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    Primo's Donuts

    4.3 (754 reviews)
    ModerateDonuts, Bakeries
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Primo's Donuts Takeout or Delivery

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    Recommended Reviews - Primo's Donuts

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    Glazed Buttermilk Donut
    Austin B.

    tl;dr the selection of traditional, good-not-great donuts will satisfy, but the donuts do not live up to the sky-high hype Primo's Donuts has been a Los Angeles donut heavyweight for more than half a century. Ralph Primo bought his Sawtelle donut shop on an impulse in 1956, and, over time, he developed a loyal following for its Glazed Buttermilk and cinnamon-laced Butterfly. Nowadays, Primo's is routinely featured in best-of-LA lists, and it has even been ranked among America's best donuteries by Food & Wine magazine and Thrillist. Blink and you'll miss the slate-grey storefront on an industrial block of Sawtelle. The tiny shop feels well-worn. The fluorescent lighting fixtures cast an off-white glow on the posterboard walls and laminate floors. The diminutive donut counter to the right has an unlit glass donut display with stainless-steel trays of mismatched donut varieties. Extra-short stools are bolted in beside two tiny tables to the left. Public radio plays around the space. My partner and I visited on a late Sunday morning, and we were immediately surprised by the limited selection (absolutely no varieties of raised rings were left). The friendly staff member pointed us toward Primo's top 2 selling options: the Glazed Buttermilk and the Butterfly. The buttermilk bar was heavy and dense, sporting a spot-on buttermilk-y flavor; nonetheless, I found myself wanting a larger surface area (e.g., more grooves) to improve the glaze-to-cake ratio. Meanwhile, the bready, softball-sized Butterfly had a mouthwatering texture and uniquely cinnamon-y flavor, but the glaze proportion was lacking. Primo's promises donuts made fresh daily, but that comes at the expense of poor selection if you don't arrive early in the morning. Further, though the quality is higher than the standard neighborhood donut shop, so are the prices -- we spent nearly $7 for our two treats. At the end of the day, the donuts were good but not great (and not worth the premium). While I might opt for Primo's on a whim if I'm already in the area, I won't go out of my way to pay Primo's a repeat visit.

    Cinnamon Roll - so so - skip this one!
    Erik G.

    What I've Ordered: -Chocolate Devil's Food Pretzel -Cinnamon Roll $2.95 -Cherry Cake Sprinkles $2.95 -Butterflies -Glazed Buttermilk -Glazed Twist Primo's opened in 1956. Their family business has spanned three generations. They are most well-known for the Buttermilk Donut or the Butterflies Donut. Those are the most popular donuts according to the staff. I've also tried other donuts and I tend to agree with the staff. Out of all the donuts I've tried..Butterflies and Glazed Buttermilk are my favorites. The Chocolate Devil's Food Pretzel was quite good as well. They're known for their cake donuts. Don't deviate from that! I've tried other donuts from Primo's like the glazed tail or a cinnamon bun and they are so-so. I liked the cake donuts the best so far! I've been coming here about once a week for the past month. I will continue to try other donuts and update this review. FYI, they open at 6 AM Monday-Saturday and 7 AM on Sunday.

    Angela Z.

    The donuts were amazing! they had just ran out of the Buttermilk they are famous for but we got the original Buttermilk instead and it was amazing! Also got the old fashioned with vanilla glaze and double chocolate donut those were fantastic as well. There was a decent parking lot in the back with ample parking when we got there a around 9:45am. The inside of the shop is pretty small but they do have a small indoor seating area.

    Sprinkling of sprinkle donuts
    Sunshinethu ..

    If you like dense flavorful donuts this is the place for you. If you want something a bit more light and fluffy, steer clear. The service was pretty good, when we got here the line was out the door but it moved quickly. Inside is very plain, everything is practical, no flourishes. Just donuts and machinery. Overall it was ok, but not great. Parking was a breeze in the lot right behind Primos.

    Original Glazed Donut
    Ashley S.

    A little disappointed by my first visit to primos! I bought three donuts and the total was $9.55 which I think is a little crazy for old fashioned donuts. I tried the buttermilk bar, old fashioned maple and raised plain glazed. I was most disappointed in the raised donut because it was as dense as the other two! Definitely not the best donuts I've had. I did enjoy the flavor of the maple one however. there is a parking lot but some spots are reserved for other businesses in the plaza so a little confusing

    Menu
    Breanna A.

