Best Donuts in Orange County
The History of Donuts in the United States
If you’re looking for the best donuts in Orange County, check out the list of recommendations from our fellow Orange Countians below. From their humble beginnings to becoming a staple in American culture, the history of donuts in the United States is as rich and diverse as the flavors. Folklore has it, that as early as the 19th century, our Dutch settlers brought their tradition of olykoeks, or “oily cakes,” to America, which were balls of dough fried in pork fat. Over time, these treats evolved into what we now know as donuts.
The first documented mention of the term “donut” can be found in Washington Irving’s 1809 book, “A History of New York,” where he described them as “balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat.” However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that donuts gained popularity in the United States, thanks to the innovation of Hanson Gregory, a 16-year-old sailor who claimed to have invented the ring-shaped donut. Legend has it that Gregory punched a hole in the center of his fried dough to ensure it was fully cooked, thus creating the iconic shape we know today.
During World War I, donuts gained even more prominence when the Salvation Army volunteers, known as “Donut Lassies,” served them to soldiers on the front lines. This act of kindness provided a comforting taste of home and helped to solidify the donut’s place in American culture.
The 20th century saw the rise of donut shops across the country, with entrepreneurs like Vernon Rudolph founding Krispy Kreme in 1937 and William Rosenberg establishing Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950. These chains revolutionized the industry by introducing standardized production methods and a wide variety of flavors, from classic glazed to innovative creations like maple bacon and red velvet.
In the 1950s, drive-through donut shops made it easier to pick up a donut or two for breakfast and bring some into the office to impress the boss.
Today, donuts remain a beloved indulgence enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. They have become synonymous with breakfast meetings, weekend treats, and late-night cravings. The popularity of artisanal bakeries and gourmet donut shops continues to grow, offering unique twists on traditional recipes and catering to ever-evolving tastes.
Recently, interest in nostalgic and retro foods has surged, leading to a renewed appreciation for donuts. Additionally, the rise of social media has fueled a donut craze, with enthusiasts sharing photos of their favorite confections and inspiring others to seek out the best donut spots in town. We can attest to that here @ My Local OC, as we have not yet had such a response to our call for “your favorite” food or locations in our history of taking “Best Of” polls.
The history of donuts in the United States is a testament to the country’s diverse culinary heritage and entrepreneurial spirit. From its origins as a simple fried dough to its current status as a beloved indulgence, the donut has stood the test of time and continues to delight taste buds and bring people together across generations. Read on to find the Best Donuts in Orange County…and if yours isn’t listed, please let us know and we’ll add it!
Sidecar Donuts & Coffee in Costa Mesa is an example of today’s modern donut shops in Orange County.
OUR LIST OF THE BEST DONUTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
Aliso Viejo  Aliso Coffee & Donut  27782 Aliso Creek Rd B  (949) 362-0831  Facebook
Aliso Viejo  JC Donuts  27001 Moulton Pkwy a113  (949) 362-2138  Website
Anaheim  Baker’s Dozen Donuts  3414 W Ball Rd # N  (714) 826-3686  No Website Listed
Anaheim  M&M Donuts  1614 W Katella Ave  (714) 490-0718  Known For Famous Blueberry Donuts  Website
Anaheim  Rose Donut Shop  2819 Lincoln Ave  (714) 630-2911  No Website Listed
Brea  Pk Donuts  602 S Brea Blvd  (714) 257-9510  Order Online
Brea  Sy Donuts  103 W Central Ave # B  (714) 255-1481  No Website Listed
Buena Park  Donut Express  6771 Beach Blvd Suite H  (714) 994-4196  No Website Listed
Costa Mesa  Famous Donuts  845 W 19th St A  (949) 645-1004  No Website Listed
Costa Mesa  Randy’s Donuts  2930 Harbor Blvd  (949) 674-5977  Website
Costa Mesa  Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee  270 E 17th St #18  (949) 873-5424  Website
Cypress  Cafe Du Soleil  5028 Ball Rd  (714) 821-4728  Facebook
Cypress  Granny’s Donuts  6058 Lincoln Ave STE B  (714) 821-3404  No Website Listed
Dana Point  Dippity Donuts  33621 Del Obispo St Ste C  (949) 240-6064  Call To Order
