Crispy&#x27;s Donuts

Hands down one of the best coffee shops in town. Besides Starbucks we don't really have any good…read morecoffee options in San Marcos. I love their cold brew. They are able to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Staff is always friendly. They opened up shop on CSUSM campus, where I work. It's the highlight of my day. :)

I'm a big coffee lover, so I'm always excited to try new spots. I actually came across this place a…read morewhile back but thr Vista location, it's a small drive-through hut, and at the time, I wasn't too impressed. Recently, I found myself in San Marcos and decided to give it another shot at this location and I'm so glad I did! I've been back a few times now, and every visit has been great. The shop is in a convenient shopping center with plenty of parking, which is always a plus. It's a small, cozy spot with a really cute setup. Each time I've gone, it's been the same person working, and he's always incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes a big difference. I've tried a few different coffee drinks, and every single one has been delicious although the Mazapan Latte is my absolute favorite! Definitely a must try. The combination of great service and consistently amazing coffee is exactly why I keep coming back. Definitely worth checking out and making the drive since I'm in Carlsbad.

Still has a coming soon sign, but it is open for business!

Outside

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Inside seating

Awaken Coffee

4.4(24 reviews)

0.2 mi

I was pleased to find this gem in San Marcos! They have a small menu, but donned a decent selection…read moreof fun coffee concoctions. I treated myself to a lavender latte during my visit to power me through a few hours of work while waiting for my car to be serviced nearby. The latte was delicious, but a little too sweet for my taste. I wish there was an option to make it less sweet. It's possible that it was an option, but I didn't know about it. If you like the taste of coffee to come out more when enjoying an espresso drink, the lavender latte may be too sweet to your liking. The ambiance is perfect for a work day or even a intimate conversation with a friend.

I was coming to Awaken 3mo and if I didnt get coffee from home I would come to get a lavender & SF…read morevanilla latte with an add shot. It was delicious and something I looked forward to. The staff always was so positive, friendly and working hard. I loved it so much I started to serve in the awaken cafe and love the people & the vibe.

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Better Buzz Coffee San Marcos

4.1(1.1k reviews)

1.2 mi

Ana and Taku were super attentive and really quick with their service at the Walk-Up counter! Had…read moreour drinks out as we were ordering. Perfect perfect!

Service is always quick and easy, super friendly staff! Love the vibes coming from this little tiny…read morehut! Will always make the trip over to San Marcos to order some drinks Thank you Maliyeh and Ana!!

Pick up window

Hazelnut divinity

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Cute kiosk, front view

Tea Amo

4.3(247 reviews)

1.4 mi

Locally owned & operated

Free parking

Love this place! They still got the mystery cups. Which is what I initially wanted, but I haven't…read morebeen here in a long time and they have so much dessert now!!! We got the cookies n' cream bingsoo!! I love bingsoo!! It was so good!!! I need to try all the flavors!! I need a second person tho, it's a lot! I should've stopped there, but then I got macarons and a slice of cake. The macarons I got were the Nutella boba and caramel monkey. The caramel monkey was my favorite because it was super soft, fresh, and the cookie had great flavor. The Dubai cake was good but really rich. I definitely need milk or tea with this one. Service is good. It was pretty empty when we came here. I love this place, but I waste a lot of money here and I'm on a diet. That's the only reason why I haven't been here in a long time. I'm pretty addicted to this place.

I wouldn't typically leave a review like this, but our visit was far below what we expected. My…read morewife, children, and I stopped in last Thursday evening to try the bubble tea, and unfortunately the customer service was very poor. The fried chicken itself was good, and the drinks were decent, but the overall experience was overshadowed by the staff's attitude. We asked one girl what she recommend to which she simply replied I don't know and the other one seemed irritated by our questions. This was our first visit, yet they didn't seem interested in helping us! Neither was particularly welcoming or friendly. To make matters worse, we overheard the employees' conversations which included lots of profanity and complaining about work, not a family friendly experience! It's disappointing because the products themselves were enjoyable, but the poor customer service made it difficult to enjoy the overall experience. 2 stars, completely unprofessional.

