DODO BIRD Donuts

DODO BIRD Donuts

Reviews Summary

Most reviews praise the high-quality donuts, coffee, and stylish ambiance, with many highlighting artisanal flavors and premium ingredients. While some find items overpriced, others justify the cost with exceptional taste. A few negative reviews mention stale donuts and poor service, but overall, the shop is celebrated for its unique, well-crafted offerings and inviting atmosphere. The breakfast items, especially avocado toast and sandwiches, also receive consistent acclaim. Rating trends show strong positivity (mostly 5-star), with occasional critiques on value or freshness.

About This Listing

Who Can Visit?

Most donut shops welcome all ages—perfect for families and kids
Some locations offer sit-down areas, while others are grab-and-go
No prior ordering knowledge needed—staff can help you choose flavors
Casual dress is welcome—some shops may have outdoor seating
Allergy-friendly options may be available (ask in advance)
Group orders and celebrations welcome—pre-orders may be required

*Note: Seating, menu, and accessibility may vary by shop. Contact your local spot for details.*

First-Time Visitors

First-time guests can simply walk in and browse the display or menu. Staff are happy to offer recommendations and explain specialty flavors. Some shops even offer sample bites or combo deals for newcomers.

Common Considerations:

Allergens Some donuts may contain nuts, dairy, or gluten—always ask if unsure
Availability Popular flavors can sell out early, especially on weekends

*Note: Menus and specials may vary. Ask staff or check online for daily options.*

What to Bring

Cash or card—most donut shops accept both, but some are cashless
Phone or camera—perfect for snapping and sharing your sweet finds
Appetite! Fresh donuts are best enjoyed warm and on the spot

*Note: Payment methods and policies vary by location. Check signage or ask staff.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check store hours and peak times—early visits offer the best selection
Call ahead for large orders or special boxes
Bring friends or coworkers—sharing a dozen is half the fun
Dress casually—many shops are walk-up counters or offer outdoor seating
Leave pets at home unless it’s a pet-friendly location
Check for limited-time flavors, holidays specials, or preorder events
Set a treat budget if you’re shopping with kids
Bring a reusable bag or box if buying in bulk

*Note: Each shop may offer different experiences—check social media for updates.*

How to Get Started

Most shops accept walk-ins! For custom orders, pre-ordering is best. Ask about gift boxes or subscription options.

Other Helpful Info

Visits usually take 10–30 minutes, unless you're sitting down to enjoy
Weekends can be busier—plan ahead for quicker service
Seasonal or limited-edition donuts often rotate monthly
Some locations offer donut decorating kits or workshops
Gift cards, boxes, and party platters are often available

*Note: Features, pricing, and offerings vary by donut shop. Always check ahead.*

Contact Information

Address

369 Bird Rock Ave

La Jolla, California 92037

Hours

Monday 6:30AM-2PM
Tuesday 6:30AM-2PM
Wednesday 6:30AM-2PM
Thursday 6:30AM-2PM
Friday 6:30AM-2PM
Saturday 6:30AM-2PM
Sunday 6:30AM-2PM

Customer Reviews

I came to this place three times (each time on a weekend) and all those times there were out of donuts or just had 1 or 2 left ?? and usually, the kitchen is closed. I learned my lesson, next time I need to arrive before probably 11:30am ?? to be able to taste them, although donuts are not my thing. Hence 4 stars, as I wasn?t actually able to order the food there. I am giving this cafe an overall 5 star rating mainly for their ambiance, it is very trendy and really beautiful. Coffee is good, latte was exce

Most of the caf?s in this area had long lines from early in the morning, but this place still had some open seats, so we gave it a try. The interior was nicely designed, with green-toned walls, round tables, and even a terrace area. At night, there?s a stylish bar counter in the back, giving the place a trendy vibe. I ordered a matcha latte, and it was pretty authentic. The donut set was delicious, and the breakfast burrito was surprisingly good too. Overall, we had a great experience. If the floor had bee

Such a fun and cute donut shop. Coffee was good and donut was yummy! My son loved the cinnamon sugar donut holes.

My favorite local coffee shop! They have the best lattes with house made syrups - I get my fresh beans here too each month for my at home coffees. The design and vibe is so well done, so I always bring my visitors here and they rave about it (food is great too and worth the higher price point). And all the girls working there are so sweet ??

