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Hogetsu Bakery
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
88 reviews for Hogetsu Bakery
Review Highlights
88 reviews in English
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Review from Katrina L.
San Diego, CA
4/10/2012
Honestly, this place charmed the socks off my feet!
Hogetsu is located in a semi-ghetto non-descript plaza, so when looking for the bakery keep your eyes open.
There are two glass display cases in the store with rows of different manju (rice cakes) delights lined up neatly on trays. The Takeda's did a great job of explaining the different flavors and what was in each manju, as none of the trays were marked with names or ingredients.
Mr. Takeda showed up the mugwort flavored manju and then proceeded to tell us a story of how mugwort juice can help heal scars and how he was cut on the face with a samurai sword and then had applied the juice and BAM! no scar.
We ended up choosing several different types of manju, most of which contained the same ingredients on the inside (red or yellow bean filling).
My favorite was the coconut manju with no filling since I am not a fan of red or yellow bean. The manju was deliciously supple and fresh and had a light flavor. Definitely something to cherish while eating =)
This place is a long drive from where I live, but I plan on coming back down to Hogetsu again so I can support this unique business and bring some quality manju up to North County for my friends to try.
Also, I want to hear another samurai sword story! -
Review from Way F.
San Jose, CA
4/28/2012
The lady behind the counter is talkative. I feel bad giving this place 2 stars because she was nice. If I were rating on owner's personality, I would give Hogetsu more stars.
However, let's talk mochi. In terms of mochi, it was just okay. This mochi is comparable to mochi you can buy at a Japanese grocery store. -
Review from Andy D.
4/25/2012 1 photo
While having a late second lunch at The Blueprint Cafe with one of my beautiful Yelper friends, she mentioned there was a bakery down in Chula Vista she wanted to try since we were so close, and asked if I wanted to go. Sure, sounds like a good idea to me.
We made the quick drive down to Chula Vista, and found this little bakery in the middle of a tiny strip mall, or more like a small row of shops.
It wasn't what I was expecting when we walked in. It looked more like a little candy store than a bakery. There are some display cases in the front of their freshly baked good, and other shelf space with what mostly looked like other Japanese snacks.
We ended up sampling 4 different items, and the total was only $5.00. I think 2 were with beans, and 2 without, one of those was green tea. They were all really good, and all had different tastes. I probably would have had a few more of the bean ones, but my digestive system makes me really wary of beans.
Like everyone else has mentioned, the owner was really nice and helpful. He answered all sorts of questions, and was very happy to do so. This is definitely a place I'd like to try out again if I'm ever in the area. I was really surprised when I came on Yelp and saw all of the reviews.Listed in: Asian Places
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Review from Sarah G.
4/1/2012
If you like mochi, this place is for you!!! It is a tiny little bakery but you can tell from the second you walk in that this woman who runs this place means business and packs all kinds of love into each of the items she bakes and sells. They have a ton of variety which should keep anyone happy and most things are around $1 or so each, making it a steal to pick these things up as a snack or even as a gift for someone too! Everything is so colorful and they are all made fresh each day, so this place is pretty much amazing, and there is no way that you can leave here without feeling happy.
The woman who runs this place is so talkative and friendly, I loved it! The moment she learned that I study race relations, our conversation went quickly from tea cakes to race in San Diego vs. other parts of the country and she herself has biracial family members, so I loved this whole experience! If I am back in the area, I will definitely come here again! -
Review from Dung N.
4/28/2012 4 photos
I will drive the distance to try almost anything to eat! This bakery is far from where I live, but I wanted to try go here anyway. It's not exactly a bakery, more like an Asian convenience store- they sell candies, chips, and lots of mochi! I was expecting it to be like the toppings you get at yogurt shops or the ones with ice cream inside. I was afraid to try the ones with beans, but ended up liking the white beans the most. The green tea mochi was too chewy and rather plain.
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Review from Lai T.
