Nomad Donuts

Awwwww I though this place was just okay. Kind of expensive– 7 dollars for two donuts… However! The donuts were fresh, and my husband loved them– he said he liked the texture and thought they were some of the best he has ever had. The flavors here are very unique, and I really loved the glaze and toppings on our donuts– but I did not love the pastry part. Just FYI I came here on a Sunday and the line was very long around 10:30 am. :)

Really really yummy!!! We tried the honey peanut butter chocolate custard and strawberry kiwi and vanilla bean all of them are really good!

I was craving for some donuts and found this place on Unilocal.Decided to try it because of the great reviews plus it was near my work. I’d have to say the place looks kinda dirty and I’m not very impressed with their donuts. They had some pretty interesting flavors but I decided to go with something more classic and got their basic baker’s dozen (chocolate, maple, and vanilla).
my coworkers like this place and was excited that I came in with some donuts for them… I was really hoping to like it but it was NOT worth the price. the donuts look old and tasted bland, totally ruined my appetite! I don’t think the inside was even cooked all the way… definitely not coming back! but at least the girl at the register was friendly unlike the other employees people commented about.

Yeees! What a unique donut shop. They have so much unique flavors. I didnt personally go there but the chef kristianna was so nice to bring some of their donuts to the dessert shop I work at :) she brought the ube taro coconut bomb !!, rasberry sriracha which tickled my tastebuds, dragon fruit acai which is my favorite! And mango chili cilantro which was so flavorful I have never tried specialty donuts before so this definitely popped my cherry. I cant wait to visit the shop myself and try their other flavors !:)

Donuts and coffee here are really delicious! The donut flavors are very unique. Every time I’ve went to Nomad I have been able to try different flavors. As for the flavor, the donuts are light, fluffy and not too sweet. For the coffee recommend the Panther Milk, either iced or hot is great.

3.5 stars!
My best friends and I have been wanting something bacon on a donut for a while, and we decided on Nomad for the good coffee places around North Park area.
The flavors were definitely creative and and I love that they offer vegan donuts, no compromises whatsoever in selections. They are sizeable donuts for $ 4, and the staff was quite friendly and helpful when making decisions. Also went early so no line nor parking troubles.
The donut themselves were just fine:
The ginger pear filled glazed donut with bacon was an interesting burst of flavors, but the filing got to be much too sweet, essentially glaze both inside & out.
The blackberry lavender was an interesting combination, lavender was delicate and almost overpowered by the blackberry tart.
The chocolate glazed s’more was good, tasted exactly as it promised.
in general, I thought the donuts could have been fluffier, more airy. The dough itself could also be a bit sweeter, I would prefer a slightly sweeter dough than a bland dough with overcompensating glaze.
Nomad’s is a fun place to go but it doesn’t quite hit the spot on my terms of a good classic donut: airy, not overly sweet, melt in mouth.

I liked the originality of the Ube Taro Coconut donut, along with other flavors, such as Peppermint Chocolate Ganache and Pineapple Jam Habanero Mango.
Highly recommend ordering the Panther Milk, which is comprised of Espresso with Sweetened Condensed Milk and Half ‘n Half. It really goes well with a donut!
Small donut shop, but service was fairly quick, and they have seating outdoors. Outdoor seating works well, when you’re located in a place like San Diego!

Came across Nomad by spotting it after a late lunch at Ono’s. Seriously THE best donuts ever. Not too sweet and a variety of unique flavors Vegan ube taro coconut anyone?
In my opinion, way better than Donut Bar. When I went in there wasn’t a wait, which is always a good thing. Their French press coffee is also super yum. Got four donuts plus a coffee for $ 15. A little on the pricey side, but hey you’re paying for quality.
Definitely give it a try!

Instagram is Nomad’s best advertisement, and after salivating at bright and beautiful donuts on my phone screen for long enough, I gave in.
I stopped by Nomad on their Malasada Monday, so it would have been a sin for me not to get one (actually, 2 malasadas for $ 4!). The malasada flavor that day was guava lychee jam, and holy shit it was good.
I wanted to try one of their traditional donuts (as if traditional is even a word you could use to describe their selection). I asked the girl at the counter for her recommendation, and she was super awesome and patient while I stared at all the choices dumbfounded. I ended up going for the blackberry fig jam honey goat cheese bacon donut (try saying that five times fast). I scarfed the malasadas on sight and decided to save the blackberry diabetes wonder for later.
At around 9 pm, I dug out that beauty for dessert. First bite, and I was in heaven. I couldn’t hold back from screaming, «oh FUCK» as I experienced the most unexpectedly perfect marriage of flavors. And the way the jam oozed out, like, damn. That is one sexy donut.
Keep it up, Nomad. You’ve got a good thing going here.

