This is not just a donut shop. This is a legacy. My husband grew up riding his bike all the way from Del Mar as a kid, risking life, limb, and probably traffic laws, just for a hot glazed chocolate donut. That kind of dedication tells you everything you need to know about these donuts. Decades later, our cousins drive them 3 hours to Los Angeles like precious cargo for the family to enjoy when they come to visit. A donut. 3 hours in a car. Still incredible. Some things are just built different. Our cousins are hero's! Only one complaint, they are not open late, which is truly a crime against everyone with late night munchies and poor decision making skills. The world needs VG Donuts at midnight. Someone please make this happen. We will be back. My husband's inner 10 year old on a bike absolutely demands it. read more

Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Ambiance: 6/10 Maybe I was expecting too much because my friends talked so highly of this place. It was ok haha Just a regular donut. I was excited for their maple, but it was wayyyyyy too sweet for me. But good service read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

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North County Donut Tour - Stop 3. VG's tall glass cases feature a wide selection of classic donut flavors, as well as cookie options. I went for the strawberry filled donut and acarrot cake cinnamon roll (intriguing concept). The best thing about these treats was the homemade taste of the glaze. Unfortunately the filling/topping ingredients weren't my favorite. The strawberry filling in the donut tasted artificial, as did the carrot cake components of the cinnamon roll (which was also dry). I had a bite of my comoanion's old fashioned, and it tasted moist with a pleasing glaze. Hit or miss experience here. read more

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I'm a big fan of jelly donuts, and here they're are as good as they get. Three filling options, and most importantly powdered rather than glazed. Light and airy too! read more

I know I have reviewed V.G.'s before but it's time to get excited again V.G.'s Donuts are THE best of the best When the kids were little, we came here OFTEN especially when we had company in town (weekly in the summer!) Our favorites are the enormous cinnamon rolls & the large crumb donuts YUM. V.G.'s is in the Rancho Coastal thrift shop strip mall in Cardiff. Very beachy. Small seating area outside. Busy parking lot. We usually get the donuts to go. They are especially delicious sitting on a bench watching the waves at Moonlight Beach. Most always lines out the door especially during peak hours. They also offer very tasty cakes, cookies & breads. read more

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Always the blueberry Buttermilk bar!! Always! Recently tried the jalapeño scones/eng muffins. Taste great & freeze well

My friend and I were walking around the area and decided to grab some donuts before hitting the beach. What a great spot! It's got that old-timey feel, with lots of retro treats. The service is really fast, so feel free to grab and go. My friend and I sat in the little patio area, which despite being right by the parking lot, was pretty nice. If you're looking for cookies and donuts, this is your place! read more

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Want donuts? This is the place to get them. They also have fabulous cakes and baked breads like banana bread or pumpkin bread, depending on the season. My family likes to go in and order a mix of donuts and cookies. Food is always fresh. The staff is always very helpful. I have ordered everything from birthday cakes to donuts for the holidays here. If you wanna make sure that they will have what you are looking for in stock for a larger order, I recommend pre-ordering the food. There is always a line, and only take credit cards if your order is more than $10. This is a family staple spot. The store is small in a little strip mall and very casual read more

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We know this place for their great donuts so I thought why not try their birthday cakes! They have so many flavors and designs to choose from and they were able to prepare a cake within 24h. The lady that helped us was really nice and accommodating. Usually there is a line to get to the store but it moves quickly. There is parking in front of it but it can also get packed. Overall, cute little place with great atmosphere and many delicious options! read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Birthday cake - coastal theme - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

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VG bakery does it again with their 2025 thanksgiving cookie spread. Obsessed! I will continue to return here for my seasonal cookie needs. Updating this review with new photos. I wish I could order ahead online. Sometimes the phone order experience is a bit clunky for big orders, but I guess it's sort of part of the charm too with VG being such a legacy local spot. read more

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The only bad thing about VG donuts is that it's three blocks away. I still love my other donut spots, but VG has something special and has a reputation of being the best. Very local and always great great donuts. The staff is sensational and really knows what's behind the donut shelf. The other thing that makes VG so great is their breads and treats that are just behind the donuts and no one ever looks, OK I do and The banana walnut and all the other types of breads and peppermint bark and peanut brittle are sensational and so fresh. If you're in this area, it's a must stop. read more

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Great donuts and sweets. Service was quick and friendly. Nice outdoor seating. Great recommendations by the staff. Highly recommend! read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Cinnamon Roll - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

Lots of desserts!! Prices are very reasonable. They have outdoor seating and a small parking lot. The cake is pretty dense but tasty. read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Donuts - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

Stopped in for the first timer. I have never had raised donuts like these, so fresh and fluffy, like breaking open a pillow and all the fluff comes out-- but tastier. The coffee was decent, nothing special but they do have light, medium and dark roasts. I bought a big florentine to try later. The line can be long but goes fast. Service is quick and friendly. Parking lot onsite in the strip mall. A few tables outside only. read more

