On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Donuts
Neighborhood: Nob HillMon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Loading...
Bob's has earned a special place in my heart for their supremely tasty, just out of the oven, donuts. Their stand-out batter is a cinnamon and nutmeg infused blend of perfection. Morning or night, the donuts are always fresh. Minus one star because they don't make my fave flavor combo (vanilla rainbow spinkle cake).
Friendly service + deep fried scrumptiousness = a total winner!
Bob, you are my savior.
My light at the end of the (Broadway) tunnel.
My lighthouse in the storm.
My saving grace in these drunk times.
My extra boost of energy when I'm slightly too tipsy to drive and my bf is passed out on the passenger seat next to me.
My sugary apple fritter at 2am. You and I are going to be creating more memories until the end of time.
'Welcome to Bob's!" was the unbelievably cheerful greeting that came from the Chinese guy behind… Read more »
Donut heaven!!! You buy a glazed donut, bite into and are left with a grease covered tongue/mouth? Yuck! But not here my donut loving friends, not here.
The donuts were fried, glazed donut foodgasim. Light, airy, with a perfect crunch of sugary glaze. And NO grease, mouth coated after bite.
I ordered 12 variety to go into work for those of us not off for the Veteran's Holiday. Why oh why did I wait so long to visit?? Probably a saving grace for my hips. Glazed, cake, old-fashioned- all donut goodness. Definitely a return trip.
Late night doughnut eats.
I adore this place. Good bear claws (aka Bigfoot Claw) and extraordinary Apple Fritters, as mentioned in so many other reviews.
The doughnuts are priced well and are very fresh.
Walk up Polk Street to relieve guilt. True doughnut lovers can usually fit in a minimum of three doughnuts on the trek back down, lol.
when the donuts are in the window (apple fritter, apple pudding, chocolate/sprinkles glazed or frankly anything), then they are probably your "just above average" donuts. so for that I give it a 3/3.5.
when you come and they are freshly making the donuts, i give it a 6.5/7.
in my previous life, i used to eat bob's apple fritter (b/c everyone said it was the "thing to do") and i used to think "meh its just pretty ok", but everyone raved about it. (this is during normal donut eating hours)
I was even told to take it home, and microwave it for a bit to warm it up (also softens it a bit) and even so . . . just better than "meh its pretty ok".
come one drunk evening at around 2am . . . and the revelation that we "should go to bob's" arose. begrudgingly we waited in the line of some 15+ people, and lo and behold, those fresh apple fritters came out of the oil, and heaven and earth collided together to create a whole new world that i never knew existed before.
damn those suckers were hot - you couldn't even hold the paper bag b/c the stupid thing was searing through it. but man, the hot apple chunks, the fritter dough just oozing and freshly fried. it was truly the best donut i've ever had.
and all of the chocolate/sprinkle donuts fresh are freaking amazing at as well. makes me believe that anything fresh here is a gift sent directly down from the heavens from the donut god himself - buddha.
on a side note, the apple pudding is pretty damn unique and good. never had anything like it, and i'd definitely eat it again. and again. and again (when donuts are room temp).
Mighty fine donuts!
None of that high sugar Krispy Kreme stuff----just good solid donuts of the kind that makes me think SF has the healthiest cops in the country-because I Never see cops in there!
I'd think they'd FLOCK to this place as the donuts are out of this world AND the milk is cold as can be!
Perfect!!!
WHY the hell did I walk in here that fateful day? I had passed by so many times before without walking in. But they finally got me!
You know that saying "You can't want what you don't know"? (which certainly doesn't apply to everything, as I wanna be hella rich, but I sure as hell don't know what that's about).
Well, I now KNOW these donuts all too well. My hips know the donuts real well too. Whenever I'm approaching Polk street on foot, my mind flickers to this donut shop and I....must...resist!
The real nice lady who works here and is a total sweetheart knows that her store is trouble! When she's getting the donuts, she'll even ask you if you want the "one with sprinkles?"!
Yes ma'am, yes I do.
I went to Bob's this morning with high expectations and unfortunately, it didn't meet them. You have keep in mind that I grew up with Lou's Donuts in San Jose ... at least 1 or 2 a week for my entire childhood, so I have a pretty high donut standard.
The apple fritter was very good, the chocolate raised was ok and the crueler (sp?) was good. I suppose I may be caught up this week in the novelty of my recent discovery of Dynamo (spiced chocolate and bacon maple) that Bob's was just too regular!
