There are endless things for a young, single girl to do in a big city like Los Angeles. There’s shopping on Melrose. There are afternoons at the beach in mid October. There are concerts, countless happy hours to attend, and an array of ridiculously pretentious clubs to try to get into.
Yea…. those are all things that most normal twenty something girls might find the time to do. I’d like to consider myself a special breed. When I had a free morning a few days back I decided to go doughnut hunting. Yes, I made up a new sport. It involved just a few things: doughnut shops, milk or coffee, and an empty and willing stomach.
Wanna play? The beauty of this game is that you can do it in any city on any given morning.
This year’s doughnut hunt was inspired by the crazyinsane (new word) doughnuts I made a few months back. They were painfully good and inspired me to… well… bring doughnuts back into my life any way I could.
I picked five Los Angeles doughnut eateries (I only made it to three before my pants button busted) and put my doughnut tasting skills to the test. Here’s what happened (before my pants burst).
Say hello to the Doughnut Hut in Burbank. They’ve got a clever retro sign and colorful, tiny little shop. The outdoor seating is charming and incidentally, bee infested. Seeing as this was my first stop, I opted for not one, but two fine doughnuts: one standard sprinkle and another orange colored find.
It turns out orange colored, passion fruit- esque doughnuts are not exactly the way to go. The troubled look on my face was only intensified when I realized that this particular doughnut tasted like an old churro, if a churro were a shoe. Not ok. The sprinkle doughnut, however, was perfectly cakey, and divine with milky coffee.
I stopped at the Donut Prince simply because there was the cutest old couple sitting in the window. Old people know doughnuts. They’ve been around long enough to know. They’ve eaten more doughnuts that I have. It’s simple mathematics.
It turns out that old people do have doughnut wisdom. I, on the other hand, should not have ordered two more doughnuts. Despite the shoe like taste of the passion fruit doughnut at the previous shop, I did manage to devour it.
Not sure if I can make it through these two doughnuts. Like a true champion- I do. Doughnut count: 4.
No doughnut adventure would be complete without a trip to Krispy Kreme. But, Krispy Kreme Drive- Thru!? Oh the sheer gluttony. Even after 4 doughnuts, two cups of coffee and a mini carton of milk, I managed to get out of my car to eat more doughnuts. Success!
Walking into Krispy Kreme is like walking into doughnut Disneyland. It’s just magic. Somehow, no matter how many doughnuts I try, Krispy Kreme is always my favorite. They’re perfectly over sweet and literally melt in your mouth. I think I went through at least two in the blink of an eye. Ahhh…. sweet sweet doughnut adventure.
I literally have to hold my heart after a bite of Krisy Kreme doughnuts. Is there such a thing as soul mate doughnuts? Doughnut count: 7 ok…. probably more like 9.
I should make it known that shortly after this picture was taken, I fell into a deeply satisfying doughnut coma. Thank you Carsen for being my able photographer and eager doughnut tasting partner.
My doughnut adventure inspired a new doughnut flavor. It’s today’s most popular cupcake flavor transformed into doughnut form. I’ll share soon.
So…! When’s your doughnut hunt?
October 13th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I actually had a glazed pumpkin spice donut from Krispy Kreme last week. . . it was a very satisfying cakey donut. . . I do miss toasted coconut donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts back on the east Coast.
Fratelli’s in Beverly Hills makes a nifty donut as well http://www.blogsoop.com/la_rid_20295.html
October 13th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Ha it was a really entertaining post. I enjoyed reading it
especially caue where I live we don t have donut shops. There s only one type of donut and you cant find it that easily. By the way I don t even like it. Wish to try the crispy creme though 
next time I visit US i m gonna try it. That may be long though 
October 14th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Can you imagine a place without donuts? I live there. (snooky doodle, I’m with you on this!)
(P.S.: I realize that two comments in a time period of less than ten minutes might be a bit strange, even though they’re on different entries. But – it’s my lunch break and I’m catching up with all my high school friends, err, feeds.)
October 14th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Ah yes, Krispy Kreme. It most definitely is a fastasy world of donuts. But we are getting a Dunkin Donuts soon and then maybe I can go on a hunt. The Kreme is all we have right now. So sad…
October 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Hilarious. My local KK closed shortly after we moved here. And the displays in gas stations do not do KK justice. I will plan out a doughnut hunt however. Ill get back to you.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Now THIS is a game I could get into ;-).
