Thanks to a nice and sweet Yelp experience, I was introduced to J. Sweet, which is located in Mitsuwa Marketplace, just the second store from the entrance next to the Kinokuniya Bookstore. You won't miss it. The store is bright, colorful, and beautiful! That's very typical of an upscale Japanese snack and treat shop. The aesthetic packaging and the vibrant, enticing mochi and snacks really appeal to many senses! I truly feel like a kid in a candy store every time I step inside. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. Today, the second day of the New Year, there were so many people everywhere inside Mitsuwa, including J. Sweet. Even so, the two female staff members were amazingly patient and polite with every customer, they truly made the experience even better. I was so happy to find a stunning Lunar New Year cookie assortment gift box. The festive red tin features the year 2026 and a galloping horse as the star of the design, that's perfect for celebrating the Year of the Horse! While $35 for 0.4 pounds of cookies (20 cookies to be exact) is a bit on the pricey side, they look absolutely delicious, and I know my loved ones will be so happy to receive such a lovely gift. read more

See all

Checked out this store inside Mitsuwa Market in Arlington Heights today. It's loaded with delicious looking treats so i had to grab some to try later. The staff is nice and the display is not over powering and makes it easier to shop. read more

See all

I enjoyed recently returning to Mitsuwa to give J. Sweets a try. I haven't been here in months, and it was convenient as I also picked up some vegetables and tempura from the food court. J. Sweets has a bright, visually pleasing and colorful store just Inside Mitsuwa and past the bookstore. The red bean and rice mochi I tried were super fresh, not too chewy and almost had a powdery feel. The flavor of the red bean is sweetly unique but not over powering. The display cases are decorated nicely and are definitely eye catching. I look forward to trying more flavors and maybe even purchase a gift or two. read more

See all

Thanks to Yelp I found this gem. J. Sweets is a specialty curated store with treats and goodies from Japan, and it's located inside of the Mitsuwa Marketplace. You can't miss them as they are right by the entrance. The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable. I was greeted right away, and they have everything you can imagine from mochi to matcha to cakes. They also carry more than one kind of mochi - one with an ice cream filling and one with whipped cream filling. I was also fascinated by their French style type cookies that are super thin with a crème filling and had to get a pack - bonus points it was very well packaged. I also loved their rice crackers with the salty seafood flavor - it was crispy, airy, and lightly seasoned to perfection. There's also plenty of free parking on premise. I'd totally come back when I'm in the area next, and I'd recommend them to anyone in the area. read more

See all

J Sweets, located in Mitsuwa Marketplace, offers traditional Japanese confections. I know few people who might relish Tsuya (Sweet red bean paste sandwiched between Japanese-style pancakes) but I bought a box for a certain someone who doesn't like typical candy and thought this would appeal. The confections always take the art of presentation into account, and are aesthetically pleasing, nicely packaged. The staff nicely boxed the Tsuya in a printed box and gift bag, which I know will be appreciated. Me, I'd rather have a box of Yoku Moku, the delicate butter cookies, or maybe some of the Mochi Cream. Eh, they like what they like. I know this gift will be a hit, along with the other pleasing treats they offer here. read more

See all

J. sweets offers Japanese confectionary sweets, candies, and cookies; they have a location inside Mitsuwa, right next to the bookstore. Their displays are aesthetically pleasing and well-organized, and features items from Kobe Fugetsudo, Shiroi Koibito, Yoku Moku, Minamoto Kitchoan, Royce' Chocolate, Mochi Cream, and Yamari Matcha. They also have seasonal, limited items, and collectibles, too. Staff could work on the service - when one stops by, it'd be nice to be acknowledged and asked if there should be any assistance offered. I understand that there may be some traffic flowing through, but it really makes you not want to purchase anything if you're not being helped. They do online orders and ship across the States. +has Royce' Chocolate and Minamoto Kitchoan items +non-existent service +located inside Mitsuwa, next to the Kinokuniya bookstore read more

J Sweets - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

We went to j sweets to try authentic mochi and were hot with a surprise when discovered the Mitsuwa market. We tried double mango, Sakura, rum and raisin, caramel pudding, raspberry Mille feuille. We liked raspberry one the most.. other flavors were good too but we felt all the ice creams were a little too sweet. Overall a good find, will come back for other flavors read more

J Sweets - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

To say J Sweets is not for everyone would be an understatement. But those of you who are into traditional Japanese "kashi (candy/snack)" would be delighted with the selection they bring, especially the seasonal ones. Just as not all your average chocolates or cookies are not made the same, not all Japanese snacks are made the same. Besides the fact that your average mass-produced Japanese chips n things are better than the American Lays or Nabiscos, (totally subjective) they are still mostly factory made. Many items sold at JS are not that. Some, especially the ones I love are made with seasonally hand picked fruits, incredibly well thought out and carefully crafted pieces of arts. Tastes of some of these are most difficult to describe with words. All I can say is that it's an experience you have to experience on your own. They are uber expensive. Let's just get that out of the way. For many, paying $50 for a piece of candied fruit will sound ridiculous. (BTW not all items are this expensive. Some you can grab for a few bucks) But if you're ready to fully take in and appreciate the amount of care that goes into making each piece pack the combination of flavors they contain I'm certain you'll be satisfied. It's like going to a concert. If you go in, ready to fully get immersed in the experience, you'll have a better time. Every time I'm in town, I keep telling myself that I'll skip them this time around to save a few bucks, but I fail every time. I have gotten better about not overindulging, but it still hurts my wallet a bit every time. They're religious about continuing to bring seasonal items in, and as long as they do so, I probably won't stop. read more

