Best Donuts Restaurants in San Francisco
50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Bob's Donuts
Handmade, hot-fried classics with decades of local devotion.
Notable Picks
#1
Bob's Donuts
8.7
SF legacy donut shop (family-run since the 1950s) known for hot-fried classics, the apple fritter, and its famous giant donut challenge. The new Polk Street space keeps the old-school recipes with a bit more breathing room for the morning rush.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Giant Raised Donut, Old-Fashioned (glazed)
What Makes it Special: Handmade, hot-fried classics with decades of local devotion.
8.4
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family-run shop (since 1960) turning out from-scratch classics at the Baker Street outpost. Expect crisp-edged old fashioneds, hefty fritters, and steady production through the day.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Glazed Old Fashioned, Maple Bar
What Makes it Special: Handmade, scratch donuts from a longstanding SF original.
Waterfront kiosk pouring coffee and frying small-batch donuts with seasonal, chef-driven flavors. Locals swing by after runs on the Marina Green for Maple Apple Bacon or vegan Spiced Chocolate while taking in the bay breeze.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Apple Bacon, Spiced Chocolate (vegan), Vanilla Bean
What Makes it Special: Chef-led flavors from a long-running SF donut institution in a bayfront kiosk.
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Sweet Treats Escapes
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
High-volume Chinatown counter turning out hot, freshly fried pastries alongside classic dim sum. Expect fast-moving lines and consistent execution on donut-adjacent favorites like sesame balls and fried dough sticks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sesame Balls (Jin Dui), Chinese Donut (Youtiao), Sweet Egg Puffs
What Makes it Special: Takeout-only pace with reliably fresh, fried pastries.
8.4
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Handcrafted doughnuts made fresh daily in a cozy Pacific Heights storefront. Known for classic raised and old-fashioned styles alongside seasonal specials and a house ‘Crodough’.
Must-Try Dishes:
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk, Apple Fritter, Crodough
What Makes it Special: Scratch-made doughnuts with rotating seasonal flavors and a signature croissant-doughnut hybrid.
8.4
Woman-owned donut kitchen trailer at Parklab Gardens turning out signature sourdough donuts with rotating flavors and inclusive options. Locals swing by for fresh-fried texture, creative glazes, and an easy grab-and-go stop before SPARK Social or Stagecoach Greens.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sourdough Brown Butter Donut, Maple Bacon Donut, Gluten-Free Vegan Devil’s Food Cake Donut
What Makes it Special: Signature sourdough donuts with dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options.
#7
Modo Hawaii
8.4
Mochi donut specialists frying to order—chewy, feather-light rings with flavors like lilikoi, ube, and cookies & cream. The Parkside outpost opened in 2025 and draws steady lines for consistent texture and clean glazes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lilikoi mochi donut, Ube glaze mochi donut, Cookies & Cream mochi donut
What Makes it Special: Fresh-fried mochi donuts with rotating island-influenced flavors (opened 2025).
8.4
Bay Area’s mochi specialists turn out chewy butter mochi donuts with seasonal glazes alongside their famed Mochi Muffins. Lines are steady for colorful, gluten-free treats that travel well and pair with matcha lattes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Mochi Donut — Matcha White Chocolate, Ube Coconut Mochi Donut, Strawberries & Cream Mochi Donut
What Makes it Special: Chewy butter mochi donuts with rotating, vibrant flavors.
Female- and immigrant-founded small-batch outfit (since 2020) turning out polished, CIA-honed doughnuts at the Saturday Ferry Plaza market. Glazes and fillings spotlight ube, Madagascar vanilla, and Belgian chocolate.
Must-Try Dishes:
The O.G. (Madagascar Vanilla Bean Glaze), Ooh Baby (Ube Filled & Glazed), Napa Creme (Belgian Chocolate + Vanilla Bean Cream)
What Makes it Special: Culinary Institute–born recipes with Filipino and travel-inspired flavors.
8.3
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Husband-and-wife shop (since 2014) balancing classic doughnuts on weekdays with playful weekend specials. Locals come for tight execution, creative flavors, and a steady morning flow that keeps cases fresh.
Must-Try Dishes:
Old Fashioned (glazed or chocolate), Nutty Monkey specialty donut, Maple Buttermilk Bar
What Makes it Special: Small-batch classics plus inventive weekend flavors from a family-run team.
#11
Glaze Donuts
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Sweet Treats Escapes
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Neighborhood counter on Mission Street turning out classic yeast-raised and cake donuts alongside coffee and quick breakfast items. Locals rely on it for consistent fritters and freshly glazed rounds from early morning through the evening.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Maple Bar, Old-Fashioned Cake Donut
What Makes it Special: Reliable, early-opening shop with freshly glazed classics all day.
