Nyan Nyan! Have a cup of coffee with kawaii Japanese maids

By Cole Pennington

Jun 13, 2013 | 2:13pm Bangkok time

COCONUTS HOT SPOT – Inside Ekkamai’s Japanese lifestyle mall Gateway there is a portal to another world, a fantasy world created by MaiDreamin, an entertainment café that borrowed its ethos directly from Japan. The pastel pink walls and dining booths complement the staff’s costume, which can be described as “kawaii” (Japanese cuteness).

“When this candle is lit, you are my master. Can you help me light the candle? 1-2-3 nyan nyan! Ok I am now here to serve you!” recites a “cast member” upon sitting down at the café. The staff at MaiDreamin are clad in corsets done in typical Japanese Lolita style – they accentuate womanly curves while maintaining pretenses to innocence. These girls are more than waitresses, they’re entertainers; the idea behind the whole operation is that Japanese maid fans get to live out their fantasies (well, not completely) when dining here. The maids will cater to patrons’ every need, even kneeling down to take orders at eye level with customers. But don’t let that fool you; the customer demographic consists of just as many a-pow teenage girls as it does otaku nerds. Although there is something weirdly sexual about the cute and bubbly wait staff, this is a completely G-rated café.

As is customary with these cafes, Maidreamin has an entrance fee of THB50. The fee allows you to stay in the café for one hour. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of the shows the staff puts on. We won’t spoil it for you, but it involves lots of cute dancing and singing. To further the cuteness, rice omelets (THB195) come with ketchup illustrations of anime characters and titles like “I Love You!”

Sake and sochu are available at THB160 – 240 and local brews can be procured for THB140.

You’ll sometimes hear the Thai maids blurt out Japanese phrases when a customer is entering, leaving or when there is a show being put on. Diners are issued a “dream card” that they are able to redeem on their next visit for a show, which keeps maid-loving fans coming back for more.