Here is how I would choose what to rate before I walked in. Food (expected awesome donuts because our whole building buys from them) Service (always expect where I am putting my money, they at least be respectful) Ambiance (didn't expectich, small mom n pops, been there a long time , everyone loves their place ) NOPE, it stopped at Service. Mr slick thought it was ok to call a female a bitch. Thought it was ok to make side comments to other customers about me. Ihe told the Latin guy while I was waiting, ho should sue him for being stupid. I am just mortified at how they still have a business. It is really sad for me to read all these amazing post about great and friend service.. someone telling me I'm.workkmf as fast as I can, while you stand there and chit chat with people ,instead on me waiting there almost 23 minutes for a bagel. Let's get real. You asked me what my problem was,it is clearly people that are ignorant to see that they are wrong and rude. read more

Love these doughnuts, love the people working there (always so friendly and fast service!), their prices are so reasonable, I am unfortunately a frequent customer here! They even had cute little stickers for National Doughnut Day! The only downside to this place, which is manageable, is the tiny parking lot. But I have found workarounds, there are places nearby to park, and I'm sure you can too. This place is always, always packed! I can tell that a lot of the people are regulars. This place is super popular for a reason! Come check it out, despite its somewhat random location! read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My favorite donut/pastry spot hands down. Service is great and the pastries even better. I highly recommend!

I really love this donut spot! There's a variety of donuts and other deli options. My favorite is the apple fritter and the old fashion donut! Also the staff here are really sweet so it helps with choosing the donuts too read more

I had lived on Shoreview Ave from 1982 to 1996, and so Wild Bill's was my go-to for donuts. So, I was a little hesitant to try out Golden Bell. But I finally gave them a shot, and they have won me over big time. Super busy so parking is a challenge. Don't blame them for that, except it kinda is their fault since the offer a great product with excellent service so they have a plenty stream of customers. But they do a fabulous job taking care of their customers. They are super efficient and equally friendly, especially the guy who rings ya up. Could not be nicer. A+ rating! read more

Nice convenient location (esp if you're heading towards Seal Point exiting 101), yummy donuts (they also have croissant sandwiches, coffee, etc.) and most importantly great, friendly service. We made a stop here to grab coffee, but I got suckered into getting a 12 pack of donut holes and a chocolate old fashioned. This was near the end of the day / closing time, but the donuts were still delicious. The guy (owner?) also brewed a fresh pot of coffee - well worth the 2-3 min wait. There were also a couple of tables and folks set up there watching the large screen tv. Many people made stops inside that seemed like regulars, the one man here moved quickly and was friendly to everyone. Would definitely come back! read more

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Delicious donuts. Get there early because many of your favorites will sell out. I really love the buttermilk donuts the best. Great friendly service. Small place to eat in. They close early afternoons read more

The best donuts in this region of the Bay Area. Most everything is incredible but what stood out to me was the GLAZE TWIST. Now, trust me, I'm not a glaze person usually; I always thought it was kind of a boring way to approach donuts and it appears I've been wrong for a long LONG time. I just haven't had the pleasure of consuming one on this level yet. Crisp outside with a soft and fluffy inside, you can't go wrong getting anything here but the glaze twists will make your day better. Just be aware, they tend to run out of them after 12pm. I went back 3 times during my week stay in San Mateo JUST for the glaze twists here. Get it, you won't be disappointed. read more

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$12 for the Mega Sando (sausage, bacon, ham, egg, cheese & Jalapeno). 1 lb. Yes, it weighed a pound and was easily over 1000 calories. If you are about quantity over quality, stop here. The ingredients are decent, but the value is all there. Order at the counter, wait for the item. Sit there in 1 of a few tables or take it to go. If you get there between 7 and 9, the small parking lot may be packed. There's a heavy stream of work truck coming and going. read more

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Delicious donuts. Big variety for this small corner shop. Quick service so you can get in and out quickly. Very reasonable prices for the quality, variety, and service. The only drawback is their very tiny, very busy, parking lot. Have patience. read more

The best! So fresh and delicious. Love this place! The blueberry and classic maple hits every time.

