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Courtesy of Yelp

I love to try new and unique restaurants and foods in Los Angeles, but rarely am I the only to discover them. Usually, I defer to the gaggle of food bloggers out here or the Los Angeles Times’ great column, “The Find.” It’s with a heavy heart that I must admit I just am simply not a trailblazer when it comes to these things. I’m merely a follower.

However, I do feel like I have a discovery to share with the world at large. It’s not some secret, off-the-beaten-path eatery offering a dazzling ten course meal for $15. Instead it’s a humble donut shop, located right smack dab on a busy stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard. I talk of Tasty Donuts, and I think it may serve the best donut in L.A.

Now a few caveats. I said “donut,” singular. Tasty Donuts doesn’t have the best donuts, per se, but they do have the best singular offering of one. Also, second caveat: I haven’t sampled all the donut shops around town, but this is a blog, not a scientific survey; so I am going to allow myself some leeway on the bombastic claims. The point is that people in search of an amazing donut experience should flock to this place for one thing and one thing only: their glazed buttermilk donut.

To put it lightly, this place’s glazed buttermilk donut is heavenly. Sweet, tangy, rich — it’s sort of like the best thing ever. Normally, I always get a chocolate frosted or chocolate glazed donut when I go to one of these shops, but no, at Tasty Donuts, it’s all about the buttermilk. I almost can’t describe how good this thing is, but I’ll try. The buttermilk in the batter gives this wonderful pastry a distinctly unique taste — or, as Ina Garten might say — “a real depth of flavor.” The outside is crispy and sugary; the inside gooey and moist. It is truly a heavenly donut experience.

It’s also a heavy experience. Don’t expect to eat two or three of these things in a row. The buttermilk donut is intensely rich, and you might find yourself needing a couch or perhaps chaise-lounge to recline on soon afterwards. Oh, but it’s worth it. So very, very worth it.

Of course, avid readers of this blog may actually remember hearing of this donut a few months ago. Back in October, my friend Heather and I visited Tasty Donuts in order to procure some donuts for an unhealthy batch of bread pudding (culled from Heather’s very own cookbook, Eat Your Feelings). Sitting next to the more flashy frosted donuts, the buttermilk variety looked a touch pedestrian (and its lack of a hole was downright unorthodox), but for some reason, Heather was drawn to it. She decided to buy one, and the rest was history. As tasty as my chocolate frosted donut was, it just could not compare. We both picked at her donut rapturously in the car, certain that we had stumbled on a glazed, deep-fried pot of gold.

Now i feel like the time has come to celebrate this unassuming treat. Here are some pics from yesterday as my friend Meeshie and I enjoyed this most hallowed donut.

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Here’s the buttermilk donut. It’s not a ring, but that’s okay. You won’t care the moment you bite into it.

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A buttermilk bisection.


Heather eating the donut back in October.

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Me eating the donut last night.

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Phenomenal.

For those seeking out this donut, feel free to drop by Tasty Donuts at 8120 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046 (at Crescent Heights). Open 24 hours!

15 replies on “The Best Donut In Los Angeles?”

  1. I had a similar blissful buttermilk donut experience at Sk’s on 3rd Street this fall – http://dianatakesabite.blogspot.com/2009/10/sks-donuts-croissant-great-donuts-until.html.

    I had come for the raised glaze, but because they didn’t have any left, was “stuck” with the glazed buttermilk. Wah wah. It turned out to be a good thing – the donut was extremely tasty, but also one of the richest donuts I’ve ever had. I was in pain just moments after consuming it. (Aka I thought I was going to vomit.)

    But that first bite… daaaaamn, if I do say so myself.

    There may have to be a side by side comparison. Though at the moment I am obsessed with trying Bob’s apple fritter and Donut Man’s strawberry donut.

  2. Ohmygod, HOW many times have I driven by Tasty Donuts and wondered to myself.. “Just how tasty ARE those donuts really?” BEN, you Beat me to the punch!
    But I’m so glad you did the leg work for me and now I know this stop is surely worth making. Guess you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. This place surely looked to me like the kind of joint that would use recycled oil for a mediocre donut.
    I shall feature this post on my Dessert Blog this Friday!

    http://www.DessertDarling.com

  3. I’ll have to try one of these this weekend. Only one though, I’m on an arbitrary health kick.

  4. B… wondering if you have ever tried California Donuts on Third in Koreatown? I LOVE their donuts, but I am going to try these for comparison.

    Give California Donuts a try too!

    1. Hi Jason, I’ve never been to California Donuts in Koreatown, but if you insist they’re amazing, I’ll have to give them a try! It’s my “job” after all to eat and review desserts! Let me know if you have any other tips 😉

  5. Boo- I wrote a fabulous comment last night and see it never posted!!
    Well, it was exciting for me to see a dessert review! You totally beat me to the punch with Tasty Donuts! I’ve driven by that place Lord knows how many times.. I guess i must try it myself to give you my official DD take on the place!
    I’m featuring this post on my blog this Friday 🙂

    http://www.DessertDarling.com~

  6. I don’t know why, but I have in my head that this place is nicknamed Tranny Donut. I used to live blocks from there and that’s what popped into my head every time I passed. Why?

  7. Good lord. Thanks for nothing: I started a low-carb diet this week and have now drooled all over my keyboard. Damn you and that heavenly hole-less donut, B-side!

  8. Hello doughnut lovers!

    I’m so happy I stumbled across this awesome website. I’m working on a new food docu-series and we’re looking to chat with people who live in the greater Los Angeles area that feel like they have a slight “obsession” with doughnuts.

    If there’s anyone that eats doughnuts on a daily basis and feels like it’s starting to dominate their diet, I’d love to chat with you and tell you more about the show.

    For anyone that’s interested, please contact Jessica at KiernanCasting(at)gmail(dot)com ASAP!

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