The first Hello Kitty and Friends Café in Los Angeles County will open at Universal City Walk on Friday. On the same day, an adjacent merchandise location, Sanrio Smile Shop, will open.
Universal Studios Hollywood has sold Sanrio-branded items at the Animation Studio on the theme park’s Upper Lot for years but has not had a dedicated Hello Kitty restaurant or merchandise location.
The café will offer an array of grab-and-go sugary treats, such as a macaron set, Hello Kitty cookies and beverages.
Here’s a look at the Sanrio-themed menu:
- Hello Kitty® Mousse Dome – A red chocolate dome-shaped caked with cinnamon mousse, apple pie filling and cinnamon streusel
- Seasonal Mousse Domes – Seasonal dome cakes inspired by Hello Kitty’s friends crafted uniquely based on their personalities and composed of chocolate mousse and a delicious combination of fruit fillings and sponge cake
- Strawberry Cake – Vanilla sponge cake, strawberry jam and whipped white chocolate ganache
- Berry & Cream Churro – Berry stuffed churro with cream cheese frosting
- Birthday Cake – Confetti cake layered with white chocolate mousse topped with whipped white chocolate ganache
- Macaron Set – A set of raspberry, caramel, vanilla, pistachio and chocolate macarons
- Hello Kitty Cookie – A Hello Kitty-shaped sugar cookie topped with royal icing and rainbow sprinkles
- Hello Kitty® Strawberry Green Iced Tea – Strawberry green tea, pink sugar rim with strawberries and mint
- My Melody™ Lemonade – Strawberry lemonade, yellow sugar rim, garnished with strawberries and a lemon wheel
- Kuromi™ Berry Iced Tea – Blackberry tea, purple sugar rim and served with blackberry and mint
- Tuxedosam™ Lemonade – Blue raspberry lemonade, pink sugar rim served and a lemon wheel
- Keroppi™ Matcha Latte – Frozen matcha latte topped with whipped cream and matcha powder
- Chococat™ Frozen Mocha – Frozen coffee, chocolate boba, whipped cream topped with chocolate sprinkles
The Sanrio Smile Shop will be home to all things Hello Kitty and Friends. The shop will have backpacks with Hello Kitty’s iconic bow, spirit jerseys, embellished hats, specialty cups and mugs, collectible pins, t-shirts, plush toys, keychains, jewelry, phone cases, lanyards and more.
The store will also have merchandise themed to the Hello Kitty and Friends Café and a Hello Kitty-themed photo-op.
“Hello Kitty continues to bring her message of friendship and kindness to Universal Studios Hollywood theme park where she meets with guests in a dedicated area adjacent to the Animation Studio Store, which offers exclusive merchandise that celebrates her status as a global pop icon,” a news release said.
Hello Kitty and Friends Café also has locations at the Irvine Spectrum in Orange County, Las Vegas and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.