Mochinut, a stark contrast to the brick buildings around it, is drawing in crowds with its bright exterior and unique treats. On Aug. 12, 2023, Mochinut joined Hawthorne, one of the busiest areas in town, bustling with restaurants, thrift stores, and quaint shops that attract both locals and tourists. Since then the extensive menu, including mochi donuts, Korean rice flour hot dogs, bubble tea, and soft serve has caught the attention of many.
The Hawthorne location is Mochinut’s first Portland location, following its first Oregon location in Beaverton, which opened in August of 2022. The chain was founded in California in 2020, and has expanded rapidly since then, with Hawthorne becoming its 160th location.
Although the menu also features other treats, the central concept of Mochinut is the mochi donut. The fusion of American donuts and Japanese mochi originated in Hawaii in the 1990s. Mister Donut’s “Pon De Ring” iteration of the mochi donut in the 2000s is what initially grew its popularity, and since has expanded across North America. The textural difference from a traditional donut is what makes mochi donuts stand out; they have a crisp outside and chewy inside thanks to rice flour.
The shape of a mochinut is different from traditional American donuts. Senior Logan Markwell, a Franklin student and self-proclaimed foodie, described the shape as “a circle of equally sized spheres that can be pulled off and enjoyed in small bites. There are 8 of these bites per donut, and they make sharing with friends and thus trying multiple flavors of donut a lot easier than regular donuts.” The Mochinut logo emphasizes the difference between “regular” donuts and theirs, featuring an unique donut shape captioned “More Than Just A Donut.” Many customers come in just to try its unique concept.
Since opening, Mochinut has had a very prominent presence in the Southeast Portland food scene. Daniel Phanthadong, a Mochinut front-of-house worker, says their opening day was “five times busier than any other day.” Only one other day has been able to top the business of the grand opening. The Hawthorne Street Fair, an annual event that occurs in August, routinely brings local businesses together with music, food, local booths, and sidewalk vendors. “It was very busy, [we had a] nonstop line out the door for 6 hours straight,” said Phanthadong. In a regular week, rushes are relatively inconsistent, in part due to the presence of many surrounding businesses.
Despite competition, some businesses on Hawthorne feed off each other, with its diverse array of shops and restaurants. Baghdad, a popular movie theater just a block from Mochinut attracts a lot of foot traffic through the area. Phanthadong noticed that Mochinut “always get[s] a very small rush after the movies finish,” the large pink soft serve sign displaying the day’s flavors catching the eyes of many leaving the theater. Mochinut’s donut flavors rotate weekly, announced on each location’s Instagram or when visiting the store. With rotating flavors that are unique to every location, a pleasant surprise awaits when customers step up to the counter. Phanthadong said, “I think [this week] is probably the best week we’ve had,” in reference to a lineup of maple bacon, lavender with mochi cake, guava, pomegranate churro, pumpkin spice with yogurt pretzel, and dark chocolate funnel cake with pretzel stick.
Markwell tried a few different flavors and said, “the donut was fluffy, airy, and the lavender flavor was light and summery. It had these sour-ish candies on top which broke up the texture and flavor, adding variety.” In addition, Markwell “really enjoyed the maple bacon donut. It had a deeper, more complexly-sweet flavor, the saltiness of the bacon offset the sweetness.” Markwell was enthusiastic about getting the lavender donut again: “I would definitely return to have that again and highly recommend it to anyone going there for the first time.”
Although mochi donuts are the most popular and standout aspect of Mochinut, they also serve boba tea, Korean hot dogs, and soft serve. Even if you’re not a huge donut fan, there are plenty of other options. The boba tea comes in an unusual plastic can, compared to the typical plastic cup. The rice flour korean hot dogs have become extremely popular, explained Phanthadong. He recommends his personal favorite, the potato half and half, with the garlic mayo sauce. You might not expect to find savory food at a business named after donuts. This allows them to serve and appeal to a wider audience, while continuing to stick true to Korean-American fusion.
Mochinut wouldn’t be able to provide these delicious treats without the hard work and quick adaptations of its employees. The soft opening prompted workers to adjust quickly. “We had to learn and make adjustments throughout the day,” explained Phanthadong. Employees have played a crucial role in the opening and development of the Hawthorne location.
Whether you’d prefer a delicious donut or a cheeto-coated hot dog, Mochinut offers a variety of choices across its menu. When passing by, it’s easy to have your attention caught by Mochinut’s bright colors and tasty treats.
