The Hello Kitty Cafe truck returned for the second year to Kenwood Towne Center a few days ago. This was my first time visiting it. As a lifelong Hello Kitty fan, I was excited. Let's do a little history of the Hello Kitty Cafe truck and exactly where it comes from and why it exists, shall we? As of 2018, in Irvine, California, America got it's first Hello Kitty Cafe, The "Grand" Cafe at that. It's the first permanent one in America that wasn't a popup shop. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is supposed to be a way to let people in the rest of the states enjoy a small part of The Hello Kitty Grand Cafe. There are two trucks and one does the East Coast, and the other the West. The Hello Kitty Grand Cafe has a tea room, a bar, and fine pastries. Note here; Tea, Espresso, Booze and Fine Pastries. None of these things are marketed towards children. None of these things are for children. The Hello Kitty Cafe is mostly for adults and their nostalgia. That being said, The Hello Kitty Truck isn't specifically for children. So it is mostly adults checking this truck out. Including my grown ass woman, 30-year-old self. Children can enjoy some things about the truck. I mean, it's Hello Kitty? It has cookies and one small Hello Kitty plush. But most parents aren't going to bring their child to stand in a line for hours, in the hot sun to buy their kid $16 french macarons. The main thing everyone should know when going to visit the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is that it is a truck, and has limited space. So that means it has limited supplies. Getting there early is a great idea if you want the good stuff before it runs out. The limited stuff is mostly just food/pastries. I got to the location around 8:30 AM knowing they were opening at 10:00 AM. I was probably around the fifteenth person in line at the time of arriving. People in front of me had chairs and were decked out in all their Hello Kitty clothing. They meant serious business. By the time 9:30 AM came around there was a line a tenth of a mile long behind me. They opened the truck ten minutes early and started taking the first two customers orders. I appreciated that they opened it early at all because it was starting to get hot outside. They had two people in the truck, two walk-up windows. The line moved pretty fast once they opened. Everything is pricey, but everything I got was really great quality. I ended up getting a really cute canvas tote bag for $30. How nice of a bag it is shocked me. It has three embordered macarons on it, and even a big pocket on the inside of it. I also got the 32oz Stainless Thermal Water bottle. Again, super impressed by the quality of it. So I have to state that I am super particular about my pastries and especially Macarons. I've even worked for a business that only sold Macarons. I had super low expectations getting these Macarons from this truck. Thinking that they were going to be stale from probably being frozen for weeks, just super gimmicky but cute, photo op type of food. These Macarons were SO good. I don't know how, but they weren't stale and didn't flake and break apart as soon as you pushed on them. Which is how you know the Macaron isn't old. I really loved that they stuck with traditional flavors of Macarons. They had Raspberry, Passion, Vanilla, Pistachio, and Chocolate. All the ingredients listed on the box. The only thing I didn't like about them was the little fondant Hello Kitty bows. But I just don't like fondant at all. I was also a fan of the packaging on all my items. The design of the packaging was super nice and sleek. Chic and cute. The design also adds to the quality of the stuff you're buying from the truck. They had a lot of other cute items. Food: Mini Cakes, Macarons, Mini Pies, Cookies and a Giant Chef Cookie. They also had a super cute bottle of water that was shaped like a bow. Other Merchandise: A tin lunch box with confetti popcorn in it, T-Shirts, Donut Pillow/Cushion, Hello Kitty Bow Glitter Headband, A Mug, Two different canvas tote bags, Hello Kitty plush stuffed animal. "Freebies", they gave me a free medium sized button with the Hello Kitty Cafe logo on it. Also, if you spend $25 on food from the truck you get a little pink plastic tote bag for free. The people running the truck were super nice and seemed equally as excited as everyone waiting in line which made the experience even more pleasant that they enjoy their jobs and what they're doing. If the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck comes back again next year, I'll definitely go check it out again. Would recommend for any Hello Kitty fan. read more

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I think having cafe in the name is a bit misleading. Yes, they sell premade snacks like cookies, tarts and petite cakes but this is not a food truck nor are there tables available to eat your snacks. There is a huge Hello Kitty following around the globe, I'm not included. The prices are high, mixed reviews on the taste and quality of the snacks. They also sell shirts, totes and plush toys. Something unique to do with your young kids, that isn't taking them to Disney. However, note you'll be surrounded by adult fanatics that visit year after year. Be prepare to wait at-least an hour for high priced pre-baked goods. However, good jokes and costumes from fanatics in line. read more

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