Came here twice because I'm a huge One Piece fan, and both visits were great experiences for…read moredifferent reasons. The first time was back in May with a friend during a special event that had a costumed character and a pretty long line outside. I also came back recently to try their limited-time Captain Buggy dessert and stopped by about an hour before closing. The atmosphere is easily one of the biggest reasons to come here. The entire inside is decorated to look like the interior of a pirate ship, and the walls are covered with the characters' wanted posters. If you're a One Piece fan, there's a lot to look at and it definitely makes the experience more fun. Service was great both times. During the first visit, there was a long line because of the event, but the staff were still really friendly and helpful despite the crowd. The second time I came in right before closing, and the staff were still welcoming and didn't make us feel rushed. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the food and drinks. The first visit we ordered the matcha horchata, onigiri, katsu sandwich, and fried rice. Everything was better than I expected, especially considering this is more of a themed cafe experience. On my second visit, I got Captain Buggy's Carnival Crunch dessert, which actually tasted better than I was expecting! You'd think the fried PB&J uncrustable covered in fruity pebbles and topped with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles would be overwhelming, but surprisingly the flavors and textures went really well together! I'd honestly get it again. Overall, I really enjoyed both visits. The prices are pretty standard for an LA restaurant, so I didn't have any complaints there. Obviously, the biggest appeal is being a One Piece fan, but even beyond the theme, the food was solid and the staff were great. Definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the series, especially when they have special events or limited-time menu items. I'll probably be coming back here next time I'm in the area just to embrace my inner otaku.

Went over here about a month ago and ordered the Zoro's Matcha Horchata…read more "Trendy" i said in my head "Regretful" I thought even before my first swig $8 and you get some green sludge from a milk bottle. You would assume baristas would put a little more work into it, especially with how they try to reimagine drinks, but this aint not Rum and Coke. Bruh give me something, not some thick floury boogers, this was pure slop * I want to emphasize that when I received my drink it was not drinkable and it made me sick to my stomach. This was floury, slimey and overly sweet, it overpowered the matcha flavor and was by far my worst experience at any cafe. LA is filled with shit holes such as this one. Cool ambiance, mid low and effort drinks

Located at the Irvine Spectrum, this spot has plenty of parking. I tried their Bow Room Afternoon…read moreTea, which was $65 per person and an 18% gratuity is automatically added to the bill. They offer a set menu, but I enjoyed being able to choose my own tea. Each guest gets their own pot of tea and there is a time limit of 1 hour and 30 minutes per table. The staff were friendly. The decor throughout the space as well as the presentation of the food and drinks were really cute and made the afternoon tea experience more enjoyable. One thing that I wish was different is being offered more savory items than sweets.

The cafe itself is a rather large space. Not a lot of decor. There are Pompompurin decorations for…read morethw collab but otherwise would be open. I got the cocoa cold brew and Pompompurin pudding. Both were decent and they came out fast but it was a little pricey for the quality. You're really here for the IP. Service was okay too. There's seating outside but its a little sparse just FYI.

Cuppa Pug is a themed cafe where visitors can book a session with resident pugs. This is one of…read moreseveral locations including London (England), Manchester (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Brighton (England), Escondido (California), and Frisco (Texas). [Parking]: Free private parking lot with plenty of available spots. [Reservation & Price]: Our party booked an advanced one-hour reservation session on the website from 4 PM to 5 PM on a Saturday. The price is $20 + $0.51 booking fee per adult (ages 16+) for a one-hour session. [Experience]: Our party checked in at the front counter and hung out in the waiting area. The waiting area sells various pug merchandise and also has a touchscreen pinball machine. There is a unisex restroom available. Once our party stepped into a separate pink & clean room, the staff went over instructions on how to handle the pugs. Visitors are allowed to pick up the pugs but cannot carry them while standing. Any pug wearing a pink bandana is available for adoption. Each of us received few free treats to start, but additional treats like pupccino (a small pup cup), sausage treats, or fruit cups are available for purchase. The staff was friendly and was playing fun & energetic background music during the pug session. Our party didn't stay for the entire hour and left around the 45-minute mark because we had a dinner plan afterward. [Conclusion]: Our party had fun playing with the pugs and took plenty of photos. It was a fun and Instagrammable experience & I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who's visiting the Escondido area.

My dog passed and I'm not ready to get another one yet. But having one of the pugs come up to me…read moreand sit in my lap felt healing and gave a boost to my mood that I had really needed. The beginning can be a bit chaotic and goofy as the pugs storm out of the entrance to the music Who Let the Dogs Out. Some of the dogs get a bit too excited and pee on something a minute or two out of the gate. Eventually things can settle down if you have the right people in your group, and they find a spot to curl up together on the different beds available or on your lap. They give you a couple treats to give the pugs, but those go quick. If you want to give them anymore you'll need to purchase them with a staff member who will offer you some options about halfway through. The group in the hour before me was having a birthday party for a toddler. I thought that was a creative idea. Another person seemed to have brought her own pug to socialize with the other pugs there. They seem like a very social breed and were very friendly. Overall a fun memorable experience for those who like dogs.