I don't normally eat donuts...LOL But this has to be one of my BEST donuts! And the espresso was fantastic too... I took a tour of the restaurant area and it was very cool too. Definitely need to go back for a meal.

Simple menu doughnuts and a cup of coffee in the morning.Or a cup of tea. The cafe atmosphere was so pretty and the menu was in the shape of a donut, so it was cute. The doughnuts were not very sweet and went well with coffee. Also, if you need sugar and want something sweet, I recommend a lot of tapping and I hope you start a day high. When we went there, there weren't many types of doughnuts prepared, but the interior is very detailed and it's fun to watch while drinking coffee.

Great coffee and atmosphere, design of the place also really good. Service is perfect. Short but original menu. Open kitchen but without disturbing smells since it behind the glass. Definitely place to visit. Nice cafe in day time. PS be careful with chairs in the restaurant, it's very easy to fall down from it??

I?m really upset about what happened today at Dodo?s sister store Tropical Punch, owned by Zoe Kleinbub. My mom and I were browsing and seriously considering making a purchase when we were abruptly told by Zoe to leave because we had coffees with us. I would?ve happily stepped outside to finish mine if asked kindly?but the way it was handled was so rude and unnecessarily harsh. At first, I honestly thought she was just another customer, since she was there with her family. It was such a jarring and uncomfor

Asha was absolutely lovely and accommodating when I came in for a hot morning drink! She made a great latte & was very pleasant.

We used to live in Bird Rock and loved grabbing a burrito and donut here on our walks or after surfing. Giving 5 stars because the staff is always great and we love the donuts and food- both breakfast and lunch! BUT the reason I?m leaving a review is because I came back this morning for the first time in awhile and noticed the salsa was different from before. I loved the green salsa and thought it went perfectly with the burrito. This newer red salsa doesn?t have that unique flavor and doesn?t complement t

Breakfast sandwiches are as good as it gets. Great coffee too. Coolest design, friendly staff.

The coffee is superb. I?ve tasted Mexican latte, Goldie, Vietnamese and espressos. All so good! I tried the quiche, which is the best I?ve ever had, including the ones from France. My favorite donuts are the glazed yeast donuts. You can taste the quality of the product. No joke, the absolute best donut ever. I liked the horchata and strawberry as well, but the glazed one. Yumm!!! This is a top quality coffee and donut shop. It is not a Dunkin? Donuts. If you want best quality, service and products, this is

Because of the rain over the weekend, my office got flooded and a lot of our products were damaged. To cheer everyone up, I decided to buy doughnuts for the team. It was around 10:30 a.m. I asked the cashier if they had enough doughnuts for a dozen, and she said no. When I asked how many doughnuts were left, she refused to tell me. She said she wanted other customers to have a chance to buy doughnuts rather than sell me the rest. I would understand if there was a line of customers, but it was just my collea

I love this place! As soon as it opened it immediately became the best cafe in San Diego. The fit out looks amazing and the place is a vibe, the coffee is on par with some of the top specialty coffee producers in New York or Copenhagen and the donuts are amazing (try the Horchata if you're lucky and they have any left it will change your life). Thank you guys for bringing it!

Cute place for coffee in the morning, didn?t try any food as not all the donuts were out yet, but will definitely be back to try them! Was a great place to spend a rainy Saturday morning, I had the sea salt mocha which was great!

I live a few blocks from here and this is the third time I have walked out after not being acknowledged whatsoever and I was standing at the desk. I wish I could experience this place but after three tries I?ll continue to go to bird rock coffee or hermosa. Terrible.

One of my favorite experiences on this trip, well really any trip to SoCal. The food was fabulous, the service was terrific, and the location is amazing!

Not just a pretty face! The food is expensive but lives up to the price, it is delicious and all of the branding is adorable!

I usually come for the coffee since they have the nicest La Marzocco I?ve seen in San Diego but love grabbing a quick snack while I?m at it. They have the cutest and tastiest donuts! They also have granola and clafoutis sal?s for anyone who?s not into the sweet snacks.

Quite possibly some of the worst donuts I?ve ever had. I frequent new shops all over the country and these tasted like the kind you get from the grocery store or Walmart. Stale and no flavor. So dry.. will be getting a refund.

