SF had Benkyodo, which I appreciate, but did ran sweet for me. SJ has Shuei-Do. Pardon, but non ci siamo. Sac has Osaka-Ya, but Kogetsu-Do is better. We were in town the morning after seeing the Firefail. Finally success on the third visit attempt. Amongst other shops on the desolate street stood an unremarkable window front where the repeat button has remained on since the 60s. Within was an eclectic mix of Japanese American household fixtures and Americana. Rustic. Nothing like Benkyodo's proper shelf presentation - or a hamburga stand. Some Japanese goods were on offer, but you come here for something sweet. We got a couple of mochi and manju, traditional red bean flavors, because that's all that was left. Their manju, seeming to have a different "batter" and "panini"-grilled, had a crumbly texture. The mochi though... Have you seen that viral video of that slapping mochi shop in Nara? What about people enjoying it? How soft it was, leaving a vegan cheese pull with every bite? This was by far the softest mochi I've ever had, and I thoroughly enjoyed the soy dusted yomogi. The bigger size of the mochi also accentuated the softness of the mochi. The matcha, also green, had a distincting different flavor, just so you know that the shop wasn't cheating. My partner in crime loved the lima bean mochi. The red bean filling tasted homemade, good flavor but not too sweet - the best compliment you can give an Asian in a world that remains overrun by pollo ala naranja. We are proud* that such a heritage perseveres on, especially in a part of town that's honestly become quite desecrated of life. Call ahead to see if the shop is open, and try to come early. The shop is a one woman show, and if my first two visits say anything, this lady enjoys having a life. And yes, she does sell out. She was nearly sold out when we visited. And try to enjoy the mochi ASAP. The mochi will last in the fridge. The texture will not. If you come at the right time of the year, the shop will have mochi in different fruit and pie flavors, and even ice cream mochi. *OK, "I'm proud of you" might be a bigger compliment to an Asian. And yes, there's Fugetsu in LA, but I haven't been. Though if you need a reason to visit the Fresno, you can always take the 99 traveling between SoCal and NorCal... Just need to be early if much is desired. If you're interested in AYCEat mochi, staying healthy, working out for free, and have an eye for the art of making mochi, may I suggest asking the owner for an apprenticeship? The owner's mentioned on articles that there's no one to take over and you don't become a master overnight. read more

Such a historical cute store!!! We got a bunch of red bean, white bean and fruit mochis. So good. We kept it in the fridge overnight and they were still so yum the next day. read more

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These delicious treats fly off the shelves fast! The staff were so helpful in explaining all the fillings and the difference between the manju, steamed cake flour (wheat or buckwheat), and the mochi-- steamed glutinous rice flour. There is just enough space for you to peruse the bakery case and the freezer of frozen mochi treats. It's standing room only, meant for to go purchases. It's a cash only establishment so don't be like us-- make sure to stop at an ATM first! It was well worth the extra trip for cash, these were all really tasty! They were a bit on the sweet side for me, definitely good if you have sweet tooth! My favorite was the matcha mochi with whole red bean. The manju was a little less sweet and had more of a cake texture. read more

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I came here for the first time last weekend and they were out of mochi ice cream. She said she'd have more on Friday. But of course when I came back this weekend, they were out again and this time even the mochi was out. It might be due to the fact that they were featured recently in the SF Chronicle, where the shop was talked about as one of the last home-made mochi places left and how the work can be difficult. Luckily last week we were able to order cherry mochi, 3 berry mochi, and red bean pastry. The cherry mochi was our least favorite, a little too sweet and filled more with syrup than fruit (and we wished there was more mochi). However we liked the 3 berry mochi, which had real strawberries, blackberries and I think blueberries in it. We knew they would be good when she pulled them out of the fridge for us to consider when we bought it. I'm glad this place does so well and that they routinely sell out of treats, but it does make it difficult to get some mochi when you want some. Definitely a must-try staple in Fresno, especially if the owners ever retire. They are cash only too so be sure to have cash and try different flavors and offerings. I'm going to try again next week. I think I also read in the article that they cater weddings and so sometimes that affects their supply too. read more

