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Donuts haven't been my go-to since, I guess, college years! Which was more than 20 Years ago. Donut Savant made me fall in love with donuts again! We sampled a few. I particularly like the crème brûlée and the chocolate cronut. I like the fact that they don't taste being overpowered by grease and sugar. Cream fillings were very light. Line was long but it moved very quickly.
Solid cool Oakland spot! The donuts are yummy and creative. Some donuts are better than others. Big fan of the sugar and cinnamon cronut! The people are friendly and helpful. I was surprised there wasn't a crazy long line. This is a cool spot in The Town! Chill and clean indoors. They also sell some shirts and hats which is pretty cool. Highly recommend!
No cap this is one of the best iced coffees I've had in awhile . It's the perfect balance of brown sugar & cinnamon. The service is great and a vibe . The inside is pretty modern and clean , I will definitely come back .
My partner told me that a coworker of hers mentioned donut savant as the best donuts they've had in the town and over the past weekend we wanted to try it out for ourselves. The store is tucked away on the corner of 38th Ave under a different name (The King's Coffee Shop - not sure if this had any historical significance to donut savant) so it was a bit confusing. The inside is quite minimalist with little decor with a few seats and merch surrounding the very nicely arranged trays of pastries. It was remarkably clean which was something that stood out immediately. The prices are very reasonable, with the store opting for smaller mini-sized donuts at $1/$2 a pop with full-sized versions of each offering around $3/$4 a piece. We went with a few items: the apple fritter, maple glazed cron't, lemon curd, cinnamon roll, and chocolate cron't. Unfortunately we went closer to closing and therefore basically all of the filled donuts were gone for the day. All the donuts were generously glazed and well balanced in their sweetness. It was my first time getting my hands on an apple fritter and it was really good - not as apple-heavy as I had always imagined it to be. Cinnamon roll and chocolate cron't were both good as well - would recommend the chocolate for folks who tend towards more dark chocolate, as it had some good bitter notes to it and works well with a croissant consistency. My favorite had to be the maple glazed cron't - super classic flavor and slightly fluffier than the chocolate cron't that blended that crispiness of the croissant and the fluffiness of a true donut. Overall a super affordable place during a time of insane inflation that doesn't compromise on quality and flavor. Definitely needed this sweet treat and will be coming back for more soon!
This place was a quick 30-ish minute drive from my place in Martinez. I easily found parking in the neighborhood about a block away. I really loved all the donuts I tried from donut savant! The cron'ts were fluffy and not dense at all. I also really liked the size of them too; not too big. We also tried some cake & yeast donuts and enjoyed those. The "jane dough" was yummy and the pastry cream was perfect. I tried some of the plain dough itself and it was insanely good. I find some donuts to be so plain and dense, but not these! I would definitely come back here. :)
Had to get out of the city and wanted to try this place for a long time. Smaller in size but def dbl in quality! Nice friendly staff. My only complaint.............. why didn't I buy more to try out!! #chefapproved #415Francisco
Great service; quick and with a friendly smile! Delectable donuts! Love the Boston Crème and Crème Brûlée. Chill atmosphere.
Looked up must try eats in Oakland and found donut savant! We came here on a Sunday around 11:30am and all the desserts were still in stock which was great. We decided to get the crème brûlée donut, Bernie, salted maple cronut, chocolate cronut, o.m.j., little lemon one, apple fritter, cinnamon roll, and w.t. fluff. My personal favorites were the Bernie, o.m.j, and the salted maple cronut! The chocolate cronut was pretty good as well. My friend liked the o.m.j., w.t. fluff, and the crème brûlée donut. We were not a fan of the apple fritter, cinnamon roll, and little lemon one. The apple fritter didn't have much apple flavor, the cinnamon roll could have more cinnamon in it and glaze was a little salty, and the little lemon one was a little too tart for our liking. Overall, donut savant is a solid spot with unique desserts. I would come back to get my favorites and to try more items!