Did someone say party? Yes we can!

Lychee was tired from hike and wanted some!

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Bingsoo - Korean Shaved Ice, dessert to enjoy with friends!

BoBaPoP Tea Bar

4.7(108 reviews)

1.1 mi

Best Tea Spot in North County!…read more Boba Pop Boba Cafe is easily one of the best tea spots in North County San Diego. What really stands out is the quality of the tea itself. You can actually taste and smell the tea--it's incredibly fragrant, flavorful, and doesn't get lost underneath the sweetness or toppings. The tea has a really nice depth and freshness to it, and you can tell they put thought into the ingredients and preparation. Whether you're a serious tea drinker or just enjoy a great boba drink, this place is definitely worth checking out. I've tried plenty of boba and tea spots around North County, and Boba Pop is at the top of my list. Highly recommend it!

When this place first opened, I wasn't a huge fan. But recently, I decided to give it another try,…read moreand I'm so glad I did because I've officially become a fan! It all started when the second time I ordered their banana matcha. I remember trying it and thinking it was a little too sweet, but honestly, it was good enough to feel like a dessert! I came back and customized the sweetness level, and I genuinely started enjoying it so much more as an everyday drink. Since then, I've tried their strawberry matcha and double matcha, both with less sugar, and I've really enjoyed them. What surprised me most was the double matcha, it has what I'm assuming is matcha jelly, and the combination of flavor and texture makes it one of my favorites! Sometimes, a little customization makes all the difference.

Nice clean environment. Not a lot of people and with relaxing music.

They also have a kiosk in the corner for easy menu ordering! Wifi also available

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Banana pudding coffee and matcha

Matcha Cafe Maiko

4.4(311 reviews)

6.3 mi

It was so good I forgot to take a picture. I got the cheese foam matcha and my wife got the…read moretiramisu latte topped with cheese foam and a slice of Tiramisu. So good! My only complaint is why is oat milk an additional $1.50? Service was great. I couldn't find the tiramisu latte and the female employee was there to help with a smile! Didn't even complain despite being busy. Location is at a great place and felt very safe and clean. I would definitely be back and next time I'll take a picture.

I was visiting San Diego and came across Matcha Maiko, so l decided to stop by because I'd been…read morewanting to try their matcha. When I walked in, the kiosks weren't working, so ! waited at the front for someone to take my order. Instead, all I could hear was an older lady loudly screaming at one of the employees. It was loud enough that I could hear everything from the front counter, and it honestly gave me secondhand embarrassment. The employee was being embarrassed in front of everyone in the store, which made for a really uncomfortable atmosphere. Because of the confusion, I ended up ordering through their website instead. Unfortunately, the drink was disappointing. They added a huge scoop of strawberry syrup that completely overpowered the drink. I went there to try Matcha Maiko's matcha, not a cup full of strawberry syrup. On top of that, the syrup wasn't even mixed in properly, so l kept getting mouthfuls of syrup at the bottom I was really looking forward to trying this place, but between the uncomfortable experience in the store and the poorly made drink, it wasn't the experience I had hoped for.

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Matcha & vanilla swirl with banana pudding

Cosmic Bloom Coffee

4.7(42 reviews)

4.5 mi

This cute and quirky coffee shop offers impeccable vibes and delicious beverages…read more Walking into this Twin Peaks-esque shop feels like being transported to a liminal and nostalgic dimension. The CRT TV playing VHS tapes, along with the selection of comics and decorations makes this feel like a portal to a different place. The coffee and tea selection is good, with everything they serve being made with attention to care and quality. The service is really welcoming. Employees are warm and kind and always down to help and chat. The space is small with seating inside and outside. Highly recommend to stop by if you're in the area!

Not exactly sure how this café ended up on my list since I don't even live near the Vista area, but…read moreI'm really glad I made the drive out. It was actually one of the few coffee shops open on Memorial Day, which I truly appreciated. I got there around 10am and it was still pretty quiet, so I had plenty of seating choices. I ended up grabbing the table bar by the window with a street view and honestly loved it (10/10). I ordered a latte, which was decent. By around noon the place was booming and there was even a line to order, so I'm glad I came earlier. Overall, it's a really cute retro-style café with lots of fun little details and decor that give it a lot of character.

