Restaurant in Glendora, United States
Nationally ranked donuts, no reservation needed.
Donut Man is a 24-hour donut counter on Route 66 in Glendora with three consecutive years on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list and a 4.6 Google rating across more than 5,000 reviews. No reservation needed, no closing time. Walk in at any hour — this is the kind of long-running neighborhood institution that serious cheap-eats travelers route trips around.
If you're driving the 66 corridor east of Los Angeles and want one of Southern California's most consistently recognized donut stops, Donut Man in Glendora is worth the detour. Ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025), this is not a novelty shop banking on Instagram aesthetics — it's a working donut counter that has held its position in a serious cheap-eats ranking across multiple cycles. The doors are open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, which means timing is never a constraint. Walk in whenever you want.
Donut Man has operated on East Route 66 in Glendora for decades under Jim Nakano, and it functions as the kind of neighborhood anchor that defines a stretch of road long after chains have come and gone. This is not a weekend pop-up or a themed concept — it is a daily-operation donut shop with a 4.6 rating across more than 5,000 Google reviews, which signals consistent execution at scale rather than a handful of enthusiastic early fans. For a returning visitor, the question is less about whether to go and more about when and what to prioritize.
The OAD Cheap Eats ranking is the credential that matters most here. OAD's North America list is compiled from a large pool of professional and serious amateur diners, so a placement at #136 (2023), #225 (2024), and #222 (2025) tells you this is a shop that gets repeat attention from people who eat widely and critically. The rankings have fluctuated , a drop from #136 to #225 followed by a slight recovery to #222 , but the consistency of appearing on the list at all, in a category crowded with strong regional competition, is the relevant signal. For context, Donut Man is listed alongside spots that serious food travelers actively route trips around.
If you've visited once and want to know what to do differently on a return trip, the answer is simple: go outside of peak weekend morning hours if you want the counter to yourself, or go at 2 AM if the 24-hour format appeals. The shop's around-the-clock operation is one of the more practical advantages it holds over specialty donut shops that close by noon. For late-night options in the broader area, very few shops in this price tier and quality tier are still running. Glendora is a quieter San Gabriel Valley suburb, and Donut Man functions as the rare food destination that pulls visitors from farther west along the 66 corridor.
Compared to donut destinations with a more polished retail experience , like Crosstown Donuts in London or Voodoo Doughnut in Portland , Donut Man trades atmosphere for consistency and access. There is no wait-list, no ticketed drop, and no social-media-driven scarcity. The booking difficulty is easy: walk in. That accessibility is a feature, not a compromise, especially for travelers who have had to plan around limited-seat counters or early sellouts elsewhere.
Practically speaking, price range data is not available in our database, but OAD's Cheap Eats classification and the shop's category make it reasonable to expect donut-counter pricing rather than a sit-down dining bill. Budget accordingly for a casual stop rather than a meal. The address , 915 E Route 66, Glendora , puts it on a stretch of road that rewards a slow drive through the San Gabriel Valley foothills. If you're building a day around the area, see our full Glendora restaurants guide, our Glendora bars guide, and our Glendora experiences guide for context on what else is worth your time nearby.
Within Glendora specifically, Donut Man occupies a category largely its own , a nationally recognized cheap-eats destination in a suburb better known for its residential character than its dining density. For a broader look at what's around, our Glendora hotels guide and wineries guide can help if you're building an overnight around the area.
No reservation is needed and none is possible , Donut Man is a walk-in counter. Open 24 hours, seven days a week at 915 E Route 66, Glendora, CA 91741. Phone and website data are not currently available in our records; for the most current contact details, search directly. There is no dress code and no minimum spend.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donut Man | Donuts | Easy | |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Lazy Bear | Progressive American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Atelier Crenn | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Benu | French - Chinese, Asian | $$$$ | Unknown |
How Donut Man stacks up against the competition.
Not in the conventional sense — there's no table service, no atmosphere to speak of, and no reservation to make. What it does offer is a nationally recognized cheap-eats stop (OAD ranked it #222 in North America in 2025) that makes for a genuinely memorable detour on a road trip or a late-night outing. Treat it as the occasion itself, not the backdrop for one.
It's a walk-in counter on East Route 66 in Glendora, open every day of the week around the clock. No reservations, no website to check, no dress code. Jim Nakano has run the place for decades, and it has placed on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list three consecutive years (2023–2025), which tells you this isn't a novelty stop — it's a genuinely regarded operation.
Donuts don't follow a meal schedule, and neither does Donut Man — it runs 24 hours, seven days a week. Early morning is the classic move for fresh product at any donut counter, but the 24-hour format means a late-night or early-hours visit is equally valid. There's no kitchen turning tables, so timing is really about when the drive suits you.
Specific menu items are not listed in the venue record, so confirming current offerings on arrival is the safer approach. Donut Man's repeated placement on OAD's Cheap Eats list suggests the core product — donuts — is the draw, not a broad menu. Go for the donuts; don't expect a full cafe menu.
No booking required — or possible. Donut Man is walk-in only, 24 hours a day, at 915 E Route 66, Glendora. Show up, order at the counter, and you're done. The only planning involved is the drive.
Within Glendora, Donut Man has no direct nationally recognized equivalent — it's the suburb's only OAD-listed cheap-eats destination. For other well-regarded donut shops in the broader San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles area, you'll need to look outside Glendora, as the local category is largely Donut Man's alone.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