Their service was very expedient and great donuts and cool fish tank. I ordered the glazed donut along with donut holes. Wish they had more seating! read more

The freshest, tastiest and biggest donuts by far in San Mateo. Recently discovered and returning often. Very friendly and helpful customer service. read more

We door dashed donuts and I didn't have high expectations. This place was awesome! The Buttermilk glazed was so good! Moist and delicious! The fritter was great and I was generally not expecting how good this place was going to be! Every donut we had was perfect! Will definitely be ordering from them again! read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Delicious donuts almost gone! Buttermilk glazed was so moist and yummy! The fritter was was really good. - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Old fashion donuts place with friendly service and excellent donuts. Also decent coffee and very good sandwiches. Highly recommended. read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Nice saltwater fish tank inside - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Such a cute family owned donut shop. As other reviewers mentioned parking can be tight, so be patient! I came in on a Monday at 7 AM and it was busy! They have a wide assortment of donuts and can confirm that even the glazed was delicious. They also serve things like coffee, other baked good and lotto tickets! I ordered 6 donuts and got a few free glazed donut holes and breakfast croissants (ham + cheese). Big fan of the croissant and my favorite donuts were the glazed, maple and boston cream. Make sure to get there early so they don't run out of what you want! highly recommend. Oh and they take card for purchases over $10. read more

This is what a donut shop should be. Unpretentious, welcoming, quality and inexpensive. Walking into this place feels like going back to a time when donuts were food for the people, not tarted up expressions of some hipster's angst. Long may Golden Bell Donuts prosper! read more

I came here to order several dozens of donuts for an event. The store doesn't look like much on the outside, but it's pretty busy on the inside. I generally don't like old-fashioned donuts. I like the bourgeois new-age flavored donuts (please don't throw tomatoes at me), but got an assortment of old-fashioned donuts here. I think the blueberry donut is my favorite; it's crispy on the outside and cakey on the side, with full blueberry flavor. Parking is the only thing I don't like about the location (1 star off), so anticipate waiting a little bit until someone leaves his or her spot. The staff is efficient, allowing the parking turnover to be tolerable for bourgeois-donut-loving people. read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

I used to come to this donut shop with my kids when it was wild Bill 's donuts. I stopped in today and I felt like the donut was cooked with old oil. I will be looking for a new donut shop. read more

Great donuts, great price compared to a lot of other shops out there nowadays. Only gripe is that there isn't enough parking spaces in the lot. Since it was Saturday I parked at the auto repair shop next door which was closed for the day. They don't skimp on the jelly in the jelly donuts! Everything was terrific. read more

Classic donut and coffee spot. The line on weekends speaks for itself. Will be back!!

This place has the most delicious chocolate donuts I have ever tasted in my life! They are so fluffy and sweet. They don't have that donut after taste that many donut places have. Which gives them a solid five stars for quality of donuts. I've tried the variety of donuts they have sprinkles, glazed, etc and they are all delicious. My favorite is the chocolate donuts. Whenever I'm in the area I like to stop by. The parking lot is always busy so it can be hard to find a place to park. During the SIP people are seen waiting 6 feet apart outside but inside people are cramping into the inside not observing the 6 feet distance. I think they could find a better system to take orders, pay, and give orders (take orders at door, pay, get order at the door or limit how many people go inside at any given time). There's only one door to enter and exit and the place can get crowded. The customer service is efficient. The line moves fast. How busy this donut shop is indicates how delicious these donuts are. I will continue to stop by when I'm in the area and order my usual dozen chocolate donuts! read more

I've been coming here for over 10 years, since I was a little kid. They are very friendly and nice here, always give donut holes free of charge. I recommend everyone to come here read more

The Best donuts in the Bay Area!!!! Been going there for 20 years! So delicious and recommend them anytime! read more

Golden Bell has really good donuts and we've been customers since early 2021 when we moved to this area. But I'll never go in there again! This morning I had just purchased two donuts and was still at the cash register when a man came into the shop behind me and asked me who I plan to vote for. I WA not wearing anything political, just jean shorts and an orange tee shirt. I said I'd be voting for Kamala Harris, and at that he began verbally assaulting me, calling me a baby killer among other things. St that point the owner, who was standing right there at the cash register, should have intervened and told that man to leave. He did not!! Instead he sided with the guy saying as a business man he had to vote for Trump too and let the guy rant on. I had a few words for the MAGA guy who verbally assaulted me and left quickly as I DID NOT FEEL SAFE! Others in the shop looked uncomfortable. I felt unsafe but the owner took NO ACTION! read more

A lot of variety donuts to choose. Service was good and fast ambiance nice and clean

