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.  

A bold statement, I know, to declare the best fried chicken in a city full of strong birds, whether Dinah’s, Roscoe’s or Honey’s. 

But I have to say, there’s something about Golden Bird.

First, the name.  “Golden Bird” is the perfect appellation for a chicken that, fitting for Los Angeles, is the color of a deep, dark suntan glistening with oil.  The tender meat sports a batter coating that is smooth, crispy and light. 

Served with the ubiquitous (but odd) side of crinkle cut sweet pickles in a tiny paper cup, the chicken is consistently good.  Sides, however, can be hit or miss, but heaven can’t be much better than those days you strike upon a buttery, flaky biscuit with its salty top baked a rich brown, creamy mac and cheese or greens spiked with tender chunks of pork and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper.

There’s a lot of nostalgia for Golden Bird chicken, an L.A. institution since 1953, as locations have diminished over the years.  Expect a resurgence with 14 new locations soon to be added to their five existing L.A. stores.

I hit the one at 4725 West Venice, just west of La Brea near the OSH.

Price: $ (under $10)

Where: Check www.goldenbirdchicken.com/contactus.html for locations

Call: 323-525-0488

Do you love Golden Bird?  Or does your heart belong to another poultry shop?  Tell me about it….

A bold statement, I know, to declare the best fried chicken in a city full of strong birds, whether Dinah’s, Roscoe’s or Honey’s. 

But I have to say, there’s something about Golden Bird.

First, the name.  “Golden Bird” is the perfect appellation for a chicken that, fitting for Los Angeles, is the color of a deep, dark suntan glistening with oil.  The tender meat sports a batter coating that is smooth, crispy and light. 

Served with the ubiquitous (but odd) side of crinkle cut sweet pickles in a tiny paper cup, the chicken is consistently good.  Sides, however, can be hit or miss, but heaven can’t be much better than those days you strike upon a buttery, flaky biscuit with its salty top baked a rich brown, creamy mac and cheese or greens spiked with tender chunks of pork and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper.

There’s a lot of nostalgia for Golden Bird chicken, an L.A. institution since 1953, as locations have diminished over the years.  Expect a resurgence with 14 new locations soon to be added to their five existing L.A. stores.

I hit the one at 4725 West Venice, just west of La Brea near the OSH.

Price: $ (under $10)

Where: Check www.goldenbirdchicken.com/contactus.html for locations

Call: 323-525-0488

Do you love Golden Bird?  Or does your heart belong to another poultry shop?  Tell me about it….