Mochi doughnuts seller, Mochidon, plans Milwaukee shop to open soon
Mochidon, a Las Vegas pastry shop that sells mochi doughnuts, is planning to open a Milwaukee location at the Paper Table Food Co., 733-737 N. Milwaukee St.
The bakery sells a pastry that combines an American doughnut and Japanese mochi to create a soft, chewy doughnut with a crunchy outside.
Owner Calvin Marquez said he was excited to bring the concept to Milwaukee, as he hasn’t seen the pastry, popular on the West Coast, elsewhere in Wisconsin.
“We figured this metro area, in the heart of Milwaukee, has lots of tourists, hotels and a great demographic for mochi doughnuts,” Marquez said. “It’s a new concept out here. I didn’t want to go to L.A. where there’s already 10 competitors. We’re bringing the West Coast here.”
Mochidon’s pastry chef has developed more than 100 flavors of mochi doughnuts, and the Milwaukee location will feature a rotating menu including Las Vegas favorites like the ube pebble, made with ube, a sweet purple yam popular in Filipino desserts; matcha Oreo, made with the green tea that has a long history in East Asian cultures; and a strawberry shortcake mochi doughnut.
The bakery also will serve other pastries, such as a Japanese souffle cheesecake and malasadas, a Hawaiian pastry.
Paper Table Food Co. is a ghost kitchen for vendors who want to focus on delivery and takeout, but Mochidon’s spot there will be street-facing and walk-infriendly. Marquez said they want to encourage foot traffic and will have rotating doughnuts in store that are not available online. They will also have coffee and boba tea, an East Asian milk- or fruit-based drink with tapioca pearls.
“We wanted to create something to grab doughnuts really quick on your way to work, or to enjoy while walking downtown,” he said.
A Mochidon bakery is also planned for Minneapolis, where Marquez lives.
He plans to have the Milwaukee location open at the end of June or early July.