Kogetsu-do - 3 berry mochi - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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CASH ONLY BUSINESS Service: I called before I went in and was helped very kindly by the person answering the phone. I was told that to ensure I got to purchase what I wanted to call days in advance and place my order. Received the same kind service today upon entering the store and making an in person purchase. Packaging: The mochi is individually wrapped and some are labeled which helps with knowing what is inside. Mochi: the texture of the rice flour "exterior" was sooooooo soft and delicate. Incredible!! You can taste the love in the texture!! The fillings we ordered were quite a mixture of everything. The mochi were lovely, fresh, lightly sweetened! I even ordered some more traditional flavors in respect the their business and culture, and was pleasantly surprised compared to some other places I have had the same flavors like red bean, Lima bean. Pricing: the price is very cheap for something so lovingly made!! Sign on door front: sign asked customers to place a mask over their face, I don't carry masks, entered and still conducted business quickly and left. Next time I will carry a mask and respectfully wear it! Favorite flavors: blueberry, strawberry (fresh), Nutella with peanut butter, peach, and apricot. I was hoping to see black sesame. I am a huge black sesame fan and can't seem to find much of it locally. Would we return: Very quickly if it wasn't an hour drive for me. read more

Kogetsu-do - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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Came here on a week day and it was surprisingly busy. We ordered a box of manji but couldn't wait to take it home and are a white and red bean manju. Wow it was great and we traveled all the way from San Diego to make it a special stop in Fresno. Definitely worth it and we plan to make another trip on the way home. As soon as you step in you know the ingredients are fresh and they don't compromise on quality. The vibe was right and I'm glad i found this gem! read more

The best when it comes to mochi! A must try if you're in the area. You have to wear a face mask still here. read more

Kogetsu-do - A must before you go in - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

Phone in your order or call in to see what they have is what I would recommend. Owner shared that their price will go up at the beginning of the year. All the mochi(s) are yummy. Best in town. read more

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A quaint little mochi shop in the heart of downtown Fresno! Honestly this place is such a gem. They have a variety of stuffed mochi and in the summer, they offer fruit filled versions too! Ice cream mochi is also offered here-they're bricks lol you must give it some time to thaw! It's a cash- only store too, so come prepared. Prices here are totally reasonable- $10 goes a long way here!! 10/10 recommend paying this historic shop a visit! read more

Kogetsu-do - mochi galore - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

I have been going to this business since I was about 5 years old with my parents. My parents would order mochi for New Years Day. I remember eating the traditional manju. read more

Didn't expect to find a spot like this in Fresno but found it on Yelp and were pleasantly surprised. This is a cozy little shop in admittedly not the best area, but the mochi we got made it worth the trip while we were in the area. Mochi were tasty and not too sweet, and I really liked the texture of the manju with the flavor of the red bean filling. We had a chat with the store owner who was in charge that day, and she was really friendly! We wanted to leave a tip, but she declined it. Definitely support your small mom-and-pop businesses, especially when the sweets taste this good! read more

Kogetsu-do - a closed sign in a window - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

I've gone here ever since I was a little girl! I visit every so often to pick up some goodies for myself and mom. We love the manju and mochi ice cream Bring cash because they don't take anything else. This is a grab and go type of counter so don't expect to hang out inside I always recommend this place - such a gem support small! read more

I've been wanting to try this place for the longest but their hours just didn't align with my work schedule. I had a day where I was free so I decided to stop by. When I walked in, a nice lady greeted me and assisted me since it was my first time. It's cute and small inside so you would have to eat your mochi elsewhere. I've never had fresh mochi and this is way better than the ones you get packaged from a grocery store. My favorite was the fresh strawberry :) the softness of the mochi and the strawberry was heavenly. I savored every bite and I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to try other flavors and I'll prob be buying more than 2 this time lol read more

Kogetsu-do - Blackberry and Fresh Strawberry Mochi :) - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

Found this gem while traveling through Fresno. We arrived toward the end of business hour and bought what they had. The anKo and Kuri mochi both tasted great. The Mochi was silky and chewy and it was a wonderful treat. What an amazing gem in downtown Fresno. Definitely worth trying. read more

Kogetsu-do - ManJu - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

This place was like walking back into a time warp of a place I'd visit when I was very young and gave off that old school Japantown vibe! I guess that explains their longevity of being in business for more than 100 years. The glass display cases shuttled me back to the 1960s and loved it immensely! But what took it to the top was the small batches of handmade mochi and manju. They have them filled with traditional red or white bean sprinkled with kinako but the fresh or put filling fruit varieties were oh so yummy. What I really enjoyed was the apple cinnamon pancake version. All were only $2 apiece. I didn't try them but they also had mochi ice cream too. To ensure you get what you want you can call in and order ahead. Be forewarned they only accept cash and bring a required face mask. read more

