The Best Damn Donuts in the SF Bay Area: 6 Picks for National Donut Day
You can be confused about the proper spelling of ‘doughnuts’ (it’s officially ‘doughnut’ but the acceptable, simplified version is ‘donut’), but you can’t possibly dislike them. Just in time for summer and outdoor hangouts, June 1st marks National Doughnut Day, in a tribute to the deep-fried, shape-shifting, all-American pastry. Looking for the most delicious donuts the Bay? Try the following standout spots. That unmistakable nostalgic aroma of fried dough will let you know you’ve reached your destination.
Bob’s Donuts
Sometimes, all you want is a good- no-frills doughnut, and when those time come, nothing beats Bob’s. Here you’ll find plump, fluffy and straightforward doughnuts sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon and cookie crumbs, or glazed with silky chocolate or maple. For the especially hungry, or for very close-knit groups of friends, Bob’s offer ‘the big doughnut’, big enough to hide your face behind.
1621 Polk Street, San Francisco
Donut Savant
Humble on decor but big on flavor, Donut Savant is, according to their Instagram account, “redefining doughnuts.” The doughy creations come in all shapes and sizes, from a heart to a square, and creativity reigns supreme. From the lemon custard-topped doughnut to a pineapple one, to creme brulee, deciding which one to take home is not easy. Unless you just order a dozen and sample them all. Problem solved!
1934 Broadway, Oakland
Mister Bomboloni
Tiny doughnuts on a stick? In San Francisco, this too is possible. The new-ish addition to the Ferry Building marketplace is this Italian pastry shop specializing in airy, custard-filled doughnuts that come in two sizes. The regular doughnuts are indulgent and packed with filling, but the small yet mighty bites of goodness are all the rage here.
Ferry Building, San Francisco
Dynamo Donuts and Coffee
Of all the photogenic pastries out there, the humble doughnut may be the least striking but the Mission-based Dynamo Donuts does a pretty good job at bringing the doughnut into the Instagram age, producing delectable and beautiful rounds of donut magic. Choose from flavors like Maple Bacon Apple and Spiced Chocolate, or indulge in the seasonal flavors of June, such as Strawberry Earl Grey, Pineapple Basil, and Lemon Meringue.
2760 24th Street, San Francisco
Johnny Doughnuts
The long-awaited San Francisco outpost of the San Rafael-based food truck brought fresh doughnuts to Hayes Valley, a neighborhood where carb decadence often seems to take second place to healthy greens. The menu includes delicious “old fashioned” doughnuts with a variety of glazes, to fluffy and airy new-school versions. And then there’s the obvious yet irresistable hybrid pastry, the crodough—yep, that’s right, a layered, croissant-like doughnut! #Heaven
392 Fulton Street, San Francisco
Bonus: Donut Farm
Like many utterly delicious things, the traditional doughnut isn’t free of animal products, due to the presence of milk and butter. Trust the East Bay, however, to deliver the golden fritter to vegans, in the most unapologetic way possible. With two locations in Berkeley and Oakland, the L.A.-originated vegan doughnut shop reimagines the donut as we know it. Think doughnuts with interesting flavors and glazes like salted caramel, whiskey tangerine, and even sweet curry, made with sustainable ingredients and a generous sprinkle of imagination.
6037 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, and 1312 Gilman Street, Berkeley
