There is a spot inside one of the country’s largest shopping malls where the smell of freshly made waffles stops you in your tracks. The treats coming out of this little shop are not your average mall food court snacks.
We are talking about Hong Kong-style egg waffles stuffed with ice cream, fish-shaped Japanese pastries filled with red bean or custard, and creative flavor combinations that feel more like dessert art than a quick bite. Once you see what they are putting together here, you will completely understand why people keep coming back.
What Is Mr. Waffle Dessert and Where to Find It
Tucked inside the third floor of the Mall of America on the Nordstrom wing, Mr. Waffle Dessert is easy to walk past if you are not paying attention. The shop sits at 60 E Broadway, Unit W360, in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States, and it is one of the most unique food stops in the entire mall.
Unlike the chain restaurants and familiar fast-food spots scattered throughout the building, Mr. Waffle Dessert offers something genuinely different. The menu leans into Asian-inspired dessert traditions that most mall-goers have likely never tried before.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM, and on Sundays from 11 AM to 7 PM. That schedule makes it easy to plan a visit whether you are shopping early or wrapping up a long afternoon at the mall.
The Signature Hong Kong Egg Waffle You Need to Try
The star of the menu is the Hong Kong egg waffle, also known as a bubble waffle. These are not the flat, grid-patterned waffles you would find at a breakfast buffet.
They are round, puffy, and covered in small dome-shaped bubbles that give them a one-of-a-kind texture.
Each waffle is made fresh to order, which means there is a short wait involved. The outside comes out crispy and golden, while the inside stays warm, soft, and slightly chewy.
That contrast in texture is a big part of what makes the first bite so satisfying.
The waffle gets folded into a cone or cup shape and then loaded with ice cream and toppings. The whole thing feels generous and indulgent without being overwhelming.
It is the kind of dessert that makes you slow down and actually enjoy every single bite.
Popular Flavor Combinations Worth Ordering
One of the best parts about visiting Mr. Waffle Dessert is choosing your flavor combination. The menu features several options, and a few have become clear crowd favorites based on what people keep reordering.
The Oreo waffle is a go-to for anyone who loves cookies and cream flavors. The Strawberry Dream has earned its name with a bright, fruity combination that works especially well with soft-serve ice cream.
For those who enjoy less sweetness, the green tea ice cream paired with red bean paste offers a more balanced, earthy flavor profile.
The Lotus Biscoff waffle brings a caramel-forward option to the lineup, topped with biscoff cookie crumbles. Each combination feels carefully thought out rather than randomly assembled.
Whether you lean toward sweet and rich or light and refreshing, there is a waffle flavor on this menu that will genuinely appeal to you.
Taiyaki, the Japanese Fish-Shaped Pastry on the Menu
Not everyone who walks up to the counter knows what taiyaki is, and that element of surprise is part of the fun. Taiyaki is a Japanese pastry baked in the shape of a fish, and Mr. Waffle Dessert makes them fresh to order just like the waffles.
The outside is crispy and lightly golden, while the inside is fluffy and packed with filling. The shop offers red bean and custard as filling options, and both have their own distinct appeal.
The red bean version has an earthy, mildly sweet flavor, while the custard filling is creamy and smooth without being overly sugary.
First-timers should read the menu descriptions carefully before ordering, since the taiyaki options differ in how they are prepared and filled. Once you get the right one for your taste, though, it is the kind of treat that feels like a warm, satisfying reward after a long day of shopping.
The Nutella Taiyaki That Keeps People Coming Back
Among the taiyaki options, the Nutella version has quietly built a loyal following. Rich chocolate hazelnut filling inside a warm, crispy fish-shaped pastry is a combination that just works.
It hits differently than the more traditional fillings because of how the warm Nutella melts slightly inside the freshly baked shell.
People who visit the mall regularly mention the Nutella taiyaki as one of their must-stop items. The contrast between the crispy exterior and the gooey, warm filling inside makes each bite feel like a little reward.
It is the kind of treat that turns a casual mall stop into a planned trip.
