The moment you step in front of Mochi Tori, you’ll notice the wall to the left completely covered in pink roses, adding the most adorable touch to this sweet pastel shop. The aesthetics of Mochi Tori follow the vibe of a pastel ice cream, featuring a perfect logo — the “o” in “Mochi” and “Tori” are shaped like pastel mochi donuts and a little corndog adorns the “Tori.” This fun and whimsical shop carries that same energy into their mochi donut flavors, with options like Fruity Pebbles, Cake Pop, and Strawberry Cheesecake. I chose the S’mores, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry, Cake Pop, and Matcha flavors. I wasn’t planning on eating all these donuts in one sitting after bringing them home, but each flavor looked and sounded so appetizing that my sister and I couldn’t resist saving some for the next day. My friend and I had just gotten taro boba before hitting Mochi Tori, and somehow the combo of taro boba and mochi donuts worked so well together.
I will say the Matcha flavor was a little underwhelming, and I honestly couldn’t taste it much, but the donut texture was a redeeming factor — super chewy, fluffy, and soft. The shape made it easy to share and it wasn’t too sweet. The icing— unlike most donut places— had a subtle sweetness that perfectly complemented the flavor of the donut. The most visually appealing donut was the S’mores, with a toasted marshmallow and graham cracker wedged in the middle on top of the chocolate icing. I saved the best for last. The S’mores mochi donut would have been amazing warmed up, but even eating it as is, it was still incredible. The fluffy marshmallow, soft donut, crunchy graham cracker, and melty chocolate icing took me back to campfire trips, eating freshly toasted marshmallows. Even though it got a little messy with chocolate dripping down your hand and melted marshmallow all around your mouth, you still go back for another bite.
After trying the Cake Pop with its spherical, crackly sprinkles and cake-flavored donut with a Pocky stick on top, I thought that nothing could top my favorite flavor, Birthday Cake. But then the Strawberry Cheesecake came in, and that donut completely altered my brain chemistry. The moment I took my first bite, my little sister actually thought I was possessed, and I’m not exaggerating. It was like that scene in Ratatouille when the food critic takes his first bite of Remy’s dish. The strawberry sauce was life-changing, incredibly rich, and packed with real strawberry flavor. I think it might just be the best mochi donut I’ve ever had. But Mochi Tori isn’t just about mochi donuts; it’s also a chicken spot. I remember the Korean Student Association (KSA) brought Mochi Tori’s chicken to the Unity Carnival, and it was some of the most tender, sweet, and spicy chicken I’ve ever had. It was crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. On top of that, Mochi Tori has multiple corndog flavors and other Korean favorites like tteokbokki, bibimbap, and the cup-bap bowl. Every menu item is worth the price for the flavor. I will definitely be coming back as a regular because the taste and quality of everything on the menu make it completely worth it. Strawberry Cheesecake mochi donut, I’m coming back for you.
