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KINGPIN DONUTS
2521 Durant Ave A, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
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KINGPIN DONUTS
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Ju
Review №1

Exterior, morning, low din of an awakening city.I enter the small shopfront, drawn by the dazzling display case stocked with enough fried dough to kill a man.Attendant: Hello, what can I get you?Me: Two donuts, one of the glazed yeast and a Boston creme.He packages the donuts in a brown paper bag and gives me my exorbitant west coast total. I hand over my credit card to be scanned by one of the fastest tap receivers Ive ever seen. Seriously I think this machine was fresh out of the box. I scurry home to ssurprise my still sleeping partner with glorious morning carbs.The glazed donut is one of the most basic donut recipes. I find it a good judge of skill. The real trick is timing the rise before fry. This batch seemed like they waited a bit long and had compressed into a sopping sugar experience. The Boston creme seemed like the chocolate frosting & custard filling were from a bag, but the donut was fried a bit longer for structural integrity so well thought out there.A word forms in my mind: Adequate.

Mo
Review №2

This place was pretty good! The Donuts were Huge! Definitely the place to hit when yall got the Munchies or a sweet tooth 👍🏾

Ka
Review №3

They have 2 different types delicious donut hole. Small shop, variety choice!

St
Review №4

Delicious maple custard bar! Show up early for best selection though. I walked in around 10am, and they were out of chocolate bars and all 🍩 ! Definitely will be early next time!!!

Ca
Review №5

The cheesecake and carrot cake cheesecake was light, airy, moist, so creamy, and the perfect amount of sweet

Sa
Review №6

Tiny little donut and coffee place. They have a lot of options for donuts and cakes. I tried the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was just amazing and worth trying this place. The coffee was great. I didnt love the latte as much but was good enough to go with the cake. The staff is very friendly and nice.

st
Review №7

I would give it a 5 star but they started adding whole bacon strips to their maple bacon donuts 😔

Ja
Review №8

Friend was charged 3.25 for a bottle of water there, and then later on that night, same exact bottle was charged for 2

Gr
Review №9

The Boston Cream Eclair donut was mouthwatering at the first bite. Just writing this review gets my tastebuds excited!! I also had their house coffee, and it was surprisingly good. Will definitely be going back.

Si
Review №10

The place is nice with the store person being very nice and friendly! This place is open late night in Berkeley which is a bonus if you are craving for sweet.The place also adhered to Social distancing protocols which is good to see!We tried few things here:--> Tiramisu Cake Slice--> Carrot Cake Slice--> Donut Holes--> Coffee Au LaitAmongst the all the Tiramisu and Donut Holes were pretty good! Perfect sweetness and taste! Carrot cake felt a bit Dry with too much cream on it!Coffee was decent but it was not as strong as I thought it would be. Maybe an expresso would have been better choice.Overall recommend to try out the place (esp. Donut holes) as they have plentiful of options and the store person is very friendly!

Ho
Review №11

The best tasting, and most amazing looking donuts anywhere! These people make edible art in a round format. Service is personal and quick. Sandwiches are made to order any way you want them.

Je
Review №12

A little pricey..yet this is a rare spot that offers old fashion holes- hence the extra star. They are huge!!! Received great service and the other donuts look tasty.Open late night- fresh and delicious. Check them out✔

Jt
Review №13

The holy grail of donut shops. Somewhat overpriced due to the proximity to the university but you will never be disappointed.

Sh
Review №14

Warm, yummy donuts and quick service everytime! Always get 1-2 extra donut holes with my half dozen order :)) such a small yet meaningful little treat when I open the bag!

Jo
Review №15

First time here. Definitely some good donuts if you are in the area

Mo
Review №16

My favorite donut shop in Berkeley! Excellent classic donuts.

R.
Review №17

Long time favorite and super nostalgic vendor. If you have a sweet tooth King Pin has your fix all day and all night long. Great quality and even better prices!