Cortado

Live music showcase during Vista Alley Art Festival inside the coffee shop.

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TERI Common Grounds Café & Coffee Bar

4.7(146 reviews)

4.2 mi

I had this place bookmarked for quite some time and finally got the chance to stop by for dinner…read morethis past Friday! Tucked away in a remote location and surrounded by lovely open land, TERI Common Grounds feels like a hidden little escape. The grounds are beautifully maintained and honestly, I felt like I was in Big Bear or Idyllwild rather than San Marcos! They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and there was live music playing outside when we visited. The woman who took our order at the counter was also so pleasant and kind. Loved her! The pricing was very reasonable, and the Hawaiian bowl was really tasty with lots of flavor. I also tried the Orange Dream smoothie with protein, which was such a nice treat. I was especially impressed that it didn't have the odd texture or aftertaste that protein drinks often have. There was plenty of parking in the adjacent lots, which made visiting easy. I would definitely come back for the food and to enjoy some more live music. I also have my eye on some of the decadent looking sweets I saw in the display counter! Such a lovely spot, and definitely one I am happy I finally got around to trying!

I forgot to take pictures of the food, but it was good. We had a table of six so there was a good…read morevariety of items ordered. The café was very busy because we were there to eat before a concert. They had a band playing in the café as well. There was plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. The selection on the menu was very good. They serve coffee drinks in addition to smoothies, sodas, beer, and wine. There is something for everyone at Common Grounds Café. The service was great! At our table, we tried the following food: fish and chips, Caesar salad, grilled Italian Panini, chicken wings, and a common ground burger. No complaints! Everyone was satisfied and we left with full bellies.

Cute gifts you can buy

Veggie omelette

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Interior seating.

Mika's

4.7(212 reviews)

4.7 mi

Came here in need of breakfast and Mika's did not disappoint…read more I opted for a Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast and it was pretty good! I got nice fatty flavors from the avocado and smoked salmon. The capers on top added a little zing to my bites.

Cute little shop!…read more The breakfast croissant and strawberry matcha were both delicious. Only con is it was pretty pricey for breakfast, but the great flavors did make up for the price. The cashier was very friendly and helpful with the order :) I would definitely come back to try some of their signature lattes!

Cool wall art

Honey Lavender Latte, Vietnamese Shakerato, Avocado Toast, and Yugo Sandwich.

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Cortado with Sparkling Water

Urban Sweet Cafe

4.3(176 reviews)

2.6 mi

Family-owned & operated

Pet friendly

Amazing Service by Skai and Yazmine this morning. Tidy and Efficient, polite and direct.read more

Ambiance..cute place and love the decor Service..fast and…read morefriendly..I was able to change my drink order Food..pumpkin pie latte..savory crepe and muffin was good and fresh. Loved the flavours and good size.

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Happy Hour on Thursday

Savory Crepe

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Personalized Charcuterie Board

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22 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Olivia M.

15 years ago

The place is called Crispy's Donuts now, but the owners (a super nice family) are still the same and friendly as ever. They have owned the place for over 20 years and that definitely says something!! This is my favorite doughnut place in all of North County! You can tell they really care about quality and customer service. The donuts, muffins, croissants are all delicious and I'm told everything is made on the premise... can't get any better than that! A great place to come for fresh donuts, a great cup of coffee, and a friendly smile :) read more

Peter C.

2 years ago

I come here on and off for many years, the quality is still the same, superb. The donuts are always fresh and warm. I just had the best blueberry donut ever, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. I am hooked on their crumb donut. Customer service is still one of the best, very nice people behind the counter. Prices are very reasonable, if not cheapest, given the cost of food went through the roof. I live in Mira Mesa and come to San Marcos for donuts. It's worth the drive. read more

Karen S.

