Do you know the Hooters American restaurant chain?
They are restaurants well-known for spicy “Buffalo-Wing” style chicken and beer served by pretty young waitresses dressed in tight T-shirts and short shorts.
They also have televisions showing sporting events such as football or baseball games.
Sports on TV, Buffalo Wings, beer and sexy waitresses. It’s not difficult to see why this chain is popular…at least with men.
Actually the original Hooters restaurant opened in the early ’80s in Clearwater, Florida, USA…in the neighborhood where I grew up.
Well, after years of negotiations, Japan’s first Hooters restaurant will open tomorrow (2010 October 25) in Tokyo, Japan.
Hooters, Tokyo will be located in the upscale Tokyo neighborhood of 赤坂 (Akasaka).
The address, if you want to go there, is: 東京都千代田区永田町2-14-3 赤坂東急プラザ2F (2nd Floor of the “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” in 2-14-3 Nagatacho).
The “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” is full of luxurious stores and restaurants. Not the type of place where you’d normally find a Hooters restaurant!
I feel more comfortable in downtown “blue-collar” neighborhoods and stores. That’s the type of place Hooters is. They serve spicy chicken wings and beer. And the staff are dressed in tight T-shirts and shorts.
The restaurants in places like the “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” are the types of places that you find in the “Michelin Guide”.
The girls in the front row of this photo are "Hooters Girls" from various Hooters in America who came to Tokyo to train the staff of Hooters Tokyo (who are all the girls behind the front row).
I heard that beginning next year, if this first Hooters in Japan proves popular, they plan to open more restaurants in other high-end areas of Tokyo such as 銀座 (Ginza).
There are many American chain restaurants in Tokyo such as Hard Rock Cafe, Outback and T.G.I. Fridays, so I always thought that they should open Hooters here…but I would’ve thought they’d choose an area in Tokyo such as 新宿 (Shinjuku) or 池袋 (Ikebukuro).
Anyways, I won’t be eating at Hooters in Japan for the same reason I don’t eat at Hard Rock Cafe, Outback or T.G.I. Fridays…the food isn’t so great and the prices are too high.
Besides, my wife makes better “Buffalo Wings” chicken than I’ve ever had at any Hooters before! 🙂
How about you? Do you like “Buffalo Wings”? Do you eat at “Hooters”? Would you visit the “Hooters” here in Tokyo?
Tokyo Five 
AH! I spotted this place when I was in Akasaka in October! I did think at the time that it was surprising, but had no idea it was the first ever branch in Japan! Omoshiroi…
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Are you going to eat there?
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> Would you come to Tokyo just to go to Hooters?
Let me put it this way: I come to Tokyo just for business, to see surly male clients and hag-like female clients, so, yeah, it’s a distinct possibility.
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When was your most recent visit to Tokyo?
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> my wife makes better “Buffalo Wings” chicken than I’ve ever had at any Hooters before
But does she wear tight T-shirt and shorts when she serves them? 😉
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HAHAHA. 🙂
Maybe I should ask her to!? 😉
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When I worked downtown (Honolulu), my husband and I often ate at Hooters. I loved their burgers and fries, which were better than McDonald’s. The waitresses were all Caucasian and busty. I’d go back if I were working downtown. I am now retired.
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>I’d go back if I were working downtown
How long would it take to get there?
My impression of Hawaii is that it must be quite small.
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I avoid downtown, because parking is expensive and difficult to find… although I must admit that there is valet parking at the restaurant. Just too lazy to go, I guess.
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>parking is expensive
Is parking expensive in Hawaii?
I know it is in big cities like Tokyo and New York but I imagined Hawaii differently.
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Hi, I’ve been following your blog for quite some time now. I worked in Tokyo for nearly 3 years just about the time you arrived. Anyway, yes, I would actually go to Hooters Japan, if only to see if they hire only Japanese or other waitresses! Question on my mind would be, quite naturally, if they are properly Hooters or “hooterettes” – if you catch my meaning.
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>I’ve been following your blog for quite some time now.
Thank you. Please comment anytime.
>I worked in Tokyo for nearly 3 years just about the time you arrived.
Really? Around 1990? Have you been back to visit since then?
>if they hire only Japanese or other waitresses!
I heard that they hired thirty waitresses. About twenty are Japanese and about ten are foreign women.
>if they are properly Hooters or “hooterettes”
I have no idea about the waitresses measurements but they’re most likely attractive.
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I’ve only been back to Tokyo a few times after resettling in Hong Kong and only for business. Thirty waitresses, huh? That sounds like it’s going to be a pretty big restaurant (or maybe I’ve forgotten and lived in Hong Kong too long). I think the waitresses better be attractive or I’m not spending the airfare over just for the look-see!
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Would you come to Tokyo just to go to Hooters?
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