Awesome apple fritters and donuts ....this establishment is a hidden gem located in a small strip mall a block or so off El Camino Real in San Mateo...highly recommend! read more

Cruel Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Cruel Donuts is a great addition the the neighborhood. Outstanding selection that is super fresh donuts are light and fluffy without being greasy. I have placed custom orders and they've done a perfect job with my requests. read more

I've been wanting to try their ice cream for a while now. I went today and got the ube macapuno. It is one of the best ice creams I have had. I'm craving it already! read more

Parked right out front of the store and the moment I stepped out of my car, smelled fresh baked donuts from outside. Cute donut shop. Bakers were baking diligently and colorful donuts were cooling and a nice variety displayed. Service was friendly and answered the questions we asked. They also have a drink menu too. We ordered chocolate glazed from the raised glazed, twist, and of course their signature cruel donut! No donut or crumb was left after we ate them all! They are the donut shop to check out! read more

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Great donuts and competitive prices! These donuts are like Johnny's in Dublin- they feel light and smooth and I think I know why. Always a hit when I bring these donuts anywhere read more

Delightful hidden gem of a store that sells to die for house-crafted donuts, ice cream and sorbets! You won't be disappointed. If you enjoy traditional ice cream flavors - you will love Chocolate Life and Strawberry Polka Dot, If you enjoy exploring new flavors you will adore inventions like their Vanilla Passion Fruit swirl, Lychee Geeurtzmeiner and Almond Cookie. read more

Fresh, delicious, and irresistible! If you're looking for a donut spot to try, please add cruel donuts to your list. All of their donuts are made so fresh and are always a hit at any gathering. My only complaint is that they close way too early! If you are lucky enough to be their first few customers then definitely take advantage by getting a whole box. It's a small shop with no seats, so you cannot sit inside like a traditional cafe. There is a parking lot you can park in! The staff and service here is also terrific. read more

The donuts all tasted great! Mochi ones on weekends morning (sold out if you come late). All the flavors are amazing, donuts themselves so fluffy and soft. So happy it's so close to home, we can always satisfy our donut cravings. read more

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Yummy! Passion fruit glazed, passion fruit mochi, guava filled, maple glazed, maple bars, crème brûlée, strawberry shortcake - and more! All were so fresh and delicious, and obviously made with high quality ingredients - so delicious I can barely keep from returning daily - you need to go! The best donuts for miles, and unusually ones you cannot get anywhere else! Both a blessing and a curse that they are under a mile away from me! read more

Cruel Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place recently opened not too far from my house and I stumbled upon it when I happened to go to the gas station in the same plaza. Plenty of parking here and the service is also very good. But the main reason to come here of course is for the yummy donuts! Lots of unique and interesting flavors to choose from here such as their signature crème brûlée and strawberry donuts. The apple filled and passion fruit were also really good. They also have an ube flavor and mochi version on weekends it sounds like but I didn't get a chance to try them. They also have the typical old fashioned and glazed donuts as well. I've been here twice and each time does not disappoint. It looks like they are still in their soft opening phase and their official grand opening won't be until the end of August. Go give them a try! read more

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I went to this store and I got a latte and donut, these were one of the best donuts I've had. My personal favorite is the crème bruleThe workers were nice and friendly, I recommend coming to this shop. BTW-they have home made ice cream, I bought 32 oz coffee flavored one tasted so good yummy⋯⋯ read more

New business alert. Walked by with my dog and saw that Kat's Vietnam Fusion House has been replaced with Cruel Donuts. I live fairly close so I walk by this strip cuz the Town of Dumplings next door are my favorite frozen dumplings to buy and cook at home. Now I see there's another spot that I can also swing into while I'm there. They've been open 4 days now, and July is their soft opening. They'll officially open in August (no date yet), and they'll have a larger menu of breakfast sandos (really excited about these ngl), croissants, "fancy coffees" as they said it (right now it's plain coffee), and more. Hours are 6am-8pm daily. As for their donuts, we snagged a few and was excited to see they had a guava filled one besides the usual donut standards of jelly, glazed, cholocate, and so on. read more

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Love this local shop! Donuts were so fresh and airy. Love that they have your classic flavors as well as some unique ones to try! read more

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The strawberry shortcake donuts are so good! The guy who offered me to taste ube ice cream with sprite was awesome. Cute family owned business with creative flavored homemade ice cream & donuts. There would be long lines if they were in Hillsdale mall. So maybe it's a good thing it's hidden in a residential area! read more

Great selection, and they all taste fantastic. If you're a donut connoisseur, give it a try.

