Updated for 2024
Los Angeles is packed with great places to eat and that is definitely true when it comes to donuts. Whether you spell it “doughnuts” or “donuts”, they’re still good.
From dulce de leche donuts to ube doughnuts to gluten-free and vegan donuts, you’ll find any type you can imagine at one of the many delicious donut shops. Here is our list of 16 of the Best Donut Shops from Randy’s in Inglewood to Trejo’s Donuts in Hollywood to Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica.
The 16 Ultimate Best Donut Shops in SoCal
The Donut Hole
15300 Amar Rd., La Puente, CA 91744
Established in 1968, The Donut Hole is frequented as much for the donuts as to see the giant donut hole landmark. Kids will love the chance to “drive through a donut.” As you drive through, you can view your menu options through the glass windows. You’ll find such varieties as the “Texas-Sized Donut,” the “Blueberry Cake” donut, and the “Chocolate Chip” donut on their menu.
California Donuts
3540 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90020
Open 24 hours a day, California Donuts has been in business since 1982. Kids (and adults) will love the panda-like donuts and the cereal-topped donuts. Other varieties include the “Matcha Green Tea” donut, the “Simpsons D’ohnut,” and the “Toasted Coconut” donut.
California Donuts also offers “customized donuts” — perfect for a birthday party or other special event. You can choose letter donuts or work with bakers to design something perfect for your guest of honor. In the past, they’ve created football-shaped donuts as well as those that look like sushi.
Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts
6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
Danny Trejo’s donut shop features a delicious assortment of treats including the Dulce de Leche with dulce de leche, brown sugar, and Maldon salt as well as the Quinceanera donut with a strawberry milk glaze and fruity pebbles. You’ll also find filled donuts, vegan donuts, and coffee drinks on their menu. Donut flavors may change from time to time.
Related: Best Coffee Shops in Los Angeles
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
631 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401
The donuts at Sidecar are beautiful and gourmet — made with seasonal flavors and fried in small batches every hour. The Santa Monica location is always busy, but the staff is friendly and the line moves along quickly. Flavors include Huckleberry, Vegan Smoked Chocolate Pretzel, and a weekly, gluten-free option.
Donut Prince
1721 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91506
Frequent customers of this popular Burbank donut shop speak highly of the easy, plentiful free parking as well as the funny quote on the window — “Don’t get a divorce; get a donut.”
In this no-frills shop, you’ll find the popular apple fritters and cinnamon rolls as well as jelly, glazed, and buttermilk donuts, bagels, muffins, and more. You’ll also find photos of celebrities who frequent the shop and if you’re into movie trivia, Donut Prince was featured in the Tom Hanks film, Larry Crowne.
Randy’s Donuts
805 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301
Randy’s Donuts may be just as well known for their delicious donuts as for the large rooftopdonut on top of their shop. Built in 1953, their shop has been featured in many movies and music videos. But it’s not just about the distinctive architecture. Come inside and you’ll also find a variety of donuts, all hand-made.
None of their donuts are overly expensive and there are a ton of different choices you can make. Varieties include “Lemon Jelly,” “Chocolate Twist,” and “Maple Iced” in addition to many others.
Primo’s Donuts
2918 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
6600 CA-27, #1M, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Primo’s Donuts has been serving up delicious donuts to more than one generation of donut lovers since 1956! This family-run business has a loyal following of customers who enjoy the many varieties of donuts there are to choose from. And they have more than one location!
There are cake donuts in a variety of flavors, such as cherry, maple, and coconut, in addition to fancy donuts, like jelly, glazed, and lemon-filled. They even have specialty donuts in flavors like “Bacon Crunch” and “Skippy.”
SK Donuts and Croissants
5850 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Once you try SK’s donuts, you may find yourself coming back again and again. While the shop itself is small with only a few tables, you’ll find a wide variety of donuts to tempt you, including the “Maple Bacon Donut,” the “Original Glazed filled with strawberries and whipped cream,” and a “S’more’s Donut.”
The Donut Man
915 E. Rte. 66, Glendora, CA 91741
317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Donut Man is an insanely popular donut shop in Glendora — plus a second location in Los Angeles they opened just a few years ago. Open 24 hours a day, you’ll find traditional donuts here as well as seasonal favorites like fresh peach, giant strawberry, and delicious pumpkin. Savor the taste of a creamy peanut butter-topped raised donut, a lemon-filled glazed donut, or a chocolate-frosted cream-filled donut to name just a few.
Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts
Original Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Located within the historic Original Farmers Market, Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts sells more than 1,000 donuts a day and is just as popular with tourists as it is with locals. Kids will especially like the frosted dinosaur-shaped donuts and seasonal varieties such as Valentine’s hearts and pumpkin-shaped donuts. Other varieties include the “powdered sugar raspberry bismarck,” the “chocolate frosted,” and the “apple fritter.”
Donut Friend
Multiple locations including:
5107 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042
The most popular donut at Donut Friend is the “Strawberrylab.” Among the other varieties are the “Yo LA Mango,” the Poppyghandi,” and the “Nutellavision.” And if none of these tempt your taste buds, you can select a “d-i-y donut.” Customers select the donut, filling, and topping to create a customized donut.
Kettle Glazed
6211 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028
You may have a hard time deciding which donut to try first when you go to Kettle Glazed. Among the many temptations are the “Raspberry Vanilla Bean” filled donut, the “Peanut Butter and Jelly” filled donut, and the “Smores” filled donut. A select variety of gluten-free and vegan donuts are available each day. Repeat customers speak highly of the consistent deliciousness as well as the reasonable prices.
Fonuts
8104 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Fonuts is the passion of famous pastry chef and owner Waylynn Lucas and baker/owner Nancy Truman. Fonuts are donuts with one important distinction — they are baked and/or steamed rather than fried. For those who are gluten-free and/or can only eat vegan foods, head to Fonuts. You’ll find a lot of varieties there, including the “Red Velvet,” the “Vanilla Cream Filled,” and the “Blueberry Earl Grey.”
DK’s Donuts
1614 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
DK’s Donuts is the place for “gourmet” donuts. Here, you’ll find varieties such as the “Razzy Lemon Lulu,” the “Oinker,” and the “Pistachio Orange.” They were also the first donut establishment in the country to offer a delivery option (find out more information online). While they don’t have one Donut Shop eatery, you can find their donuts at a variety of establishments (a list is available on their site.)
Fantastic Donuts
1101 S. Vermont Ave., Unit 113, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Fantastic Donuts can make character donuts or donuts for your special occasion or party. However, they have only one location and can only take orders through email preorders.
Honey Donuts
1883 Daly St., Ste. 103, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Honey Donuts is a female-owned, family-run business that has been around for about 20 years. They make everything with love and the workers are always “ready to make you laugh and smile”. You can find more than just donuts there — they also offer coffee, fresh sandwiches, smoothies, and more.
Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her websiteWendyKennar.comwhere she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).
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