Best Doughnut Shop

Assorted donuts from Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee in Costa Mesa.

BRAD A. JOHNSON, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee

270 E. 17th St. #18, Costa Mesa; 949-873-5424; sidecardoughnuts.com

Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee started with a warehouse-turned-test kitchen and a renovated bakery truck, which shared doughnuts with neighbors in OC The flagship Costa Mesa location opened in 2013. Adorned with antique fixtures, vintage wallpaper and hand-painted tile, it looks like an old city building. Patrons can watch glazes, compotes, creams and crumbles being made for the doughnuts via an open kitchen and front facing prep spaces. Small fresh batches are made hourly all day to ensure warmth and freshness — none of that sitting on the shelf getting stale here. The focus is on nostalgic flavors with a twist.

The Cooking Channel’s “Unique Sweets” and Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” programs have spotlighted scrumptious Sidecar gourmet concoctions like huckleberry, salted malted chocolate chip cookie dough, basil eggs benedict, dulce de leche churro, Saigon cinnamon crumb, maple bacon and rainbow berry Pop-Tart (a seasonal variety). Cinnamon rolls and apple fritters are available on selected days; there are also weekly gluten-free flavors and a few vegan options. Earlier this year, Food & Wine magazine proclaimed Sidecar to be the best doughnut shop in California.

Drinks encompass pineapple mint spritzer, Vietnamese iced coffee, black onyx mocha and beyond. The signature Sidecar blend espresso and rotating single origin roasts are available for purchase by the bag.

— George A. Paul

2. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Orange, Mission Viejo; 949-348-8900, krispykreme.com

This North Carolinabred company has been synonymous with warm glazed doughnuts for nearly 85 years. It began in grocery stores before segueing to freestanding locations. Last spring, Krispy Kreme created a media frenzy by offering a free original glazed doughnut daily to customers with proof of COVID-19 vaccination. More than a million have been given away so far.

According to Mike Thompson, Krispy Kreme brand manager of retail marketing, the company continues to serve guests “delicious, melt-in-yourmouth doughnuts” and remains relevant by “sharing joy with our fans in fun, innovative ways.”

Among those ways, he says, are through the introduction of minidoughnuts, popular Chocolate Glaze Fridays, “brand partnerships like our OREO cookie glazed doughnuts earlier this year that featured our first co-branded glaze” and “numerous doughnuts made specifically for holidays and other occasions.”

3. Mag’s Donuts & Bakery

Irvine (two locations); magsdonuts.com

Back in 1980, Yean and Ning Yen, who fled the Cambodian civil war and moved to America the year before, bought a shop from a Chicagoan named Mags and opened Mag’s Donuts & Bakery. The family owned and operated business, which has locations in University Park and Quail Hill, touts its doughnuts are “handcrafted to perfection.”

“We make the freshest donuts and bakery possible with excellent service,” says Peter Yen. “Whether it’s customer support or bringing quality ingredients to the table, we strive to be the best bakery in town.”

Offerings include specialty croissant donuts with whipped cream, strawberries and cream or Nutella, French crullers and traditional favorites, plus bagels, muffins, hot biscuit, English muffin and bagel sandwiches with sausage, turkey or bacon.

Yen says “we are always looking to add new items and expand our menu. The Quail Hill location offers breakfast burritos that are a customer favorite.”