I would go here again for an apple fritter, maybe in a week where I didn't already make 3 donut shop stops!
Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop offers one a-ok Apple Fritter.
My first trip to Bob's was just a few days ago & while my eyes were definitely telling me to get lots, the Apple Fritter was so big, my tummy knew that 1 would be enough
We had an all-day offsite in the area so my fritter sat around most of the day but didn't dry out. A bit crunchy on the outside & soft on the inside - glaze didn't flake all over the place but stayed on the pastry. Not a lot of apple flavor but it was sweet & flavorful nonetheless
I have a sneaking suspicion that many of these super high ratings come from the hoards of drunkards who frequent this place late at night - in combination with the freshly cooked up goodies coming out late at night.....much like how Krispy Kreme is good *only* when fresh out of the cooker but *nasty* ( not to my taste ) once it cools
Maybe one of these days, I will get over my nerdy self & make it over late, late night to try a freshly glazed goodie & then understand the huge accolades
Until then, definitely looking forward to trying more of their delish donutty offerings
I've discovered so many cool places around my neighborhood that I had to sign for a yelp account and start leaving some comments so that you would all go out and support these small businesses.
This will be my first yelp review. Whooho! Bob's donut shop is a little hole in the wall that has some old time favorites. Whenever I'm craving for a donut I simply walk down and get a dozen of the glazed donuts. Yum!
Sometimes food can be deceiving. For example, that cheesecake that tastes so light and creamy in your mouth is a lot heavier on your hips. That's one of the things I like about the apple bread pudding at Bob's. When Sonia hands you that bag of bread pudding, you feel like one of those actresses who's just received an Oscar and is apparently required to say "Wow, this thing is so heavy." There's no delusion at Bob's. You know when you feel that heavy bag on the counter that if you eat it, it's going to be a heavy bag on you!
Eat it anyway.
I'm a donut eater. I'm not going to lie, in college I used to go to Safeway and shop for the .99 dozen specials that were going to expire the day of. I'd probably kill about 3-4 donuts in that one night. Favorite? I'm a simple person..I like regular plain donuts or powdered donuts. Nothing fancy. Definitely nothing in the middle.
Anyhow, I roll up to this place since it has some killer reviews. Yelp, you do not disappoint. This place has some of the best donuts I've ever had. I think what makes it more awesome is that fresh batches are made every 30 minutes. It's like a DONUT BAR...you grab a seat, some milk and sit there and watch them make fresh donuts straight out of the fryer! It's a beautiful thang. Trust.
I've never seen donuts literally made within 3 feet of me. Whereas a Krispy Kreme you're separated with a window..here - you're watching the donut maker (is that a word?) roll out some fresh dough and throw it in the fryer. You also watch him put the glaze on...seriously, I wanna take a shower in that glaze. Doze it ALL OVER ME!!! Bliss.
I'll take a fryer while you're at it too!
So I hear for a late night this is a good place to go to after a night of drinking. I think I will try that next!
Now..what about Bob? Who is he? Someone let me know..I want to personally shake Bob's hand.
Maple Glazed. Holy Heaven. I don't believe in any gods but I believe in these doughnuts. They are real, you can see them, taste them, feel them. Apple fritter? Amen. Maple Custard filled? I'm a believer baby. Bob's, if loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right. This NY boy has found love.
I just happened to stroll by last night on my way to Bigfoot Bar and the smell completely intoxicated me. I have a houndogs nose for Mapley goodness and I was hot on the trail! These babies just came out of the oven....unreal. The awesome guy Andrew just watched me eat it and smiled. "How fuckin' good is that dude?" I was speechless.
When I returned for 2nds after the bar closed, Andrew gave me a chocolate frosted, raspberry filled. He claims they make ONLY 2 of these a night. I had #2 appearantly. Wow.
Self control is almost impossible here. Tread carefully, but tread nonetheless. You will believe in the power of a handcrafted doughnut.
Amen.
Living where I do (two blocks from Bob's) is a blessing and a curse.
BLESSING : When my wife and I rarely allow ourselves the luxury of fried goodness we time our visit to exactly when the donuts are coming out of the fryer. The exterior is hot and crunchy the interior melt-in-your-mouth smooth and sweet.
CURSE: Walking by Bob's almost every night when I walk our dog and the smell of freshly fried donuts is wafting down Polk St. like a siren's call to a sailor...
