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irst opened in 2021 in Allston Massachusetts, Pon de Joy has since opened two additional locations with another in the works. Between the three current locations, customers can choose between an array of mochi donuts, bubble tea, and other specialty items like taro chia pudding. On top of their own locations, they can be found at various events in the Boston area. Most recently, they made an appearance at SoWa Open Market. Heather Kim decided to open Pon de Joy in Boston, where she was a former longtime resident, after discovering mochi donuts in her current home state of California. Working with designer Rahul Bhogal for branding and marketing, Kim was committed to coming up with a unique business name to set her business apart from other mochi donut places. The name is a play on the Japanese name for mochi donuts: Pon de Ring, which Kim and Bhogal discovered after doing research into the history of the pastry. Pon de Joy is an American take on the name that references the joy that Kim wants to bring to customers, while also honoring the donut’s Japanese origins. The branding also honors what is special to Kim: her adorable dachshund pup, Charlie. He inspired the leaping dog logo, and also has his name written in the floor tile of the Newton store.
“I still have roots in Boston, so it was, I guess, a natural location for me to start a new business,” said Kim. Mochi donuts, unlike typical American donuts, use glutinous rice flour to achieve a bouncy, chewy texture colloquially known as “QQ.” The term also describes the texture of the tapioca pearls in bubble tea. The flavor for mochi donuts typically comes from the glaze. At Pon de Joy, the typical baking process involves mixing the batter, frying the donuts, and adding the flavored glaze and toppings. The flavors you can choose from at Pon de Joy are extensive. Their Instagram boasts a rainbow of options that rotate on a weekly basis so that newcomers can try a variety of flavors and regulars can try something new. These are divided between their staple flavors, sweet cereal and cookie concoctions, and even savory donuts. Living on the West Coast, Kim is inspired by bakeries and cafés that she tries in Los Angeles, bringing far away flavors to Boston. Seasonality has an important impact on flavor availability, favoring fresh and fruity flavors in the summer and fall specialties as the weather cools. The donut shop has offered over one hundred flavors in total. As for Kim, her favorite way to eat a mochi donut is unfortunately not an experience that can be offered to customers. She prefers donuts in their purest form: straight out of the fryer and coated in just a bit of sugar. In addition to these many options, Pon de Joy stands out by using premium ingredients, never compromising on quality. Though powdered sugar is commonly used on mochi donuts, the bakery instead focuses on high quality chocolate and uses toppings generously on each donut. On October 6th, 2023, Pon de Joy celebrated its second anniversary, but growth has yet to cease for the donut chain. Kim hopes to expand further, with goals of opening new locations each year. Her ambition and confidence have undoubtedly been key to the bakery’s success. A Newton location recently opened, selling specialty donuts, bubble tea, and coffee. After seven months in Newton, Kim has encountered great reactions to the newest addition. An Andover location is on the way as well, serving the same items in addition to some savory options. “It’s been really amazing, the community has really embraced us,” said Kim. For the Newton location, boba and milk tea are always freshly brewed in small batches, and the cold brew uses specialty beans
