Foster's Donuts

by matt s.

I grew up in the area, and I think they have the BEST donuts. Try the chocolate figure-8 or chocolate raised glazed, both of which have chocolate on the top and glaze on the bottom!  I haven't seen any other shop which will glaze the bottom of a chocolate raised glazed, and it makes all the difference.

by Kaylynn C.

I moved out of the LOC several years ago, and I still have yet to find a donut shop that compares to Foster's.  Mainly because I can't find a donut shop that glazes the bottom of their raised donuts (of other flavors than plain).  It makes the BIGGEST difference.  No matter how fresh a donut is, it still tastes dry to me without the glaze on the bottom.Everytime I go back, I make a pit stop here.....I love it!

by Patrick K.

There are too many donut shops in LA for any one human to have sampled them all. . . but as a lifelong donut connoisseur, and a particularly picky one at that, I feel confident in saying that there are very few donut shops in the greater LA area better than this one.  My taste in donuts? I loath Krispy Kreme and their sickeningly sweet waxy cotton candy take on donuts (don't know if there are even any KK's left in LA to be honest).  I prefer a well-managed Winchelles (like the one on Western in K-town), Dunkin and similar.Foster's strengths:1. A killer custard filled (dubbed "Parisian Creme") - just a well made donut with the perfect tart/tang to the custard.  They'd only be a 4 star without the great custard.2. All the donuts I've sampled there over the past year (at various times of the day), have that "pop" - - a certain something special in flavor - - always a bit fresher, softer, sweeter, more substantial and a bit more intense than your average shop. . . but still the complete opposite of Krispy Kreme in terms of flavor and consistency in most respects.3. The coffee is not bad at all. . . I mean, for a rough-around-the-edges donut shop serving from your office coffee maker, it kicks ass.  A small cup makes a great compliment to any of their donuts.4. An overall great variety/selection - - no "bacon donuts" or anything trendy, but it at least looks like they know what they're doing, and like making them.  You can't take in the whole display case from one vantage point, you have to walk up and down the counter drooling like you do at 31 Flavors.5. Some old-school appeal.  I've only been passing through the Montrose area for a few years, but the place is a far bigger building than most donut huts are now days, and it looks like it's been there since the 70s - - - in a good way: huge rack of cigarettes behind the counter, "Farrel's Family Ice Cream Parlor" exterior styling, etc.  It has that time-warp feel.6. Open 24 hours.Weaknesses:1. While not "dirty", it doesn't really feel any newer/cleaner than any other donut place.2.  Like any donut place, you can catch them at a time when they're out of all the good stuff and have to choose from what's left.3. Lot's of loitering highschool kids clogging up the parking lot with their $60k Too Fast and Too Furious Hondas and Mitsubishi's at certain times of the night/early morning hours.  Harmless, but annoying. . . they're not exactly going to hold the door open for you. . . or acknowledge that you're even there trying to get a donut.4.  The staff, while always uncommonly accommodating and pleasant, still seem (like most any donut shop) like they'd rather be somewhere else - - but wouldn't any of us?While it doesn't have the cache value of a Randy's, I'm sure a few of their rings and "Parisian Cremes" (glazed on both sides, even even the one's with frosting on top as well) could give any shop in town a good run for their money - - while by no means perfect, and everyone's donut ideal is a bit different, this Foster's is definitely "in the conversation" when discussing the best-baked donuts in town.

by Cat L.

Used to kick it here with friends late at night or to study for my high school finals over coffee cuz they're the only place in LCr (besides Ralphs) that stays open past 9 or 10 pm (they're open 24/7). My dad used to get donuts here on Sundays when I was a little girl. Oh, and I learned how to do tricks with zippo lighters here, too. Good times....=)Oh, and their donuts are pretty good, too.

by Mary M.

Donuts are one of the last affordable treats in this miserable economy, and I offer 3 stars to any joint that can remain open 24x7.The donuts are just ok. Avoid avoid avoid the apple fritter. It is a rock hard, stale, flavorless trip into just-throw-it-away-and-spend-your-calories-on-some thing-else land. The bear claw looking thing with raisins is ok if you scrape off most of the frosting. My personal suggestion is the maple bar, basic and simple and not filled or topped with anything funky.

by Tawny C.

Fosters seems to be more of a local haunt than a good donut shop. They are pretty average. I dated a guy from the area and we would go there after a late night to sit outside and talk. I would get a couple of donuts and some milk, but they were not memorable. People from this area think they have the best donuts in the world, so I am guessing they have nostalgic memories that go with this place, rather than a keen sense of gourmet food....

by Claire H.

I used to go to Foster's for the following reasons, at various times throughout my late teens/early 20s:- All the coffee houses were closed, it was late, we were underage, and this was the best place to discreetly drink beer out of a case stuffed into someone's backpack- I was suffering from a broken heart, and so was my friend. She had just moved back to the area to live with her parents while going to college. A couple donuts, a nice cup of mint tea, each others' company, and THOUSANDS of cigarettes are salve to a broken heart- Foster's is the ONLY place around here that's open late- they sell cigarettes, too... though they never sold my brand. (I quit smoking years ago.)- their donuts are pretty damned good.Not really a destination spot since it's a dive and it's in what many consider to be the "BFE" of L.A. But, it holds a special place in my heart.And the donuts are good.

by Heidi K.

This is the place to go, where you have nowhere else to go.Which means,you'll always have a place to go...You don't want to go home,go to Fosters.You are freezing and nothing else is open,go to Fosters and get cup Noodles.Energy drink,go to Fosters.If you're cool,take your hookah and set it up in front of Fostersfor everyone to see driving past Fosters.Arizona Green Tea is $1.25 and a doughnut hole is $0.10 each.MMmmThe lady who works there wears a BlueTooth 24/7, so don't freak out okay.She is talking to her friend, not You.Go Fosters.

by jin y.

the best thing here is their jalapeno croissants. only problem is, they only make a really small batch at like 5am so by the time i swing around, it's gone and i have to buy some sugary fatty donut.