8.2
Small counter-service spot on 6th Street turning out fresh classics—old fashioneds, twists, and apple fritters—at budget-friendly prices. Regulars swing by early for warm trays and simple coffee before the Mid-Market rush.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Old Fashioned (plain or glazed), Cinnamon Twist
What Makes it Special: Fresh-batched classics at true old-school prices on 6th Street.
8.2
German bakery specializing in Berliners (jam-filled donuts) alongside cakes and pretzels. Small window service with limited daily batches and precise, not-too-sweet fillings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Berliner (Seasonal Jam), Vanilla Cream Berliner, Mini Berliner Assortment
What Makes it Special: Authentic German Berliners with rotating house-made fillings.
#14
My Happy Donut
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Family-run counter spot (since 1995) turning out classic donuts from early morning to late night. Locals praise the fresh fry, generous apple fritter, and fast, friendly service at the Chinatown/North Beach edge.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Glazed Old-Fashioned, Maple Bar
What Makes it Special: Long-running, late-open neighborhood donut shop with reliably fresh classics.
#15
The French Spot
8.2
Tiny Tendernob pastry shop baking an Ube “Mochicro” (mochi-croissant hybrid) alongside viennoiserie. It’s a fun, chewier take on the donut lane with precise lamination and rotating flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Mochicro, Matcha Raspberry Mochi Ring, Morning Bun
What Makes it Special: Mochi-meets-croissant rings with tight technique and flavor.
#16
AA Bakery & Cafe
8.1
Long-running Chinatown bakery-cafe known for a wide pastry case and steady fry work on Chinese-style donuts and sweets. You can grab coffee and a couple of warm, crisp items and be on your way in minutes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sai Yong (Sugar Egg Puffs), Sesame Donut Balls, Chinese Donut (Youtiao)
What Makes it Special: One-stop pastry counter with reliably fresh fried sweets.
8.1
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Weekend mochi donuts share the stage with boba at this Plaza Escuela spot. Flavors skew fun—think churro, black sesame, and strawberry shortcake—made in limited batches Friday to Sunday.
Must-Try Dishes:
Churro Mochi Donut, Black Sesame Mochi Donut, Strawberry Shortcake Mochi Donut
What Makes it Special: Limited-run mochi donuts drop Fri–Sun alongside boba.
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Sweet Treats Escapes
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Classic, family-run counter turning out fresh raised and cake donuts, apple fritters, and breakfast sandwiches from pre-dawn until early afternoon. Locals stop for quick boxes before work and weekend coffee-and-fritter runs on the Sunol Blvd corridor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Glazed Old-Fashioned, Maple Bar
What Makes it Special: Pre-dawn bakes with reliably fresh fritters and classics.
#19
Ocean Malasada
8.1
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Portuguese-style malasadas with Hawaiian-Filipino flavors served daily inside the Ferry Building. Owner Randy Santos riffs with fillings like passionfruit and ube for warm, sugar-dusted dough straight from the fryer.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Malasada, Passionfruit Malasada, Classic Sugar Malasada
What Makes it Special: Fresh-fried malasadas with Hawaii-meets-Filipino flavors.
#20
All Star Cafe
8
Corner cafe known for a deep donut lineup plus breakfast sandwiches and coffee drinks. A reliable stop pre-commute with large fritters, buttermilk bars, and quick ticket times.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buttermilk Bar, Chocolate Glazed Ring, Cinnamon Roll Donut
What Makes it Special: Big, classic donuts with rapid counter service.
8
Small-batch pastries—laminated croissants, kouign-amann, and seasonal pies—make striking close-ups, with a cozy back patio for relaxed morning shoots. Neighborhood regulars come for buttery technique and friendly service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kouign-amann, Ham & cheese croissant, Seasonal fruit pie slice
What Makes it Special: Laminated pastries with rich color and crisp layers built to photograph.
#22
Donut Wheel
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Sweet Treats Escapes
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
24-hour donut counter turning out old-school raised, cake, and apple fritter classics at true bargain prices. Locals use it for early coffee runs and late-night cravings alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Glazed Old Fashioned, Ham & Cheese Croissant
What Makes it Special: Round-the-clock donuts with decades of local nostalgia.
#23
Eastern Bakery
8
Historic Chinatown bakery (since 1924) turning out traditional pastries, including donut-adjacent sesame balls and sweet fried puffs. The vintage neon sign leads to a counter where classics are kept moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sesame Balls (Jin Dui), Sugar Egg Puffs, Sweet Donut Twists
What Makes it Special: Century-old bakery serving classic fried sweets with heritage.
8
Japan Center counter specializing in chewy, ring-shaped mochi doughnuts with crisp edges and glossy glazes. Flavors rotate from ube and matcha to strawberry and black sesame.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Mochi Donut, Matcha Mochi Donut, Black Sesame Mochi Donut
What Makes it Special: Glutenous-rice mochi dough creates a springy, crisp-chewy doughnut texture.