OMG I love this place! Shout out to my friend for taking me because this is a hidden gem. I like donuts but they are often too much for me because they are large and overly sweet. This place is perfect for me because they basically do gourmet donut holes and are unique and taste fresh (not artificial) their cronuts are also divine! I came in the afternoon so they running low but still lots of options and still lots of people coming in. It's a grab and go type spot. Simple, clean, delicious!
Cronuts were light and fluffy! I would rate the cronuts in this order: 1. Maple 2. Cinnamon sugar 3. Little lemon one (perfectly bite size!) 4. Chocolate cron't 5. Vanilla We also got: - crème brulee - filling inside wasn't too sweet or thick and the sugar coating was crunchy, but not too thick - the Bernie- same vanilla pastry filling with the maple frosting (my favorite!)
This has been in my bookmark for years. more than 5 years and I finally had a chance to check them out. I would come back and try other flavors. I came here before noon and there are only a few pieces left. I wanted to get all the lemon flavor but there was another customer was behind me so I didn't get everything. He later thanked me for not taking all the donuts. I must say, I was disappointed of the size (see picture for reference, I put my hand next to them so you can see how tiny these are). The pictures were deceiving, I thought they were huge like regular sized donuts. Anyway I still left happy because they were good! The price , I wish was a few cents less, because a few more cents, you can already get an actual donut. Or add a dollar and you can get a gourmet donut. Casual. Servers were polite. Street parking, good luck!
Before my brother drove us to a highly sweet donut shop, we're in its neighborhood that looked almost familiar. I hardly find out what type of house our former relatives once lived in ever since my whole family had been visiting. Everywhere in this neighborhood looked ordinary until we stopped at Donut Savant. Friendly staff is a plus, but contactless payment isn't. One things' for sure; all glazed donuts are so down right sweet; cron'ts, maple bars, you name it. Of course, I'm dying to have a chai latte to pair with the sweets the next time my brother decides to take us there again. read more
2 months ago
This is a stop on the gluten challenge tour. It was good quality ingredients. The Bernie had an extremely salty salted maple on top. The vanilla bean custard was good--you could even see the vanilla bean flecks in it and it wasn't too sweet. Lemon curd was on the sweet side but it's a good curd. The donuts themselves were good, not great--the dough was not outstanding, but it was a standard donut. The cronut did have the true croissant texture. The chocolate frosting was a very rich flavor. The jam as well was a rich, berry-forward flavor not too sweet. Seemed like it was not store bought. The Boston cream donut was filled with vanilla bean filling, not traditional Boston cream. read more
Donuts haven't been my go-to since, I guess, college years! Which was more than 20 Years ago. Donut Savant made me fall in love with donuts again! We sampled a few. I particularly like the crème brûlée and the chocolate cronut. I like the fact that they don't taste being overpowered by grease and sugar. Cream fillings were very light. Line was long but it moved very quickly. read more
Solid cool Oakland spot! The donuts are yummy and creative. Some donuts are better than others. Big fan of the sugar and cinnamon cronut! The people are friendly and helpful. I was surprised there wasn't a crazy long line. This is a cool spot in The Town! Chill and clean indoors. They also sell some shirts and hats which is pretty cool. Highly recommend! read more
12 days ago
14 days ago
6 months ago
No cap this is one of the best iced coffees I've had in awhile . It's the perfect balance of brown sugar & cinnamon. The service is great and a vibe . The inside is pretty modern and clean , I will definitely come back . read more
My partner told me that a coworker of hers mentioned donut savant as the best donuts they've had in the town and over the past weekend we wanted to try it out for ourselves. The store is tucked away on the corner of 38th Ave under a different name (The King's Coffee Shop - not sure if this had any historical significance to donut savant) so it was a bit confusing. The inside is quite minimalist with little decor with a few seats and merch surrounding the very nicely arranged trays of pastries. It was remarkably clean which was something that stood out immediately. The prices are very reasonable, with the store opting for smaller mini-sized donuts at $1/$2 a pop with full-sized versions of each offering around $3/$4 a piece. We went with a few items: the apple fritter, maple glazed cron't, lemon curd, cinnamon roll, and chocolate cron't. Unfortunately we went closer to closing and therefore