Rachel and Luis Estrada, married Davie residents, first walked into MaMa YaTai & Donuts on Oct. 24, 2023. They’ve since fallen in love with mochi donuts, and they’re getting them for Rachel Estrada’s 50th birthday celebration on Sept. 27.
They spent a week beforehand sampling different donut flavors to see which ones they would want for the celebration.
“This is just research. I want to choose five to 10 different flavors, and we’re just going to spend the week sampling different ones. Honestly, this is such a difficult decision because all the flavors are so tasty,” Rachel Estrada said.
Since their first time walking into the shop, they have returned 10 times, referring friends and family to the shop.
“I like bringing friends here and supporting local restaurants with the important people in my life,” Rachel Estrada said.
MaMa YaTai & Donuts is an Asian bakery that sells treats like mochi donuts, churros and strawberry cream croissants.
On Dec. 16, 2022, it opened its doors in Carriage Hills Plaza on Stirling Road.
Xavier Felipe, kitchen manager, said that the main attraction of the shop would be the authentic flavor of the mochi donuts and the Japanese/ Vietnamese inspiration for the decor.
“First, everyone that walks in here asks to buy the plushies on the wall, and we have to sadly tell them no. All of our plushies are just for decoration. But most people come in here for the sweets, the aesthetic decorations and a desire to try all of the flavors of donuts,” Felipe said, in Spanish.
The owners, Loc Nguyen from Vietnam, and Ly Chau, 2017 NSU alumna from Japan, got into the food business because of Nguyen’s mom, Trang Do, known as MaMa.
The restaurant gets its name from the Japanese word for street food, YaTai, and MaMa because of Nguyen’s mom, who owned a pastry shop in Vietnam, which is the inspiration for all of its recipes.
“We wanted to bring her recipes and culture to the United States,” Chau said
The menu offers 24 different mochi donut flavors including matcha, taro and passion fruit. The menu also includes eight different flavors of its Japanese corn dogs, including flavors not typically found in Japanese corn dog restaurants, like blue heat, ramen and Tokyo chicken. It also offers tanghulu, which is a caramelized fruit kebab.
“Our most popular dish is the guava and cheese donut, and the grape tanghulu, that always leaves people wanting more,” Chau said.
One customer, Rebeka Lopez, loves coming to the donut shop with her children.
“It’s a good way to stay connected to our kids because they’re in their 20s. Coming with them the first time made this place a part of us as a family. When one of us says, ‘We’re going to go,’ then we’ll come together, so it is just a good memory,” Lopez said.
Felipe said the restaurant decor contributes to the family friendly environment and focuses on Vietnamese culture.
“All over the walls are aesthetic pictures of Vietnamese culture and plushies that can be more commonly seen within Asian culture,” Felipe said. “Little kids will come in and just stare at the wall admiring.”
The shop staff pride themselves on their familial values and fresh-tasting food everyday.
“All of the food: flavors, toppings and dressings, are all made in-house. During any holiday, we try to decorate our donuts to bring more attention to them. For Halloween, we are decorating donuts with pumpkins,” Chau said.
Customers like Luis Estrada enjoy going to the donut shop for the food, as well as for the chance to support a local business.
“It’s just a place that always brings smiles to our faces because we know that no matter what, it’s going to be delicious, and we’re just going to feel good supporting [a local business], and they make you feel good,” Estrada said.
For more information:
Location: 6477 Stirling Road, Davie, FL 33314, United States
Phone: 954-287-1950
Follow @mamayatai.donut on Instagram
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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