Best Donuts In San Diego For Your Next Sugar Rush

After your next sugar rush and frantically searching for ‘donuts near me?’

There’s nothing quite like satisfying your cravings with a freshly baked, glazed donut straight from the oven.

Donut shops in San Diego are plentiful, and they serve a wide variety of these tasty treats, from double-layered chocolate to delicious vegan options. But some stand out more than others.

We’ve gathered together a list of the best donuts in San Diego. These will help you choose where to enjoy your next deep-fried, ring-shaped slice of heaven!

Best Donuts In San Diego

Donut Bar San Diego

Address: 631 B St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 255-6360
Website

Donut Bar on B Street is one of the most talked about spots in San Diego, specializing in artisanal donuts. From the incredibly friendly staff to creative donut styles, it doesn’t get much better than this place.

All donuts at Donut Bar are made at the store fresh every day. They feature unique flavors like Strawberry Split, Vegan Vanilla Bean Glazed, Chocolate Euphoria, and Red Velvet.

If you have a big order in mind, Donut Bar allows customers to order in advance. This means you don’t have to wait around in their big line which usually forms from early in the morning.

Donut Bar only opens from 7 AM to 1 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 8 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

Address: 3435 Del Mar Heights Rd d7, San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (858) 356-4465
Website

Located a bit outside of the central San Diego in Del Mar, Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee takes the art of making donuts to the next level.

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee’s vegan donuts, in particular, are amazing. Especially the Vegan Huckleberry Peanut Butter Drizzle.

The sweet huckleberry glaze is truly mouthwatering, plus it’s completely gluten free too. If you’d prefer a more traditional option, their Vanilla Bean Glazed is to die for.

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee is open from 6:30 AM to 6 PM, Sunday to Thursday, and 6:30 AM to 7 PM, on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nomad Donuts

Address: 3102 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 431-5000
Website

Sitting on University Avenue is the award-winning, vegan-friendly Nomad Donuts. Crafted with local ingredients, these guys do donuts the right way.

Everyone raves about Nomad’s specialty donuts, especially the Taro Coconut and the Match Anko. The yummy red bean paste explodes into your mouth the moment you bite into it.

Of course, the classic options are equally as good, like the Cream Cheese Guava.

Nomad Donuts is open from 7 AM to 2 PM, Wednesdays to Fridays, 7 AM to 3 PM, Saturdays and Sundays, and it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

San Diego’s Finest Donuts

Address: 3458 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 284-9520
Website

If you happen to be in the North Park area and need a sweet fix, you can’t go wrong with San Diego’s Finest Donuts.

Not only will you find strawberry-glazed and chocolate-covered varieties, but you can also get donut sandwiches. These donut sandwiches are every bit as delicious as they sound.

They have gained a reputation as the go-to lunch spot in the area, as their sandwiches are pretty incredible too.

Open all day from 5 AM to 6 PM, you’ll have plenty of time to taste these beloved donuts for yourself.

Peterson’s Donut Corner

Address: 903 S Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: (760) 745-7774
Website

Before we even get into how delectable the donuts are here, we can’t talk about Peterson’s Donut Corner and not mention the fact that they’re open 24 hours a day.

If you ask locals where to get the best donuts in San Diego, there’s a good chance they’ll point you in the way of Peterson’s. Then suggest you go for their French Crullers or Pillow Donuts, which is their take on cronuts, the dreamy donut and croissant combination. 

Peterson’s has become an institution in Escondido, and it’s not often you’ll see this place without a crowd of people inside.

Thanks to their round-the-clock service, you can fulfill your longing for donuts at any hour.

Broad Street Dough Co.

Address: 967 S Coast Hwy 101 Ste 109B, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (760) 704-8633
Website

Up next we’re heading north to Encinitas to Broad Street Dough Co. Here you can watch your made-to-order donuts being crafted every day of the week.

Choosing what donuts you want will be your biggest struggle here, as they offer a staggering array of options, from their heavenly S’mores to the Crunchy Maple and Cinnamon concoction.

