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All Star Donuts
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for All Star Donuts
Review Highlights
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"...true, i always find extra donut holes thrown into the bag..." In 8 reviews -
"The glazed cinamon twist is my personal fav." In 6 reviews -
"...get the freshest ones, you have to be there in the morning." In 3 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Brian K.
Twin Falls, ID
2/14/2012
THE ULTIMATE DOUGHNUT EXPERIENCE!!
but first, some history....
If you're an old fart like me, you may remember SHIPLEYS DOUGHNUTS - a chain located around the country in the 1970s. They had the most awesome doughnuts ever - I'm talking "manna from heaven awesome" here people! I thought I'd never eat such magical pastries again.
I searched the world looking to recapture the ultimate doughnut experience. There were many wannabes along my path: DOUGHNUT INN, DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS, KRISPY KREME etc etc... but nobody could live up to the memory in my mind.
Then I sat down at ALL STAR DOUGHNUTS and had two glazed.......wait for it.......wait.....BAM!!! DOUGHNUTS ARE BACK BABY!!! The best I've had in decades. Not too doughy, not too flakey, ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!! I'd make a special trip just to have their doughnuts. I cant even imagine how good they are right out of the fryer / oven! They open up at 6am and one of these days I'm getting up in time to be there when they unlock the doors - hot, fresh all star doughnuts....OMG!!!
These guys are the real deal - and worth every penny!! -
Review from Chloe D.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2012
Aiight. Yeah the parking can suck but man the donuts and that GOD DAMN PLAIN CROISSANT are so worth it. They're always mad fresh and around 6-ish (say, on your way to work) them shits is warm. The croissant is huge and buttery and flaky and delicious and everything you need. Plus who doesn't love getting surprise donut holes in your bag? I even got a free raised donut. Just for being me. Tell me you don't want that too. 4 stars for being a tad bit on the pricey side.
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Review from Jonathan G.
Richmond, CA
1/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The donuts taste pretty decent. Unfortunate that El Cerrito plaza's parking is a nightmare and the rent must be too, cause the donut prices are crazy.
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Review from Alex K.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2011
I'm basing this review on one donut (technically a scone, I suppose) that I purchased here.
I walked in on a whim, craving something sweet and full of carbs. What looked like a glazed blueberry muffin top caught my eye so I ordered it to go.
I walked outside and broke off a piece. If it were a scone I would expect dense and crumbly. A muffin top would be light and moist.
This was light and crumbly...so the worst of both worlds.
Then I took a bite. Burnt taste. No sweetness to the pastry itself. It tasted like burnt baking mix. The glaze was the only sweet thing about it.
I guess they were going for a "scone" then. But who wants to eat a burnt, mix-tasting scone that's light and airy inside?
Then I pulled out one of the fake blueberries. It had no flavor what-so-ever, aside from a vague and very (very) subtle non-baking-mix flavor.
I wound up tossing the thing in the trash, which is far outside of my normal M.O.
Probably their other donuts would have been adequately sugary/fatty/fried. But based on the quality of what I ordered, I'd rather kill myself slowly with higher quality poison. -
Review from Rachel D.
4/11/2011
Been coming here sporadically for the past several years, getting everything from their croissant sandwiches to their donut holes with coffee. I especially come here when I have to go to San Francisco via BART and I would rather get my junk food cheaply and locally rather than in the city. Plus, after a few visits, they started adding random donut holes to my order.
I only come in the mornings, so I can attest to the freshly-made, warm donuts. Sometimes when the door to their kitchen is open, you could see the baker adding glaze, or see donuts cooling on racks.
I had their bear claw today and was just thrilled at their "artistry": You could actually see the individual 'toes". Plus, it was divine.
The staff is always friendly and they know their regulars. -
Review from Susan C.
3/7/2010
5:30am...The Donut Shop.
Before the age of Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks Mini Sparkle Donuts, America had The Donut Shop.
No Frills. No Thrills. The Donut Shop was a place once a place where people gathered over inexpensive drip coffee and Lipton tea. They paired it with a piece of perfectly fried carbohydrate covered in any number of sugary options. The people would sit and talk about this and that. The donut shop opened early in the morning so that workers of all sorts could come and get tasty morsels and a cup o' Joe before rushing off to work.