8
Small, woman-owned bakery turning out French-leaning pastries plus malasadas on select days. A more polished take on sweets with limited runs that reward early arrivals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Malasadas, Vanilla-Glazed Donut, Seasonal Filled Donut
What Makes it Special: French pastry craft with occasional malasadas and limited-batch donuts.
8
A coffee window attached to a kids’ woodworking studio that now turns out house-made donuts daily, including vegan and mochi styles. Flavors rotate (matcha, black sesame, lemon), and lines move quickly in the morning.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mochi Matcha Donut, Old-Fashioned Glazed, Vegan Cardamom Donut
What Makes it Special: Rotating mochi and vegan donut program from a community-first café window.
#27
Western Donuts
8
Mom-and-pop storefront near Geneva offering fresh classics, plus croissants and coffee, with a short morning window. Friendly owners, quick service, and well-made cake styles anchor its following.
Must-Try Dishes:
Plain Glazed Ring, Cinnamon Twist, Cruller
What Makes it Special: Small-window, early-bird shop focused on fresh, classic donuts.
Worthy Picks
#28
All Star Donuts
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sweet Treats Escapes
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Classic mom-and-pop counter turning out fresh, no-frills donuts from early morning through the afternoon. Locals come for warm apple fritters, old fashioneds with a proper crust, and fast, friendly service at wallet-friendly prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Buttermilk Old Fashioned, Glazed Twist
What Makes it Special: Fresh, straightforward donuts with quick counter service and fair prices.
7.9
Long-running Tenderloin counter turning out fresh donuts alongside griddle staples. Expect hefty maple bars, twists, and a steady stream of regulars from nearby offices and the courthouse.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Bar, Cinnamon Twist, Chocolate Cake Donut
What Makes it Special: Classic donuts made continuously through the morning rush.
7.9
Old-school counter serving coffee, breakfast plates, and a daily lineup of classic donuts. The appeal is straightforward: friendly service, fair prices, and dependable raised/glazed standards.
Must-Try Dishes:
Glazed Raised Donut, Chocolate Bar, Buttermilk Old-Fashioned
What Makes it Special: Classic diner-style donut counter with no-fuss favorites.
#31
Donut World
7.9
Inner Sunset stalwart known for a broad selection and late hours by neighborhood standards. Reliable cake and raised styles make it a post-park or N-Judah grab-and-go favorite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Old Fashioned, Buttermilk Bar, Glazed Raised
What Makes it Special: Late open hours and a deep case of old-school styles.
#32
Donuts & Things
7.9
Compact Polk Street counter turning out straightforward raised and cake donuts alongside coffee and simple breakfast items. Locals lean on it for quick grab-and-go mornings and fair pricing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueberry Cake Donut, Glazed Old-Fashioned, Cinnamon Crumb Donut
What Makes it Special: No-frills donuts done fresh with fast, friendly service.
7.9
Sourdough-based donuts with rotating seasonal flavors served in a sleek Potrero Hill storefront. Locals stop in for inventive options like lemon meringue and dark chocolate sea salt alongside solid coffee and efficient counter service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lemon Meringue Pie Donut, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Donut, Campfire S'mores Donut
What Makes it Special: Sourdough donuts with patisserie-style toppings in a polished space.
7.9
Plant-based café baking house vegan donuts—often blueberry, cinnamon sugar, and maple—alongside espresso drinks. A downtown morning staple with a short, focused pastry case.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vegan Blueberry Donut, Cinnamon Sugar Donut, Maple-Glazed Donut
What Makes it Special: House-made vegan donuts with rotating flavors.
#35
Whack Donuts
7.9
Vegan doughnuts with inventive flavors from a pop-up turned permanent at Embarcadero Center. Expect small-batch glazes like Thai tea and chocolate peppermint with efficient counter service for the FiDi crowd.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thai Tea Doughnut, Chocolate Peppermint Doughnut, Carrot Cake Doughnut
What Makes it Special: Creative, fully vegan doughnuts in downtown SF.
#36
Best Donuts
7.8
Neighborhood strip-center shop known for friendly service, steady quality, and fair prices. The case runs classic glazed, old-fashioneds, and hearty fritters, with quick grab-and-go flow.
Must-Try Dishes:
Old-Fashioned, Raised Glazed, Apple Fritter
What Makes it Special: Classic donut lineup at true budget prices with fast service.
7.8
24-hour Civic Center bakery-counter with a pastry case that includes classic donuts alongside bagels and croissants. It’s a practical grab-and-go stop for courthouse staff and students.
Must-Try Dishes:
Glazed Donut, Chocolate Old-Fashioned, Maple Bar
What Makes it Special: Always-open counter with steady, inexpensive donuts.
