DeLuxe

This spot is a lot like Yum Yum donuts in its layout and menu choices. The apple fritters are huge! Donut selections are spread out on both the left and right side of the glass display case so be sure to check both sides before you decide what you’re going to take home. I like the buttermilk ones the best.

The Donut Center
4182 Woodruff Ave, Lakewood CA 90713
562.421.2631
2.5 miles from home

This little spot is one of the closest to my house. They serve their wares out of walk up window only. As you can tell if you look carefully at their sign they used to be called “Martha’s Donuts” but didn’t repaint/revise the sign when new ownership took over. I do like the old time font used in this sign.

Sambath’s Donuts
6765 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90713
562.427.2612
1.7 miles from home

I drove by here a couple times and their sign announcing this was the home of the “Donut Boss” caught my eye. They offer drive through service as well and have some of the friendliest staff too. They were out of crullers the day I visited so I got a creme filled one instead. My box had a hand written message on it too: “Have a Sweet Day!”
With so many shops to choose from this little touch will keep me coming back

Donut Boss
3381 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos CA 90720
562.431.1100
2.2 miles from home

Did you know that Long Beach apparently has the 2nd highest number of doughnut/donut shops in the US next to Boston? I have been noticing there are quite a few shops here in our area. I’ll be reviewing some of them now that I’ve returned to the blog after a multi-year hiatus. Since we now live in northeast Long Beach we’re close to towns like Lakewood and Los Alamitos so they’ll be included in the donut roundup too!

Long Beach, CA

It seems like there’s something new in Oakland’s Uptown almost weekly now. First there was local clothing and house ware store Oakollectiv. Then Oaklandish opened their first retail store. And, of course, there are other nearby faves such as the revamped Fox Theater, the 2nd Can’t Fail Cafe, Xolo, Plum (Bar), Bakesale Betty’s #2, Flora, and too many other places to list at once. Now there’s another new place that has me pretty excited given my obsession with dontus the past few months: Donut Savant!

They’ve been open for about 3 weeks now on a block of Broadway that hasn’t looked better in more than 20 years. They have tons of different varieties of cake style donuts — formed in ball shapes without holes. Every variety I tried tasted great (not too much frosting) and I noticed that the cake dough is nicely flavored as well. I got to try about six flavors but they make more than 20 and you never know what you’re gonna get b/c the chef is making new ones in the back all the time. If you’re lucky you will order any flavor that just came out of the fryer — there’s nothing like a warm donut made with quality ingredients.

Donut Savant
1934 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
510.972.8268

I am back in the Toronto suburb of Markham again today where I come every couple months to visit the satellite office of my employer. A former co-worker of mine asked me earlier this week whether I ever went to Tim Horton’s while I was here (in true Canadian spirit you can read their website in Francais). I had indeed noticed the signs on my way to and from the airport before but had no idea this was something like the Candian dunkin’ Donuts.

Tonight I decided the best way to try this place out was with some variety. I’ve always loved donut holes and have a special place in my heart for Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins. Here in Canada they call ’em Timbits. It’s a play on tidbits, and the the ‘bit’ part can also stand for ‘big in taste.’

So I am enjoying my Timbits guilt free because I hardly ate anything today. Yum-a-doodle-doo! So if you ever do visit Canada, give Tim’s a try. And if you don’t make it all the way up to the great white north, you can find them all over the northeast where they compete head to head with DD.

Tim Horton’s
9005 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4B1G7
905.882.9990

Housed in a former fish fry restaurant space on San Pablo Avenue in Oakland, Pepples Donuts (aka the Donut Farm) has limited hours (Wed-Sun 9-3). It’s primarily an industrial kitchen where these wonderful vegan creations are baked and then sold all over the Bay Area at places like Philz Coffer and Subrosa.

When it is open, you will know, because they’ve got a bigger than life size pink donut out front. These donuts would be great even if they weren’t vegan. They’ve got regular/traditional flavors such as chocolate, coconut, various kinds of sprinkles and such. They also carry some specialty flavors as well. My favorites are Salted Caramel, Phil’z Coffee, and the Candy Cap (sweet mushroom).

On the weekends they also have a vegan brunch which does seem to attract a regular crowd. Haven’t tried that yet but am looking forward to my next batch of donuts here soon. (They also have a stand in the Ferry Building in SF for those of you who can’t make it to the East Bay). Everyone once and a while they also have raised donuts. Those are awesome — light and fluffy with just the right amount of glaze.

Pepples Donut Farm
6037 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, CA 94608
510.712.0295