Right on the heels of the theatrical release of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” a pop-up cafe dedicated to SEGA’s gaming franchise takes over Won Kitchen in Chamblee Plaza for 60 days.
The pop-up cafe — the fifth collaboration between SEGA and restaurateurs Andy Nguyen, Kevin Seo, and Phillip Huynh of the Secret Sauce Society — first debuted last year in San Diego. Atlanta was the most-requested host city for the pop-up’s next location, said Seo.
“We definitely pay attention to the fans,” he said. “Atlanta is just a booming city of entertainment, and we just love all the growth here, so we want to be part of it.”
Won Kitchen’s owners reached out to the Secret Sauce trio about hosting the pop-up to help boost the Chamblee Korean restaurant‘s presence in the community.
“I’ve been local to Atlanta since 2006 and have been in the restaurant business my whole life. Won Kitchen has been a part of Chamblee for three years now, and we’ve loved every minute of it,” said co-owner James Baek. “We were introduced to the guys at Secret Sauce Society and were intrigued with bringing fun new projects to the Atlanta area.”
Baek and his brother, Johnny, wanted to capitalize on the growing TV and movie industry in metro Atlanta. They thought Won Kitchen would provide the perfect space to host the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Cafe. The brothers plan to host more pop-ups at Won Kitchen in the future.
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“We talked to a few different folks, but we definitely love the team that we’re working with here,” Seo added. Ultimately, executing the Speed Cafe in Chamblee was the best way to bring the intimate, immersive experience to Sonic fans. The free parking available at Chamblee Plaza and Won Kitchen’s proximity to nearby attractions makes the location even more appealing, he said.
The Speed Cafe has a kid-friendly atmosphere, but it’s more of a treat for adults who grew up playing Sonic games. For the uninitiated, “Sonic the Hedgehog” debuted in 1991 for the Sega Genesis console. Thirty-four years later, the gaming franchise is still going strong: the most recent game, “Sonic X Shadow Generations,” launched for Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox, and Windows in October 2024.
Customers will find themselves awash in nostalgia. Scenes from Sonic games, Sonic references, and Sonic collectibles line the Speed Cafe’s walls, shelves, and counters. Elements like astroturf-covered floor space, character cutouts, rings hanging from the ceiling, and a palm tree place customers directly into the games’ classic interface. Speakers pump character and level themes straight from the games’ sound tracks. And, of course, there’s an opportunity to play “Sonic Superstars” on an in-house Playstation.
The Speed Cafe’s menu is expansive for a pop-up, offering fast-food favorites like hot dogs, a chicken tender sandwich, slushes, and milkshakes. There are also a few vegan-friendly options in the form of chili and faux chicken tenders. Location-exclusive dishes include the Chaos Spear Fries (topped with marinara, mini pepperoni, and mozzarella) and Drop Dash Cookies (blue, deep-fried Oreos).
Food ranges from $4.99 to $15.99, with the option to bundle your meal with a t-shirt.
In terms of merchandise, expect two exclusive t-shirts, one exclusive sweatshirt, and one exclusive hat branded for the Atlanta location. The cafe also offers chili dog hats from previous iterations of the pop-up and select special items, like Sonic, Shadow, and Chao-themed chains, behind a display case. Customers who purchase merch are automatically invited to spin a wheel for prizes, such as the chance to win free food.
Won Kitchen, 5460 Peachtree Blvd, Chamblee. Check Instagram for Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Cafe updates.