We hadn?t read the reviews before tasting these donuts. It?s kind of a relief that we didn?t experience something out of the ordinary, that perhaps of all people, we alone were handed yesterday?s donuts left out to dry. However, it disappoints me that the Dodo Bird hasn?t addressed the quality issue that has been consistently brought to their attention for months now. I love a good donut and I would happily pay a premium because they?re within walking distance. But alas, I?d be better off hopping in the ca

The best breakfast I?ve had in my life. I had Gringo sandwich and it was amazing, bacon crunchy, sweet and salty at the same time. The bun soft and fresh. Atmosphere great with great service! Gonna be having breakfast at this place for the rest of my vacation! Go and try it now!

Cute spot to visit after surfing in Bird Rock. Definitely an elevated and premium experience but with gorgeous atmosphere and tasty donuts.

I was excited but, I waited in line for like 10 minutes to get the worst and most expensive donut of my life. But on the up side the place was decorated nicely, the staff is so rude it?s like after you spend $10 for 2 small donuts they start cleaning your table before you?re done/start with your coffee and you?re still sitting there. Checking out was a new experience as well, Word of advice make sure you watch out for the door at the checkout and move as people come and go.

It was anti climactic. The place is beautiful but the donuts fell completely short. They were also out of most of the coffee drinks on the menu. If you are going to charge 4-5 dollars for a tiny donut, I expect it to be delicious. They weren't. If it wasn't for the decor, it would be 1 star.

Super cake-y donuts with a cute location in La Jolla!

For $4 a donut I expected them to be good. My kid didn?t even finish it which is saying something. Cute place and the coffee was ok, just really over priced for what you get. The staff helping wasn?t overly friendly to us either.

Great donuts. They're pricy, more akin to bakery prices for croissants than a traditional corner donut shop. The donuts themselves were great. Had a glazed yeasted donut that had a wonderful citrus hit within the glaze. The chocolate cake donut was a dark chocolate with only a hint of sweet. Overall it seems like they're going for very high quality taste. They're not Instagram donuts, and they're not cheap donut store donuts. They're showing that donuts can be on the same level as fancy croissants.

The coffee is great. I had a dirty chai but let me tell you the donuts are just awful. If you try them you will understand. Bad flavors and just a super weird dry dough. The toppings are terrible. You can get a better doughnut at Dunkin?s. Sorry because I so wanted to love this place for the doughnuts! Go for the coffee and cute vibe just don?t waste your money on those doughnuts!

If you like overpriced donuts, pretentious menu items like "bone broth" (you mean soup? at a donut shop?), and inexplicable donut policies like "We only have one flavor of donut on Wednesdays," then you have come to the right place. And after spending $20 on two coffees and two donuts, I myself felt like a dodo. The interior reminded me of Palm Springs, and the coffee was really good. However, there was absolutely no selection of donuts--it being a Wednesday and all--but I guess I know better now than to

Dodo birds is not a donut shop; it is a coffee shop that sells donuts. You can expect great coffee and breakfast sandwiches made with the best ingredients (e.g. Straus milk). The donuts frustrated me at first, but I was finally able to enjoy them after setting my expectations aside and just accepting them as they are.

Don?t get the hype when it comes to the namesake. Bought a dozen. For forty dang dollars (taxes and tip)!!! Most were stale, bland, cloying (vs light/fluffy). The stale part surprised us the most. Baked fresh?.two days ago maybe? Stand out dodo was the maple bacon. Will not return when they have many competitors close by which won?t break the bank. Staff was nice though.

The Good: Trendy decor, comfortable chairs and tables, pretty good coffee The Bad: The donuts are small and overpriced. $4-$5 for a very small circular donut. And NO WIFI which is the reason most people go to coffee shops nowadays.

Exceptional space, wonderful donuts, and great coffee. I?ve been to a lot of nice places but can?t say I?ve ever been to a donut shop that was this well thought out. I guess ?shop? is a bit of an understatement here. The donuts also aren?t your typical donut?more artisanal donuts crafted by a well regarded pastry chef. Above and beyond.

Cute place, creative and delicious donut flavors!

Cute donut and coffee shop with breakfast options.

