Donut Man, at last!

[JeffW]

As I'd planned for the past week, I left Sherman Oaks this morning at 6 A.M., for my first visit to the Donut Man in Glendora. I do more than my share of unusual exploring when it comes to anything cooking, or dining related. Many more misses than hits. This morning was a definite hit. The whole trip took an hour and 15 minutes, and by 7:30, we were back at home, enjoying a "dinner plate" sized donut breakfast. Donut Man's Strawberry donut was off the charts ummmazing. I've heard about their strawberry donuts, but not about how they looked in appearance. They are fairly huge, and it's definitely not a donut that is plopped into a bag. Donut Man must go through a ton of boxes for packaging. A round raised "no hole" glazed donut, is horizontally sliced, opened wide and absolutely stuffed with delicious strawberries covered in a juicy sweet glaze. Definitely a donut made for a fork. Bites of the juicy glazed strawberries with the soft donut, and the hardened glazed on top was just delicious---flavor wise and texture wise. We also shared two other donuts. A foot long "Tigertail" that was a twisted donut of regular glaze and chocolate dough, and also a simple round raised donut with a maple glaze. These donuts were also enjoyable, but not in the "revelation" sense of the fruit filled monsters that they make. However---for those who have the room in their tummies to turn a trip to Donut Man into a true buffet, there were other donuts that did have that "revelation" look to them. I can't vouch for them, but I saw an apple filled bear claw, covered in a white glaze and covered with chopped peanuts, that looked excellent. Also a round raised blueberry stuffed donut covered in chocolate---also a round raised donut with swirls of cream cheese frosting and drizzles of jam on top, etc. etc. etc. I think you get the picture!

Cheers hounds, and have a great weekend.

Jeff

[OCAdam]

Can somebody please post pics of the donuts?

thank you!!!

[JeffW]

Wow Adam,

I was tickled to see that my original post is still hanging around. If you go to my original post, the very next one is from my friend Marlene. After my Donut Man trip, I brought her one of the Strawberry donuts. In Marlene's post, she posted a picture of what I brought. It's not a picture of their array of donuts, but at least you can get a look see for what this place is famous for, namely the most deslishuhsist fresh Strawberry donut you can imagine.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Beignets]

Anyone remember the prices for these donuts? Anything... the strawberery, the bear claw, the tiger tail, etc. I'm attending a brunch potluck for 50+ people next week and wondering if I should pick up a few boxes instead of making my own casserole and quiche.

Thanks!

[jay 1]

just there yesterday. the fresh strawberry (really wonderful), tigertails and other "special" donuts are about 2$ - $2.50. the others are typical prices of .75 to 1.25 depending on a plain cake to a filled. as mentioned above, the bavariam creme was really incredilbe! and the crumb was pretty good too. i am SO glad that i live about an hour from donut man....or i'd be living in a sugar coma! if there are donut eaters at your brunch, why waste time with a casserole!

[ozzygee]

FYI, the special donuts are huge, so you could definitely get 2-4 servings from each one. (Or sugar coma if you decide to get one for each person).

[Beignets]

Thank you both Jay and Ozzy... I'll definitely consider it since I have none of the casserole and quiche material on hand at the moment. If nothing else, it'll allow people to try it out.

[AquaW]

I went there for a post-party/midnight run this past weekend; strawberry doughnut went for $2.60. The others varied from a little under a $1 to $1.60 I think.

I believe there's a 10% discount for a dozen, and also 10% for students (not sure if you can stack those discounts, but neither applies for the strawberry doughnut).

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[ReelMike84]

I just paid them a second visit after stopping by last year. I think the strawberry is good but would be better hot, so maybe the late night trek would worth it. I also had an unglazed donut topped with cream cheese and a raspberry drizzle which failed to impress.

http://famishedla.blogspot.com

[cjla]

I'm really looking forward to trying the peach doughnuts--but I also heartily recommend the bavarian creme filled, chocolate glazed offerings! Yum Yum Yum

[atrac]

I have never been there and am quite the simpleton when it comes to liking donuts. To me the quintessential donut is a raised donut with hole in the center, topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles. I have found this type of donut to be fairly absent from the Los Angeles area, so I'd accept a maple frosted one if they have them. ;)

I am *gasp* not into any fruit or nuts in my donuts.

Should I even bother going?

[Dommy]

Yup! They have a WIDE variety of donuts, including sprinkled donuts! :)

--Dommy!

[atrac]

It's settled. I am going tomorrow. Thank you, as I can now drive there with confidence. :)

[sbritchky]

If you like the simple style but lighter, try their French crullers, which come, I believe, in vanilla, maple, and, my own favorite, chocolate. That guy who wolfs down 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes could probably inhale a couple thousand of these babies.

[ElsieDee]

Oh, I agree - those French crullers are incredible - so light that they almost melt in the mouth. Now if I could only get them to do a honey glaze (a tribute to Tim Horton's honey crullers) - I'd be in heaven.

But, really, they're pretty close to heaven as they are. (I secretly might like them more than the strawberry donuts - at least some of the time).

