Chikara Mochi

I’m no mochi expert but their mochi was way too sweet. Their designs tho top notch and very pleasing to the eye and also very soft. But I really couldn’t take more than one bit. And I gave a few to my friends and shared with family too and they agreed the same.
I think it’d go really well with tea but yeah just way too sweet. Although there’s many of different «flavors» the person behind the counter said they all taste pretty similar and I agree.

I think Nick H. wrote a pretty spot on review comparing this mochi joint with its neighbor, Sakuraya, so check it out!
Chikara mochi has friendly service– they gift wrap for free!– and beautifully decorated mochi. In my personal opinion, I thought they were a little too sweet, but the texture was still excellent, and I love seeing the reaction of those who open their box of beautiful mochi.
**Cash only!**

Best mochi in SoCal I’ve ever had! Must try the peanut butter, botan, Sakura & shiso! CASH ONLY.
They open early and can easily run out of the above. They close when they sell out, so if you’re traveling to satiate your urge, call first! If you NEED your peanut butter fix, you might also have to order ahead.
Service is polite and friendly. They don’t bend over backwards though for «special requests.» What you see is what you get. Their mochi is «creamier, smoother» than others. The designs are awesome. Makes you wanna get one of each. Closest thing to Japan’s confectioners.

*** CASH ONLY ***
Chikara Mochi is a wagashi (Japanese confectioneries) store that specializes in cute and artistic mochis (typically served in the tea ceremony). Red bean filling mochis are placed in the top row of the display case and white bean filling mochis are placed in the middle row of the display case.
*** $ 12.90 (tax included, 8 pieces) ***
Sakura mochi ($ 1.90 each): Mochi made from pink color sticky rice and wrapped in cherry leaf. It is traditionally served on the Japanese Doll Festival (aka Girls’ Day — March 3^rd). A very unique mochi and definitely worth a try. I believe Sakura mochi is a spring seasonal item.
Daifuku ($ 1.40 each): Red bean filling mochi and I think Sakuraya’s version tasted slightly better.
Koume, Matsu (red bean filling, $ 1.60 each) + Butan, Ringo, Kiku (white bean filling, $ 1.60 each): My taste buds weren’t subtle enough to pick up the difference between each mochi. Overall they all tasted pretty good.
***
Personally Sakuraya (another mochi store that’s just few stores away from Chikara Mochi —
) offers cheaper and tastier mochi than Chikara Mochi. However, Chikara’s mochi definitely gets a solid 5-​star for their presentation. A great place to visit if you are looking to give mochi as a gift.

Beautiful!!! Perfect for gift. They change design seasonally and surprise you every season. Their mochi tastes nice too. Highly recommended.

Delicious. Authentic. Coming back!!!
I never knew the bean filling and Mochi goodness outside could be so soft!

Came with BF last month because he needed to buy something for his mom’s bday. He ended up spending around $ 40 for 2 big boxes of mochi. They’re all really pretty and looked so good! However, i think it’s just personal preference. If you really enjoy eating red beans, then this place is for you! They stuff 90% of their mochi with read bean here. To me, it’s a bit overwhelming. But presentation-​wise, it gets an «A+»

I have a pretty obsessive personality and as of 12÷11÷2015− 11:54AM, my two obsessions are mochi and peanut butter.
I always knew like Japanese markets like Marukai and Mitsuwa sold peanut butter mochi in packages but I never got it because I didn’t think they were as fresh as you would get them at an actual mochi store. So, you know thankfully Unilocal help me find this hidden gem which is literally down the street from my house! MMMmmMMHM PTL.
I went around 3:50PM and there was a good amount of mochi left even though they were closing in 10 minutes. Seriously all of the mochis were super aesthetically pleasing, I wanted to buy them all!!! BUT… I ended up just getting one white peanut butter mochi and Kinako Mochi which is the mochi with soybean powder and azuki bean paste.
AND HOLY MOLY… THE PEANUT BUTTER MOCHI WAS EVERYTHING I EXPECTED PLUS MORE. THE PUUUUURFECT AMOUNT OF SWEET AND SALTY AND THE MOCHI HAD THE PERFECT CHEWY CONSISTENCY!!! I WAS DOING THE HAPPY DANCE EVERY BITE I TOOK… I DEVOURED IT IN THE CAR IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS… T_​_​_​_​T SERIOUSLY. A+ IN MY BOOK.
The Kinako Mochi was goood too but it was a little too sweet for me… So next time i’ll just buy the peanut butter mochis!!!
Overall, solid mochi shop and the workers are so cute and sweet. If you love mochi like me… ya need to hit this place up!
Btw, CASH ONLY! It’s not super cheap but you’re paying for the quality!