There's much more inventory now in 2022. Many more biscuits and gaufres. Service has improved and the displays have been enhanced. I would give it five stars if it weren't for the hefty pricing of everything, as delicious as they are. read more

See all

I am addicted to these delicious mochis! It is a great addiction! These mochis are deliciously soft, creamy, fresh tasting, and they can be pretty filling. I love that it's a sweet treat without the insane over-sugary sweet tastes of other desserts. The staff is so friendly. She explained all the flavors to me and the difference between the mochicream and the mochi ice cream. You won't be disappointed! Just note that this is not a cheap addiction, but it's a 1,000 times tastier than the ones you buy in the refrigerated or frozen section so it's worth every cent! If anyone needs to know - Their phone number is 847-258-4797. They are open from 10 to 8. read more

J Sweets offers so much temptation... They have mochi and ice cream, but I've only tried mochi so far. Their mochi comes in cute colors with about 20 different flavors including sweet potato, caramel macchiato, sakura, black sesame, cafe au lai, etc. Each mochi has decent size, thin shell, and lots of filing. Texture was soft but won't make a mess when you bite it. Those are the perfect snack to enjoy on the way home. read more

J Sweets - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Beautifully presented mochi, almost like shopping in a grocery store but choosing fine desserts. The mochi here is light and balanced, not too sweet or rich -- with very distinct flavor profiles. A little pricey, but a nice gift for friends or family. read more

See all

Best Mochi I have EVER had! They are very delicate, fresh, and balanced in flavor. The prices range from $1.90 to $2.90 each which initially seems very expensive but it was worth it every penny. The ones I ate were absolutely perfect and I don't have any comments to improve upon them. I only tried four flavors: matcha, mango, raspberry, and azuki red bean and I wish I bought more different flavors despite the whimperings of my pocketbook. The mochi is soft, not too chewy and infused with fragrant flavor (of whatever flavor I chose) and filled with fresh airy cream. I'll just have to drive out 20-ish miles from the city next time and treat myself to more. This takes me back to my fond memories of Japan! These also make wonderful presents, but note that the gift box for these mochis will set you back another $2-3. Credit card is accepted. read more

Gourmet mochi and Japanese cookies stand-yes!!! Another reason to be obsessed with Mitsuwa Matketplace! J Sweets is not located in the food court but close to the entrance of the supermarket. The beautiful colors of the mochi in their display case lured me into J Sweets. I've never had the cream filled mochi but now I love it as much as the ice cream filled- J Sweets has both! The variety of flavors is overwhelming. I tried the caramel, raspberry, double mango and matcha cream mochi and the matcha ice cream mochi. Loved them all but I'm a die hard for the classics and their matcha and mango mochi are the best I've ever had! They also sell the fancy cookies in the tins which are so expensive and I never could justify buying one even though I know the cookies are amazing. (My sister always shared her gift tin from her Japanese neighbors with me). The nice thing about J Sweets is you can buy some of the individual cookies vs buying an entire tin. Mind you, one cookie is still very expensive but it does satisfy the craving! The sakura (cherry blossom) cream cookie was delicious but it cost over $3. J Sweets is not cheap but the quality of the products make up for the cost. It will definitely be a regular stop when I come to Mitsuwa. read more

See all

Oh my, had my first Mochi Cream here.. And it's heavenly. Thick mochi skin, wrapping around cold cream of flavor of your choice. I picked the popular mango and coconut flavor.. it's covered with coconut chips. $2.50 each. If you like the mochi ice cream, you will enjoy this too. The texture is somewhat different. But similar concept.. They have lots of Japanese sweets to choose from, mostly mochis. Roughly around $2 a piece. read more

J Sweets - Oh my, had my first Mochi Cream here.. And it's heavenly. I picked the popular mango and coconut flavor.. it's covered with coconut chips.. - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

A mochi and desserts shop inside Mitsuwa. The shop has very cute desserts that are on the pricey side with a yummy selection of mochi ice cream. I bought several mochi ice creams to go, black sesame, mango, peach yogurt and chocolate banana. The mochi ice creams had a great mochi layer with a good amount of ice cream filling inside. Usually mango is my fave flavor however, black sesame was my fave out of the flavors I tried, the black sesame flavor really came out! The mochi ice cream mochi was really tasty but it's on the pricier side so this isn't an everyday dessert place. Definitely try out the mochi and the unique flavors they have here! read more