Best of all, most creations are vegan or gluten free donuts, so no one needs to miss out on these one-of-a-kind delights.

Broad Street Dough Co. opens from 8 AM to 4:30 PM daily, staying on later until 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

VG Donuts & Bakery

Address: 106 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
Phone: (760) 753-2400
Website

Another Northern San Diego gem is the famous VG Donuts. It’s safe to say the team here knows a thing or two about what makes the finest deep-fried desserts.

An old-fashioned donut store that’s been among the best in the business for over 50 years, VG Donuts has a dizzying selection of treats.

You’ll have your choice of chocolate glazed classics, their iconic Blueberry Buttermilk Bites, Red Velvet Cheesecake donuts, and everything in between.

Open every day except Monday from 5 AM to 5 PM and from 6 AM until 6 PM at weekends, VG Donuts does their baking at 4 AM and 4 PM. This means you don’t have to be up before sunrise to get freshly baked goods.

Donut Star

Address: 601 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 542-1809

With an ever-changing line-up of confections, Donut Star has become a regular haunt for locals in the Hillcrest area seeking the perfect pack of glazed snacks.

You can expect all the long-time favorites here, like cream or jelly-filled varieties, as well as flavors like Taro, Apple Spice, and Oreo.

If you have any space left, you must try their renowned apple maple fritters.

Donut Star serves up mouthwatering treats from between 5 AM and 9 PM, seven days a week.

Rose Donuts

Address: Multiple Locations
Website

Rose Donuts has been the go-to spot for crispy donuts and breakfast sandwiches in Modera for some time now.

Don’t be surprised to find a long line forming outside during busier hours, but their delightful donuts are most definitely worth waiting for.

As soon as you step inside, you’ll be hit with the smell of fresh donuts. You’ll then have to decide if you fancy the perfect glazed or colorful sprinkled style donuts.

The staff at Rose Donuts are as sweet as the food, and this goes for both of their San Diego locations along Linda Vista Road.

From 4:30 AM until 10 PM, you can sample the fare at Rose Donuts. See for yourself what all the fuss is all about.

Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop

Address: 2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 780-0914
Website

At Little Italy’s Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop, you can munch on your donut while enjoying the view from their rooftop.

Be sure to get here early, as these guys tend to sell out pretty quickly.

You’ll find tons of different options here, with flavors like vanilla-glazed, peanut butter and jelly, and maple bacon. You’ll find something new you want to try with every visit.

Stop by Devil’s Dozen between 7 AM and 1 PM midweek or from 8 AM on weekends.

O B Donuts

Address: 1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd UNIT C, San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: (619) 222-0298

A lovely little nook in Ocean Beach, O B Donuts is among the best spots for donuts and breakfast on the go.

If you’re up for sunrise at Sunset Cliffs, make your way over to O B Donuts afterwards and pick up some lighter-than-air donuts.

This is no-frills donut shop, serves up all the classics like chocolate-dipped, coconut, and jelly-filled options.

O B Donuts opens from 6 AM to 2 PM every day, but often closes up before then on busy days.

Golden Donut

Address: 2360 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 298-2352
Website

Warm donuts, excellent coffee, and unbeatable prices are what it’s all about at Golden Donut.

This family-run joint has been providing North Park residents with homemade donuts for over a decade, and they’re also known for having some of the finest Vietnamese coffees in town.

Boston Cream, Crunchy Sprinkled, and Cookies and Cream are all up for grabs here.

Open from 5 AM until 6 PM, Golden Donut works for early birds and late risers.

Donut Factory

Address: 4007 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 584-2148
Website

Not far from Golden Donut is the unassuming but delicious Donut Factory.

This is a spot you don’t want to miss for super fresh donuts that are soft and warm on the inside and ever-so-crispy on the outside.

You won’t find over-the-top, unconventional donuts here, as the team at Donut Factory focuses on getting the old-fashioned editions just right.

