Where could I buy those mochi balls that they put in Pinkberry's Shaved Iced Yogurt

[vanity021]

Just came back home from Pinkberry's in LA and had there shaved ice yogurt with fruits. I LOVED IT. I Loved the mochi ball's especially. was wondering where I could buy just those mochi balls? Could I just go to an asian grocery store or japanese one to buy them? Are they hard to make? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hopefully someone could recommend a place to me.

[mochi mochi]

I think the mochi balls at Pinkberry's is what I call chi chi dango or manju. I posted a recipe for chi chi dango on this thread http://www.chowhound.com/topics/395818
I think the other posters are correct about the additives because I think this recipe may get hard if put in frozen yogurt.
I am sure there are manju shops in SF or San Jose where you can get it freshly made with anko (beans) inside. Delicious.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/shuei-do-manj...
This sounds like a good place.

[nolan222]

Trader Joe's carries Mochi Balls in thier frozen food section.

[Frommtron]

Aren't those filled with ice cream?

[sibaik]

Yes, they are. They're also a lot larger than what we're talking about. The mochi in the shaved ice are small, like a centimeter, chewy, no ice cream inside.

[Frommtron]

That's the point I was making. :)

[bulavinaka]

For many, the first experience of the mochi balls at Pinkberry is enjoyable. For many who have eaten mochi in various forms from various cultures, PB's version tend to taste somewhat odd - a bitter aftertaste and somewhat chemical-y. I think they must add some sort of softener/preservative/anti-caking agent. You most likely will find the versions at just about any Asian market (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) to be far better, and versions at places like Fugetsu-do where that's all they do - to be superior.

[Saucey]

Thank you bulavinaka. I thought I was the only one who experienced the chemical, bitter taste of the mochi balls at Pinkberry. I have had mucho mochi (apologies, just couldn't resist that) and the P ones definitely have an ick factor going on.

[esquimeaux]

yea, any korean supermarket has 'em for really cheap. i usually buy mine in a flat rectangular blue box if that helps. and then i just eat them like candy. ask for "bingsoo dduk" and hopefully they'll understand you.

[Rodeline]

I'm glad that thread is started. I've been searching for those mochi balls, and I have gone to most of the markets mentioned above. I must be looking in the wrong section. Which section of the market are they located?

[esquimeaux]

often they are at the displays at the end of the aisle, along with bottles of chocolate and strawberry sauce and cans of red bean and all that kind of good shaved ice stuff. otherwise i imagine it would be near the sweets and snacks area.

[choctastic]

yeah the ones in the blue box are the best brand that i've tried so far. luckily, it's also the most common around these parts.

[choctastic]

Uh, every korean market has them. You get a box of them for $2.99 now.

[ipsedixit]

Any Chinese supermarket in SGV will have it. 99 Ranch, 168, Hong Kong, Shun Fat, etc.

[Frommtron]

DU is right on. If you're still in town then Fugetsu-do in Little Tokyo will have it and a whole lot more.

Thi place looks intriguing in your neck of the woods:

http://www.benkyodocompany.com/contac...

Usually mochi are much larger than what they do at Pinkberry. I think if you dice up the larger pieces and roll them in rice flour (white rice ground fine in a coffee grinder) or cornstarch it should get you a good facsimile of what you had.

[apple7blue]

I do not know about Pinkberry but from everyone else is describing, the kind at Trader Joe's and Marukai and Mitsuwa, Nijiya, Fugetsu-do, they now actually sell that at Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, and some Ralphs and Albertsons, at least here in SoCal

[Das Ubergeek]

They're really fiddly to make. You can buy them in any Japanese grocery store. If you're still down here in LA you can buy them in Marukai, Mitsuwa, Safe & Save or Nijiya for sure.

If you live in SF you might do better to post a question on the SF board (if you haven't already). I don't dare go look -- they might throw stones at me. :-P

[Frommtron]

What's Safe & Save? Sounds like a bank. :)

[Das Ubergeek]

A small, homey Japanese market with great fish on Sawtelle Boulevard in West LA.

[Frommtron]

THAT'S right. I always go to Granada or Nijiya. I'll have to try that one now. Thanks.

[Azizeh Barjesteh]

Do they have ice cream in them? If so, Trader Joes has those. If not, what are they like?

[vanity021]

No they don't have ice cream in them. They are small round balls, maybe the size of a dime or a little smaller. They look like they are made out of flour but they are slightly transparent, has a nice chewy texture, slightly sweetened.