Now Open: Melbourne Just Scored a New Dessert Shop That's Best Known for Bringing Mochi Doughnuts to Australia

Melburnians love to start food trends in Australia. We do, after all, have the greatest food culture in the country. But Sydney got one up on us back in 2019 when Demochi started selling Japanese-style mochi doughnuts out of a food truck by the Banksia Hotel. It was the first place in Australia to sell these glazed bad boys that resemble sugar-coated inflatable pool toys.

The sweet masterpieces blend the airy, crispy elements of a doughnut with that unique chewy mochi texture. And Sydneysiders have been going nuts for them ever since the doughnut truck landed in their city.

Since then, owners Dennis and Monique Chan (of Dirty Bird food truck) have opened up a permanent spot in Sydney and, as of Tuesday the 23rd of January, a new store in Melbourne's CBD within Midtown Plaza on the Corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street.

Demochi changes up the doughnut flavours fairly regularly, but you might come across flavours like yuzu and mint or matcha glazed dough boys, as well as more traditional doughnut flavours such as strawberry or chocolate glaze. Whackier varieties may include doughnuts frosted with cereal and milk and a cheeky fairybread number.

The Chans have also expanded their dessert offerings since opening the Demochi food truck in Sydney.

Now, they serve up their own house-made soft serve ice cream topped with toasted meringue and the super fun Demochi Fried Chicken — it looks like a drumette of fried chicken but is actually a crunchy wafer that's been covered in ice cream, dipped in chocolate and tossed in crumbed cereal. It's served in a classic chicken shop takeaway box and is an absolute must-try if sugar is your truest vice.

A new cake range will also be available at Demochi's new Melbourne site, including a crispy chocolate coffee cake and the strawberry brûlée mascarpone gateaux. Sweet-toothed CBD workers and locals best add this one to their dessert hit list.

You can find the new Demochi Melbourne shop at 246 Bourke Street (inside Midtown Plaza), open 11am–7pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 11am–5pm on Sundays. For more details, check out the venue's website.