MEIDOLLS CAFE: THE FIRST MAID CAFE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Meidolls Cafe opened on January 15, 2011 and it has been a hit among otakus and non-otakus alike ever since. Just like any other maid cafes, servers at the cafe need to wear maid inspired costumes and pretend to be maids while they serve the customers and treat them as their masters. It seems that the Tokyo maid cafe phenomenon has reached global success and has finally arrive in Metro Manila. Meidolls Cage is owned and managed by a cosplayer, game master and make up artist named Reia Ayunan. Due to the cafe’s popularity, it has been featured in many local shows since last year. Aside from that, the Meidolls Cafe also appeared in some articles in newspapers as well as the famous Philippine magazine for men called FHM. The maids even guested on a local radio show. The cafe is open daily and it offers Tokyo maid services as well. In previous conventions, maid cafes have been set up but only temporarily as when the convention finishes, their shops closes as well. Meidolls is one of the first maid cafe in the Philippines with an actually fixed location which makes it easier for many otakus and non-otakus alike to enjoy their services.

The white and pink ceilings and walls enclose the cafe’s tiny floor are and as you look around, there are custom-built tables which are fit snugly inside with chairs that literally had their legs cut off. Which is why they know have an almost to the floor level which seems well suited for the low tables as well. Cafe attendants usually kneel beside customers to write down their orders and to serve them afterward. Pictures of anime characters as well as cosplayers can be found in some walls of the store. There is even a tarpaulin that warns customers against asking their maids for contact details or even their work shifts. Which is understandable as it is a precaution for secual harassment after all. The rest of the cafe looks cute and perky. Like in the anime, Maid-sama, it is imperative that maids greet their masters as they enter the cafe. The popular greeting “Irasshaimase!” is what the maids chime in unison to every customer who enters the establishment. They bow as they do as well giving you the feel that you truly are wanted there.

Another feature in the Meidolls Cafe is that the maids don’t just wait on orders and serve food, they perform for the customers as well. How do they do it? Simple. All they have to do is dance to the beat of some bubblegum pop Japanese songs. Some cosplayers have even worked there part time in the past. Once the food is served, a moe moe kyun chant usually follows to encourage customers to enjoy their food. Moe moe just refers to something cute while kyun refers to the sound effect of imaginary beams that stretching both hands create which apparently works on many customers. All maids are trained baristas as they create different beverages. From the regular coffee drinks to the shakes, smoothies and frappes. Meidolls Cafe does not serve any alcoholic drink whatsoever. As the place is merely a cafe, their menu isn’t that big, meaning there are only a few things on the list to choose from. However, the owner already confirmed their interest in serving more than the usual snacks that they currently offer in order to bring in more customers in the future.

The cuisine that they offer range from Italian, Filipino and Japanese. Their curry rice dish follows a traditional Japanese recipe while their omu-raisu or omelet rice is decorated with a happy face using ketchup by any of the maids when served to the customer. There are many events that happen in Meidolls Cafe. From their weekly special cosplayer guest to the bands that they invite to play there, there are so many things that can keep their masters occupied as they enjoy their meals. Meidolls Cafe is also a place for many otakus to meet new friends and to enjoy the feeling of being masters for a day. Although the cafe only has maids that serve their customers, many female customers have suggested that they get some butlers as well to add a little flair to their popular cafe.

In 2011, Meidolls Cafe was located in the 2nd floor of Saunterfield Building, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta, Rizal which is just across Brookside Subdivision and Mang Inasal/RUBLOU Marketplace. However, the cafe closed and has decided to move to a more reachable location due to popular demand as their previous location was hard to find for many customers. Although it is not yet known as to where they will be setting their new shop, Rei Ayunan, the establishment’s owner already informed the fans of Meidolls Cafe that their new location might just be somewhere in Cubao which delighted many customers who used to travel far away just to visit their shop.