Hong Kong's kookiest themed cafes

Ever slurped noodles from a toilet? Bossed around your French maid? These and other delights await at some of the most unusual theme cafes in Hong Kong.

Modern Toilet

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, and you definitely do not under any circumstances drink out of a toilet. Unless, of course, you happen to be dining at Modern Toilet, the Hong Kong branch of the popular Taiwanese chain so confident in its menu that it serves everything in miniature toilets and urinals.

Customers sit on actual toilets (seat covers down) inside of which they can store their crap -- er, belongings, while feasting on items such as Sichuan spicy hot pot and Japanese milky hot pot presented in little fake porcelain bowls. Mexican chicken lasagna and banana splits are mercifully served in more hygienic bathtubs.

Less appetizing are desserts with names like “diarrhea with dried droppings” and “bloody poop.” The concept may turn some stomachs, but the packed houses and plans for new branches in mainland China, Macau, and Malaysia indicate that people like eating on the john as much as they like reading and talking on the phone there.

4/F Capitol Centre, 5-19 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, tel 2895 6288 Maid Date

What do you get when you cross a sexy French maid outfit with the coy faux innocence of a Japanese schoolgirl? No, not a video confiscated at customs, but the latest Japanese trend to make its appearance amongst cafes in Hong Kong.

Across from Times Square in Causeway Bay, Maid Date has done a good job importing the cosplay (costume role play) style of servility in a post-pubescent wrapper that’s made dozens of Akihabara maid cafes such a hit in Tokyo. The waitresses/maids are all nubile young women who squeak Japanese greetings -- "Irasshaimase!" -- at the door, curtsy obsessively, address customers as “master” and chat up the generally geeky clientele about their favorite manga and anime characters in which the meido (French maid cosplay) phenomenon is steeped.

Decor in the small cafe is less impressive than what you find in top Japanese maid cafes, but there are smoking and non-smoking areas, a private room and balcony overlooking Times Square. Menu items include French fries, chicken wings, ramen, cream puffs, caramel popcorn, and baked potato skins, but if you’ve come for the food or drink (alcohol available), you’re clearly too out of touch to stay.

Room D, 2/F Percival House, 83 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, tel 2808 0789 
DaHoops Basketball Café 

From the Yao’s Pizza and Steve Nashchos on the menu, to the walls covered in jerseys, pictures, pennants, and posters of legends like Magic Johnson and LeBron James, you know the score the instant you walk thru the door of this shrine to all things basketball.

“DaHoops” is a play on the regional American pronunciation of Chicago’s favorite teams, “da Bulls” and “da Bears" -- Bulls star Michael Jordan is cafe owner Ted Yiu’s favorite player. This is the one cafe in Hong Kong where diehard fans can be sure to catch NBA action on a big-screen TV.

Last season’s NBA Finals parties started at 8am with a classic all-American breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, unlimited juice), but karaoke, a private party room, and a good selection of American-style bar food (pasta, burgers, roasted chicken) keeps the place bouncing throughout the year.

11/F Radiant Center, 7 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, tel 6773 2070 www.dahoops.com