Now, this is the last of the three shops. The third is the so-called "Akihabara Donki Store," located on the fifth floor of the Don Quijote in Akihabara, a bit of a walk away.
Actually, I'd planned to visit all three shops in one day, but this day at this store there was a birthday event going on, and it was set up so you couldn't get in without a reservation. While I was standing in line, a fairy (staff member) kindly told me about it, and since they said you can't get in without reserving via something called "EPARK," I made a reservation, but, whoa, a 280-minute wait! My smartphone battery was also running low, so that day I reluctantly went home.
When I checked on the @home cafe site, apparently on particularly busy days like the New Year period or event days, you can't get in without reserving via this "EPARK," so don't forget to check in advance.
When I came back another day, this time I got in smoothly. The entrance is more modern in design compared to the other locations, with somewhat less of the fantasy element. Even so, the cuteness was of course packed in, and while I waited, what seemed like a music video of @home cafe's idol group was playing.
And there was the important pricing guidance too. When I went inside, I was again guided to a floor with a stage in the center and took my seat.
If this had been the third shop in a day, I might have been too full to eat, but this time I'd left a day's gap and even skipped breakfast, so my stomach was in perfect condition! I ordered the omurice, the quintessential maid-cafe dish. (And a cocoa, too.)
Then, when they brought the omurice, they swiftly made a cut with a knife, and as the inside split open and spread, the maid said she'd write something with ketchup! "What shall I write, Master?" "What do people usually get drawn?" "Pipiyo piyo piyo♪ Since it's called the Hiyoko-san Rice, things like a chick (hiyoko)?" A chick... it seems unexpectedly hard, but I wondered if it'd be okay and ordered the chick, and... oh, it's surprisingly (rude of me to say) good!
By the third shop, I'd gotten used to the spell to make it delicious, and together with the maid I did the "moe moe kyun." Ahh, it was delicious.
After leaving the shop, I remembered: they'd told me that if you take cheki, you accumulate points faster, and I'd intended to do it this time for sure, but... I forgot. Shocking. So sad.