worth the wait
People wait in line for hours to buy boxfuls of peculiar-shaped donuts, triumphantly toting them home to share with family and friends. It’s the Japanese phenomenon called Mister Donut. We wanted to see what the hype is all about, so we joined the line and when it was our turn at the counter, picked out a few to try. Mmm … my favorites: the chewy chocolate moji ring and honey-glazed.
They’ve put an Asian spin on the American donut, red bean filled, green tea sugar powdered, and chocolate frosted and peanut sprinkled, just to name a few of the other mouth-watering flavors they’re serving up.
It seems that the masterminds behind Mister Donut spent just as much time thinking about the actual experience of buying and eating a donut as they have on concocting each donut-inspired pastry. In the pristinely clean, bright and warm storefront, new batchfuls of freshly made donuts are constantly being added to the shelves. Every little detail is tended to, including packets of sugar and creamer and a stirring rod for your coffee, and a piece of wax paper wrapped around your knapkins so they won’t get greasy in the donut bag. Lest you forget where you are, Mister Donut’s distinctive logo and bright colors appear on each and every thing in the store.
Why are these donuts so popular? Without a penny spent on newspaper or television ads, it’s all been from word of mouth. The local media featured it because of the incredibly long lines and huge purchases that customers were making, and people travel far distances to try it, simply because friends have told them these donuts are really good. The ingredients for Mister Donut’s success seem simple enough ~ great donuts, great branding, great packaging. It’s how they got all three of those things right that takes a lot work.
i had those donuts while in hawaii. a girl brought them to our international communications class to share. they were absolutely delicious! the price to get them however was an entire days worth of waiting just to get enough donuts for about 22 people. you see, the store (in hawaii) only allows you to take home about 5 donuts per visit per hour because of their popularity, so she had to go back about went back 5 times and each time the line was wrapped around the corner.
I lived in Japan for two years and survived almost exclusively on Mr. Donut. I know this may sound un-patriotic but I think that Mr. Donut is superior to any donuts I’ve ever had in the US. In fact, I love Mr. Donut so much that when I recently took my wife to Japan for the first time the first thing we did after we checked in to our hotel was to find a Mr. Donut. My favorite are the chocolate old fashioned. Thank you for spreading the Mr. Donut love.
Mr. Donut is great - but I’m more impressed with their business than the actual donuts. I haven’t toured across the world to pursue the best donut in the world (though that would be an interesting project), but so far my favorite donuts come from a mom-and-pop store near my aunt’s house.
Mr. Donut represents a big corporation paying attention to the details and doing things right. Whenever I see that, I think about us small independent shops - how we need to act (a lot) smarter and figure out what we can offer that the big resourceful corporations can’t…
That sounds amazing.. I love donuts. (as does everyone.) I’ll have to try that sometime.. I’ve actually never heard of it before now!
Oh my God! Are you in Taipei now? I am from Taipei but haven’t been back for over three years. I’ve heard those donuts are good. I’d like to try it one day.
Another must try – Mos Burger. It’s originally from Japan as well. Try their teriyaki chicken burger or those rice cake burger. They are REALLY good!
aaahhh donuts! I wonder why they haven’t brought Mr. Donut to NYC…
OMG
mister donut is totally an american franchise that kinda migrated to japan etc.
i mean
according to wikipedia.
also!!!!!!!!!
It spends money on television ads. I just spent the last 10 minutes watching all their ads on misterdonut.jp. or something like that.
they werent very good.
BUT THE DONUTS ARE