I stopped by Ape Coffee thinking I was just grabbing a coffee. Next thing I know, I'm standing…read morethere wondering if this is what happiness tastes like. The coffee was so good it made me question every gas station coffee I've ever defended. One sip in and I suddenly felt qualified to give TED Talks, start three businesses, and reorganize my entire life before noon. The staff was friendly, the drinks came out quickly, and everything tasted like it was actually made by someone who cared instead of someone just trying to survive the morning rush. If caffeine had a luxury version, this would be it. I walked in half asleep and walked out acting like I had my life completely together. Five stars. I'll definitely be back the next time I need a cup of coffee that makes me believe I can answer emails I've been ignoring for two weeks.

Great coffee shop with specialty in banana. Love to try new coffee shops!…read more I had: 1. Golden ape - house-made banana syrup latte 2. Mango cloud matcha - inspired by mango sticky rice dessert, made with house-made mango puree 3. Banana walnut fig 4. Ham & cheese croque

Really cute little outdoor cafe. I didn't expect it to be this small, so be forewarned it is tiny…read more But the themed drinks are very cute and there are a few adorable desserts too. I got the seasonal berry black tea and it was phenomenal! Gimmicky and cute. The store attached was also super cute with lots of sanrio merch!

3-3.5 This is "ok"…read morewith a smile. If you like Hello Kitty and cute sweet drinks, 100% come here! The desserts are as sweet as they aesthetically look. Their drink menu ranges from lemonades, fruity drinks, matcha lattes and coffee drinks. Now, as a coffee lover, woooo.... it's really on the sweet side. I usually get stronger lattes that are not that sweet in the Irvine location but this location, it is leaning on dessert drink side. I had the special Pompurrin sea salt cold brew and I was buzzing off the sugar. There is a Sanrio store next door so the merchandise will not be in the counter. The counter is soley for food and drink so you wouldn't have to buy it from the counter like you do in the Irvine location. Recap: you get what you see which is all the cuteness and the sweet treats. This location does not have the tea lounge experience and it is more of an order-and-pickup situation.

Absolute moe!! ° The…read moremaids were super attentive and made our party feel right at home. Some preconceived knowledge on maid cafes would definitely be helpful, and I recommend customers to really lean into the performance to ensure a fun experience! The interior was very cleanly and well decorated, with unique tableware, offering an adorably fun atmosphere! The food was accurate to menu and tasted very yummy. They offer pre-made cheki for you to buy, featuring custom designs made by your maid truly. I'll come home as soon as I can... whenever I visit LA again, that is. ´ ³ `）

HAPPY 3,000th REVIEW!…read more In honor of this milestone (like I did for the last 1k), I HAVE to give an updated review on MY FAV BUSINESS & 2023 YELP SERVICES BEST FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF WINNER, ASAYORU MAID CAFE!!! 2 years have passed since my last update, & they just keep getting better. Check my 1st review & last update if you want to see how far they've come. They finally had their grand opening this year, & from soft open to grand opening, the location has evolved once again! From start to finish, the attention to MOE detail & decor is to die for. Since this is an updated review, I'm focusing on the big & new, so feverishly points below LOOK AT MY OLD REVIEWS IF YOU WANT BASIC MAID CAFE & ASAYORU REVIEWING!! The events they host are SO, SO FUN & unique. Some are ticketed, while others are special shifts reserved through Yelp. The theming is always fantastic, whether it's a maid birthday, costume event (office day, shrine maiden, flight stewardess, etc.), or Maid with Love event, where a maid chooses a special menu for that day. These are GREAT! Where else can you have lomo saltado, nasi padang, & super-caffeinated drinks prepared 4 different ways at a maid cafe??? I also LOVE the events featuring guests & talents, including overseas idols & V-tubers. I normally wouldn't listen to this genre or become a fan, but I've discovered so many groups & artists simply because I attended an event or collab at Asayoru on a whim. I'm grateful they've expanded my horizons further into otaku culture (every day I become less of a normie & more powerful, thank you). They also have seasonal limited menus, plus menus exclusive to Asa morning & Yoru evening shifts. I'm not a morning person, but I NEED to level up & attend Asa shifts for the morning food, relaxing atmosphere, & Asa chekis with the maids. (The long, elegant maid dresses are TO DIE FOR.) This part is for the people who actually read this far & are okay with my denpa schizotypical ravings (I know like 1 GUY WHO READS THEM). This isn't for everybody. But if it isn't for you, can you really say you're enjoying life? What are you doing besides being a surface-level NPC? But I digress. All the maids are incredibly nice & fun. Getting to know them is one of the best parts, & if you're cool enough, you'll eventually have a favorite (oshi). THAT'S when the cafe gets SUPER fun!! The maids have image colors, so you can get pen lights, order an oshi float in their color, buy merch, cheki, bromides, etc. to support your oshi. You can take pictures of your chekis (Polaroids) or merch with your food or during outside adventures & tag them. It's SO fun! Asayoru is also a great window into oshikatsu culture. If you haven't experienced the true & pure love of having an oshi, visiting Asayoru is a MUST! Your life will change for the better! Trust! Which SEGWAYS into the merchandise. CHECK IT OUT IN THE LOBBY! Almost all (like 95%) is designed & produced by the maids themselves. Acrylic stands, keychains, stickers, buttons, bromides (THE PHOTOS ARE AMAZING), apparel, bags, towels, & much more! Instead of supporting a K-pop idol who will never know you exist, support an Asayoru maid! (JK, don't crucify me.) LEADING ME TO MY NEXT POINT: Asayoru also hosts Hyperstellar, a maid showcase modeled after Japanese idol taiban shows. The maids perform solo or in groups, sometimes with themes or fun costumes, alongside idol groups. It's a great intro to idol culture or simply a fun concert experience. Afterwards, there's buppan, with cheki Polaroids & meet-and-greets. You can also attend Milkyway Marketplace at Atlantic Times Square, hosted by Asayoru. There's an Itasha showcase, participating plaza businesses, anime-themed artists & vendors, a stamp rally, & an outdoor stage with performances all day. Also, to everyone who goes here after I recommend Asayoru at my panel or elsewhere & then malds at waiting (or at me specifically in your review): open a mobage, read a VN, talk to your friends, or SOMETHING. The maids are working hard & doing their best. I wrote this before & want to reiterate it: Asayoru Maid Cafe is truly a passion project & manifestation of the love, effort, & dreams of all the maids & staff involved. I will always love Asayoru Maid Cafe. I've supported them through years of growth & change, & I can only hope to update this review again for my 4,000th review & see how much they've changed by then!

