Mochi doughnuts, Korean corn dogs and shaved ice: what to order at Mochi Dog in Louisville
Mochi is a dessert I grew up with. Being born and raised in Hawaii, the sweet Japanese rice cakes were not only prevalent annually for Japanese Girls’ Day celebrations but also available year-round in grocery stores.
Now that I’m in Louisville, most Asian food items I once had easy access to are not readily available. (Thank goodness for Choi’s Asian Food Market in Lyndon and World Market in St. Matthews! When I have a hankering for certain dishes, I can often rely on these two spots to have them — or the necessary ingredients to whip them up myself.)
Mochi Dog — which opened in Beechmont’s Louisville StrEatery on March 15 — is another spot that’s on my go-to list. This week, I caught up with Joseph Nguyen, who co-owns the mochi doughnut and Korean corn dog business with David Tang. Here are five things I learned:
Mochi Dog is the only place in Louisville that serves mochi doughnuts
Nguyen says that a few other Derby City restaurants offer Korean corn dogs, but Mochi Dog is the original — and only — place in Louisville that serves mochi doughnuts.
"Mochi is made up of tapioca starch and glutinous rice flour," he told the Courier Journal. "Glutinous rice flour is more chewy and gummy. I incorporate it with what you use to make regular doughnuts."
The result is a fluffy and moist treat that’s chewier than its American counterpart.
Nguyen has developed more than 20 flavors, but Mochi Dog guests can expect to find six at the shop at any given time, as they rotate monthly. Options include everything from mango and tiramisu to matcha and creme brulee.
What is a Korean corn dog?
There’s lots to choose from when it comes to Korean corn dogs, too.
"Traditionally, Korean corn dogs use rice flour with tapioca starch," Nguyen said. “(That’s) the main difference from an American corn dog. (Also), when you batter it, you can roll it in different toppings, (then) fry it. It comes out crispy, (whereas) American corn dogs are soft.”
The Korean corn dogs at Mochi Dog are kosher and can be filled with beef, mozzarella, or both. They are then rolled in panko, hot Cheetos, potatoes, cornflakes, or hashbrowns. Finally, they are drizzled in wasabi mayo, Thai chili, spicy mayo, or nacho cheese.
“The most popular (options are) … mozzarella and hot Cheetos,” Nguyen said. “That’s the go-to that everyone … picks.”
Mochi Dog was started by two college students
Nguyen is only 21 years old and is currently a junior, majoring in computer science at the University of Louisville. He explained that Tang is a recent graduate — but they were both still in school when they created Mochi Dog.
“I love traveling,” Nguyen said, “and I love eating all the foods (we) can’t get here.”
This simple desire to have easy access to some of the foods they craved led Tang and Nguyen to create and sell their wares on U of L's campus. After serving mochi doughnuts and Korean corn dogs at pop-up events and local festivals — with great success — the pair decided to open a brick-and-mortar business within the Louisville StrEatery food hall.
Mochi Dog owners also run Da Tea at the Louisville StrEatery
Da Tea shares a counter with Mochi Dog and is also owned by Nguyen and Tang. The duo’s second business — which will eventually be rolled into one entity — offers a variety of milk and fruit teas, as well as a couple of specialty drinks for both dine-in and carryout. There’s also a special menu item that’s available or dine-in only: bingsu, or Korean shaved ice.
Nguyen explained that like mochi doughnuts and Korean corn dogs, bingsu is something he often sees during his travels to larger cities like Chicago and New York.
“Instead of American snow chips — which is water-based, (with) syrup — we use a milk base with real fruits, and we have a machine that shaves it down to snow,” he said. “It’s really popular in the bigger cities, but we’re the only ones here that do it.”
The cold, refreshing treats come with a scoop of ice cream and are available in strawberry, mango, matcha, or brown sugar.
Is Mochi Dog opening another location in Louisville?
In addition to combining Mochi Dog and Da Tea into one business, Nguyen says he and Tang are looking to open a new location within the next couple of months — and hoping to grow the business even further.
"I would like to expand to Cincinnati or Lexington, (in addition to) being able to franchise to other people," Nguyen said.
Nguyen added that his ultimate goal is to not only bring some of his favorite foods to Louisville and beyond but to create a community space for people to come together.
“Kind of like how bigger cities have Chinatown or K-Town,” he explained. “I want it to be a place for people who want to eat a certain kind of food to come and try it out. I’ll have a little bit of everything; some Japanese stuff, Korean stuff, (and) some Hmong stuff with Vietnamese twists.”
For now, he said, “I just want people to know we’re here. … I want to let people know that if you saw mochi doughnuts or Korean corn dogs on social media — or you (had them) in bigger cities and you moved here and you’re missing it — we have them here. We’re the first place (to have them) here.”
Know a restaurant that would make a great feature? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.
Mochi Dog
WHAT: This is a locally owned, fast-casual restaurant located in Louisville StrEatery that serves mochi donuts and Korean corn dogs.
WHERE: 304 W. Woodlawn Ave., Suite 1
SERVICES: Dine-in and carryout; Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday closed
CONTACT: 270-839-9577, mochidogofficial.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mochi Dog in Louisville: Find mochi doughnuts, Korean corn dogs here