For anyone who has never tried taiyaki before, the Nutella version is a great starting point. It bridges familiar flavors with a completely new food experience, which makes it approachable without feeling boring.
Once you try it, the traditional fillings become even more interesting to explore.
Why Everything Is Made Fresh to Order
One of the things that sets Mr. Waffle Dessert apart from other mall food spots is the commitment to making everything fresh. Nothing here is sitting under a heat lamp or pulled from a bag.
Every waffle and every taiyaki is made when you order it.
That process does add a few minutes to the wait time. Most visitors report waiting around ten to fifteen minutes for their orders, which is reasonable given that you are getting something made specifically for you.
The staff usually lets customers know upfront so there are no surprises.
Fresh preparation makes a real difference in the final product. The waffles come out with a genuinely crispy exterior because they are served right off the iron.
The taiyaki arrives warm enough that the filling is still soft and melty inside. That level of freshness is hard to replicate, and it is a big reason why the shop has built such a strong reputation inside the mall.
Green Tea Ice Cream and the Art of Flavor Pairing
Green tea ice cream is not new, but the way it gets used at Mr. Waffle Dessert gives it a fresh context. Paired with a warm Hong Kong egg waffle, the cool, slightly bitter matcha flavor balances the sweetness of the waffle in a way that feels intentional and refined.
The combination of green tea ice cream with red bean paste is a classic in Asian dessert culture, and the shop leans into that pairing confidently. The earthiness of the red bean and the subtle bitterness of the matcha complement each other without either one overpowering the other.
For first-time visitors who are used to very sweet desserts, this combination might be a pleasant surprise. It is satisfying without being heavy, and it feels like a more grown-up take on the ice cream waffle concept.
Regulars who enjoy Japanese and Korean dessert traditions tend to gravitate toward this pairing repeatedly.
The Strawberry Dream and Why It Works So Well
The Strawberry Dream is one of those menu items that sounds straightforward but delivers something genuinely memorable. Fresh strawberry flavor paired with soft-serve ice cream inside a warm, crispy bubble waffle creates a combination that is bright, light, and easy to love.
The color alone makes this one stand out visually. The pink and red tones against the golden waffle make it one of the more photogenic options on the menu, which is saying something given the competition.
It photographs well, but more importantly, it tastes exactly as good as it looks.
Kids tend to gravitate toward the Strawberry Dream, though plenty of adults order it just as enthusiastically. The fruit flavor keeps it from feeling too heavy, which makes it a smart choice if you are already full from a meal and just want something sweet to finish the day.
It is a crowd-pleaser in the best possible way.
Portion Sizes and Sharing Options
One of the practical things worth knowing before you visit is that the portions at Mr. Waffle Dessert are generous enough to share. Several visitors have noted splitting a single waffle among multiple people and still feeling satisfied.
That makes the price feel especially reasonable for what you are getting.
A single bubble waffle with ice cream and toppings can realistically be shared between two people, especially if everyone in your group wants to try something different. Ordering one of each and splitting them is a great way to sample more of the menu without committing to just one flavor.
The taiyaki portions are slightly smaller by comparison, which makes them a good individual treat or a nice side addition to a waffle order. Whether you are visiting solo or with a group, the menu scales well.
There is enough variety and flexibility to make everyone happy without anyone leaving the counter feeling shortchanged.
The Texture Experience That Sets These Waffles Apart
Texture is a big deal in dessert, and the bubble waffle at Mr. Waffle Dessert gets it exactly right. The outside snaps slightly when you bite into it, giving you that satisfying crunch that signals freshness.
Then the inside opens up soft, airy, and warm, almost like a very light bread.
That combination of crispy and soft in a single bite is harder to achieve than it sounds. It requires the right batter consistency and the right timing on the iron.
Because everything is made fresh, the texture holds up through the entire eating experience rather than getting soggy quickly.
The cold ice cream against the warm waffle adds another layer to the experience. The temperature contrast keeps each bite interesting from start to finish.
