Donut Den – Crestline, CA

Overall Shop rating: ?This trip brought me and my band to the mountains of Crestline,CA near Lake Arrowhead. The town was a cute mountain town and I did not expect to find a donut shop in such a small community town. I was so pumped to see the Donut Den as we drove through town. We couldn’t stop at that time so we made a special trip later only to find the shop closed, looking as though it’s been closed for business for years. I asked a local about it later and he said that it’s still open but run by a crackhead. I don’t think I’ll be going back for a donut there. Who knows what finds it’s way into the dough….

Vibe of Shop: Creepy

Outside Appearance: 1 Nada
This place looked like an old, forgotten run-down log cabin with all the windows boarded up. I wonder what really went on inside… We may never know.Hours: ?

Service: ?

Taste of Glaze Donut: ?

Blueberry Donut: ?

Coffee: ?

Special: There were really cool benches made out of tree logs outside. They reminded me of Lincoln Logs.


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It's somewhere around there...

K D Village Donuts - Ventura, CA

Overall Shop Rating: 3 NadasI am continually amazed at the consistent success of the donut industry. No matter where I travel I always seem to spot multiple donut shops in every town, usually one in every strip mall. On this day, I was traveling through Ventura and had to pick up my friend, Daniel LaPoint. This shop was an easy and obvious rendezvous so we decided to enjoy a donut in the process.

Vibe of Shop: 2 Nadas
Some shops feel like “home.” This shop was a home converted into a shop, but without the “home” feeling. Although, I believe the owners actually live in the back, so it is a literal home, and it probably feels like “home” to them…. Just not to me. That could be due to the fact that we visited at 11pm and had to walk through the drive through.

Outside Appearance: 3 Nadas
This store wasn't located in a strip mall. It had a lot all to itself, conveniently located on one of the main roads in Ventura. There were plenty of homes and apartments within walking distance, a desired location for any local business.

Hours: 24 Hours
Though the inside area of the shop is not open past 10pm, you may conveniently walk or drive along the side of the building for 24 hours service.

Service: 5 Nadas
Even in the late hour when we visited this fine establishment the person helping us was helpful and cheery. He even threw in a couple free donuts in the bag! What a great guy!Taste of Glaze Donut: 4 _ Nadas
I was pleasantly surprised at the blend of moist, fluffiness of the dough and the nearly perfect light sugary glaze. To tell the truth, I wasn't expecting such a delicious donut!

Blueberry Donut: Yes!

Coffee: 3 Nadas
Not much to say about it. It was average. On a cold night, it will warm you, and it didn't cause a gag reaction upon consumption.

Special: My favorite part of the shop is the drive thru. I loved the “Please Honk for Service” sign and I couldn't stop laughing at the drive-thru menu. It was grassroots and classy, to say the least. They served coffee drinks and smoothies and highlighted the new flavors well. Ha. I wonder if they would let donutblog.com sponsor a new outdoor menu for them… Hmmmm….







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Kelly’s Donuts – San Clemente, CA

Overall Shop rating 4 ½ NadasIn the year 2000 A.D. I was introduced to a man who would change my life forever. His name is Peter Culp. During the summer, Peter and I taught surfing to high school students at a camp called Mount Hermon in Santa Cruz, CA. It was here, on these 5am early mornings that we would consistently head to Ferrell’s Donuts after dawn patrol surf sessions, and it was here that I began to develop my pallet for donuts under the supervision of my friend and donut mentor, Peter.
Now, Peter lives in San Clemente, CA and has a hand full of favorite shops that he regularly enjoys. On this day I was passing through town and asked him to show me what donuts San Clemente has to offer.

Vibe of Shop: 5 Nadas
The shop came with everything I’d want out of a good donut shop… classic donut posters, some good seating for donut consumption, a bit of donut pink in the décor, some signed surf posters of pros who love the donuts, and the most important staple: Old men enjoying donuts and coffee while telling stories of the way things were in the old days. I glimpse into my future every time I see men like that.

Outside Appearance: 4 ½ Nadas
Any donut shop that has a neon sign promoting everything but donuts must be confident that their donuts need no promoting, other than by taste. I found that to be true here. Also, the shop is located in a large strip mall-style plaza that has ample amounts of parking, just in case people rush to donut shops for their donuts just as they rushed to banks for their money during the great depression.

Hours: 5:00am to 5:00pm

Service: 5 Nadas
Asian, friendly, and helpful. Here I don’t so much as see into my future, but I’m given something to strive towards.

Taste of Glaze Donut: 4 ½
The glaze donut was so close to donut perfection. Great glaze, great moistness, and great fluffiness… but for some reason it was just shy of the mark. I would actually give it a 4 7/8 Nadas but I don’t get that advanced in my fractions for scoring donuts for the sake of readability for the younger donut enthusiast readers.

Blueberry Donut? No

Coffee: 4 ½ Nadas
It was a tasty cup of Joe. It wasn’t bad or old tasting which impressed me since we were visiting later in the day.

Special: They serve Dreyers ice cream, which facilitates potential for monumental donut greatness: A donut-ice cream sandwich!!! Doesn’t that just make your taste buds dance and your stomach turn?



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Solana Donuts - Solana Beach, CA

Overall Shop rating: 4 NadasMy name is David Matsumura. I love donuts, I love Jesus Christ, I love surfing, and I love music. Everyday, I try and fill my day with these four things. I want to inspire and help others do the same. Today, donutblog.com is venturing into a new area. We are proud to announce that we have sponsored our first musical artist, Tyson Mostenbocker. He is currently working on a new EP that should be released in November 2010. I’ve heard it, and it is sounding great. He mixes cool guitar parts with smooth vocals and great story telling… and he has a killer mustache! Check it out for yourself (the music, that is)! Solana Donuts is his local donut shop. Together we visited and talked music and surfing over delicious donuts.