If you buy a box here, don’t be surprised to find an extra donut or two inside.

Visitors can come by Donut Factory between 6 AM and 3 PM any day of the week.

Donut Panic

Address: 6171 Mission Gorge Rd #113, San Diego, CA 92120
Phone: (619) 280-1894
Website

Donut Panic has a hefty selection of vegan and non-vegan donuts and is one of the few spots in the city with a consistent range of plant-based treats, too.

You’ll likely have a hard time picking out which donuts to sample, as there are some out-of-the-ordinary flavors. There’s the delicious Thai Tea and Rosewater Almond, alongside all-time favorites like apple fritters and cream-stuffed alternatives.

Dishing out donuts all day, Donut Panic is open every day of the week except Mondays from 6 AM until 7 PM, with a later start of 7 AM on Sundays. 

The Goods

Address: 2965 State St, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone: (760) 994-0458
Website

Sitting just off the beach in Carlsbad, The Goods is a donut store you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.

Taking artisan creations to the next level, The Goods craft mouthwatering classic, vegan, and gluten free donuts. These include styles like Chocolate Ganache, Banoffee, Churro Crullers, and other dreamy combinations.

There’s no better combination than donuts and coffee, and The Goods definitely knows how to whip up a fine cup of arabica.

Whether you’re in the mood for a shot of their finest house drip blend or the extra-sweet vanilla latte, your hit of caffeine here will be a tasty one.

Excluding Mondays, The Goods opens from 7 AM until 4 PM, but your best bet is to get here early before they sell out.

Mary’s Donuts & Coffee

Address: 8959 Carlton Hills Blvd, Santee, CA 92071
Phone: (619) 749-2871
Website

Head east of the city, and you’ll find two branches of the treasured Mary’s Donuts & Coffee.

As far as San Diego donut shops go, this store has been on pretty much everyone’s list for a long time now. Although Mary’s Donuts is renowned for their Bavarian Cream and Bear Claw Donuts, the huge sandwiches here are just as fabulous.

If you sign up for Mary’s Birthday Club online, you’ll receive notifications about specials and sugary presents on your birthday.

No matter what hour of the night it is, Mary’s Donuts has got you covered, as they are open 24 hours every day, seven days a week.

Dodo Bird Donuts

Address: 369 Bird Rock Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 321-6340
Website

We couldn’t talk about the best donuts in San Diego without mentioning La Jolla’s super cute Dodo Birds Donuts.

There’s so much on offer here. You can either stick to the classics and opt for a powdered sugar or chocolate-filled donut, or mix it up with passionfruit or citrus creations.

If you’re feeling particularly peckish, try one of their freshly made sandwiches and tasty coffees, the perfect lunchtime snack.

The doors open here at 6:30 AM, Wednesday to Sunday, but the donuts don’t make their appearance until 7 AM.

Christy’s Donuts

Address: 3710 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107
Phone: (619) 224-0502

Moving further south to the lovely neighborhood of Point Loma, Christy’s Donuts offers sweet and fluffy donuts for a very competitive price.

Blueberry-glazed, maple-dipped, and coconut donuts are all featured on their regular menu. Although these are just a fraction of the varieties you can choose from at Christy’s Donuts.

Like many donut shops in San Diego, this is a cash-only establishment, but there’s an ATM on-site if you need to withdraw some dollars on the day.

You can visit Christy’s Donuts any day of the week between 5 AM and 8 PM.

With such an abundance of heavenly options serving up sugar-glazed and vegan-friendly specials, finding the best donuts in San Diego has never been easier.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an early bird, night owl, or have specific dietary requirements because there are so many top-tier donut shops offering deep-fried ring-shaped snacks.

Which donut shop in San Diego will you visit first?

Looking for more ideas? Check out our additional guides:

Top Spots For Breakfast In San Diego
Best La Jolla Coffee Shops
Delicious Barrio Logans Restaurants, Coffee Shops, & Breweries
Best Brunch In San Diego
Top Brunch Spots In La Jolla

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