Sh
Review №18

Real buttermilk donuts. Chocolate ocing with .ini chocolate hips and walnits. Open umtil 3am.

t.
Review №19

I never write reviews, but I had to for this. My boyfriend travels to San Fran for work about twice a month and his son used to live in Berkeley, so the Old Fashioned glazed donuts at KingPin were always brought back as a treat. Of course, they were very tasty, but I’m not a huge donut fan. So, when I traveled out there with him last week for work, we made a late night stop and I opted for the apple fritter. I got three to share. He got a bunch of old fashioned glazed for his team. By morning, the fritters were gone.Absolutely the best apple fritter... no, the best baked treat, I’ve ever experienced! Slightly crispy and glazed on the outside and like a warm apple croissant inside. They melted in our mouths. Even a day or two old they were still moist and fantastic with coffee. Highly recommend eating them slightly warm though! We went back the night before we flew out and bought another box to bring home.Seriously, do you guys ship within the US? I would order a box of them in a heartbeat. The rest of the country needs to know. You have at least five huge fans in Minneapolis now! Thanks for making an otherwise uneventful covid work trip deliciously memorable!

Gr
Review №20

My friend went here when she was at Berkeley 30years ago.We got the donut holes and buttermilk donut holes. The doughnut holes were really good, not too much icing, they were light and had good texture.The butter milk ones were awesome! best ive tasted . GO and get some, they are amazing! Just dont go too often.

Br
Review №21

Fresh donuts, that are to die for!

Su
Review №22

Best Old Fashioned donut Ive ever had! Not too sour, crispy on the outside, and perfectly sweet!The cake donut was excellent as well...very crispy exterior! I like the white coconut cake.The apple fritter is very cinnamon-y and had a nice, crunchy exterior.The raised donuts were denser than I like...seemed less fresh...but maybe its just the type of dough they use.

Je
Review №23

Cant beat the texture and taste of the donuts. Dont expect the filled donuts to have a lot of filling

Ca
Review №24

Definitely not my style of donuts, but to each their own. Appreciated the option to get day old donuts for a good price. Great area to be in with lots of food options around.

al
Review №25

Do not order! 50 bucks for completely smashed donuts.

Rh
Review №26

I love doing late night donut runs and getting fresh donuts here.

ha
Review №27

She tried to charge me 3.25 for 6 donut holes horrible customer service very rude and messy place

Am
Review №28

Fresh Donuts!

Tr
Review №29

Glazed OG is the best

V
Review №30

Great donuts made fresh every night. Owner is very pleasant and we had a nice conversation after he found out we were visiting. Highly recommend this place .

Sh
Review №31

What a cute place and their donuts was absolutely good. The glazed buttermilk donuts is one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. I rant about this place whenever the topic of donuts comes up.

Da
Review №32

Not fancy, but yummy. Tried 3 different varieties and all were better than average by quite a bit. Tasted fresh, not just a mix. Ive made my way through most of the donut shops in Berkeley and Oakland, and this is the only one I would travel to go back to again. I never think of service quality in a donut shop, but I do think a LOT about quality donuts. So far, this is it. Just a note, the heavily iced donuts are REALLY sweet, so order accordingly . And I say this as someone born with 32 sweet teeth.

Ch
Review №33

Darn good donuts. Theres like a 50 cent fee for paying with card, but I dont think thats something would stop folks from getting donuts. I mean, can you imagine walking over to the donut shop, picking out a cinnamon twist with a little bit of chocolate and those crumbly peanut things on top, then finding out about the fee and being all Nah, Im cool with $1.50 for this beautiful piece of fried dough, but not two bucks. Put that thing back.? No? Thats what I thought.

Ma
Review №34

Good old-fashioned donuts with great deals when the library closes at 2a. This review is based on when I always used to go there when I was an undergrad from 2002-2006. 4 donuts for $1.75. Reliable, sweet and comforting. Never change, good-old fashioned people and donut shop, never change.

Ra
Review №35

Caution addictive properties. I went 4 out of the 5 days I was in Berkeley. The old fashioned is something dreams are made of.

