Los Angeles is the donut capital

Index

If you didn't already know, Los Angeles is the donut capital, the paradise for those who love all kinds of sweet donuts and even savory ones. Discover the best places to sample real LA donuts. 🇧🇷

Donuts in Los Angeles

Don't be fooled by the reputation for kale salads and acai bowls — Los Angeles is heaven for donut devotees.

Nearly 1,500 independent donut shops serve these deep-fried treats, which means there are more opportunities to ingest a slew of sweets here than anywhere else in the country.

donut creators

LA became the epicenter of the country's donut culture when Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian immigrant, arrived in California during the 1970s.

After setting up his own candy shop, he helped other refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge create their own confectionery empires.

Ngoy was the first to package donuts in light pink boxes, now a ubiquitous emblem of the local donut scene.

Where to eat donuts in Los Angeles

DK's Donuts it's been a family hotspot in Santa Monica for nearly 40 years, but its offerings are anything but family-friendly.

They serve 120 different options, from ube , a purple yam flavor popular in the Philippines, to waffle and red velvet donut hybrids.

O Blinkie's Donut Emporium , owned by a Cambodian American father-daughter duo, offers artisanal donuts daily, always closing at noon so their selection never goes stale.

then there is donut city , operated for three decades by John and Stella Chhan, a Cambodian couple who moved to Southern California in 1979. The store is so loved by the community that when Stella became ill, residents bought the store early every day so John could being with your wife – proving that donuts can really be good for you.

Types of Donuts

Like LA's own people, the city's donut culture has evolved. They went from glazed to gluten-free, jam-filled to cookie-butter-filled. The City of Angels is the frozen frontier.

Newer stores have also begun to embrace the region's vibrant Mexican roots.

The store women combines comforting Latin food with nostalgia… and lots of sugar. His interpretation of a bacon donut on board changes into chicharrón, while the donut bionic mimics the Mexican fruit salad of the same name.

and not Trejo's Coffee & Donuts , opened by actor and East LA native Danny Trejo, you can ask for a coffee with milk , both in the form of coffee and in the form of a donut.

The menu also includes fermented versions of horchata , tres leches and nacho, a savory donut with jalapeño, cheddar and hot sauce.

Donut Friend brings a punk rock mentality to the donut game, with concoctions like Banana Kill, packed with peanut butter, and Green Teagan and Sara, topped with matcha.

If you want to create your own hit, you can also completely customize your order, choosing from options like raspberry jam, balsamic reduction, mochi, and chocolate-covered pretzels.

But not all donuts need Fruity Pebbles or crushed Oreos to shine.

O donut man , an excellent pit stop on Route 66, fills its glazed classic with mounds of fresh local strawberries and peaches. (They are only available during the season, so plan your visit accordingly.)

Donut Man's Donuts — donuts from **donut man**

For those who want a gluten-free dessert, the Fonuts specializes in baked donuts made with almond flour. Many of them are also vegan. With flavors like blueberry earl gray and churro, they are wonderful.