13 years ago

This place is a typical mom and pop donut shop but what's not typical is the variety of pastries and donuts they have! You can even pre-order. I tried the cronuts and I must say that in the many stuff I have tried here, they always make me keep coming back for more. My newest craving is this small croissant with strawberries, it has their own whip creme and not canned! The Whip creme alone is a big star for me! Call ahead to save some for you. read more

Ira S.

13 years ago

Okay! Why am I getting filtered is beyond me! 2 of my posts were filtered already, it's ridiculous! Anyway, great job, Crispy Donuts for having my donuts every single time (well, almost every single time)! I know it gets really crazy here in the morning but oh well it's worth the wait so I don't mind it at all as long as I get my sugar donut and cheese rolls- my new favorites!!! :D read more

Christian S.

Elite 26

401

104

299

2 months ago

Crispy's Donuts is exactly the kind of local donut shop I love. The donuts are fresh, soft, taste great, and the coffee is surprisingly good too. I usually drink my coffee black, and it definitely hit the spot. The staff is friendly and welcoming which makes the experience even better. If you're looking for a classic neighborhood donut shop, this place is well worth a visit! :) read more

Yan W.

9 years ago

I really like this Donut shop. They are super busy on the weekends. Good selection and most of the time if you order a few donuts at a time they throw a free one in there. I like the coffee.. beter then starbucks read more

Radi P.

14 years ago

Their Ham and Cheese is a must. Nothing can compare to it yet in my book plus the donuts are really good. I like it when I catch the second batch of donuts! They're hot and it's so good like that! read more

Jennifer M.

10 years ago

I just left this place and none of the things pictured below are sold here. I don't know where these people think they got these donuts but it's not this shop. read more

Jim F.

12 years ago

Service was slow. My donut was dry and stale. The Cronut was tasteless. Not my best experience. Not sure why they have such a high ranking.

Marie M.

12 years ago

Tasty treats. Friendly staff. A lot of traffic getting there but that's not their fault. I look forward to going back. Everyone loved it.

Lan C.

Elite 18

192

3 years ago

Enjoy heart-shaped donuts on Valentine's Day! Get these beautiful hearts at Crispy's Donuts in San Marcos!

A A.

115

11 years ago

They have donuts with Easter bunnies, so cute! Come get some! Need to come early, the earlier, the better! read more

Pierre J.

1180

716

1038

10 years ago

Great donut shop. The cronuts are amazing. I highly recommend you get here early or they will be sold out.

Pharris B.

5 years ago

I remember 25 years ago they made the best egg rolls ( yes I said egg rolls) for they were incredible!

AM S.

236

12 years ago

5star all the way.....this was a treat+....constant traffic and everybody is happy happy happy!!

Lisa M.

10 years ago

This is our go-to donut place! Always fresh, fast, and friendly!

C M.

13 years ago

Great donuts and customer service!

Sophie F.

459

9 years ago

such moist and delicious donuts!

Denisse B.

414

12 years ago

Love the donuts and the staff!

Gina A.

252

12 years ago

Do you have donut fries yet?

Crispy's Donuts - donuts - Updated September 2026

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Foster's Family Donuts

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Wonderful pastry shop in San Marcos. Opens early with their pastries freshly made in the early am…read morebefore opening. The pastries give me flashbacks to Paris visits enjoying the sweets and coffee. Oh, and they do have coffee at a great price as are the pastries. Cash only which helps keep their pricing great. Visit and you will return.

Fosters Donuts is my #1 "go to" business and has been for 38 years. Kind, hardworking family who…read moreevery day offer the finest, freshest donuts ever. Stop in and you'll keep going back!

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high quality donuts!! the owners and employees seem to be very kind and easy going! this is a…read morehidden gem! definitely give them a try. super lowkey and chill spot! you could probably relax there and do some work while enjoying a donut and drink. they also participate in toogoodtogo, definitely worth the value!!

I picked up some donuts for meeting. My favorite is the sugar ones. I know I know super plain but…read moreit was amazing. I'm not gonna lie I had three donuts in one day that's how good they were. Will definitely be back for more. I got a dozen under $20.

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Best donuts in Esco. Great customer service. Great nostalgic donut shop feel. They tend to sell out…read moreso get there early.