John and Keven are awesome. Their personalities parallel their donut making skills. This donut shop has been there for ever! Their raised glazed will make you want to slap your mama! The honorable mentioned is the Apple fritter, probably one of the top 5 I've tried over a 50 year lifespan. I will definitely return when I visit San Mateo again. If not to get more raised glazed, I will return just to say hi to these guys. read more

I have never been a donut lover. I don't really care for the glaze as I think it's too sweet. For donut, I will only get the simple sugar donut as it's closed to the Chinese egg puffs that you get at a dim sum restaurant. ;) We drove past this donut shop many times as it's on our way to the Seal Point Dog Park. One Sat morning, we thought let's Yelp for a donut place as kids are asking for it. We made a pit stop and ordered various types of donuts to bring home. It's a HUGE HIT!! The sugar donut is awesome! We LOVE the custard one. But, we only have one since it's the last one at the shop. We will absolutely go back as the hype is real! You should go and go early. So, you could buy more than one custard filled donuts!! read more

Donuts are great, but parking stinks... This is a popular donut stop for many, so think parking as you're getting close. Thankfully, this family business values your time & works quickly to get you out the door fast. A wonderful place to treat that donut fix. read more

The donuts are delicious. I didn't get any super adventurous varieties as this was for a group, but sometimes things shine more with the basics - and shine these donuts did. The oil was clearly fresh as the donuts were light, delicious, and tasted only of yeasty, sugary goodness. The old fashioned was particularly tasty, but the glazed and chocolate glazed also got rave reviews. They even tasted good the next day and held their pillowy texture. The person who served me was warm and friendly and very upbeat given how busy they were (it was a Sunday morning). Parking is an issue as many have pointed out, but that doesn't really reflect on the business given they don't do the city planning. The one thing they do do is move the line along quickly so that parking spaces in their small lot turn over very quickly. read more

Really nice staff helped me when they saw I looked like a babe in the woods good bear claws, apple fritters, giant donut holes, good breakfast sandwiches. read more

Their chocolate old fashioned donut is my favorite in San Mateo. The perfect balance of crisp outside and cakey inside. The texture was perfect for dipping in coffee or snacking on the go. There are only like 3 tables inside, and parking in the lot is tight, but that's not stopping me from going back. read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Chocolate old fashioned donut - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great breakfast sandwich and cream puffs, but park on the street or at the shops a block down the road.

Best donuts on the peninsula. Always fresh always delicious. Highly recommended. Parking is tough, but worth it.

Mega sandwich - so I didn't know for the longest time this was an option. Maybe I missed the giant photo on the top right corner of the store. I love their hand and cheese croissant, so figured I'd give it a shot. Damn.. it's one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've had in the bay. Calling it a mega ain't no joke. Two sausage patties, bacon, ham, eggs, cheese, and jalapenos. read more

The old fashioned glazed is their apex predator donut. Really knocks your socks off. The glazed is very good as well. I like it he owners, very nice people. Typical old school nor cal donut vibe. Strong and drinkable coffee read more

Donuts aren't an everyday food for me but occasionally I get a craving. I have gone here twice and wasn't the biggest fan. I know donuts are supposed to be sweet and all, but these donuts are just sooooo sweet across the board (chocolate, maple, regular glazed, custard-filled...). Maybe the glaze is too thick, or the dough needs more salt--I don't know. By the way, Google maps might direct you to the apartment parking lot behind the shop so don't believe it--the store is on the corner. read more

I have missed Golden Bell Donuts. Just revisited Sunday morning. Their filled maple bars are still the best!!! The 7 1/2 hour drive from Palm Springs was worth it. No donut shop has anything even close to the donuts at Golden Bell. I love that the maple bars are filled after you order them and the custard is fresh. They are so tasty - bars are so fresh and not greasy. The maple is excellent - not sickly sweet. The chocolate on their raised donuts is so good. It really tastes like chocolate. Seriously, we have not found any donuts that are even close to being as tasty as those at Golden Bell! read more

Yummy, good quality mom&pops donut shop. It's small, but their quick, welcoming, and delicious! I got a dozen assorted for $14. I quite surprised by their blueberry donut - crunchy on the outside, bursting blueberry cake middle. Yum, def recommend! Support your small biz! read more

Golden Bell Donuts - Forgot to take a pic, we got too excited - Donuts Near Me - San Mateo, California

Service is great. Shop has not changed much in the last 30 years. Nice family operation. Cream Puffs are to die for, as well as the Apple Fritter. Yum. read more