Vibe of Shop: 4 ½ Nadas
I loved the classic feel of this shop. Great use of “donut pink” and plenty of space for seating, or a dance party. There was a disco ball hanging above the donut case making me wonder what goes on in this shop after hours… I also really loved the amazing painting of a tropical beach on the wall.

Outside Appearance: 2 ½ Nadas
It was kind of tucked away in a 2 story strip mall. The outside wasn’t very inviting but I did like that there was the Fish House right above. Fish and Donuts…. Mmmmm.

Hours: Mon – Thurs 5:00am to 9:00pm
Fri – Sat 5:00am to 10:00pm
Sun 6:00am to 12:00pm



Service: 4 ½ Nadas
I believe the lady who served us was named Thim. She was fantastic. She was the perfect asian donut shop owner who runs the front of the store while her husband bakes donuts in the back. I’ve seen this “set up” often and it seems to work well.Taste of Glaze Donut: 3 ½ Nadas
The donut was nice and fluffy and the glaze was great but overall it was a bit dry.

Blueberry Donut: No

Coffee: 3 Nadas
The coffee was just average. It did the job, but didn’t impress me.

Special: 2 things:
1. I love it when donut shops make giant donuts. I would never eat one, but I love looking at them. Here they had a giant raised sugar donut.2. On this day I ordered an apple pastry. It was amazing! The glaze was perfect and the apple filling blew my mind.













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Baker Tom's - Hilo, Hawaii

Overall Shop rating: 4 ½ Nadas Hilo, Hawaii is a town that blends perfectly the hometown country feel and island paradise. There are so many “mom and pop” shops owned by locals that you would never need to go corporate for any meal… or donut.
I spent 2 months hanging out in Hilo with my Grandma, Uncle and Aunty in the Spring of 2010. I searched but could not find a donut shop in this town. Instead I was blown away when I was introduced to the Hawaiian version: the Malasada (originally the Portuguese version of the donut).

Vibe of Shop: 5 Nadas
I loved the vibe. It’s so local and friendly, filled with Aloha.

Outside Appearance: 5 Nadas
This is one of the most unique bakery shops I’ve ever seen. It’s a few miles out of town on the country highway on the way to Waimea. The shop is a converted auto repair shop turned bakery. One garage bay has become the store front and the other has become the lounge.

Hours: 6am-6pm Weekdays, 7am-6pm Weekends

Service: 5 Nadas
I loved that Baker Tom’s mom was the one that served us. I love the personal family touch. Baker Tom’s dad hangs out in the garage turned lounge next door. Amazing.

Taste of Glaze Donut: 4 Nadas
Technically this wasn’t a glazed donut, and they didn’t even have glaze in the traditional sense, but I didn’t care. I loved the Blackberry, the PB&J, the Canadian Bacon & Cheese, the Lilikoi, and more. Wow!



Blueberry Donut? No, but who needs a blueberry donut when you have a plethora of filled malasadas. You could have breakfast, lunch, and dinner all here inside this wonderful dough… if you can handle all the grease…

Coffee: 3 Nadas
The coffee was good but nothing special. There is a great local shop down the road called Sharky’s that I suggest if you want quality coffee.

Special: I’ve already talked about all the special donuts/malasadas. Instead I want to point out the special advertisement posted on the board at the shop. It’s for the Neuter Scooter. It comes to Spay/Neuter your cats right at your own home.
















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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - San Diego

Overall Shop Rating: 4 NadasJust as I prefer a local Taqueria over Taco Bell, I usually choose a small donut shop over a corporate chain, but when it’s late and other Taquerias are closed, I choose Taco Bell. This was that night.

Vibe of Shop: 4 Nadas
It kind of feels like you’re in a McDonald’s, but I do really like that you can watch the donuts being made right there on the other side of the window. I wish there were more “Donut Pink” included in the décor.


Outside Appearance: 4 Nadas
The best word to describe the appearance is: Spiffy. The only thing that I didn’t like is that it is so corporate. I guess that’s a personal preference, bit I like smaller “mom and pop” donut shops.



Hours: Honestly, I forgot to look but I know they close at 11pm.

Service: 5+ Nadas
I can’t remember both of their names but Brandon and the girl who helped us were soooo amazingly kind and fun. We had a big order of donuts and Brandon had a smile the whole time. These guys are so cool! Stop by and say hi to them.Taste of Glaze Donut: 2 Nadas
Like I’ve said before, The only way to eat a Krispy Kreme glaze doughnut is warm, right off the conveyor belt.

Blueberry Donut: Yes, kind of…
I didn’t get a regular cake blueberry donut but… I found something sooooo much tastier! Here they had Blueberry Fritters!!! Oh man, it was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Mmmmmm.Coffee: N/A
I can’t rate the coffee because the girl who helped me offered to make a whole new pot 30 minutes before closing. I didn’t want her to waste it so I drank the old coffee. Truthfully it wasn’t that good, but I blame that on it being over an hour old. She gave it to me for free, though!

Special: I was blown away at the creativity in donuts that this shop offered. I highly suggest visiting this store, skipping the regular glaze donut and venturing out to try a few of the special donuts like: Blueberry Fritter, Apple Filled, Strawberry Shortcake, and many others.
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A dozen brings smiles

A few weeks ago I played at a summer camp near Sonora, CA. One morning my band member, Andrew, and I went into town early and got donuts for all the staff counselors. They were so happy. I love that donuts have the power to bring such happiness.