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August 21, 2006
Krispy Kreme Fallen In Their Own Donut Hole?
Lately we've heard a lot of scuttlebutt on the local and national level about outposts of the hot and heavy-making donut purveyor Krispy Kreme locking their doors for good with little or no notice. Last week, at one of those typical meeting of the minds where baked goods are often set out in the attempt to temporarily appease or possibly numb attendees, the bringer of the Krispy Kremes let us know that this time we'd really better get 'em while they're hot -- most of the local franchises had already, or were due to shut down shortly. So what the heck is going on with Krispy Kreme?
Earlier this year at an event we noticed that the table of their glazed originals was being met with only glazed glances by patrons, passed up in favor of anything but. Could it be that the low-carb revolution socked the donut chain right in the gut? Already one of the franchisors, Great Circle, has seen their location count fall from 31 to 17; their La Habra store -- the first one to open in So Cal -- shut down for good last Thursday, leaving those clients with only the fading scent of hot sugar and grease to satisfy their fix (and hoping they like the taste of hot chicken and grease better; a Chick-Fil-A is slated to open in its place). Right now negotiations are being settled for new ownership of just three Krispy Kreme locations in the LA area: Burbank, Ontario, and Orange. It seems Krispy Kreme has indeed fallen into its own donut hole. Personally, we try to leave those heavy-weight heart-attack inducers more than we take them, and Burbank is our local supplier, so for us it's not a loss. But we're wondering what everyone else is thinking: Good riddance or say it isn't so, Krispy Kreme? And on top of that, we want to know:
Where is the best donut in LA?
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The best donut in LA is actually in Glendora of all places.
Donut Man is open 24/7 and has the most amazing donut stuffed FULL of fresh strawberries in the spring.
and i also hear of a peach donut in the fall...if you're so inclined.
Ever since i discovered this place, i've forgotten about krispy kreme. the extra hour to get there just makes it taste that much better
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Dulcet Gourmet on the corner of Vanowen and Platt. Hands down best. Based on an old Japanese donut recipe apparently.
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My choice - Amber Chicken & Donuts on Balboa/Burbank. Try the chocolate chip cinnamon roll donut! I can't drive past without stopping to get one (or two). OR The bakery @ Gelson's on Van Nuys - crumb raised! Holey good eaten... enjoy.
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Consider this another vote cast for Donut Man in Glendora. The fresh strawberry donuts are their specialty, but all of their donuts are good. Personally I'm not a big fan of glazed donuts; I prefer the cake donuts like devil's food. One problem with Krispy Kreme is that while they're famous for their glazed donuts, those are their ONLY good donuts, and they're ONLY good when they're hot. Selling non-hot Krispy Kremes in grocery stores and such was a big mistake; it really damaged the brand.
Good donuts in an unlikely spot: we stopped at a place in Beatty, Nevada on a trip to Death Valley, and they had excellent, rich donuts.
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Alex Donut, in Hollywood, on Franklin just off of Argyle. She makes the most enormous donuts in the city, and they are outstanding. I believe she used to be a nun as well -- always giving down-on-their-luck types a donut. She used to yell at me for not coming in more often.
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Ben,
I will try Alex out!
Currently I still think that Randy's Donuts by LAX rule because of the drive-thru windows and when im in Westwood i have a hard time not poking my head into Stan's.
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i heard on the QT all the KK locations round L.A. were sold to Chick-Fil-A. Donut Man is good, but that's due to being a former Foster's Donuts(the great SoCal based donut chain-not ugh, Winchell's). I like Spudnuts but quality control is a problem, there's a good one in the northern San Fernando Valley not far from their Corporate HQ. Despite the record number of donut shops in L.A. the great ones aren't even in this state;
http://www.shipleydonuts.ws/
http://www.southernmaiddonuts.com/
http://www.lamars.com/xlocations/locations.html
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/
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Bob's donuts in the Fairfax Farmer's Market!They are so good,many choices of cake and raised and killer coffee in 50's coffee cups to enjoy with your choice!
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A third vote for Donut Man! The strawberry donut is a must have at least once.
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I should also point out that while everybody goes gaga over the giant donut on Randy's Donuts, there's an equally huge donut sitting atop a store at the corner of Atlantic Blvd. and Alondra Blvd. in Compton.
And of course, there's also the awesomeness of The Donut Hole, where you get to drive through two, count 'em, TWO donuts to get your nightly fix.
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I like California Donuts on the corner of 3rd and New Hampshire.
But going back to DonutMan in Glendora, in the summer season you can get Peach Donuts too!!!
Also the biggest bearclaws, cinnamon rolls, apples fritters that will give you a heart attack, but they are "Oh SOOOoooo Goooood!!!"