Don’t Show Up Thirsty to the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is bringing treats and merch to Sanrio fans in cities across the U.S.
Including desserts such as cookies, t-shirts, keychains and other memorabilia.
But not what you’d most expect: drinks.
This is an honest review of the experience from a life-long Hello Kitty fan at the Charlotte, NC pop up with:
- the merchandise list with prices
- the 2026 schedule
- tips on how to prepare for the truck
- brief history of how the truck started
What to know about the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck in 1 minute
- The truck, actually a van, debuted at Hello Kitty Con 2014. The founders, Urania and Charlie Chien with Allan Tea, leveraged the success of the pop ups to open several brick and mortar locations in the U.S.
- No drinks! This cafe truck sells merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, keychains, etc) along with pre-made baked goods like cookies and macarons
- The products sold from the trucks are NOT exclusive. They are often (but not always) found at the brick and mortar cafe locations or on their official cafe merch website
- Credit or debit card only. They don’t accept cash, check, Venmo, Cash App, etc.
- 1 day only per city in select cities (however San Diego Comic-Con gets four days), usually 10 am to 7 pm or until the truck sells out. And the cities change yearly. Use their website or Instagram account for the latest schedule
- The lines are long and move slow. Either line up several hours early, or go later in the afternoon when there are less people
What’s on the truck? 2026 Hello Kitty Cafe Truck menu
Lots of merch and pre-made treats and desserts. Prices range from $16 USD to $65 USD.
Dessert
- 3 piece cookie set: $18
- 8 piece madeleine set: $16
- 5 piece macaron set: $20
- Giant cookie: $16
Clothing & apparel:
- Truck t-shirt (sizes XS – XXL): $30
- Cafe t-shirt (sizes XS – XXL): $30
- Half-zip pullover: (sizes XS – XXL) $65
- Baseball cap: $35
Accessories:
- Hot cup charm: $15
- Canvas tote: $45
- Throw blanket: $49
Bottles/mugs/cups
- 24 oz Thermal bottle: $43
- Ceramic mug: $23
10th year anniversary limited-edition merch
Since 2024, the truck has celebrated ten years of being on the road and you can still catch some of the anniversary merch probably through the end of 2026:
- Enamel pin: $18
- Keychain: $18
- Glass mug: $22
- Sweater: $65
- Plushie: $40
- Glass tumbler: $35
- Giant cookie: $16
50th year anniversary merch in 2026?
Based on the menu on the truck’s window, are they still offering the 50th year anniversary 3 piece cookie set for $18?
What a big year 2024 was for Sanrio because Hello Kitty also celebrated her 50th birthday.
I’m not sure if the truck is still selling 50th year anniversary cookies made in 2024 or if they’ve made more since then.
What’s likely happening is that they’re only displaying the picture but selling the most recent version of the 3 piece cookie set, which has Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin.
If that’s the case, I recommend they update the menu.
What I bought: cafe truck merch & goodies
At the top of my wishlist were the new canvas tote and the 10th anniversary enamel pin.
Bonus points for the 3 piece cookie set with Pompompurin, since it’s his 30th birthday AND he came in first place for this year’s Sanrio Character Ranking which is his second win in a row.
I was able to get all three and a few more items.
My recommendation is to have a budget BEFORE you get in line and then stick to that budget.
I was going to recommend that you prioritize items that you can get multiple uses from, such as a t-shirt or tote bag.
But you should get what makes you happy without spending all your money.
Which desserts should you buy?
Out of all the baked goods, the madeleines were the best.
I didn’t expect much from the cookies but thought that the macarons would have tasted better.
From now on, I’ll buy at least one pack of the madeleines, which are small cakes that are individually wrapped, soft but crispy on the outside with a hint of lemon.
Most people order the macarons, so prepare for those to sell out.
Sometimes the cookies sell out as well but reviews are generally more positive for the macaron set versus any of the cookies.
Cafe truck schedule
Here’s the schedule for this month. For the rest of the 2026 schedule, check the official Sanrio website and Instagram:
August 8
- Tulsa, OK: Woodland Hills Mall
- Arlington, VA: Westpost at National Landing
- Fesno, CA: Fashion Fair
August 15
- Little Rock, AR: Promenade at Chenal
- Bethesda, MD: Bethesda Row
- Concord, CA: The Veranda
August 22
- Memphis, TN: Wolfchase Galleria
- Annapolis, MD: Annapolis Mall
- San Mateo, CA: Hillsdale Shopping Center
August 29
- Kansas City, MO: Crown Center
- Philadelphia, PA: Willow Grove Park Mall
- Modesto, CA: Vintage Faire Mall
Would I go back to the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck?
Yes, I would!
The best part of this cafe pop up wasn’t buying stuff, it was sharing this experience with people of all ages who identify with the joy and positivity that Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters embody.
Staff members were kind and patient. I never felt rushed and was encouraged to take my time while ordering.
While chatting with other fans in line, we discovered that we had other hobbies in common like gaming, watching anime and attending conventions such as GalaxyCon Raleigh.
Should you go to the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck? Tips for having a great pop up experience
It’s a tough question and I encourage you to go only if:
- You’re an actual Hello Kitty fan. Don’t bother if you aren’t because you won’t have fun standing in line for several hours
- You don’t care what’s left on the truck, as long as you get something. Or you don’t plan on buying anything and just want to take pictures
- You have no other time commitments. You don’t need to worry about getting off work before the truck leaves or switching shifts with someone
- The location is only a 20 minute drive away. Consider the amount of time you might have to stand in line (typically 1 to 4 hours) after you spend several hours driving
- No pets or small children will have to wait with you. What will they do to keep them occupied? How will you take them to the bathroom especially if no stores are open?
- You’ll come prepared with your own food, water, a portable chair and things to do while waiting in line
Charlotte cafe pop up
The cafe truck made a stop in Charlotte, NC at Southpark Mall in early August 2026.
When the truck comes to Charlotte, it usually parks in front of the Dining Pavilion in the West Plaza, next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Look for the ‘Greetings from Charlotte’ painting.
What about other North Carolina cities?
Earlier this year, the truck made an appearance in Raleigh (Triangle Town Center) and Greensboro (Friendly Center).
When Sanrio announces their North Carolina stops in 2027, I’ll update this section.