    I've missed Stan's and was in the area so wanted to stop by and see what the new place was like. I saw on Yelp that they had a tribute donut to Stan so I knew I had to get some. I didn't see any in the display but asked and they mentioned they only make them a few days a week and call them "primo pockets". They are peanut butter and banana filled and dipped in chocolate. This donut was perfection and brought me right back to the days of Stan's donuts. I'm happy they have this tribute but wish they could make it an everyday option or at least set days so I know when to come. I think they should lean into honoring Stan as his donuts were a staple in the community. Apart from the primo pocket, the rest of their donuts are pretty standard options. Good donuts but not worth a 30-45 minute drive over the hill. If I had a guarantee the primo pockets would be available I would drive hours for that donut!

    Chocolate bar
    Mimi R.

    Good donuts. Parking in the back. Shop is small. Service was fast and friendly. Came in later in the day on a weekend and there were still some good options left.

    Entrance on street side

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    4 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Honestly, the most delicious donuts I have ever had. Don't know how they do it, but the taste is amazing. Wish I could go more often!

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    Close by, everything delicious always fresh! Our go-to place for holidays and special occasions!

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Hype. Just another donut shop. Limited selection. Pricey. Kinda grimey ambiance. Can't recommend............

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

    The young man was incredibly rude and they didn't have the prices displayed. The donuts are not great and expensive.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Yummy and wide selection of donuts at a great price! What more can ya ask for! Definitely would recommend to anyone

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    6 years ago

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    Christina R.

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Primo's Donuts

    Are the donuts peanut allergy friendly?

    I have no idea

    What type of oil is used in frying?

    Hi . Do you do custom color donuts, I need them for my baby shower?

    Hi there! Yes we should be able to accommodate. You can email the owner directly and he will help! Ralph Primo - ralphprm@aol.com

    Does anyone know why the price of their dozen plain donuts (not specialty) increased by $9? I used to get a dozen plain glazed for $19!

    I don't know exactly, but I bought 6 donuts last weekend and the price was reasonable ($8-10). Then today, the same donuts were $17. That kind of price increase is obscene and I would like to hear an explanation for it. I love primos, but I will not… 

    Are there gluten free options?

    They do not have gluten free donuts anymore

    Do you make letter donuts?

    Hi Amanda, Thanks for reaching out. We can definitely try. Best way to proceed is to go to the catering page on our website and fill out the submission form describing what… 

    What are the best donuts to get from here besides the glazed buttermilk?

    Hi John, Thanks for reaching out. It's all very subjective but our Butterflies are very popular as are the Vegan cake. For something decadent there is the Tatiana and the… 

    Is there usually a long wait in the morning around 7-8 AM?

    Hi Warren, It really depends on the day and time of year. Donuts shops are not as busy after the… 

    How can I rent the donut wall for an event?

    Hi Yvette! Yes, you can reserve on our website! https://www.primosdonuts.com/donut-wall-faq

    Are you making a strawberry and cream type donut right now? Maybe even a strawberry nutella?

    Hi Denise! We don't have a strawberry and cream donut on the menu at this time, but you can contact us via our website about potentially doing a special order.

    What flavors are the vegan donuts, and are they available every day?

    Thanks for your question! Our vegan donuts come in the following flavors: blueberry, vanilla, cherry, cinnamon and plain. We make our vegan donuts every day but to ensure we don't sell out before you come in the shop, we highly recommend you reserve… 

    Do you have Kosher donuts?

    Hi Girstin, We are so sorry, but we do not offer Kosher donuts at this time.… 

    Are they able to add edible glitter to their doughnuts? My coworker's bday is coming up soon and she likes sparkly things. lol

    Hi! Contact us through the form on our website for reserving donuts and we’ll see what is possible! Www.primosdonuts.com

    Do they sell French Crullers?

    Unfortunately we do not currently sell French Crullers. — The Primo’s

    Do they take credit cards? Like Amex? Thanks!

    Thanks Production G for asking. We are definitely and Old School shop but we accept all credit cards and soon Apple pay. Thanks again.… 

    View All 19 Questions

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    Cafe Dulce

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    (2.7k reviews)
    11.1 mi
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    I swear I am addicted to this place :-) I found this place…read more10-12 years ago, when we lived in DTLA. We used to come here and buy salads, Sandwiches, Donuts all the time. About 5 years ago we moved to San Fernando Valley, but I am still visiting this place at least twice / 3 times a month. I wish I could come more. Their Mango Jicama salad is my favorite, and the donuts... oh my goodness... Do not miss this place if you are in the area.

