These may have been the best donuts I have ever had. An elevated experience, quality ingredients, perfectly balanced (if one can say these things about donuts), yet familiar. Very good coffee. And kind, sweet staff. Thank you 🙏
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Wook Chung
Okay. Finally an amazing handcrafted quality donut shop in San Carlos. We've been well standing strong with Chuck's Donuts but it never crossed into the "special" category. Cruel Donuts seems to have sprung out of nowhere, located in a less-traveled stripmall away from El Camino. Regardless, Cruel is a gift to this city.
Let's first benchmark it with the glazed. Absolutely soft and fluffy and is nearly as good as Stan's (which is THE best). This is a huge statement. The Apple Frittata was deep fried crisp. Really well done. Sweetness not overpowering and structure. These are quality donuts, bar none. The creme brulee donut was also fabulous. Clearly, regardless of the variety, they are made with passion and care. And it shows.
So then, why the 1-star discount. It's the price. To charge $4~$5 per donut, you really have to provide the entire experience. Yes, the donuts are top notch. The service is wonderful. The store is spacious considering a donut joint. But you're not getting a "Paris Baguette"-like experience (not that they donuts are great).
At Stan's Donuts, for $30, you get 2 dozens and then some. We exited Cruel with just 8.
Cruel Donuts is absolutely a blessing to Belmont and San Carlos. Will be returning frequently.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut, Apple Fritters
Snigdha Agarwal
Blueberry donut was wayy too sweet.
Aldo Yck
I am sure this place makes great donuts, but I happened to go there a day before they changed their oil. I'll give it a try one more time some other day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Pardis Tavakolian
Friendly staff. Great donuts! Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Maria Villanueva
Inside a strip mall behind a gas station next to Good Samaritan homeless shelter lies Cruel Donuts. Eating a chocolate raised donut while standing in the warm morning sun is a piece of happiness. I like their calamansi (a type of Filipino citrus) donut and apple fritters (really good!) and the many types of mochi donuts. Overall super yummy place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elise Witmer
This place is just the best. My fiancé and I come here every weekend now, it's become one of our favorite traditions!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut, Egg and Cheese, Oat Milk Latte
Jack campbell
Strongly recommend their specialty, the cruller. Tend to have rotating flavors and I'd recommend each of the ones I've tried so far
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Apple Fritter
Christina Santacruz
I went there today and yesterday! Donuts were very fresh. Service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Gary Cockrell
Honestly one of the most unique, delicious fresh donuts I have tasted. Great customer service that always gets your order right! Highly recommend this place!
Cruel to my waistline. Cruel to be so far from my home. Cruel to have so many delicious looking options. Damn you cruel donuts. I love you. Please take me back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kasra Vkln
Good donuts and nice folks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Lori Hern
Absolutely delightful experience on my first visit! The assortment of delicious donuts with their diverse flavors truly impressed me. The staff's friendliness and expertise in all things donuts added to the wonderful atmosphere. Despite the slightly sketchy location, don't let that deter you from experiencing these amazing treats!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Rachel Clair
INCREDIBLE donuts and service. The person working was so nice and answered our questions about the donuts, and the donuts were delicious! Especially loved the crème brûlée, guava, cruller, and plain glazed donuts. So fluffy!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurent Brack
First time stopping there (based on Google reviews when looking for a donut place). Not disappointed. Got the glazed donuts and they were fresh and tasty. I'll go back.
These may have been the best donuts I have ever had. An elevated experience, quality ingredients, perfectly balanced (if one can say these things about donuts), yet familiar. Very good coffee. And kind, sweet staff. Thank you 🙏
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Okay. Finally an amazing handcrafted quality donut shop in San Carlos. We've been well standing strong with Chuck's Donuts but it never crossed into the "special" category. Cruel Donuts seems to have sprung out of nowhere, located in a less-traveled stripmall away from El Camino. Regardless, Cruel is a gift to this city.
Let's first benchmark it with the glazed. Absolutely soft and fluffy and is nearly as good as Stan's (which is THE best). This is a huge statement. The Apple Frittata was deep fried crisp. Really well done. Sweetness not overpowering and structure. These are quality donuts, bar none. The creme brulee donut was also fabulous. Clearly, regardless of the variety, they are made with passion and care. And it shows.
So then, why the 1-star discount. It's the price. To charge $4~$5 per donut, you really have to provide the entire experience. Yes, the donuts are top notch. The service is wonderful. The store is spacious considering a donut joint. But you're not getting a "Paris Baguette"-like experience (not that they donuts are great).
At Stan's Donuts, for $30, you get 2 dozens and then some. We exited Cruel with just 8.
Cruel Donuts is absolutely a blessing to Belmont and San Carlos. Will be returning frequently.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut, Apple Fritters
Blueberry donut was wayy too sweet.
I am sure this place makes great donuts, but I happened to go there a day before they changed their oil. I'll give it a try one more time some other day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Friendly staff. Great donuts! Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Inside a strip mall behind a gas station next to Good Samaritan homeless shelter lies Cruel Donuts. Eating a chocolate raised donut while standing in the warm morning sun is a piece of happiness. I like their calamansi (a type of Filipino citrus) donut and apple fritters (really good!) and the many types of mochi donuts. Overall super yummy place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is just the best. My fiancé and I come here every weekend now, it's become one of our favorite traditions!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut, Egg and Cheese, Oat Milk Latte
Strongly recommend their specialty, the cruller. Tend to have rotating flavors and I'd recommend each of the ones I've tried so far
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Apple Fritter
I went there today and yesterday! Donuts were very fresh. Service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Honestly one of the most unique, delicious fresh donuts I have tasted. Great customer service that always gets your order right! Highly recommend this place!
Restaurantji Recommends
Cruel to my waistline. Cruel to be so far from my home. Cruel to have so many delicious looking options. Damn you cruel donuts. I love you. Please take me back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good donuts and nice folks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
Absolutely delightful experience on my first visit! The assortment of delicious donuts with their diverse flavors truly impressed me. The staff's friendliness and expertise in all things donuts added to the wonderful atmosphere. Despite the slightly sketchy location, don't let that deter you from experiencing these amazing treats!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
INCREDIBLE donuts and service. The person working was so nice and answered our questions about the donuts, and the donuts were delicious! Especially loved the crème brûlée, guava, cruller, and plain glazed donuts. So fluffy!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time stopping there (based on Google reviews when looking for a donut place). Not disappointed. Got the glazed donuts and they were fresh and tasty. I'll go back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doughnut
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