Sidecar Doughnuts - World’s Freshest Doughnuts

Sidecar Doughnuts – The World’s Freshest Doughnuts in Santa Monica

By Samantha Dockser

Proud believers in doughnuts, coffee, and community, Sidecar Doughnuts, home to “the world’s freshest doughnuts,” is now open in Santa Monica.

Founded in Costa Mesa 2012 by Chef Brooke Desprez and Sumter & Chi-Lin Pendergast, this creative team set out to create a warm environment for their community to enjoy hand crafted doughnuts and delicious coffee. From humble beginnings in a warehouse, where every Saturday they would convene to hand out their delectable doughnuts for free, their popularity soared to make them the success they are today.

When I arrived to the Santa Monica location, just blocks from the ocean, warm smiles and friendly employees greeted me. Jon Desprez, Santa Monica’s general manager could not have been more gracious, fully embodying the mission of Sidecar Doughnuts. He emphasized just how fresh the doughnuts were. And at Sidecar Doughnuts, “freshness” isn’t just a motto. They mean it. They do everything in house. Meaning, when you buy a box of “fresh” doughnuts, you get to watch them roll the dough, fry the batter, and glaze & top the doughnuts you are buying. There is no artifice…Only delicious doughnuts.

Jon and I sat outside on their patio together, and as we discussed their business history, right away he brought me tastes of Sidecar’s Country Ham and Egg doughnut, as well as their Saigon Cinnamon Crumb doughnut. Both were overwhelmingly delicious. The Country Ham and Egg is raised and filled with poached egg, Benton’s ham, and a house made basil hollandaise sauce. Served only until 11:30am, this doughnut is the epitome of a breakfast treat.

Not to be outdone, the Saigon Cinnamon Crumb is Sidecar’s slightly sweet, slightly spicy cinnamon cake, topped with sweet glaze and a house made cinnamon crumble. Other favorite flavors of mine include the Maple Bacon and the Choc A Lot.

“But if they pride themselves on fresh doughnuts, what does Sidecar do at the end of the day with all their leftovers,” you may wonder. Living up to their community values, they donate the rest of their daily doughnuts to a local homeless shelter. And what’s more, each month they donate 10% of their proceeds from their monthly featured doughnut, to a local charity or non-profit.

All these Delicious Donuts making you crave a Cafecito? Some of our favorite coffee comes from The Dominican Republic. Luckily Amazon Delivers instead below:

And what goes better with doughnuts than coffee? Sidecar Doughnuts collaborated with Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters to develop of series of exclusive blends. I downed an equally beautiful and tasty latte in a hand crafted ceramic mug. Jon explained an employee of theirs with a passion for ceramics created the mug.