Cincy’s culinary scene continues to reap national accolades as East Walnut Hills’ Japanese-American eatery Café Mochiko is the latest dining destination to land on a “best of” list.
The New York Times just released its compilation of the 22 “Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now”, calling the restaurant — which serves coffee and pastries during its morning hours and “Yōshoku café fare” in the evenings — an “Ohio sensation.”
Helmed by couple and co-owners Elaine Uykimpang Bentz and Erik Bentz, the bakery portion of Mochiko is under Elaine’s purview with a menu featuring favorites like the ube halaya croissant, with purple yam jam and cream; everything cream cheese bao; and sweet corn bibingka, a corn-rice cake with cream cheese and shredded white cheddar. The sweet-and-savory pastries, which prompt eager patrons to wait in line for their share on weekends, also garnered Elaine several James Beard Award nominations in the Outstanding Baker category in 2022 and 2023.
Café Mochiko shares the best-in-the-U.S. attention with Walnut Hills’ The Aperture, which was named one of America’s 50 best restaurants by the Times earlier this year, and Over-the-Rhine’s Wildweed, which landed on Esquire magazine’s “Best New Restaurants in America for 2024” list.
