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The biggest donuts I've ever had!

Donuts built and assembled for me @ Donut Factory - 76/100

Donut Factory is a North Park donut shop right on 30th St.  This is pretty much in-between both Golden Donut and San Diego's Finest Donuts so when it is time to do my donut crawl I am going to have them all ready on my donut feasting map.  Talk about a donut bender!  I'll be found passed out in a alley covered in sprinkles and powdered sugar.  Afterwards there will be an intervention, I'll get hauled into donut rehab, I'll keep escaping and binging on donuts, until the transformation completes and I turn into a donut myself.  What a journey I have embarked upon.

What you get at Donut Factory is a medium sized donut case presenting the best basic donuts you can enjoy.  There's nothing crazy here, it is a simple donut house that offers some other sandwiches and snacks.  I did see an orange donut mixed in there so you can definitely find some gems.  They had a mountain of donut holes and that is always a good sign.  I saw a couple frosted donuts with some pretty heavy duty sprinkling applied, lots of different colors and shapes.  I settled on a cinnamon sugar donut and maybe it could have used a little more cinnamon, but it was really good.  The donut holes were light and fluffy and well basted.

 There is a cluster of table/stool apparatuses that make up a pretty remarkably symmetrical seating area within the space.  And there's a little parking lot which is pretty helpful for being so close to the heart of North Park.  On the other hand, it loses a little charm not being one of the sidewalk front buildings and is next to an auto parts store.  I really wish they would play up the 'Factory' part of their name.  Do a little mural of donuts running through an assembly line, rolling down a conveyor belt.  There could be factory workers painted on the wall marching along in their overalls, punching in the time clock, going to work in a donut manufacturing plant.  The menu board could be broken up into different sections titled "Sandwich Assembly", "Donut Production", etc.  Something to add a little originality and charm to the place.

Donut Factory
4007 30th St
San Diego, CA 92104

Quick Score - 6 - Pretty good donuts but overall lacking character
Donut Quality - 8 - I think they do a decent job on the standard donut types
Donut Selection - 7 - Lots in stock, but not a huge selection
Donut Freshness - 10 - Felt morning fresh to me
Service - 10 - Terrific counter service
Extras - 7 - Snacks, Smoothies, stuff like the hot dog feel out of place to me
Appeal - 5 - Would be really cool if it had some North Park-like appeal 
Emotion - 6 - Lack of charm may have lowered my emotional score
Other's Rating - 7 - 3.5/5 average rating on Yelp 
Price - 5 - No surprises here
Donut Dunkability - 5 - Donut holes available
Total - 76/100

I loved me some Donuts @ OB Donuts - 84/100

There has been something wrong with me all along, I have not gotten any donuts in OB!  There is a duh factor in the whole situation but I made it and now I've crossed another off my donut bucket list.  This place is on Sunset Cliffs Blvd in a mini-strip of shops/restaurants so while it does not have the charm of Newport Ave it's a very convenient location.

Dudes working in this place were hustling.  It was busy in the morning and it was a happening system.  I'm just embarrassed that I can't choose a dozen donuts and know in my head as I'm rattling off flavors when I've hit 12.  I should know this by now.  Instead, I have to feel like some amateur who has to keep asking how many I have left to choose.  I have to cut myself some slack because I hadn't had any coffee yet, but it's a skill I have to master.

Standard solid selection of donuts here with everything in stock and it was obvious the kitchen was still pumping out more for the day ahead.  I wish I had a picture of the dozen stacked inside the pink box because they were aligned perfectly.  The guy working had a definite plan on box-filling and executed it flawlessly.  Then they got a big ol' pile of donut holes behind the counter they throw in automatically.

I had a chocolate frosted buttermilk just so I could do a recent comparison to the Goodys glazed buttermilk donut experience.  This one was a little hard, didn't appear to be a freshness issue, perhaps just an overcooked issue.  Great chocolate frosting.  The donut holes were good, a little pale.  They didn't achieve that golden brown hue I'm accustomed to, but despite the light color, they were suitably tasty.  

