Minamoto Kitchoan

It was my girlfriend’s birthday and she had made it known to me that she wanted to eat mochi for the last two weeks. She is a psycho when it comes to mochi. If she had the option, she would eat mochi or some sort of rice cake for breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, snacks, and dessert.
There’s three components to this review. 1 — my experience at Minamoto Kitchoan, 2 — the mochi, 3 — the cost.
My Experience — at Minamoto Kitchoan was great.
Me walking into MK was like me walking into Victoria Secret. Sure I know what it is that the store sells, but I’m not a big fan of mochi so I could really care to know less. Being confused, a MK staff took the time to explain to me the differences between each mochi they had for purchase. I ended up buying one of each single mochi they had and a box of the peach mochi and mocha mochi. During check out, she asked if I would like my mochi wrapped. I joked and said «if it’s free». She smiled, then turned around to packing each individual mochi. I spent around $ 70 that day, but it was worth it.
When I gave my girlfriend the bag of mochi, she grabbed it, made sure it was «real» than gave me a hug with one arm as she opened the bag with the other.
The Mochi — was the best mochi my girlfriend ever ate.
She described it as taking a bite of heaven. I was allowed to take a bit out of the mochi with a white chocolate core, it was pretty good.
The Cost — is very high for something very small.
For $ 70, I got around a pound of mochi. To me, that isn’t worth it. Maybe it is for my girl friend, but for everyone else out there who aren’t mochi fanatics, this place is really $$$$

Delicate, creative, loyal-​to-​original, delicious, beautifully packaged, cute, cool… I can use countless of good words to describe Minamoto. Thoughtfully designed pastries are like art pieces!
There are seasonal items like Sakura (cherry blossom) Mochi and Sakura cake (spring specials) available once a year. Def worth a visit if you like Lady M, Royce chocolate and pastries in general.

Never seen a bean cake like this — it’s like a baby secretly hidden inside a piece of pink blanket, so adorable! Minamoto was very skillful in designing its pastries in a way such that no girls could resist from trying even just for a single bite!
Some other things to try out — white peach jelly! It was a bit pricey but definitely worth it. Besides this location near my company, there’s also one in the Mitsuwa market in Jersey city.

At this year sakura matsuri they had a stand and me and a friend brout a few items from them. i brought two sakura mochi and a Peach Jelly. i tried the Sakura mochi a few days later and it was so good a bit on the salty side but i love the red been paste insde. The peach jelly was a ok but it wasn’t nothing special
the packaging that it was in was cute though

I somehow thought that the sakura mochi would not be as salty as it was; it was like I bit the ocean and wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it again or not. So, I did until I finished it. My husband made all kinds of faces that I’ve never seen before, so I guess it was his first and last. Be the judge; this is one of their signatures this time of year.
Beautiful packaging is something that I’ve always admired about anything Japanese, and these sweets are of no exception. Handled with loving care, each package is like a little present. Yes, the prices are steep, but these are imported goods from Japan, and you will not find anything more authentic than here. Can’t decide? Take your time — they will not try to rush you in any way.
After wandering around the store for a few minutes, I headed straight to the back where they had showcased their sakura line of sweets. I opted for two sakura filled pancake-​looking tacos that were in fact pink and the two sakura mocha. They were placed in an elegant bag after I paid and I was on my way! Really this place is something to see if you’re in the area.
Would I frequent again? Maybe next year.

Ambiance: A+
Service: B–
Food: B
Price: Not sure how a letter grade would do. Too expensive for what it is.
I almost missed the store the first time I came here, since it’s business looking from the outside. Very clean interior, with everything nice and organized.
I think I may have came on an off day, since the ladies didn’t seem all that interested in helping me pick something. Actually, they sort of had a judge-​y attitude for my being there and not knowing what I want, and bothered by my curiosity. It’s not like the store was bustling with business at those prices.
Now this brings me to the price of the goods. If you knew how to cook/​bake and know the actual price/​cost to making some of them, you’d know you’re getting ripped off sky high. Yes, you can argue that it’s the professional service of them making it look very presentable, and «high quality ingredients». But a red bean paste can only go so far.
It’s really a gimmick for Japanese goods in the city that the store goes for, making itself as high end.
It’s definitely a place I’d be very appreciative in receiving a gift. I don’t think I can ever force myself to buy something for others or myself though. Imagine spending a lot of money, and seeing their less than impressed faces upon tasting the goods.