I had Hogetsu Bakery bookmarked and on my radar because I wanted to bring some of the beautiful mochi creations back for my mom. So imagine my surprise when we were talking to the Mr. Takeda and he said that those were merely optics and he suggested I purchase the plain looking mochi.
While he will be the last one to really tell you what to purchase (he believes everyone has different tastes), he is definitely quite a charmer. While I had initially planned on a quick visit, we ended up having an hour plus conversation with Mr. Takeda. He is very warm, modest, and funny!
Since it was our first time, I was quite intrigued with this shop that supposedly had the best mochi outside of Japan. The display case is simple and straightforward. They don't try to push any sales on you. And if you have a short term memory like me, you better jot down what flavor mochi you order (because someone will inevitably ask, and you won't remember if it was white bean or red bean). Now, I have never had mochi in Japan, but I found the mochi from Hogetsu to be quite good. I imagine it would be perfect with a hot cup of green tea.
The shop has been open for about 30 years and every day Mr. and Mrs. Takeda tend to each of their customers as if they are dear friends. While I wish it was easier to purchase mochi from Hogetsu, I'm glad that they haven't sacrificed their personable customer service for profits.
Oh and my mom ended up getting a lovely box of assorted (decorated and plain) mochi. We left it out for a couple of days but then had to transfer the remainder of the mochi to the fridge. -
Review from Jessica T.
Lehi, UT
3/5/2012
A darling little place, with the most adorable owners. As other reviewers have stated, they love to chat and the wife was working when we stopped by. We ended up shooting the breeze with her for well over an hour, and once she found out my husband had lived in Japan for two years, english went out the window :)
The mochi was beautiful and her husband makes them all by hand each morning. She walked us through each kind (there wasn't any descriptions on them) and had a caramel chocolate one that was AMAZING. We got about 10 different kinds and loved them all, so different from the packaged stuff you get in the stores. So fluffy and light. She doted on our then 2 year old as if he were her own grandchild and spoiled him with fun candies while we talked. She was sad when we had to leave and hugged our little guy and kissed his cheeks telling him she loved his little self.
I wish I could pack the store with its sweet owners up and bring them here to Utah so I could get my mochi fix every week :) -
Review from Seven T.
San Diego, CA
2/14/2012
Someone please come pick me up! My treat! Whatever ya want, i gotchoo, just come pick me up and we'll roll down to Chula for the excellence that is Hogetsu.
Excellence in every aspect! Seriously, im down, everyday, to head out to this spot!
Ill twist a blunt too! Cmon, how can anyone not accept this offer!? Damn im glad i found this spot, i just wish it was closer! I look forward to takin a ride with....you; now! -
Review from Karen H.
San Diego, CA
3/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The mochi are amazing and they melt in your mouth. Some of them are too pretty to eat. It's a cash only place so make sure you go to the bank before heading to this place. Luckily each piece is not too expensive, about $1.20/each. There's nothing much to say about this place except for having the best mochi I have ever had in my entire life and I am a picky person. I'm pretty surprised that this place is in Chula Vista, in the middle of nowhere.
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Review from My T.
1/21/2012 1 photo
Phenomenal in every aspect.
Customer service is impeccable, the husband and wife duo are a perfect combination and make visting this bakery even more of a delight than the wonderful selection of mochi!
We've had mochi before from Japanese supermarkets but they are incomparable to the quality and caliber of what we had today!
SOOOOO FREAKING GOOD!!!!!! -
Review from Aj H.
San Diego, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've never been to a mochi bakery before until now. Mrs. Takeda was super sweet, friendly, and talkative. She took the time to kindly explain what every item was, and what kind of filling it had. They definitely need some sort of signage for their bakery goods. It's about $1.25 per mochi. I loved the white bean, red bean, and chestnut filled ones. There was a mochi that looks like a flower; omg it was so pretty, I didn't want to eat it! They were sweet, soft, delicate little works of art.
The couple that owns the bakery stated they are super old-fashioned. So basically this bakery gains business via word of mouth. They didn't even know that they had yelp reviews until someone told them.
