Where to munch on mochi donuts in Pennsylvania

Mochi donuts, tasty cultural fusion treats that cross American donuts with Japanese mochi, can be found across Pennsylvania.

When you combine mochi (sweet Japanese rice cakes) with donuts (the sweet, fried rings of dough popular in the U.S.), the result is delicious and rather photogenic pastries: mochi donuts!

These hybrid treats can trace their origins to Hawaii, where decades ago, Japanese Americans had the brilliant idea to create donut-like pastries while experimenting with the sweet rice flour that’s a key ingredient in mochi. But mochi donuts have only recently begun trending on the mainland. Thanks to social media, the colorful, ring-shaped balls of dough have found their way into bakeries, boba shops, and lots of Pennsylvanian stomachs.

Whether you haven’t tried a mochi donut yet or you’re already obsessed with them, here’s where you can grab the chewy fusion food in Pennsylvania.

Winnie Mochi donuts are creative and colorful. (Winnie Mochi)

Mochi donuts in Greater Philadelphia

Mochinut – Philadelphia, Langhorne, and Elkins Park

Mochinut is a restaurant serving classic mochi donuts. Can’t you tell that’s their focus, given the shop’s name? At Mochinut, a mochi donut is made by connecting eight balls of chewy rice dough, which is then typically covered in different flavors of colorful icing or glaze.

It may be hard to choose, as Mochinut serves 25 different flavors of mochi donuts. Some flavors are donut classics (strawberry! cookies and creme!), while others nod to mochi’s Japanese origins (matcha! ube!). The menu also includes Korean hot dogs, boba tea, and soft serve.

Mochinut has four locations in Greater Philadelphia: two in Philly proper and one each in Langhorne and Elkins Park. The shop is also planning to open three additional shops in the area.

Mochi Ring – Philadelphia, Jenkintown, Conshohocken, and Upper Darby

Mochi Ring opened its first shop in Pennsylvania in 2022. Now, the national chain has four locations in Greater Philly, all dedicated to mochi donuts.

The full menu (which may vary by location) has 19 different flavors, including dragon fruit, coffee, cheddar cheese, taro, and more. You can also get bubble tea and Korean hot dogs.

Oops Donut – Malvern 

A trip to Oops Donut will not, actually, inspire regret and an exclamation of “Oops!”

The Chester County mochi donut shop serves classic mochi donuts and many different flavors of coffee and tea. The beautifully decorated donuts are made in flavors like lotus, almond, and chocolate sprinkle. Plus, decorations will often be holiday-themed, making the mochi donuts perfect for parties or get-togethers! 

Oops Donut in Chester County makes gorgeous—and delicious—mochi donuts. (Oops Donut)

Mochiatsu – Philadelphia, Media, and Feasterville

Mochiatsu opened its first shop in Philadelphia in 2021 before the Pennsylvania mochi donut wave truly swelled. The chain has a handful of cafes across the eastern U.S., but five of these shops are in Greater Philly, with three in Pennsylvania and two across the river in New Jersey.

At each shop, you can order delicious mochi donuts, Korean hot dogs, and both bubble and fruit tea. Some stores also make sandwiches, dumplings, and other savory treats.

Mochiatsu has five mochi donut shops in Greater Philly, including a Bucks County store in Feasterville. (Mochiatsu)

Mochi donuts elsewhere in Eastern Pennsylvania

Winnie Mochi – West Reading

Since May 2024, Winnie Mochi has provided mochi donuts to the folks of Berks County.

The restaurant’s inventive donut flavors, like candy cane and crème brûlée, sometimes sell out, so be sure to call ahead if you’re in the mood for a specific mochi donut. You can also order from a wide selection of coffees and teas, as well as a menu of savory snacks like Korean hot dogs and Korean fried chicken.

Winnie Mochi’s donuts have recently been featured at West Reading restaurant Fresh Breakfast Lunch as part of weekend “donut flights,” which pair Winnie Mochi donuts with cocktails.

As seen in this box of mochi donuts, Winnie Mochi donut options include cotton candy, strawberry shortcake, and Dalgona cookie. (Winnie Mochi)

VL Sandwiches – Easton

VL Sandwiches is a Vietnamese restaurant in Easton that serves a mean banh mi, but it also makes its own mochi donuts! Get them topped with flavored icing, sweet cereal, cookies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or even hot Cheetos. You can also order Vietnamese classics like pho or steamed buns, as well as boba tea.

Mochi & Tea Lounge – Lititz 

Mochi donuts have come to Amish Country with the opening of Mochi & Tea Lounge in Lancaster County’s Lititz. The chewy donuts are beautifully decorated, often to celebrate the season or a holiday.

The shop also specializes in boba, perfect for pairing with your mochi donut.

Mochi donuts in Central Pennsylvania

Mochi Mama – Harrisburg

Opening just months ago, locally owned Mochi Mama says it is the first mochi donut café in Central Pennsylvania. Now, people in the center of the state need not go far to get mochi donuts made fresh each day.

Mochi Mama’s donut menu often celebrates the season. In February, the café created twelve Valentine’s Day flavors. Menus of coffee and boba tea will help you wash down your mochi donuts. If you’re looking for a meal, Mochi Mama also serves Hawaiian poke and Korean corn dogs. 

TeaFé – State College

TeaFé originally opened as a State College boba tea café, but it has also become known for its mochi donuts, as well as other treats both sweet and savory.

Because the café’s menu is large, mochi donuts are just one part of it. You can choose from three donut glaze flavors: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. Besides the viral donuts, TeaFé serves a wide variety of drinks, including boba, coffee, fruit teas, yogurt drinks, smoothies, and more. You can also order snacks like onigiri (Japanese rice balls with a protein filling) and crepe waffles.

Mochi donuts in Western Pennsylvania

Bubble Bee – Pittsburgh, Washington, and Ross Township

Bubble Bee, with four locations across Greater Pittsburgh, is where to go for mochi donuts in Western Pennsylvania. The local bubble tea chain’s original location is in the tree-lined neighborhood of Shadyside in Pittsburgh, but there are additional locations in the Ross Park Mall, Tanger Outlets in Washington, and Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

You can grab mochi donuts in classic flavors like vanilla and strawberry, as well as taro, blueberry, dark chocolate, and more.

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