Mi
Review №36

I think the donuts here are awesome they taste great they just melt in your mouth but they need to pick some new servers because the customer service absolutely sucks I might just stop going there strictly for how Im treated when I walk through the door no warm greeting no nothing just a worker there with sleep in her eyes who barely wants to serve me. Other than the lousy customer service they have pretty good donuts

ka
Review №37

The donut master has been making donuts for 30 years. He is the Jiro of donuts. The donuts are made in the evening so that is the time to go, when they are fresh out. Sizzling and crispy, best donuts in the Bay.

Je
Review №38

Best hot late-night donuts ever. Just get whatever is hot, right out of the oven. You wont be disappointed.

Ah
Review №39

Last few times have gotten lucky to get the buttermilk right as they’re being glazed. Would come here more if my health would allow.

Ol
Review №40

Best donuts of my life. Any and every time I am in the Bat I will be stopping by. I would pay 4 delivery to Seattle

Si
Review №41

1 star for effort1 star for effort

Me
Review №42

Busy college dive that serves fast and tasty food.

Tr
Review №43

Fantastic donuts and though they might be expensive, they are large and are worth it.

Ke
Review №44

The Best donut shoop in the world. I go about 11:30ish at night yo get the fresh glaze straight out the fryer!!!

Ma
Review №45

Hand crafted donuts made while you watch. Delicious. Bonus - great latte

M
Review №46

Have dined here several times, super great shoppe, friendly staff Saturday, King Pin donuts...they creatively use flavors and toppings in combinations that have you nibbling all day! Coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, maple.... I especially like refrigerating them too, take out nxt day and have with a delicious cup of French roast, (for me) worth the 30 mi RT drive definitely!

St
Review №47

The glazed buttermilk donut is one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. I rant about this place whenever the topic of donuts comes up. And they are open late.Do your self a favor and stop in next time youre in berkeley.

Ri
Review №48

The doughnuts are pricier than most other places, but in my opinion, they are totally worth the price if youre getting them hot and fresh. Their regular glazed doughnut is probably the best Ive tried. Their day-old doughnut deals arent bad as well.

Ja
Review №49

Im a person who has a big mouth which means I take big bites but when I tried King Pins original glazed donut I felt I needed to unhinge my jaw. The donut was huge height wise but I was still able wrestle it into my mouth. Yum! It was so delicious; I really appreciated how it was sweetened/glazed just right. There was more bread to take in compared to your average size donut but oh how it didnt taste stale-ish since I went around 2 in the afternoon. The service speedy but not what memorable. Told the guy what donuts I want, he placed the donuts in a bag, I paid for the donuts, and he gave me the donuts. I would say this place is worth visiting again and maybe one day they can start serving ham and cheese croissants. Once they start serving savory treats Ill give them a 5 star. A girls got to have her sweets and once-in-a-while savory option. =P

Kr
Review №50

I loved hiking to eat donuts when I was a teen in SF. Getting used to the east bay I needed to find a new donut spot and these are delish! Very tasty indeed 😋😀😁😉😊😎

ja
Review №51

Theyre always so friendly to me and they have a great selection of donuts. Theyre a little hard to find from the street, tucked away in a little plaza for Berkeley students, and their prices are a little steep sometimes ($2.75 for a large drip coffee thats not great), but you cant beat having a coffee and a donut at a cozy shop where they remember you and you can get literally any kind of donut you want.And its right nearby a bunch of other stuff so when you get your carbs and caffeine in you there are things to do.

Pa
Review №52

Good donuts, friendly service decent price.

Ed
Review №53

Walked in and the guy just stared at me like I had to order within 2 seconds or he was going to tell me to get out. The donuts were pretty good I guess. Only went here because its open late.

Ad
Review №54

Glazed donuts at 2am are on point. Fresh

Ma
Review №55

The best donut shop in Berkeley. Always get whatever is the freshest, if its fresh enough it should be warm and the most heavenly donut like pastry you have ever had.