IMPORTANT!: Cash only! (Old-fashioned) -
Review from Jane L.
San Diego, CA
12/28/2011
Do you know how sometimes the second you set foot into a place, you have an idea how many stars you would give it? I was guilty of that.
I have to say I wasn't in the best of moods, driving around Chula Vista because I got lost. The owner started chatting with me and immediately I felt like all my negative energy had dissipated. The store front isn't that big, but it makes your decision that much easier. You are in and out. Unless you happen to chat it up with the sweet Mrs.
It wasn't until I got into my car and ate a piece, I was like WOW. I didn't see that coming. It was melt in your mouth soft and billowy. Like really good uni. But cheaper.
*Google maps didn't display the correct address and just led me generally to 3rd Ave. It's actually close to L Ave and 3rd Ave. The map location is correct on Yelp. -
Review from Oscar B.
San Diego, CA
Wow. By far the best mochi I have ever had. I didn't even know mochi was suppose to taste like the one I had here. The quality of the mochi is top notch. It's moist, fresh, and the texture was ____ (indescribable) but good.
I would recommend this place if you have a huge craving for mochi. I am not a big fan of red bean, but this place made me like it. The white bean is also good.
I think 2 or 3 mochi is good enough to satisfy any craving. -
Review from Mike M.
San Diego, CA
9/3/2011
Lets get this straight, this is a bakery not a marijuana dispensary. Lol. I believe someone Yelped this place as a "dispensary of confectionery treats" or something similar to that and apparently someone only read the dispensary part and thought it was some marijuana dispensary. Lol. Go figure. The nice lady behind the counter said someone came in looking for purple cush or some marijuana infused brownies.
Awesome authentic mochi made by Japanese hands. Personally, I would stay away from the boxed stuff. You can always get that at Mitsuwa. Grab anything made in the back. Everything we tried was delicious. The almond mochi and peanut butter mochi were my favorites but the white bean and red bean mochi was on point. They also have these fancy pants jello looking ones too. Whats even better I didn't have to drive my ass all the way up to the Kearney Mesa/Cleairemont area to get some authentic Japanese mochi. So all you people north of the 8 freeway thinking all the good Japanese goodies are in that area and only in that area can suck it. I kept it down south and saved money. Our first try warrants a return. Cheers. -
Review from L G.
Henderson, NV
11/7/2011
As all the other reviews have stated, Hogetsu is top notch. The mochi is ah-may-zing! I sampled a few of the red bean ones and they were absolutely heavenly. I practically inhaled them and didn't want to share.
Mrs. Takeda is super nice and we enjoyed chatting with her. You can definitely tell she takes great pride in her mochi and you will taste the delicate care and passion she and her husband put into making their sweet treats! Can't wait to return for more. -
Review from Em W.
Mission Viejo, CA
7/8/2011
Oh sweet delicious Hogetsu how could I ever forget to write a review about you? Ive been coming here since I was about 8 maybe. The wonderful shopkeeper has literally seen me grow up before her very eyes.
Outside of Japan this is some of the best mochi you will find ANYWHERE. The quality of ingredients is unparalleled as well as the consistency and taste.
My personal favorites include the pink with white bean paste, and the uguisu mochi :) And the yellow 'earthquakes" LOL. I never did learn the actual terminology for those yellow ones.
Everyone else is pretty spot on, I used to HATE coming here when I was a teenager because my mom would talk to the lady forEVER. But then she would get in the car and tell me all about it and I gotta admit the lady has some awesome stories.
If you've never been to Japan and experienced TRUE MOCHI then by all means come here to get a taste! Actually.... don't go anywhere else for high quality mochi.
For New Years make sure you call WEEKS in advance, she sells out QUICK!!!!
They also sell an assortment of arare (crackers), and Japanese candies and pastries as well as a fridge full of COOL Japanese DRINKS!
This place reminds me of my childhood and quality time with my mom. It will remain my favorite for years to come. -
Review from Mong Tram L.