At All Star Donuts you are reminded of this time. People who were around for this time are still sitting and talking, but this time of memories of times long ago. The shop has some small modifications to reflect the times (espresso machines and organic teas,) but ultimately, this is A Donut Shop.
You do not really come to The Donut Shop for gourmet coffees, artisan teas, or fancy pastries served on silver platters. You come for the $0.89 to $2 donut and a cup o' Joe.
You come early in the morning before a Little Susan is awake and buy her donut holes which was Little Susan's favorite because they were small and there were lots of them. (She has since then branched out to Maple French Donuts, Old Fashioned Glazed Donuts, and your standard Sugar Donut-all fantastically satisfying!)
You come to support the friendly staff and a side of America that is slowly being ripped away by chain business and the modern business aesthetics.
My family and I will always be fans of All Star Donuts. -
Review from Laura L.
Hercules, CA
2/19/2011
Don't knock a local business in a up and frilly shopping center. I got a dozen donut holes and wow, they were good!
The dozen donut holes were all perfectly glazed and not too fluffy, they were the perfect amount of dense to them.
I knock one star because it cost $1.35 for a carton of milk. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! -
Review from Andrea C.
Northridge, CA
5/4/2010
Ok, I've been around way too long.
I remember when this donut shop was on the other side of the plaza, next to the laundromat, with those big glass windows.
I remember when someone drove their car into the side of it.
I remember when they first moved it over to this side, the 'new' side of the plaza.
And I remember going here for breakfast all over again.
They stay having good donuts and friendly donutiers (!).
I went to All Star as a child with my dad to get my chocolate glaze or my sugar donut, in high school after cheer practice (don't hate!) for some juice and a croisant, and I come here now on my way to work or school in the morning.
It's just nostalgic, really.
That one lone star that got knocked off is for this reason, my friend went in once and didn't get her change. She asked for her change, and whoever was behind the counter said "you don't need change" and kept it. This is ridiculous, but I have never had anything but good experiences here. -
Review from R J.
Richmond, CA
1/20/2009
I really like All Star Donuts. Mostly because it's a local institution. It's been at the EC Plaza long before the shopping center got redeveloped (poorly).
There always seems to be a cluster of old geezers holding court in there everyday. And the family that runs the joint is always super nice. It's true, i always find extra donut holes thrown into the bag whenever I go there.
The chocolate french crullers are the best! Most places over-cook them, but All Star gets it just right. However, they tend to run out so get there early. -
Review from Melissa T.
San Diego, CA
1/16/2010
I've been craving donuts lately. So I finally decided to get some today. All Star Donuts has a great location in the busy El Cerrito Plaza. It's a small donut shop and has a nice local feel to it. I hear it's been around for a long time too.
There's only one person behind the counter helping customers. They had an old school menu board posted. The prices range from $0.85 - $1.50. They offer a wide range of donuts. Their specialty must be glazed because 80% of their donuts are glazed. I'm not a huge fan of glaze, so if you are, then this would hit the spot for you. They also offer donut holes here; which of course are glazed.
They don't only sell donuts, I saw another customer with croissants. I didn't see too many people hanging out inside; just stopping in to grab food and go. I don't blame them not staying to enjoy their food. It didn't look too clean.
Only cash is accepted here. There's an ATM machine available inside if you need it.
I like apple filled donuts and sugar sprinkled donuts. So all these glazed donuts did a toll on my stomach; not to mention my teeth! I think I've fulfilled my donut craving and probably won't be craving any for a long time. -
Review from Hanson Q.
Berkeley, CA
6/11/2008
As much as I like to support little family-owned businesses, I've
never had a good donut here. They have always been too dry,
too small, or too artificial tasting. They are also a bit on the
expensive side as far as the market pricing goes for these little
fried wonders. -
Review from Trevor N.
Pinole, CA
11/30/2010
It's all about the ham and cheese croissants! I'm so bummed when I stop in here and they're out of those. The people are friendly enough, and honestly, is there such a thing as a bad donut? But trust me, try the ham and cheese croissant!
