California's Best Donuts Found Here: New Ranking

The doughnut has been part of American culture since Dutch settlers introduced “olykoeks” — oily cakes — in the 17th century, but not all are created equally in California.

For the best doughnut in the state, you’ll want to head to California Donuts in Los Angeles. That’s according to the digital food and drink news site TastingTable, which put together a list that highlights The Best Donut Shop In Each State.

The 24-hour shop in Koreatown has been run by the same family of Cambodian immigrants since 1982, and is famous for delicious, creative donuts that range from an Oreo donut resembling a panda bear to a white chocolate donut resembling a unicorn. It also offers croissants, muffins, bagels, cheesecakes, and a full coffee and iced tea menu.

To arrive at its choices, TastingTable said it reviewed Reddit posts, local and national publications discussing doughnuts, and first-hand reviews regarding the taste of different pastries.

Doughnuts have come a long way since olykoeks, which were essentially solid balls of fried dough, often filled with nuts or fruit. Captain Hanson Gregory is credited with introducing the iconic ring shape after punching a hole in the center of the dough, which made for even cooking.

The mass production of doughnuts began in the 1920s after Adolph Levi, an enterprising Russian immigrant, invented the “Wonderful Almost Human Automatic Donut Machine,” which churned out the treats at an impressive rate.

The “Doughnut Girls” — Salvation Army volunteers who served frontline troops in World War I and World War II — solidified the popularity of doughnuts as a comfort food.

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