San Diego, CA
2/25/2012 1 photo
love it!
too bad I don't live around so I couldn't come often. I would come here ever day if I live close here.
The mochi are delicious! They are soft, sweet, and flavorful. There are so many of them and each one look so good that I want to get everything. -
Review from Lee K.
Tempe, AZ
9/3/2011
This was the best mochi I have ever had. My fiance and I ate all of what we bought that night. The owners of this shop are amazing as well. We talked with Mr. and Mrs. Takeda for a few hours--these are the nicest people you will ever meet.
If you are new to mochi--I would try the white bean kind. I'm not a huge fan of red bean, but my fiance loved the red bean here. He said it almost tasted like chocolate. I loved the white bean--it was delicious.
You cannot beat this place. While, it may have been out of our way on our vacation in San Diego, I am so glad we stopped here.
P.S. If Mr. and Mrs. Takeda are reading, Paul and Teresa will write you soon! -
Review from Paloma M.
Chula Vista, CA
3/30/2012
downright delicious!!!! mochi with some green tea=heaven
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Review from Daniella M.
Bonita, CA
3/22/2011
In high school, my best friend was Japanese and as a result, I was exposed to a delightful array of goodies I might not have otherwise experienced. Lychee jelly cups, colorful metallic ink pens bedazzled with anime characters and Dance Dance Revolution competitions were sprinkled liberally throughout those years. Ahhh, lychee jelly cups, I loved you so....
However, I was never and still am by no means a connoisseur of Japanese cuisine. I don't know the lingo and I rely on luck and recommendations to steer me right. The way I found Hogetsu? Yelping for a bakery in South Bay. I wasn't looking for mochi - I honestly didn't know such amazingness existed in the world - I was just looking for sugar. The point? If you've never had mochi before but you have an open minded palate that loves it some deliciousness, Hogetsu is just the ticket. You don't have to know/recognize any of the delights inside to come out a happy camper.
For the novice mochi eater (coming from another novice mochi eater who makes her selections based on which items are covered in powdered sugar and pretty flowers), the texture is unlike anything you've ever tried in a dessert. I'd describe it as soft, fluffy and dough-like. At the center of every mochi is a delightful filling - my favorite is the red bean. These little pieces of well-priced art aren't overly sweet and yet they manage to scratch your dessert monster itch so it feels so right.
The owners are really nice. Don't expect to just pop in and out (seriously - don't stop at 12:15 if you have a 12:30 appointment nearby). Every time I've dropped in, I've stayed an extra 15-20 minutes for the chit chat. While that does create a dilemma when my anticipatory slobber starts soaking the bag I'm clutching like a crack addict, it's a nice departure from the typical emotionless interactions at most stores nowadays.
Great product sold by great people in a non-descript office plaza smack dab in the middle of Chula Vista - what a find! -
Review from Jenn B.
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places that is only discoverable by word of mouth (or yelp). It's situated in the most drab little strip of stores right on 3rd Avenue and Oxford in downtown Chula Vista. However, just because the place is low key doesn't mean that the offerings aren't amazing.
I'm not Japanese, but I think this bakery makes the best mochi. There's this place in San Francisco's Japantown that is known for their mochi, and I think Hogetsu is even better. The prices are reasonable. $1.20 a piece. I like the smooth red bean with soy powder (the one covered in a beige powder) and the smooth white bean, which is pink in color. The white bean is definitely sweeter than the red bean.
In case Chula Vista is too far for you, they sell this mochi at several Asian grocers in Clairemont Mesa. I've seen it at Zion and at Nijiya. The ones I've purchased from these grocery stores aren't filled, but they offer flavors like green tea, vanilla, and peanut butter.
I just wish the bakery was open past 5 so I could drop by after work. -
Review from Yuchun G.
Chula Vista, CA
I've been meaning to go here for at least a year and remembered to today. The owner (Mrs. Takeda I think but I'm guessing only from previous reviews) really does like to chat and makes you feel so welcome at the shop. And yep, she talked about her daughter. We also talked about different cuisines and how she loves to cook Japanese food for her daughter when she goes to visit.
