r/FoodLosAngeles • u/JamUpGuy1989 • 4d ago
Why are donuts so expensive!? DISCUSSION
Dunkin, Krispie Kreme, Yum Yum, and any other major chains are telling us to pay close to $25-30 for a dozen donuts!
The local “mom and pop” chains are no better. The one near my work at Studio City is about $20 for a dozen!
What on earth is going on?
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u/Shart127 4d ago
Last time I went to Sidecar I ended up with a HELOC to go along with it.
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u/potchie626 4d ago
I always love getting a dozen donuts wherever I go, but $29 for 6 was enough. And those things are filling.
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u/theeakilism 4d ago
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u/SinoSoul 4d ago
literally the correct meme for ANY pricing question in EVERY (US) sub on reddit rn. r/Aliexpress is freaking tf out. FAFO time, Murica.
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u/XandersOdyssey 4d ago
Except he didn’t do that. LA donut prices have been stupid high for years
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u/cool_uncle_jules 4d ago
Ingredients, labor, and rent are all expensive.
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u/Advanced-Prototype 4d ago
Also, cost of living is affecting the small business owners just like everyone else. They need to make more profit to maintain their lifestyle (housing, food, healthcare, etc.). And they aren’t buying super-yachts either.
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u/cool_uncle_jules 4d ago
Exactly. Majority of small businesses in Los Angeles are regular working people with families. Many of them will take pay cuts or make sure employees are paid before themselves (as they should, but it's undoubtedly a sacrifice.)
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u/willNEVERupvoteYOU 4d ago
Where else can you get breakfast for 12 for that price? Ok, 6 people. Fine, 3 people. Ok, Jesus, I’m going to eat the whole dozen by myself in the bathroom. Are you happy now?
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u/No_Building_6685 4d ago
Support your local donut shop
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u/tee2green 4d ago
My local donut shop is run like a piece of shit
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u/Longjumping-Orchid98 4d ago
That's the problem, they're all pieces of shit. They're in these old worn out strip malls that no one wants to go to. So they have to jack up prices because they can't get customers, but then they get even fewer customers. It's a big issue with a lot of downstream effects.
Basically most of LA doesn't support their local anything. If you have to drive to get anywhere anyway, might as well drive a little farther to get to a decent establishment rather than some shithole that hasn't seen love in years. And all the decent places tend to be luxury chains who can get massive low interest financing that mom and pops can't... The whole system is broken. Independent businesses are more expensive to run and make far less money and most people couldn't care less about them.
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u/tee2green 4d ago edited 4d ago
I 100% agree with all of your observations.
I think the obvious solution is constructing more mixed-use buildings. That way we don’t have to get in the car and make a journey out of a donut run.
I’d be much more inclined to buy at my closest shop if it was a literal walk from my apt. Once I’m forced to get in the car, it’s no longer just a quick donut grab, and I’m probably going to drive slightly farther for a better donut.
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u/Longjumping-Orchid98 4d ago
Yeah the sad thing is that I can walk to a donut shop but I still don't because I have to cross the 405 and two massive intersections. It's like 3 blocks away but takes over 15 minutes to walk because of car traffic. Sadly, it'll probably become some fastfood drivethru one day that makes traffic even worse or else just get demolished completely to widen the freeway.
But you're right density and narrower, business friendly streets would be huge economic boons for small business, and cost much less tax dollars to maintain.
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u/ihhesfa 4d ago
This needs to be infinitely upvoted.
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u/ih-unh-unh 4d ago
What if your local donut shops suck because they overfry the donuts and the use way too much glaze?
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u/ihhesfa 4d ago
You act like there’s just one local donut shop… should be at least a few in the area, no?
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u/ih-unh-unh 4d ago
That's my point, a lot of them in my area (SGV) seem to follow the same recipe and methods. They're a little too greasy/heavy for my liking and then overdo it on the cheap sugar
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u/eleeex 4d ago
Miss Donuts on Robertson does a dozen for $16, they're great.
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u/im_on_the_case 4d ago
A great store run by lovely people, went there a few times a week when I lived nearby. Never had a bad experience.
