Totoro Cafe

This review is based on one visit where we ordered the strawberry green milk tea with different sized pearls. I loved the drink and I personally loved that they gave us the option to have different sized pearls. It was pretty empty when we visited that night, and we opted to-​go instead of dine-​in. The server was pretty friendly, but maybe that was because we were the only ones there lol. Hope you like cats, because there are cat pictures everywhere.

Food is good, especially their drinks. However, you’re unrecognized from point of entry until you depart. No ‘hello’s’, no service, nothing. I was completely ignored… I was gonna rate it 3 stars because of their food quality. BUT NOPE. 2 STAR! POOR QUALITY SERVICE! Come in with low expectations, so you’re not disappointed when leaving.

Walked by this place quite a few times before when we visited other restaurants along Alexandra road but never went in until tonight… The big couches always seem welcoming and help create a comfy atmosphere. Although business was slow on this Tuesday night (we were the only table there) the staff was surprisingly friendly. They actually came by to ask «how’s everything» during our visit, something I do not expect from a bbt place.
The décor is quite home like to me, with plenty of cat artwork and little displays. More couches towards the back and bonus was a mini aquarium, though it was somewhat ironic to see swimming fishies amongst a cat-​themed café haha.
I got a mango milkshake that tasted alright but too much milk and too little mango flavour for my liking. H was craving savoury crêpe so she got a ham and egg crêpe, which was toasty and yummy but more Taiwanese style than anticipated. Overall the food was mediocre but the ambiance of the café + the laid back staff + the couches + the free wifi made up for it. Free parking at the back, could still be hard to find a spot though which is expected for anywhere along Alexandra road.

ok, maybe 2.5 but either way, there’s plenty along this stretch of bbt heaven anyways.
my pet peeve, literally, is one of the workers was playing w/​customer’s little dog, presumably their friends, and he walked right over! was petrified if he was going to wash his hands before he prepped any food… alas, i changed my order originally from peanut butter/​condensed milk on thick toast, to just a honey green tea — something he didn’t need to touch w/​his hands lol.
and i did meant to try to see if he washed his hands… but,…i got too distracted going online.
btw, free wifi…
it’s a clean casual place, nothing fancy, but sofa seating in front and back. a bit narrow, reminds me of Leisure a few doors down, but that’s a lot more ambience and nicer.
cash only.
paid parking in front or try the freebie lots in the back.

So first of all there is fine print stating a minimum charge for each customer, which is pretty common. BUT they also specify a minimum tip percentage. Technically tips aren’t mandatory but is a opportunity to express gratitude for good service.
If I could rate zero stars then I would for this place. Every item I ordered ended up not being available so I had to change my order 4 times. Funny thing was it took them 15 mins after each time I ordered a new item to figure out they didn’t have the item available either.
At last ordered a strawberry thick toast. Super dry, and almost no sauce on it. Was with a group of ppl, half the hot drink orders came with their own personal tea pot, but the other half came in a large cup, no consistency.

Too many good bbt places in Richmond within walking proximity to come here. I totally believe what the other reviewers are saying about tip. Came here and upon payment, they kind of just stood there instead of giving change back. It was so awkward and uncomfortable that I figured that they can keep the extra few bucks. Just not sure why they think they deserve an 18% tip.
Everything here is retardly expensive and while the service we got was OK, the team as a whole made us uncomfortable with their unprofessional behaviour and their conversation. And ya, it was really slow.
A definite no.

My friends and I came here after buying a voucher from socialshoppers. Prior to going, I was informed by my friends that the service would be slow so I didn’t expect much. They opened at 7pm, and we were their first customers. There was one server there at the time they opened. We went there after dinner, which may have been a bad idea, for the amount of food we ordered was $ 40 worth and it was VERY FILLING! Make sure to try the red bean matcha ice-​cream waffle. It’s DELICIOUS! The wait was indeed long (since we ordered quite a bit and we knew he was the only one working), so we kept ourselves entertained with youtube. The waiter checked up on us to see if everything tasted fine and was extremely nice. It’s a good place if you want to chill and have chats with friends. I have to admit, the bbt is a bit more expensive than other places… but I will still come back here for the waffles. Good experience! I give it a 5 star since I came here with socialshoppers and was much better than expected — good food and good service (from the male waiter).

I didn’t have Canadian cash with me. They were ok with our U.S. dollars and I got change back in U.S. dollars, too! We ordered shaved ice and milk tea. They are yummy and authentic. Decoration is cute, nice please to hangout withdrew wifi ;)

Came here on a Sunday night around 7:30 pm. The place was completely empty with a lone employee working. My sis and I walked in and the employee (a skinny asian girl) gave us a completely blatant look of disgust and discontent as if we just barged in on her woman cave (which means we interrupted her and her Chinese drama tv). We wanted to try the menu anyhow and just ordered one small Lychee Green Tea, but of course she did not pay attention and made us a large and charged us for a large. The tea itself was decent but the terrible service destroyed any other good aspect. I reached out my hand very obviously to receive my change, not to my surprise she chucked the change on the counter directly next to my hand. Some people are just not cut out to be in the customer service dept, in this case you just simply don’t put yourself in that situation. The misery that was painted blatantly on her face was so depressing to look at. How TRAGIC. Never coming back.

Nice and comfy, plenty of couches — like they have three living rooms set up, and really good drinks and thick toast. Opens til … 4am? And free wifi.
JONASAPPROVED!

super cute, cozy and welcoming. great for milk tea and thick toast =)