VG Donut & Bakery - florentine Cookie $1.75 - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

Great donuts. Kids enjoy them. My favorite is the blueberry buttermilk donut bar. Service is quick and there are a few tables for eating outside. read more

A busy bakery located in Encinitas! I got a doughnut and a Oreo stuffed cookie! Amazing! Both slapped! This place is very busy.. they prefer cash! They have a huge selection of baked goods. They also sell various merchandise including T shirts! Along with homemade bread! If I'm ever in the area again I would for sure come back! If you're looking for a bakery in Encinitas check this place out! read more

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The treats are VERY GOOD at VG Donuts & Bakery! I love the gluten free pumpkin spice donut which has a creamy pumpkin spice frosting with a strong cinnamon flavor. There is a delightful pumpkin filling as a surprise in the center of the cupcake. For a gluten free cupcake, it is very soft without being gummy. Even my non-GF friends were going for this cupcake flavor. Can't wait to return to sample more treats since there seems to be a great variety no matter what kind of dessert you're craving. read more

VG Donut & Bakery - GF pumpkin spice cupcake - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

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We were asked by a friend to meet in this parking lot in order to go hikin,g but we arrived early, saw a big line and hopped in it. We had fun talking to our line neighbors, who were all out of towners and wanted a fix. We knew nothing about the place, but found it charming, with great service for a line that moved quickly. Old school, and cool. I liked the blueberry buttermilk the best. read more

We were driving through San Diego, decided to stop and get some donuts. This is the second time I've been here and each time I've gone. I have absolutely loved everything that I've tried from here. The customer service is awesome. Everything is delicious fluffy and so flavorful so good very worth stopping each time I'm in that area. read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

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I was in the area and was told that this place was quite good from a nearby shop. I ordered a PB cookie and an apple turnover! i took my items outside. I was enjoying them! The PB cookie was good and the apple turnover was quite delicious and flaky! So flaky, unfortunately, that I started choking on it! I went back into the bakery with my boxed goods and tried to find someone to help me out with a cup of water. The employee said that I would need to pay for bottled water and that she couldn't provide me with a cup of tap water. I said that I had been choking. Apparently, it didn't matter to her! What?! I've never heard of a place not providing a paid customer with some water when they are in need! I left and probably won't return because of this. For this reason, I'm giving them 3 stars. read more

Okay wait. These were the best donuts I've ever had. I don't say that lightly. The cake donuts, while great, were not the star of the show. BUT the yeast donuts were hands down fabulous. Definitely going back and definitely telling my friends and definitely going to try more of the pastries. Yup Yup that's all I want to say. There is nothing more to say. (I take my five stars VERY SERIOUSLY) read more

Love that they open so early, I stopped by to grab a dozen donuts and a florentine. They have your typical yeast donuts as well as Old Fashions. The old fashioned itself had a great cake texture and wasn't overly sweet as it is covered in frosting but not doused. The yeast donuts themselves have a great texture. The florentine is sweet. What can you expect though when it is chocolate, hazelnuts and melted sugar? The overall atmosphere is friendly, although I wish the person helping me gave me more variety. I just asked for a dozen and let him choose as they were for my coworkers, after getting the box, I realized he gave me multiples of the same flavor and no sprinkle donuts. I'll take that as my own fault as I didn't give instructions for a mixed variety but I typically never had to at other donut stores. read more

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Iconic, best donuts and where else do you get your smiley-face or Surfboard sugar cookies?? read more

Glazed Blueberry buttermilk donut and Apple Fritter were excellent. First time there but not the last!!

The best donuts in town. Consistent, delicious, always affordable! This place has been around since I was a kid and it's a local's favorite. There will usually be a line but it goes quick read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Classic VG cookies - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

They have great pastries here. We used to order their cakes for special occasions at work. They do a beautiful job of decorating them.

This is an Encinitas stable. Open early mornings to kick off the day. They specialize in cakes, cookies, breads, and of course DOUGHNUTS! I have order a variety of things here since my first encounter. These are some of my favorites; Butterflake biscuits, chocolate bar, vanilla cake, and blueberry biscuits. It can get busy here with a line out the door. But fear not, they are friendly and efficient. Inside is jam packed and just enough room to order. They do have some outdoor seating with the ocean less than a mile away. Enjoy read more

Amazing donuts! Omg! Took them to work & they went fast. Reasonable price. Friendly service.