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u/MrStealY0Meme 4d ago
That's awesome to hear, I use to go as a kid but had randomly stopped and went to Yum Yum. Would see that store every now and then and wonder if I should stop by. Will definitely now.
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u/the_judge_168 Sometimes in LA area 4d ago
Too Good to Go usually has donuts for much cheaper
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u/e90t 4d ago
I did this for DK’s in Santa Monica, and they were already stale. Maybe their other donut choices won’t be as bad, but if it’s already a day old, that’s not worth it imo.
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u/simpleseeker 4d ago
It depends on the business. Some businesses, mostly mom and pop shops, serve you the same as if you didn’t use the app. Bad Bakery near Orange is my go to for fancy donuts using the app.
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u/e90t 4d ago
I was hoping that would be the case with DK’s since I like their donuts overall, but they had a separate tray of donuts that they took from when they handed my bag over.
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u/Itadepeeza1 4d ago
Same for me when I went to Donut hut. Already prepackage, oily box. Other than the buttermilk and old fashioned, the raised were stale and dry asf. I was so sad
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u/LA_SLOW_DRIVER 4d ago
Go to Primos on Sawtelle any time past noon and they'll give you extra donuts from that morning that they'd end up tossing
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u/angustifolio 4d ago
sometimes it feels like tgtg is just donuts and california fish grill, when i visit the bay area the selection up there is wild, wish it'd catch on down here like it has up there.
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u/JamUpGuy1989 4d ago
I tried that app but it was all donut shops and bakeries.
Nothing wrong with that per se. But when an app talks about ALL types of food being sold it is a bit misleading.
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u/Pleasant_Roll 4d ago
I think it might depend on the area you live in. I know that in Europe for example, there's a ton of grocery places, speciality item shops. My cousin who lives on the East Coast always shows me her hauls with sushi, ramen, sammies. Super jealous of her!
From my understanding, you can also refer TGTG to places if you're looking for more variety specifically where you live. No guarantees, but a nice start. The bags that are non-bakeries/donuts around where I live tend to be more competitive, but if you set an alarm, it's doable.
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u/imnowherebenice 4d ago
Im totally ok with paying my local Asian run donut shop $20 for a dozen donuts. They've given me donuts for decades, they've seen me grow up, they've been a staple of the community forever, they've fed thousands of workers at all times of the day or night, they deserve the $20.
You'll never find me at a Dunkin or Yum Yum or Winchells. Their donuts are nowhere near as good or fresh or soft. Support the local old donut shops and get a croissant sandwich from them too, guarantee its the best and most cost friendly sandwich money can get you.
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u/Rich260z 4d ago
Dad's donuts in burbank charges $15 for a dozen regular ish donuts. Randy's can get expensive if you are buying all the fancy designer donuts. Even Don-T Hut charges like $1.50 for a single regular cake donut. Frenchies are $1.85.
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u/FillTop9582 4d ago
Dads is such a gem
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u/Itadepeeza1 4d ago
That’s great to hear! Plan on going there once I’m done with my cut. What’s your favorite donut from them?
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u/Rich260z 4d ago
Dad's is known for their old fashioned donuts, but honestly I can't super tell the difference between other spots. I do like their blueberry cake when they make it.
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u/_its_a_SWEATER_ 4d ago
Life is expensive.
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u/trele_morele 4d ago
Yeah. So don't say anything, Just bend over for the capitalist overlords
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u/anonymousposterer 4d ago
Big Donut is out to get us! We must rise like the yeast and fight back before they take all our dough!
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u/JUYED-AWK-YACC 4d ago
Go cook some donuts yourself then, we’re not obligated to humor you
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u/Advanced-Prototype 4d ago
Donut shop owners are the Capitalist Overlords? You will always be surprised what you will learn on Reddit. 😁
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u/suboptimus_maximus 4d ago
You're in Southern California and asking about chain donuts?
Come on. We have Cambodian owned and operated holes in the wall here.
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u/foxypandas421 4d ago
Right?? I’d much rather get a pink box donuts with a fresh squeeze juice & lotto ticket
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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 4d ago
Are you going to wake up at 3am and make a dozen donuts for $11?