Small little place that sells excellent mochi. I came here and they have tons of options of mochi to choose from. Theres coffee, green tea, orange, black sesame, and other plain flavors all filled with either red or white bean. You can get them individually or in boxes of various sizes. Each item ranges from $ 1.60-$ 2.00 so they aren’t exactly the cheapest things but they are worth it. I got about 15 items for about $ 24. I personally liked the coffee and the chestnut mochi. The person working there was also very friendly and helped me decide what to get since I am clearly a mochi noob. Be sure to come earlier in the day to ensure they are at their freshest state!
⁹⁄₁₀

I got super excited to visit Chikara Mochi again. This time I arrived when they opened at 9am hoping to see some new treats. Unfortunately there wasn’t a big selection out but still some interesting treats to choose from. The lady behind the counter was nice enough to bring me a few fresh pieces from the back that were being made. I got a box of ten along with an interesting one that was made for those celebrating Boys day. I think I spent about 14 bucks but it was worth it. Delicious!

mochi is too thin
and a bit soft
if they just made the mochi a bit thicker — it would be just right
if it says coffee, it does have that flavor
the filling is a lot
the sweetness level is a bit too sweet for me, cut the amount of filling and it would be ok
1.60 for most
I got a peanut butter mochi with no design — looks ugly for 1.20 and it was yummy
skewered mochi covered in sweet soy sauce was too sweet and mushy — skip it

This blows Fugetsu-​do out of the water. So glad we were in the area and were able to pay a visit. The mochi are cheap, very pretty and really good and filling. Love how the store is so nondescript on the outside and so retro on the inside. Cash only though.

Their mochi is gorgeous and also delicious. You can definitely tell from the first bite that it’s freshly made. Great to give as presents.

I tried a lot of Mochi and they are too starchy and guwee. But this bakery Chikara Mochi is one of the best I have eaten. The paste is so refine and the skin is just right. I cannot help but put them in my blog for future reference.
The design shows quality. A little pricey but it is worth every penny.
VERY GOOD.

Artisanal Wagashi (wah gah shee)
Chikara Mochi means the sticky rice pâté that gives you strength or a person of great strength. Either way, this Wagashi-​ya or Traditional Japanese confectionery store is amazing when it comes to rice based pastries with an azuki (dark bean) or Shiro An (white bean) filling. There are also some selections of wheat based pastries too.
My seasonally based favorite is around March 3^rd when Momo no Sekku (Festival of the Peach Flowers) or Hinamatsuri (Festival of Dolls) is celebrated as Girls’ Day. For the occasion, a special mochi pastry is made whereby the mochi rice pastry is colored a light pink and is filled with sweet azuki bean paste. But what is special is the salt preserved spring cherry leaf that is wrapped around the pastry. The mochi rice pastry has a light sweetness, and the mochi rice is delicately molded so that the individual rice grains still stand out. The sweeter azuki paste is contrasted by the saltiness of the preserved spring cherry leaf.
Chikara Mochi does an extra special job of creating this complex, nuanced interplay of flavours that I can not find in other Wagashi-​ya in the Los Angeles area. However, this Sakura Mochi (Cherry Rice Pastry) isn’t around all year. It is usually gone by the end of April, since Tango no Sekku or Boys’ Day comes up on the 5^th of May when a different kind of Mochigashi (rice confection) is made for that occasion.
The other one I like is the Kuri Manju– which is a wheat based pastry. The inside is Shiro An, usually made from a sweetened lima bean paste with a chunk of Kuri (chestnut) inside the paste. The outside is made of a wheat based pastry case. The Shiro An is almost creamy and the sweetness is gentle and mild, and it melds well with the baked wheat casing. This is found the year round, and it can also be found at a Nijiya Supermarket if it doesn’t get sold out.
There are more artistically, aesthetic Wagashi pastries that depending on the season mimic cherry blossoms, Japanese maple leaves, chrysanthemums, etc. that look too pretty to eat. I feel that these are more for giving elegant gifts that require refined presentation to people whom you need to impress or for special occasions.
But I also feel these are quite appropriate for pairing with Matcha, or powdered Japanese green tea, which is kind of like an analog to the richly flavored espresso. So this is a great way to treat yourself to a genteel moment when you want a Zen-​like mood of being in the moment with the Matcha tea in a simple Japanese teacup and a beautiful pastry set before your eyes.
There are other Mochi that are more fusion cuisine in style such as a chocolate/​peanut butter Reeses Mochi as well as fruit flavored ones that I have not tried. However, Chikara Mochi is definitely the most solidly based Wagashi-​ya in the greater Los Angeles area. But if you are not near the South Bay, then Fu-​getsu Do– in downtown Los Angeles’ «Little Tokyo» would be a good alternative to the quest for the grail that is Wagashi.