Anyway, on to the mochi. Everything looks amazing. I guess they always make different kinds of mochi on top of your basic ones, so if you really like one of the fancier ones, make a call ahead of time and see if they made any that day or if they can make it for you.
I bought a dozen different mochis (ok a couple were the same) but I've only tasted one so far, and that was the chocolate butterscotch one she had me and my hubby try for free after we made our purchase. It was really yummy. I would have never thought about making a chocolate flavored mochi, but man was it good.
Since I bought a bunch and I know I won't eat them all today, she suggested putting them in the freezer. Good idea for those who might not be able to make it out as often as they'd like.
Can't wait until my next visit to try out what other gorgeous delicious desserts I can get! -
Review from Maricela H.
Chula Vista, CA
1/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went in planning to just run in but we had such a lovely conversation with the lady at the counter we didn't want to leave. My sister, niece and I came in and asked her to tell us a little about the different flavors so we would know what we wanted to buy. Not only did she explain all the different flavors but she shared a little bit of herself with us at the same time.
We chose a few of everything so we could taste them. My kids loved the white bean mochi and green tea. My favorite was the red bean paste and this cinnamon one so good! I plan to stop by once and a while for my mochi, hi chews and of course a good conversation. -
Review from Jonathan S.
Minneapolis, MN
12/20/2011
This is by definition a "hole-in-the-wall" location. Small but comfortable, this bakery is the essence of what true asian desserts are all about. If you have never had asian desserts before, know that they frequently use legumes as pastes and are mildly sweeten. In addition, many Japanese foods are made with a glutenous dough made from pounded rice called mochi. After talking with the sales person, we learned that Mr. Takeda makes all these desserts himself by hand and his wife sells them. She is quite the pleasent conversationalist and has many humourous anecdotes.
After purchasing four pastries totaling $4.95, she provided to my friend and me a small square of green tea mochi for sampling. What I tasted was mochi that was both light and soft without being gummy or tooth-packing, a perfectly sweetened smooth cake without being overwhelming, and a wonderful green tea aromatic finish without any harsh or bitter notes.
While all the other desserts were quite good, the dessert I sampled that deserves recognition by far was a mochi sphere filled with a sweetened white bean paste colored into a beautiful pink peach (photos available above). The mochi was, as expected, perfect, light, and smooth. The filling was fantastic with just the perfect sweetness. What wow'd me the most, however, was the intricacy of the finished design presentation. Fantastically crafted, wonderful flavors, and amazing service, without a doubt, ring true the roots of their culture. -
Review from Jonathan L.
San Diego, CA
2/26/2011
This has been sitting in my bookmarks for at least half a year now. It's a far drive for me, but now that I'm occasionally working in Chula Vista, I finally found an excuse to visit this small mom and pop shop.
Hogetsu is located inside a plaza, hidden unless you knew what you were looking for. Look for the giant "Panda Imperial" restaurant sign - the shop is in that plaza. Small lot, but plenty of parking available.
It really is a great business to support. There is an assortment of different types of mochi as you can see from the photos, all of which are delicious. You can taste how fresh everything is. I like the traditional ones and the green tea mochi the most. I'm going to try one of the baked ones next time.
The owners are really endearing - Mrs. Takeda likes to chat a lot, which makes the service that much better. She'll explain to you what's in what if you ask.
The mochi are only priced around $1 - $1.20 or so. That's really a steal. You usually order in sets of 6 (mix-and-match), and it's cash only.
Mochi specialty shops aren't exactly everywhere. I'm sure it's not easy sustaining a business like this, so go support this shop! -
Review from jeff l.
1/17/2011
Excellent.
My friend Kirk of mmm-yoso fame has been touting this place for years and this was the first time I tried it the other day.
I really liked the chocolate one.
The lady is really nice and I mentioned kirk and his blog but she told me that she and her husband do not own a computer and don't know how to use it!
They work very hard making these little delicacies all day.