OB Donuts
1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd
San Diego, CA. 92107

Quick Score - 7 - Solid donut hookup

Donut Quality - 8 - Again, solid

Donut Selection - 8 - Great major selection, nothing exotic

Donut Freshness - 8 - Morning fresh donuts

Service - 9 - Highly competent donut workers

Extras - 8 - There's breakfast sandwiches, bagels, different types of coffee drinks

Appeal - 8 - Missing the ultimate OB feel, but still has the ultimate OB clientele

Emotion - 9 - Really enjoyed the highly efficient nature of the operation

Other's Rating - 9 - This place has a 4.5/5 average rating on Yelp

Price - 5 - Fair prices, donut holes thrown in as a perk

Donut Dunkability - 5 - Good to go

Total - 84

Great Fluffy Donuts in Chula @ Krispys - 91/100

It was so hot when I went to Chula Vista for my donut trip on MLK day!  Everything has to be put in context of how unbelievably hot it was at just 10:30 in the morning.  Crispy's has an interior seating area but I elected for the little table out front to avoid the crowd and I was facing south with the sun directly beating into me.  Even with sunglasses on, I was really afraid I was going to accidentally look directly into that sphere and lose more of my eyesight.

Now the main attraction, donuts, that was very awesome.  I love Chula donuts!  The thing I really enjoyed was the light nature of the dough.  I could almost describe my donuts as delicate.  I got a strawberry filled powdered donut and a sprinkled, glazed donut to do my taste test.  Both donuts had a very light fluffiness that will not fill you up.  These things are not going to sit in your stomach like a rock.

I ate half of each donut and then I did something.  The strawberry half was asking for it, I merged the two together in a glorious union of donut goodness.  The pocket within the powdered strawberry was a perfect fit for the other half of my sprinkled donut.  I took a picture of it but I'm not going to post it here.  It could very well be an abomination, a real crime against nature.  It tasted amazing of course.  But seeing the picture, oh man, it looks like a car wreck.

There are coffee jugs on the side counter so you can order a coffee, get a cup, and fill up yourself.  So right off the bat you got a few options on what kind of coffee to choose.  I had a Columbian blend that was very good, one step above standard stuff.  The bubbles in my coffee are only a result of my dispensing into my styrofoam cup.

Crispy's Donuts

1471 East H Street

Chula Vista, CA. 91910

Quick Score - 8 - Boring strip shopping center is only downside of location

Donut Quality -10 - Fluffy consistent quality

Donut Selection - 8 - Plenty of choices and amounts

Donut Freshness - 10 - Very fresh

Service - 9 - Great service

Extras - 8 - I didn't see ice cream but other standard extras like breakfast sandwiches

Appeal - 9 - Place carves out some appeal out of that shopping center

Emotion - 9 - I always feel like a 10 walking out of this place

Other's Rating - 10 - Perfect 5/5 stars average rating on Yelp

Price - 5 - Fair

Donut Dunkability - 5 - Donut holes, great light donuts to dunk

Total - 91

My apple pie donut @ Plaza Donuts - 95/100

I headed down to National City to begin my South County canvassing effort and get some knowledge going on the donut situation there.  Plaza Donuts has a great location on Highland Ave. where they have been for 22 years.  They have giant windows in the front and a terrific seating area.  I'd have to say it is great with those huge windows which I really liked looking through while feasting on donuts.  Everything about that stretch of the street feels like classic SoCal architecture.

                                                  

They have a very impressive donut display case with some impeccable stacking and displaying.  It just looked so freakin' beautiful.  What I would give for the chance to take one bite from every single donut in that case.  They looked super fresh and happy for the chance to get in my stomach.

They do regular glazed donut holes and I felt like they way they clumped together in a mound in the case, they were superfresh, they had a little sticking together going on, like they didn't want to be separated from their friends.  Then my main course, a thick glazed donut with a stripe of apples and their filling going down the middle.  The apple filling began at the top of the donut and went down about half way into the donut.  Talk about an apple pie donut!  This was it!!!  

I should try it a la mode which is possible because they serve ice cream too.  

Quick Score - 9 - Very fun place

Donut Quality - 9 - Near top quality

Donut Selection - 9 - Lots and lots of donuts

Donut Freshness - 9 - Freshness was wonderful

Service - 10 - Very good counter service

Extras - 10 - Breakfast sandwiches, ice cream too

Appeal - 10 - Very cool storefront

Emotion - 10 - Felt like a 10 walking out of the place after my apple pie donut

Other's Rating - 9 - 4.5/5 stars average rating on Yelp!

Price - 5 - fair pricing

Donut Dunkability - 5 - Delicious donut holes available.

Total - 95

Yes, there really are Goodies @ Goody's Donuts - 95/100

Another San Diego donut shop is bringing the goodness to me and vying for my affection close to home.  Serra Mesa is the location for Goody's Donuts, 17 years they have been there!  Housed in a strip shopping center like many of San Diego's donut shops, Goody's is a great reminder for me of SoCal donuts, after the recent East Coast jaunt.  Just the best friendly local bakery pushing out the goods.  There were many pictures on the walls of customers and little league team photos posted.  It really felt like a great neighborly vibe.