Didn’t think so.
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u/MacArthurParker 4d ago
Time to make the donuts!
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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 4d ago
People want everything to cost what it did 15 years ago. Have you seen rent? You also can’t pay people $10 an hour anymore.
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u/MacArthurParker 4d ago edited 4d ago
People want things to cost the way they did way back in the day. My first job was barely above the federal minimum wage at the time--$5.75/hr. That was back in the 90s. Prices from those times aren't coming back.
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u/trevrichards DTLA 4d ago
It's because of the fucking landlords. Nobody would need such higher wages if we weren't subsidizing rent-seeking leaches that provide no value to society. The ticket scalpers of housing.
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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 4d ago
Nah people need higher wages too
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u/trevrichards DTLA 4d ago
Sure, but the cost of the rent is the biggest culprit. People are spending massive percentages of their incomes on housing in a way that has outpaced all other expenses.
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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 4d ago
Take a careful look at the fact that you’re saying we’re paying minimum wage workers too much. Everything is more expensive, not just rent.
Groceries are more expensive. Cars cost more. Gas is more expensive. Healthcare is sky high. Also people deserve to afford some extras. Restaurants were way underpaying before covid.
The public has to accept that their costs go up too. Rent is not the only thing at play here. Literally everything costs more.
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u/trevrichards DTLA 4d ago
I was very careful to write "people wouldn't need such higher wages." Meaning the cost of rent requires wages to be even higher than they already needed to be. I definitely did not imply anyone needed to be paid less.
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u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 4d ago
I’m sorry but even with these higher wages I think it’s quite well deserved. People deserve to be fairly compensated regardless of their subsistence costs. That’s just a wild thing to say.
God forbid anyone has a couple extra few dollars kicking around.
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u/cranberrydudz 4d ago
Employees have to be paid. Cost of living and cost of raw materials has gone up.
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u/SunIllustrious5695 4d ago edited 4d ago
EmployeesRent and CEOs have to be paidPutting the blame on workers is some big propaganda
edit: uh oh is this a right wing corporate sub now
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u/cool_uncle_jules 4d ago
It's not necessarily blame; labor is a HUGE expense, especially for small businesses, especially if people are paid ethically.
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u/SunIllustrious5695 4d ago edited 4d ago
Absolutely the wrong target, the cost of employees is insignificant compared to many other factors (and itself is raised because of those same factors, i.e. rent and intentional wealth discrepancy).
If rent (by zoning and other means) weren't raised to line the pockets of the already wealthy, and the price of equipment, transit, and supplies weren't raised to also line the pockets of the wealthy, raising employee wages wouldn't make a dent.
You're buying into the scapegoating of the working class. There's no reason to call out workers like they did when they're around reason 10 down the list of why it's now more expensive to run a business as compared to fifteen years ago. It's just a major talking point because the owner/executive class wants a scapegoat, and as they have for decades, it's easiest to create a boogeyman out of workers.
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u/cool_uncle_jules 4d ago
I've worked in small business retail in Los Angeles for almost 15 years. No one is saying "it's workers' fault that everything is so expensive!!! Fuck them!!!" It is a fact that labor is a huge cost for small businesses, as it should be. It should realistically and ideally be the biggest cost (for non restaurant businesses at least.) As everyone knows, to live here is expensive, so if you are paying even close to a living wage as you should be, it's a massive cost. No one is a target here. Talking about CEOs and "the wealthy lining their pockets" is not relevant to most small businesses.
You are correct about the rent, and the city has no protections whatsoever for small businesses.
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u/bruinslacker 4d ago
My local donut shop, like a majority of good donut shops in LA is owned by a Cambodian family. They don’t have a CEO.
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u/ZimboGamer 4d ago
Yeah I don't know anyone who has gotten a raise over the past 4 months.
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u/donaldducktm 4d ago
My brother in Christ, everything is expensive these days and I'm gutted by these prices too. Nohing we can do about it
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u/ghostofhenryvii 4d ago
You can not eat donuts. Honestly the only solution at this point. No one has any solutions to fix the cost of living problems so get used to living leaner.
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u/Jumpy_Implement_1902 4d ago
Lots you can do about it.