It is the kind of thing that is difficult to describe accurately until you have actually tried it, which is part of why first-time visitors are often genuinely surprised by how good it is.
How This Shop Connects to Asian Dessert Culture
Mr. Waffle Dessert draws directly from two distinct Asian dessert traditions. The Hong Kong egg waffle, known locally as a gai daan jai, has been a street food staple in Hong Kong since the 1950s.
The taiyaki comes from Japan, where it has been a popular festival and street food treat for well over a century.
Bringing both of these into a single shop inside an American mall is a genuinely interesting cultural crossover. For many visitors at Mall of America, this might be their first encounter with either food.
For others who grew up with these flavors, the shop offers a familiar comfort in an unexpected setting.
The menu does not try to Americanize these desserts beyond recognition. The core flavors and techniques stay true to their origins, which is a big part of why people who have tried the real thing in Asia say the shop reminds them of home.
Finding Seating and Navigating the Mall Location
The shop has a small seating area with a few tables tucked into the corner of the space. It is cozy rather than spacious, so during busy shopping hours, you may need to find a spot nearby in the mall’s common areas.
The third floor of the Nordstrom wing generally has enough open seating around the shop to accommodate most groups.
Getting there is straightforward once you know which wing to head toward. The third floor location puts it near other dining options, making it a natural dessert stop after a meal elsewhere in the mall.
The shop is visible from the main walkway, and the smell of fresh waffles tends to do most of the advertising on its own.
Arriving a little earlier in the day tends to mean shorter waits and a quieter experience overall. Weekend afternoons are predictably busier, so planning your visit around that can make the whole trip more relaxed and enjoyable.
The Bananarama Waffle and Other Creative Builds
The Bananarama is one of the more creative combinations on the menu, pairing banana flavor with green tea ice cream and a chocolate drizzle. It is the kind of build that sounds unusual on paper but comes together surprisingly well in practice.
The banana sweetness plays nicely against the slight bitterness of the matcha ice cream.
Creative builds like this one show that the shop is not just executing a single formula over and over. There is genuine thought behind how the flavors interact, which elevates the experience beyond a simple dessert stop.
Each combination feels like it was tested and refined before landing on the menu.
For adventurous eaters, trying one of the less obvious combinations is the move. The safe choices are all good, but the more unexpected pairings tend to be the ones that stick with you longest.
That willingness to take a flavor risk is part of what makes the menu feel fresh visit after visit.
Pricing and Value at Mr. Waffle Dessert
Mall food has a reputation for being overpriced, but Mr. Waffle Dessert bucks that trend in a meaningful way. The treats are freshly made, generously sized, and priced in a range that feels fair given the quality and the experience involved.
Several visitors have pointed out that sharing a single item among a group of people is entirely realistic.
For a specialty dessert that involves fresh preparation and premium ingredients, the price point lands in a spot that most people consider reasonable. You are not paying a premium simply because of the mall location.
The value feels genuine rather than inflated.
That combination of quality, freshness, and fair pricing is not easy to find inside a major shopping mall. It is one of the reasons the shop has maintained strong word-of-mouth traffic since opening.
People tell their friends not just because the food is good, but because they feel like they got something worth the money.
Why This Shop Deserves a Spot on Your Mall of America Itinerary
Mall of America has hundreds of shops and dozens of food options, so standing out in that environment is genuinely difficult. Mr. Waffle Dessert manages it by offering something that almost nothing else in the building can match: a dessert experience rooted in real culinary tradition, made fresh, and served with care.
The combination of Hong Kong egg waffles and Japanese taiyaki under one roof is rare in Minnesota. For locals, it fills a gap in the dessert landscape.
For visitors from out of state, it adds an unexpected highlight to an already impressive mall visit.
After a long day of shopping, there are few better ways to wind down than with a warm, crispy waffle loaded with ice cream. The shop is worth building into your visit intentionally rather than stumbling across it by accident.
Once you find it, you will understand immediately why regulars keep putting it back on their itinerary every single time they visit the mall.
Share this story