I visit Minamoto Kitchoan every few weeks to see what they got that is new, especially since sone seasonal items are available only once a year, and I lucked out this time. They had Sakuranbo — Cherry in Jelly, which I waited 18 month before I saw them again in the store.
These wagashi are in celabraions of japanese cherry blossom session. The Sakuranbo contains a delicious candied cherry inside a clear cherry flavored jelly it’s not just the flavor you get when you put it in your mouth the sensation of the jell on your taste bubs. You should chill this before eating to deduce the liqued that me be on the bottom of the wrapping. Most of the ones I had the jelly shape in not a solid shap but still taste good, Oh and they still have the cherry pit so don’t chew them but these are real soft so use your tongue.
The Japanese cherry blossom item is Okashigure is muchi pink colored kidney bean version.
They also had a new item for me which was is Sakuragoromo, a Red Bean Cake in a delecate folded pink muchi pancake. I got one of the gift boxes that also included Oukashure, cherry bean paste cake, and Ayashirabe Maccha bean cake.
The box cost less than and contains more items than buying individual pieces. Not that wagashi here is cheap it cost $$$ but this is the best place I found in NYC that has delicious tasting wagashi, not the floury dry stuff you may find else ware.
The gift boxes make a perfect gift to some who like Japanese deletes and let people know how special they are to you because you made the extra effort. And of course you need to treat yourself to a good treat sometimes don’t you?

I’d been waiting to visit this place for a long time, and this is definitely an adorable place to visit. The decoration of the building is very modern but some of the setting inside and the products/​sweets here are kind of traditional. I’m a big fan of Japanese food and dessert, and this place didn’t disappoint me.
I got the Sakura assort box, which included 3 Sakura Goromo and 2 Maccha Senbei. The Sakura Goromo was soft and looked very pretty but didn’t taste much like Sakura, instead, it tasted like a normal cake. The red bean filling was sweet, and the mochi inside was chewy which was my favorite. The Maccha Senbei was another surprise to me. I didn’t expect too much on it based on its appearance — very simple, common cookies look. However, when I first bit it, I was just, «Wow, this is what I want for a matcha tasted dessert!» The cookies part was very crispy, the layer of matcha filling inside taste soooo good. I couldn’t even stop eating it until it’s finished. I wished I could have more.
I would like to try their Sakura Mochi, however, they didn’t have it in stock at that time. I wished I could go back very soon and try their other lovely sweets/​snacks. (Plus, the ladies were super friendly and patient to explain their products to you)

I absolutely love the Japanese sweets. Over time I have had to experiment and some things are a hit and miss with me, but one of my favorites i wish i remembered the name is this little white rice cake thing with bean paste and a leaf wrapped around it.
they are ALWAYS sold out of it, and have to wait for shipment from Japan … its in high demand i suppose…
In any case, if you want to try something very different come here.

So glad I found this place. The ladies were extremely friendly and it was kinda fun to use the Japanese I’ve been studying to ask for a few of the awesome things they had in the cases.
I picked up a few aya shirabe, tsuya, and an oribenishiki. All of them are great, and worth what you pay.

Nice friendly place, got lost trying to find this place in NY. It’s a small store, so I walked past it many times before I noticed.
I was looking for some goodies to bring back home and stumbled upon this place on Unilocal.
I started looking around and sampled the macchamochi. It was delicious. So I bought a box. Then tried the white peach one (Hakutoumochi) and it was just as good, so I got a box of those as well. I also bought a few Aya-​shirabe. I tried one after I got home and wasn’t really a fan of it. I think I only bought it bc it was cheap. Haha.
The highlight of this place was that they wrapped everything really nice for me to take home. Yes… Wrapping paper, I was impressed. And I’m sure it impressed my friends too when I gave it to them.
Will come back for more goodies in the future. Only con was I wish they let you try more before buying. Haha

This was a very interesting sweet shop. I am always intrigued by authentic Japanese sweet shops. The way they display their samples is unique.
We bought an assortment of items from this shop. Some were great, some were odd.
We had:
Hakutou Jelly — the hubby liked this, it wasn’t my favorite. It was too sweet and had too much peach flavor.
Kasutera in Honey and Green Tea — this cake had a very unique consistency. It was springy like a Lady M cake but wasn’t as flavorful. Again the hubby liked it better than I did.
A mochi covered treat with red bean paste — This item I really liked, but the hubby took a pass on. He is not a fan of mochi.
If you are looking for a unique dessert option, I would recommend giving this shop a try.

Having been to Japan before I know a thing or two about authentic Japanese treats and am so happy that this store exists. Walking through the glass door, you can tell these sweets are the real deal. Minamoto Kitchoan has their wagashi made in Japan and then shipped to the store several times a week to guarantee freshness. Because it is imported, the prices a little higher but totally worth it. I paid between $ 2.50 — $ 4.00 for each of the wagashi.
The store is very clean and inviting. All of the treats are on display so you can choose which ones to take home or you can buy boxes of the pastries as gifts at a lower cost. The wagashi are authentic and so is the service right down to the change being put onto a tray and brought to the counter.
If you frequent the store often they do have a stamp card program, where for every $ 5.00 you spend you receive $ 5.00 off your next purchase after receiving 20 stamps.
It really is a wonderful place, especially if you have a fondness for authentic wagashi treats. Even if you have never had wagashi before, it’s worth going to the store to try something new!

