Donut Star, Hillcrest

My buddy the Beaneater is a busy guy, but last weekend he managed to find the time to make a donut delivery at my house, which was much appreciated. The Beaneater stopped by Donut Star in Hillcrest, which he had visited several times in the past.

Donut Star in Hillcrest on a sunny morning.

The Beaneater remembered Donut Star as a rather dirty and run-down place, but was pleased to see that the interior has recently been upgraded, and it is now one of the cleanest donut shops around. Inside, you’ll find a few small tables, tidy counters, and neat racks behind the register. It almost makes you feel like you are in a posh café with a menu entirely in Italian. Fortunately, that’s not the case at Donut Star, where they serve up all the basic donut varieties. On the other hand, a few jazzed-up donuts would give Donut Star’s racks a boost—very few innovative flavors were to be found by the Beaneater, and the most creative variety that he delivered was a cinnamon crumb cake.

The crumb cake could have used some more cinnamon—that was evident from the first bite. The vanilla cruller, on the other hand, was nicely done, with a strong flavor to the icing and a nice crispiness to the outer layer. Also sampled were a maple-iced raised donut, which had a strong flavor to the icing, and an apple fritter, which was crisp and crunchy but lacked a significant amount of apple chunks. The final variety was a Boston crème; although not my favorite type of donut, I found it to be a fine specimen, without an overwhelming amount of custard, as many places tend to produce.

Donut Star received a few average scores for taste, as well as a few above-averages, but nothing outstanding. The Beaneater said he wasn’t floored by the donuts, but he would go back. The lineup could use some improvement and a few creative tweaks to make it more appealing, but if you want a good old donut without any bells and whistles, this place could be worth the trip. When the math was done, Donut Star received a score of 70.0 on the D-Meter. Not good enough to crack the top ten, but then again, I’ve set my standards pretty high.

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

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

Fresh Golden Donuts, Tierrasanta

I like donut shops with creative or personal names, since they give the place a unique mark to set it apart from all the others. This weekend, my buddy JB and I hooked up at Fresh Golden Donuts in Tierrasanta. Not exactly the most distinctive name for a donut shop, eh? Nor does it have any sense of distinctiveness—no special donut art on the walls, no funky donut varieties that they can call their own, and no flashy sign out front to proclaim “Donuts!”

The sign says "Donuts" but not "Donuts!"

However, Fresh Golden Donuts is a great place to hang out and relax on a weekend morning (or whenever the urge strikes you), as there are several comfortable and clean tables inside, all next to the front windows, giving the place a nice atmosphere. It has the added benefit of being sandwiched between a Starbucks and a Baskin-Robbins, so if you want a little extra caffeine or a dollop of Quarterback Crunch on your donut, this is the place to be.

JB noticed that there was not a whole lot of color on the donut racks. He likes to see a wide variety of frosted donuts, just as I do, and FGD’s racks were noticeably devoid of bright colors. Chocolate, maple, vanilla, plain—check; but those flavors don’t make you ooh and aah when you walk into a donut shop.

This one wasn't skimpy.

We agreed that the donuts were decent, but not outstanding. JB and I both tried out the chocolate-iced twist, which was plump and loaded with plenty of chocolate icing. The rest of the donut varieties, however, were just average and, in fact, seemed somewhat undercooked. The cruller, while it had a nice flavor to it, was rather skimpy on the icing, and the cake varieties were spongy, rather than crisp. Unlike the cake variety, the old-fashioned had a nice crackly texture, which is always good on a cake or old-fashioned donut. The maple icing, however, was again skimpy. (Now why am I repeating the word “skimpy” so often? Hmm.)

JB and I both enjoyed hanging out at FGD, which helped their overall score, but not enough to boost them into the top ten, or anywhere near it. Taste was just average for the most part, and since that makes up 60 percent of the score, FGD suffered as a result, ending up with a Donut Meter score of 66.0. I’m not sure if the owner of the shop would be up for it, but perhaps the place should be renamed Fresh Yellowish Donuts until they learn how to make donuts that are just a tad crispier and cracklier. And don’t be skimpy with that icing!