I am happy to see this small family owned business doing well. -
Review from Raechel L.
San Diego, CA
11/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
What an adorable find! You wouldn't expect it, since it's in a strip mall and there isn't anywhere for you to sit and savor these delicious desserts. They are all handmade by the husband while the wife works the front. She is the cutest and has plenty of anecdotes to dish out while you decide which mochis you want. I love red bean and they have so many red bean varieties. Everything I got was so tasty, I don't have a favorite...they are affordable at about a dollar a mochi. It's too bad this place is in Chula Vista, but I'll definitely make a trip back when I'm in the area!
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Review from brianna s.
San Diego, CA
This place is the business.
I bookmarked this spot for what seemed like forever before I had the chance to make it in. They close early, and normally I get off of work late, so that combo always makes me assed out.
I had the weekend off and my cousin was in town, what better way to start the day than to hit up a Japanese bakery?? We couldn't think of one so there we went...
It's a mom and pop shop that has been in business for a while. The Mrs works the front end while her hubby is in the back baking up all the delicious goods.
She loves to talk, which made the whole experience that much better, since she was happy to share her favorites and all of the differences between the different pastries.
We left with our own little box of treasures, that were almost too cute to eat... Almost. My fave was the chestnut mochi. Delish!!! -
Review from Mark G.
Chula Vista, CA
3/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This place is awesome! I'm not the biggest fan of Mochi so I get the baked goods when they are available!
Get anything with a bread around it! Preferably with white bean inside. You will be so amazed on how PERFECT it tastes! I love this place! When you walk in the owner starts talking to you as if she'd known you for 10 years. Its funny but she is one of the most nicest owners I've met.
So remember if you're not a Mochi fan (Rice) get the bread ones. Look out for the chocolate, cinnamon, condensed milk, and chestnut. SUPER DELICIOUS! -
Review from Christina N.
San Diego, CA
2/26/2011 1 photo
It is without a doubt that mochi is one of my most favorite foods! My first experience with Hogetsu's wonderful delights was with their chocolate mochi I picked up at a Japanese market on Convoy St. I fell in love immediately with the super soft texture and great chocolatey flavor. I peeked onto the back of the tray and found Hogetsu's address and knew I had to visit. Yesterday, I picked up a variety of mochi pieces, with my favorites being the green tea, the glacee'd Kyoto variety, and good ole plain.
The shop owner was super sweet and welcoming and made me feel like I was back home at the SF manju shop, Benkyo-do. Her warm personality was really appreciated and made my mochi experience that much better. I recommend Hogetsu to anyone who shares a love of mochi with me. -
Review from Venus L.
San Diego, CA
12/9/2010
Total awesome find in the least likely of places!
I used to frequent the area where Hogetsu is when I was a kid. It had been a number of years since I was last there and so much had changed. However, I was shocked to learn that this little Japanese bakery had been in the same location for over 20 years. It's totally along a fairly hidden strip mall along 3rd Avenue, the last place I'd find such a place.
The lady at the counter is so sweet and nice. I asked her questions about the sweets and she went into much detail about each item in the counter. She's also quite a talker which is rare coming from Japanese people; we somehow got to talking about her daughter living in the Deep South with her American husband.. XD
Anyway, back to the point; I purchased a peanut butter mochi and a pineapple mochi. Both were SO GOOD. And only at $1 each! I'll definitely will be coming back for more mochi and their other sweets.. :D
Oh, and one more thing: this is a CASH ONLY place! They don't take cards so make sure you have cash on you when you stop by. -
Review from Richie V.
San Diego, CA
10/20/2010
I have been looking forward to going to this place for quite some time it was not only until recently that I've become more inclined to go so I finally did it.
Sure enough I was not disappointed at all from the moment I stepped into the shop and left I was satisfied with every moment. The Daifuku and mochi were amazing! Nice soft texture exquisite tasting white/red bean fillings as well. If you've only tried Mitsuwa's/ Marukai's selections of these pastries I highly recommend that you give Hogetsu a try so that you can kick yourself in the ass for paying over inflated prices at the markets.