I came here on Tuesday because my usual mochi place (Sakuraya) was closed. I never knew they were so close to each other, so of course a competition between the two exists. My two cents is that while Chikara Mochi’s looks more impressive, Sakuraya’s tastes better (not as sweet). Both are great. If it is for a friend and presentation matters, go with Chikara. If it’s just for yourself, go with Sakuraya (the latter is also cheaper).

If you love mochi as much as I do you haven’t lived til you tried this place! BEST MOCHI ON THE PLANET no lie
My favorite is the peanut butter mochi! I am a huge peanut butter lover and that definitely took the prize. On top of it all their mochi is made to perfection. It’s not only about the appearance, but the taste matches the looks beautifully. Owner is very kind and welcoming. Great touch to a small family owned business MUST TRY!

Chikara is the equivalent of the high end fashion designer of Mochi. They are Dior and every other mochi shop designs for the Gap.
These beautifully crafted pieces of rice art are so pretty that you don’t handle them the same as the others. Once placed in your hand you will cradle it gently in the curve of your palm and admire them from every angle: «Ohhh look at how shiny it is!»,” Ohh look at the tiny little leaves attached to it!”,“Ohhh look at the pretty colors.”, «Ohhh how did they do that!»
I delicately cradled my mochi in my hand like I held something precious. It was almost too pretty to eat, but I sacrificed it to the gods in my belly and they declared that the taste of the Mochi was a-​ok. They look much prettier than they taste. Scarlet Johansson on the outside Tara Reid on the inside… ok I’m sorry Chikara Mochi you didn’t taste like Tara Reid maybe more like plain jane.
The shop is hard to find as the outside signage is very discrete. It is located on the same street as Sakura but in a much cleaner, well kept space. If you are looking to impress people with a mochi gift Chikara is the place.

The storefront for Chikara is so unassuming and the interior, even more simple. There is only one jewelry-​styled case filled with an assortment of pretty mochi.
The fillings are simple, mainly red or white bean filled. The fillings are very smooth and the exterior, super soft and fresh.
I have to admit, the design and cuteness of the mochi is what drew me to Chikara versus Sakuraya. If you’re giving mochi as a gift, I’d highly recommend coming here, as the presentation and packaging of the mochi will surely put a smile on someone’s face.

***CASH ONLY***
Yum!!! I was in the mood for mochi and Gardena seems to be the mecca for Japanese treats. I’m not a mochi connoisseur, but this mochi was so good! I don’t know what the supposed texture of proper mochi, but this was soft and moist and it tasted fresh. The decorations on each mochi were mesmerizing with different colors, shapes, and colors. It made me forget how the inside looks like. It seemed like the bakery was a front for something else. I think it was how they presented their mochis. It was laid out inside of a glass case where I’ve seen computer parts being sold before. I was a little hesitant of ordering, but I couldn’t resist the cute mochis. Anyway, I need to come here in the future to try out the rest of their mochis. I really enjoyed their red bean flavor, by the way! The green tea was okay. I didn’t really taste the green tea flavor.