Mochinut is an American restaurant chain specializing in mochi donuts, boba, and Korean-style hot dogs with locations in the U.S. and South Korea. It was founded in California in 2020. A location opened on Detroit Road in Westlake near the Columbia Road exit on I-90 in August 2022. The next closest location is Ann Arbor, Michigan and then another is in southern Indiana. It is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 8 pm.
My friend Judi is obsessed and stops there whenever she is in the area. Her daughter lived in Japan and got her hooked. She took me there after a tea presentation at Bay Village Library. I of course had to try the boba (bubble tea) and mochi donuts. The dining area was very clean, and the staff was very friendly and helpful.
I ordered a Thai Tea boba, which was perfectly made. They have a cool plastic can with a metal lid that they make the tea in. It was not super environmentally friendly though, and they don’t recycle them (I asked). The milk and sugar ratio in the tea was just right. If you want more sugar order the brown sugar ones.
The mochi donuts are made with rice flour, making them flexible and recognizable due to their distinct shape of eight small balls connected as a circle. Mochi doughnuts have a crispy exterior, due to being fried or baked, and a chewy interior thanks to the use of sweet rice flour. Apparently some of the donuts are gluten free, since they use rice or tapioca flour rather than the conventional wheat variety. Be sure to ask, and they encourage you to do so with some signage. The flavors change daily and they serve eight different flavors each day.
I ordered a chocolate donut with chocolate sprinkles on my first visit (in the first photo – this one on the left is Blueberry Lychee). The donut is light and chewy. I really enjoyed it. I ordered three donuts ($10) on the second visit and enjoyed all three. I liked the Matcha donut I ordered on my second visit even more. I stopped here with a couple friends after meeting them for sushi just down the street at Yuzu King. Being a huge fan of matcha is was a no-brainer the minute I saw it on the board. I also ordered the Milky Fruity Pebbles and Chocolate Funnel Cake donuts. The Matcha donut and Funnel Cake ones weren’t as sweet as the chocolate one, and I really enjoyed them a lot. And who doesn’t enjoy Fruity Pebbles? My friend thought the Pina Colada one was too sweet, so I got to take it home with me and enjoy later. It was sweeter but still enjoyable. I do prefer the less sweet ones though.
They are also known for their Korean hot dogs. The Korean hot dogs are wrapped in a bun similar to a corn dog. You can get a hot dog or mozzarella cheese or a half/half (hot dog and cheese) on a stick. They are then dipped in batter, coated in potatoes, ramen, Hot Cheetos or “Blue Heat” (apparently covered by crushed Takis rice cakethat is a blue hue) toppings, and deep fried. I ordered the half mozzarella half hot dog coated in ramen. I would have prefered it if the mozzarella and hot dog were next to each other sharing space instead of one on top of the other. I still enjoyed it though. It was a crunchy delight. My friend enjoyed her potato-covered mozzarella one.
Look at that cheese pull!
I definitely look forward to my next visit. I can’t wait to see what will be on the board then. And I need to try the Ube boba.
Contact info:
Mochinut
26161 Detroit Road
Westlake, OH 44145
(440) 455-1028