Bob's has been on Polk forever!
I use to buy donuts and pastries here as a kid when I lived in the area in the 60's and still do so now after all these years. Can't imagine giving any donut shop 5 Stars, but the donuts and pastries here are fine and certainly deserve at least 3 stars.
I usually buy a custard snail. one of the combo jelly snails or a couple glazed donuts. I was not too happy when Bob's reduced the size of the snails earlier this year, but kept the price the same. Didn't notice a significant drop in size of the donuts, but it was obvious in the pastries. Should take away a star for that, but they're still tasty. So, 3 Stars it is.
A few locals have coffee w/their donuts at the counter, but makes more sense to buy your donuts to go and to eat them w/the better coffee available at Royal Ground a few doors, which also has free wireless service available, but doesn't sell any donuts.
Only eat when drunk.
The donuts were small, expensive and not all that great. Decent but just that. Nothing worth making a fuss over. I live further down the hill, closer to Union so it definitely wasn't worth the trip.
Open late, so more for the late night drunchies.
WoW. Best donuts I've ever tasted hands down. Light, fluffy, sweet, tastes like baby angels. I can imagine how long the line gets after the bars let out in the city. I'll never eat a donut at 2 am, that should be punishable by death. I will however have one right after lunch and make myself sick. Totally worth it. I've tried the apple fritter and the plain glazed donut. Now I need to try every other donut in that goddamn place. The maple glazed filled custard will be next on my list. I wish I was skinnier so that I could get back to this weight on donuts alone. Yea that's right.
Tip: The lady who owns this shop is suppperrrr sweet! She always offers me milk like a good mother.
After a fun night of booze and great food at mazu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), a group of 4 macho male friends and I headed to Bob's donut. Bob's donuts hit the legendary status among the group, so I was especially ecstatic to have a freshly made chocolate glaze....
Man friend JunPower! asked if I wanted a regular or the original, and I chose the FLUFFY one (I think that's regular.) While I'm used to the regular donut shops' donuts, Bob's donuts was fresh and fluffy, deliciously glazed with chocolate. Oh happy me! A group of 4 macho dudes and I were packed inside my tiny jetta, happily munching Bob's while enjoying the view of the chaotic late nightlife of Polk St. The perfect thing to do to end the night.
Thanks Bob!
Is the reason this place is rated so high because its open late and all the reviewers were drunk when they ate here? I came here after a night of Kozy Car and hookah lounge next door and I was a little disapointed. I wasnt super drunk and I could tell right away that the chocolate old fashion that I got tasted pretty stale. Even my friends jelly donut tasted old.
Maybe I need to come here in the early morning when the donuts are fresh or when I am sh!t faced and ready to eat.
I have tried a lot of apple fritters in my life, but Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop is as good as it gets!
Especially with a nice box of moo-juice, this hangover helper is so good you will be happy to express the joy it brings people.
Yeah, I hate to sugar coat this -pun intended- but this place has been around before I even knew what an apple fritter was!?
+4 For the Awesome Donut(s)!
+1 Star for the crazy sights and sounds of Polk St. at Night.
Nothing more entertaining then watching bum fights... no wait, women with ridiculously sized adam's apple's and calves more buff than I can imagine drunk at 1am, shouting obscenities at people shouting at... Them. I guess it all reciprocates?
Nevertheless, they are freaking harmless, so just leave em alone and enjoy your donut!!!
By the way I have been going to this place before I even got to know the owner(s). They are hella cool, and I am glad I can give a non-bias opinion to one of SF's Donut Havens!
God Bless you Bob's Donut, and everyone who goes there, yeah you too Drunken Jamie in the 5-inch Heels, you too.
bahhh.. where does someone even begin with bob's?
its just so amazing-ly amazing. :) ive had a few donuts in the past. they were yummy and priced GREAT. i think its sorta hard finding a yummy and well priced donut in this city.
but my last trip we got the BIG donut! it fed me, my boyfriend, my dog and cat. lol.. they love bobs as much as we do. :)
someone recommended the apple fritters, and i would say that's the best one there. it was in the afternoon, so they werent as fresh as should be, but the apple friitter still shined through.
i will go back to try a more fresh version of the custard filled maple and chocolate.
no WONDER Homer Simpson is so round. Until Bob's I really strayed from the donuts and glazed fatty goodies of the world. Now that I have had an apple fritter from Bob's...the donut world seems so much more appealing. To top that, their coffee is actually really delicious and those two together: fresh melty apple fritter and creamy coffee on a rainy morning=nothing to complain about.
