Doughnuts

What is life without doughnuts? Empty--an empty hole.

* Randy’s Donuts: From the classic glazed doughnut to the crumbly cinnamon crumb doughnut, these are man-sized pastries. And if neither is big enough, go for the 8” Texas glazed or the 8” buttermilk bar. (Glazed doughnut, 50 cents; cinnamon crumb cake, 50 cents; Texas glazed, $1; buttermilk bar, 60 cents.) Randy’s Donuts, 805 W. Manchester, Inglewood, (310) 645-4707.

* Bob’s Coffee and Donuts: The doughnuts at this shop (on the west side of the Farmers Market) are baked fresh all day long, until 2 p.m. Try the raspberry jelly, dusted with powdered sugar; the Long John, a glazed doughnut with a vanilla custard filling; or the devil’s food cake, made with dark, dark, chocolate. (Raspberry jelly doughnut, 65 cents; Long John, 65 cents; devil’s food cake doughnut, 60 cents.) Bob’s Coffee and Donuts, 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 933-8929.

* Blinkie’s Donut Emporium: There are all sorts of chocolate doughnuts and wonderful buttermilk bars here--but shop early. Once they sell out of fresh doughnuts for the day, you’re out of luck. (Doughnuts, 55 cents to 65 cents.) Blinkie’s Donut Emporium, 4884 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 884-4456.

* Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe: This 36-year L.A. institution offers 70 kinds of doughnut, from super-light plain glazed or blueberry-filled to doughnuts filled with cheese or peanuts and chocolate chips. (Plain glazed, 55 cents; blueberry old-fashioned, 65 cents; cheese doughnut, $1.25; Reese’s peanut pocket, $1.25.) Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe, 10948 Weyburn Ave., Westwood, (310) 208-8660.

* Krispy Kreme: Southern California has 10 locations of this famous Southern chain. You can get the famous original glazed variety piping hot between 5:30 to 11 in the morning and 5 to 11 in the evening at any of them. Of course, there are other varieties too. (Glazed doughnuts, 70 cents; other varieties, 75 cents.) Check listings for location in your area.

* Spudnuts Donuts: If you’re wandering around downtown L.A. in the morning and have a yen for a fresh doughnut, go to Spudnuts and grab a cup of joe and a crisp, gooey apple fritter, a sugar-dusted raised doughnut or a maple-glazed doughnut. (Apple fritter, 95 cents; sugar-dusted raised, 55 cents; maple glazed, 65 cents.) Spudnuts Donuts, 3001 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, (213) 749-0678.