Top 15 Best Donut Shops in San Diego, CA

San Diego is the home of 70 miles of pristine beaches, LEGOLAND California – and great donuts! And if you want to get your hands on some delicious confectionery, we’ve got you covered.

Our list of the best donuts in San Diego takes in both classic donut shops and innovative new ventures. So if you’re ready to sample some of the best sugary goodness around, step this way!

Best Donuts in San Diego

1. Donut Bar

Donut Bar

Forbes call Donut Bar “the gold standard of donut shops”. It’s been featured on everything from Ellen to the Food Network. But if those accolades don’t impress you, their donuts certainly will.

The menu features flavors including the Unicorn, Chocolate Snickers, and Blueberry with Meyer Lemon. And vegans can choose from options like Spiced Chai, Strawberry Split and a delicious apple fritter.

You can pre-order online, selecting your choice of flavors and exactly the number of donuts you want. Pick up curbside, or get your donuts delivered to your door. You can also dine in if you prefer.

The Donut Bar is open seven days a week. Opening hours are 7am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 12.30pm on Saturday, and 8am to 1pm on Sunday.

 

2. Nomad Donuts

Nomad Donuts

Situated in the heart of North Park, Nomad donuts is the only San Diego eatery to specialize in Montreal bagels. And their donuts are something pretty special too. In 2020, San Diego magazine named them purveyors of the city’s best donuts.

The huge range of specialty donuts include flavors like Lavender Lemonade, German Chocolate, Pineapple Masala and Cream Cheese Guava. Or you can keep it simple with basics like chocolate, maple and vanilla bean, all also available as vegan options.

Donut holes are available in regular and vegan varieties too. And there’s a great selection of coffees plus mimosas, beer, soda, tea, hot chocolate and juice.

Dine in and takeout is available, but there’s no delivery service. The shop is open from 7am to 2pm Wednesday through Sunday.

 

3. Rose Donuts

Rose Donuts

  • In Ford Trolley Plaza, 5201 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110
  • Tel: 619 294 8856

Rose Donuts is the home of a fabulous selection of donuts, in all shapes and sizes. There are cake donuts, raised donuts, glazed donuts, twists, bars, French crullers, bear claws and apple fritters.

The rest of the menu is just as impressive. There’s a huge selection of ice cream flavors and other pastries. And if you want something savory, there are breakfast bagels, croissants, grilled and salad sandwiches.

You can order your food to take out, or there’s a small outdoor patio to eat in. Note that there’s no delivery service with this one, though, and you’ll need to pay in cash.

It opens at 4.30am daily. Closing time is 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday, and 11pm on Thursday through Saturday.

 

4. Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop

Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop

The website of the Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop has one of the best home pages you’re likely to find. Check it out to see what we mean. And when you’ve finished laughing, get down to the serious business of ordering some of their amazing donuts.

The donuts here are made fresh every hour throughout the day. Italian, Japanese and French styles are available, as well as American Classics.

The range is small and select, and changes every week. At the time of writing, it featured classics like chocolate, cinnamon sugar and vanilla bean. And more unusual flavors included Guava Cream Cheese and Tres Leches.

Pair your donut with a cup of locally roasted artisan coffee from Café Virtuoso.

The shop is open for takeout and delivery every day. Hours are 7am to 1pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 1pm Friday through Sunday.

 

5. Golden Donut

Golden Donut

The Golden Donut is situated in a small shopping plaza in the heart of North Park. Its specialty is classic filled and glazed donuts – and it does them very well indeed.

Amongst their happy customers are those that say these are the best donuts they’ve ever tasted. The flavors tend towards the classic, with options like chocolate coconut, maple bar and raspberry filled.

There’s also a great range of big breakfast sandwiches, and the muffins are excellent too. Beverages on offer include Thai tea and Vietnamese coffee. And the prices are ultra-kind to your pocket.

Golden Donut is open daily from 5am to 8pm. You can dine in or get takeout, but there’s no delivery option.

 

6. Sesame Donuts

Sesame Donuts

Sesame Donuts make donuts that balance a light airiness with a slightly crispy outside. In other words, they’re delicious.

They’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pre-order, and you can customize your donut to your precise requirements. A la carte options include the bear claw, apple fritter, cinnamon roll, king donut and the intriguing “Pokéball”.

Large orders are catered to as well – just be sure to order 24 hours in advance. And note that while you can collect your donuts or get takeout, this is another case where there’s no delivery service.

 

7. Donut Stop

Donut Stop

The family-owned Donut Stop focuses on crafting high quality donuts at a keen price. It’s also a shop with a conscience, frequently donating to charity and donating donuts to homeless people.

The menu includes classics like glazed bear claws, chocolate buttermilk, raspberry glazed, apple fritters, cinnamon rolls and sugar twists. There’s a small but perfectly formed beverage menu too, with coffee, cappuccino, tea, cocoa, OJ and soda.

The shop is open seven days a week for takeout only. Opening hours are from 4.30am to 3pm daily.

 

8. Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

Sidecar prides itself on the world’s freshest donuts. They’re made by hand every hour, using top quality ingredients. And the small batch process means the donuts are always hot.

The menu makes good use of seasonal and local produce. Choose from options like huckleberry, butter and salt, vanilla bean glazed, and dulce de leche churro. There’s a daily rotation of flavors, so there’s always something new to try.

