Japan is obviously not the birthplace of fried dough, but like so many “foreign” foods that make their way to these shores, the J-take on donuts is both foreign and completely Japanese at the very same time. And these cream-filled beauties from Abebe Bakery’s Tokyo outpost come through not just one alien land, but two, so how can you not get in line to satisfy your Dunkin’ itch with Jeju Island donuts in crazy Japanese flavors?
Like…mugwort.
Yomogi is that classic Japanese flavor most commonly encountered at festivals as sticky green dumplings on a stick. They’re often dusted in roasted soybean flour, like the powdery coating on this creation.
Of how about one that delivers a walloping dose of mattcha?
I don’t think donut shops are allowed to operate in Japan without at least one contender that’s green with tea, and this one qualifies for the heavyweight division.
Black sesame is also a must-have…
as is “milk,” a beloved Japanese soft-serve flavor without a hint of vanilla.
But I couldn’t figure out what’s making the donut part of this one so dark. If it was supposed to be chocolate, it gets one star for being too skimpy to detect, and it definitely wasn’t anko, that sneaky Japanese chocolate lookalike. If you manage to identify it, LMK?
But sweets aren’t the only novelty on offer. Because Japan is the land that exemplifies Just Because You Can Do Something Doesn’t Mean You Should, the brave can also sample the savory evolutionary heirs to the Spicy Tomato Sauce Donut.
Behold the Basil Onion Cream Cheese…
which actually tasted pretty good, but its crust was so crunchy that the filling gushed out and got my hands all gooey in a most distressing and un-Japanese way.
I also tried the garlic-flavored one…
which was a mistake, because I forgot the Abebe’s Korean roots and…see all that creamy-looking filling? SIX THOUSAND GARLIC CLOVES GAVE THEIR LIVES.
My favorite was actually the one I decided to try on a whim, and this coconut donut was absolutely delish, from the first cream-filled bite to the last toasted coconut crumb.
But if none of these flavors appeals, there are plenty more!
There are lots of regular flavors…
that change seasonally (for example, chestnut and apple for fall)…
and every day there are surprise offerings that aren’t on the regular menu
I counted thirty-two different varieties, so don’t eat breakfast before you come!
And now the big question: were they worth the wait in line?
If you’re expecting something that mainlines sugar as effectively as a Dunkin’ you’ll be disappointed, but if you love fresh and creamy and not too sweet, the wait is definitely worth it. I give Abebe top marks for the filling-to-donut ratio too—they’re almost too generous with the good stuff in the middle, and there wasn’t a single sad, dry mouthful from first bite to last.
Small advisory: Abebe is take-out only, and there’s no place to sit. If you’re not up for perching on a bench at the playground down the street and wolfing them down right then and there, wait to buy these until you’re on your way back to where you’re staying, so the filling is still nice and fresh when you eat them.
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I think I would go with the coconut. D❣️🍵Sent from my iPhone
Er… Basil Onion Cream Cheese for me, I think!