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Best mochi and Manju and all of Central California and including fresh fruit mochi, frozen mochi ice cream, and shaved ice. Great! Delicious!!!!!!!! read more

The owner is so nice and sweet. All of the mochi is so soft and the filling is tasty. My favorite has to be the green mochi with the kinako ( soybean powder) filled with the red bean. It's chef's kiss o forgot what icecream mochi I got, but you can never go wrong with it. read more

Kogetsu-do - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

Small mochi shop located in downtown Fresno, fresh mochi made daily. We called ahead around 8:15AM to reserve (you can do this for free), it made the process even simpler! Don't forget to bring cash with you. A box of 8 pieces came out to $24. The fillings are very fresh and the pieces are quite large! Great value, great taste, and always great to support a small business! We will be back. read more

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Was visiting from LA and my aunt wanted to try this place. Got here early and got one of everything! A bit disappointed that they didnt have plain mochi (i.e. rainbow dango, kinako mochi). STOREFRONT: Small, currently require guests to wear masks. ORDERED: Mochi with mung bean, mochi with red bean, mochi wihth fruit filling (cinnamon apple, apricot, peach). The fruit filling is jam-like and a bit sweet. SERVICE: Service was good, and they were friendly. read more

Kogetsu-do - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

Great selection of mochi. Picked up some fresh made blueberry mochis and red bean cakes for my parents and I to enjoy. Would definitely recommend people check out this place and help support a small business that has been open for over 115 years!! read more

I was made aware of this place thanks to a friend's recommendation. I ordered a couple different flavors and peach was my favorite. FYI: Masks are required here due to Covid-19 . read more

Kogetsu-do - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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6/10/23 Getting breakfast for tomorrow and a treat for another meal! Ordered the Pancake with apple cinnamon and Nutella with peanut butter and Reese's. They were sold out and the worker was very kind. They had bean mochis left and the worker told me to try them on the house. Very much appreciated! FYI! She said it's best to call in early. They are obviously that great! Look forward to trying again! Great service and treats! Highly recommended! Thank you for the free samples! =) read more

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The mochi is amazing, but if you are requiring a mask then you should also be providing a mask.

Absolutely LOVE Kogetsu-do. The owner is the sweetest and I love that my girls can have a piece of Japan so close to home. Highly recommend putting an order in. Top favs are the mochi strawberry ice cream and any of the stuffed mochi's. Two times in one week and we drive two hours just for this gem. Highly recommend. read more

Kogetsu-do - Strawberry and mango ice cream mochi. - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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I finally got to try out some of their delicious mochi after many attempts over the years. They usually sell out before the end of the day so make sure you come in early. I went in at around 10 am and they still had plenty of options. I tried the fresh strawberry mochi, smooth red bean mochi, and red bean manju. The 4 items totaled $6. Be aware they are cash only. They were unfortunately already sold out of mochi ice cream, so I will have to come at another time. Everything was fresh and delicious! The employee had great knowledge about every product and was able to make recommendations. We will be back soon! read more

Kogetsu-do - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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Handmade ice cream mochi, using a family secret recipe that will not only offer you the best tasting mochi but a taste of history! Located in Fresno's historic Chinatown, Kogetsu-do will celebrate its 108 year anniversary this Fall! The family persevered through a WW II interment camp and through it all have kept their mochi business alive and thriving. As you can imagine, they sell out quickly every day so it's best if you call in at 8am, before they open, to place your order. Available Ice cream flavors vary daily. We let our ice cream mochi thaw, unwrapped, on the counter for 10 minutes at it was perfect! The rice flour dough is all the tasty chewy goodness that you would expect from someone who has perfected their mochi craft. They are LARGE in size and can be easily cut into pieces. They accept cash only and at $4 a mochi, these jewels are a bargain! They also offer shaved ice and bean paste mochi. Plenty of parking available and take-out only. read more

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Finding this place is not hard, only the parking since so many want to come here ( which is a good thing ). When you walk in it's a small shop but it feels welcoming. The way it's set up allows customers to see what they have made fresh that day. Upon ordering, the staff are the nicest I've ever encountered. Super helpful in explaining what is what when you ask. Never was rushed to pick. Loved how the menu slightly changes according to the season and day. Sometimes there's certain fruits that are incorporated into their regular manju and ice cream variant! This is the fav spot. A hidden gem that has been here for more than you'd think. I'll always keep coming here when I need my manju fix read more

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Ben and Diane brought me here. They gave me a few of your manju and they were delicious! Never had fruits in my manju, but they worked well. Thank you! read more

So good! Definitely need to try and come early to get the good stuff before they run out!