October 14th, 2008 at 6:40 am
I love me some Krispy Kreme doughnuts! There is one very near to work (my waist and hips are thankful that it’s not TOO close). I can’t eat any other kind, spoiled after tasting the Kreme’s warm melt in your mouth doughnuts!
Can’t wait to see your “new” doughnut flavor!
~ingrid
October 14th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Mmmm, GREAT idea! My 2 favorite donut places in the US so far are Foster’s Donuts in Redlands, CA and Gibson’s Donuts in Memphis, TN. Part of why they are my favorite is that they both have the best apple fritters (one of my all-time favorites) I have ever tried. At Gibson’s you can order a giant donut for a birthday cake. I wish I still lived close to that place!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I adore Krispy Creme. I really think I could go through an entire box in one sitting. Beverly Hills has a “designer donut” shop called Fratellis which is pretty awesome…even if it is in Beverly Hills.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I prefer my doughnuts with a nice chocolate glaze and a dash of sprinkles. the cake ones are just so good
Although I’ve been known to secretly adore the jelly filled ones and custard filled ones too. I used to eat the jelly ones every Sunday morning with my mom… If I ever come down to LA, I say we take on the town and do a big pants-busting pastry tasting tour. What do you say?!
October 14th, 2008 at 8:38 am
A woman who spends her time exploring doughnut shops?!? Seeing as we’ve never met, would it be inappropriate to just propose now?
October 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am
You are a real champion. I eat about half a doughnut and have to call it a day.
This might just be a regional chain (I live near Cincinnati), but my favorite doughnuts are from Busken Bakery. They have a cinnamon swirly one topped with maple icing and peanuts. HEAVEN!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I, too, love a good Krispy Kreme. My husband doesn’t, so I rarely get them, but when I do, it is pure bliss!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Hey Joy
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and love it! At the moment I am reading it a 5.20am in the morning (all the way over in New Zealand!) after sitting up all night writing an essay eeek. Anyway..I definitely just went and ate two donuts out of a box of Dunkin Donuts one of my flatmates has in the pantry. Kind of gross at 5 in the morning after no sleep..but also totally worth it.
Loves xx
October 14th, 2008 at 10:09 am
be still my heart…i love doughnuts. chocolate glazed kk’s are my favorite but unfortunately all the kk’s here keep closing and i have to settle for buying them at the grocery store.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Oh man! This post made me hungry! I love a good donut! My favorite is cherry cake donuts.
I also do not care for cruellers. As far as I’m concerned, they shouldn’t be counted as donuts.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
There is nothing closer to perfection than a freshly made and still warm Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. Unfortunately I have only had one in my life… :::sigh:::
Sadly…I now think that all the local convenience stores that sold Krispy Kremes have discontinued them.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
This is the most brilliant idea!
Also, if you haven’t already, you NEED to try Stan’s Donuts in Westwood (a old classic donut joint), and The Donut Man in Glendora (where they have donuts filled with fresh strawberries, pumpkin, etc.).
October 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
You have to try Randy’s by the airport. The chocolate cake and the crumb cake are the BEST!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I had the best donuts ever this weekend while visiting family in Oak Park, IL an adorable suburb right outside of Chicago. Every Saturday there is a farrer’s market in Oak Park and if you ever get the chance definitely eat the donuts they make as a church fundraiser each weekend. The powdered sugar are the best, but the cinnamon sugar are a close second!
October 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I second the recommendation of Donut Man in Glendora. I loved their seasonal strawberry-filled donuts. Peach was good, but not as good. I don’t remember pumpkin-filled but I’d be all over that too!
October 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
When in New York, it’s all about the Doughnut Plant - http://www.doughnutplant.com/.
Or Japan or Korea for that matter.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Finally a sport I know I’m good at- Donut Hunting! Sounds like a game I’ll be playing this Saturday….Thanks for the idea!
October 14th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
what a great post, this may be my absolute favorite post of yours ever!
i love krispy kreme’s too, i’d probably spend my whole doughnut hunt there.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
‘Old people know donuts.’
