Our Customers

People talk about us:

1. Austin W.

Colonial Donuts makes great donuts. I've had many opportunities to try out their donuts and each time I've been very satisfied with the wide availability of donut flavors. I'm a simply guy, so I really enjoy their basic glazed donut. This must be one of their most popular items because each time I've had it, its been incredibly fresh, which I attribute to them having to re-stock this particular item multiple times throughout the day. If you're like me and can't wait to get home to enjoy your donut, there's plenty of standing counters available where you can dine. Coffee is available here as well if you need something to pair with your tasty donut. Support your local donut shop and give Colonial Donuts a try. The staff here are super nice, and can help you out with a recommendation if you don't know what to get.

2. Jessica K.

Popped in while I was waiting for a friend for dinner. Grabbed a couple donuts for dessert. A ton of options, The donuts were fine. Nothing exciting, nothing special. But there open late if you're looking for donuts passed 2pm when most close. Lakeshore is pretty busy, so you have street noises, but nothing too crazy, it's still fairly quiet inside.

3. Rob D.

the folks working here are as sweet as apple fritters. the donuts are old school with a smattering of modern twists (not cinnamon). in addition to their tasty treats, it's important to support local, small businesses for community vitality. this shop has experienced more struggles with crime than they deserve. please continue your support of colonial

4. Jason F.

Places like Colonial Donuts exist so people in the community can support them! The donuts made here are truly classic, so much so that they have been a target recently which put Colonial Donuts in the news for all of the wrong reasons. This is why I want to continue patronizing them and lend them all of the support that I can give them, as they are a local institution. Located in the Lakeshore neighborhood near Lake Merritt along Lakeshore Boulevard in Oakland, Colonial Donuts has been around for generations providing sweetened deep-fried goodies for the community to get their cravings for donuts satiated twenty-four hours seven days a week. Credit to the owners of Colonial Donuts for not only staying open at all hours, or quite frankly staying open at all because we all know they have a legitimate reason to shut things down and literally regroup after all of the drama they have encountered this week alone. I for one am happy that they have decided to stay open, of which they have owned for over forty years, thanks to the support of the local community, if not necessarily the city in which they reside. Ever since they first made headlines, I have wanted to try the donuts at Colonial Donuts, especially since from the images that I have seen on Yelp that their donuts look so delectable and sold at reasonable prices considering where they are actually located and all of the competition around. There is no more seating inside Colonial Donuts as all the tables have been removed and it's a strict order, pay and leave style of operation now, as you can stand and eat, but why bother as you can always enjoy your treats at the nearby lake, and perhaps it's for the best. The menu at Colonial Donuts is separated into categories including Regular Donuts, Fancy Donuts, Extra Fancy Donuts, Pastries & Cookies, Sandwiches, Bagels & Croissants, Hot Beverages and Cold Beverages. Of course, I came for the donuts, and despite it being later in the evening on a weekend, they still had plenty in their glass cases. I give the owners credit for keeping up with the times and even selling such modern donut fare like Mochi Donuts, but I came for their traditional donuts and their Apple Bear Claw was calling my especially since it was sold at a very reasonable $3.25, I also order their French Chocolate Cruller Donut for $2.75, of which they had the option for an extra 50 cents could also feature apple filling, and their traditional Apple Turnover for $3.25. My total for the three donuts was $9.75 and I opted to pay with cash, even though they accept credit cards and this is the way we all should be paying with our purchases here in the future for obvious reasons. I decided to wait until I got home to enjoy my three donuts until I could properly look and enjoy them, and the first one I dug into was my Apple Bear Claw and it was one of the sumptuous donuts that I have ever enjoyed as it was filled with apple pie filling, of which I had never experienced before. The donut was so big and filling that I had to cut this donut into two and enjoy it over two meals! The French Chocolate Cruller was equally as delicious and the Turnover wasn't as filled with apple pie filling, but when all three donuts were toasted and reheated they were all exceptional. I cannot wait to return to Colonial Donuts to support a locally owned and operated business that is doing its best to stay open and operating during these challenging times. They have both a Morning Bun and a Strawberry filled donut that I have Here's to hoping that Colonial Donuts manages to make it through the setbacks and challenges they have faced recently and continue to thrive as the local establishment that community rallies behind each and every day and night!

5. Robbie R.

I'm down here in the Grand / Lakeshore area exploring some iconic locations with a lifetime local guide. He tells me this location of Colonial Donuts had been here over 60 years, though been remodeled a few time since. Most of the businesses here on Lakeshore Ave. have changed or gone in the last 60 years, but the donut shop endures .... open 24 hrs a day! It's good to know you can come here at like 4am and get a nice donut and coffee. This area is still Oakland, but not totally sketch like East Oakland. The service was just fine, as we came during normal daylight hours. I got what I usually get at donut shops, the apple fritter and a chocolate old fashioned. My friend got some donut holes, as it reminded him of his childhood coming here like 60 years ago! The fritter was as good as any and the old fashioned was a little better then most. I'd like to come here at 4am and see what it's like.

6. Christine R.

Who doesn't love donuts? The family was happy I brought home a box. The lady was so efficient in boxing up our favorite donuts, but multi-tasking to ensure every customer is taken care of. She was hustling and making croissant sandwiches. There are so many choices to choose from, that would be the only problem when you step into this place. I'd say that's a good problem to have lol. Come support this local small biz; they've been a staple of Oakland (510) for many decades. They were robbed at gun point last month from those who only rob hardworking people trying to make an honest living in their beloved community. What has the world come to? 'Til next time ~ stay strong and see you on Yelp (SYOY)!

7. Ed U.

I really have to take a long trip in the Wayback Machine to remember the last time I went to Colonial Donuts on Lakeshore. I'd guess somewhere in my early twenties probably late at night holding a big pink box. This was way before artisan donuts became the rage on Instagram. Choices were basic...cake or raised, glazed or plain, jelly-filled or not. That was then. Jamie W. and I were walking around Lake Merritt when we recently grabbed a bite on Lakeshore. We were strolling by this spot when a wave of nostalgia must've pushed us in there. Yeah, that's what it was. Well, the selection looked at least five times bigger than I recalled from my youth. We weakened and got a trio of their $3 donuts. One was the ube cake. The other two were mochi donuts, one with pink icing and rainbow sprinkles, the other with fruity pebbles (photo: https://bit.ly/43B7FJe). None of these would've existed way back when, but they were definite treats. I was happy to read that a Cambodian refugee family ran the store and that the daughter left a job at Apple to manage the business. Good story and worth supporting. DONUTS - 4 stars...good, satisfying donuts and a wide range of selection now AMBIANCE - 3 stars...other than the display case, still pretty spartan SERVICE - 4.5 stars...very attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...an old memory came back in fine form RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

8. Binh T.

We came late night at 10:30pm. I got the ube cake donut, and my friend got a filled chocolate bar. It was hard to find late night sweet, but this is my friend's favorite place. My ube donut was fresh, soft inside and crunchy outside. Both donuts was $6, my friend really liked his chocolate bar. He ate half my ube, next time I'm have to get more then one. I asked the cashier/ baker which one ube donut was better? He said "it's the same." I love it when people don't up sale me. He brought out a fresh batch of bacon maple donut when we were there. I love how fresh my donut was, and it hard to fresh bake donuts that late at night. It's 24/7, so make sure you support this local business anytime you like.