The Donut Man - Grand Central Market - Los Angeles

I would totally go to Glendora for something so special, but I sure am grateful they brought it to Grand Central. 

This legendary Strawberry Donut is surely the sweet soul of SoCal cuisine. Because SoCal cuisine is quite simple, but the devil's in the details. Those sunkissed strawberries are in season, and that's the only time they're used. The fluffy fried shell that holds them is this perfect fluffy yet substantial donut, covered in a single, smooth layer of glaze, just enough to make a thin skin, but not so much as to overshadow the dough in the doughnut. A smear of syrup gives those whole, fresh strawberries a bit of a boost as well and sticks them together to make the filling more cohesive. It tastes like a sweet, sunny SoCal day, stunning in its simplicity. 

They also do a nice Old Fashioned - the outside crust keeps its crunch, and the inside is firmly soft. A gentle glaze will give you the flavor of chocolate, but the donut still shines through. My favorite is their Tiger Tail, a brown baton of cinnamon stripes and glaze that's firm outside and plush within. 

We had our donuts mid-day, but I wish we'd come early. I loved every bite here, but hot and fresh out of the oven would have made something already super into something truly superb.

Oregon Trip - Day 5 - Blue Star Donuts - Portland, OR

 

Checked two boxes at Blue Star, the OG, supposedly-still-better-than-Voodoo donut shop that brews Coava Coffee. The hot coffee makes a lovely cup, and we tried the Nitro Cold Brew too for kicks. 

Wow, I truly thought I didn’t love donuts until I had Blue Star. The OG is just the right combination of fluffy and chewy, with nutty notes of Horchata glaze. Loganberry Cider with Hot Honey is fruity and sweet, but with no detectable honey. Blueberry Bourbon Basil tastes like summer but not too sweet. The bourbon and basil balance the real-fruit-flavored berry. They make a fantastic filling for the Meyer Lemon and Key Lime Curd. The tartness of the lime breaks up the butter and cream. 

The Hard Apple Cider Fritter might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten. So much apple pressed into crunchy cubes of fried brioche. There’s an alcoholic theme that continues with the Pear Lavender and Crème Brûlée. Covered in a gorgeous crust of torched sugar, each crunchy bite releases a fragrant vanilla cream. Apply Cointreau liberally - it adds a bit of bitterness and a bit of citrus for balance. 

Best donuts I’ve ever had. Only donuts I’ve ever been truly excited about, head-and-shoulders over Sidecar, which is really saying something. I’ve been going through life thinking I didn’t like donuts, but it was really because I’d never had Blue Star. 

Sidecar Doughnuts UPDATE - Torrance

 

When it’s your birthday, you can have your cake and eat it. 

Have your Celebration Cake...doughnut and eat it! It’s cake in a better way, glazed instead of iced, and it still has all the sprinkles. 

A few other flavors: the fruity Susie's Blueberry Pancake finish like a concentrated muffin, Vanilla Bean Glazed is OG greatness, and Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough has all the things. 

Strawberries & Cream is fluffy but rich, full of icing-cream and fresh strawberries FTW.

Know anyone with an upcoming birthday? Let them eat doughnuts. 

Mochinut - El Segundo

Mochi. Fried. Glazed. Eat. Eat again. Can't stop eating.

Because sooooo good! Blueberry is fruity and sweet, Maple Bacon is a winner, and Fruity Pebbles are always fun. 

Strawberry Funnel Cake is my favorite, the Original Glazed are great, and I love the sweet simplicity of the Churro.

The texture is chewy but soft, and you'll go nuts for these balls of dough. You won't be bummed if they get a little old or cold, but they're best served hot and fresh. I prefer Del Amo's Modo, but I still wouldn't miss out on Mochinut. 

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - Torrance

I will have all the donuts. 

Starting with the Sidecar Classic 6-Pack to sample all their signatures. The basics are a sure bet; a classic Old Fashion topped with a sugary glaze, and a lighter Butter & Salt.

Every day is like a birthday if you grab a Birthday Cake.

But if it’s my birthday I’d rather have some savory bacon bits tapping into a glaze of sweet maple syrup. This Maple Bacon is my fave.

They pack a berry bright summer into the Huckleberry donut.

And the Saigon Cinnamon Crumb has a sweet and crumbly crust.

October brings a Trick or Treat Yo'self Sampler. They have Halloween Cake which is birthday cake with black and orange sprinkles. The Pumpkin Pie & Everything Spice is amazing, and I can't enough of this fluffy donut in pumpkin glaze. The mascarpone pumpkin mousse on top makes it taste like a pumpkin spice latte solid form. I LOVE that Spiced Apple Cider too. The donut itself is full of apple chunks, and the surrounding batter tastes like cider.

They also throw in a Maple Bacon because it's awesome. The Choc-A-Lot is heavy classic that looks and tastes like a moist and decadent bundt. There's also a Manila Vanilla Sweet Potato that's so simple yet so satisfying, just a buttery cake of comfort food.

Aside from Honda and Toyota, Sidecar may be the best thing that's ever come to Torrance. Serving Bernie Botts every flavor donuts, it's hard not to get hooked on their creative flavors and flawless execution!

Leonard's Bakery - Honolulu

Take a Homer Simpson-style doughnut with all the fixin's, hook it up with one of those lighter fried biscuit balls from Chinese buffets, give it a few minutes, and voila, your love child, the Malasada. 

A morning malasada will have you craving a cup of coffee, and Leonard's makes a mean latte. Combine coffee with a Banana puff filled with creamy custard for a combination that's meant to be. The local favorite Li-Hing is just as strong, like Sour Patch Kids in doughnut form, with dueling sugar in sweet and sour.

Leonard's has been dubbed the best on the island, and simple Plain Sugar shows you just how Leonard's earned its fame. The little do-biscuit is just perfect, impossibly fluffy and soft. If you ever get the chance to go, treat Leonard's Malasadas like Pokemon - try to catch 'em all.