Best t-shirt idea ever.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Great…it’s 11 pm DC time and I want a doughnut. And the damn Krispy Kreme is closed
October 14th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
My office held a “donut dance off” competition just a couple weeks ago! Several of us had very strong feelings about our neighborhood donut shops and we each brought in one from the categories: chocolate long john (not everyone knows what those are - do you?), glazed, cake (preferrably blueberry cake) and any specialty donut the shop may be known for. The whole office tasted some of each and judged. It was great! (Results: My shop - Old Town Donuts in Florissant, MO won 2nd in the glazed competition and first in most adorable packaging - a new category. They have the cutest donut man on their box!)
October 14th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
We don’t have any cool old school style donut joints like that in Seattle. : (
Well, theres one- but They’re a little heavier on the “ghetto” side of old school.
I could play this game, but I don’t think I’d make it out of Top Pot (the one good donut joint in town) with out either having a heart attack or going into a diabetic coma. Both would be totally worth it.
Mmmm. Donuts….
October 15th, 2008 at 4:34 am
What a great post, I really enjoyed reading your doughnut adventures! And that’s also my idea of a gal’s fun day in the city, rather than many other options
October 15th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Wow! And I thought I was a doughnut fiend! You are fierce! Go Joy! You’ve inspired me to a new level of doughnut madness.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:54 am
What a terrible job…ha! Fun post! I still need to make your doughnuts. I bet they are the best!
October 15th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Joy! You should host a Doughnut shop crawl… or bakery crawl! we’ll need to get wheelchairs…. HA!
Hypothetically, let’s say there’s this Asian girl in LA named Julie who wanted to hang out with….. you.. How does one go about doing that?!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
For the sheer gluttony of it, nothing beats Dunkin Donuts Boston Creme… but for a companion to a nice cup of tea or DD coffee…nothing melts in your mouth like their french crueller, which is donut shaped, sweet as hell, and melts in your mouth!! Oh the airiness of it!! They also have a great raspberry jelly…and now I’m hungry!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I also think Krispy kreme is the best doughnut place of all. But a very close 2nd best is Stan’s Doughnuts in Thousand Oaks.
658 N Moorpark Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 381-1818
http://www.stansdoughnuts.com
Get the Peanut butter filled chocolate doughnut! You can’t go wrong with that one! Also the Lemon curd filled doughnut. Yum
October 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Wow, I am going to have to dedicate a Saturday afternoon doing this! Thanks for sharing!
BTW- I actually tried out your donut recipe you posted a few weeks ago: http://twoalmostmavens.blogspot.com/2008/10/donuts.html
It was quite the project, but it was worth it!
October 15th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
All the donut shops use the same mix when making donuts. They all get it from similar distributors. The difference in donut quality, if you wanna call it that given the above fact, is the quality of the oil and how often they change it. if good quality, fresh oil is used, then you get superior taste.
The only decent donut in all of los angeles is at Donut Man in Glendora. Want proof? Go there at 10, 11, or 12 pm. and they are always busy.
If we got the urge for a decent donut, then we shlep on down from Van Nuys to Glendora…otherwise, we are just settling.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
(in best Homer Simpson voice): Mmmmmm, dooooonuuuuts….
Do you know that you look like a different person in almost every picture I’ve seen on your blog? I don’t know you in real life, and every time you post new pictures you look like another person. It’s not a bad, thing–I actually think it’s very cool, very chameleon of you.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Oh my gosh! I told the husband the other day that I would kill for a doughnut and I wanted it from the local doughnut shop/bakery that I used to go to when I was a kid.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
i can’t say that i’ve ever eaten at multiple donut shops in one day, but i love trying out of town donuts at cute places when i travel. and even if there’s not a quirky little local shop, thank goodness for krispy kreme..they make mean crullers and devils food!
October 15th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
You have my respect. Seven doughnuts? Sheesh.
Now I have to see if I can top it. I’ll let my Thanksgiving dinner settle first, though, OK?
