Latest news with #Randy'sDonuts
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
L.A.'s most famous doughnut spot is opening in the Bay Area
Randy's Donuts, the instantly recognizable Los Angeles chain known for its original location's gargantuan sign and a multitude of doughnut flavors, is opening its first Bay Area shop. The 73-year-old brand will arrive in the region with an outpost in Santa Clara, at 2595 Homestead Rd., SFGate first reported. (The Chronicle and SFGate are both owned by Hearst but operate independently). Adeel Siddiqui, owner of Bay Area Indian restaurant mini chain Port of Peri Peri for the last 17 years, confirmed the news to the Chronicle. He is working with two other partners under the franchise group Sweet Rings LLC. The plan is to operate this and another three locations planned for Fremont, San Jose and Redwood City; If all goes well, the new location will serve its treats in the third quarter of the year. 'We're so excited to be the first to bring Randy's Donuts to the Bay Area,' he said. Randy's is opening just a stone's throw away from Stan's Donuts, the South Bay's venerable doughnut specialist, featured on the Chronicle's top doughnut list, which is located at 2628 Homestead Rd. Commentators on Reddit were quick to make the connection, but expressed hope that the two shops could coexist.' Given that Stan's has been around for a very long time and is very very popular (best glazed donuts you've ever eaten), fingers crossed they'll be fine,' one Reddit user wrote. Siddiqui believes the Bay Area is the perfect place for Randy's. He points to strong companies in the tech industry and a large, diverse population as promising signs. Randy's, whose 35-foot tall donut sign has graced the silver screen in films such as 'Mars Attacks,' 'Dope' and 'Iron Man 2,' also has an allure that Siddiqui, like others, can't resist. 'The original has become a destination. People everywhere know about it,' he said. But there are currently no plans to install a similar sign atop the building, a former KFC location. The Bay Area has been expecting Randy's Donuts' arrival since owner Mark Kelegian bought what was then a few, but popular drive-thrus. In 2019 he told the Chronicle he was thinking of opening 10 locations in the region, but did not specify when and where. Today, Randy's is on an expansion tear. New franchises have settled into San Diego, Las Vegas and abroad into Japan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Is San Francisco due for a Randy's location? Siddiqui says he is focused on getting the first locations right. But looking ahead, his answer is very certain: 'Absolutely,' he said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Randy's Donuts to open first location in Northern California
Randy's Donuts, L.A.'s iconic donut chain, is set to open its first location in Northern California. The expansion is a part of a four-store agreement signed by Sweet Rings LLC, a franchise group led by Adeel Siddiqui, according to a news release. The four locations will serve the county of Santa Clara, including the City of Fremont (north and east), and extend west and north to Redwood City. 'We are excited to officially welcome Sweet Rings LLC to the Randy's Donuts family,' Mark Kelegian, owner of Randy's Donuts, said in a statement. 'With their deep ties to the community and passion for quality, we are confident Sweet Rings LLC will deliver the incredible Randy's experience Northern California has been waiting for.' Founded in 1952 and best known for the 32-foot rooftop donut at its original Inglewood location, Randy's Donuts offers more than 60 varieties of classic, deluxe, fancy and premium donuts, along with Randy's Rounds—the chain's oversized take on a donut hole. Randy's Donuts has locations across Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as in San Diego, Las Vegas, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Eater
4 days ago
- Business
- Eater
Legendary Los Angeles Brand Randy's Donuts Rolls Into the Bay Area
Like moths to a flame, the 32-foot, oversized doughnut that has loomed over the 405 and graced the top of Randy's Donuts in Inglewood has drawn customers to its doors for over 73 years. Now the brand is heading to the Bay Area, SFGATE reports, with plans to open a new location in Santa Clara at 2595 Homestead Road. It's all part of a franchise agreement involving Bay Area restaurant owner Adeel Siddiqui, of the Port of Peri Peri brand. That location will open in 'the third quarter of 2025,' but that's not all: Siddiqui and his partners also plan to open Randy's Donuts locations in San Jose, Redwood City, and Fremont, as well. Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Part II A popular Bay Area wine importer is adding a new shop to its ranks: After 53 years in business, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant will open a second location in the fall or early winter. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the new shop will be located at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur. Check out this Caribbean- and Filipino-inspired pop-up dinner Chef Leonard Roberts III brings his Silent Table pop-up to Oakland's Burdell on Monday, June 2. Roberts is an alum of the Brundo chef residency program at Cafe Colucci, and now he's readying a five-course dinner 'inspired by the food and flavors of the Caribbean and Filipino islands.' Tickets and seating times are available via Tock. Verjus launches a lunchtime deal If you're among the San Francisco locals who eagerly welcomed back Jackson Square wine bar Verjus in November 2024, the team has a fun new offering: prix fixe lunch. From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, diners can relax under the shiny red ceiling to enjoy a starter and main course, plus a glass of wine or dessert, for $50. The launch menu includes a decision between sugar snap peas or pate en croute to begin; for the plat principal, diners can choose the omelette Boursin, saucisse manchego, or le grand aioli. For the dessert route, nosh on profiteroles or pain perdu. Extra dishes to add to the table will be available as well, such as oysters, scallops, or razor clams. Sign up for our newsletter.
