to the adorable themed displays. For any fan of Hello Kitty, the atmosphere is an absolute dream and serves as the main draw, making it a wonderful place to simply enjoy the aesthetic and take in the cute, immersive environment.

While the cafe’s ambiance is top-notch, the dining experience itself has some room for improvement. Unfortunately, the savory food doesn't quite live up to the high standard set by the decor. The flavors felt a bit underwhelming, and overall, it seemed as though the focus was more on the beautiful presentation than on the taste. This can be a bit disappointing when you're hoping for a culinary experience to match the visual one.

However, a saving grace of the menu is definitely the dessert section. The pastries and sweet treats are not only incredibly cute but also noticeably more delicious than the other items. The desserts are the highlight of the meal and are well worth trying. It's clear that this is where the cafe truly shines.

In conclusion, the Hello Kitty Cafe is a must-visit for the enchanting decor and the delightful desserts. It’s an ideal spot for a fun, themed outing, especially for taking photos and enjoying the adorable atmosphere. Just be sure to go with tempered expectations for the main courses and focus on the...