basically all of the filled donuts were gone for the day. All the donuts were generously glazed and well balanced in their sweetness. It was my first time getting my hands on an apple fritter and it was really good - not as apple-heavy as I had always imagined it to be. Cinnamon roll and chocolate cron't were both good as well - would recommend the chocolate for folks who tend towards more dark chocolate, as it had some good bitter notes to it and works well with a croissant consistency. My favorite had to be the maple glazed cron't - super classic flavor and slightly fluffier than the chocolate cron't that blended that crispiness of the croissant and the fluffiness of a true donut. Overall a super affordable place during a time of insane inflation that doesn't compromise on quality and flavor. Definitely needed this sweet treat and will be coming back for more soon! read more
13 days ago
25 days ago
2 months ago
This place was a quick 30-ish minute drive from my place in Martinez. I easily found parking in the neighborhood about a block away. I really loved all the donuts I tried from donut savant! The cron'ts were fluffy and not dense at all. I also really liked the size of them too; not too big. We also tried some cake & yeast donuts and enjoyed those. The "jane dough" was yummy and the pastry cream was perfect. I tried some of the plain dough itself and it was insanely good. I find some donuts to be so plain and dense, but not these! I would definitely come back here. :) read more
4 months ago
Had to get out of the city and wanted to try this place for a long time. Smaller in size but def dbl in quality! Nice friendly staff. My only complaint.............. why didn't I buy more to try out!! #chefapproved #415Francisco read more
23 days ago
Looked up must try eats in Oakland and found donut savant! We came here on a Sunday around 11:30am and all the desserts were still in stock which was great. We decided to get the crème brûlée donut, Bernie, salted maple cronut, chocolate cronut, o.m.j., little lemon one, apple fritter, cinnamon roll, and w.t. fluff. My personal favorites were the Bernie, o.m.j, and the salted maple cronut! The chocolate cronut was pretty good as well. My friend liked the o.m.j., w.t. fluff, and the crème brûlée donut. We were not a fan of the apple fritter, cinnamon roll, and little lemon one. The apple fritter didn't have much apple flavor, the cinnamon roll could have more cinnamon in it and glaze was a little salty, and the little lemon one was a little too tart for our liking. Overall, donut savant is a solid spot with unique desserts. I would come back to get my favorites and to try more items! read more
OMG I love this place! Shout out to my friend for taking me because this is a hidden gem. I like donuts but they are often too much for me because they are large and overly sweet. This place is perfect for me because they basically do gourmet donut holes and are unique and taste fresh (not artificial) their cronuts are also divine! I came in the afternoon so they running low but still lots of options and still lots of people coming in. It's a grab and go type spot. Simple, clean, delicious! read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
Cronuts were light and fluffy! I would rate the cronuts in this order: 1. Maple 2. Cinnamon sugar 3. Little lemon one (perfectly bite size!) 4. Chocolate cron't 5. Vanilla We also got: - crème brulee - filling inside wasn't too sweet or thick and the sugar coating was crunchy, but not too thick - the Bernie- same vanilla pastry filling with the maple frosting (my favorite!) read more
This has been in my bookmark for years. more than 5 years and I finally had a chance to check them out. I would come back and try other flavors. I came here before noon and there are only a few pieces left. I wanted to get all the lemon flavor but there was another customer was behind me so I didn't get everything. He later thanked me for not taking all the donuts. I must say, I was disappointed of the size (see picture for reference, I put my hand next to them so you can see how tiny these are). The pictures were deceiving, I thought they were huge like regular sized donuts. Anyway I still left happy because they were good! The price , I wish was a few cents less, because a few more cents, you can already get an actual donut. Or add a dollar and you can get a gourmet donut. Casual. Servers were polite. Street parking, good luck! read more