Delicious donuts, incredible matcha latte, nice staff and a great work space. I?ve been here twice now and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend taking a box of donuts to go.

Nice vibe, clean and cool interior. Coffee is great. I am not a big fan of donuts so I usually just get a coffee but my husband loves their donuts.

The gringo is the best breakfast sandwich in San Diego!

loooove it here- such a vibe BUT i had to take away a star for prices. i don?t come here as often as i?d like to because everything is so expensive. $12 for the shroom milk with macadamia milk :/ i?d come 3x as much if they?d cut their prices in half like the other coffee shops in the area

12oz Chai was $7?? and that?s without any ?milk upgrades/alternatives?. It was good, but not worth $7. Very over priced place, but cool interior

These are fire!!! The new recipe is SOOO good. Had two glazed donuts but wanted more. All natural, very high quality ingredients. Definitely coming back!

Disappointing. Ordered 4 donuts and half of the ones I received were not what I ordered. I ordered 2 tiramisu and received 2 PBJ donuts. Coffee was ok. Noisy.

Nice little coffee and donut shop. It is part of the paradise radiant next door. Small selection but good. Nice indoor and outdoor seating

Cool shop. But trust the reviews. Donuts were overpriced and disgusting. I thought I would never say this, but Dunkin donuts have better donuts

Dodo Bird Donuts = YUM! These donuts are one of a kind & seriously delicious, lots of fun flavors that you don't typically see. Will def be making a trip back.

Bought a donut for 5 bucks. It sucked.

Friendly staff and great ambience and menu items make this place a nice, quaint spot to relax and chat and eat or just stop while walking through Bird Rock.

Absolutely love the atmosphere, service and food.

Extremely good breakfast sandwiches, coffee, matcha, and donuts! Decor really fun as well, and good, timely service.

Amazing, and better coffee than some of the other "big names" in town.

Wonderful donuts, great coffee and the best space. Highly recommend the lemon donut if they have it!!

Great to have another local coffee spot. Very nice and clean space, staff always friendly, donuts are great!

Delicious variety of daily custom made donuts ?? and the best Flat Whites, Cappuccinos and Cafe Lattes in town.

Definitely pricey for a donut, but it is delicious and it?s a gorgeous place to get some work done.

Beautiful decor, great place to work, solid coffee with great milk options, some of the best bone broth I?ve ever had.

The donut was not fresh and kind of hard , not much flavor to it . Really disappointing for how expensive each one is

Great little cafe, fun atmosphere?.the donuts and coffee are awesome?..super friendly staff.??

Must stop when we?re in town. Cool vibes and good coffee.

I would give negative stars, avoid like the plague especially if you are not white.

What a lovely place to have coffee before yoga! ?????

Great homemade donuts ?? a bit of a variety would be awesome.

Yummy breakfast sandwiches and vegan avocado toast, though a tad overpriced hence 4/5

I get that you are in an expensive area but a good cheap coffee shop with a variety of flavors would be worlds better

Best donuts around! Definitely worth stopping by - again and again.

Love that they use all compostable food service items!

The best Avocado Toast I have ever had!

Cute design and unique donut flavors!

Great all around. Highly recommend.

Donut was so sugary and amazing

Must stop donut shop!

Welcome to the neighborhood!

(Translated by Google) The double chocolate was delicious, but after that it was too sweet for me... (Original) ???????????????????????????????

Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes! Every listing is reviewed for accuracy. We prioritize shops with real customer ratings, up-to-date menus, and consistent service.

Can I search by flavor or dietary preference?

Absolutely. Filter by popular flavors (like maple, custard, or vegan chocolate), or search for shops offering gluten-free, keto-friendly, or dairy-free options.

Do these shops offer delivery or pre-orders?

Many do! Listings include details on delivery partners, online ordering, and whether you can reserve boxes for pickup—perfect for gifts or events.

I want to send donuts as a gift. Can I do that here?

Sorry, but we don't support this yet! But we are considering adding this option!

What are “limited-time” or seasonal flavors?

These are exclusive donuts offered for holidays or specific times of year—like pumpkin spice in the fall or strawberry shortcake in summer. Check back often—they go fast!

Is this just for big cities?

Not at all. We’re expanding constantly, including small towns, roadside bakeries, and regional favorites. Sweetness knows no bounds.

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