Happy Donuts — Restaurant in Palo Alto

On the 'rare' occasion I crave sweet fried dough and I can't make it to Portland, OR for a Blue Star donut, or New Orleans for some beignets, I end up at Happy Donuts. Better than Safeway, and I would say on par with Krispy Kreme. (KK wins if you want to see the donuts being made in front of you) If you want a puffy airy soft pillow, always go with the plain glazed classic circle. I usually just get one of those, but their twists looked so pretty in the display case today I got one too. (The twists due to the braided shape are a tad denser than aforementioned circle pillows, but still pretty soft and just as good in their own way.) Then I realized I didn't have enough cash for their $5 minimum (this never happens at Blue Star bc one donut is about $5 😉), so I had to get a third donut. It's a hard knock life 😆. I was done eating before I thought to take a pic, I like that the donuts here are not greasy, as you can see the undersides are nice and clean. Some donut shops you get debris from dirty trays and some oiliness squishes through, but not at this Happy Donuts. We always go in the morning, and the oil is never rancid. This has happened at some other donut shops on the peninsula, where a decent donut was spoiled by bad grease, but not here. Staff is always pretty jolly too. This particular location is easy to miss, due to their location but it's got a good turnover. We drive past regularly, and often see young kids in Stanford shirts walking away with boxes of donuts (to power them thru their studies/late nite munchies). This location has...

I stopped by this donut shop and ended up trying more than just the donuts. The burger set was a nice surprise. They make the burger fresh after you order, so it takes a little time, but it’s worth it—the veggies were really fresh and the whole thing felt a lot better than your average fast-food burger. The fries don’t season them much, so you kinda have to use the ketchup, but they were decent. For the drink, you get a can, and I went with a 7UP for something light and refreshing. The donuts come in a wide variety, and I went with a whipped cream one—you can pick between chocolate or maple, and I chose maple. The cream inside was smooth and not overly sweet, and the maple flavor gave it a nice balance. It’s still indulgent, but not overwhelmingly sugary, which made it easy to enjoy without feeling too heavy. The staff here are super friendly and welcoming, which really adds to the experience. Overall, it’s a great spot where you can grab a fresh burger and fries but also finish off with a donut that’s indulgent without...

This is one of my favorite donut shops. You'll never get a mediocre donut there, as they use the finest ingredients and the food preparers are experts. They also have a wide selection of meals such as hamburgers, sandwiches, breakfast items and much more. I've known the staff for a long time and they add a lot to the experience by being friendly and engaging. The seating area is relatively large and always clean. It can be a bit noisy inside during peak periods of road traffic and customer activity, but that's to be expected in a popular restaurant. If you like this kind of food and are driving by, be sure to stop by and enjoy what they...