Beach City Baked Donuts (Redondo Beach, CA)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
There's a new donut place in town. I love the donut, and I was especially intrigued by these because they are BAKED and not fried.

I visited Beach Cities Baked Donut in Redondo Beach. The store, owned by Koji Shimooka and Gina Samejima, cooks the donuts in waffle press-like machines. According to an article in the Daily Breeze, Koji saw these donuts in his native Japan and brought back the idea.

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
The donut's texture is spongy and cakey...nothing close to the airy, super sweet texture of Krispy Kreme donuts. It tastes like many Japanese cakes - so I loved them. However, they are definitely are not the prettiest donuts!

The plain donut is $1.25 and the rest are $1.50 each. The mixed dozen is $15.00. Yes, way more than Krispy Kreme, but I think of these more of a Starbucks muffin or loaf type of treat. Because they don't have a glaze (or the deep fry grease), they are drier and less sweet than your usual donut. I suggest having a nice cup of tea, coffee or milk with these donuts. The donut shop has a coffee bar as well as chilled bottled drinks.

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
I bought:
Honey Drip
Golden Soy (Kinako)
Coco
Cinnamon Sugar
Chocolate Chocolate Chip

Unfortunately, the Green Tea donuts weren't ready when I stopped by. Each donut is individually wrapped. I've found many Japanese and Asian pastries are packaged this way...yes, probably a violation of the Kyoto Protocol, but helpful if you want to save your treat for later.

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
The store has three of these machines in the front of the store so you can watch the donuts being made.

I recently bought a new mini-donut maker from King Arthur (I'm working on a post about these)...and I wonder if I can recreate some of the flavors at home.

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
My favorite was the Golden Soy donut. It is covered in Kinako (soybean flour) and sugar. I am definitely heading back to try the green tea as I love green tea or matcha flavored anything! I also want to try their specialty donuts such as Earl Grey, Apricot and Japanese Sweet Potato.

My co-workers liked the Golden Soy and Honey Drip donuts. Least favorite were the chocolate chocolate chip and coco donuts.

Beach City Baked Donuts - Redondo Beach, CA
Honey Drip (plain) and the Coco baked donut

Bottom Line: I don't think Homer Simpson would approve of these baked donuts because they don't have enough fat and sugar, but I think Lisa Simpson would like them! :)

Location:
Beach City Baked Donuts
Where: 501 N. Pacific Coast Highway @ Beryl, Redondo Beach
Hours: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: 310-303-3159

Articles/Photos:
Daily Breeze newspaper article: Baking, yes baking, a healthier doughnut, by Melissa Heckscher, Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

Here are some nice photos from the Daily Breeze.
Pin It!

33 comments:

Audrie said... [Reply to comment]

I want to try these! The way they make them totally reminds me of takoyaki... oh how I miss them!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Eh. I liked the cinnamon sugar but for that price?? I'll take mochi.

Have you tried the 'modern' imagawayaki? THAT's good stuff...

http://justjennrants.blogspot.com/2009/02/imagine-how-it-goes-i-believe-in-sweet.html

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Mary--Do you remember the machine they had inside Pacific SuperMarket in Gardena? They made these round, (flat on top and bottom) delicious, hot Japanese buns with sweet beans inside. Do you know the name of this treat? I can't remember. I just remember riding my bike to get them fresh and eat them. YUM. I wish I could find another place that makes these hot and fresh. Thanks for this great post. Looks delicious. I'd love to try these baked donuts. XO Your fan, Racheal

Steph said... [Reply to comment]

All of these look so good! I wish I could try them. I love Japanese cakes and desserts so I know I would like these.

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

Jenn,
Yes! Mochi would be better and less expensive! :)

I have yet to visit Filled. So many Japanese entrepreneurs nowadays...

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

Racheal,
I think you are describing the imagawayaki. I love them! When you come back to LA, I'll buy you a whole bunch as a welcome back treat! :) - Mary, President of the return home lobby...

Heather S-G said... [Reply to comment]

Wow, these sound great...and how cool is that donut maker!! Wish I lived close enough to try some :D

J.L. Danger said... [Reply to comment]

A baked donut! Wow. I have not heard of this place. Next time I drive home I will definitely give them a try. They look fantastic!