#38
Happy Donut
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Sweet Treats Escapes
Van Ness corner spot serving classic raised rings, twists, and bars with speedy counter service. Reliable for a quick coffee-and-donut stop or a late errand snack.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Bar, Glazed Twist, Apple Fritter
What Makes it Special: Classic selection, fast pour-over, and dependable prices.
#39
Happy Donuts
7.8
A cash-only, around-the-clock donut counter in the Financial District built on oversized apple fritters and no-nonsense classics at prices that barely register. The draw is speed, volume, and reliability—walk in at any hour, grab a fritter or a breakfast sandwich, and walk out fed for pocket change. It delivers exactly what it promises without pretending to be anything else.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritters, Glazed Donuts, Breakfast Sandwiches
What Makes it Special: Cash-only, no-frills donut counter in the Financial District turning out oversized apple fritters around the clock
#40
Happy Donuts
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Sweet Treats Escapes
Van Ness corner spot serving classic raised rings, twists, and bars with speedy counter service. Reliable for a quick coffee-and-donut stop or a late errand snack.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Bar, Glazed Twist, Apple Fritter
What Makes it Special: Classic selection, fast pour-over, and dependable prices.
#41
Honey Donut
7.8
Cash-only counter with a long case of raised, cake, and cruller styles plus coffee to go. It’s a straightforward, early-opens stop for grab-and-go sweets near Mid-Market.
Must-Try Dishes:
French Cruller, Maple Bar, Chocolate Glazed Raised
What Makes it Special: No-frills, early-morning donuts with quick turnaround.
#42
Lilikoi
7.8
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hawaiian-themed boba shop turning out chewy, ring-shaped mochi donuts alongside drinks and poke. It’s the sweet stop on Fillmore for colorful glazes and quick grab-and-go desserts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Taro Mochi Donut, Cookies & Cream Mochi Donut, Matcha Mochi Donut
What Makes it Special: Mochi donuts fried fresh with rotating island-leaning glazes.
Longstanding gluten-free bakeshop at the Ferry Building offering seasonal doughnuts alongside pastries and breads. Cider-spiced rings and cinnamon-sugar bites give donut-lovers a dedicated GF option.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Cider Donuts (seasonal), Cinnamon-Sugar Donut Bites, Chocolate-Glazed Donut
What Makes it Special: Dedicated gluten-free bakery with seasonal doughnuts.
#44
ML Donuts
7.8
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Sweet Treats Escapes
Classic corner donut shop turning out fresh glazed, old-fashioneds, and fritters from early morning until late. Locals come for quick, friendly service and reliably warm pastries at wallet-friendly prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Maple Old Fashioned, Glazed Twist
What Makes it Special: Old-school donuts made fresh with fast counter cadence.
7.8
Chewy ringed mochi donuts in rotating flavors plus drinks, with a bright, photo-friendly space. A newer Outer Sunset option adding texture-driven variety to the neighborhood donut scene.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Mochi Donut, Matcha Mochi Donut, Churro Cinnamon Mochi Donut
What Makes it Special: Texture-forward mochi donuts with rotating, color-forward glazes.
7.8
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
PIER 39 kiosk making mini donuts to order, served hot in bags or buckets. Tourists and locals alike stop for the cinnamon-sugar minis and boardwalk-style nostalgia from owner Trish Conklin’s longtime stand.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cinnamon-Sugar Mini Donuts, Powdered Sugar Minis, Half-and-Half Mixed Bag
What Makes it Special: Fresh-fried mini donuts with carnival DNA and waterfront energy.
Mid-Market storefront offering classic donuts plus an expanded savory menu, making it a one-stop option for mixed groups. Donuts lean big and sweet, with fritters and bars leading the case.
Must-Try Dishes:
Apple Fritter, Maple Old-Fashioned, Glazed Twist
What Makes it Special: Classic donut case plus full savory menu under one roof.
#48
Dough
7.7
Lobby-level cafe on Market that keeps a rotating pastry case including donuts alongside espresso and grab-and-go breakfast. Best for office runs or a mid-morning sugar fix near the tech corridor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Glazed Ring Donut, Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donut, Chocolate Sprinkled Raised
What Makes it Special: Downtown-convenient cafe with a reliable donut selection.
#49
Happy Donuts
7.7
Neighborhood counter in Haight-Ashbury for quick, affordable rings and coffee. Straightforward classics, friendly pacing, and a steady morning flow.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jelly Donut, Maple Bar, Glazed Twist
What Makes it Special: Classic donut lineup at true neighborhood pricing.
#50
Lucky Ocean Cafe
7.7
Ingleside corner cafe with a pastry case that includes classic donuts alongside breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Not a pure donut shop, but a reliable stop for a fresh ring with a sit-down option.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sugar Raised Donut, Maple Bar, Cinnamon Roll Donut
What Makes it Special: Cafe setting where you can grab a donut and linger.