Japanese Anime Snack & Cafe Crossovers We Wish Existed in the US and The Closest We Got

Drooled enough while watching a reel on mouth-watering dishes from anime-themed cafes or restaurants, only to realize that you can’t dine in or order them out unless you get on a flight to Japan.

Americanized ramen and the sushi swimming in sauce? They won’t do. What we actually want are themed drinks, character-shaped desserts, and all things that will make us forget the couch back home.

Whether you’re in San Diego or New York, there will always be a pang of jealousy for the people of Japan, and those who can fly in a heartbeat. While many businesses here in the US try to give the American anime fanbase the vibe, nothing beats the originals.

We still have to be thankful, though. Before they opened up, we were left mostly with pop-up shops and the occasional limited-time McDonald’s toy.

Speaking of which, Demon Slayer just opened a cafe in Chicago, and McDonald’s ran a global One Piece x SpongeBob Happy Meal crossover.

But let’s be honest. Those are mere appetizers.

Here’s a list of what we actually want on the menu. We also provided the closest we got here in the States, especially those that our friends and we have visited. Cross your fingers that you live somewhere near one of these.

A Ghibli Cafe Or Restaurant

Hidden Gem Cafe in Kichijoji, from DiTour Japan Facebook page.

People love anything to do with Studio Ghibli. Toys, merch, and even the food. Those who’ve seen the social media videos must have dreamed of holding a cup of Totoro-shaped latte or taking a selfie with a Kiki’s Delivery Service-themed pastry case before they feast on it. Japan has all of them. In Tokyo, you can visit one in Mitaka, where Corn Barley is, and Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory in Setagaya.

But that’s Japan.  

If the adulting otaku is dying to lean into the cozy, slow-living aesthetic Ghibli is known for, there surely is something we can recommend. It’s not the Japanese-kind of Ghibli, but knowing that you don’t have to go for an expensive trip should keep you settled for a while.

Yuko Kitchen in Los Angeles, California

This Japanese-owned, Studio Ghibli-themed restaurant at 5484 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, California, doesn’t serve the Totoro-shaped latte or mochi that we’ve talked about earlier. However, they do have a lot of Studio Ghibli memorabilia on their shelves and in the corners. They also play Studio Ghibli films on TV, so you can enjoy the atmosphere, which will remind you of the peaceful, lush greenery from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. It’s definitely worth spending the whole afternoon there.

One Piece: The Sanji Diner

Sanji's Diner from Universal Studios Japan

Well, we bet some of you kind of know where this is going. But if you don’t, then this will make you ignite your legs to visit Hollywood.

Baratie is a One Piece-themed restaurant in Tokyo, which uses Sanji as the mascot. Who else? There’s also the vegan-friendly Cafe Mugiwara at Shibakoen. Along with other Japanese restaurants we won’t be able to name, their menu is inspired by a character, a place, or even an arc in the anime. But what are the closest One Piece restaurants in the US?

One Piece Cafe in Los Angeles

Located at 241 S. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo. Its interior features barrel furniture, active portholes, and wanted pirate posters. The entire design imitates the Thousand Sunny ship, which is what many restaurant owners who are also One Piece fans have in mind. Popular menu items include Sanji’s “Diable Jambe” Chicken Katsu Sando, Franky's Burger, and Robin’s Flower-Flower Power Refresher.

With the show shining bright in the hearts of many, with some of us adult otakus trying to catch up on the One Piece anime series, more and more cafes inspired by the long-running show are expected to sprout worldwide.

Jujutsu Kaisen Boba, Obviously

And fingers, too.

Boba shops, being the more feasible business, though, already have the anime crowd’s attention by default. A Jujutsu Kaisen collab feels almost too obvious to still be missing: cursed-energy-colored drinks with wildly inconsistent caffeine levels (mirroring the show’s chaotic power scaling), a “Domain Expansion” size upgrade option, and toppings named after specific characters. This is the crossover with the lowest barrier to entry, so slotting a JJK theme is a no-brainer marketing pull. So which of the closest ones in the US had the official blessing and got it right?

The Alley

You guessed it. The Alley had previous collaborations with JJK, and they are continuing it this September 21st. On their Instagram post, they announced the return of the best-selling Gojo Blue Coconut Slush.

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Attack on Titan Steakhouse (Yes, Really)

Ayakashi AOT-themed shop in Japan - Princess Cafe

With potatoes on the side?

Hear us out: a show literally built around eating giants deserves a restaurant that leans into the absurdity rather than tiptoeing around it. We’re picturing a Titan-sized steak challenge and a dessert menu that represents the wall crumbling as the Colossal Titan, which is you, attempts to infiltrate and devour what’s inside.

We remember the funny AOT memes back in 2014. There’s that excitement in gore and chase, especially when you imagine yourself in it, but you get multiple chances to respawn. This really plays well as a theme for restaurants with the mentioned gimmicks. But does it exist?