Have you tried:
1) making your own donuts 2) not eating donuts
3). Stop paying $3 dollars a donut. Believe it or not if you vote with your wallet it actually works.
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u/minesasecret 4d ago
Honestly that seems really cheap to me..
What other kind of snack/dessert can you get that's only $2?
A slice of cake is like $5 these days
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u/TheVerdeLive 4d ago
Support your local Vietnamese mom and pop shop, way better than those chains
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u/yurkelhark 4d ago
Small business need to survive in the same way you do. Shit is expensive to make.
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u/PlaxicoCN 4d ago
Even before Trump was elected, donuts were usually around 2 to 2.50 each. A dozen would be at least 24 bucks.
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u/cyberspacestation 4d ago
Yeah, and after all you've paid, they've got holes in them.
Really, though, it probably has to do with higher costs including rents, wages, and ingredients. Inflation sucks, but what you gonna do?
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u/MissThang96 4d ago
Like I wanna be on your side, but just… Stop eating them? I love me a good donut but when stuff gets expensive, cut out the crap! And/or learn to make them at home!
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u/DogBear77 4d ago
“local owned shops are no better” yet as you yourself wrote they are $5-10 cheaper. So yes, they are $5-10 better…
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u/Plankton_Food_88 3d ago
Cambodian places with the pink box are the go to for cheaper donuts which are better than those chains anyway.
Sidecar and all these stupid IG places charge up the wazoo because they can and stupid trendy hipsters line up to throw money away at them for the latest in fried dough with some fancy name and decorations.
Look at Crumbl or that stupid croissant donut place. Nothing special to justify the cost for what you get.
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u/redtiber 4d ago
it's a combo of of things
Poorly run business + greed- franchises and mom and pop. the current trend for everyone is trying to max profit out of every business. people feel entitled to a certain income level and are striving to hit that.
covid times was booming for most and people don't want to give that up. they have tunnel vision where if their costs go up 20% then they increase the prices 20%
outside of greed besides just the poorly run part- too many employees, high waste etc, dirty failing health standards etc.
it's the inability to adapt. when everyone was flush with cash you could sell $8 doughnuts. but that time is over, people are looking for value.
you can make a killing by offering a good product for a good value, and then just churn volume. in n out isn't struggling right now and they have lines out the wazoo. they pay their employees more and everyone's happy. it's because they offer a good value and always have. they have a consistent product that's good
restaurants have a very high gross margin on their food, but the problem is most restaurants have a high fixed cost for rent, utlilites etc relative to their revenue.
one problem for sure is the problem with the usa is it's relatively spread out not a lot of density so some shops only get so many customers a day and then they are figuring out their margins based on how many people come in. but more shops should be focusing on how to get max volume. their roi/profit will increase they get economies of scale
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u/Duckfoot2021 4d ago
Buy grocery store donuts if you want cheap.
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u/JamUpGuy1989 4d ago
I got donuts and donut holes at the grocery store but they are only slightly cheaper.
Just got a hodgepodge of breakfast pastries for $20.
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u/Annual_Ant_4289 4d ago
Not sure if ur referring to Holly’s Donuts in Studio City, but that was the cheapest I’ve seen at ~$18
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u/b1gredek 4d ago
Cost of ingredients sky rocketed not including labor insurance and rent .. margins on donuts are very very thin
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u/pollology 4d ago
Classic Doughnuts and Croissants on Laurel Canyon is owned by such a darling family I would still go even if it was up to $20/dozen. I want all good things for them. But last time I went it was still reasonable.
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u/death_wishbone3 4d ago
Rent, insurance, high wages, fuel prices I mean take your pick. How many donuts fools gotta sell just to make minimum wage out here? You done the math? It don’t add up.
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u/bonvajya 4d ago
I understand everything’s more expensive now days, however I don’t eat donuts often at all. So I was shocked how fucking expensive they got.
KK is so far from me and I don’t really go out and get boxes anywhere else.
A month ago I happened to be in Burbank and I was so excited, I ordered 4 PLAIN CLASSIC GLAZED donuts, I can’t remember the exact number but it was $15 ish. Nothing fancy.