Quality/Quantity - My daughter is on a donut craze and I have been wanting to come here for a while. Plus, the two places we wanted to go to in Union City were both closed. Today, as usual, we went overboard and ordered 7 donuts.... And I just left the gym... We got the following, in the order of my favorite: Bernie Donut - My favorite. The maple was a little TOO sweet for me. My younger self would have really enjoyed it. But the filling was the perfect sweetness. And I really like the quality of the donut - the firmness, the proportions, etc. Salted Maple Cronut - Little Lemon One - My daughter's favorite. She loves lemon flavored things. OMJ - We got two. This was our first order. If I knew we were going to go crazy, we could have just ordered and shared the one. Vanilla Glazed Cronut - The employee said this one was their best seller. But it seemed too plain for us. Sufganiyot; Sugar Jam Filled Donut - Cool name. It was a normal/basic jelly filled donut. Donuts are 5 stars; all of good quality. I can see why and how you are a Savant. Atmosphere - Small local business, support local. Not easy to get to, well not easy for me. GPS had me drive through the city. Next time I will take 580! I took 580 to get home which was way easier!! Open 5 days a week from 7am to 1pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Plenty of street parking. Service - Good, counter service. Greeted right away and offered drinks when we walked in. But we have a Breville so I wanted to make our own espresso at home. Price - $20; no cash business, card only. I thought it was reasonably priced, especially for the quality. I think next time we will do the baker's choice for $14.50. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2012 and at this location since 2020! If it was easier for us/me to get to, I could see myself as a regular customer. Or I will be back next time I am entertaining guests for breakfast or brunch. read more
1 year ago
Probably about 8:15am, Friday morning. I walked in right before a rush because there was a line of maybe 10 after me. My first time in person, but people have brought donuts from here to the office. The line went super quick. The employee wasn't super friendly, but not unfriendly. He was there to do his job, and get people in and out. And I appreciate that. He knew what he was doing, and he did it well. I chose several donuts, and the prices were decent. Considering the line was out the door, and the donuts look really nice. I feel like they could be one of those places that charges more, but they don't. And I like them more for that. The donuts weren't for me, but I have eaten their donuts before and they were good. Would definitely recommend and can see why there's a line regularly. read more
2 years ago
Came here back in 2021 when cronut/croffles were trending. All the donuts in the display looked so good & it was so hard to decide what to order. I decided to keep it simple & ordered the vanilla cron't and the Bernie. I remember the cron't was dense but still flaky. Parking was a bit difficult cause it's either the main street or residential area. read more
1 year ago
Definitely some of the best donuts I've ever had in my life. I tried a variety of flavors and everything was perfectly balanced. I tend to be more sensitive to sweet flavors and nothing was too sweet for me which is always a pleasant surprise. Also, everything was so perfectly soft and fluffy on the inside. Donut Savant donuts set the bar for donuts for me! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
So I get into Oakland on a Friday morning (9/19) and my niece turns me on to some of the most insanely delicious donuts I have ever tasted PERIOD! She had these mini apple fritters and cinnamon rolls that intoxicated my taste buds and made me feel like I was eating manna from heaven! Whatever brand or style of butter they use in their donuts greets your palate with such satisfaction that before you know it a half dozen of those deadly delicious denizens are gone! They are that good to me! Donut Savant, absolutely the best donuts around! read more
It's been a while since I've come, but I've missed these fancy donuts. The last time I came to this location was I believe during 2020 and there was a line out of the door. I'm kind of surprised it isn't still like that. I didn't even know they added seating, and though minimal, a few people were in there on their laptops in the morning. Can't stop, cron't stop. I got the maple cron't and the vanilla cron't. They're so delicious I thought about peeling it back layer by croissant layer to savor the flavor. I came for the donuts. I didn't know they made breakfast sandwiches too! Maybe next time. Anyway, I love this location even though they aren't close to me on broadway anymore. Here, you can most likely find parking. read more
6 months ago
this is must a stop for us at oakland. the creme brulee donut alone is worth it just look at the glossy crust omg. the sugar topping has a nice crunch followed by the smooth vanilla bean filling which makes this donut so satisfying. they also make really good lattes, it's even better than some cafes... they do tend to sell out most of their donuts especially near closing so plan ahead! read more
