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