Er
Review №56

Pricey but great doughnuts! They are made late at night so get there around 11pm for the freshest ones

St
Review №57

Late night donuts are the best when fresh and hot from the fryer. The popular choice is the apple fritter. You cant go wrong with that and it is closer to a small meal than a snack.

To
Review №58

The best doughnuts you can buy. This place is so much better than chains like Dunkin Donuts.

Li
Review №59

Some truly unique and great deserts! My friend and I split the purple sweet potato tiramisu and purple sweet potato sobbing and wow, they definitely impressed. The real star however was the bingsoo, which I loved despite thinking I wouldnt as I do not like shaved ice. Bingsoo is creamier and more like an ice cream than a shaved ice. The decorations are adorable, and they also give free taro chips which are great. Definitely recommend!

El
Review №60

I decided to get some donuts for nursing staff where my uncle was receiving chemo treatment. The owner/staff couldnt be kinder once he realize what my purchase was for, he gave me a beautiful danish for me to bring back to my uncle. I was speechless and could appreciate more!

Ri
Review №61

Easily the best donuts around, especially if you go at night when theyre warm and fresh. Just ask for whatever is the hottest, and youll be happy.

Bj
Review №62

Today was special because I got three cream filled donuts.

Ke
Review №63

Doughnuts were very pricy, at least twice what you pay anywhere else. The smell is what brought me to them. I got the doughnut holes and about 6 other ones. I liked how raised they were, you can tell they were made there.What I didnt like was when I saw them bring in Costco muffins and cookies to sell in the window. I was quite surprised and turned off by saying them do that. If Im paying $4 for a muffin I expect it to be homemade and baked on the premises.They also need to learn how to wear gloves when handling food!! Especially since theyre handling money, food, & machinery.

Su
Review №64

I love these doughnuts. I live for these doughnuts. I survived grad school because (and only because) of these doughnuts.

Ch
Review №65

Best donut experience of my life, late night hot fresh out the fryer, and glazed up & ready to eat. (I love you lil Asian donut chef...)

Co
Review №66

I went here on this fine Wednesday evening, in a good mood from finishing my finals. Thought Id treat myself to a good ol doughnut.Could not have had a worst experience. As if the overpriced, stale, unexciting doughnut wasnt enough - the guy behind the counter had to cr*p on my day too, for the cherry on top. Youd think a polite customer with a positive attitude would be meet with at least an indifferent/neutral customer service. Instead, I got rude impatience and nasty vibes, just because I asked if a doughnut had custard and picked a different one when it didnt.Total rip off. Wish I could give it 0 stars. Wouldnt send my worst GSI there.

D.
Review №67

OMG the best fresh donuts. So delicious and tasty.

Cl
Review №68

Prices here arent actually that great for standard donuts, but they have their own niche here, south of campus. If you get here around 10pm (I think thats it), they do have nice, fresh ones hot out of the oven, though! A good place to combo with a boba run to Sweethearts or Quicklys. :)

H
Review №69

Best donuts Ive ever had in the east bay!

Ry
Review №70

Cake donuts are perfect. Thick and crunchy outside, soft and flavorful inside.

ri
Review №71

The fresh donuts they make at night are to die for. They also offer bags of 1 day old donuts for cheap.

Da
Review №72

Donuts in general are great! King Pin usually has great service (good at dealing with drunk people, the baker gave me and my friend fresh donut holes for free one time, etc.) and the day old bags are a great deal if youre not picky about that kind of stuff.

Wi
Review №73

Those in the know, know this spot is pure magic. No better feeling than walking into a store with a tray of fresh Maple Bacon Bars, freshly prepared.

Ja
Review №74

Top tier doughnuts, fr. Would recommend the old fashioned glazed 👌

Bo
Review №75

They gave me food poisoning and they dont use gloves when they prepared the donuts it looks like so thats probably what gave me food poisoning but honestly I would never recommend this place anyone ever

Ja
Review №76

This place makes some of the best donuts I have ever had and have been going here for years. A little on the pricy side, but they are soooo goood!