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

I thought you had made these and we were going to get a recipe! Boo. They look so good.

Mary Jo said... [Reply to comment]

mmm, i want to try :) thanks for sharing this new find.

Sweetie said... [Reply to comment]

what an interesting post! i'm curious to see what you come up with at home.

Marta said... [Reply to comment]

What a nice and healthy alternative to fried donuts! Well, maybe not healthy... but less fatty!

Eileen said... [Reply to comment]

These look absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this find.

Jamie said... [Reply to comment]

These look very interesting...I would so love to try one!

Nutmeg Nanny said... [Reply to comment]

Oh man now I need a donut...unfortunately none of the donut shops around here will make something as yummy as your pictures.

Valerie said... [Reply to comment]

But donuts are *supposed* to be big wads of grease covered in sugar glaze! (I may be too plebian to read blogs like this ;) )

Kerstin said... [Reply to comment]

Oh no, now my mouth is watering, they look so good! I love donuts!

Snooky doodle said... [Reply to comment]

these look so good and really interesting. I d like to try baked donuts. the green tea one sounds delicious!

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

So cool! Those look yummy! Too bad I live completely on the other side of the country :(

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

All of the donuts out here in Virginia/D.C. are Dunkin Donuts. There are NO independent "mom and pop" donut shops like you have on every other corner in Los Angeles. I really miss "regular" donuts. Dunkin Donuts only has a selected assortment and they don't carry my favs. Sigh...Your fan, Racheal

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

I guess a baked donuts shop in Ginza named "Miel" (http://www.miel-donut.com/top.html) is the store which inspired these guys. Next time you come here, we should visit and try.
-yuko

Eliana said... [Reply to comment]

I love a good donut but have never had a baked one. I wish I lived closer to try them.

betty geek said... [Reply to comment]

Wow, what a great concept!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

How cool! I'll have to check them out next time I'm in the area. I'm curious to see your home-versions.

Coco Cake Land said... [Reply to comment]

great little review, awesome concept for a little shop! the donuts look slightly bagel-ish. i would try some though of course! :)

--IMAGAWAYAKI is the BEST btw!! i tried making some at home but they taste much better at our local japanese summer festival. :)

Jennifer said... [Reply to comment]

Those look SO good!!! I wish I lived near there! YUM!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Any idea if the donuts are healthier because they are baked?

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

Dear A.S.,
Thanks for stopping by. In the Daily Breeze article, it says that the nutritional data hasn't been done yet. The batter has eggs, butter and other stuff, but they aren't fried so I think they would be better. However, I'm no expert and definitely look at these as a sweet treat. - mary

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Ok, everyone who wishes they lived closer, you're not missing anything.
maybe something cultural, but then again i lived with a japanese man for 4 years and got accustomed to the cuisine and liked it alot . these donuts are over priced and not flavorful. they need to bend their rules a little and add something to make them taste better. raisins for sweetness? nuts for texture? i DO appreciate that they are made from organic ingredients. i predict they won't last long unless they change something unfortunately...

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

These look so good I actually went out got some to satisfy my craving.

You have a good blog and some really good information, I like the post on the donuts. As you can see I m a huge donuts fan.

You should feature this on the bizymoms Redondo-beach community

Corinne said... [Reply to comment]

These doughnuts? Are not doughnuts.

They are glorified circles of poundcake that are far over priced. I was sorely dissapointed after picking up a dozen with my father.

I'll give it to them for the soy doughnuts with a caramel dipping sauce, but otherwise these cakes are dry and chewy and lack all real flavor.

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

Hi everyone. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I appreciate that everyone has their opinion, and I just want to make sure we don't have any confusion; I don't own this place, make the donuts or have anything to do with their business. I just went one time and wrote about it, I thought the concept was interesting and liked some of their donuts. Of course, it is not everyone's cup of tea.

My little blog isn't meant to be the Food Section with reviews...it's simply just musing about my life and a bit about the baking I do.

If you want to share your displeasure, you might also want to try adding your review to Yelp or give the business your feedback.

Cheers, Mary the Food Librarian

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Do you know why this shop closed? I was so sad. I had not been there in a while and the next time I drove by, it was a different business.

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