The popular Japanese mochi and donut fusion restaurant, Mochinut, arrived in College Station in February 2024. The chain — founded in California in 2020 — has blossomed throughout the Houston area and has since capitalized on the lack of sweet treats in Bryan-College Station.
Normally, I stick to writing about sports; however, I received the opportunity to give the enticing new pastry restaurant a try. Upon entering the establishment, I was immediately greeted by a friendly stranger who was behind a counter of delicious looking sweets. I asked for one of each new flavor they had, and a few seconds later I acquired a box of the colorful concoctions. When I asked the employee what mochi is, I learned that it is a Japanese pastry with various flavors combined with a sweet rice dough. This restaurant’s version is a mix of the traditional American donut with Japanese mochi, with new flavors coming out every two weeks.
Here are my thoughts and opinions on six different flavors of Mochinut donuts.
7/10
Original Glaze – When trying the original glaze, I felt as though I was at the fair devouring a piping hot funnel cake. The donut batter was light but very sweet, with the icing adding on to the existing sweetness of the rich mochi. The mochi “balls” that linked the donut together were very soft and also pulled apart fairly easily.
6.5/10
Peanut Butter and Jelly – I went into this flavor fully expecting the flavors to clash too much; instead, I was met with a light, salty taste of peanut butter that blended in with the hint of sweet strawberry jelly. While it wasn’t one of my favorites, it still had a great unique flavor that was worth trying.
9/10
Mango – The donut base on this one was no different from the rest; however, the yellow mango icing on top made it my favorite flavor. The sweet and tart flavor from the real mango used to make the icing is very noticeable and complements the rest of the warm dough nicely.
8.5/10
White Chocolate Churro – The chocolate and caramel drizzle over the top of the donut was salty and savory, with the dough complementing the same sweet taste as the rest of the flavors. The top was also sprinkled with extra sugar, and the batter tasted just a little more churro than donut.
9/10
Chocolate Mocha – The concept of this flavor was rather similar to the original glaze, except the icing was slightly darker with a light chocolate flavor. There were also dark mocha sprinkles on top that enriched the already-prevalent chocolate flavor. Any chocolate lover would benefit by keeping this flavor on their radar.
7/10
Double Ube – While the dark purple icing and slightly darker dough batter appearance may set some customers off on the wrong foot, this flavor was the most calm and had a very similar taste to the original glaze. While you can taste a slight difference, the most notable difference is the batter and how it is slightly heavier, with a light coconut taste.
Personally, I loved the taste of each mochinut and liked how they weren’t as heavy as a usual donut. The flavors never felt wrong or misplaced on the pastries, always blending well with the mochi and donut alike. My experience in the restaurant itself was quite pleasant. The employees were very kind and helpful in explaining the flavors and concepts, and the overall ambiance was happy, light and cheerful.
Regardless of your favorite flavors, there’s always one for you, and new ones to try at Mochinut, found on 1411 Wellborn Road in College Station.
This newcomer to Aggieland is worth the trip for any sweets or donut lovers out there!
