Annemarie Dang and Toan Lam, owners of Worcester's Mochi Doh. (Tréa Lavery, MassLive)

Worcester’s Canal District has a colorful and sweet new neighbor.

Mochi Doh, a donut shop specializing in Japanese-style mochi donuts, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, when customers can finally get a taste of its unique desserts and beverages.

Toan Lam and Annemarie Dang, owners of the shop, having been working at opening their doors for about two years, Lam said.

“It’s a lot of emotions,” he said of the approaching big day. “The community has our back in the area. It’s really nice.”

Lam said that he first tried mochi donuts a few years ago while in Seattle, where he lived for eight years. The Worcester native loved the chewy, sweet rice dough and the unique bubble ring shape of the donuts, which are perfectly designed to break apart and share among friends.

“We were surprised at how good it was,” he said. “We knew this was something we had to bring back to the East Coast.”

Mochi donuts for sale at Mochi Doh in Worcester. (Courtesy Toan Lam)

It took four months to find the below-ground location at 209 Harding St., then another year and a half to get the space ready. Now, though, behind a colorful mural depicting the donuts, customers will find a bright store with white marble floors, shiny countertops and television screens showing the menu. The walls are even decorated in the theme of the shop, with a strip of bubble ring donut silhouettes made on Lam’s daughter’s Cricut machine stretching all around the room.

Customers will be able to order donuts and other treats at a window to the sidewalk or come inside to order at the counter.

Mochi Doh’s menu will include five main donut flavors, which Lam said will most likely change monthly. Customers can look forward to tasty varieties like churro donuts and others topped with Fruity Pebbles cereal.

In addition, the shop will sell mochi ice cream in flavors like coffee, strawberry, salted caramel and ube, a type of purple root vegetable, and drinks to complement the donuts like coffee, tea, milkshakes and more. Lam said his favorite beverage on the menu is Vietnamese coffee with ube.

Mochi Doh will open next month in Worcester's Canal District. (Tréa Lavery, MassLive)

“We try to make everything delicious, vibrant and fun,” he said.

In addition to getting a chance to taste everything Mochi Doh has to offer, customers who come for the grand opening on Saturday morning will be treated to a traditional Chinese lion dance performance to mark the occasion.

“It’s a tradition to bring us some luck and fun in the area,” Lam said.

Mochi Doh will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday’s lion dance performance will be at 10:45 a.m. The first 15 customers at the grand opening will receive a free mochi donut.

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