SoraNews24
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Randy's Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme — Who is Japan's king of glazed donuts?
Can the new kid's donuts topple a fan-favorite? We put both to the test in a head-to-head comparison. Just the other day, we reported that Los Angeles-founded donut chain Randy's Donuts has opened its first ever store in Japan in Daikanyama, Tokyo. We were so excited to try the new contender to Japan's donut scene, we rushed out to try a selection of what they have to offer. However, it got us thinking about the other donut chains in the country and how these donuts fare against each other. Doing what any good reporter does (that is if all good reporters use any excuse to eat more delicious food) we went to Krispy Kreme to pick up some donuts to compare to the Randy's donuts we received for a press preview. Our donut of choice for this experiment was the humble glazed donut, because if you can't do a basic donut right, then why bother with the rest of them? Plus, it's easier to get an idea of the true value of a donut when the flavors are kept simple. For example, Randy's Apple Fritter is coated in an amount of sugar that feels like it has reached dangerous (if delicious) proportions, so much so that it doesn't really lend itself to comparison with anything else. One thing we can be certain of is that Randy's has not attempted to adapt their donuts to fit in line with Japanese tastes. Let's find out how that has turned out for them in our little taste test. But first, a closer look at today's competitors. In the challenger corner, we have Randy's Glazed Raised (360 yen [US$2.50]), a traditional yeast donut, with a light, fluffy texture, coated in a sugary glaze. It is both their flagship item and their most popular. On the other side, we have the local defender of glazed donuts, Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed (216 yen for takeout). Similarly, it's a yeast donut with a glaze coating. The Original Glazed is such a well-known and established donut that many Japanese people, even fans of other donut brands, would say that when they're craving glazed donuts specifically they head to Krispy Kreme. Like the Glazed Raised, the Original Glazed is also Krispy Kreme's best-selling and signature item. To make this showdown fair, we rounded up three donut connoisseurs from our office —also known as whomever happened to be nearby and was feeling slightly peckish— and put the two donuts side-by-side. Looking at both of them together, Randy's Glazed Raised is significantly larger, makin the higher price feel like not as significant a factor as it could have been. At least for size, you get what you pay for, so at this stage they're roughly equal. What really matters, though, is the taste, and this is where the differences shone through. Despite being similar donuts on paper, the flavors were quite distinct from each other. Seiji Nakazawa: I prefer Randy's. It's bigger, so you can really taste the wheat. The dough of Krispy's donut feels like it loses out to the glaze. Not that it isn't tasty. Ikuna Kamezawa: I also like Randy's. How should I put it? It's more… bread-like, I guess you could say? I love how filling it is. But it's just a matter of taste, isn't it? P.K. Sanjun: I'm team Krispy. The dough is finer and smoother. Plus, its chewiness is something Randy's lacks. Randy's donut is good, but the lighter Krispy gets my vote. With the taste completed, the results are in: Randy's wins the challenge at 2–1, but it's just like what Ikuna was saying: deliciousness is on the tongue of the taster. Both are quite fluffy, but Krispy Kreme's is lighter, while Randy's offers more thickness and a satisfying bite. A result like this is a great sign for the newcomer to Japan, going to show that, despite not having altered their popular recipe for the Japanese palate, they more than match up to Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed in taste. Our ultimate conclusion, though, is that both signature donuts are delicious and we'd be happy to eat either one of them. While Randy's Donuts has many visually impactful donuts, don't forget about the Glazed Raised if you swing by. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Randy's Donuts opens first-ever branch in Japan, brings L.A.'s donuts to Tokyo【Photos】