Savory lovers can also sample a basil eggs Benedict donut. And there’s always at least one gluten-free and one vegan option.

The beverage menu is impressive. It includes vintage blend coffee, a range of hand-crafted espresso-based drinks, and cold options like passion fruit soda.

The shop is open daily for takeout and delivery. Doors open at 7am and close at 6pm Sunday to Thursday, and at 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

9. Donut Factory

Donut Factory

The modest exterior of the Donut Factory belies a donut lover’s paradise. Enter here for delicious food, friendly staff and good value.

There are classic donuts like maple bars, glazed, old fashioned and apple fritters. You can also get an excellent cronut, and the breakfast sandwiches are outstanding. Also available are croissants, bagels, ice blended coffees and smoothies.

Find it next to Auto Zone and the Lucky Laundry on 30th Street. It’s open for takeout only seven days a week, from 6am to 3pm.

 

10. Barrio Donas

Barrio Donas

The Barrio Donas is a unique donut experience. It crosses Mexican culture with a San Diego vibe, offering a donut with a slightly crisp, oven-baked exterior.

Flavors include Palanqueta, with caramel, peanuts, dried cranberries and amaranto, and the Jamaica, a dona with a hibiscus glaze. Vegan options include glazed, chocolate glazed and cinnamon sugar.

There’s also an excellent range of tortas and tamales. And drinks include organic Mexican coffee and chocolate, cold brew, and a vegan oat milk mixed with vanilla and cinnamon.

The shop offers dine in, takeout or delivery, and it’s open every day. Opening hours are from 6am to 3pm Monday to Friday, 6am to 3pm on Saturday, and 7am to 3pm on Sunday.

 

11. Yum Yum Donuts

Yum Yum Donuts

Located in a strip mall in Imperial Beach, Yum Yum offers some seriously good donuts. They’re generous too – for every dozen donuts you buy, you’ll get two extra free.

There’s a huge selection here – everything from cake donuts to filled, twists to bars, raised rings to French, old fashioned to minis. The flavors focus on classics like chocolate, cherry, lemon, maple and vanilla.

Beyond donuts you’ll find muffins, bagels, croissants and specialty pastries like crème horns and strawberry cream cheese strudels. And there are savory breakfast burritos and sandwiches too.

It’s open 24-7 for dine in and takeout.

 

12. The Mini Donut Company

The Mini Donut Company

The Mini Donut company offers a small but delicious range of everyday donuts. And if you pre-order, you can choose from an extended menu.

Everyday options include powdered sugar, glazed, vanilla or chocolate frosting with sprinkles, and cinnamon sugar. There are daily and weekly specials too. And if you order ahead, the options include delights like S’mores, chocolate icing with M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces, and vanilla icing with Oreos.

If you’re ordering in advance, you can also let them know any special requirements, like particular colors.

Either pick-up or delivery is available. Opening hours are from 7.30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 8pm on Friday, 8.30am to 8pm on Saturday, and 8.30am to 7pm on Sunday.

 

13. Donut Touch

Donut Touch

Donut Touch has been in business since 1989, so it knows a thing or two about creating tasty donuts. Their donuts are made fresh every day, and they’ve been the winners of plenty of awards. You’ll also find gourmet coffee, deli-style sandwiches, and a huge array of pastries and baked goods.

The artisan donuts cover all the bases, including cake donuts, donut holes and fancies like bear claws and apple fritters. And for birthday celebrations, you can order a giant donut iced with a special message. They’re not the cheapest, but you’re paying for top quality ingredients.

The shop is open seven days a week, for takeout only. Opening hours are 5am to 3pm Monday to Thursday, 4am to 3pm on Friday, 5am to 3pm on Saturday, and 6am to 2pm on Sunday.

 

14. McCord’s Bakery

McCord’s Bakery

McCord’s Bakery offers a fantastic selection of baked goods, with cupcakes, Danishes, and pan dulce alongside the donuts. They also provide beautiful celebration cakes in a range of flavors for all occasions.

They claim to offer the best donuts in San Diego – and plenty of their customers agree.

The cosy shop is open for takeout only, and opens its doors at 5am every day. The closing time is 9pm for most of the week, and 8pm on weekends.

 

15. Gelabong

Gelabong

  • 3882 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103, United States
  • Tel: 619 379 1137
  • Website: https://gelabong.com/

Gelabong is a bubble tea store that just happens to also sell some top quality mochi donuts. These chewy treats are shaped like a chain of dough balls joined in a circle. And they’re made with Japanese rice flour for a texture that’s quite different to conventional American donuts.

You can buy them individually, or by the half dozen or dozen. The flavors on offer are coconut, ube, Ore-oz, matcha, churro, Nutella, strawberry, blueberry and black sesame.

Whilst you’re here, why not try the eponymous gelabong too? It’s a combination of gelato and a taiyaki filling in flavors like strawberry, custard, honey, Nutella and red bean.

The shop is open daily for dine in, takeout and delivery. Opening hours are 12pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, with closing an hour later on Friday and Saturday.

 

Time to Choose Your Perfect Donut!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of the best donuts in San Diego! French, Japanese or good old American, there’s a huge selection here to sample.

Whether you’re new in town, or just seeking out new places, there’ll be something here to tickle your taste buds. Enjoy finding your new favorite flavor!

Leave a Comment