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We Taste-Tested the New Sanrio Pompompurin and Chococat Menu

Hello Kitty fans in Los Angeles who need more edible cuteness in their lives usually have to chase down the Sanrio dessert truck or fly across the world to check out one of their cafés. That deal has changed, however, as Sanrio has once again teamed up with Plan Check Kitchen and Bar to create a pop-up meal full of kawaii eats.

Like Gudetama before him, Pompompurin is laid back—a Golden Retriever with a talent for napping. Similarly, Chococat, one of Sanrio’s most popular characters is described as”a scatterbarined boy cat with a chocolate nose.” Funny how it seems like all these pop-up meals revolve around characters that love to eat and are tired all the time—I can certainly relate. (Previously, the two collaborated on a Gudetama pop-up meal full of lazy eggs.) Both characters are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.

So I headed to the launch party to check out the multi-course meal for myself. To start off this cutetastic meal comes an appetizer of mac and cheese. While the tiny skillet seemed almost comically small, after just a few bites you realize it’s more than enough, as the dashi cheese was intense and filling but ever so satisfying.

sanrio pompompurin sandwich-06092016

Just when you’re savoring the last bit of cheese, the Pompompurin Grilled Sausage Sandwich arrives. Dressed to look just like the familiar character, the house blended sausage is topped with a crunchy kimchi slaw and Japanese Kewpie cilantro mayonnaise. The standout of this dish is the crunch bun, though. This bun is a signature of Plan Check’s regular menu—a Portuguese milk bread with panko bread crumbs baked right in. Paired with the sausage, it’s outstanding. Besides, how could you resist when Pompompurin’s sweet face baked right in?

The sandwich comes with potato chips seasoned with togarashi (a Japanese red pepper) and to wash it all down, a vanilla cream soda. The soda is refreshing but pretty sweet and not just because of the charming whipped cream Pompompurin dusted on top.

sanrio pompompurin soda-06092016

To finish off the meal, dessert is an adorably perfect rendition of Chococat in cookie form, with a side of ice cream for good measure. There’s a lot of heft to this cookie so it’s a good souvenir to take home and enjoy later. Gudetama may be my spirit animal, but I liked this meal even better because of the balance of the dishes and how well they incorporated the characters into the food.

The special Plan Check x Pompompurin x Chococat menu is $39 and includes a limited edition co-branded cap. The meal plan will be available at all three Los Angeles Plan Check locations starting June 10, running through July 10. Even better? The first week of June is Pet Appreciation Week. So to honor that, a portion of the meal proceeds from the month-long promotion will be donated to L.A. Love & Leashes, an adoption space created by the non-profit Friends of L.A. Animal Shelters that is 100% dedicated to animals from Los Angeles’ six city animal shelters.

Check out more of the party food photos in the gallery below.

Will you be heading to Plan Check to experience the Pompompurin x Chococat meal? Let us know in the comments and tag @nerdist and @justjennrecipes on instagram so we can see your food pics!

Images: Sanrio

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