I love bringing treats to my friends when I go to Pickleball so I yelped it up real quick and I found this super cute donut shop. What I love about this place is the pastries are not huge, they're a perfect portion so you can try more than one and not feel guilty. Lol. I tried the apple fritter and it was absolutely delicious. And the rest of the pastries I got were a hit. Everyone inhaled them. I will definitely go back here because for a whole box of pastries I paid around $25 dollars. read more
6 months ago
MUST TRY: The Bernie, Little Lemon One (if you like tart), w.t. Fluff (peanut), chocolate cron't. Staff is nice/neutral and asks you if you'd like any drinks when you walk in. Clean interior. Everything tastes like it's actually made in-house. Every filling, frosting, and donut feels carefully crafted and tastes just as good as it looks. The maple glaze on the Bernie alone makes this place worth it. It's not that overly sweet, artificial maple you usually get. It's toned down, almost butterscotch-y, and way better. The vanilla cream is also insanely good, which the Bernie also has. The maple on the other ones don't hit the same though. My friend is big on the cron'ts (croissant donuts), and the dark chocolate glaze is thick, almost like a ganache. My personal favorites are the "W.T. Fluff" and the "little lemon one". The fluff is like a peanutty, s'mores, powdered sugar DELICACY, and the lemon one is nice and tart, kind of like a lemon bar. Only misses for us were the apple fritter and the cinnamon roll. Both were a bit firm and just didn't have much flavor. We also were neutral on the sugar coatings and the small cake donuts. The iced coffee can be on the milky side sometimes. They don't have every donut every day, so I'd call ahead if you're looking for something specific. I've gone three times and still haven't seen the crème brûlée in stock. Also, get there early, some do sell out. Easily the best donut shop I've been to in Oakland, just a little on the pricier side. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
The best donut store in Oakland. Everything I got in the box was amazing. I love it that their treats come in bite size so it's easy to try everything. I will return again and again! read more
1 year ago
Donuts are definitely a step above the regular donut shop you're used to- these donuts have the wow factor. They have a huge selection, and you'll even find some of your standard donuts (like apple fritters); however, the majority are unusual and will blow you away (by taste and sight). I've been coming here a lot lately because I buy them as gifts (for friends and coworkers) and they love them so much they become the perfect gift again and again. I introduced my old school father to these donuts and he was blown away. Every time I bring him a box he is so delighted and raves about every new flavor he tries. There's such a large selection that it will take quite a while to try them all. The cronuts are light, flaky and airy and there are a few varieties to choose from. Many of the donuts are offered in mini varieties too, which is great so you try more. They're a little pricey, but if you buy the standard Baker's Choice, you'll get 13 for $14.50. This doesn't include the super fancy donuts (some are up to $3.75/each), but if I'm buying for the office I'll throw in a few of the fancy ones to keep the cost down but still get a great variety. I've come here at all hours of the morning and run into a crowd a couple times, but the staff is fast and efficient and I've never had to wait long. read more
1 year ago
Friendly staff, super clean and welcoming corner shop. Slightly drier than I expected. The lemon and jam fillings were perfect, not overly sweet. My fav was the lemon powder donut. We also tried the Bernie, vanilla, cinnamon roll and chocolate. All solid! Great east oakland establishment. read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Donut Savant in Oakland is, well, a donut shop. Some of them are small, which is neat if you want to try a few different kinds without committing to a full-sized treat. The flavors are there, nothing truly mind-blowing, kind of pricey if you ask me. It's a fine place to grab a quick sugar fix if you're in the neighborhood and have a sudden craving. Don't expect to write home about it, but you also won't be entirely disappointed. It's just... donuts. And don't forget to LOCK your doors ! read more
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More info about donut savant
3000 38th Ave
Oakland, CA 94619
Allendale, East Oakland
Directions
(510) 972-8268
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http://www.donutsavant.com
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How much for a dozen?
The donuts are price-per-piece, so the price of a dozen donuts depends on the donuts you choose to put in the dozen. The donuts range in price from $0.75 to $3.75, to give a range of price.
Is there a price list?
What is parking like in that area?
you should be able to find a spot less than a block away
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