So I found this place through Unilocal and found that I was close by so I would stop in to try it.
Very cute atmosphere, clean and neat.
I got the Sakura Mochi, everyone was raving about it. I didn’t find it that mind blowing as I thought I would. It was sweet yet salty, not amazing but it was good, for lack of better words.
I also got this green tea cookie type thing I cannot think of the name, this i didn’t care for, could have gone without buying it.
Lastly I got the moon cake, that I loved because I just love moon cake, not the BEST I’ve ever had but it was still great nonetheless.
The one thing I was most disappointed in was that a lot of the treats in there are NOT sold individually. And I didn’t feel like spending 20 to 30 dollars on a box of goodies that I just wanted a small taste of!

I love waltzing in this store because everything is just so adorable and presentable. The staff are kind and helpful (but usually English is their second language, so just bear with them). Everything is encased in glass cases, and come in beautiful gift boxes.
However, I’ve had several of their mochi here and the Sakura pancake, and it was no different than what I’ve had from Japanese supermarkets. Maybe come here for a gift for family members, but the sweets are a bit too candied for my taste.

My family has been going to Minamoto for many years now and their quality in service and Japanese snacks has never diminished. I always go here whenever I need to bring something with me to family friends or for special occasions. Minamoto is always a winner as gifts. The snacks aren’t overbearingly sweet and the packaging has a soft, clean look.
If you are unfamiliar with what the snacks are, the ladies are more than happy to explain them to you. Be patient with them as English is most likely not their first language. They are very courteous and always want to help you find what you are looking for.
During this particular visit, I purchased the 10-​piece usagisan (usagi means rabbit) and the gift set of red bean and chocolate buns. The usagi are rabbit-​shaped treats with white bean and yuzu paste inside, while the buns are filled with either red bean or chocolate paste. The ladies in the store will also gift-​wrap and give you extra bags if you need.
Minamoto also offers a membership program for those who frequent their shop in any location (there aren’t many but there is a nearby location in NJ in Mitsuwa, the Japanese Marketplace). It was an easy signup and you receive a card after filling out your information.
Will definitely be back during the holidays!

A Japanese guidebook once told me that the optimal gift to give in Japan is a «Hollow box of rice paper… Content is less important than form.» Obviously, they were joking, but you can see a lot of that attention to presentation in this store: an empty, immaculate, quiet desert shop that at first glance looks like a section of Tiffany’s.
The desserts are quite pricey, but you’re not getting supermarket daifuku here. These are black-​label, premium pieces of mochi that you’re paying $ 3 – 5 a piece for. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes. I have yet to be disappointed getting something from this store as a special treat.
It’s clear that these are best given as gifts, or saved for special occasions. It’s something you want to keep special. It’s not often you find sakura or umeboshi mochi in the US, and it’s not something I would want to eat every day. But the store makes every purchase you make feel unique, and makes every customer feel special.

Such a cute little shop with marvelous displays of desserts. It’s almost like window shopping for your stomach as you walk from one end of their displays to the other.
They have many options ranging from their mochi to baumkuchen. All of them look delicious and certainly have great visual appeal for desserts. A revisit in the future is an absolute must as you will have no way of trying all their delightful sweets in one trip.
The nice lady working there was very cheerful and pleasant to speak with.

The nodding cats were the first thing that caught my attention for this adorable Japanese sweets store. They were like: «YAS Jannet. You know you want to come in~». I gave in and got to see how cute this store is from the inside.
As well as all the delicious treats inside! I have to say, I was in the mood to try something different– because normally I would not spend over 2 $ on a jelly. But wow… That melon jelly is absolutely scrumptious… It’s such a luxury item, but mm… I would be so freaking happy if someone gifted me a set of that delicious jelly. I think buying one for around 5 $ is worth it, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to buy a whole set for yourself. This is definitely the type of present that you would buy family or a big group of friends.
I say this store is worth the visit! If I come again, I will HAVE to try the mochi next and maybe grab another melon jelly :)

If you are Asian and need a gift to impress elders during the holidays (ie. Your parents or your Asian SO’s parents), then you’ve come to the right place. They sell a variety of Japanese wagayashi (desserts), and if you don’t know anything about what you’re looking at, I would just recommend finding an SA, telling them your budget, and sitting back while they create a beautiful gift box for you.
Some items I’ve really enjoyed include their fresh sakura mochi (must be consumed day of), green tea mochi, peach jelly, and aya-​shirabe. Everything is so intricately made, and the flavors are not overwhelmingly sweet. If you buy by the piece, each item will run you $ 3 – 5 so it really adds up if you are buying for a group of people. I’ve come in and spent easily upward of $ 70 for a large box of items, but they do have some gift sets which are slightly discounted.
Gift box and wrap is an additional $ 3, and that is my only complaint. Despite this, I will undoubtedly be back given how well received the desserts were on the last several occasions.