    I've passed by this place so many times but haven't tried it out until recently! I really do like…read morethe pastries. So much variety here so there's definitely something for everyone. Mochi Twist ($5)-- Nice and dense mochi texture? I guess it's hard to describe but it's not hollow and airy like a typical donut. There's some chew to it. And it's not too sweet! Blueberry Roti ($4)-- Flaky crumble on top and blueberry jam?? YES YESSSS. I liked this so much I'd definitely go back for it. Blueberry jam is so underrated and it's rare to find it in a pastry! Makes for a good sweet lil treat. Hot latte ($5)-- Perfect!! No complaints. Not too milky, not too light. Good ratio. I was actually kind of worried ordering a latte because not every place does it right but it's good here! Iced blueberry matcha ($6?)-- I see lots of good things about this drink on here but ooooooof... it missed the mark and by a LOOOT too. It was green sweet cereal milk. Where's the matcha? Where's the blueberry? It was so confusing because I see the green and I know I ordered matcha... but it's just sweet milk! And it's not even blueberry flavored milk. Did they forget the blueberry jam? Syrup? Whatever they use? Because it just tastes like the milk after a bowl of Frosted Flakes or something like that. Very sad, very disappointing. Ended up tossing after a couple sips. ANDDD for those matcha purists this is NOOOT the place for you! They have it pre mixed in a milk gallon. So we just saw green milk coming out of a gallon into this cup like yeppppp ok expectations immediately lowered. Anyways, hot latte is good and the 2 pastries I got were good! Steer clear of the matcha!!!

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    Small case with a lot of flavor
    Small case with a lot of flavor
    Various Milk Cream Donuts
    Various Milk Cream Donuts
    Crème Brûlée Donut. 5/5

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    Crème Brûlée Donut. 5/5
    Levain Bakery

    Levain Bakery

    4.1
    (862 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    Great vibes and friendly people. As far as actual cookies go, I got the Walnut Chocolate Chip and…read moreRocky Road. I know Levain pioneered undercooked cookies. Personally, I don't like that style, I was hoping the original would change that for me! Long story short, I didn't like the Walnut Chocolate Chip. I personally just don't like that style still, so I'll chalk it up as a "me" problem. The cooked part was good. The Rocky Road was cooked through. It was an amazing baked good with good flavor and add-ins. Between the roasted almond slices and fudgey chocolate chips, I was enjoying it immensely. A highlight of my day for sure. If you love underbaked cookies, Levain is your cookie shop! I don't and they had something for me too!

    The Venice outlet used to be my go-to, but since I moved the Larchmont one was more accessible…read more Parking's always tricky and might require bit of extra walk when not available. It's relatively busy but the line moved swiftly. The Larchmont store was pretty lively with the crowded and colorful wall deco! It's pretty fun to see that they came up with more seasonal items lately and most of them nailed it well when they came to cookies. Previously the lemon one and the most recent was the Raspberry Pistachio which I was impressed by as I just fancied sweet and refreshing combo of white chocolate and raspberry. The pistachio added more texture to it for sure. Same as any Levain cookies, best enjoyed warm and fresh out of oven. The Cookie Milk Latte was actually the main reason bringing me here, yet I was bit let down by it as I was expecting more malty cookie flavor in the drink. I felt it tasted not much different to regular cream top latte with some cookie crumbles in it.

    Photos
    Oatmeal Raisin Cookie and Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
    Oatmeal Raisin Cookie and Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
    Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
    Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie
    Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

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    Fondry

    Fondry

    4.4
    (307 reviews)
    14.2 mi
    $$

    Sweet! Now this is…read morea spot that lives up to the HYPE! We got there a bit later in the morning and had to wait in a small line. The pastries were fantastic, gooey, flaky, fresh, authentic and house made. I would love to visit again if I was in LA. I got a variety I split with my brother and enjoyed them. Our favs were probably the Passionfruit or the Elderflower Rubarb. If you have never had fresh, non industrial/store-bought croissants these are going to rock your world. The prices and freshness are fantastic. I expected to pay more than what we did and these are reasonably priced. There isn't really a lot of parking so be prepared to park elsewhere. The inside is small and fills up fast and there isn't much seating inside or out. They have other things like matcha and other items as well. I encourage you to try a few items as some were better than others, but I have no major complaints!