Ch
Review №77

Darn good donuts, made fresh on the premises. And open late!

Li
Review №78

Delicious!!!

ch
Review №79

Real donuts, real service!

To
Review №80

Solid, workmanlike donuts that are made to go with a good cup of joe

Al
Review №81

A Berkeley classic. Just walking by will convince you to buy a doughnut (or three. Not judging.)

Ke
Review №82

Fantastic donuts. Best place to go when craving a donut at 2am.

da
Review №83

King pin is the first to offer all vegetable shortening in 1981 and its the first food stablishment in united state to offer transfat free donut, King pin is not just a donut shop its an Icon for food industry, the chocolate glazed is so reach and its real not imitation, King pin has the best donut, if you go there late at night dont ask for last thing out,Get the donut that came out 5 minute before.

Se
Review №84

A great donuts place-a variety of donuts at a reasonable price. The service was a bit unfriendly but who would resist a crispy and yummy donut?

Mi
Review №85

Quite pricy and the doughnuts were overly chewy. None of the doughnuts looked too fresh either, but that might have more been because we went really late at night.

Tr
Review №86

Awesome donuts, friendly employees.

An
Review №87

So good I end up stopping here every time I walk down the street.

Si
Review №88

These are the best classic doughnuts around, especially if you get them fresh in the evening!

Vy
Review №89

Their donuts are good when fresh but taste like stale oil if not

Ta
Review №90

Freshest donuts I’ve every had!!

Mi
Review №91

Cheap delicious and fresh donuts. Ask which donuts are freshest!

Za
Review №92

OMG!!! There food is sooooo good. I njoyed very much. I had came and got fresh donut holes when thy were finished cooking, and they were warm and like melted in my mouth. The rest of my famly got glazed donuts and we enjoyed all. I would come back very very soon.

Al
Review №93

Donuts are oilier than average and a bit on the pricier side, but theyre open seemingly all the time so its good as an occasional late night snack

Ch
Review №94

Its fine. Nothing life changing, just regular ol doughnuts.

Ch
Review №95

Great donuts! Its also open really late which is a plus.

Ni
Review №96

Open waaaaayyy late which is nice. Good prices, but kinda stiff service typically.

Ad
Review №97

Donuts were good and fresh. You pay for the quality though!

Ha
Review №98

This place is good for a late night or anytime treat...

Ma
Review №99

Unfriendly and expensive but great doughnuts.

Di
Review №100

When a problem set has got you down, what better cure is there than watching donuts being made? Delicious globules of dough splash-landing in hot oil and floating, bobbing, like not-so-delicate synchronized swimmers?I like their fun colored glazed donuts. They go all out for whatever holiday. I remember one year they had Mardi Gras donuts with yellow/green/purple sprinkles. The maple donut is delicious. Sometimes they have bags of day-olds and those are a pretty good deal. Everyone is always friendly to me here, even if Im ummmm-ing and oooohhh-ing at the display case for minutes on end, barely able to control the drool. Feels like a mom-and-pop kind of place (which I think it is?) Well worth a try.

Information
76 Photos
100 Comments
4.3 Rating
  • Address:2521 Durant Ave A, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
  • Site:http://kingpindonuts.com/
  • Phone:+1 510-843-6688
Categories
  • Dessert shop
  • Bakery
  • Donut shop
Working hours
  • Monday:7AM–3AM
  • Tuesday:7AM–3AM
  • Wednesday:7AM–3AM
  • Thursday:7AM–3AM
  • Friday:7AM–3AM
  • Saturday:7AM–3AM
  • Sunday:7AM–3AM
Service options
  • No-contact delivery:Yes
  • Delivery:Yes
  • In-store pickup:Yes
  • In-store shopping:Yes
  • Takeout:Yes
Popular for
  • Solo dining:Yes
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible entrance:Yes
Offerings
  • Coffee:Yes
Dining options
  • Dessert:Yes
Atmosphere
  • Casual:Yes
Planning
  • Quick visit:Yes
Payments
  • NFC mobile payments:Yes
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