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Review from Stephen Z.
El Cerrito, CA
9/17/2006
At All Star donuts in El Cerrito Plaza (a glorified strip mall) you'll be surprised to find small-town donut shop atmosphere. The owners know all the regular customers by name and quite a few old-timers can be found nursing their coffee and donuts over conversations about local politics or the changes El Cerrito is experiencing.
I should add that if you happen to be walking around El Cerrito at 5:30 a.m., All Star Donuts is the ONLY place you'll find open for business.
As for the donuts? Well, they're pretty much like any other non-Krispy Kreme donut shop. The apple fritter, as well as a few other types, always have a mild metallic taste (maybe from the baking powder). The scones and muffins , though huge, taste a bit too much like they came from a package mix. They also serve, at least as long as it continues to be an inexplicably hot trend, bubble tea.
Now back to the positives. The owner/operator is a really nice guy (and his family). I think they are either Vietnamese or perhaps Cambodian. Every time I've been in their with my children the owner always throws a couple donut holes in the bag for the kids.
If you need a place to sit at 5:30 a.m., you're in the market for a donut, or just want some local community flavor, check out All Star Donuts. -
Review from Kate C.
Alameda, CA
11/26/2011
I loved this shop! I took my daughter and my nieces in here and had a great experience. We were served by the son of the original owner, Cameron, who seems to know everybody who walks in. Always has a smile on his face and extremely friendly. Treated the kids great and the donuts were really good! My husband also had a breakfast sandwich there that was very good! Highly recommend this place, especially for a Saturday morning walk with the kids!
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Review from Jolt G.
Berkeley, CA
2/17/2008
I've been buying donuts here for quite some time, but probably won't any more. One of my family is very sensitive to soy in food and usually experiences some kind of respiratory effect from foods that have soy in their breading or flour mix. Today, I only bought donut holes, which we all love, but the soy-sensitive person had what was close to an asthmatic attack shortly after eating 4-6 donut holes. I had always enjoyed the friendly family service, here, but can no longer because of the issue with soy sensitivity. Too bad `cause I ~really~ like watching donuts filled with chocolate by stepping on the filling machine's pedal.
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Review from Diana M.
Oakland, CA
6/11/2007 1 photo
Best donuts in El Cerrito! Oh wait, that's not saying much. Really...they're great! The glazed cinamon twist is my personal fav. They're definitely great to bring to the office and a dozen is around $6.
Listed in: My *former* hood...El Cerrito
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Review from Dave M.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2007
I don't know... I got a jelly donut here this afternoon, and the jelly filling tasted weird, fermented or something?
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Review from Kyson B.
Berkeley, CA
6/27/2008
The donuts here are okay. To get the freshest ones, you have to be there in the morning. Later in the day, they run out of all the good ones and you are stuck having to settle for another. I hate settling. Anyways, I am an original glazed type of guy so when they run out, I guess the sugar ones will have to do. Tip: Get milk, the donut has a 82.564% chance that it will be dry.
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Review from Paulringo M.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2011
as of late ive been cutting back on sugar, but the donuts here are good as is the coffee, sort of an interesting mix of people who patron here from older more conservative people, to little kids, to teenagers to families to hipsters. love the devils cake here.
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Review from chris b.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2008
Totally hometown donut shop. Regulars are always present and the owners are way nice - it seems like they know EVERYBODY'S name. the donuts are good, y'know nice and heavy. If I order 3 donuts the dude always throws in a few donut holes. You can also get ANY donut filled cuz they have the filling contraption right there in front. Try walking to/from BART and not smelling these delicious donuts and making a beeline for All-Star
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Review from Gretchen D.
El Cerrito, CA
1/10/2011
We love All Star Donuts! The donuts are delicious, the space is nice and clean and old-fashioned, and the staff is professional and friendly and always remembers us. My family walks to the El Cerrito Plaza for a donut here every weekend, and it is one of our favorite traditions. I have a feeling that most of the 4-star reviews this place is getting have to do with the fact that what it sells are . . . donuts. But in the good-old-fashioned-non-gourmet-American-treat category, . . . definitely 5 stars.