In Japan, there’s an Ayakashi AOT-themed shop named Princess Cafe. Here, you’ll see Shingeki No Kyojin characters wearing costumes, and we had a lot of laughs at that Catboy Eren. They have a wide variety of menu items, but they don’t have the chunk of meat we’re thinking of when we say the word titan. It’s quite pricey to eat there, but we didn’t go there just for the food.

So is there something like it in the US?

Dimension Poptown, New York

This one can compete with many anime-themed restaurants. The community is lively, and you meet a lot of people who share the same interest as you. However, the Attack on Titan theme is only temporary and was just extended through August. Their menu was named after a character, like Eren’s Cheese Meatball Spaghetti, with strips of cheese topped over like the ribcage of the Doomsday Titan, and Levi’s Omni-Directional Mobility Curry, which don’t make sense to us, but we ate it anyway. Each meal costs USD 29, and it comes with a free AOT placemat merch.

Sadly, there’s no Sasha menu of niku and potatu.

Pokémon Center: Cafe and Card Shop Fusion

If you’re one of those celebrating Pokémon in its 30th year, you must be lining up in toy stores for a shot at that ETB and other rare promotional merch. If you get tired of the scalper-filled queue, what fun is it to lounge at a nearby Pokémon cafe? The Umbreon bun we can’t forget, that Gengar cheese fondue that is too expensive but is definitely worth it, and of course, the must-try Pikachu curry.

There are popular Pokémon cafes in Tokyo and Osaka. As long as you book in peak seasons, you should be assured that you’re getting a taste of the above. But what if you’re stuck in the US?

No Official and Permanent Pokémon Restaurant in the US

Unfortunately, there are no official Pokémon cafes or restaurants in the US that we’ve visited or that we knew about. They are exclusive to Japan. However, there are pop-up cafes and dessert bars that feature limited-time Pokémon-themed cafe events, like the Popfancy Dessert Bar in Houston, Texas.

Other Anime-Themed Restaurants In The US That Are Worth Mentioning

Since we listed out some restaurants based on very specific themes, we are aware that there are still some US-based anime-themed cafes and restaurants that we didn’t get a chance to cite. Many of these places showcase anime in general, not just a specific fan base. Here are some of them:

Anime Boba Cafe in Henderson, Nevada

If you’re from Vegas and would like to go out of the city for an affordable food place, then you've got to check out this Anime Boba Cafe in Whitney Ranch. It’s a 15-20 minute drive from Sin City. Here, even if you indulge in their Japanese menu of rice bowls, Spam musubi, boba tea, and curry, they are not as expensive as the ones you eat in Vegas. Still, the place feels like you never left the district because there are some free-to-play arcade games and claw machines for their customers.

IZAKAYA in Beavercreek, Ohio

We love the Yaoi Pizza with generous ranch drizzle. Before your imagination flies somewhere else, it’s a fun spot for karaoke and great food. We love the anime lights. We feasted our eyes on the NERV logo that we can still see despite the huge fridge that blocks half of it, the REM and RAM neon wall lights, the TV cleverly installed between the bar shelves that plays anime shows in HD, and the bunny figures on top of those shelves. We also love how there are more TVs installed on different walls of this anime restaurant. You can also enjoy the fireplace outdoors. Promise us to stop for lunch or dinner in this fantastic place if you ever visit Ohio.

Naruto Ramen in New York

Just by the name, it’s easy to imagine what you’ll be seeing in this shop. Ramen, ramen, and lots of it. To be fair, their meals here are not as expensive as in Japan. Even if it’s in NYC, it’s not the fancy kind that charges you over $30. Here, there are lots of $20 meal items, particularly Ramen bowls, to choose from.

Anteiku in Baldwin Park, California

If you’re into something unique, especially with drinks, while enjoying yourself in the display figures or those that you bought, then don’t just pass by Anteiku. What we love here is their roster of matcha drinks that are wittily named: Moss Head (green whipped cream top), Nezuko’s Love (pink top), All Might Smile (blonde, of course), and our personal favorite, the Gengar Shadow (purple whipped top). We don’t bother looking into the prices if the selection is this good. Surprisingly, they are not that expensive!

Are There More Anime Cafes Opening In The US Recently?

Although we’re afraid that we’d run out of anime cafes or restaurants to suggest, we’re greatly optimistic about the future of these niche food places. So the quick answer to this is YES, more anime cafes will open soon. As proof of this, many have popped up recently.

For one, Demon Slayer opened a themed cafe in Chicago. This has become one of the more prominent full anime cafe experiences to land in the US so far, alongside various shorter pop-up events in cities like Los Angeles and New York.

Why Doesn’t The US Have as Many Anime Cafes as Japan?

This one’s pretty obvious. It’s like knowing why there are so many anime in Japan that don’t have US translation yet, or when a movie releases, the US always gets a later launch.

Japan has established companies that specialize in running short-term licensed themed cafes, an infrastructure that’s still developing in the US. Most American crossovers so far have leaned toward fast food tie-ins instead, since those are easier to license and scale nationally.

If you want to hop from one anime cafe to another without interstate driving or flying from coast to coast, we suggest that you visit Asian cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and, of course, Tokyo, Japan!