We are living in a golden age of donuts in Los Angeles. Artisan donut shops now use high-quality ingredients to bring creative flavor combinations, renowned pastry chefs release donut-pastry hybrids, and classic shops continue to produce reliably excellent treats.
With so many outstanding options across the city, choosing where to go can be overwhelming. To help you navigate the delicious chaos, here is a curated list of some of the best donuts in LA.
#1 – Sidecar Donuts
Sidecar Donuts is a top favorite in Los Angeles. Their Santa Monica location became a weekly habit for many locals thanks to consistently fresh, thoughtful donuts. You’ll find classic staples—Huckleberry is a crowd-pleaser—alongside monthly seasonal flavors like a Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie.
The team is committed to serving “the world’s freshest donut” and fries new batches every hour, ensuring a warm, crisp exterior and tender interior.
#2 – Donut Friend
Donut Friend is known for imaginative, over-the-top creations and exceptional execution. Their menu includes inventive filled and topped donuts—examples include the X-Ray Speculous (a raised donut filled with cookie butter, topped with chocolate glaze and sea salt) and the Polar Berry Club (lemon glaze crowned with fresh mixed berries and mint).
The presentation is eye-catching, but the flavor combinations and quality ingredients make each bite memorable.
#3 – California Donuts
Serving Los Angeles since 1982, California Donuts continues to impress with a wide range of colorful, “Instagram-friendly” creations that don’t sacrifice taste. Their donuts are fresh, playful, and satisfyingly indulgent.
A standout is the Snickers donut—which actually contains a Snickers bar baked into the donut—making it an ideal cheat-day treat. Their variety and consistent quality keep people coming back.
#4 – Dominique Ansel
Once a New York sensation, Dominique Ansel’s cronut is now readily available at their Los Angeles location in the Grove. The croissant-donut hybrid features flaky, layered pastry usually filled with seasonal jams and ganaches. A recent offering, the White Peach Amaretto Cronut, combined white peach amaretto jam with muscovado ganache.
Availability is much easier now than in the early days, and rotating flavors keep people returning to sample new variations.
#5 – The Donut Man
Located roughly 30 miles from central LA in the northern suburbs, The Donut Man is a long-standing fixture famous for seasonal fresh-fruit donuts. Operating for over 45 years, they’ve built a reputation around generous fruit toppings and a straightforward, nostalgic approach.
The strawberry donut is iconic, but the apple donut is a favorite for many visitors. Seasonal peach donuts are also highly anticipated when available.
#6 – Plan Check
Plan Check is primarily a burger and beer restaurant, but their crullers stand out and are worth seeking out. Often topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream, their Santa Monica location has offered a standout Key Lime Pie cruller. Plan Check has also collaborated with local food personalities to create special, indulgent versions.
The combination of a savory-focused kitchen and playful dessert offerings gives their donuts a uniquely satisfying edge.
#7 – Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse focuses on soft, pillowy donuts with fresh, creative fillings. They rotate flavors daily, ensuring an element of surprise with each visit. One example is a Hibiscus Fruit Curd donut featuring hibiscus tea, lychee, and blood orange, finished with a pink meringue kiss.
Although not a donut, their cruffins (croissant-muffin hybrids) are also highly recommended for anyone exploring their pastry case.
#8 – Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Astro pairs fried chicken and donuts in ways that just make sense. They serve fried chicken-and-donut sandwiches with a variety of toppings—options include a BLT-style sandwich and a breakfast version with sausage gravy.
If a sandwich isn’t your style, their standalone donuts are excellent as well. Favorites include PB&J and Cookie Dough, and they’ve also experimented with indulgent twists like chocolate sprinkle donuts infused with CBD.
Los Angeles offers a diverse donut scene—whether you prefer classic, fruit-topped, flaky hybrids, or wildly inventive creations, the city has something to satisfy every craving. Try a few spots from this list to discover your personal favorites.