REVIEW: K'S DONUT EMPORIUM

WHERE: 14354 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
PAY: Cash or Charge 

In the Valley, at the bottom of Beverly Glen (technically, the corner of Ventura and Tyrone). In a strip mall, across from a Cadillac dealership, a hot dog stand where you can also (apparently) buy concert tickets, and a Fatburger. Fun Fact - there's a telescope/binocular repair shop on the second level of the strip mall, so that avid bird watchers and fair-weather perverts might multi-task whilst shopping. Presumably.

After several Sundays of visiting boutique-y gourmet-y donut dispensaries, I cannot express how nice it was to walk into a nice, simple shop. BONUS POINTS FOR REALISM: You can buy cigarettes here! Not that I endorse smoking, but the option (in a very Dan Aykroyd in 1983 way) is somewhat refreshing.

You know what else is refreshing? Four donuts cost $3.40. The last 2 weeks, 6-7 donuts have cost upwards of $25 in the boutiques. No box this time. No ribbon. Just donuts in a bag. Which, in a weird way, seems like how it should always be. Seating inside and outside, too. Metal chairs and tables, just like the ones at the Borders where I used to work!

Shortly after a homeless gentlemen took relief on World Music...

But how are the donuts? 

GLAZED - You have no idea how nice it was to sample a regular, wonderful, simple glazed donut again. K's Glazed was sugary (as it should be), and just a little sweet. Hash-marks from the frying and whatnot marking the surface. Light on the inside without being fluffy. Not-too-sticky on the outside. Delightful.

ORANGE - Never had one of these before. Pretty good, though a tad on the sweet side. Orange icing up top, with what seem to be flecks of candied orange peel. Beneath the icing, a slightly crispy crust atop an almost-fluffy angel food cake inside. Inside, also slightly orange-flavored. 

SPRINKLES - Pretty much the same shell/inside as the orange donut.   Unfortunately, a step down. The chocolate icing was a bit thin on this one, which didn't leave must room for flavor. Kinda dry, too.

MAPLE-ICED OLD FASHIONED - standard old fashioned donut. Cakey goodness, all around. Only knock against this one was that the icing (which was very yummy) was a lot thin.

OVERALL - Is good! And very economical. Great service, too. Highly recommended for quick, easy, traditional donuts.