Won't make this a habit but it has definitely become one of my San Francisco guilty pleasures....
There are many reasons to eat: hunger, boredom, trying to become the world's fattest man. But never for revenge. Bob's pretty much taps all of these desires in my soul, then deep-fries them and serves them to me on a paper plate.
SO FUCKING GOOD. THIS PLACE WILL TURN ME INTO A WHALE.
I've had the regular maple glazed donut several times and each time is as orgasmic as the last. Also had the maple glazed filled with custard which was mind bogglingly good as well. i cannot wait to get drunk this weekend and buy one of the HUGE donuts they make.
I ate one last week and threw up an hour later from something completely unrelated (I was helping my drunk friend who was throwing up and my weak gag reflex kicked in, leading to my throw up) but it was the best vomit of my life because it tasted like maple glaze.
I probably haven't had a donut since 98'...back in the day when I worked for a family owned - to die for - donut shop. Nothing was the same after good ol' Ma's Donuts :)
So...after plenty of Polk Street shennanigans, I had the infamous honey glazed donut and my oh my was I impressed. After already making plenty of bad decisions that night, what a perfect way to top it off with a boat load of calories :)
Delightful. Delicious...and worth it!
This is the best donut shop ever. And I know my donuts. I have eaten donuts every day for my whole life, and Bob's are the best.
Go at 10pm when they are fresh out of the oven if you want to know what heaven tastes like.
It is open 24hrs, so you can go any time.
The staff are super friendly and helpful.
Finally, you can call ahead and get huge over-sized donuts as big as a plate! What more could you want?
Their donuts used to be the best in town. Lately their "glazed" donut has taken a dive in size and taste. It has more of that hardened,oily gristle taste from the fryer taste. They don't stay fresh as long the next day either.
Oh well once a 5 star, now down to a typical 2 star donut shop.
Got em fresh out of the fryer. I am in love with the donut crumb covered donut. It's like delish covered with more delish. We tried the maple glazed custard filled, the choco glazed, the cinnamon sugar, and the aforesaid crumb covered donut. Fabulous! Plus they had orange glazed ones special for halloween. Cute!
LOVE Bob's. LOVE it. I used to live only a few blocks away and it somehow manage to be (un?)fortunately on my way home almost every drinking night. I remember never being able to decide if I wanted maple, chocolate or regular old-fashioned donuts, so I usually got all three. oops. It is also true that they have the most amazing apple fritters I've ever had-they just never have them at 2am :/ but thats ok because it allows me to try other things!
Go Bob's!
The first time, we stopped by Bob's at 7:30 am to get the famous fritters people raved about. It was to say the least, a let down. Fritters looked and tasted like apple fritters I could purchase at any donut store, definitely not worth my time and effort to traverse across town.
Last night the boy said he wanted to wait for fresh donuts from Bob's, which were usually made past 1am, so we waited til 1am past and drove over to Polk Street. Seriously, donut stores are usually dead quite at that time, but not Bob's. 1am Sunday night, there was a group of people waiting to buy donuts! Why.. Must be good!? We waited a bit, gawked at freshly fried donuts awaiting their sweet and holy baptisglazation. We finally ordered and took home with us two fritters, a regular chocolate, and a raspberry filled one. Half were devoured by the time we got home, leaving only the fritters. Eyes on the prize, we dug into paper bags and savagely killed them fritters and the consensus was that they were "GOOD"! Gooey, sweet, maybe too sweet, cinnamony, warm, and very fresh!
Thumbs up, donuts were really fresh, light texture (not in calories), cheap ($1.25 for the fritter, $1 for the regular glazed ones). Thumbs down for making fresh donuts waaay past my bedtime, which means I can't patronize too often.
This place is way better than Dynamo's in the mission, which has really fancy flavors that I can barely decipher and cost three times more as well. I prefer my poor man's donuts, just glaze them. No need for bacon or lavender scented vanilla.
From their most loyal customer, Janice C. I was tempted to try this place. It sits at #80 on the top 100 of 7 by 7's SF places to try for their apple fritter as the lady behind the counter explained with a smile.
SOLD OUT!
