FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Food

These 'Mayo Cafés' Are a Mayonnaise-Hater's Worst Nightmare

Mayo custard desserts, anyone?
Foto von Thomas Kohler via Flickr

The wonders of MSG-laden Kewpie mayonnaise are a fairly recent discovery for a lot of chefs in North America, who have embraced its strangely adorable packaging and intense umami by putting it in everything from late-night mortadella sandwiches to softshell crab sliders to ranch dressing.

But the undisputed king of mayo goes back almost a century in Japan, where, far from relenting, Kewpiemania is only ramping up. Today is officially National Mayonnaise Day in Japan, and in keeping with a recent tradition of mayo-based pop-ups, Kewpie is flexing its umami muscle and will be setting up shop in two separate storefronts to offer a mayo-centric menu.

Advertisement

READ MORE: A Huge Mayonnaise Spill Turned a French Highway into a Greasy Death Trap

According to Kewpie's website, "Kewpie Mayo Cafés" will be opening in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district as well as in Nagoya, in March and April, respectively. The menus for both cafes features pastas, salads, seafood dishes, and even custard desserts designed to showcase the Japanese mayo in all of its glory.

3/1は マヨネーズの日 (◦'︶'◦)? #BROS1991 #マヨネーズ #マヨネーズの日 #Kewpie #キューピーハーフ #masha #fukuyamamasaharu #fukuyama #美味しくカジュアルに #美味しい #福山雅治 #happy #dericious

A post shared by Yumiko☆ (@yumin726) on Feb 28, 2017 at 7:11pm PST

hand in hand ? #kewpiemayo #asahi #dinnertime #tryingtobecreative

A post shared by Tye Redding (@lord_lemonade) on Jan 18, 2017 at 2:28am PST

When your sister and bro-in law come back from Japan with goodies #kewpiemayo #chillieoil #spicystuff #japan #goodies #worldfood

A post shared by Josephine Fardell (@josierosie85) on Feb 26, 2017 at 6:25am PST

Kewpie already has a bit of a cult following on social media, but, in this day and age, a restaurant pop-up is a true testament to the popularity of any product.

And for those mayo obsessives who won't be able to make it to these cafes during their one-month lifespan, there's always the "Mayonnaise Dome," a wooden replica of a Kewpie squeeze bottle at the heart of one of many Mayo Terrace "learning centers" and museums sprinkled (or should we say spread?) across Japan.