October 15th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
yum, I would do the same.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
zak- Glazed pumpkin doughnut sounds totally amazing!!! I miss Dunkin Donut coffee for sure!
snooky doodle- You’re missing out on doughnuts? That just means your missing out on doughnut calories!
johanna- I’ll take as many comments as you’re giving! I love to hear from you guys!
evan- Ha! Yes, you do need more than one doughnut shop to have a hunt! I hope that DD opens soon! My boyfriend just brought over a box of 6 Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Soooo sweet, right? I ate one. He ate one, then I sent him home with the rest. I can’t be left alone with 4 Krispy Kreme doughnuts this late at night.
laurie- Let me know how your hunt goes!!
fuji mama- Don’t even get me started on apple fritters! I absolutely love them. Apple pie meets luscious doughnut! It’s absolutely perfect!
esi- Fratelli’s!? I don’t live too far from Beverly Hills. I’ll have to check it out! Thanks!
amanda- Come on down!! Seriously. My door is always open. We would have quite the pants busting time!
brandon- Too soon.
kelly- Busken Bakery? Never heard of it, but that treat sounds like a dream!!
stef- Way to pull an all nighter! I remember those days very well! Hope the essay turned out well!
larissa- Great suggestions! I’ll definitely give those a try!
beansy’s mom- I love Randy’s! My Dad would take me there all the time! It was so cool driving up to that giant doughnut as a kid. Heaven!
I have to catch a few hours of shut eye. I’ll respond to more comments and bring you more yummy treats in the morning!
October 16th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I’m not sure we have any doughnut shops around here (Vancouver, BC)…but I frequent the Fractured Prune when I’m in PA
October 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
how are you not like 400 pounds?? seriously, i LOVE your blog but you talk about eating this stuff and you’re TINY. how? how do you do it?
this question really begs an answer…..
October 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
That sounds like a fun game.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I love krispy kreme too! They are so addicting!
October 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
you are so lucky to have LA as your research playground. I have the northeast and the horrible Dunkin Donuts.
And Seattle has Voodoo Donuts which is amazing!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I read through all the comments to see if anyone asked this already: who goes with you on your doughnut run(s)? And if you go alone, who’s taking the photos?
I swear this is purely of necessity I ask: All the while I’m reading your post, I’m thinking, Hmmn… I should do this around Chicago (thanks for the Oak Park mention, Jess!). But then I immediately think: how? who takes the photos? do I go alone?
October 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
My old hometown (Tucson, AZ) has a decided lack of good donut places (at least it did up until about 8 yrs ago when I left for the Navy). So you can imagine the shrieking that ensued when my mother and I happened upon a Krispy Kreme in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, at 2am. We were in town for her sister’s wedding (2nd husband), and after a night of living it up with the extended family, that glorious hot lamp was just the thing to cure what ailed us (translation: mild hangover).
To this day, I’ll do virtually anything for a lemon-filled Krispy Kreme…
October 16th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
WOw…I don’t know why I was so captivated by your donut hunt, I guess the shear gluttony. I mean you fierce.. My donut hunt in NYC would be Peter Pan DOnut’s and Donut Plant. For some reason seeing your donut hunt just screamed rebel (in a good way.) Maybe because most people wouldn’t dare it that many donuts. But I can appreciate the donut love.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
thank you for this post! last year i was addicted to donuts after having my first child and moving back to CA after a 4 year stint in the midwest (no real donuts there). donuts were my depression food. but…if you’re ever i downey, i think that there is one on every block here. just like old folks, hispanics like their donuts. the BIGGEST cinnamon bun is on one at firestone and rives. but…my all-time most favorite donut haunt is at newport beach overlooking the ocean. cheap coffee and the flaky butterfly “donut” (more like philo dough, i think.) thanks for all of your wonderful goodies. can you come and cook for me and i will knit/sew/crochet/draw you something??!!!?
October 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I would love to go doughnut hunting! My favorites are the chocolate sprinkle or French cruellers.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Sari- Now that sounds like an office I could work in! Soooo fun!
Brittany- I used to go to a really yummy doughnut shop on my way to work every morning when I lived in Seattle. It was a bit on the ghetto side, but sure had some fine doughnuts. Of course I can’t seem to remember the name of it right now…. figures.
Rachel Hayes- You sure do know you’re doughnuts. I’m glad you’re back in the neighborhood. I would love to get together and swap crafts. Seriously!
Shauna- Doughnuts as hangover food. Seriously perfect!!
