Have you had a mochi muffin before? How about a mochi donut?
If the answer is yes, there's a good chance that muffin or donut came from Third Culture Bakery. Today, cofounders Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu announced that their Third Culture Bakery — home of the Original Mochi Muffin — will open its first Colorado location this summer in Downtown Aurora.
Third Culture Bakery was founded in 2017, and the name comes from their personal experience growing up as “third culture kids” – children raised in a culture other than their parents. Their breakout product was the Original Mochi Muffin, inspired by the traditions of Hawaiian mochi and flavors found in Sam’s personal childhood in Indonesia, and their overall menu has expanded since then to include colorful mochi donuts, sweet and savory waffles, custard cakes and an array of colorful beverages.
![An assortment of mochi donuts](https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2019/02/Copy-of-Mochi-Donuts-1.jpg)
Butarbutar and Shyu opened their first retail showroom in West Berkeley last summer, and the Downtown Aurora showroom will mirror the original location in West Berkeley, complete with a commercial kitchen and retail storefront, where pastries will be sold alongside drinks including matcha, lychee sparklers, and coffee.