Difficult to say no. I come here for family ham and cheese…read morecroissant very big and filling. Donut holes to chocolate bars so tempting an delicious . Go early for a variety of pastries the stock slims down in the later mornings. In a smaller shopping center and tends to get busy but very fast at getting customers in and out. Not much of a seating which is cool only because most of the customers are on the way to work.

Danny's Donuts

3.8

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Came here to say that their Apple Betty Fritter/pastry is amazing!!!…read more During my Post Op recovery stage I've been seeing my fellow yelpers & friends posting all their delicious sweet treats and I've been craving donuts like something fierce. So to satisfy my sweet tooth craving and soft food needs. I got one from this establishment. Service was good and the place clean kept up nicely. Nice busy corner just down the Paseo area. Check them out!

Friendly staff…read more Order the tamales (mole -on banana leaves), you won't be disappointed. Begals, green juices and milkshakes(licuados) are always delicious.

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Stopped by Donut Star, Cambodian owned! in Escondido this morning and grabbed an everything bagel…read morebreakfast sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese for about $7. The bagel was warm and soft with simple seasoning, and the sausage, egg, and cheese combo hit the spot. Nothing overcomplicated -- just a solid, classic breakfast sandwich. The donut holes were fresh, light, and nicely glazed. For the price, it's hard to complain. Simple, filling, and good value. A great quick breakfast stop in next to the Tesla Superchargers

Really good breakfast croissant sandwiches & sugar raised donuts. We ordered the strawberry cream…read morecheese croissants to go, but when home, realized they only gave us a cream cheese one that was just ok.

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Super friendly staff They have a variety of things Mexican…read moresweet breads, coffee, ice cream, tamales, etc. small location in San Marcos but has everything a traditional Mexican bakery has. You can please an order of tamales or cake order here - I added their contact needs. Their bread is reasonably priced we got 7 breads for $12-13 Overall super good! I come early to get fresh bread :)

Stumbled upon this bakery while running errands one morning. The shop is in a smaller strip mall…read morealong Mission so it can be easily driven past. The gentleman was very nice and gave some excellent recommendations for breads to try. I was surprised to see 2 different sized concha's which are my favorite, and my husband has never tried it. Absolutely delicious. I was sad to hear they were sold out of tamales as I've heard they're really good but I guess it just means I'm coming back to give them a try!

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10 out of a 10!!! This place is like a candy store. They maximize their space, donut displays,…read moresitting area (under a cover). No inside seating, just a corner shop you walk up, order and leave happy! It's my first time here and I'll tell you what. It's hard to decide what to get because every donut looks delicious. Today I had the savory ham & cheese croissant with jalapenos, a maple bacon pillow and the crueller. It was a hard decision but we were so happy with what we got. I love a savory pastry when I visit these donut shops. Only sad part was that I wasn't going home so couldn't grab a few extras. These guys were super busy so bring your patience. Understandable, it's hard to decide. And the staff here are so patient. I'll be back for sure.

Getting more and more ridiculous. It's been awhile and forgot how their donuts are. Well, quality…read moreremains low and NOW possibly over charging? Bought 6 donuts and a dozen holes. $40? Only realized til I got home and saw my account. CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS!

Wynston’s Ice Cream

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10/10 ice cream! All the flavors look amazing and so creative. And the ice cream itself is…read morephenomenal! So thick and creamy and absolutely delicious! Seasonal Salty vanilla with peanut butter swirls - this was my favorite! So good! Husband Loved the Biscoff Latte. It had the Biscoff flavor and the coffee flavor both coming through. Overall very much recommend. Especially for a late night dessert!

I'd leave 5 more stars if I could! Premium ingredients, perfect combos, great service all around!…read moreIt's our favorite spot and we bring our guests here whenever they visit! We recommend it to everyone we talk to!

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Went here for the first time tonight, and everything we had was delicious! I really enjoyed being…read moreable to walk up & order on the iPad. The only thing missing was being able to add "extra" for toppings, but they do let you select and remove toppings. Overall 10/10 experience will definitely be back. Great location, reasonable prices, and friendly service!

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