My girlfriend whom is Japanese from Osaka tells me these are the real deal, her face lit up when she took a bite. So if she's to like it...and say it's authentic then what other convincing would you need?
In regards to the owners, I only met the lady at the time, and she was extremely helpful and nice. One funny thing though I felt this vibe from her that she wanted to speak Japanese to my girlfriend and sure enough my girlfriend and sure enough they started talking in their native language for a while as I looked around. The owner enjoys talking! So be prepared lol, not that it's a bad thing at all, but for those who are not as social as others it can be awkward I suppose.
So bottom line, give it a try, you'll never want to go back to the Japanese Markets...ever to buy mochi/daifuku.. -
Review from Mariza O.
Oceanside, CA
2/26/2012
I tasted their tea cakes yesterday and they were awesome! Not only were they tasty, they had the prettiest presentation.
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Review from Melissa G.
Oceanside, CA
10/2/2011
The most delicate, flavorful mochi I have ever eaten! And, beautifully presented to boot!
The quaint Chula Vista location was quite a trek for me from Oceanside, but well worth it. You might otherwise pass by the understated location but this shop is worth seeking out for its selection of Asian snacks and candy and tasty mochi.
Mrs. Takeda and I chatted for a long time about my pregnancy, and she treated me to her green tea mochi.
I had never tried white bean before -- I highly recommend it! We purchased ten different varieties, and each was delicious. -
Review from Miss Vanessa T.
Chula Vista, CA
wowowowowowow
Their mochi is dericious! :D
As soon as I bit into it, I thought "WOW....THIS. IS. BOMB!!!"
Not the most sophisticated thing to come to mind but I was too preoccupied enjoying my mouffgasm ;P
The red bean and white bean were equally good but if just mochi alone can taste THAT good, that is saying something.
The individual pieces of mochi are $1. They also offer other Japanese food products that made me reminisce my trip to Japan.
There are a few great authentic Japanese restaurants and places that can be found in Chula Vista. They make me happy I live in CV. Hogetsu is one of them.
The bakery is small and simple. Owned by a nice older Japanese couple. I talked to the owner for over an hour.....he is such a nice man :D
The whole strip mall is going through some sort of renovation construction, so it's harder to find....but go!Listed in: Got Yellow Fever?, Sugar-gasm, ROTD dance :D, Veggie Friendly
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Review from Michael R.
Louisville, KY
6/23/2008
Okay, so I've only been here once, but I really wanted to Yelp about this place! Matt R. and I took a field trip to Chula Vista and since he'd seen all Hogetsu's positive reviews he suggested we try it out for a sweet snack.
We walked into the small shop, which features a bunch of random imported snacks along the walls in addition to the real lure: the pretty cakes behind the glass. A woman emerged from the back to help us. We explained we didn't really know what anything was and she was immensely helpful explaining the different items and what made them unique. So many of the items behind the glass were packaged that I began to think that not everything was made there, but no, the woman explained that her husband makes everything.
We tried four cakes:
1) A bright pink one that was really moist. I think it was a variety of mochi (?) with lima bean. I was skeptical because of its color but I liked it.
2) One which she described as true manju (she explained that often times people refer to all cakes as manju). It had a red bean filling encased in a nice fluffy white exterior.
3) A pancake sandwich thing with red bean filling.
4) A baked one, which she explained was the most beginner friendly. It's texture was the most . . . western? If I remember correctly we got it with what she described as a "smooth" red bean filling, as opposed to whole, meaning they had no skins. As a result, the filling wasn't red.
I think they were all like a dollar or something but I can't remember. Further, I don't know if that's reasonable or not, but it certainly seems so to me, given the artful creation of each pastry.
They were all delicious, but it is the friendliness of the woman that helped us that earns the fifth star. I just read the review that got ROTD and honestly, she must have been on her best behavior for new customers when we stopped in. She was happy to talk about the products and we were happy to listen. She was even kind enough to show us a red (azuki?) bean because the only red bean we knew of was the kidney bean. She also talked with us a bit about her family and traveling and food in general, and didn't say anything depressing. In fact, I found I left their shop in high spirits. Here's my favorite thing she said:
"Food is the only happiness we have."