Shannalee- I usually take all of my own photos. For that reason, I don’t have many photos of myself, because I’m always behind the camera. On my doughnut hunt I brought along my dear friend Carsen who was in charge of taking all the beautiful pictures that you see, and helping me eat massive amounts of doughnuts.
Dtriv- You’re right. I’m not 400 pounds. But I’m also not 100 pounds. The size I am seems to be my normal body weight. I can’t lose any from it, but as of late, it seems easier for me to add to it. I run. I eat a lot of whole wheat stuff, fruit and veggies. When I go on a doughnut bender, I usually follow it up with a super veggie salad. Does that answer your question?
Cassie- I hope the husband went out and got you that doughnut you would have killed for!
Debbie- Thanks for the Thousand Oaks tip! I’m always on the lookout for a good place that far into the valley!
October 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
[...] time I am in Los Angeles, you can bet she and I will be on a bakery extravaganza, kind of like her commendable donut world tour she just embarked one. Speaking with her and Robin have kicked my blogging butt in to motion so [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 10:38 am
How fun! I wish I could go on a doughnut hunt. Unfortunately, there are NO doughnut places in Iowa City! I never ate doughnuts with any real frequency, but once every month or two I get a craving, and here I’m sunk. No Dunkin, no Krispy Kreme, certainly no independent doughnut shops. The choices are a grocery store that takes 30 minutes to get to on the bus each way or a gas station. Blah. I wonder if Krispy Kreme still does that amaretto doughnut around the holidays. Maybe next year I’ll be able to leave around Christmas time and get one
October 19th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I am so unbelievably psyched to see that I have been to one of these places (Donut Prince!!!) Yay for Doughnut hunts and the infinity that those sweet little rounds represent.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I remember living in Pomona in 3rd grade - there was a doughnut shop across the street, catty-corner from an Earl Scheib’s.
Their raised sugar doughnuts were sooo good! Doughnuts just don’t taste like that anymore, and I don’t know if it’s me (cuz I’m so old that back then Earl Scheib only charged $19.95!) or if it’s the doughnuts. I think Danny up above might be right about the doughnut mix…
I think it’s time to try your recipe, even if deep frying is kind of scary!
Thanks for letting us share your doughnuts, even vicariously!
October 20th, 2008 at 4:03 am
[...] are what brought me to this market in the first place, after I read someone’s comment on Joy the Baker’s Great Doughnut Hunt. Obviously, then, they were the first thing I looked for when I arrived. My brother and I got there [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
the best in LA are Stan’s in Westwood and Fritelli’s in Beverly Hills. and i have gone on many a hut to determine this.
October 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
The best in LA are Stan’s in Westwood and Fritelli’s in Beverly Hills. I have discovered this on many a donut hunt.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:40 am
ahh donut heaven, this is out-of-control tempting!! and an inspiration for us all.
ps do let me know if you have any other suggested hiking spots in the LA area. i’m always on the lookout–especially after the donut binge that i feel coming on (;
October 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Nooo….the orange colored doughnuts should really be banned! The pink ones too, they’re really kinda gross. I have recently caved and become a fan of the Krispy Kremes, they’re tricky and they done got me!
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I can’t wait to see your recipe for these cupcake-doughnuts, I have one that we call muffin doughnuts, but they’re still quite cakey even for a doughnut.
There’s a tiny ma and pop doughnut place just down the street from me, they open at 6am and close when they run out. We’ve only managed to get doughnuts there once in the last year, and that one time was at 8am and was very slim pickings! But I miss the apple cider doughnuts from the farm market I worked at when I was younger, made with apple cider that we made right there too. So delicious.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Joy,
I have no choice at this point but to demand a Westside Doughnut Hunt™.
Fritelli’s in Beverly Hills
Stans in Westwood (peanutbutter doughnuts ::::::drool:::::)
Randy’s in Inglehood (The giant doughnut in the Simpsons is based on this place)
Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts - Los Angeles Farmers Market
Primo’s Westdale Doughnuts on Sawtelle.
(Your boyfriend is not invited)
KRS Juan
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 am
[...] Joy the Baker headed out on a doughnut quest, searching for the best doughnut in the greater Los Angeles area. She ate the greater part of nine [...]