Such a cute place to being your kids!…read more We came with a group of friends and the kids loved it. Entree is required for each adult for the kids entrance fee. I ordered the croque madame with fries and wow it was sooo good! Service was good and food was piping hot ! We came back AGAIN for a birthday party, and the food that was catered was delicious as well! The play area feels very clean and I like how safe I feel my child is when she plays there. Would def recommend!

Edit: I love how the owner wrote a very long defensive response trying to invalidate mine…read more Yes, we were repeat customers because we wanted to try to support a local business and tried to give it numerous chances. We never liked the "entrance fee" that I obviously know about and I stand by what I said: ADULTS ARE FORCED TO ORDER THEIR SUBPAR OVERPRICED FOOD FOR ENTRY aside from the entrance fee for their kids. The SGV eats post - I wasn't talking about one post. Geraldyne has posted several times and most of those times people have chimed in with their experiences and she removed her entire posts so people won't find the comments. Once again, trust the low star ratings. If you read them, you'll see a lot of them echo what I've posted here. --- If you have a toddler or a young kid, avoid this place. Read the lower rated reviews, because those paint a more accurate picture than glowing reviews from people who got discounts to this place. Adults are forced to order a meal as an entrance fee, and all the choices are subpar and overpriced. There was only one lovely staff member, an African American woman that unfortunately seemed to have left, because everyone else were not friendly nor helpful, and are barely present. The husband who supposedly cooks the meal made the driest, toughest, inedible steak salad and I couldn't even get help with my meal because there was no staff around to help, and whenever the husband came out, he would just be zipping in and out so fast I couldn't even catch him, and I couldn't leave my daughter by herself. The food choices for kids are also subpar. The play area itself is also subpar. There's very little options to play with, and whatever is there are mostly broken toys or have missing parts. The "separate" area for younger kids are always a huge mess to the point where it's safer for a 1-2 yr old to be in the general area with how disorganized it is. It's nothing but an afterthought, and bigger kids go there to mess up that area all the time No one really goes to clean up or check the play areas periodically, so even though it's part of their "rules", you see kids throwing toys at other kids, kids leaving messes around, etc. The positive reviews about these place are probably from people who've only been there once and have had some sort of discount. As a previous repeat customer who tried to give this place multiple chances, it is nothing but a cash-grab by greedy owners who care nothing about kids. The owner, Geraldine, also loves to promote her business on Facebook groups, and even whine about lack of "support" from people, but when previous customers try to make suggestions or anything remotely resembling a valid criticism, she'll remove the post so no one sees it. It's very dishonest, and shows what kind of people run this business. There are better places to go to entertain kids in SGV, don't waste your time and money here.

I love this place so much. A therapy session for both you and the kitties…read more Come 10minutes early and order a small bite to eat/a drink. 3$ cat treats to feed kitties is also fun. They have you take off your shoes but they have a some "socks" for ya and a shoe rack and a place to hang your purses. They really do care for these kitties so much and do so much work to help socialize them. Thumper was their newest cat when I got there and so if you see them please give them a huge cuddle! I love that they let the cats in the bathroom if they wanna hide or get some space (so put the toilet seat down!) What a great place to relax with kitties or come with some friends for a hangout

The cutest little cat cafe located on Melrose…read more Our family came in without a reservation, and luckily they let us in. You can choose between different times for a small fee to help the kitties. All cats are up for adoption $150 for 1 cat and $250 for 2 cats. Treats are available for $3 a pack. Super cute place