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Sweet, creamy, cold and distinctively coffee-forward, Vietnamese iced coffee is one of my favorite sippable treats, but the Peninsula is devoid of cafes specializing in this type of coffee (drive to San Jose, though, and it’s a different story.)
I thought all hope was lost in my quest to find flavored Vietnamese coffees nearby (yes, I understand you can order regular Vietnamese coffee at most Vietnamese restaurants, but it’s just not the same), until I stumbled upon a tiny takeout cafe called Mochi Waffle Corner in Mountain View. And while you wouldn’t know it from the name, it sells Vietnamese iced coffees topped with flavored creams, including egg, ube, Thai tea, black sesame, matcha and sea salt.
My heart raced when I saw the menu, and I hadn’t even had any caffeine yet.
Mochi Waffle Corner is located in a small unit off of East El Camino Real. On the outside, professional-looking posters of food and drink offerings made me assume it must be a franchise or an international chain (I was wrong, but more on that later.) Cash is not accepted and there is no cashier to take your order – you order through a kiosk or online (and there is no phone number, so it’s all web-based). Unlike most cafes, there are no tables to eat inside (there are, however, three small outdoor tables), and all food and drinks are packaged to go.
Deciding what to order was almost impossible for me – everything looked incredible. Do I get the pandan or black sesame mochi waffle? Should I order a croissant waffle instead, and if so, do I get it sweet or savory? Do I want Vietnamese coffee topped with Thai tea cream or black sesame cream?
Ultimately, I decided on ordering the Mochi Waffle Combo 1 (your choice of mochi waffle – I chose pandan – with cheese cream, boba and black sugar syrup) for $7.50 and a black sesame iced coffee for $5.75. Compared to the prices at some Vietnamese coffee cafes in San Jose, this was a steal.
It was love at first sight when I laid my eyes on my order of black sesame iced coffee: rich brown coffee topped with a layer of speckled gray cream and a smattering of cocoa powder right on top. And the taste matched its beauty. It was creamy and coffee-forward, with nuttiness coming through from the sesame while not being overly sweet. Then it was time to move onto the waffle – which was neon green.
Opening the little containers of boba and cheese cream to drench my colorful waffle with, I was transported back to elementary school lunches assembling Lunchables, and I couldn’t help but smile. Cutting the mochi waffle was quite tricky with the plastic silverware provided (I opted to eat at one of the tables outside), so I ended up just eating it with my hands.
And now I can safely say that I dream of mochi waffles. It was incredible. A slightly crispy exterior with a chewy, sticky sweet interior, the mochi waffle paired perfectly with the cheese cream, which added a saltiness to balance it out. The boba wasn’t necessary, since it was the same texture and similar sweetness as the waffle itself. It was so decadent that I could only finish half (but don’t worry, I gobbled up the other half the next day.)
If I had any critiques, I wished they were in a larger space with seating and Wi-Fi so that I could chat with my friends or do work. And I would love it if they opened at 9 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. so I could grab a Vietnamese iced coffee earlier in the morning when I want the caffeine.
I had such a great time at Mochi Waffle Corner that I went back a week later and ordered the black sugar hojicha milk tea for $4.95 (spectacular!) and a taro mochi waffle with Thai tea cheese cream for $6.25 (to die for!).
It’s safe to say I’m a Mochi Waffle Corner fan. So I set out to learn more about this tiny takeaway cafe and arranged a phone call with James Ho, who co-owns the eatery with his wife.
The story behind the waffles
Mochi Waffle Corner opened in 2021, replacing Ho’s previous business, a franchise of The Tea Zone & Fruit Bar, which he opened in 2016 when he lived in Sunnyvale.
“When we were looking around at areas, we were like, ‘This is amazing. The community is good,’” he said. “And there weren’t too many bubble tea shops in Mountain View, except in the downtown area.”
Ho grew up in Vietnam, moving to the U.S. in 2005, and has fond memories of eating pandan mochi waffles after school from street vendors that would set up nearby. Unlike in America, these waffles were eaten without sauces or toppings. When he opened The Tea Zone & Fruit Bar in Mountain View, he sold mochi waffles as a side snack, but realized “there (was) more potential than the milk tea because it’s more unique,” adding that he’s more passionate about waffles than bubble tea.
So he decided to flip the concept and make waffles the focus while still offering boba tea. And while the gorgeous posters on the building may make it look like a chain, there is only one location of Mochi Waffle Corner, and it’s the only business Ho owns.
Influenced by American waffles, he decided to create a bunch of different flavors, sauces and toppings. Instead of just offering the pandan mochi waffles from his childhood, he developed recipes for red velvet chocolate chip waffles, corn and cheese waffles, taro waffles and more.
Some flavor combinations were even inspired by his two children. Combo 1 and Combo 2 (which features Oreo crumbs, whipped cream and chocolate syrup) were inspired by his kids’ love of boba and Oreos.
But despite all the different flavors available, Ho’s favorite mochi waffle flavor is still pandan.
“I love to dip it in the cheese cream because it has a saltiness and slight sweetness with the real cheese in there,” he said. “I could eat that all day.”
And when I asked Ho what the goal of Mochi Waffle Corner is, he said “happiness.”
“Back then, after school, eating one created happiness,” Ho said. “I enjoyed it. It made me feel better. So I hope every customer who comes to us walks away with a smile. And I hope it puts them in a good mood the whole day.”
Ho said he’s in the process of developing new flavors for Mochi Waffle Corner. Keep an eye out for white chocolate matcha mochi waffles and roasted sweet potato mochi waffles this summer.
Mochi Waffle Corner, 805 E El Camino Real Suite F, Mountain View. Instagram: @mochiwafflecorner. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.