See all

A taste of high-end wagashi! I bought myself a gift box so that I may try a variety of sweets. My purchase was carefully wrapped and even included full-size samples of their other treat selections. I will certainly return when I am in the mood to splurge lol read more

J Sweets - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

My daughters went crazy with their mochi! Wide variety of flavors and products to choose from! The lady was very helpful in explaining each one. Will definitely be back! read more

I have to admit, I am a picky mochi eater, especially mochi ice cream. When I'm in Japan, I grab it any chance I can. I remember every week excitedly stopping by the new stall that popped up in my subway station, with crazy flavors like tiramisu and strawberry mille feuille. But in the US, mochi ice cream is often relegated to the easy dessert for bad sushi restaurants without a dessert chef. It's the hipster grocery store frozen dessert, and often an attempt at seeming international. But the mochi is often sickeningly sweet, filled with other things like gelatin, and the ice cream is hard and overly sweet as well. I don't usually get mochi ice cream in the States. But this place is different - it's amazing!!!! The mochi is delicious and authentic, and the fillings are complex and mindblowing. I love that I can freeze them and keep a nice stash. The cherry blossom one is so nostalgic, the sweet potato reminds me of Japanese winters, and the apple pie works so well. The texture and subtle flavors are just so perfect. This is the standard to which all mochi ice cream should be held. read more

The best mochi I've ever had!!! So soft and fresh! You will probably pay $2 for one mochi but it is totally worth it. They are located in a grocery store which is a really nice one. I went overload shopping lol read more

See all

I was so excited to finally get the chance to try real Japanese mochi. The mochi was so delicious, you have to allow it to thaw before eating it, but it was ooey gooey delicious. I can't wait to have it again! read more

Mochi are so good and fresh! I was amazed by the quality on first bite. My favorite so far is the caramel pudding and the black sesame. Way better than the prepackaged grocery store type. read more

This is hands down the BEST MOCHI EVER. If you've never been here then you don't know what the hell I'm talking bout. I was never big or cared for mocha till my cousin had me try one. I wish I had the words to could describe how special these bad boys are. When I bit into it the first time.. I had to look for a place to sit... so I could let it sink in my mouth with my eyes closed without looking crazy. They took it to the whole new level. It was mango mixed with magic. I wish I would've bought 20 more to take back to Florida with me.. they are SOO GOOD. Please please go see them. I need them to stay in business! read more

Great place to get mochi from, even though people complain about the price being more expensive than Japan it's only expected due to import tax since it's all imported. Everyone has been super friendly and helpful when I was looking for a gift. read more

Admittedly, I haven't had mochi from a ton of places, but thus far, J Sweets definitely has the best one in my area! Staff did a great job walking me through the options and were super friendly people in general, too. I haven't had a time where I've visited here/Mitsuwa and not walked away with at least one - it's just THAT good ! Would highly recommend at least a visit! The treats will do its talking. read more

Surprised to see this Japanese sweets place inside of Mitsuwa. I've been looking for the Yoku Moku cookies and was pleasantly surprised to find them here. There were so many mochi and sweets we wanted to try but we went with the Yoku Moku holiday cookies. They are the best cookies I've EVER had. Highly recommend trying. read more

I went back to the store recently. I had different people on the other side of the counter. They were very nice the entire time. I appreciated the mochi's much better this time, and I was happy to see the difference. I will come back again when I have a sweet tooth. read more

newly opened japanese specialty desserts shops (mochi cream, yoku moku, kobe fugetsudo, k. minamoto)...imported sweets with a hefty price tags...mochi cost roughly $2 for a bite size and has a shelf life of 24 hours after purchase...however; damage it does on your wallet is priceless... read more

J Sweets - Desserts Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Wide variety, lady behind the counter was very helpful since it was our first time trying mochi. Will definitely come back and tell all my friends about it! Definitely worth the 2 hour drive! read more

I've only ever gotten the mochi cream because everything is sold at 2-3x the price compared to Japan. The mochi creams are great! So tasty. BUT they've messed up my order TWO TIMES out of the three times I've been there! Gave me the wrong flavor once and gave me an extra one that I did not ask for (which they charged for)... Both times the counter was being run by the same two girls. If, when you're getting mochi cream, you're helped by two girls, I would double check your items and the receipt... read more

The Best Mochi ever! The taste was outstanding and to die for. If you like Japanese Mochi should give it a try. A little bit pricey because the import from Japan. Like other reviewers said 2-3x price over in Japan. But if you think how much cost round trip ticket to Japan it's worth it. Not sure if they ship to other state from this store. We don't live in Illinois. The lady that helped us was so nice and super friendly. read more

my go to Japanese sweets store! :) They always surprise me with more variety and products! Senbei is my classic favourite!

Best mochi in Chicago! Authentic Japanese mochi you can't get anywhere else in Chicago area or even Midwest area! Two thumbs up!