With more than 60 days per year over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a poorly designed road system, terrible drivers, panhandlers on every street corner, and plenty of ignorant but proud Texans, not much about Austin can be considered kawaii (Japanese for “cute”). So finding a shop that specializes in kawaii items is as rare as finding a good source of Hapi Puringu, Japanese pudding.
So, you can see how Momoko Gifts , located near to the UT campus on 24th Street, is quite the find. It’s a bubble teahouse that doubles as a Japanese gift shop and is brimming over with saccharin-sweet cuteness.
Opened in 1996, Momoko has the distinction of being the “first bubble teashop in Austin.” In addition to serving its specialty bubble tea with black pearls, this family-owned store sells a variety of Japanese gifts, including tea and sake sets, candy, incense, school supplies, and plenty of Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Yebypawka, and Domo-kun toys.
In a couple of weeks, they will also begin offering bento boxes, which are perfect for a quick lunch, and other food items.
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Momoko Gifts is located on 24th Street between San Gabriel and Rio Grand Streets, next to Sushi Niichi.
Momoko on 24th Street
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 11am-8pm, Sun. 12pm – 6pm.
Address: 705 W 24th St # A
Phone: (512) 469-0232
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
A coworker of mine (who thinks of himself as true Japanophile) introduced this shop to me as an “anime shop”. So I went over there yesterday afternoon. Disappointment was an understatement. The missing-letters sign, the tiny shop, the limitted collection of nothing but general Japan-related items, where to starts? (and yes, I think Hello Kitty, Totoro and Kuromi as extremely general items for hardcore fans). To be fair, the tea was good and they are a “Japanese gift shop”, not an anime shop. I just feel disheartening to think that this is all Austin has to offer store-wise. If any Momoko-lovers out there find this comment offensive, please do yourself a favor and go to some anime stores in San Francisco, NYC or even Houston.
Anyhow, could someone please tell me we have someplace else beside Momoko where I can find anime figures, wallscroll, phone strap, … ? Pretty please ?
Momoko used to offer anime, … so in a sense, your friend was correct, but they no longer sell or rent anime and manga. Austin is definitely no San Francisco when it comes to shops with gifts for the hard-core fan, but with a little encouragement and a few years, who knows? For some anime figures, Wonko’s carries a small collection, plus a few plamos. Dragon’s Lair has some wall scrolls. And for phone straps, I believe Coco’s Cafe (8557 Research Blvd Ste 118) probably has the most I’ve seen.
And just a word of advice about Austin in general, when it comes to anime and manga-related items, there are some “diamonds in the rough,” (and I try very hard to highlight the ones that I find) but they’re considerably less impressive than ones you’ll find in San Fran’s Nihonmachi or in L.A. The key is to not expect very much. Then when you do find something, it’s a lot more exciting. ^_^ Who knows? Perhaps with enough people moving in from California, Austin can eventually have its own Japantown.
Your website is one of the first “diamonds” I ‘ve ever found (lol) among Maki sushi, Austin Anime Meetup and hopefully Osaka Soul next. In short, I am following your suggestions here so thank you and keep up the good work, sir.
Aww, thanks for the compliment. I’m just doing what I can to serve the otaku community of Austin.