Love this place and so happy they are in my neighborhood!! Very delicious donuts including fancy varieties on weekends. I do not like the mochi donuts but that is just me! It is fun to try the fancy donuts, but I prefer the regular ones, which are beautiful and classic. The box for a dozen is beautiful and great when you bring donuts for someone else, like a nicely wrapped present! Highly recommend. I've been here several times (maybe too many ) and the quality is consistent along with the service. They seem very experienced. read more

Cruel Donuts - Valentine's theme variety, beautiful box. - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love me some donuts! My new go-to donut shop! It's a wonderful family own business. I believe parents are retired but the kids are holding up the tradition. They're doing a mighty fine job! There's more and unique flavors to try. I'll be back for more and to share with others. These donuts are super fresh and tasty! A must try! read more

Cruel Donuts - Picked up a few! - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

stumbled upon this super cute hidden gem donut shop and picked up a box otw to laurie meadows to watch some early morning soccer this past weekend! super sweet staff, they gave donut stickers to my niece! aesthetic donuts, and tasty too! my favorite was the chocolate cruel donut- very fluffy and moist! read more

Cruel Donuts - cruel donut - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Cruel Donuts popped up on my Yelp "hot and new businesses" page and I feel like I've been missing out for months since they opened! It was a weekday so they didn't have ube or the mochi donuts, but I ended up getting a dozen anyway. Strawberry shortcake, creme brulee, guava, raspberry, passion fruit just to name some of the special flavors I got + a few of the basic glazed, chocolate glazed, glazed old fashioned. Their donuts are delicious! Soft, fluffy ,and not overly sweet. Cruel has quickly become my new favorite donut shop in the Peninsula. I'll be back for sure! read more

Cruel Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

What a fun donut shop! The person at the counter was super friendly and was nice about answering all our questions about the different kinds of donuts and the flavors. We tried the mochi donuts - great texture and so tasty. The cruller donut was soft and pillowy. The blueberry cake donut was excellent. read more

Cruel Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Ok first, hands down this place has THE best donuts on the Peninsula. There are the favorites. The simple glaze is light and sweet. However now they offer homemade ice cream made in small batches in the shop. Delicious unique flavors. The Japanese Yuzu sorbet is superb! read more

Cruel Donuts, San Mateo. We saw this blurb and thought yum we have to try. "On weekends, the selection expands to standout specialty doughnut flavors like creme brulee and strawberry shortcake. The name is derived from the owners' favorite doughnut, the French cruller" but no Cruller, nothing special on Sunday morning at 8:00 am. They have all the usual suspect. Nice people working behind the counter and easy parking. Very disappointed no special donuts. Jelly to donut ratio did get a thumbs up. read more

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Donuts here get the stamp of approval from my kids! It was $20 for a dozen of classics in a variety. I also picked up a Creme brûlée donut- something different! Mochi donuts are only available sat-sun starting at 9am, so will return to try those! read more

Cruel Donuts - Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Holy goodness, best donuts I've had in the Bay so far...Someone brought a box into San Francisco for an event and they looked like the regular donut store kind. But when I had one of them, I was so sad I didn't get another one. Even their raised donuts were moist on the inside with the light crisp, but didn't leave me with that weird lard after taste. I'm trying to figure out how to get to Cruel Donuts with no car...Get a box now!!! read more

A generous friend brought us a dozen of their donuts during a kids' play date, and all the donuts went quickly. We had a good variety with traditional crullers, cake donuts, old fashioned donuts, filled donuts, and mochi donuts. All of the textures were great on the donuts, and the filling/donut and glaze/donut ratios were just right. Highlights for me were the ube and the passion fruit. They have something for everyone! read more

This is one of the best donuts I've tried in town, they have a bunch of selections that you can get. Of of my favorites are the twist and the bar with custard filled. They also told me that they will be having more drinks and more foods. One of the best donut shops! read more

Cruel Donuts - Bar with custard filling - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

It's very good. Honestly not an A+, but better than most, and definitely interesting specialties. I just wanted a little more crispness and sweet gooeyness. read more

Delicious donuts with creative flavors beyond the usual shop. I loved the raised donut with passion fruit glaze, and the guava jelly filled one was delicious too. They had a bunch of fun-looking ones like creme brûlée filled, ube, and the blueberry cake looked super good. Also a solid coffee menu, including oat milk lattes. Can't wait to come back! It was a great dessert after Town of Dumpling next door. read more

it's the best kept secret! Everything here is so yummy and high quality. Arrive late and you'll miss the favorites.

