Donut Friend

Category:	Donut Shop
Address:	5107 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065, USA
Phone:	+1 213-995-6191
Site:	donutfriend.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	Closed 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–10PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Esther Kim

After Thrillist declared Donut Friend to have one of the best doughnuts in LA, I had to try this place! My friend had recently bought a house nearby so I decided to bring Donut Friend as a housewarming gift. Parking is street only, but I was able to find a spot less than a block away and walk over. They have a Dozen Donut Special, where you order a dozen doughnuts and can get a box of doughnut holes and a dipping sauce for free. I went with that option and the lady was nice and let me have two dipping sauces because I couldnt choose between vanilla and maple. Thanks! For my dozen I got the following: -- Strawberry Lab: A traditional donut filled with whipped cream, fresh strawberries -- Strawberry Lab topped with chocolate glaze -- (2) White Chocolate Stripes: A traditional donut topped with a mixed berry glaze, white chocolate, and a fresh blackberry -- (2) SMorrissey: A chocolate cake donut filled with toasted marshmallows, topped with chocolate glaze and graham cracker crumbs -- (2) Mango Chili Lime: Traditional donut, chili lime seasoning, candied lime -- Husker Blu: A moist cake donut loaded with fresh blueberries and a blueberry glaze -- Polar Berry Club: Lemon glaze, fresh mixed berries, and mint on top of a traditional donut -- (2) Angry Samoa: A vanilla cake donut dipped in chocolate, and topped with caramel, toasted coconut, and chocolate stripes I would be a horrible gift-giver if I gave them these doughnuts and then ate them all, so I only sampled two of them. The Polar Berry Club was delicious, but my favourite was the Mango Chili Lime. That one was really good! I ate half of it and then chased my friend down to make her eat the other half because I loved it so much and wanted her to enjoy it too. Yum! It is one of their Limited Edition doughnuts, however, so they do not always have it in stock. Donut Friend is also amazing because you can DIY your own doughnut creations. You pick a doughnut base, then the filling, and then toppings! Ive never done this (because their already assembled doughnuts look/sound amazing enough) but this sounds really cool too! So smart of them because with this DIY option you will constantly have to come back to try more creations! I definitely need to come back to try their other doughnuts, and perhaps make my own ;)

Anne Ayunan

I have been to almost all Katsu-ya locations -- Hollywood, Glendale, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Studio City. The best and most memorable service at a Katsu-ya has been at their Sherman Oaks location on Sepulveda Blvd. I highly recommend visiting this location as their sushi chefs are friendly, prompt, attentive, and their staff including their manager interacts with the guests. He also offers water to those waiting for a seat. This Katsu-ya location has the worst service out of all the locations Ive been visiting over the past 13 years. They are inefficient and disorganized here. I left Kiwami tonight without finishing our meal because of their horrible level of service. I should have left $0 for tip. We left and visited the neighboring original Katsu-ya Studio City location (and paid for valet again at their neighboring sister restaurant) to finish off our meal including dessert. I vowed to never return to Katsu-ya if we received the same level of service at the original location. Reasons for our dissatisfaction at Kiwami (upscale Katsu-ya): -Gave my sister a pot of hot water instead of tea. Ive never seen that before. -The server called me "sir" when I am a femaleLoved this donut concept similar to custom places like Subway or 800 Degrees. You tell them how you want your donut topped or filled. I ordered a croissant donut topped with maple and bacon. I took one bit and devoured it in several bites. One of the best versions of the croissant donuts Ive had in LA. Make a trip out here if youre a donut lover or in the area. We were in not too far Santa Anita and made the drive here from there -- totally worth it. Take a walk in the area and try the many taco trucks in area while youre out here. Maybe go over to Galcos to check out their display of bottled sodas, craft beer, and candies. You can take a stroll over to The York, grab a pint of craft beer, then head over to back in the neighborhood on the weekend and have a taco at the home selling tacos from their yard.

Ivan Portillo

Im not familiar with the Highland Park area, but a friend recommended I try Donut Friend. As I approached the shop, I noticed the line forming outside the door. A bit surprising, since it was around 2pm on a Saturday, but the line moved at a good pace. It also helps that the line forms in front of the donut selection. The donuts are like none other. You will definitely not find these at the yum yum around the corner. To start off with, these are vegan donuts, but in my opinion taste better than most other donuts. I chose 3: Strawberry Lab (A traditional donut filled with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and topped with chocolate glaze). My personal favorite. The whipped cream was really good and fresh. CINNAMINERAL (Chocolate cinnamon crumble and vanilla glaze on top of a traditional donut) Light, delicate, and just enough cinnamon for a good flavor. NUTELLAVISION (A chocolate hazelnut spread and a dash of olive oil inside our traditional donut, topped with vanilla glaze and a pinch of sea salt.) This was my friends favorite, but the sea salt really caught me off guard. When I first took a bite, it was a bit overpowering and I think took away from most of the other flavors.

Evaluations Glendale

Saved on the line of fire... About 2 years ago they had just open. I naturally stopped by to check it out, i never had a rich donut... My was 16$ out the door with bells and whistles and they had great flyers so i grabbed a few. The donut did hit the spot right on the yam yam... About 3 days later, 830am, Im running late, my car gets woop woop sound and we get pulled over. First thing i was asked: If i knew why did i get pulled you over? I reached for my registration and accidently pulled out the flyer folded in 3 and it said Donut Friend on front of it... Lets me go w no ticked and we all lived happily ever after. The end. Last but not least you still reading this, its cause your awesome, and weed is finally legal, finally, so dont forget to get the new or renew your doctors recommendation at Cannabis Evaluations of Glendale.

Jonathan Lee

Customization is the play here, with the ability to take a donut and add whatever fillings and toppings you want. I stuck with one of the pre-customized options (and a simpler one at that): the Poppy Gandhi (vanilla cake donut with a lemon/poppy seed topping). The icing had a great lemony kick to it. The donut was a little odd; the outside was nice and crispy from the frying, but the interior didnt have that great rich, cakey texture I like from a cake donut. It was later that I found that Donut Friend is almost completely vegan, which may explain the textural issue. Kudos to them for the low-key veganism, though. I have a feeling the raised donuts will fare better after going through the vegan ringer, so Ill have to come back to try that in the future.

Chad Kotz

Tasty, vegan, and incredibly expensive. I would describe myself as "into doughnuts" and I will say that these are very good (especially considering they are vegan). The build-your-own toppings system, of equally good vegan toppings, is also a neat addition that adds a lot of unique and tasty combinations. However, with a base price of $2 per doughnut, and a $1 per-topping surcharge, the price of even a single donut quickly becomes exorbitant. If you have a vegan friend coming in from out of town, or want to impress a vegan date, bring them here for dessert - theyre sure to love it. Outside of special occasions though, I really cant see being a frequent patron of this place (especially when Scoops is right next door).