Mochinut - Palos Verdes

I don't love mochi donuts when they're no longer warm, but Mochinut makes a good box and keeps their dough tasting fresh. 

Original is always great, Matcha remains matcha even if it's icing-sweet, S'mores is fun but not all that necessary, Ube is my fave, and there's even a Dubai Chocolate one which doesn't approximate the real thing but is delightful all the same. 

A pleasant surprise for someone who had sworn off all mochi donuts since Modo shuttered their Mitsuwa stall, and the hot dogs look great as well. Will be back for a most deeply fried snack. 

Cafe Knotted - Los Angeles

What defines a donut? Wikipedia says it's a pastry made from leavened fried dough, and I'm pretty sure for most people, the word conjures a torus with a hole. Krispy Kreme is probably the most donut of the donuts, but the more I try the offerings elsewhere, the less sure I am about what it takes to be one. 

Cafe Knotted, South Korea's most popular interpretation, is one of those places that makes me question everything I thought I knew about the yeasty eats. Not so much a donut, but more like a sandwich of cream, their seasonal Fresh Strawberry features a seamless cream to ensconce sour slices of very fresh fruit between two fluffy slices of donut dough. There's a jam version as well, which is supposed to be their signature. 

Others are more familiar, one filled with sweet-no-sour Lemon Curd custard and a Dubai Chocolate full of crunchy pistachio practically-pudding. 

I've discovered that I'm not a donut person, but I can appreciate any sweet. At Cafe Knotted the donuts are as memorable as they are unique, and for that alone, they're worth a few tries. Maybe next time I'll sit down with a cup of coffee and a croissant.  

Donut Beach Coronado - Coronado, CA

Finally a store that reminds me we're on an island. 

A single person staffs this shop theoretically from 8-noon, but she shutters it as soon as they sell out of donuts. They don't make their own donuts either, they simply pick them up from a supplier every morning, and I wish I knew who that was.

I hate the pricing mark-up and the lack of credit to the supplier, but whoever makes them is a master at the Buttermilk. The milky flavor is spot on, and the crunchy crust is insane. The Cinnamon Roll is huge, but the crumb and the glaze are perfectly balanced. 

A curious little shop, one that I can't completely understand, but a fun one all the same. The donuts cost a lot, but the free coffee with purchase does make it more reasonable. If you find out who the original supplier is, let me know - I want more where those came from. 

Old Ferry Donut - Torrance

The decor is very...orange, I think it's an attempt at vintage-cute. Bright colors, all your basic coffees and a nice selection of tea, a glass case displaying some very pretty donuts. 

They're not so photogenic in the box but I promise they look better live. 

Butter Pistachio is the office favorite, a cake donut filled with light pistachio cream, a crusty, sweet glaze on top. Tiramisu has all the flavors with a nice filling of mascarpone cream. The Lemon Poppy Seed Ring has a clear lemon zest in both the batter and the icing, and the Raspberry Ball has a filling of sweet jam. White Chocolate Sesame Cake has a great sesame flavor, and the Earl Grey Cake icing is sweet but a bit more robust. They're all sweet donuts, but I commend them for their more judicious use of sugar. It's there but it's not overpowering. 

The flavors are creative, and the donuts are very elaborate which is probably why they're not made to order. That said, I do wish they were more fresh - most of the ones we got around lunchtime were already tasting like they had sat out for at least a day. Plenty of potential here if they up the freshness factor. 

Torrance Bakery UPDATE - Torrance

I rarely go see someone without picking up some pastries from this neighborhood treasure first. 

They make understated baked goods, and my appreciation grows every time I go. Just a regular old Buttermilk Donut remains my go-to with a cup of coffee made hot, but I also appreciate a good Apple Fritter or their classic Croissant, chocolate or not. One is fluffy butter, the other is flaky sweet.

Newer discoveries include these surprisingly good muffins. I love the crumbly Sour Cream, and the seasonal Cranberry Orange is one I want all year round. Apple Turnovers are a good, gooey filling, but here's the best thing they have; the Bear Claw. So many little toes of cinnamon-sugar goodness. 

I rarely get their sweets. The Maple Bacon Cupcake is a sugar splurge, and I like the still-crunchy bacon bits with creamy maple frosting. It's heavy, though, probably better to share. 

A sweet, sweet-seller in old town Torrance, one of the places I'll sorely miss, now that I've moved away. 

Birdies - Los Angeles

Seizing a rare opportunity, I get to grab Birdies for lunch. 