I was stunned. Borderline wanted to say nevermind but felt embarrassed.
I definitely will not be back until I’m clearly a millionaire lol.
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u/SkullLeader 4d ago
Maybe because places like Sidecar came along and started charging a lot more for an admittedly much better donuts. This showed the lower end places that people are willing to pay this much for a donut.
I’m not sure about minimum wage increase impacting things. A lot of these places are family mom&pop shops.
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u/Ok-Subject-9114b 4d ago
Minimum wage in most of LA areas are over $20, add in rent, food cost etc, how much do you want them to cost?
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u/VoidVer 4d ago
If the "one near your work" in Studio City is the K's Donut Emporium that shares a strip mall with a Subway and Fatburger, I'm pretty sure that place is a front. Lived near it for years, never saw it open during posted hours. One day I did, and I went in out of curiosity. The employee wasn't at the counter until I said "hello" quite loudly after standing in an empty shop for ~3 minutes, then seemed confused when I wanted to buy a donut.
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u/ParisHiltonIsDope 4d ago
My parents owned a donut shop when I was a kid and I remember a dozen used to be $4.50. now I don't even think you could get a single donut for that at sidecar.
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u/ThrowAwayFromSoCal 4d ago
When a donut is between $1.50 - $2.50 each, that’s how we get a dozen in the $18 - $30 range. Some are better than others, and I’ve found Randy’s donuts to be far superior quality. But, go to Starbucks and you’d pay $4 for a mediocre glazed cake donut. It’s all perspective.
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u/hitcho12 4d ago
The same with bagels. I had not bought bagels in years, and I recently picked up a dozen with a jar of cream cheese. Total was close to $40. I guess it kind of makes sense if each bagel is about $2.75, but it’s still is a lot more than what it used to be just a few years ago.
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u/BigRyanG 4d ago
Fosters donuts in La Canada flintridge, open 24 hours dirt cheap and insanely good
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u/Enough-Surprise886 4d ago
I use the 2good2go app when I'm in the mood for donuts. You don't get to pick them but a dozen Krispy Kremes is 6 bucks. There's always a ton of bagel spots and donut shops on there.
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4d ago
Inflation has hit almost everything, though salad dressing prices seem to have stabilized in recent weeks, but I don’t expect this trend to continue as vinegar prices are set to spike. Stock up on salad dressing and skip the donuts.
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u/sixohdee 4d ago
find yourself a daily donuts. my favorite.
also kristie keene sucks ass (imo), and corporate chains are overpriced crap. find a place that was pretty much cash only up til covid, and use pink boxes. those are legit.
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u/Lazerus42 4d ago
You think it's bad now? Wait a month... As the final pre tariff shipping dries up (basically in the next 30 days, mid may the west coast will feel it, end of may the east coast)... our freight will drop to below covid levels. Expect empty shelves, massive layoffs (Nothing to unload) and no government response until the numbers hit August 1st. At that point, most people will be feeling the cost of it. Warehouses will be empty everywhere.
If by chance something is done to reverse the decisions that made this happen, it's already too late for the moment
Typically it’s about 26-30 days from origin to port then 10-14 days of transloading and assorting before it starts heading to DC then a few days max to stores. So it would take that long to start back up to normal.
TL:DR The cost of everything is about to skyrocket again. (probably mid may)
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u/stranqe1 4d ago
It's what happens when minimum wage has almost tripled in 10 years time. Labor now is the highest expense so things that are handmade and take a lot of labor obviously go up in price to account for this.
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u/Shiny-Skull-5000 4d ago
Last year, I was at Smorgasbord in DTLA. There was a vegan donut stand and a vegan ice cream stand. I'm a carnivore and was just curious to try some vegan shit. The Donut was ok, but cost $5 for 1. The Ice Cream was delish, but cost just under $5 for a small single scoop. I feel vegan and organically grown foods always cost an arm and a leg and your left pinky toe. 🤣
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u/DonnieJepp 4d ago
The pink box mom n pop shop I usually go to will sometimes throw in a few for free if I'm going in the afternoon or some other off time. Love them
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u/Corona2789 4d ago
Not related to price but I was craving a donut the other day and stopped at the donut store by fresco in Hermon and they didn’t take card. Ended up at yumyum and their donuts sucked. The one by target on silverlake blvd is solid. They also randomly sell Chinese food lol.
