What’s a better friend than a Donut Friend? This little North East LA treasure is fulfilling our sweet-tooth cravings with their freshly homemade donuts. With their cutely decorated spot and a build-it-yourself donut bar right in front of your eyes, you can’t go wrong when looking for that afternoon snack. We got a chance to have a chat the owner, Mark Trombino, who also happens to be a music producer who has worked with bands such as Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World. Nice.
LA CANVAS: Tell us about Donut Friend.
MARK TROMBINO: Donut Friend is a a “Do It Yourself” donut shop. Meaning, in addition to having a bunch of wonderful donuts prepared for our customers, we allow them to create their own flavor combinations using all these wonderful fillings and toppings we’ve made available.
LAC: What separates Donut Friend from other donut joints?
LAC: What separates Donut Friend from other donut joints?
MT: The main differentiator between us and everyone else is that we allow our customers to customize their donuts. All of our donuts and most of our fillings and toppings are vegan as well, which further sets us apart from most everyone else.
LAC: What would you say is your speciality?
LAC: What would you say is your speciality?
MT: Really great donuts with unique flavor combinations.
LAC: It seems like Donut Friend is becoming a well known addition to the ever-changing Northeast LA area, what made this location stand out in choosing a location?
MT: That’s awesome to hear! I used to live in Eagle Rock and had my eye on Highland Park for quite some time. When I began looking for a space, York Blvd. was one of the first areas I was interested in. Mostly because of all the new, first time home buyers that were settling in the area, the proximity to Occidental College, the affordability, and excitement of being a part of a growing community. I still feel like I “nailed” the location – Highland Park is perfect!
LAC: From donuts including bacon, Nutella and even Sriracha, where do these unique donut ideas come from?
MT: Mostly from friends and the internet. I did a lot of research online when I first got the idea for Donut Friend. That’s where I learned how to make donuts and where I found most of the starting points for my recipes. I also have a lot of friends who are great cooks and even professional chefs, and they’ve had lots of suggestions and given me some great ideas. I couldn’t have done this without them (and YouTube).
Find Donut Friend at 5107 York Blvd. and get acquainted with your new BFF.
