Honey Donuts, Santee

Easy to spot on Woodside Avenue . . . if you ever go out there.

Santee is a bit out of the way for most people in San Diego, as it is some ten miles east of I-15 on Route 52, but I was headed home in that (general) direction after my three-hour long run with Sir Isaac on Sunday morning, so I made a little detour to check out Honey Donuts on Woodside Avenue. Sir Isaac, however, was unable to make the trip, as he had to get home and attend to Mrs. Newton, who has a bun in the oven (or a donut in the fryer?) and is all but ready to introduce Lil’ R to the world (at which point Lil’ C will become Big C). I did, however, promise to make a donut delivery to the Newtons in the coming weeks, after things have settled down for them.

Honey Donuts is a really nice place to hang out, as there are several booths and counters for customers, ample parking, and a primo location right on the corner of Woodside and Magnolia. The staff was extremely nice and cheerful—which seems to be a common trait among employees of donut shops—and the place had a steady stream of customers coming through the door.

This just might be the best picture
I have ever taken of a donut.

Variety was excellent, with all the main donut types represented, although there weren’t any truly creative flavors save for the lemon jelly donut, which I decided to try out even though I am no big fan of jelly donuts. This proved to be a wise choice, as the lemon jelly had a good tartness that one doesn’t usually find in a donut. The balance of lemon jelly and dough was just right. I even managed to not inhale any of the powdered sugar, which I have a tendency to do (don’t ask).

Most of the other varieties were about average—the cruller was well done but lacked substantial icing; the cake donut was crisp and crunchy without being overdone. The old-fashioned, however, was just a bit dense and the maple icing did not have a strong flavor. Not that the icing was thin; it simply didn’t have that distinctive maple flavor that I enjoy so much.

The apple fritter, on the other hand, was one of the better fritters I’ve had recently. Crisp and crunchy on the outside, soft and cinnamony on the inside, and a fair amount of apple chunks to boot. More apples means a moister, fruitier inside, and while this one was certainly fruity, I’d tell Honey to pour it on: double the apples and you’ll really wow your customers.

Honey Donuts did fairly well in the taste and variety department, and scored high in customer experience, but was held back a little by a lack of innovative flavors and a few underachievers. Their final Donut Meter score was 80.0, which put them in the top ten, quite a feat for a place well off the beaten path.

Top Ten Donut Meter Scores:

1. Peterson’s Donut Corner, Escondido — 94.0

2. Donut Haven, Hillcrest — 82.7

3. Super Donuts, Carlsbad — 82.0

4. Danny’s Donuts, Vista — 81.0

5. Christy’s Donuts, Kearny Mesa — 80.0

5. Honey Donuts, Santee — 80.0

7. OB Donuts — 78.7

8. K-Donuts, Oceanside — 78.0

8. Heavenly Donuts, Allied Gardens —78.0

8. Plaza Donuts, National City — 78.0