If you are looking for donuts in Huntington Beach, two shops keep coming up for us: Duck Donuts on Main Street and The Donuttery on Beach Boulevard. One is a chain known for warm, made-to-order donuts. The other is a local shop that has been open around the clock since 1970.
To be clear, this is not a ranking of every donut shop in Orange County. It is an honest comparison of the two Huntington Beach donut shops we have actually been to, what we ordered and which one our family prefers.
Quick Summary
- Our pick: Duck Donuts, mostly because the donuts are made fresh and warm with generous toppings
- Close second: The Donuttery, a family-run local shop with a huge selection, open 24 hours, with lots of vegan options
- Best for warm, custom donuts: Duck Donuts
- Best for variety, late nights and vegan or dairy-free options: The Donuttery
- Best deal: a Groupon at Duck Donuts (we usually get $20 worth for about $12), or the free donut with a CocoaLab chocolate drink at The Donuttery
- Seating and parking: both have seating, and parking was easy at both
Duck Donuts vs. The Donuttery at a Glance
| Duck Donuts | The Donuttery | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 18591 Main St, 5 Points Plaza | 17420 Beach Blvd |
| Type | Chain, founded in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina | Local, family-run, open since 1970 |
| Hours | Daytime and evening (check current hours) | Open 24 hours |
| Style | Warm vanilla cake donuts made to order with your choice of icing, topping and drizzle | Big case of ready-made cake, raised, filled and specialty donuts |
| Price | Cheaper per donut by the half dozen or dozen | Basic donuts about $3, specialty donuts about $4 to $6 |
| Vegan and dairy-free | Ask in store | Lots, including vegan cake and raised donuts |
| What we order | Maple bacon, cookies and cream, chocolate, sprinkles | Whipped cream donut, chocolate cake donut, iced chocolate |
| Our verdict | Our pick | Very good, and we will be back |
Duck Donuts Huntington Beach
Duck Donuts started in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks, after the founder's family could not find fresh, made-to-order donuts on vacation. The Huntington Beach shop in 5 Points Plaza opened in 2018 as the first Duck Donuts franchise in California, and it is a family favorite of ours.
How It Works
Every donut starts as a warm vanilla cake donut made when you order. You choose a coating, a topping and a drizzle, or pick from their set combinations. You can watch the donuts being made, which is fun for kids.
What We Order
We almost always get a half dozen. Our usual box has a maple bacon donut, cookies and cream, a chocolate one and a vanilla one with rainbow sprinkles. We never remember the exact menu names (we think two of them are called Bacon in the Sun and Beach Ball), and the lineup changes with the seasons, but those flavors are always in our box.
Why We Prefer It
- Made fresh: the donuts are still warm when you get them, and that makes a big difference.
- Generous toppings: they do not hold back on icing, crumbs or drizzle.
- Better value by the box: a half dozen or dozen is a little cheaper per donut.
- Groupon deals: we usually buy a Groupon and get about $20 worth of donuts for around $12. Check before you go.
The Donuttery Huntington Beach
The Donuttery is the opposite of a chain. It is a local, family-run shop on Beach Boulevard that has been open since 1970, and it is open 24 hours a day. Inside, you will find long glass cases full of donuts, chalkboard menus and seating.
The Menu
The selection is huge. Beyond classic cake and raised donuts, the menu includes bars, fritters, mochi donuts, croissant donuts and a bacon maple bar. There is a separate section for vegan donuts, plus gluten-free and keto options. The Donuttery also serves bagels, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, espresso drinks and teas.
The CocoaLab Drinks and the Free Donut Deal
The Donuttery has a build-your-own chocolate drink menu it calls the CocoaLab. You choose hot or iced chocolate or a mocha, then the chocolate (from milk chocolate to 80% dark, from different origins), then the milk, including oat, almond, coconut and soy. A small runs roughly $4 to $6 depending on the chocolate.
The best part is the deal posted on the menu board: buy any CocoaLab drink and get a regular or vegan cake or raised donut free. We paid about $5 for a small iced chocolate, and it came with a free cake donut.
What We Ordered
- Whipped cream donut: a filled donut with a lot of whipped cream inside. It was pretty good.
- Chocolate cake donut: a classic chocolate cake donut.
- Iced chocolate: a small for about $5, which came with a free cake donut.
We only had a couple of donuts, so we did not try everything. With a case this big, there is plenty left for next time.
Vegan, Dairy-Free and Allergy Notes
Our son has food allergies, and he ate at both shops. We have been to Duck Donuts many times, and at The Donuttery we were confident in what he chose, so we did not ask specific questions this time.
- Vegan and dairy-free: The Donuttery has one of the biggest vegan selections we have seen at a regular donut shop, including vegan cake and raised donuts.
- Nut toppings: The Donuttery's menu includes nut-topped items, such as a PB&J donut with crushed peanuts. Toppings at Duck Donuts change with the seasons. If allergies in your family are severe, ask about cross-contact before ordering.
- Gluten-free: The Donuttery has gluten-free and keto options.
Which One Should You Choose?
Honestly, it can be a toss-up. Both are good, and we will go back to both.
- Choose Duck Donuts if you want warm, fresh donuts with your own toppings, you are buying a box to share, or you have a Groupon.
- Choose The Donuttery if you want lots of choices, it is late at night, you want vegan or dairy-free donuts, or you want a chocolate drink with a free donut.
For our family, Duck Donuts wins, mostly because fresh and warm is hard to beat. The Donuttery is a great local alternative, and we like supporting a family-run shop.
Where They Fit in a Huntington Beach Day
Both shops are inland from the pier, and both are an easy stop before or after the beach. Duck Donuts is in 5 Points Plaza at Main Street and Beach Boulevard, and The Donuttery is a bit farther north on Beach Boulevard. Our Huntington Beach guide covers parking, the pier and sunsets. For a bigger breakfast, see our Original Pancake House Huntington Beach review, and for lunch or dinner, try Fire Pho.
Huntington Beach Donuts FAQ
Is The Donuttery open 24 hours?
Yes. The Donuttery on Beach Boulevard is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Where is Duck Donuts in Huntington Beach?
Duck Donuts is at 18591 Main St in 5 Points Plaza, near Main Street and Beach Boulevard.
Does The Donuttery have vegan donuts?
Yes. The Donuttery has a large vegan selection, including vegan cake and raised donuts, plus gluten-free and keto options.
What is the CocoaLab deal at The Donuttery?
When we visited, the menu board said that if you buy any CocoaLab chocolate drink, you get a regular or vegan cake or raised donut free.
Are Duck Donuts made to order?
Yes. Each donut is made fresh when you order, then finished with your choice of icing, topping and drizzle.
Which is better, Duck Donuts or The Donuttery?
We prefer Duck Donuts for its warm, made-to-order donuts and generous toppings. The Donuttery is a close second, with more variety, round-the-clock hours and lots of vegan options.
Final Thoughts
Duck Donuts and The Donuttery are both worth a stop on a Huntington Beach trip. Duck Donuts wins for us because the donuts are fresh and warm, but The Donuttery is a fun, family-run alternative with a huge selection and a free donut with any CocoaLab drink. Grab a Groupon for Duck Donuts, or head to The Donuttery if you are craving donuts late at night.
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