Are you kidding me? Apparently not, its that popular at 11 at night:) My money told me that Hazel G. and her apple fritter posse had been lurking just outside to await the bakers dozen fresh from the oven:)
So, we went with the other interesting find in the store window. Rasberry and Almond Donut. Encrusted with the crunchy thin sliced almonds and a nice layer of fresh rasberry over a cake donut. It wasn't mine but I wanted a bite of it immediately!
Also got for the next morning a french crueller (my favorite) and a plain cake donut. The donut maker was in full steam and baking these up as we ordered them so they were fresh out of the oven! So, if you want fresh donuts...come late at night!
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
(no joke)
Please come here at like midnight and on to get the best, freshest donuts ever!!!! Just get whatever they are making at that second and its guaranteed to be a straight up orgasm in your mouth!!!
I waited an extra 30 minutes just to try the fresh apple fritters and trust me it was worth every second! Best apple fritters I have ever tasted, hands down.
PLUS the staff is so friendly, will totally talk up a storm with you, plays some awesome music and sometimes you get a random neighborhood prophet that stops by and yells his wisdom at you, isn't that just perfect?!
Very, very few things in life live up to their hype. A few that come to mind:
1. Good things come in small packages.
2. Blondes have more fun (save it).
3. Bob's is all that.
Yes. Bob's is all that. It lives up to its rep. Yes, it's worth it. Yes, you will love it. If you don't like it, you're either in a bad mood or your pants are too tight.
If your pants are too tight when you leave, you did it right. Everything you order will be perfect. The service will be stellar. It's all good. In the true meaning of the phrase. All of it is good. More than good. Epically great. You cannot go wrong.
Bob you are the stuff of legends. Yet you're true. That's the best. You, the Northern Lights, the green flash and the softness of a baby's bottom. Believe the hype.
24 hours is definitely a bonus, but I have been to Bob's donuts a few times now and have not been wowed. Perhaps there was too much hype and I just didn't feel like it lived up to it. Bob's is certainly not bad but my yelp rating says it all: "meh. I've experienced better."
Apple fritter: $1.65. What a steal!
Being one of two customers in the store: weird.
The lady behind the counter was having a conversation with the other patron while looking at my direction (we were on separate ends of the store). She was nagging about turning on the TV to a sports channel. Go figure. I just wanted my food.
Another item off my 7x7 list!
Best Damn donut's in SF!!!
The later in the night the more fresh- so go late! No matter what time it is, the service comes with a smile( Ms. Dough). Maple is my flavor and she always double dip's for me!!! Yes I'm a fat ass!!! If It's jelly filled, I'm a fan!
Love this place
Check it out if you haven't yet!!!
One very early morning, my girlfriend surprised me with a giant bag of delicious goodness. I could tell what they were, from the small grease stains forming on the outside of the bag. Lo and behold, a chocolate glazed old fashion, a maple syrupy donut, an apple fritter and one of those donuts shaped like a tiny loaf of bread - you know what I'm talkin' about. They were really good. I loved the variety and, of course, they were donuts, so it's hard not to go wrong. Lookin' forward to another scandalous rendezvous with Bob...Bob's donuts.
Sort of shocked to see this spot open at 11:30pm on a Monday. I got a cinnamon roll for $1.35. It was ok, but not very fresh or big. Compared to Happy Donuts, this paled, but it was still enjoyable and the selection looked good for another try. They should be commended to for just existing. Possible upgrade on another visit should I ever make one.
Open 24/7... need I say more
okay,, just imagine you leaving the bar as they start to kick you out for last call, your plastered and need a little something something to sober you up before you stumble home. May be something small, sweet, warm, yet light!!! How about fresh baked donuts baked at midnight ... Oh so yummy, fluffy, soft, and chewy!!! Apple fritters right out of the fryer, perfectly glazed twist, butter scotch glazed twists filled with smooth creamy custard. And as you sober up with your one donut or two for there, you shamelessly order a dozen to go for your coworkers tm in hopes they don't notice how really hung-over you really are at work! I know great idea huh, just thank me with a dozen!
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Donuts
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Noe Valley
Category: Donuts
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Donuts
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf
Category: Donuts
If you know me, this is what I love to do in San…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Many of the donut shops/cupcakeries/patisse ries…
Tired of being a bulbous blight on an unattainably…
Here is where you can find the best donuts in the…
budget friendly eats doesn't always have to mean…
These are the places that I would love to eat at…
is what dudes say when they're small. So, that…
