Following recent successful launches of restaurants inspired by major fictional Japanese icons, the U.S. could soon potentially be seeing its first-ever official Dragon Ball café based on the likes of Son Goku, Gohan and others.
In a new interview with ComicBook, well-known restaurateur Andy Nguyen described the latest of his many franchise-inspired restaurants, including the "first Naruto ramen shop in America," the Hello Kitty café and the new One Piece café in Las Vegas, Nevada. When asked about the next café he hoped to open, he replied, "Well, I'm a big fan of Shonen Jump's Big Three. I've already scratched off One Piece and Naruto, so I think Dragon Ball would be the next one I'd want to do."
Dragon Ball Has Already Recently Had a Successful U.S. Sushi Restaurant Collaboration
Nguyen described the effort that went into the One Piece café, saying that he knew how large a task this would be given fans' passion for the series. "We did a deep dive into items that would work, knowing we'd be walking a fine line." His hypothetical Dragon Ball café would be the first of its kind in America, following previously unlicensed restaurants like Goku Kitchen in Staten Island, New York or the unofficial Dragon Ball restaurant in Orlando, Texas. It would also be a natural follow-up to the nationwide "Dragon Ball Super Bikkura Pon Collaboration" -- the official sushi collab between Dragon Ball, Toei Animation, Crunchyroll and restaurant chain Kura Sushi.
An Official Dragon Ball Café Would Follow on From the Success of One Piece and Hello Kitty
Following the positive reception to numerous IP cafés, as seen in the official photos of the One Piece café and the new Hello Kitty café in Vancouver, many Dragon Ball fans would argue that it's only a surprise an official restaurant hasn't happened sooner. Fans have long blasted Dragon Ball license holders like Toei and Bandai for not properly marketing the series. Seen as a sleeping giant, Dragon Ball's legacy endures to this day despite its arguably troubled promotion, with Dragon Ball Z crowned this year as the world's most in-demand TV series for the second time.
Crunchyroll streams Dragon Ball, describing the original anime series: "Goku—the strongest fighter on the planet—is all that stands between humanity and villains from the darkest corners of space. Joined in battle by the Z-Fighters, Goku travels to distant realms in search of the magic powers of the seven Dragon Balls!"
Source: ComicBook