Only place in town to get freshly made mochi and monju (Japanese dessert). My grandkids in Utah just love it so I always take at least 2 dozen to them. read more

It's hard to critique anything here. The shop is tiny and cute, but appropriate for what you're buying. No frills which is nice compared to many modern day sweets-type shops. They won't take tips, FYI. Lots of options. The girl helping us with our order was extremely knowledgeable and made sure we knew exactly what we were getting. read more

Delicious fresh mochi! The worker was so helpful and friendly, telling us all the flavors that didn't have labels. Definitely recommended going earlier in the day, because when we went there weren't tons of options left! I'm also not sure if they always have the ice cream mochi available - I forgot to ask! They're CASH ONLY so make sure you go prepared. The strawberry and Nutella mochi was so good. $1.40 each and they're a good size! read more

Kogetsu-do - 3 beret, strawberry and nutella, red bean - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

The store is among a row of stores. There are a few parking spaces in front of the stores. Parking wasn't hard to find. It's a little store when you walk in. That day they had 2 flavors of ice cream mochi: vanilla and raspberry sorbet and various flavors of regular mochi. I thought it would be a store filled with mochi but they just have a small display of flavors available. That was slightly disapointing. I tried red bean mochi. The taste is very soft and fresh. Great mochi! read more

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I. Cannot. Believe. This. . . PRICES ARE UNCHANGED FOR FRESH FRUIT MANJU FOR 6 YEARS!!! Not ONLY that, but also for the BEST ones that can be found in California! NO ONE EVEN COMES CLOSE! Just LOOK at the photos I submitted, and judge for yourself! Better yet, go buy some. Tasting IS believing! A labor of love, that cannot be found anywhere else but HERE! Cash only, and closed Wednesday and Thursdays. THANK the owner (Lynn) for keeping this tradition alive! read more

Kogetsu-do - Only $1.30 each! Fresh blueberry Manju ! - Shaved Ice Near Me - Fresno, California

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Very soft fresh mochi. Love the fresh fruit flavors. Best to get there right when they open. Cash only. Mask up inside the store.

Kogetsu-DO is cash only. When my friend Anthony and I arrived we only had $11 between us so we had to choose wisely. He got the last cookies and cream ice cream mochi and I got the last 3 berry mochi. Best mochi in Fresno for sure (maybe the whole Central Valley?), and not too sweet! read more

Very nice people and the treats were yummy. We got 1 manju and 1 mochi :) Affordable and tastey :)

My husband and I were traveling from Tucson Arizona to Fresno and we looked up Japanese places in Fresno on YouTube. This place was mentioned in a video and we decided to check it out. We are so glad we did! Everything is displayed very beautifully. The manju is excellent. So delicious, and a wonderful variety too. The nice women in the shop were a delight to talk to. It has been run by the same family for over 100 years! There is even a mural on the wall of the original owners. We will definitely be back! read more

A Downtown Fresno hidden gem! I finally got to try their mochi last Saturday-one traditional red bean paste and one Apple cinnamon. Both were delicious. I want to try their mochi ice cream soon! The fruit filled mochi are big enough for two people to share. Cash only-there's a Union Bank atm nearby or a Bank of America atm close by on Fresno Street. Interesting murals nearby. Worth a visit on your way to downtown breweries or a baseball game or other event. read more

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In addition to their array of traditional-style mochi, I would suggest newcomers try out their seasonal assortments as well. The fruit-filled mochi is always a plus, but unique styles (such as the peanut butter and Nutella-stuffed flavors) should be given a go on your visit. Also a note as of this review, MASKS ARE MANDATORY FOR ENTRY INTO THE BUSINESS, so don't forget to pack one before your visit. read more