In town for a soccer tournament and I wanted to get my son and his buddies a treat. Since donuts are always a hit, I found VG on Yelp and made my way over on Sunday morning... Parking was tough as there was a farmers market happening that morning also and lots of streets blocked off, so I parked in a nearby lot. That was a mistake - I scored myself a $60 parking ticket during the 15 minutes I was there :( If you're reading this... DO NOT shopping center parking lot nearby! Other than the parking experience, the donuts, service and overall experience was positive. We did have to wait in line, but my son hung outside on the patio and the line I waited in went quickly. The lady next to me told me that she's been coming to VG since the 1970s! The woman who took my order was super friendly and helped me in picking out a dozen donuts (glazed, sugared, chocoloate frosted and maple). I noted the cash only policy ahead of time, so that wasn't a problem... and the boys demolished the donuts so quickly, that I was only able to score myself a bite! If you're looking for an old school donut shop with really great quality donuts, or holiday cookies or cakes, this is your place... It's VG indeed (Very Good)! read more

Tasty donuts! The staff was friendly and it was easy to order. They have specialty donuts and some normal ones too. Everything was delicious! The shop itself is clean and cozy. read more

Croissant was doughy and not airy. It was pretty mid. Nice staff though and a lot to choose from

This is one of my happy places. Its by the beach and there's a thriftstore in the same little strip mall. The donuts are super as evidenced by the constant foot traffic and cars coming and going Its got a great vibe. My favorite is the orange glazed. They're all really good. They have more than donuts too. Enjoy! read more

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This bakery is the best! Their doughnuts are always fresh and very tasty. My husband and I used to live in the San Diego area. Once a week he would stop to get doughnuts for the office. He would mention once in a while that he picked up doughnuts for the office but never told me how delicious their doughnuts were/are. We were in the area once after moving from the San Diego area. He asked me if I wanted to get doughnuts from the place he used to get for the office. Of course I said yes because I have a sweet tooth. Long story short, it was love at first bite. I did get after my husband for holding out on me. Shame on him! Whenever we're back in the area we stop to get our fix. Recently I was with my daughter in the area. I mentioned I wanted to stop to get doughnuts. She really wasn't too enthusiastic about getting doughnuts because she was trying to be good. Again, long story short, it was love at first bite for her. She ate three doughnuts in less than an hour as we drove up the 5 freeway to Orange County. She wanted to get more the next day but she remembered they weren't open on Mondays. Unfortunately she lives in another state and will have to wait to get her VG's fix. They normally have a line but it goes quickly because they always have plenty of enthusiastic employees happy to help you with your selection. read more

Donut Series, Part 13 VG's on Valentine's. It just felt like the right time to give this special place in the heart of many San Diegans a chance to get to know each other better. Putting smiles on the faces of locals since 1969, we love how pillowy soft their donuts are, without the heartbreak of a greasy aftertaste, and light enough to make you interested in a second date. While we're not sure we're lovestruck just yet, we have to admit that we keep glancing at our phones to see if the feelings are mutual. C'mon and ring already, would 'ya!!!! And that's...Henry's Take. #valentinesatvgs read more

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VG's used to be the bomb for years but lately seems like it's under new management because the quality is going down and the cost is going up. Had a party and decided to get a $50 carrot cake from VG's and all we ended up doing was making excuses for the cake, way too much frosting and we couldn't find even a piece of carrot A cake from Costco would've been a better choice . Management needs to take a look at itself and remember its roots of quality. read more

VG Donut & Bakery - Excessive frosting - Donuts Near Me - Cardiff, California

Love this places such a great selection of donuts and I got a free one for just asking to sample because i didn't know what to get. Ended up buying a pack of 12 read more

Our go to donut shop when we are camping at Cardiff! we have been coming here since our kids were little for 25 years and even longer for my husband since he lived up here when he went to college. Great selections donuts and pastries. Blueberry buttermilk bar is one of their specialties. They had a delicious cinnamon sweet roll,That was gooey and walnut encrusted.. They also have yummy pastries with cream cheese, and either Nutella, strawberries, or guava. they have a terrific Oreo cupcake or cake . They also serve coffee, hot chocolate, and milk. Service can be slow on the weekends, but is great during the week when it is less crowded. Ambience typical donut shop . read more

We ordered 3 donuts and they were fresh, warm & delicious! The donuts definitely hit Unfortunately, the customer service felt off & wasn't very friendly. The lady in front of us practically got her head bit off for asking for 2 dozen donuts and was told they couldn't take her order. Wasn't the best vibe in there. read more

Amazing bakery. I have always been for the donuts but they make extremely good cookies, cakes, and other products. I don't think there's another bakery I would recommend more. VG's is in a great spot super close to the beach, they have outstanding donuts and other menu items, and the staff is always active, friendly, and helpful. They have an outdoor section to enjoy outside which is always nice. Definitely give this place a try if you're in town and try as many things as you can. I'd recommend one of their chocolate bars "The Longjohn", a buttermilk bar, and a frosted decorated sugar cookie. Make sure to bring some cash if you spend less than $10, but you probably will because everything looks so great read more

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VG's Donuts is a true staple of Cardiff and all of North County. Known for some of the best donuts and cakes in San Diego, it's no surprise there's always a line out the door on weekend mornings. The staff is consistently friendly and engaging, which makes every visit even better. read more