Cruel donuts has great customer service. Their donuts are made fresh daily, really delicious, and comes in an assortment of flavors ranging from traditional donuts to mochi donuts. However, I recently discovered that they have ice cream that is made in house! Lots of variety ice cream made daily by Ray their ice cream chef! It's difficult to come by a donut and ice cream shop. And they especially have my favorite flavor - Pandan coconut ice cream. Safe to say the secret is out on this gem in San Mateo. read more

On a hunt for Apple fritters this morning, I came across Cruel Donuts on Yelp. Everyone's raved that the fritters here were full of apple chunks and not too sweet (ultimate compliment, iykyk) Walked in expecting to only grab 2 basic donuts, I was pleasantly surprised by their selection. There was guava, banana Nutella, mochi donuts and so many more unique options; this wasn't my average donut shop! Walked out with a guava filled donut, passion fruit glaze, blueberry cake (fave), and an Apple fritter. The fritter ended up being 4th place for me after trying the other 3 lol. So glad I came across cruel donuts and will def be coming back again. 10/10 recommend read more

Quality and attention to detail, yes even for donuts. They have the classics. They have the whimsical. Treat yourself. Friendly and well staffed. read more

this is the first time that i had mochi donuts taste so alike to the ones i had in japan. they were light and had such a good consistency. all of the donuts here actually are so light and feels guiltfree. they aren't too oily or too sugary. the cruel donuts also had an eggy flavor that was so good. read more

If you're going to splurge on a donut, splurge here! Worth it! My friend picked them up, so I don't know the details of the location, but the donuts were on point! read more

Friendly service. Small business vibe. Love their hand roll butter croissant. This my coffee and pastry fix destination. Love it.

I'd been wanting to check this spot out for some time because I LOVE 1. donuts and 2. supporting women-owned/local/small businesses. Cruel has all the bases covered: delicious, fresh donuts, from traditional to unique. One perk of being up all night with a newborn is being awake early enough to get to a donut shop when they first open ;) I was SO excited to get my hands on all their offerings...maybe a little too eager because some items weren't ready yet! But as luck would have it, the gracious owner quickly whipped up a strawberry shortcake and guava filled donut for me. I also ordered the crème brûlée, crullers, fritter, raised, and cake donuts. My plan was to share them with family, but that didn't happen. Whoops. Since my first visit, I've been back several times to order donuts for me, family, and friends. I've also recommended it to anyone who will listen to me haha. Their donuts are delightful and so is everyone that works at Cruel. Needless to say, this is my new favorite go-to donut shop! read more

It was my birthday and had to treat myself to the good carbs . Love my fav donut shop that has more than just donuts. My fav jalapeño cheese bagel is super yummy. Great little shop with great personal service. Leanne threw in a couple of surprises for my birthday. Definitely the place to treat yourself any day. read more

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Wow! So damn good. My husband and I are huge donut lovers but we are very picky. Coming from Los Angeles where the donut places are fire we have been struggling to find a place that's comparable after living here for 5 years. Cruel Donuts are so unbelievably fresh. Even their breakfast sandwiches were good. We got the guava filled donut and raspberry filled which usually I'm a raspberry girl but my goodness the guava was incredibly delicious. We also got a few cake donuts to try. Again, ridiculously fresh and soft. So happy this place exists. Thank you for bringing excellent donuts to the Bay Area. Finally!! read more

early morning visit on a sunday for donuts...donuts behind the glass case and more fresh donuts on the racks...great selection of donuts and specialty donuts...$20 special for dozen donuts...mix 'n' match classic, cake or old fashioned donuts...taking 2 dozen of the classic chocolate, sugar and glazed...quickly packed perfectly into 2 pink cruel donuts boxes...donuts were perfect in shape, appearance, texture and taste... read more

The passionfruit raised donut is perfection! Sweet and a hint of sour. Love love love!