They may not have the biggest donut display case around but they have everything covered.  They even do the orange donut too!  There's rolls, twists, buns, circulars, custards, and a very good selection of donut holes.  Not just regular glazed donut holes, they do chocolate glazed and both chocolate sprinkled and multi colored sprinkled holes.  Yes, I'll say it, "Best donut holes ever!!!"

 

 And I also did a buttermilk glazed which was delicious.  Rich and creamy and the right amount of sweetness.  This was a really perfect combination.  A great start to the weekend!  Goody's has a pretty impressive lineup.  Not just the donuts, they do ice cream too.  So, if the mood strikes for a personalized donut sundae, even if they are not prepared for the greatness in-house, you're going to be able to put it all together.  There's  sandwiches, different types of coffee drinks, and milkshakes too.

Goody's Donuts

3244 Greyling Dr

San Diego (Serra Mesa)

CA. 92123

Quick Score - 10 - Without a doubt

Donut Quality - 9 - Near perfection

Donut Selection - 9 - Great # of donuts and pastries

Donut Freshness - 10 - Fresh and tasty

Service - 10 - Friendly folks

Extras - 10 - Ice Cream, pastry treats, sandwiches, coffee drinks

Appeal - 8 - Too bad the store front has to have that cookie cutter strip shopping center feel

Emotion - 9 - Felt great after my visit

Other's Rating - 10 - This place has a 5/5 average rating on Yelp

Price - 5 - They had deal going in addition to already great prices

Donut Dunkability - 5 - Very good with the different kinds of donut holes

Total - 95

Holey Cream in Hell's Kitchen = Donut Awakening 88/100

My first donut shop donut of the New Year was @ Holey Cream and it was a great way to kick off 2013.  After a walk around town getting used to the cold weather I'm going to have to deal with again, I found myself in Hell's Kitchen and realized Holey Cream was on my list of possible donut places to hit in NYC.  I had no idea why it was on my list or what was really going on, but that made the experience all the more exciting.

They dress your donut on the spot!  I think they have really hit on something here.  Totally original.  There are donuts on display with a variety of toppings, mainly candy based, but these are not for eating, you get yours fresh on the spot.  They pull you out a fresh donut, still warm from its holding cell, drizzle your icings on top, shake your candy toppings or sprinkles and serve you up a warm donut treat.  I got an M&M donut and it was really delicious.

I imagine they can follow the same process with the cupcakes they have there.  And there's ice cream, I just couldn't find the stomach room to get their signature item, a donut ice cream sandwich you can call the shots and flavors and toppings.  That is a stroke of genius, donuts and ice cream together.  I have got to get it next time I'm there.

There's also coffee drinks, smoothies, brownies, etc.  A little 3-person counter seating area for wolfing down your purchase. 

Holey Cream 
796 9th Ave
(between 52nd and 53 St)
New York, NY. 10019


Quick Score - 9 - Pretty awesome
Donut Quality - 8 - Tasty donuts and toppints
Donut Selection - 8 - All original selections
Donut Freshness - 10 - Fresh dressed donuts!
Service - 9 - Great service
Extras - 9 - Ice Cream, other goodies
Appeal - 10 - Really inviting and enjoyable place
Emotion - 10 - I felt like a 10 walking out of the joint
Other's Rating - 7 - 3.5/5 stars average rating on Yelp! 
Price - 4 - More expensive but it is special and it is New York
Donut Dunkability - 4 - Maybe a little tough to eat with hands and dunk
Total - 88

My Twin Experience in the NYC - 78/100

Twin Donut Plus is a happening place!  Not only do they have the coveted 24 hours, they got a bevy of donuts and a busy sandwich counter going.  On a Sunday afternoon they were really going at full force.  It is a very good place to get a lot of different things whether it be food, coffee, or donuts.  Big selection, nice donut display cases illuminating the wondrous products, and very capable counter servers make this a truly efficient operation.  Twin Donuts have many locations in New York but the plus is the additional food options available here.  And I know they had cupcakes and some specialty coffee drinks too.

I was again victimized by the donut hole denomination rule that kept me from just buying a couple to sample, I had to get a certain number at a time.  Those tasted a little like they were lying around. No biggie, I'm in New York, I kept it all in perspective.  Plus, they did offer both white and chocolate donut holes.  But then I was done in by another donut that was too sweet!  I had the black and white frosted donut and I couldn't handle the icing.  Is this an East Coast trend I will be dealing with now that I've decided to move from the West Coast?  I hope that it is just the luck of the draw right now.  Fortunately, my brother Tim's Bavarian Creme was "remarkably light and not too sweet - indeed, it was rather elegant"  I know what to get next time!

