The face of the ubiquitous Japanese cartoon cat with adorable eyes and a bow in her hair has appeared over the course of several years on every conceivable product, ranging from pencil cases and chainsaws to passenger jets.
The darling icon based on the famous Japanese character has finally found its way to Beijing, China, and more specifically, the western-style shopping complex of Sanlitun Village, where a fairy tale dining room known as the Hello Kitty Dreams restaurant has opened.
A Hello Kitty theme park and maternity ward are currently available in China, but Hello Kitty Dreams is the first restaurant.
This almost nauseating homage to the in-your-face-everywhere-you-look little icon is reminiscent of the ET craze that occurred in the U.S. some three decades ago, except for the fact that the adorable little lost alien finally did “phone home” and leave us alone with the passage of time.
The restaurant opened its bright pink doors on Christmas Day and is so popular that diners have to call a hotline in order to try to insure seating. Often the restaurant is booked solid for a week in advance.
The establishment is filled with images of Hello Kitty. Bubblegum pink cloths cover the tables and prints of the little bobcat and her escapades adorn the walls.
Even the staff reflect the theme and color of the restaurant. Waitresses wear pink dresses and waiters don white shirts with a bow and blue rompers.
The cooking staff, too, wears pink instead of the more traditional white.
So watch out wherever you are. A Hello Kitty something or other may be headed your way and there’s nothing you can do to stop it!