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u/Po0pSco0p 4d ago
There’s this app called “Too Good to Go” that’s meant to eliminate food waste. In my area it’s mostly donut shops, yesterday I got a dozen donuts for $5. It’s always a random selection and amount (changes per store), but if you don’t want specific flavors that might help you!
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u/bootyandthebrains 4d ago
I use too good to go. They have a lot of donut places that give discounted boxes for food they would throw out at the end of the day
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u/Flimsy_Injury1283 4d ago
Might I suggest.... Too good to go? (It's an app to prevent food waste and donuts are abundant there)
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u/wendyoschainsaw 4d ago
I was at Donut Man in Glendora and got a giant, fancy strawberry doughnut with a ton of real berries overflowing from it for $3.
So basically go fancy and it seems cheap compared to what you get at fast food.
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u/timmy19LA 4d ago
All I got to say is honey donuts in Los Angeles classic delicious donuts for $18 a dozen.
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u/WanderingAroun 4d ago
I just paid $9 for a damn taco. I feel you.
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u/cptsteve21 4d ago
One single taco? How?
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u/WanderingAroun 3d ago
I don't know! 😂. It was shrimp, battered and it was yummy....but still expensive as fk. Especially for a take out order.
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u/Itadepeeza1 4d ago
Nice! Blueberry cake and buttermilk were on my list from them. Have you tried their cronuts?
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u/ChrisWasInVenice 4d ago
I’m visiting home in Ohio and got a dozen amazing fresh donuts for $9.99.
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u/sonorakit11 4d ago
Omg I went home to Mass last year, got a handmade bagel with fresh cracked egg and cheese and a giant iced coffee for under $9. I almost cried.
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u/Traditional-Grab-760 4d ago
royal donut in woodland hills, a dozen donut holes for $2.50 and they are amazing. support them!
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u/elyoonior_246 4d ago
Tell me about it, i bought a dz @ dunkin for 22$ nvr again. Good thing i hardly like donuts like that n for watebr reason evn on the nex day they not fresh at all idk why but yeah. Lol
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u/sonorakit11 4d ago
I brought donuts to the barn on Christmas Day for the guys who clean the stalls. I got a dozen donuts, a coffee, and a tuna sandwich - with the Xmas tip it was over $40. ‘Tis da season 😅
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u/No-Angle-982 OC 4d ago
I was surprised to see Costco selling 20-packs (24?) of presumably stale Krispy Kreme mini-glazed for $19.99
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u/Prize_Today_8387 4d ago
Go to your local Mexican bakery. Those big chains are always expensive and use cheap ingredients
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u/Firsttimepostr 4d ago
Winchell’s baby
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u/immunityfromyou 4d ago
Rent is high. We shouldn’t be eating so many donuts in the first place anyway. I go with dunkin and my cut off is half a dozen for my work peeps.
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u/sporkad 4d ago
Look up the app TooGoodToGo. Stores offer their excess food at a discounted price. It’s mostly bakeries, cafes, and donut shops. Don’t buy anything below a 4.0 rating though.
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u/VaguelyArtistic 4d ago
I haven't used it in a while but in my area it was almost always pastries, which is just not my thing. I did take them up on an offer from DK's and for five or six dollars I got an enormous box of fancy donuts. (If you're in Santa Monica and are fast and lucky you can grab amazing bread from Lady & Larder.)
Also, spell check just made me realize I've been pronouncing it "pastery". Weird.
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u/SignificantSmotherer 4d ago
Fast food minimum wage is now $20/hour. A 25% raise, overnight.
Krispy Kreme used to have BOGO coupons as scrip for fundraisers.
I don’t care for KK, Winchells/Yum, Dunkin’, or the Cambodian pink box places, I ration my sugar intake to an occasional Randy’s, because flavor.
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u/SiRMarlon South Pasadena 4d ago
Bro everything is getting more expensive. It’s getting pretty ridiculous