Thanks Yelp Friend Lloyd C for encouraging me to come here. Sorry it took me so long. I will be in SC for approximately a month, in and out... Quality/Quantity - Decent selection. The donuts were NOT overly sweet, just the way I like it. Made fresh daily, right in front of us; handmade. See pictures. Tried to get one of each, but gave up after 5 selections. I was worried that I would eat it all in one sitting. As you know, I have a Yelp to write about, lol. None of them were overly sweet, which was not only a surprise, but a blessing. And my preferences are: Famous Glazed, Maple Cake, Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Bar, Maple Custard Filled. The Custard Filled Bar was by far our favorite, but all was good. They were sampling the butter milk, thank you. Next visit I will try the following: Apple Fritter, Cream Filled - Which is different from the custard filled I got. French Cruller - Not typically a fan, but willing to give it a try. Atmosphere - Small local business, support locals! I really like all the open stations. We can watch them make everything fresh in front of us. Open 7 days a week from 6am to 2:30pm. Plenty of mall parking. Service - Good, some slight confusion with the line starting in the back, see pictures. As everyone was walking around trying to decide what they wanted. Good thing no one was in a rush. Price - $11.50, cash only. Well you can pay by check, but who carries a check book these days...? I believe there is an ATM in the back. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1959, I must have been a customer back in the day, pre-Yelp...? But I can not remember... I am getting old I guess.

I grew up going to Stan's and it's the one doughnut shop I look forward to visiting every time I'm back in Santa Clara. It's a classic mom and pops shop that has kept their recipe the same with results that are always consistent and delicious. I always look forward to picking up a box whenever I'm in the area to share with friends and family. Their chocolate cake doughnuts are my favorite but you honestly can't go wrong with any of them. It truly makes me happy to see Stan's being open all of these years.

Stan's Donut Shop, a family-owned and independent gem established in April 1959, has earned a stellar reputation in the neighborhood for its freshly made donuts. Despite the modern era, they maintain a charmingly old-school approach, accepting only cash and checks, with an ATM conveniently available on-site. My Personal Favorite: Old Fashioned Donuts These donuts come in a variety of flavors--plain, glazed, maple, and chocolate. Each one is perfectly soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, bursting with flavor. The Old Fashioned donut is a timeless classic that never disappoints. Buttermilk Donuts These are a must-try, with different flavors available each day of the week including banana, maple, vanilla, and many more *Note: Flavors may change on holidays.* Cinnamon Twist Priced at $2.50, the fresh, handmade Cinnamon Twist is another standout. It's delightfully sweet and perfectly spiced, making it a favorite among regulars. One of the joys of visiting Stan's Donut Shop on weekends is the delightful aroma of freshly baked donuts that fills the air. Despite the usual long lines, the service is impressively fast and efficient. This place truly stands out as the best local donut shop, far surpassing any franchise with its unique charm and quality. Supporting Stan's Donut Shop means preserving a beloved local business that has been a cornerstone of the San Jose community for decades. Their dedication to quality and tradition makes them one of the best donut places in town. **Hours**: Open daily from 6 AM to 2:30 PM.

Delicious donuts of every kind. I love glazed and chocolate glazed. The cake donuts are yummy, too. I haven't tried every donut - I'm stuck on the ones mentioned above.

Stan's is the best donut in the South Bay (and possibly the whole Bay Area). We have tried so many places and their pillowy glazed donut is perfection. My favorite however is the Bavarian powdered sugar donut. The best cream inside and big enough for 2 people. The chocolate glazed donuts are fantastic. And the strawberry jelly filled is also insanely good. TIPS FOR SUCCESS: 1. Get there early for better selection (11am is too late) and they close at 2pm. Don't go on a Saturday or Sunday, you will wait much longer for less selection. 2. Be prepared to wait in line and know what you want when you get to the counter. Don't cut in line, don't bring an entourage, control your kids, get off your phone, this is not the time to socialize, don't hold up the line with indecision. Every choice is a great one and there's lots of eager folks behind you. 3. Every day features a different flavor buttermilk donut (strawberry is outrageous). 4. Do not - again, DO NOT - skip the classic glazed donut. It wasn't ever my go-to until I had Stans. People come in for their one favorite donut and a dozen glazed. It's that good. Warmed in an oven for a few minutes is amazeballs. 5. Some donuts are so fresh they are in the back and not upfront. Ask for what you want and hopefully you'll get lucky. Avoid the glass case donuts. Focus on the racks! 6. Cash only. Again, only cash. Also, you must have cash. Because it's cash only. There's an ATM inside with $4 fee. Bring cash and don't hold up the line. I've heard you can pay with a "check" but why would you do that to anyone?! 7. You can order ahead (call after noon) for the next business day, skip the line, and pick up at the front. 8. The staff works incredibly hard. TIP THEM WELL.

I stopped in to get donuts for the office. Tuesday is Vanilla Buttermilk flavored. They had Cinnamon Rolls, Chocolate Bars, etc. (Not always available) Look at the Raspberry filling in the Jelly Donut!?! They definitely do not skimp like other donut shops do. That's why Stan's Donuts is the best around!

I see why the line is very long. I heard that this donut shop serves freshly made donuts, which is the reason why it's one of the most popular donut shops in the Bay Area. The line is very long based on what people said, but quick at the same time. You have to wait until certain amount of people leave the shop. I normally don't go that far to get donuts, but decided to come here because of its popularity. From the inside, you can see workers make donuts in front of you and have like an old-fashioned design. However, it is too small, quite bland, and overcrowded. Not really wanna dine in. I feel like it needs to renovate a bit or relocate to a different location. Anyways, donuts are really good though. I can taste all the savory whenever I take a bite of a glazed donut I ate. Would I come here again? Hmm...maybe if I want to visit around this area in the Bay Area. Should really go for other donuts the next time I come back!

Stan's Donut Shop is a hidden gem in Northern California! Their special dough recipe makes their donuts stand out. It is super soft and chewy! I love supporting local businesses, and Stan's is truly special, love their vintage wall! Whether it's for work, church events, or parties, Stan's is my top choice for donuts. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is super friendly. I find myself craving their donuts all the time! In my opinion, they make the best glazed donuts in Northern California. Thanks, Stan's, for satisfying our cravings with your amazing treats!

A coworker brought some of their glazed donuts to work and I can say the texture of the donuts was superb. Light, fluffy and slightly chewy. Just the right amount of glazing. I would definitely want to try some of their others, and my favorite, basically anything maple glazed. My personal opinion on an area of improvement is to bake them in a way that has less oil as I have tried other donut shops where the donut has a more cake like texture. Although I can see how it people may prefer this moist quality. I'd definitely recommend these donuts if you're in the area!

Went to Stan's Donut Shop on a Sunday morning. There was a line out the door, but the wait didn't take too long. If you don't want to wait and are in a hurry, I would recommend placing a phone order. Phone orders can skip the line, you can just walk-in and let them know you are picking up. Stan's is CASH ONLY, but there is an atm machine in the back, but I'd suggest just coming prepared with cash so you don't pay the extra fee. The workers want you in and out, so be ready with your order. Stan's carries a variety of donuts, but their most popular is their glazed donuts. We ordered glazed donuts and tried their special, banana buttermilk. The banana buttermilk was a cake donut. I wasn't a fan of it because the banana tasted like an artificial banana, like a laffy taffy banana and I don't like cake donuts. However, my boyfriend really liked it. I came for the glazed donuts, which are always my donuts of choice. They were delicious! So soft and fluffy too! I would definitely come back to try their other donuts.