5 places to munch on mochi donuts in the Valley

If you want to get a taste of the trendiest new food, mochi donuts, check out these five spots around the Valley. 

Few things in life are more satisfying than a fresh donut, but fans of sweet Japanese rice cakes will happily argue that mochi donuts take fried baked goods to the next level.

Mochi donuts are a fusion of Japanese mochi and American-style donuts, known for their chewy texture and signature bubble-ring shape of eight dough balls. Unlike traditional yeast or cake donuts, mochi donuts use glutinous rice flour or tapioca starch, giving them a delightfully stretchy bite. Their popularity stems from their versatility—often infused with flavors like matcha, chai, taro, and ube—and their photogenic appearance, making them a favorite for foodies to post on social media.

Although mochi itself has deep roots in Japanese cuisine, mochi donuts originated in Hawaii in the 1990s, where the local Japanese-American community experimented with blending familiar textures and flavors into new forms. However, the trend truly took off when Mister Donut, an American-founded chain now dominant in Asia, introduced the Pon de Ring in the early 2000s.

Today, mochi donuts are hotter than ever—and Arizona is right on trend with a handful of shops to help you get your fix (did we mention they’re addictive?). Check out these favorite spots:

1. Mochidot Donuts

This Asian family-owned shop in Central Phoenix serves fresh mochi donuts based on a rotating menu of flavors each month. Their team crafts these goodies in small batches with an eye on quality—glazes are prepared from scratch using ingredients like Belgian chocolate, Ippodo matcha, and fragrant vanilla. Can’t-miss favorite flavors include Churro, Turkish Delight, London Fog and Cocoa Crunch.

2. Mochinut

With locations in Tempe, Peoria, Chandler, and Gilbert, Mochinut helps the entire Valley satisfy their cravings for mochi donuts. The colors of the popular flavors—including Yuzu, Pistachio, Red Velvet, Mango, Ube, and Milk Pebble—span the rainbow, making these not only tasty but incredibly Insta-worthy. For something a little different, check out the Mochinut Balls (at select locations), which are filled with such flavors as Cookies and Cream and Crème Brule.

3. Happy Buns

Want to learn to make your own mochi donuts but don’t know where to start? Asian bakery Happy Buns makes it easy—their delicious mix makes a batch of 18 delightful pastries. Doing it yourself allows you to customize to your heart’s content, swapping out milk for a dairy-free alternative or coconut oil for butter to fit any dietary restrictions or lifestyle. And don’t worry about a steep learning curve, as your purchase comes with foolproof video instructions.

4. The Local Donut

Serving up every type of donut under the sun—from raised yeast donuts and croissant donuts to mochi donuts and mochi balls Scottsdale’s The Local Donut knows how to tempt some tastebuds. Flavors change monthly, and some recent options include Ube Milk Crumb or Cookies-n-Cream mochi donuts and Strawberry French Toast mochi balls.

5. Paris Baguette

A French-inspired bakery café with South Korean roots, Paris Baguette opened its first US café in 2005 and is projecting 1,000 locations by 2030—yet the goal is to keep vibe that of a friendly neighborhood hotspot. You’ll find plenty of tempting treats in the Uptown Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale locations, such as cakes, tarts, and croissants, but the mochi donuts are truly a standout menu item (especially the Butter Pecan, Strawberry, and Sugar varieties).

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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