We have had our fair share of donuts in our lives. The reviews below range from hidden gems to American food chains, all from which we have frequently had donuts. At some places, we have even established a relationship with the employees. From barely passing as a donut to the best thing my tastebuds have ever experienced, these are the notable places to get a donut within a 30 minute drive.
Safeway:
1 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA
Open until 11:00 P.M.
Average Price: $.79
Everyone has had Safeway donut at one point or another. Safeway has a decent selection and the donuts get the job done. However, the only real time for a Safeway donut is freshman or sophomore year when you’re walking back from lunch and want a dessert to get you through your worst period (usually third or seventh because you’re coming back to school for another three hours). In terms of the donuts themselves, they are often stale and have a fairly rubbery texture. If you are in dire need of a donut and you can’t drive elsewhere, getting a Safeway donut wouldn’t be the worst thing you’ve ever done.
Donut Alley:
471 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA
Open 6 A.M.-1P.M. (closed on Monday)
Average Price: $1.50
We started going to Donut Alley twice a week because it was better than doing nothing in tutorial. The moment you walk in you are greeted by a very nice woman named Linda. She’s funny, sarcastic, and will even give you nicknames as she did for us (Tall Guy being Ethan’s). Not only do they have the best selection – including maple bacon and fried apple fritter – but they have the best glazed donut ever. Donut Alley consistently proves to be the best donut around, worth the unexcused absence, and yes in fact, even better than Bob’s Donuts (described below). In our 18 years of living we have never indulged on any fried dough hole with as much excitement as we do when we sink our teeth into a Donut Alley glazed donut. It’s almost like our taste buds are having an orgasm every Wednesday and Friday at around 10 A.M.
Bob’s Donuts:
1621 Polk St, San Francisco, CA
Open 24/7
Average Price: $1.25
Bob’s is a 25-minute drive from Tam and was once famous at Tam for having the best donuts around and being completely worth the drive. However, now it’s overrated and is certainly behind other places, like Cream, for the best late night snack. We do admit that the hours are great; Bob’s is open 24 hours a day. However, we notice the donuts get old and lose their flavor if you go past 12 A.M. If you’re in the neighborhood, it’s worth a stop by, but the idea that Bob’s is a “great” donut is false. High-schoolers go to Bob’s for the experience when they’re high, drunk, or bored at 1 A.M. rather than for the actual donuts themselves.
Krispy Kreme:
1575 Sullivan Ave, Daly City, CA 94015
Open 6 A.M. to 11 A.M. (12P.M. on Friday)
Average Price: $1.15
Ah yes, the American Dream. Krispy Kreme donuts is synonymous with McDonald’s, Wal Mart, and capitalism. While Krispy Kreme is the only chain donut restaurant on here, it ranks second behind Donut Alley, because after the vast time it’s been open, there is still a continuity of great costumer service and cheap, delicious donuts. The glaze is a classic and the raspberry-filled glaze is world class. The only problem with Krispy Kreme is the distance. The nearest one is in Daly City. On your next trip back from the airport, stop by and enlighten yourself.
7-11:
Nearest location: Probably a five-minute walk from your house
Hours: Open 24/7
Average price: $0.99
If you’re in a rush in the morning, 7-11, like Safeway, will get the job done. It’s no revelation, and you’re probably going to have to have an emergency bathroom break 45 minutes into 1st period, but we would say it’s worth it for a decent morning donut. If you can find a microwave, we would definitely try nuking a glazed for 10 seconds; it makes it surprisingly bearable.
Donuts are a bit of an enigma. Half of the time their purpose is a nice pairing with some coffee and the other half, they are late night treat, usually at the wee hours. Some donuts are more special than others, as seen by our rankings. Sure a Safeway or 7-11 donut isn’t half bad, but there’s a reason we embark every tutorial up Camino Alto until we arrive at the hidden gem, Donut Alley. Nothing reminds me of childhood more than digging into a Krispy Kreme donut, that nostalgic feeling of when we used to always indulge on them at Giants games in the early 2000’s. Or the treck to Bob’s Donuts, which is always an upbeat car ride there then accompanied by the dreaded donut hangover on the car ride back. Sometimes a donut is about the taste, but sometimes it’s more than about the journey than the endgame.