Southern California theme restaurants, influenced by Tokyo’s “cosplay” cafes and Taiwan’s theme restaurants, include those with themes that range from the jungle to the classroom. Here, waitresses Jean Lin, left, and Moe Kohama are dressed as maids at Royal/T Cafe in Culver City. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Moe Kohama serves a lunch crowd at Royal/T Cafe, which opened last month in Culver City’s Royal/T art gallery. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
A patron photographs the “maid.” (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Server Doris Wei wears a school uniform at Class 302, a Rowland Heights restaurant modeled after a classroom in Taiwan. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
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Chalkboards complete with lessons add to the academic ambience at Class 302. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Dishes at Class 302 include the barbecue chicken, left, and pork chops served in a traditional tin lunch bucket with vegetables and rice. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Noodles at Class 302. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Ethan Mach, 3, during lunchtime at Class 302. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