    Chorizo Quiche: Delicious!! Fluffy and flavorful. Had good proportions of chorizo, potato and…read morecheese so that it wasn't too heavy but just filling enough. Ham and Gruyere Croissant: Fluffy, crispy, airy croissant. Kind of a basic ham and cheese but the croissant makes it a worthy breakfast choice. Iced Honey Latte: Regular iced coffee, nothing special. Would not get a drink again and focus on the yummy pastries which are more worth the price imo. Parking/ ambiance: there is a small shared lot and street parking. There is outdoor seating area which is very cute but quite small. The inside itself is also small with no seating, so plan accordingly when considering to dine there vs take to go. Service: Polite/typical. Was fast for how busy it was. Overall a good breakfast choice, especially considering the variety of pastry options!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Bakers bench
    Bakers bench
    Cappuccino

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    Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

    Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

    4.5
    (557 reviews)
    11.1 mi
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    I had already made purchases from Cinnies and Donut Man in Grand Central Market, but when I saw…read moreOkayama Kobo, I couldn't resist stopping in and picking up more! I had been to the one in Laguna Niguel and this one in Little Tokyo is more spacious, with an area where you can eat. I bought an oyako pork shumai, curry pan and spicy curry pan. The shumai was like dumpling filling in a bun. My faves were the curry pan, which were super flavorful and vegetarian. The spicy curry one does have a kick (great for my husband), while I prefer the regular curry as I can't handle spice. Wish I had one closer to me!

    Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe is one of my usual stops whenever I'm in the LA area. A friend…read moreintroduced me to it, and highlighted the fish panini. Just like her, I'm now hooked on that. It's like a fancy filet o fish without the soggy bun, packed with amazing fried fish and tarter sauce. I'm just disappointed when they don't have this in stock, but sometimes they would make more, and that'll just be an extra wait. Downside is that I first tried the fish panini years ago and it was a bit better then, but it's still good currently. Other pastries I've tried here have been pretty good. They had some various buns with mochi inside, and those were great. Another one of my fave is their mentaiko salt bun. Great flavor, though I wish they would stuff the thing with more mentaiko. Their curry breads are good too. I took my daughter here and she got one with cute emoji drawn on, and she said the custard filling and the bread was tasty as well. I've tried some drinks here and they were alright. A friend was into their banana matcha when they have that in stock. Pretty simple layout here. Get in line and see the goods, then you reach the cashier and order and pay.

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    Savory Breads ~
    Savory Breads ~
    French Toast
    French Toast
    Banana crème matcha latte

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    Coin De Rue Bakery & Cafe

    Coin De Rue Bakery & Cafe

    4.0
    (285 reviews)
    7.2 mi
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    Locally owned & operated
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    This Korean-style bakery has a great variety of breads and traditional pastries, like red bean…read morebread and rice sulgi. They're also very on-trend, whenever a Korean dessert goes viral, they usually have it here. Recently, they even started selling butter tteok, and I heard it was one of the first places to have it in K-town. I highly recommend the salted bread. Honestly, I think it's even better than the famous spot everyone talks about. My favorite is the corn cheese, it's especially delicious when it's warm. I also tried the Korean chamoe (melon) smoothie, and it was very refreshing. It tasted like they used real melon, since there was a slight natural tanginess that made it even better. There is free parking, though the lot is a bit small. They also have both indoor and outdoor seating, but the seating area is somewhat limited too

    I used to stop by this bakery whenever I was in Ktown because I thought it was pretty solid. But…read moreafter today, I've definitely changed my mind. I got a sausage bbang, a chocopie, and a dalgona latte. The sausage bbang was soggy on the bottom and honestly tasted like it was from the day before. The chocopie barely had any filling, just a thin layer of marshmallow and jam. It honestly felt like they used most of the marshmallow for their Dubai choco cookie because it's probably more profitable, instead of properly filling the chocopie. If that's the case, it's better not to sell it at all than serve something like that. The dalgona latte was also disappointing. With ice, the drink only filled to the bottom third line of the cup marking. Clearly, they skimped on the milk. There was also a weird moment when I paid. My total was $15.25 and I paid cash, but I was given $4.75 in change. When I said it should be $5, she seemed confused and asked what I meant. I told her I literally gave you a quarter right now, and she questioned it before eventually giving me the correct change. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a mistake. I understand times are hard, but charging more for products that clearly had corners cut doesn't sit right with me. It just comes across like there's no integrity. Clearly the quality and portions are going downhill. I wasn't even planning on writing this review. I was going to stay quiet, but the chocopie really ticked me off. I'm not going to pay for food that skims on ingredients and shortchanges customers by charging more for less, so this will be my last visit.

    Photos
    Mango chiffon cake
    Mango chiffon cake
    Sandwich and summer drinks
    Sandwich and summer drinks
    Chiffon cakes

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    Chiffon cakes

    Primo's Donuts - donuts - Updated July 2026

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