Try a Modern Take on Traditional Japanese Snacks at ‘MochiCo’

Unique drinks, mochi incorporated foods right next door to campus

With+an+upbeat+playlist+and+colorful+interior%2C+MochiCo+is+a+great+place+to+hang+out+with+friends.+Grade%3A+A

Ashley Harris

With an upbeat playlist and colorful interior, MochiCo is a great place to hang out with friends.
Grade: A

Ashley Harris, News and Features Editor

Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

7910 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89139

Cash and credit card accepted

As one might endlessly scroll through TikTok, they may encounter influencer Mischa Renee uploading skits about her upbringing in a Filipino-American household. Pursuing a long-time goal of owning a small business, Renee has opened MochiCo, creating mochi snacks all the way from regular ice cream desserts to an unpredictable “mochi dog.” These Japanese rice cake treats have steadily gained popularity throughout the world, and proven to be versatile when creating sweets.

Upon entering the café, guests are greeted with a selection of store merchandise, including plushies, stickers, and other stationery items. The interior is vibrantly decorated with a pastel color palette and unique wall art. Further into the establishment are couches, tables, and board games to enjoy. 

I first ordered the ice cream mochi. It could only be bought in threes, so the flavors I picked out were strawberry, chocolate, and jasmine boba ($5). These delightful treats came as small, creamy scoops of ice cream wrapped in a perfectly chewy mochi dough. Unlike grocery store mochi brands, an artificial taste did not overpower the strawberry, nor was the chocolate overly rich. The jasmine boba had a delicious flavor, balancing the sweetness of boba and the taste of tea. 

They also had a selection of “mochinuts” (mochi doughnuts) that included toppings distinct from others I’ve had before. I chose s’mores ($2.50), which was a mochinut covered in chocolate icing and topped with toasted marshmallows and graham cracker bits. The dough was light and soft, however, the chocolate icing overpowered the rest of the mochinut, making it difficult to taste anything else. As sweet as it was, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely try the other flavors. 

I was curious about the bubble waffle cups, so I ordered Fruity Goodness ($7.50). They make it out of a vanilla bubble waffle, vanilla ice cream, kiwis, strawberries, and blueberries. The sourness of the fruits balanced perfectly with the creamy sweetness of the ice cream and waffle, but I still believe it was missing some sort of sauce or syrup. Despite the perfect presentability, the ice cream isn’t as smooth as I like my soft serve. 

For the price, MochiCo is well worth the visit. Regardless of the temperature, these goodies are the perfect after-school snack. If you’re looking for a place nearby where you can spend some time while supporting a local business, this is the perfect destination.