The SF Challenge: The Jelly Donut

The Jelly Donut San Francisco, CA

Stop #2 sent me down into the Mission, the newest up and comer on the culinary map. 24th Street should be known as Donut Street as there are two excellent options if you find yourself craving thee deep fried treats. Working from west to east, you’ll first come across The Jelly Donut, a hole-in-the-wall mom and pop shop.

I first tasted the Chocolate Iced with Coconut. The cake was soft and the icing tasted like milk chocolate. Just the right amount of coconut…not too little, not too much. The standout for me. The French Crueler and the Jelly Donut (which was glazed and filled with raspberry) were pretty classic. Simple, fresh, and not tooth-startling sweet.

In addition, these guys sell their gazed concoctions at a fraction of the price of their neighbor down the road. This place gets my stamp for “More Bang for Your Buck.”

The best part about this place is that after you place your order, the super friendly staff show you over to the counter while quickly stuffing a few donut holes in your bag before closing it tightly and slyly handing it to you. I guess they figure they’re finally making right on all those times we’ve eaten donuts and missed out on the extra bits of doughy-goodness where the hole is. And who doesn’t know that everything, even Glazed Donut Holes, tastes better when it’s free?!

3198 24th St. No website. Open 5:30am-10pm. [Photo credits: The Donut Hunter]