For anime and video game aficionados in Singapore, there’s no more familiar name than La Tendo. The retail store in Suntec City Mall has grown into a crowd favourite with its wide range of merchandise, including action figures, model kits, can badges, and more, that seeks to satisfy different interests and niches.
Now, the brand is setting its sights on a new expansion effort: food. Enter its first anime collaboration café, Dimension Poptown Café, complete with a new theme for every cycle. But there’s a catch – the menu is entirely vegetarian-friendly, and its Heaven Official’s Blessing opener tie-up offered a promising taste of its future.
While collaboration cafés have traditionally focused on experience over food quality, the cosy space, surprisingly enough, features a balance of both. A queue could be seen on its opening day, 25 July, with a cutout of Hua Cheng and Xie Lian greeting fans at the entrance. The merchandise area is nestled behind, where coasters, acrylic stands, prints, blind bag badges, and more can be purchased.
Along the way, posters and key visuals of the pair adorn the walls and tables, as visitors are ushered to their seats. Food orders are placed at the front counter, and once done, all that’s left is to wait for the dishes to arrive.
In any case, there won’t be a shortage of visual appeal. Most, if not all, of the menu items bear traces of red/black and white/gold – the main colours of Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, respectively – with the contrast adding to the striking look. Each purchase includes exclusive collaboration merchandise, categorised by the type of food: placemats for the main-course dishes, photo cards for desserts, and acrylic coasters for refreshments.
Drinks are priced at S$9 each, coming up to six in total: Fragrance of the Frost (passionfruit with probiotics soda), Elation (mixed berries soda), Golden Elixir of the Osmanthus (honey osmanthus), Dew of the Roselle (rose mixed berry soda), Pure Nectar of the Immortal (mango coconut milk), and Snow-capped Plum Blossoms (strawberry milk foam).
As for the remaining dishes, here are the details:
- Main Dishes (S$24 each)
- Rendezvous of Sun and Moon: Taro with Golden Mushroom and Konjac Soy Meat, served with Red Rice Roll
- Match Made in Heaven: Soya meat pieces with green and red peppers, served with Chinese yam, Lily Bulb Soya Milk and Oat
- Fluttering Amongst the Flowers: Egg crepe, served with cherries
- Desserts (S$26 each)
- Beneath the Peach Tree: Fluffy shaved ice with strawberry
- Token of Trust: Donut cakes, served with vanilla and strawberry ice cream
- Wishing Lanterns atop the Cityscape: Maple Leaf Cake, served with Flower Mousse
The entire lineup was a surprise delight for the taste buds, leaving nothing but satisfaction in its wake. Alongside Rendezvous of Sun and Moon, or more specifically, the red rice roll, the standouts for the other two series are Beneath the Peach Tree, which impressed with a light yet sweet taste profile, and the tooth-shaped Elation, striking a balance between effervescence and fruity tones.
The La Tendo X Dimension Poptown anime café collaboration with Heaven’s Official Blessing is underway at 3 Temasek Blvd, #03-347, Singapore 038983.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Yonk
