Mister Donut Launches First S’pore Pop-Up To Long Qs: Are Its Doughnuts Worth The Craze?

American doughnut chain Mister Donut has landed in Singapore, via a pop-up at Jurong Point’s &Joy Fiesta Japanese food street. The takeaway kiosk is expected to run for a month to gauge local demand for a permanent Mister Donut shop here (all signs point to it being located at Jurong Point, if that happens).

Photo: Yip Jieying

Long queue at its opening

Even before the kiosk officially opened yesterday (Jul 15) at 11am, there was already a long queue that looped around the food street. The waiting time to get to the ordering counter was over three hours. 

Photo: Pyron Tan

Photo: Yip Jieying

Customers initially limited to 30 pieces per pax

At first, Mister Donut limited each customer to a maximum purchase of 30 doughnuts. A too-generous number, we say: People were ordering boxes and boxes of doughnuts until there was practically nothing left for the folks queuing at the back. The shop has since reduced the limit to 10 doughnuts per customer (and a maximum of four Pon De Rings - Mister Donut’s signature flavour).

Photo: Yip Jieying

Sold out by 1pm

At around 1pm on opening day, Jurong Point’s security guards started placing barriers to prevent more people from queuing as the doughnuts were sold out. We noted the irony of the mall having both Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme in the building; those were deserted, even though Mister Donut’s founder Harry Winokur used to work with Dunkin’ Donuts founder William Rosenberg as they were brothers-in-law.

Photo: Yip Jieying

The doughnuts

Some 16 doughnut flavours are offered at the pop-up, with prices ranging from $2.30 to $2.50 each. You can also get a mixed box of six for $13.50, and a box of 10 for $22. Out of the 16 types, there are six signature flavours: Pon De Ring Original ($2.30), Pon De Ring Strawberry ($2.50), Custard Cream ($2.50), Angel French ($2.50), a French-style chocolate-dipped cruller with whipped cream, Coconut Chocolate ($2.50) and Honey Dip ($2.30).

Photo: Yip Jieying

What to get 

Get this: 

Pon De Ring Original: We find this classic the best of the lot. Instead of a traditional doughnut shape, the Pon De Ring is a circle of eight mochi doughnut balls connected together and drizzled with a sugar glaze. It’s fun to gnaw on the chewy mochi balls one by one, and we can easily finish two or three of this in one sitting.

Custard Cream: A soft, fluffy sugar-dusted bombolini piped with a smooth, rich custard cream. It gets jelak, but still shiok if you limit yourself to one.

Angel French: Mister Donut offers a pretty boring French Cruller ($2.30) that we don't fancy, but this elaborately-named Angel French is better. The hard-textured cruller is jazzed up with a cloud of airy whipped cream and chocolate coating that makes it more palatable (but don’t expect premium grade cream and choc).

Honey Dip: This is very, very sweet. But if you have a sweet tooth, this classic option is not bad. The usual gritty sugar coating is swapped with a sticky honey glaze that goes well with a steaming cup of tea.

Skip this:

Pon De Ring Strawberry: The same Pon De Ring is dipped in a strawberry glaze which is much too sweet and artificial-tasting (it’s comparable to, say, Thailand-made strawberry Pocky). Not our favourite.

Coconut Chocolate: While it’s classified as a doughnut according to Mister Donut, this is more like a ring-shaped cake, with a dense texture and intense chocolate-y flavour with a smattering of dry, crunchy dessicated coconuts. If you were expecting a proper doughnut, this would be quite disappointing.

In a nutshell, we’d say these pretty doughnuts make a cheery tea-time treat, but they ain’t worth queuing three hours for. Its taste is not that much different from a regular Dunkin’ Donut (we find Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed doughnut more toothsome).

Mister Donut Pop-Up, #B1-49 Jurong Point Shopping Centre, S648886. Open daily 11am-9pm while stocks last. More updates via www.facebook.com/WAttentionPlaza