The outdoor seating area was pretty nice and even though I didn't really get a good picture of my donuts,  I thought their bag was really fun and perfect for the business and worthy of a photo.

Twin Donut Plus
5099 Broadway (Inwood)
New York, New York, 10034


Quick Score - 7 - Efficient, popular place, twins
Donut Quality - 7 - Too sweet for my donut palette but it was luck of the draw
Donut Selection - 8 - Lost of choices
Donut Freshness - 7 - Suspicious freshness on the donut holes
Service - 8 - Fast but disappointed in the donut hole situation
Extras - 9 - Cuban sandwiches, cupcakes, seating, etc
Appeal - 9 - Twins
Emotion - 7 - I still felt like I had a good time there
Other's Rating - 7 - 3/5 stars average rating on Yelp! but Tim had a great donut.
Price - 5 - fair pricing
Donut Dunkability - 4 - Donut holes available, different types of coffee
Total - 78

More Richmond Donuts @ Country Style Donuts - 66/100

Country Style Donuts is a Richmond donut shop that does all your traditional donuts.  This is a good combo to do with Dixie Donuts because you can get good variation between the two and you can buy a giant cinnamon roll here if you so desire.  

24 hours too!  Nice touch for the RVA.  

I had a raised maple donut and I was shocked by the sweetness.  You are hearing from a guy who can down sugar with the best of them.  It was actually too sweet. Me, done in by sweetness!  Even with a black coffee alongside, I couldn't handle it.  It was a rare defeat.

I enjoyed the donut holes but was a little bummed out they must be purchased in a certain denomination.  I forget what it was, something like 10 or 12 at a time.  Prices were fine but I'll pay a dime or whatever per hole just as someone on a donut journey, sometimes I don't want to have leftovers.  

In fact, service wasn't so hot. Between the donut hole explanation, the displeasure on his part that I didn't have anything smaller than a $20 bill, and the delivery that came in through the front door, pallets being loaded through the place while we're trying to get out of the way, it definitely ranks as the lowest customer service experience I've had in my donut journey.  

I will definitely go back to Country Style again to see if it works better for me next time.

Country Style Donuts
4300 Williamsburg Road
Richmond, VA. 23231


Quick Score - 5 - Eh
Donut Quality - 6 - Too sweet!
Donut Selection - 10 - Lost of choices
Donut Freshness - 6 - Donut holes did not taste so fresh
Service - 4 - Eh
Extras - 9 - Open 24 hours, good for the RVA
Appeal - 5 - Eh
Emotion - 3 - Eh
Other's Rating - 8 - 4.5/5 stars average rating on Yelp! but my Dad didn't enjoy too much either
Price - 5 - fair pricing
Donut Dunkability - 5 .
Total - 66

A delight in the RVA @ Dixie Donuts - 89/100

Yes!  I now have a great go-to donut place when I'm back in Richmond, Virginia and my Dad might be back there all the time.  Dixie Donuts is right in Carytown and a perfect donut option with nice sized cake donuts. It is really cool they've gone with one size, not too big, not too small.  And most of them are a buck a piece which makes the spending easy.  

 I had an Oreo donut and Dad had a Samoa donut so these were both based on cookies and the Samoan did taste like the Girl Scout cookie of the same name.  I took home a Chocolate Gingerbread Spice and ate the next day and it was another great choice and still soft and tasty.  We were both extremely pleased.

Check out the Facebook page too, great donut photos, way better than mine!!!

Great coffee too, a plus one compared to most donut shop coffee.  They have their own little parking lot which is helpful.  I see that addition of a small seating area will help this place and greatly assist with all the Carytown shoppers who need to sit down during a quick donut fix.

Get your delight at:

Dixie Donuts  
2901 West Cary Street 
Richmond, VA. 23221

Quick Score - 9 - Great, great, great
Donut Quality - 10 - Top notch
Donut Selection - 9 - All original creations, they do close down after all sell out
Donut Freshness - 10 - Fresh daily
Service - 10 - Perfect
Extras - 5 - No extra products needed but the coffee is great
Appeal - 7 - Small seating area would make this a 10
Emotion - 10 - This place pushed all my buttons
Other's Rating - 9 - 3.5/5 stars average rating on Yelp! but my Dad really enjoyed it like me
Price - 5 - Sweet pricing deal with a buck a donut
Donut Dunkability - 5 - No donut holes but smaller size donut accommodates dunking
Total - 89