Downtown Donuts
Apple Fritter
Buttermilk Bar
Old Fashioned
Strawberry Glaze and Sprinkles
Blueberry Glaze
Maple Cruller
Located in the same Spring Street arcade as Guisado’s, the signs of gentrification all around in the wake of Grand Central Market becoming one of Downtown Los Angeles’ biggest draws. Downtown Donuts was recently opened by entrepreneur Les Goodwin, his personal love of the fried breakfast pastry inspiring him to help re-establish a classic Donut shop at the city’s historic core.
Neither advertising as nor trying to be an “artisan” shop doing the same sort of things as Sidecar or Blue Star, the shopping center built in the 1920 far better suited to the hand-cut classics served from glass cases at a fair price, it was with big smiles from two youthful ladies that patrons were greeted on Black Friday, prices ranging $1.24 to $2.99 alongside simple drip-pot Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Milk, Juice and Tea.
Offering prices cheaper by the dozen, a mixed box of six in my case tallying $12 after tax and tip, it was at covered outdoor seating that I sat enjoying the goods next to mall security, a statement that the Cruller was his “favorite” proving the man has good taste as the Maple Glaze was supported by a lightly crunchy layer before giving way to soft pockets full of air.
Not particularly taken by the Blueberry Ring, expectations of Fruit in the Batter dashed by what was only Glaze, the Strawberry fared better despite taking a similar route largely as a result of expectations created by Dunkin’, the Buttermilk Bar nothing short of reference standard without a hint of oil, even around the edges, something once simply does not see at most high volume places these days.
Rounding out the afternoon with two more favorites, the Old Fashioned much like the Buttermilk Bar with a crumbly texture but not as much tang, Downtown Donuts $2.99 Apple Fritter is perhaps the best west of Colorado Donuts in Eagle Rock, a good amount of Apples chopped into the Cinnamon-laden Batter that fries up crispy and golden on the outside with soft textures and a touch of springiness beneath.
http://www.downtowndonutsla.com