I’m in the midst of a doughnut obsession, as you may have noticed here and here.  Since Los Angeles reigns as the undisputed doughnut capital of the world, I suppose it is a matter of civic pride.  In that spirit, here are six more standard bearers.

Dumpy strip mall + two letter names = amazing doughnuts?  Apparently.  Try:

1.  DK Donut & Bakery:  Thanks to StylishGuide.com reader and At Home at Home blogger Laure for recommending this Santa Monica gem.  Mmmm….

2.  S.K. Donuts & Croissants:  Head to Mid-city near Park La Brea and sink into a moist, luscious buttermilk bar or rich cruller.  Bonus: It’s open late for post-bar-hopping appetites.

Doughnut as architecture — these two shops prove it works:

3.  Randy’s Donuts:  The gigantic doughnut atop this Inglewood shop is like a big, fat, sloppy welcome-home kiss after landing at nearby LAX. 

4.  The Donut Hole:  Thrill the kid in you with a special trip out to a random intersection in La Puente for a doughnut that you actually drive through (see the video here).  The architecture is icing on the cake, so to speak; the main attraction is the fresh doughnuts within. 

More goodness:

5.  Stan’s Corner Donut Shoppe:   This legendary shop has been crafting gourmet doughnuts for more than 40 years.  If your timing is right, Stan himself will recommend his favorites — welcome help since he probably has more flavors than there are parking spots in all of Westwood. 

6.  Tang’s Donuts:  The bear claw — big as the real thing, fat with fluffy cinnamon-spiked dough — is worth attacking.  Nights bring an eclectic Silver Lake crowd, including hard-core chess addicts, to the grungy strip mall location.  

Stuart Paap is a comedian in Los Angeles who hosts a live interactive comedy talk show every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at TheStream.TV! He also loves his dogs, likes his cats and tolerates his neighbors.

Related links | more deep fried delights:

Six great L.A. doughnut shops

Stuart Paap on StylishGuide.com

Searching for Polka, you’ll be surprised by the exterior.  It sports the same plate glass windows and swinging door that front convenience stores across the developed world.  Enter the restaurant, however, and you’re transported from a small, squat strip mall in a dusty, barren stretch of Los Angeles to your Polish grandmother’s living room. 

The decor overwhelms and comforts at once.   Walls are covered alternatively with ruby flower-printed curtains and a huge river-scape mural.  White statuary and porcelain figurines compete for space with silk flowers, photos, decorative plates and all manner of knick-knacks. 

Welcome to Polka, where the family runs the kitchen, the food is generous, the hospitality is gracious, the surroundings curious and kitchy, and the ambiance fitting for anything from a family meal to a romantic dinner.

Make your way to your seat, and immediately a mug of hot, homemade soup arrives on the table in front of you.  A green salad with homemade sesame dressing follows, then a turkey-platter-sized plate of authentic Polish fare, including entrees like kielbasa and boiled pierogis (choose chicken and pork, or one of two appealing vegetarian options).  Plates are heavy on vegetables like corn, carrots and green beans.  Expect a starch like potatoes or rice and a small dessert.

Let’s face it, Grandma’s home-cooked meals are an airline flight away for most of us in L.A.  A night at Polka makes for a pretty good substitute.

Price: $-$$ (lunch entrees start at $9)

Where:  4112 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, Ca 90065 (Eagle Rock)

Call: 323-255-7887

http://www.polkacatering.com