The Birdies Original is just a fantastic sandwich. A fried slab of chicken breast is juicy and tender despite the thickness, topped with melted cheddar, pickles, and slaw. 

The original sandwich is strong, but the Nashville Hot Chicken is where it's at. Same glorious fry, and the medium hot has a satisfying spice-paste that burns but doesn't scorch. Same toppings, just a messy, sloppy, chef's kiss.

I got greedy and went for their biggest specialty donuts. Strawberry Shortcake is full of berries and cream, and the donut itself is just a fantastic-tasting fluff. Banana Cream Pie tastes just as pretty; instant love. 

They also gave me a free sample donut so I got to try sugar and icing with a hint of Pistachio while I waited for my food to cook. 

Coffee, donuts, chicken. Say no more, I'm there. And I'll be back too - that hot chicken is kicker, and those donuts are delectable. 

Torrance Bakery - Torrance

Welcome to your neighborhood bakery. They're pretty well-known in Torrance and much of the South Bay, but that sweet blue awning helps keep the local feel. 

Across the street from a small green mini-park in an area built for walking, they have plenty of options to go with your morning coffee, whether you sit and sip or take it to work. My favorite is the Buttermilk Donut, prefer the plain to the glazed. It's simple, but this hearty loaf has a crisp outside and not much sugar so it highlights the flavor of the milk. The Apple Fritter has chunks of apple and cinnamon sugar encased in a glaze to keep it moist, and other options abound like a fluffy Glazed Donut, a long Chocolate Bar Donut, and a doughy Blueberry Scone.

We always get the buttermilk, but we try a few new things every time. Sugar Cookies keep it simple, and the malasada-like Filled Donuts have a nice gooey raspberry or custard pudding.

Despite being all about the sweets, they err on the side of less sugar. The Snickerdoodle is one such example, and I appreciate not being assaulted by sweetness.

They also make a large Black and White Cookie, a plain base with firm frosting. 

I don't have a favorite bakery yet because I just don't go to many, but I do appreciate the one I can walk to. But don't just judge by my opinion - judge by your own palate and the line out the door!

Modo Hawaii UPDATE - Torrance

So many flavors, forever evolving. From just three flavors a day to five all day, every day and specials on top of that. The earl grey is great, the yuzu has that citrus tang, and they need to bring back the passion fruit because that one was just everything.

These are from forever ago, the thick, powdery matcha and white chocolate with bright breaks of peppermint for the holidays. None of these matter, though, when you can get a plain donut with cheese foam. This foam is so fluffy and sweet without being too sweet. It has just a hint of cheese to balance out the sugar and clings to the donut like a light cream instead of icing.

Torrance's favorite pop-up finds itself a home. Now permanently situated in a cozy corner of Mitsuwa's Del Amo food court, Modo is here to stay. Even if there weren't a pandemic, this would be the best news I've heard all year. 

Modo Hawaii - Torrance

Mochi + Donuts = genius!

Chewy little dough-balls in a chain, three different flavors a day. You'll never go wrong with the classic Sugar, warm and fresh, and I love the extra dusting of cinnamon on the churro. Blueberry is sweet and fruity, and Pandan is light glaze. Depending on the day, there's also a citrusy passionfruit that proves to be a favorite, and the matcha and black sesame will draw a crowd. 

What idiot made Modo a pop-up? This little donut stall has serious staying power, and nothing will come close when it's gone. Not all good things should come to an end, and I hope Modo decides to last. 

Kettle Glazed - Los Angeles

Now THIS is a donut shop! Conveniently seated in a small, seedy-looking shopping center on the corner of a long, dark highway-onramp street, there's no crowd to fight even on Saturday night.

Privacy breeds creativity, and the Cruffin' is so surprisingly out there it's hard to describe. The croissant dough maintains some crude layering, but the layers stack closely to make it dense and thick with all the best combo of croissant and muffin.

Annnnd Cronuts! Omg cronuts. Not quite worth the NYC hype with the mile-long lines, but the pastry-cream-chocolate-drizzle is worth at least a short one.

Even when not quite creative, Kettle Glazed is just plain delicious. The S'mores donut is filled with a small flurry of chocolate and marshmallow, a throwback to campfires and kumbaya.

You think you know what a Raspberry-Lemon Donut tastes like but you don't. This raspberry jam is less sickly-sweet than peanut butter's BFF, and it sits in a circle of lemon almost-icing that creates an exceptional balance.

I love anyone who can make a donut, but I bow to those who can make a tried-and-true taste like something exciting and new. I thought I'd tried all the donuts I've wanted to try, but it looks like I'm far from done with Kettle Glazed.