Brace for sugar: National Doughnut Day has arrived.
The big day, honored each June 7, isn't a new tradition. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s dipped in patriotic history.
National Doughnut Day originated in 1938 to pay tribute to the Salvation Army volunteers who provided doughnuts to Uncle Sam’s soldiers during World War I. According to doughnut lore, those "Donut Lassies" were the reason the fried treats caught on in the United States after the troops returned home.
Ready to celebrate by finding a fresh doughnut near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top options for doughnuts around San Francisco, using both Yelp data and our own methodology to produce a ranked list of the city's best.
1. Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop
Nob Hill's Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop, located at 1621 Polk St. (between Sacramento and Clay streets), is the highest-rated doughnut shop in San Francisco, boasting 4.5 stars out of 2,846 reviews on Yelp.
A Nob Hill mainstay since the Eisenhower era, this 24-hour favorite offers generously sized doughnuts in flavors that range from traditional glazed to apple fritters (a house favorite). Bob's also offers a special giant doughnut (pictured at top) — finish it off in two minutes, and you'll get a refund, a free drink, a T-shirt and your name listed in a hall of fame.
2. Trish's Mini Donuts
Next up is Trish's Mini Donuts. Located at Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf, it's another local favorite, with 4.5 stars out of 839 reviews on Yelp.
Located in the heart of the Wharf's tourist district, Trish's is part of an empire of doughnut, chocolate, hot dog and fish-and-chips establishments that stretches from Hollywood to the Bay Area. It offers only a single variety of mini doughnuts, topped with cinnamon and sugar — and if you're eager to celebrate National Doughnut Day with a crowd, it offers a mini-bathtub full of 120 mini-doughnuts.
3. Donuts & Things
Next on the list is Nob Hill's Donuts & Things, situated at 1549 Polk St. (between California and Sacramento streets). With 4.5 stars out of 96 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score doughnuts, coffee and tea has proven to be a local favorite.
Bay Area lifestyle website 7x7 calls the unassuming Donuts & Things "the unsung hero of Polk Street." And while its freshly made doughnuts have plenty of fans, it also offers bagels, breakfast sandwiches and banh mi sandwiches. There's a dining area for those who want to sit and savor.
4. Twisted Donuts and Coffee
Over in the Outer Sunset, Twisted Donuts and Coffee is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 424 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1243 Noriega St. (between 19th and 20th avenues) to see for yourself.
The mom and pop of this mom-and-pop shop are Joyce and Paul Lim. Per the shop's website, Paul was raised in a doughnut-making Southern California household and decided to open his own store after moving to San Francisco.
While the Lims offer all of the usual doughnut varieties on weekdays, they go wild on weekends, with offerings such as Nutty Monkey, Berry Crunchy, XS'Mores Galore, PB & J, Lemon Berry, Fruirrito, Pumpkin Fritters, Milky Way Under A-Salt and Baconpeno, a bacon-and-jalapeno combination.
5. The Jelly Donut
Over in the Mission District, check out The Jelly Donut, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 237 reviews on Yelp. You can find it at 3198 24th St. (between Shotwell Street and Van Ness Avenue).
Open for more than three decades, this unassuming corner shop keeps it simple, with a traditional selection doughnut offerings. Patrons praise the owners' friendly customer service, which often includes an extra doughnut or a handful of doughnut holes tossed in, gratis. Go prepared to indulge, and with cash in hand: The Jelly Donut doesn't take credit cards.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
