Dutch Door Donuts

Located on the upper level of Carmel Plaza are some upper level donuts courtesy of Dutch Door Donuts. Getting here is pretty easy, parking in general in the area is a bit difficult to find so be prepared to walk to the plaza. The exterior is very sleek and inviting, modern but not giving it a corporate feel that we see in a lot of newer donut shops. The inside was very clean, again sleek, and there was a surprisingly good amount of seating. Their menu is smaller, always a good sign in a donut shop to be honest. They focus on donuts but also offer beignets and a diverse option of coffee, again, always a good sign when a donut shop focuses on just donuts and coffee. The donuts on display look very good and the donuts are cooked to order.

We ordered the vanilla bean glaze but they offer chocolate glaze, cinnamon sugar, etc. Ordering is quick and you can watch them prep your order upfront which is nice to watch since you can see that they don’t just pull it out of somewhere and warm it up. Since they’re made to order it can take a few minutes but be patient because they’re worth it. Once we got ours and had a chance to eat it we were very impressed. The glaze is sugary but not overly sweet. The donut itself is light and bready, probably because it’s yeast risen. A very well balanced flavor and didn’t leave us feeling like we needed to do an hour of crossfit or ask God to forgive our gluttony afterwards.

This place is honestly better than Carmel Plaza, and that’s not a knock on the plaza as a whole but this place is definitely good enough to be on Ocean Ave itself and not hidden on the second floor. If we’re ever back in the area, we will without a doubt be back. We’d also be buying way more than just the vanilla bean glaze, and you should too.

Okay, best donuts of my life! Not even a huge donut fan because they can be heavy, cakey, stale etc. but these are everything you'd ever want a donut to be! Made on-the-spot so served hot, fluffy and airy inside, loved the chocolate glaze, fudgy and perfect. Would get this again and all the rest.

5 stars!!!

Not for coffee lovers. The cappuccino was really bad.

Best Donuts I ever had.

Came for beignets but like the donuts. The coffee here was overpriced and mediocre.

The donuts are light and airy. We tried chocolate (which we really liked) and ginger peach. The beignets were ok and standard. It might be better if they are 5 smaller beignets or if they came with sauces.

Loved the donuts but the beignets didn’t seem as fluffy as those I’m used to and as everyone says. Donuts though? I highly recommend!!!

Very fresh donuts and beignets. They fry them to order and you can watch them. They tasted pretty good and nice and soft. I tasted the pineapple coconut donut, which tasted good. The service was okay. They definitely seemed like they didn’t want to work there. But i mean, who really does want to work? But yeah, pretty nice place with nice donuts.

This is the place to go for donut lovers. Offers freshly made donuts in unique flavours.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Freshly made donuts sound like a great treat.
It was Freshly fried and plenty of cinnamon sugar.
It just isn't the best donut I have had. Coffee machine broken.
Staff were friendly.
Super basic atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Fresh to-order donuts with unique flavors.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Doughnut

Their donuts appear to be freshly made or heated which gives it a crispy shell and tender&moist inner layer. Worth a try but not super impressive. Portland potato donuts remain as my favorite!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

Fresh made and fluffy!! Didn't take long either!! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

These are top tier donuts.

Food: 5

Recommended dishes: Vanilla Bean Glaze

Love the beignet!!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Here on Black Friday and impressed by the speed of a huge line. While we loved the made to order, fresh, warm donuts, they were a little sweet. Recommend a hot coffee, tea or water to go with it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Doughnut