Best Doughnut Shops In The South Bay

Doughnuts are an American staple. In spite of chic food fads and health food trends over the years, the mighty doughnut retains its loyal fans, and its popularity continues to grow. From old time standards to something entirely different, doughnuts remain in demand. Find your favorite South Bay doughnuts among these five local spots.

Doughnut holes (Credit, Melanie Graysmith)

Maple Leaf Donuts
1110 Saratoga Ave.
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 296-6050

Maple Leaf Donuts gets raves from its regulars who say wonderful things about the mouthwatering doughnuts, reasonable prices and Linda and Lee, the sweet, friendly couple who own the shop. The Maple Leaf gets pretty busy with a line regularly out the door, although it moves quickly. This is a small space without many places to sit, so you might want to get your doughnuts to go. The owners are known to drop a few doughnut holes into the bag when you buy a couple doughnuts -- a nice touch. Come early or your favorites may be sold out.

Donut Wheel is always open, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Prices are inexpensive for tasty doughnuts, at under $8 for a dozen. Baking is done around the clock, so the wide range of doughnuts is refilled as they disappear. For small town Cupertino, Donut Wheel is one of the few places open after 9 p.m. and a popular spot to head to for yummy goodness after a night of partying.Related: Best Autumn Desserts In South Bay

Psycho Donuts
288 S. 2nd St.
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 533-1023
www.psycho-donuts.com

With a name like Psycho Donuts, you know you are in for something different. The shop says its doughnuts are "Crazy Good," and we are inclined to believe it, even before a first taste. Here is why: billed as the "world's first and only asylum for wayward donuts," Psycho Donuts has revolutionized, or using its word, "donutized," almost every food favorite including hamburgers, pizzas, fries and tacos. Psycho Donuts are topped with an almost limitedless array of wild toppings: Oreo cookies, bananas, peanut butter, bacon and Rice Krispie Treats are here. Once inside Psycho Donuts, be prepared for sensory overload as the shop website tells us beautiful nurses are on hand with "bubblewrap therapy" to help with any doughnut-making stress you might encounter. To complete the sensory experience, the shop doubles as a quirky art gallery, showcasing inexpensive original artwork of local artists. Visit the website for complete details and to download a menu pdf of doughnuts with names like Cereal Killer, Glazed and Confused and Dead Elvis; selections change daily.

La Cabana Pupuseria & Donuts
1910 W. El Camino Real, Suite D
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 967-7752
www.lacabanpupuseria.com

La Cabana is a popular favorite for its full gluten-free food menu and tasty doughnuts, which are not gluten free but made in separate oil from the food. A former doughnut shop that has expanded to highlight pupusas, along with other Salvadorian foods, the shop's humble ambiance is in contrast to the decent food quality and large portions served. Doughnut choices cover the usual suspects of regular, plain and iced, small and large filled, various specialties and glazed doughnut holes. Prices for everything are extremely resonable, with doughnuts from 50 cents for regular to $1.80 for a dozen doughnut holes.

Doughnuts from Dick's Bakery (Credit, Melanie Graysmith)

Dick's Bakery
1593 Meridian Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 269-5212
www.dicksbakery.net

Everyone loves Dick's Bakery and its old fashioned assortment of baked goods, from the signature burnt almond cake to the specialty wedding cakes, cookies and doughnuts. Dick's is a longtime family owned and operated bakery, having been in business since 1947. Stop by for traditional and specialty doughnuts: Bismarks, twists, apple fritters, bars, glazed, cake and raised. Check the website for a full listing of bakery items.

Related: Hit The Road To Discover The Bay's Classic Sweet Treats

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Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.