SK Donuts & Croissant: A Local Legend in Los Angeles
SK Donuts & Croissant is a family-owned bakery located at 5850 W 3rd Street in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. It first opened its doors in 1989 and has since become a beloved institution in the city. Known for its round-the-clock service, SK Donuts has served generations of Angelenos — from early-morning commuters to late-night snackers — with fresh, handmade donuts, croissants, and their famous hybrid creations.
What sets SK Donuts apart is not only the quality and freshness of its pastries but also its ability to innovate while maintaining traditional flavors. Their menu includes classic glazed donuts, filled croissants, and more adventurous options like maple bacon bars, Fruity Pebble-topped donuts, and the “skronut” — a flaky, fried croissant-donut hybrid that rivals the famed New York cronut. Over the years, they’ve also added vegan and seasonal options to appeal to a broader clientele.
Though not officially a filming location or a widely publicized celebrity hangout, SK Donuts is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Los Angeles. Its proximity to major studios and filming locations has made it a quiet favorite among production crews and “crafty” (craft services) departments. There are numerous anecdotes of actors, directors, and crew members grabbing a box of SK Donuts during late shoots or early call times. While no A-list regulars have been publicly confirmed, its reputation within the film community is well-established — the kind of insider favorite that gets passed along word-of-mouth.
In a city known for its fleeting trends and fast-changing food scene, SK Donuts & Croissant has remained remarkably consistent — serving as both a nostalgic spot for longtime locals and a must-visit destination for donut lovers discovering L.A. for...
Read moreScrumptious, savory, sapid, sumptuous, sweet, soft, sugary, who knows what the 'S' stands for.
But 'K' stands for King, that's for sure.
Just a quick update to my review:
Second time coming to SK after so long, and it's great to know that the donuts are still the best I've ever had. I confirmed it this time because I tasted their apple fritters. Yes, apple fritters. I strongly believe that you can judge a donut shop NOT by its variety of donuts or by the friendliness of the staff (although they contribute), but simply by its apple fritters.
Long story short, I practically grew up on apple fritters. These cinnamon-y sweet plumps of chopped apples and fluffy dough were heaven, but most places didn't get it right. Surprisingly, most places forget to emphasize the APPLES. Sure, the cinnamon sugar is important, and sure the glaze elevates the treat, but if I don't bite into little chunks of apple every other bite or so, then you've failed. Anyway, I got the apple fritter this time, and it didn't let down. SK never ceases to amaze.
A word about the other donuts:
SKronut: flaky and heavy and as flavorful as they can be. I usually opt for the simpler variety without all the creams, custards, nutella and strawberries, etc. Just a nice cinnamon or glazed will do for me.
Strawberry Cake Donut: Texture was great - thick and cakey as it should be. Flavor, however, seemed a little on the artificial side. Probably won't be getting any of the flavored cake holes again.
I hope this isn't for a limited time, because the nutella walnut donuts were fantastic. It's not completely doused in nutella, but enough is put on to appreciate the chocolate flavor with the walnut crumble. Very likely to get again!
Buttermilk, Plain Glazed, and Raspberry Jelly Donuts...
Read moreDonut 4 pack - glazed, cinnamon crumb, Oreo blast, creamy caramel cronut / 5⭐!
In my ongoing quest to review as many LA donut shops as I can, I was very pleased with my recent trip to SK Donut & Croissant. I have been here before. But it was a long time ago when I lived in the area. It had been at least ten years since my last visit. Long enough that it felt like my first time again.
SK Donut is a successful entry in the classic, 'pink-box style' donut category. They have been open for over thirty years! They are located in mid-city, on 3rd and Cochran, near The Original Farmer's Market. The small strip mall they are in has decent parking and there is also street parking nearby.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. During my brief time there, they seemed to have steady business but they had more than enough people working to quickly accommodate everyone's orders.
I ordered four donuts and it took me a while to finally decide. The three regular donuts I tried were all from the classic, yeast-raised family. I always like to grab a plain glazed donut. SK's version was perfectly iced and fresh. I heard a cashier mention to another guest that their cinnamon crumb was popular so I tried one of those as well. It was excellent. The Oreo blast was loaded with chocolate cookie crumbs. Fantastic.
The real star of the four donuts I tried was their creamy caramel cronut. It was crispy and soft, like a croissant and packed with caramel and whipped cream. It was very decadent.
They had dozens of donut and cronut varieties to choose from, including a robust gluten free selection. They also have cafe beverages and croissants (both savory and sweet).
Overall, an excellent...
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