Karen’s diner is an excellent spot for anyone seeking a quick bite or a fine dining experience. Nevertheless, the dining experience is absurd, as the servers are licensed to get snarky with customers.
The restaurant’s name refers to the name internet users call middle-aged white women that are stereotypically entitled and rude. The establishment was based on American diners in the 1950s, and it became a popular source of social media content, especially TikTok.
This restaurant chain has opened in other countries like New Zealand, Indonesia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
When you walk into the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by a snarky waitress and instructed to ring a non-existent bell. You’ll wait unnecessarily before being granted entry and shown to a table. The staff also hands customers menus haphazardly as they shoulder past them.
The customers are encouraged to channel their inner Karen and get snarky with the staff. The staff then pin a game that you’re unlikely to participate in. For instance, an older man can be forced to walk down an imaginary catwalk for a prize.
All this happens because Karen’s diner aims to take customers out of their comfort zones and become dersion objects.
Customers spin the wheel of misfortune and get assigned games like charades. The main point of these games is to humiliate you in front of other customers.
The establishment encourages loud shenanigans and silliness; however, it frowns upon any harassment and sexist behaviours. The waitpersons aspire to be so bad that it’s excellent. The restaurant walks a thin line between crass behaviour and wicked comedy.
Most exchanges usually include abrasive language; adults must accompany children under 16.
Karen’s serves excellent burgers with sides like bacon, cheese, salad, fries, wedges, and onion rings. Choose the lamb sandwich or a special hot dog if you have coronary issues. Their dessert menu features churros, waffles, thick shakes, spiders, and a soft drink with ice cream.
Their mega bugger is 20 cm high and comes with chips. The burger meat is perfect, and it holds perfectly due to the bamboo stick that’s strategically inserted. The meals don’t come with any serviettes.
Their cocktail menu has drinks such as You’ve Just Lost My Business or Karen’s Aqua Aerobics. If you prefer to stick to the usual drinks, Karen’s offers beer in taps and bottles and a limited wine list.
If you’re called Karen, you’re in for a treat, as you’ll get preferential treatment or a free drink. You’ll have to provide some ID to prove your name is Karen. If you order the regular drinks, the staff will whine at you about not having the imagination to order something challenging to make.
The snarky wait staff can be hilarious if someone else is hit with sarcastic banter or irony. The jury is still out between crass boorishness and smart-ass genius. Nevertheless, if you like American-style buggers, dining at Karen’s must be on your to-do list.
The best part is that you get value for your money as the Mega bugger costs $28. Most people will go there for the theatre and stay for the delicacies.