They may not be the most perfect franchise that sells the donuts and coffee drinks that are both beloved and maligned by fans around the world, but this location of Dunkin' as it is now called must be celebrated because it is the first to open in the Bay Area in almost twenty years ago when this location replaced a former Taco Bell location almost five years ago. Located in the San Miguel Shopping Center on the corner of Newell Avenue and South Broadway, this Dunkin' has the perfect location for those of you who want to grab something to drink or a small sweet bite to eat while one goes shopping in the outdoor Broadway Plaza located just right across the street. I remember when this location first opened, there were lines around the block just to get in and order with loyal customers thinking that they had to be one of the first to get their deep fried treats, perhaps not realizing they would still be around five years later. But knowing that this location is still here and thriving is the only incentive that I need to either walk over to this location once I park inside the massive parking garage at the Broadway Plaza or simply drive over and park in the parking lot of the San Miguel Center to get my sweet tooth satiated.
Every time I go to Dunkin', I get one of two drinks, their Frozen Chocolate or a Coolatta (anyone else seeing a theme here?). I have to admit I come for these drinks because I am desperate need for a refresher and Dunkin has some of the best in Walnut Creek without the massive lines that stores in Broadway Plaza are known for. Can you imagine if they had a location in the Plaza? The lines would be lengthy! Thankfully this location is perfect just where it is as I feel little guilt in walking there for my calorie-inducing drink, not to mention nosh on a little crème or jelly filled donut and I am out the door either to walk off my little snack or drive off home which is quite the journey either way. Although the frozen drinks at Dunkin' could be considered a little sweet a find the frozen chocolate the perfect combination of chocolate mix and ice and is the perfect sip on a sunny weekend afternoon. Apparently they have different flavor swirls to accompany your drink (at least that's what it says online) but I wasn't asked by the cashier for my options, so I suppose I just had original on this day, which was fine as the sweetness can carry one a long way! The donuts at Dunkin' putting it mildly are traditional, as there's nothing truly special about them that you wouldn't necessarily find anything worse at your local donut shop. Perhaps their one true saving grace is that they remain very affordable as their crème and jelly filled donuts are no more that a little over one dollar, which in this day and age is remarkable. And although both their powder sugar jelly and their chocolate covered Boston Crème are both satisfactory, the latter is the better of the two. And my drink, even for a large cost roughly a little over three dollars, which was half the price of a similar drink at say Starbucks, granted with less coffee.
The reason that Dunkin' has dropped the Donuts from its title, but not according to the sign at this first Bay Area location, is because they want to emphasize that they serve hot breakfast sandwiches, bagels and muffins, on top of their signature donuts. I personally think that's a mistake as Dunkin's identity goes hand and hand with coffee and donuts. When this location first opened in 2015, their goal was to make this location one of many in the Bay Area, but as of present, that goal hasn't panned out just quite yet as I can still count out the number of local Dunkin' locations on maybe two hands, which is unfortunate as Starbucks and Peet's and not to mention Krispy Kreme have all been fading quite recently, which has allowed a number of local and new coffee chains to thrive in the region. That's fine with me as options always pique my interest when it comes to blended coffee drinks and donuts and at Dunkin' in Walnut Creek they have some of the most reliable and affordable in the business! read more