Landmark of the sweets and movie world sets up its colossal donut sign in Shibuya Ward, and we stop by for several bites to eat. It's been a while since a high-profile American restaurant/cafe chain has made the trip across the Pacific to open its first branch in Japan, but this month marks the debut of Randy's Donuts in the country. But though there's never been a Randy's in Japan before now, quite a few Japanese people have seen the Los Angeles-founded chain's branches in movies and music videos, since their distinctive giant donut signs make them popular filming locations. So when it made the trip to Japan, Randy's didn't just bring its recipes, but its unique architectural aesthetics too, with a colossal donut that greets visitors as they approach the store's entrance in Tokyo's Daikanyama neighborhood, just one train stop away from Shibuya Station. Since its beginning in 1952, Randy's Donuts has prided itself on offering quality and variety, and that philosophy continues at its first-ever Tokyo branch, which bakes over 40 different kinds of donuts daily inside the store. Stepping inside as part of a press tour prior to the shop's grand opening on May 15, our eyes glazed over at the cases filled with glazed treats. While you can order your donuts to go, the Tokyo Randy's also has a pretty spacious eat-in area, with both indoor and outdoor seating. And since our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun was planning on sampling several donuts on this day, he decided to grab a seat for his extended snacking session. The menu is a mix of classic Randy's recipes from the U.S.A. plus a few Japan-exclusive creations, with prices ranging from 360 to 550 yen (US$2.50 to US$3.80). P.K. got started with a Strawberry Chocolate Texas Glazed (550 yen), which is only available at Randy's Japan. Randy's 'Texas' terminology refers to its extra-large donuts, and to give you a clearer picture of just how massive it is, here's the Strawberry Chocolate Texas Glazed next to a standard-sized donut. P.K. was both shocked and thrilled. Though born and raised in Japan, he's traveled enough internationally to have developed a somewhat internationalized palate/stomach size, and this sort of bold decadence was just what he wanted to eat, as was the similarly massive Apple Fritter (550 yen)… …and even the Bacon Maple Long John (550 yen)! Yes, that is a maple donut covered in bacon bits, and P.K. found in to be exquisite, with a deliciously intense sweetness paired with enticing salty notes. As a matter of fact, he joyfully describes all of the donuts he tried as 'relentlessly sweet.' That's not to say that they're low-class desserts, though. P.K. came away very impressed with the quality of Randy's Donut's donuts, particularly with how invitingly fluffy they are inside. P.K. is especially happy that Randy's has preserved the traditional American aspects of its donuts and isn't trying to water down its recipe in order to align with milder-tasting Japanese confectionary norms. The flavors are, without question, intense, even when compared to Japanese donut chains like Mister Donut, but that also helps Randy's stand out from the rest of the donut pack in Japan, and if you're looking for bolder flavors, they've got you covered. ▼ Speaking of coverage, the Tokyo branch also has a merch corner complete with a gacha capsule toy vending machine. Unfortunately, while P.K.'s love of sweets may be boundless, there are constrains to his stomach capacity, and so he didn't have room to try the Japan-exclusive L.A. Blue Custard Cream donuts, whose looks are obviously inspired by the logo of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thankfully, since this is a permanent location and not a limited-time pop-up store, P.K. will be able to pick some up on his next trip. Randy's Donuts says it hopes to open 50 branches in Japan within the next three years, but for now Tokyo's Daikanyama is the only one, so keep an eye out for P.K. standing in line if and when you make your visit. Location information Randy's Donuts (Shibuya Daikanyama branch) / ランディーズドーナツ（渋谷代官山店） Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Daikanyama Log Road Daikanyama building L2 住所 東京都渋谷区代官山町13-1 Log Road Daikanyama L2棟 Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