Updated 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

6. OB Donuts — 78.7

7. K-Donuts, Oceanside — 78.0

7. Heavenly Donuts, Del Cerro —78.0

7. Plaza Donuts, National City — 78.0

10. Donut Touch, Mira Mesa — 76.8

11. Linda’s Donuts, Pacific Beach — 76.0

12. Donutopia, Poway — 75.0

13. TK Donuts, Bay Park — 71.0

14. Marte’s Donuts, Escondido — 70.0

15. Foster’s Family Donuts, San Marcos — 68.0

16. Fresh Golden Donuts, Tierrasanta — 66.0

16. Pam’s Donuts and Chinese Food, Temecula — 66.0

16. KD’s Donuts, Ramona — 66.0

19. Solana Donuts, Solana Beach — 63.0

20. Leucadia Donut Shoppe — 62.5

Donutopia, Poway

Out in the boondocks of the “City in the Country” is a nice little donut shop tucked away in the corner of a strip mall at the end of Twin Peaks Road. As you can see from the picture here, the sign proclaims that the establishment’s name is “Fresh Donuts & Coffee,” but it is actually called Donutopia. When I was in high school (go Titans!), we just called it “that donut place down on Twin Peaks.” Whatever you call it, there’s one reason why you go there, and it’s not for the bags of Chinese sunflower seeds.

No one really knows what this place
is called.

I am a great admirer of fine art, especially donut art. I’ve seen it at various places here and there—perhaps I should write an essay devoted solely to the subject of donut art? At Donutopia is one of the best examples I’ve seen, a full wall mural depicting an old-time donut shop out in the country, warmly welcoming anyone who might stop by.

Awesome. At least IMHO.

 Donutopia’s selection is a bit above average, with all the varieties represented, although I have to say that there were no creative donut varieties to be seen. Just the basics: cake, old-fashioned, raised, cruller, buttermilk bar, fritter, and a few pastries and muffins. In fact, the most “creative” donut I could find was a cake donut with strawberry icing and sprinkles. It also turned out to be the best one I tried, as the outside was just slightly crispy, with the inside soft and moist, not dry and crumbly as some others I’ve tried lately. The strawberry flavor was lacking in the icing, though.

Creative? Eh.

Donutopia’s strength lies in its cake and old-fashioned donuts, which had that great crackly crunch on the first bite, followed by a soft follow-through inside. Their raised varieties, however, were rather bland, with thinnish icing that did not do much to massage my taste buds. The apple fritter was also crisp, but completely lacked a soft, juicy inside filled with apples and cinnamon, and was also a bit dry.

This disparity between the cake and raised donuts at Donutopia makes me wonder if they are perhaps frying everything at the same temperature. As any skilled donuteer knows, raised and cake donuts need to fry at different temperatures in order to bring out their best qualities.

Donutopia could also use some work on their icings, which tasted somewhat watered-down. A rich and flavorful icing can go a long way toward rescuing what would otherwise be just an ordinary donut.

Although the donuts were a bit inconsistent and nowhere near the best I’ve had, Donutopia’s great cake and old-fashioned donuts rescued their score a bit and prevented them from dropping too far down the ranks. Nevertheless, the Donut Meter score of 75.0 was not good enough to crack the top ten, although it came close. Would I go there again? Probably not, but if you are a fan of cake and old-fashioned donuts, the place is worth a try.

Updated 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

6. OB Donuts — 78.7

7. K-Donuts, Oceanside — 78.0

7. Heavenly Donuts, Del Cerro —78.0

7. Plaza Donuts, National City — 78.0

10. Donut Touch, Mira Mesa — 76.8

11. Linda’s Donuts, Pacific Beach — 76.0

12. Donutopia, Poway — 75.0

13. TK Donuts, Bay Park — 71.0

14. Marte’s Donuts, Escondido — 70.0

15. Foster’s Family Donuts, San Marcos — 68.0

16. Pam’s Donuts and Chinese Food, Temecula — 66.0

16. KD’s Donuts, Ramona — 66.0

18. Solana Donuts, Solana Beach — 63.0

19. Leucadia Donut Shoppe — 62.5

  

Solana Donuts, Solana Beach

Solana Donuts has the distinction of being “some other donut shop” in the area; as many of us know, VG Donuts and Bakery is the donut shop in North County along the coast. (North County inland from the coast is another matter, though.) Yes, I know I haven’t reviewed VG’s yet, but that day will come sooner rather than later. Today, though, my Sunday long run brought me near Solana Beach, so I paid their local donut shop a visit.

It’s a nice enough place from the outside, tucked away in a strip mall near the Coaster station on Lomas Santa Fe at Cedros. A few tables, chairs, and a bench outside, and a couple more tables inside. But really, who wants to sit inside in a place like Solana Beach?

When you need a donut on your way
to catch the train . . . 

Solana Donuts has a nice variety on their racks—even crullers! And there were a couple of massive raised donuts for anyone who is really hungry. All the staples were on hand, save for the filled types such as Boston crèmes and jelly donuts. I spotted an apple fritter, and next to it was a “dirty” fritter coated with cinnamon crumb mixture, so I snapped that up, along with a vanilla cruller and a blueberry cake.

No fluffiness at all. 

So much promise before the first bite.

