It doesn’t take long to realize that donuts are kind of a big deal in Southern California. Just like how bagels are ubiquitous in NYC, pizza in Chicago, etc, donuts are the jam in Southern California. Whether you’re more of a plain and simple old school kinda person, or more of a foodie gourmet donut lover, LA has got you covered. This guide to the 10 best donut shops in Los Angeles is our tried-and-true donut spots in town. Whether you’re local LA or simply visiting, we have you covered!
9. Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts
Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts is an OG donut shop in the LA area. Located within the Farmer’s Market at the Grove in the Beverly Grove Neighborhood (West LA), this place has been around for decades serving up donuts and coffee to all. This is definitely more of a classic donut type spot for the person who doesn’t need a crazy concoction to make them happy, just a regular doughnut with a name they can easily pronounce and coffee to get them by. Super friendly staff, and awesome location- walk around the Farmer’s Market or check out the shops at the Grove after fueling up at Bob’s! Heads up – credit card minimum is $5, and get parking validation so you don’t have to pay for parking!
Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts
8. Fōnuts
fōnuts
7. Kettle Glazed
Kettle Glazed Doughnuts is the place to go for Croughnuts (or Cronuts as they say in NYC) in Los Angeles. Located on Franklin Ave in Hollywoood, this relatively new shop has a pretty standard selection of donuts, but the star is definitely their Croughnut. You have to get here early in the day if you want to be lucky enough to snag one! I really liked that they had a lemon blueberry fritter, and a lemon glazed raspberry filled – two flavor combinations you don’t see often! They have a small parking lot that usually has a spot or two open.
Kettle Glazed Doughnuts
6. Cofax
While technically this is a coffee shop, Cofax also serves up some super good donuts so it had to be on the list. Located on Fairfax, this is their sole location and it can get pretty busy. Their doughnuts are made by the former pastry chef for Gjelina, so you know they’re going to be delicious! Pair it with one of their handcrafted coffee creations and fuel up for more shopping on Fairfax! Be warned- you are going to get some serious attitude from the baristas (coffeeshop snobbery at it’s finest) – better to get your donuts and coffee to go! Street parking only. Pictured is the Honey Joy donut.
COFAX
5. Blue Star Donuts
Blue Star Donuts – Venice
4. Randy’s Donuts
Randy’s Donuts is an iconic LA donut shop. Located in Inglewood right on the way to LAX (super convenient stop if flying in or out of LAX!), Randy’s has been featured in several movies and music videos, and makes some pretty solid donuts to boot! Don’t come here expecting anything fancy or gourmet, just the classics and at classic prices- the most expensive donut is $1.35! It has a nice big parking lot, so if you have a minute you can park and walk up to the window to order, or if you’re in a rush you can just do their drive through window. Super solid donut spot, and you can’t miss it with that giant donut on top of the building!
Randy’s Donuts
3. DK’s Donuts
DK’s Donuts is another LA staple located in Santa Monica. Their popularity rose immensely after introducing their own version of a cronut to their menu, and in double decker form! Called the “DK Double Decker O-Nut,” it comes in several flavors and is to diiiiie for. This place is full to the brim of novelty donut offerings- other unique menu offerings include a waffle-donut combination (the WOW-nut, haha), bacon infused donuts, rice krispy treat donuts, ferrero rocher topped donuts, donut ice cream sandwiches, and more. Come here to try something wild and fun, at any hour of the day! (open 24 hours a day) Cash only, and they have a parking lot or plenty of street parking nearby if the lot fills up. Pictured in the last photo are the regular glazed cronut and a nutella cronut.
DK’s Donuts & Bakery
2. Sidecar Doughnuts
Orange County’s beloved Sidecar Doughnuts opened a second location in Santa Monica in 2015, and we’re all hyped about it! This location is a little bigger than their OC location, and also features a bigger outdoor patio with more seating options (which is kind of necessary considering it’s in busy Santa Monica). Like Blue Star, you can expect to find gourmet donuts made with unique flavor combinations and the freshest ingredients. They keep a menu of their classics along with some rotating seasonal flavors. Pictured in the photo above is one of their holiday flavors, the Pear Charlotte, which is their signature bullseye doughnut, topped with house-made Bosc Pear and honey compote, finished with fresh whipped cream and pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate seeds on a donut?? Trust me, you need to get to Sidecar, stat.
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
1. Donut Friend
Donut Friend is located in the Highland Park neighborhood, East LA area, on York Blvd, a great street with lots of cute restaurants and stores. They recently updated their menu so that ALL of their doughnuts are Vegan!! But you wouldn’t know it, they taste just as good as a “normal” doughnut! So you can feel a little bit better about downing all that sugary glazed goodness. Donut Friend is unique in that all of their donuts each have special names (some are takes on punk band names) instead of just being named after their flavor. Just a few fun examples: Banana Kill, Chocolate from the Crypt, Jets to Basil, Lemon Weapon, Nutella Vision, Poppygandhi, check out their website to see their full menu! Prices range from $2-$5 per donut, Street parking only. Doughnuts in the photo: Polar Berry Club, X Ray Speculoos, Fritter Seems Forever, Hüsker Blü
Donut Friend
Maddi Frei
I can’t wait to try these next time I’m in LA! You should try the buttermilk donuts from Primo’s Donuts in LA. I don’t think I’ll ever find a better donut in my lifetime.
Brooke Eliason
Thanks so much Maddi! I am a HUGE fan of buttermilk donuts- thanks so much for the suggestion 🙂
Where We Ate in LA | Salty Spaces – a Salt Lake City travel + lifestyle blog
[…] to my friends at Female Foodie, we knew the place to go in LA for a good cronut was Kettle Glazed, so this was our number one […]
sue o’bryan
Nailed this ! You hit all of the great donut shops and the photos are absolutely gorgeous. My personal favorite is Cofax and I’m so glad you included.
Brooke Eliason
I agree- Amanda did an incredible job! Time to take a trip out to LA just for these donuts!!