We are practically living in the golden age of donuts here in the city of Angels. There are tons of artisan donut shops using high-quality ingredients to execute unique ideas as well, as world-renowned pastry chefs bringing us donut-pastry hybrids, and we’ve managed to hold on to some classics.
There are, in fact, so many amazing donuts in Los Angeles you may not know which one(s) to choose. Donut worry, we’re here to help with this list of the best donuts in LA.
#1 – Sidecar Donuts
Sidecar Donuts is our absolute favorite donut shop in Los Angeles. We lived next to their Santa Monica location for years and ate it on a weekly basis.
They have classic flavors you can always find on the menu (Huckleberry is our fav), as well as rotating seasonal flavors that change every month, like the Pumpkin Pie featured last Thanksgiving (pictured above).
They are committed to serving “the world’s freshest donut”, and fry new batches every hour.
#2 – Donut Friend
Do you even need me to tell you why Donut Friend is awesome after seeing that Creme Brûlée donut?
Probably not, but I’m going to anyways…
All of their donuts are insane in the best of ways. Our favorite is the X-Ray Speculous (cookie butter inside a raised donut, with chocolate glaze and sea salt on top). The Polar Berry Club (lemon glaze, fresh mixed berries, and fresh mint on top of a raised donut).
#3 – California Donuts
California Donuts has been in business since 1982, and let me tell you, they haven’t lost their touch.
They serve so many fun and “‘grammable” donuts, but they’re more than just a pretty face. They are some of the freshest and best tasting that we’ve had!
The “Snickers” donut pictured next to the Fruit Pebbles donut in the box has an entire Snickers Bar cooked into it and is one of the best “cheat day eats” I’ve ever had.
#4 – Dominique Ansel
Back in my day, you used to have to fly all the way to NYC and lineup outside the Dominique Ansel Bakery at 5 AM in the COLD if you wanted a cronut.
These days you can just walk right up to their shop in the Grove at any time of day and get one with virtually no wait. It’s so easy we do it almost every month to check out the new flavor!
The layered, flaky croissant-donut hybrid is generally stuffed with some kind of seasonal jam and ganache. The White Peach Amaretto Cronut above has white peach amaretto jam and muscavado ganache.
#5- The Donut Man
About 30 miles out, in the Northern suburbs of Los Angeles, The Donut Man has been serving up these magnificent seasonal fresh fruit donuts for over 45 years.
Strawberry seems to be the most well-known, and while it’s good, I’m more infatuated with the Apple version. We still haven’t had the chance to try the Peach, and I have a strong suspicion that it could become my favorite once I do.
#6 – Plan Check
Plan Check is a burger & beer bar rather than a dedicated donut shop, but we firmly maintain they are making some of the best in town.
They serve fresh crueler donuts that are usually come with fresh fruit and whipped cream. However, the Santa Monica location serves this incredible Key Lime Pie version and they have collabed with people like Food Beast Editor Josh Elkin in the past to make even more decadent versions, like Oreo.
#7 – Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Looking for the softest donuts in LA? How about with the freshest filling?
Then look no further than Mr. Holmes Bakehouse! They prepare a different flavor donut every day of the week. Pictured above is their Hibiscus Fruit Curd: Hibiscus Tea, litchi and blood orange with a
pink meringue kiss.
While not a donut, I also highly recommend grabbing one of their “cruffins”, the croissant muffin hybrid they are famous for. (You can see the Chocolate Hazelnut version in the back right of the photo above.)
#8 – Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Fried chicken & doughnuts just make sense, and we love Astro’s for basing their entire business around it.
They offer Fried Chicken & Donut Sandwiches with many different topping combinations, including a BLT and a breakfast version with sausage gravy.
If that’s too crazy for you, they also serve doughnuts sans chicken. We’re particularly fond of the PB&J and Cookie Dough. And who wouldn’t love a chocolate sprinkle doughnut infused with CBD?