The crumb-coated fritter was full of flavor, but did not meet expectations because it was amazingly compressed, not light and fluffy. As you can see from the picture here, the layers are all squashed together like the strata of a rock formation. It didn’t taste like a rock, but the heaviness was a black eye on a donut that had a lot of potential.

If it ain't got yellow,
it ain't fit for this fellow.

The vanilla cruller had a nice layer of icing, but the donut itself had zero egginess to it—as any cruller fan will know, a good cruller should have a bit of yolky egg taste to it, and this one actually tasted as if it had been made with All Whites egg substitute.

The cake donuts, although light and airy, lacked much taste. The blueberry cake seems to have been made with tiny dried blueberries, the kind you find in a boxed mix for blueberry muffins. My suspicion is that Solana Donuts actually uses some kind of industrial mix to make these donuts. Convenient for the retailer, but not so wonderful for the customer.

Solana Donuts received high marks for variety, and an above-average score for innovation, but as we all know, taste reigns supreme, and in the taste category, these things were slightly below average. Even donuts from your local grocery store are likely to be better than these. Donut Meter score: 63.0. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit this place, but if I were running late and had a train to catch, I just might stop by . . . for a cup of coffee.

Updated 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

6. OB Donuts — 78.7

7. K-Donuts, Oceanside — 78.0

7. Heavenly Donuts, Del Cerro —78.0

7. Plaza Donuts, National City — 78.0

10. Donut Touch, Mira Mesa — 76.8

11. Linda’s Donuts, Pacific Beach — 76.0

12. TK Donuts, Bay Park — 71.0

13. Marte’s Donuts, Escondido — 70.0

14. Foster’s Family Donuts, San Marcos — 68.0

15. Pam’s Donuts and Chinese Food, Temecula — 66.0

15. KD’s Donuts, Ramona — 66.0

17. Solana Donuts, Solana Beach — 63.0

18. Leucadia Donut Shoppe — 62.5

TK Donuts, Bay Park

What’s the best thing one can do right after a strong 18-mile run on a Sunday morning? No, not breakfast at a donut shop. The best thing to do is to grab a cold bottle of a good recovery drink to restore and replenish your body, and walk for a few minutes to wind down.

Then you get breakfast at a donut shop.

TK Donuts in Bay Park

When my 18-mile run was over and I took care of the “restore and replenish” business, I made a little detour to TK Donuts, just up the hill from Mission Bay Park on Clairemont Boulevard. The nondescript interior won’t knock your socks off, nor will the somewhat skimpy selection of donuts that I encountered. The racks appeared rather bare, but now that I think of it, pretty much everything was available: several varieties of raised, cake, and old-fashioned donuts, as well as bars, holes, jelly donuts, and some pastries and muffins to boot. There just weren’t that many of each type on hand, which left the racks looking empty.

Look familiar?

The cake donuts at TK were quite moist, unlike the dry consistency of many other cake donuts that I’ve come across. At first I actually thought the cake donut was undercooked, before realized that most others I’ve tried have been overcooked. Kudos to TK for getting these right. And double kudos to TK for making a cake donut that looks just like my favorite piece of art (that would be Raised with Sprkinkles by Mama Maple, and not A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, which came in a close second).

Seurat or Mama Maple?
I'll take Mama Maple.

I am always on the lookout for donut creations that are a bit different, and although this not-so-little critter isn’t technically a donut, it is definitely different: it’s called a cinnamon butterfly, according to the very nice lady who works at TK. A cherry butterfly was also available; after biting this buggy’s head off, I kind of wished I had gone for the cherry variety, as there wasn’t much cinnamon in it at all. TK gets some extra points for innovation, though.

A single bite of a butterfly's wings . . .

The raised and old-fashioned donuts were just average, but the fine cake donuts at TK gave their taste score a boost. The final Donut Meter score was 71.0, which is respectable but not outstanding. When you’ve just finished a long run and your body needs a boost, TK Donuts will do in a pinch. Just make sure you get that recovery drink into your system first.

Updated 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

6. OB Donuts — 78.7

7. K-Donuts, Oceanside — 78.0

7. Heavenly Donuts, Del Cerro —78.0

7. Plaza Donuts, National City — 78.0

10. Donut Touch, Mira Mesa — 76.8

11. Linda’s Donuts, Pacific Beach — 76.0

12. TK Donuts, Bay Park — 71.0

13. Marte’s Donuts, Escondido — 70.0

14. Foster’s Family Donuts, San Marcos — 68.0

15. Pam’s Donuts and Chinese Food, Temecula — 66.0

15. KD’s Donuts, Ramona — 66.0

17. Leucadia Donut Shoppe — 62.5