[jay 1]

finally made my first trip as well. the strawberry was all i'd read about here at chow. the tigertail was excellent as well. the chcolate cake and buttermilk bar may have been bad choices as they were bland, but they are part of my regular donut dining. anyhow, the strawberry is now at the top of my donut experience list. the fresh strwberries and fab texture of the donut were superb. wish i could have eaten more! it took a lot to admit that this moves my previous fav, stan's peanutbutter and chocolate or peanutbutter and jelly donuts to second place as best donut experience. it seems that stan's doesn't get much praise in any of the donut discussions i see, but i think they have great donuts....although now second to the MAN in glendora.

[Servorg]

One of, if not the best buttermilk bar is to be found at Primo's on Sawtelle just a quarter block north of National in West LA. In the business of making Angeleno's fatter for 50 + years.

[bigdead1]

i agree with biff34 the boston cream has been my fav for ever but you have to get them when the chocolate is still warm and soft its like a milk chocolate frosting with the cold filling but when peach seson comes i will be there

[Azizeh Barjesteh]

Does anyone know if the donuts are as good all day, or do you need to get up early to get the fresh ones? I know the place is really popular, so I imagine they have good turnover and would keep making them throughout the day, but who knows. No way am I driving from Santa Monica for a stale donut. No way am I getting up at 5am, either :)

[kjs]

i just hit donut man ( i am pathetic - worked out at la fitness for 1.5 hours ...still sweating ...get in car....drive to donut man !! ) sad to say ...no blueberry donuts ( i've never had one there ...and i love blueberries ! ) the tiger tail, and a jelly filled ...that is by far the most jelly i've had in a donut !
also, the tiger tails in the display looked a little old...the guy went to the " fresh rack " and plucked one from there for me ( they usually do this ) ...i suggest you do this ...on the east side of the building is where they have the most recently made donuts ( you can easily see them when you stand outside the building on the east side ) take a look at them first,and hopefully they have what you desire ...order and ask them to pull from those racks...i'm sure they will do that for you - especially if you mention that you drove from snata monica ...i'm embarassed to say i'm not a big strawberry fan - they had one strawberry donut left and about 6 dipped strawberries. personally, if you get a tiger tail - you gotta get it fresh or it ain't worth it !

happy eating !

[Diana]

I think they are open 24 hours.

[AquaW]

They are open 24 hours and baked around the clock; your best bet to get fresh ones is probably to ask the cashier what just came out, if you're not picky on your varieties.

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[sbritchky]

Asking what's fresh (or what will be fresh within 15 minutes, say) is the best approach. The donuts come out around the clock, so you'll probably find something you like just minutes away from the oven or fryer. I once lost my concentration at three in the morning and chose a day-old donut. It was merely super-delicious, rather than the Platonic ideal of that particular donut style. Freshness seems particularly important for the lighter varieties (French crullers, e.g.), but beware of ultra-freshness. Some donuts -- you know who you are -- need a few minutes to set-up properly.

[Dommy]

A fresh donut is always the best donut, but they bake throughout the day! :)

--Dommy!

[AquaW]

Glad you loved -- my last trip to Donut Man I was days away from the strawberry donut offering (it's seasonal & starts in February) :( -- but I had their crueller instead and it was delish!

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[biff34]

I've been going there since they were "Foster's Donuts" eons ago. I seem to hit the strawberry/peach and tiger tails on the rare occasion when I go there, but back in the day, I used to love the bismarck - it's basically the "Boston cream donut" - they use the jelly donut, but stuff it with custard cream and top it with chocolate glaze. I hope it's still there and as good as it used to be...

[AteTooMuch]

LOL, good to see I am not the only one hauling my family (with no complaints, of course) out to Donut Man from Van nuys.

Used to live in Glendora, moved far far away, and never forgot the place.

definately worth the ride, great picture too!

8

[JeffW]

Now this is something that feels good in the soul cavity. Your kids will grow up with memories of family donut runs to Glendora, for their whole lives. AWESOME!!! Donut Man should only know that he is doing more than making a living.

[b0ardkn0t]

I am so hungry at this point, in the words of Homer Simpson arrgh......

[JeffW]

Go satisfy that itch!

Bon appetit.

[b0ardkn0t]

I will today.
I'm in Glendora most of the day.

[sbritchky]

My favorites are the cinnamon roll stuffed with apples and raisins, the old-fashioned (in several flavors), and the light and airy French crullers. The apple fritters are very good, also, but too large and heavy for my taste. Split one for three or four people as dessert to your donut meal.

[bulavinaka]

The peaches come around July... Probably not the revelation that the strawberries are for most, but worthy of an honorable mention just the same...

[JeffW]

Thanks for the info on the peaches. Typically what time line is strawberry donut season?

[Foodandwine]

wow, thanks for the photo.. never seen one before..

-----
Donut Man
915 E Rte 66, Glendora, CA 91740

[mar52]

OMG Jeff! I'm on YUMMMM overload. I couldn't have described it better.

Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Just in case you don't get the picture!

[JeffW]

Thanks for having the restraint to snap a pic, before devouring the donut. It's fun to look at the pic and relive the experience, as I don't think that I will do this type of donut run all that often----but don't quote me on that! I'm definitely returning.

[mar52]

It's all gone now.

It was wonderful.

[onebite]

You guys are making me hungry.

[kjs]

blueberry ?!?! geez....i haven't had that one !!! i'm goin' tonite ....then again...a tiger tail sounds good too ( surprisingly, they didn't have any last time i was there ! )

[JeffW]

Wow, living in the vicinity of Donut Man could be dangerous! Enjoy though.