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Want to be a 'Karen'? Cafe offering terrible service and a bizarre dining experience coming to Vancouver

It's part of a worldwide chain.

Update: Jan. 31, 2023

Good news for people looking for a bad time.

Karen's Diner has set dates for some of its Canadian locations, with a promise that Vancouverites should "stay tuned." For those who can't wait to be berated by diner staff, Victoria's meanie eatery will be up and running from March 31 to April 23.

They've also announced the pop-up will be in Calgary and Toronto from the 22nd to the 30th of April.

"Canadians may be known for their good manners and politeness," states Karen's on Instagram. "But get ready Canada, that's about to change."


Original: Sept. 5, 2022

Looking for a terrible night out?

Then Karen's Diner is coming for you.

The concept restaurant looks like a friendly '60s-style diner, but offers a very different experience with staff specializing in being rude. And that's the fun of it.

"Karen's is an interactive diner and an absurdly fun experience. At Karen's you will be greeted and waited upon by rude waiters and forced to play a variety of games," states the company's website. "Karen's Diner is a place where you can complain until the cows come home because we literally don't care."

In videos from locations around the world staff at Karen's Diners flip people off, swear at them, start arguments, toss menus on the ground, give people rude hats and, occasionally, break into dance.

Essentially, it's a place where being a 'Karen' (a name that's often used to refer to someone who's short-tempered, uptight, privileged, and complains, often to the manager) does the customer no good.

"Come on, ask for the manager...WE DARE YOU," the company says on their website.

The concept started in Australia where there are several restaurants now, and it has spread with locations or pop-ups across England, the U.S., New Zealand and other countries.

It's arriving in Vancouver this winter, according to the reservation site, and leaving at the end of May 2023. Right now it's taking reservations for its wait list for when it releases openings.

Warning: The language in the video may not be appropriate for all viewers.