Fountain Valley  Angel Food Donut Shop  16953 Bushard St  (714) 962-5455  Facebook
Fountain Valley  Crafted Donuts OC  18011 Newhope St  (714) 277-3656  Facebook
Fountain Valley  Glee Donuts and Burgers  9475 Heil Avenue Ste A  (714) 531-0288  Website
Fountain Valley  Richard’s Cookie Jar  10130 Warner Ave A  (714) 962-6500  No Website Listed
Fountain Valley  Yong’s Donuts and Cookies  18054 Magnolia St  (714) 964-0249  No Website Listed
Fullerton  B&B Donuts  925 Harbor Blvd  (714) 879-9670  Order Online
Fullerton  Donut Star  3358 Yorba Linda Blvd  (714) 961-8889  No Website Listed
Garden Grove  Donuts – The Donut Makers  13651 Magnolia St  (714) 266-8242  No Website Listed
Garden Grove  K D’s Donut Shop  12387 Valley View St  (714) 892-8095  Website
Huntington Beach  Adams Avenue Donuts  9015 Adams Ave  (714) 962-8921 Website
Huntington Beach  Donut Stoppe  21461 Brookhurst St  (714) 963-1100  No Website Listed
Huntington Beach  Donuttery  17420 Beach Blvd  (714) 847-7000  Website
Huntington Beach  Duck Donuts  18591 Main St  (714) 375-5430  Website
Huntington Beach  Gavin’s Donuts  16487 Springdale St  (714) 846-8066  No Website Listed
Huntington Beach  Golden Boy Donuts  17671 Beach Blvd  (714) 842-3179  Facebook
Huntington Beach  Grandy’s Donuts  15471 Edwards St Unit A  (714) 897-1447  No Website Listed
Huntington Beach  K&M Donuts  5036 Edinger Ave #1436  (714) 840-4192  No Website Listed
Huntington Beach  Superb Donuts  408 17th St  (714) 536-0081  Website
Huntington Beach  Sweet O Donuts  9041 Atlanta Ave  (714) 964-2729  Facebook
Irvine  Donut Star  5365 Alton Pkwy Ste C  (855) 733-6688  Website
Irvine  Duck Donuts  2222 Michelson Dr  (949) 734-6900  Website Â
Laguna Beach   South Swell Donuts  31660 Coast Hwy  (949) 499-6171  Website
Laguna Hills  Krazy Eddy’s Donut Shop  23052 Lake Forest Dr  (949) 454-0528  Website
Laguna Niguel  Mission Donuts  28950 Golden Lantern A  (949) 249-2765  No Website Listed
Laguna Niguel  Sunny Side Up Doughnuts  30251 Golden Lantern C  (949) 545-7792  Instagram
La Habra  Jean Donuts  2040 W La Habra Blvd  (562) 691-3299  Website
La Habra  Winchell’s Donut Shop  301 N Harbor Blvd  (562) 690-9908  No Website Listed
Lake Forest  Linda’s Coffee House  29200 Portola Pkwy  (949) 455-1348  Facebook
Lake Forest  Royal Pastries ‘n’ Doughnuts  25435 Trabuco Rd #9  (949) 768-1076  No Website Listed
Los Alamitos  Los Alamitos Donuts  10531 Los Alamitos Blvd  (562) 430-1335  No Website Listed
Mission Viejo  Donut World  27672 Santa Margarita Pkwy  (949) 837-5308  Website
Mission Viejo  Krispy Kreme  25802 El Paseo  (949) 348-8900  Website
Mission Viejo  Royal Donuts and Burgers  24501 Marguerite Pkwy  (949) 837-3909  No Website Listed
Mission Viejo  Scott’s Donuts & Cafe  27500 Marguerite Pkwy #3  (949) 364-2263  Website
Mission Viejo  Surfin’ Donuts  26861 Trabuco Rd, Ste G  (949) 455-1450  Website
Newport Beach  Dough Boy’s Donuts & Bakery  4535 West Coast Hwy  (949) 631-5102  No Website Listed
Newport Beach  Seaside Donuts & Bakery  2108 W Oceanfront  (949) 675-2533  Website
Orange  Dk’s Donuts  3744 E Chapman Ave  (714) 633-5858  Website Coming Soon!
Orange Donut Star  915 W Chapman Ave  (714) 602-8080  No Website Listed
Orange  Friendly Doughnuts  4442 E Chapman Ave  (714) 538-4942  Instagram
Orange  Krispy Kreme  330 The City Dr S  (714) 769-4330  Website
Placentia  K&M Donuts  1808 N Placentia Ave Ste A  (714) 528-4338  No Website Listed
Rancho Santa Margarita  KD’s Donuts  31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy  (949) 858-8591  Website
Rancho Santa Margarita  Pavillion’s Bakery  22451 Antonio Pkwy  (949) 858-0164  Website
San Clemente  Kelly’s Donuts  430 Camino De Estrella  (949) 443-2862  WebsiteÂ
San Clemente  Rose Donuts  624 Camino De Los Mares #2802  (949) 493-9200  Order Online
San Clemente  SC Donuts  E, 806 Avenida Pico # G  (949) 498-7837  Order Online
San Juan Capistrano  JD Flannel Donuts and Coffee  31878 Del Obispo St #122  (949) 218-4483  Website
San Juan Capistrano  Wendi’s Donuts  31654 Rancho Viejo Rd B  (949) 388-1738  Website
Santa Ana  Donut City  2156 N Tustin Ave  (714) 542-5633  No Website Listed
Seal Beach  Donut City  1210 CA-1  (562) 799-7007  No Website Listed
Seal Beach  Holey Grail Donuts  4803 2nd St, Long Beach  Website
Tustin  DK’s Donuts  1082 Irvine Blvd  (714) 731-1431  No Website Listed
Tustin  Oliboli Donuts  135 W First St Suite B  (877) 646-1380  Website
Westminster  Donut Storr  5972 Westminster Blvd  (714) 892-4828  No Website Listed
Yorba Linda  Station Donuts  18316 Imperial Hwy  (714) 996-7151  Facebook
Written by: Patricia Braun – Publisher – My Local OC
Research by: Tina McNamara – Marketing Assistant – My Local OC
