Donut Meets Rice Cake: ‘Mochinut’ Shop Coming To Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Picture a marriage between an “American-style doughnut” and a Japanese rice cake (mochi). That’s the recipe behind a Hawaii-born treat – the “mochinut” – which is officially making its way to Montclair in November.

Recently, the Montclair Hospitality Group – the owners and operators of Ani Ramen House – announced that they’re bringing one of their eponymously named Mochinut locations to Montclair at 349 Bloomfield Avenue.

The standalone shop in Montclair comes on the heels of the first Ani Ramen/Mochinut location, which opened in Summit in October. But while that location is a “grab-and-go walk-up kiosk” with a limited selection, the Montclair shop will have the “the full Mochinut menu,” which includes donuts, boba teas and Korean rice-flour hot dogs – which are similar to corn dogs.

The business plans to open another location in Princeton in 2022.

So what the heck is a mochinut, anyway? Here’s how the Montclair Hospitality Group describes the tasty treat:

“Mochinuts are gaining popularity nationwide, owing to their unique shape and texture, a light crispy coating, but soft and chewy inside. Because Mochinut donuts are made with rice flour, they are stretchy and chewy. There is a sticky addictiveness to each bite, a textural element that is completely different from yeast or cake donuts. Mochinut donuts also stand out with their unique appearance: a connected circle of eight dough balls, in a rainbow of colored glazes. Flavors range from Asian ingredients like Yuzu, Ube (purple yam), Matcha and Black Sesame, to more familiar American tastes like Red Velvet, Cookies and Cream, Peanut Butter, Strawberry Funnel, and Milk Pebble (cereal).”

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