I like that. -
Review from Henry K.
Chula Vista, CA
8/2/2008
Holy Shiznit!!! If you love Japanese pastries, ala manju and the likes, or even if you've never tried them, YOU MUST CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!!!!
Their manju are the diggity bomb-bomb. I went in there for the first time and It's nice to have a place like this just like the manju place in Japan-town San Jose. I was just so excited when I saw the manju. So i told the lady that "I'll get this one..... and that one...... and that one....... " .... and on and on..
Yes, they are alittle expensive for the size you get, but this is traditional true manju and what thing Japanese can you get that ISNT expensive but yet you tell yourself afterward ... "Now that was worth it". You will tell yourself that after having some of their desserts!
The lady there was very nice and hospitable.
This place is absolutely amazing and I definietly will be coming back here very frequently to get my manju fix AND for gifts as well. They even sold Mochi (japanese rice cake, which can be baked or put into soups) in packages of dozen which were made that day!
Have fun wtih this place fellow Yelpers and enjoy!!! -
Review from Honey P.
Vista, CA
7/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mochi/Red bean resume: 99 ranch, Mitsuwa, Kyoto, Don Quijote (HI), Shirokiya (HI), Bubbies (HI), tea cakes sent from Okinawa. Not much, certainly not enough to get a tutorial from me, but enough to make me a fan.
Never had mochi like this! NOTHING like any of the other ones I've had before. The appearance of the treats are so misleading, hard to describe. One looked like it was covered in a hard cookie-like dough because the top had cracked and once I bit into it, it was totally something else. The others looked like they were either covered in or had jelly in it, but whatever it was didn't fight back once I squished it in my mouth. I didn't get to my treats until a day after and there was no hint of staleness. All of them were super soft and tasted perfect!
I came here strictly to try their mochi and was not disappointed. Unreal!
Cash Only, duh! It's just one of those places... -
Review from Malakye O.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2010 3 photos
Hogetsu is a dispensary of delightful finger cakes, each as pleasing to the eye as a sonnet is to the ear!
Fashioned from the unlikely ingredients of beans and rice- these tasty bits are sweet enough but not TOO sweet. I find they pair well with a sencha of Japanese origin; although I prefer an English Earl Grey (lightly creamed). Either way, a trip to Hogetsu is a splendid excuse to extend ones pinkie in appreciation of a fine cup of tea.
Savor your cakes slowly- for like the ephemeral thoughts of a wandering mind, they are soon lost in a moment of simple contemplation. -
Review from Suzanne I.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2010 1 photo
Fresh manju is as good as it gets. And mochi here is fresher than buying mochi at Marukai, Mitsuwa or Nijia [I am pretty sure the grocery stores get theirs delivered].
If you've never had mochi before, you should know in advance that in general, flavors are very delicate and subtle [Much like most Asian desserts]. Like fresh bread, they should be eaten right away [Don't buy a giant box and expect to keep it for weeks...it will eventually get moldy]. Oh and please don't confuse mochi with bread or cake!!!
Designs can be very elaborate and many times they can be filled with sweetened beans [whether white beans or red beans]. The most ironic filling is egg yolk for the bird shaped manju [lol]. Also, Asian gelatin is different from American gelatin because it's seaweed based as opposed to animal based. The texture is firmer and normally is not flavored. So, the last time I checked, there is no such thing as fish mochi :/
If there was ever a mochi battle, Hogetsu could not hold it's own against Mikawaya or Fugetsu-Do in Little Tokyo / Los Angeles. But considering it's a little hidden bakery in Chula Vista, it's crazy amazing!
P.S. If you ever want to earn brownie points when visiting Japanese American friends at their homes, bring them a box of fresh manju :D This also works if you really want to impress Japanese American parents!
