Mello

We stopped by Mello last Friday afternoon for more sweets and desserts. We got two special brioche donuts to share (CA$5.50 each) and they were so tasty! The EVERYTHING BAGEL DONUT was definitely my favorite because it tasted like a sweet version of the actual bagel with chive cream cheese. The whipped cream was mostly savory with some sweetness, plus the donut was sweet and filled with everything seasoning. Very unique, for sure.

I also enjoyed the TIRAMISU donut because I am a huge coffee fan. Overall, the brioche donut was fluffy and the seasonings on top of both donuts made it a bit crispier. Cream on both were good. I would recommend and come back! Also, no seating in here from what I remembered but there are some high top long tables by the window.

the interior is very minimal with the store painted in one color of paint. there is a cute drawing of the type of donuts they offer which you can look at while you're waiting in line.

we opted to get a medium box to fit our five donuts. it was hard to choose between everything, but we were helped quickly.

Ordered:
Matcha donut: matcha creme filled donut, super nice matcha flavor that wasn't too bitter
Nutella: filled with nutella, super overbearing because you're eating a donut full of nutella lol
Strawberry & cream: love this combo! fluffy cream and strawberry chunks throughout
Tiramisu: coffee flavored creme filling dusted with cocoa
Donukie: Mello's take on the viral crookie (croissant+cookie) with cookie dough on the inside and on top. Super sweet but if you've got a crazy sweet tooth then go for it
Matcha latte: don't know what cup I expected for $4.75 but it wasn't this lol. Funny surprise and decent taste to curb my matcha craving

mello, a cozy donut and coffee shop located in chinatown at 223 east pender street, features a warm aesthetic, minimalist yet stylish decor, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

the shop's menu, displayed on the wall, lists various coffee options like espresso, americano, macchiato, and different types of lattes and teas. below the menu, a display case is filled with an array of mouth watering looking donuts labeled with different flavours, including special varieties like matcha, tiramisu, and old-fashioned. there's also a section for different-sized boxes of donuts: small (2-3 donuts), medium (4-6 donuts), and large (7-10 donuts), offering a discount for larger purchases.

the counter also displays a few baked goods and beverages, including bottled water and specialty drinks like cold brew. these gourmet donuts are handmade fresh daily over a two-day process. i picked up three donuts: strawberry and cream, lemon curd, and cereal milk. they were all equally tasty, soft, tender, and slightly chewy with a touch of sweetness. they were golden brown on the outside and dusted with sugar.

overall, mello is a charming spot to pick up a sweet treat and a cup of coffee, though seating is very limited.

Great service with a beautiful and aesthetic interior! We got the old-fashioned matcha dipped donut and a donukie (donut/cookie combo) which were both just decent, but overall just okay. The matcha donut was pretty sweet and the bread was tougher than expected. The donukie was soooo much sugar (which I guess is our fault because we should've known) and we ended up not finishing it. It's possible we didn't order the right things, though.

My friend I came with mentioned he preferred Lee's donuts instead because they are much softer there.

Update: Another friend who we saved the donukie for had the time of his life eating it. He has a major sweet tooth and said it was right up his alley. So much so that he told his girlfriend they need to visit the shop ASAP.

The washroom was tidy and clean!!

Went to the store to grab a few doughnuts to go. There was another group in front of me, I prayed hard they don't pick the one I wanted the most, the Everything Bagel. They didn't get it, so I got the last one. I also got Strawberries & Cream and Cereal Milk Cream.
The flavour I wanted the most, Everything Bagel disappointed me, the filling which supposed to be cream cheese was sweet. Zero taste of cheese, no tartness, no saltiness. The Everything seasoning was lacking in texture and depth. I would skip this next time, "Did not Meet Expectations". Strawberries & Cream was good as usual. Cereal Milk Cream always the great, best texture and flavour.

Came by here as I was visiting Chinatown in Vancouver. There were so many flavours and I wanted to get every single one! I ended up choosing the cherry merlot. Oh em gee, this has got to be one of the best donuts I've ever had in my life. The filling wasn't so sweet, it was just right and so fluffy and creamy. The dough was perfection. I also got an Americano because it's a local brand(gotta support local!) it was such a yummy snack. I'm definitely coming back for the matcha one!

My friend had sent me an Instagram post of these donuts when I was visiting Vancouver. We happened to be in Chinatown, which is where Mello is located, so we stopped in on a Tuesday just before 1. There are so many flavors to choose from! They make brioche donuts with some unique fillings. I was torn between matcha and the lemon curd but in the end, I chose lemon curd. It was nice - not too sweet, and the brioche was fresh. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

Unsuspecting donut shop in Chinatown - but truly the LIGHTEST & fluffiest classic sugar coated donut I've had. Imagine biting into a cloud filled with light whipped cream & fresh strawberries.

Simple but brilliant, would love to try their lemon curd next time and their bottled milk tea drinks.

Absolutely decadent and fantastic. They are described as doughnuts, but really these are more like the Chinese coconut cream buns. The bread has the same soft pillow type texture. The outside are covered in sugar and filled with types of wonderful cream fillings. We tried the strawberry cream, hazelnut, matcha, and vanilla. They were all phenomenal, I wish, I had something like this where, I am from.

Mello Chinatown is nondescript from the outside, just a simple pale yellow corner storefront with large windows. Inside is large and spacious with a few tables, but no seating.

I'm not a big fan of donuts, but I do love brioche so I wanted to give Mello a try. I stopped by on a Thursday early afternoon and there was a short line ahead of me.

The brioche was very good, light and fluffy. Donuts had a generous amount of filling. The vanilla custard cream filling was light with a hint of sweetness and vanilla flavoring was noticeable. The tiramisu mascarpone filling had the right amount of coffee flavor (not too light, not too strong), but this filling was a little heavier/richer than the custard cream.

I love how brioche dough gives Mello a different, non-traditional take on donuts. Service at this location was quick, not friendly but not rude. Depending how picky you are with fillings, visit their website beforehand to see which flavors are cream based vs mascarpone based. The website says the donuts can be stored at room temperature, and recommend consuming same day.