The black currant chili donut has luscious, moist dough, subtle tartness in the icing, and once you eat two bites and swallow, that chili is in the back of your throat like Adele singing, *hello, it’s me*

Headed in after checking both their website and Donut Bar’s for the daily Vegan Donut offerings. Nomad had 7 flavors compared to Donut Bar’s 4, and sounded much more worthy of a gut bomb.
Arrived as they opened at 6am to grab some sugary circles while they were still warm from the fryer.
Vegan Fall Brewing Fall & Oats ~ Mildly sweet with a touch of hops. Delicious.
Vegan Pineapple & Coconut ~ Tangy, sweet, and actually tasted like both of the real fruits.
Vegan Dirty Chai ~ I didn’t detect too much chai flavor but I was already a couple donuts deep and my taste buds were going wild I’m sure.
Vegan Green Tea Black Sesame ~ Good flavor and the green slime colored frosting spoke to my inner child.
Vegan Pumpkin Whiskey Candied Pecans ~ Tasted like an amazing southern pie. Like I had a do over of Thanksgiving.
Vegan Mojito ~ I was expecting key lime pie but this one was sweet with a subtle tang.
Vegan Ube Taro Coconut ~ Not a giant Ube fan but hey, it’s purple… I got nothin’.

I love having this place a 5 minute walk away. It’s incredibly bad for my ass and my wallet, but great for my mouth! I’ve been a few times now and while everything is pretty delicious — unique, interesting combinations that change all the time — my fave is the crueller. It’s so airy and moist with interesting sugars and flavors that are subtle and don’t overshadow the incredible texture.
I also really dig their Pooh Bear lattes, though I need an extra shot and they could be a bit hotter. I suppose I could just ask for it hotter. :) that’s on me.
My only real gripe is the price. At $ 3-​$ 4 a donut, it ain’t cheap. It’s not a «let’s pick up a dozen for the office» kind of donut joint. But it’s not meant to be, I don’t think. The ingredients are high quality, the recipes are innovative and downright weird sometimes, but always tasty. You can tell they’re crafted with skill and love. So I succumb to their prices. Because whiskey candied pecans.

Delicious!
Donuts were my favorite food as a kid. In my opinion, they could not get any better. Actually, they could and did with Nomad Donuts! They have some super creative concoctions. They may even seem crazy on the menu, but they really make sure the flavors are balanced.
My husband had some sort of apple/​caramel/​jalapeño concoction. It was so good– the jalapeño was very subtle and sort of just highlighted the apple flavor. I had rosemary/​blackberry and it was SO yummy! I’m a huge fan of herbs in desserts/​sweets.
The only downfall here– these donuts are pricey! Rightfully so, but I still can’t afford to drop by too often. I will be back, though!

Ooooh, these are fancy donuts. Here are my tips on how to get ‘em:
1) Arrive early. Even at 8am there’s a line, albeit a short one. The longer you sleep in, the longer you’ll have to stand out in the blazing sun. (The place is teeny tiny, so there’s only room for 1 or 2 people inside.)
2) Check social media. The menu changes daily, and the gallery of virtual #donutporn is out of control. You’ll help the line move faster if you decide what you want ahead of time.
3) Ignore the donuts on display. They’re supposed to be tempting, but they’re totally not — especially with flies buzzing everywhere. Seriously, guys, can’t you put these donuts in a case? Better yet– just buy a monitor and show pictures.
4) Embrace unusual flavors. Sure, you could get boring ol’ chocolate or vanilla donuts, but where’s the fun in that? My favorite is currently green apple sage. Other highlights are ube taro coconut, lavender caramel chocolate old fashioned, and lemon poppy vanilla old fashioned. Small appetite? Then try 4 donut holes for $ 1.
5) Get the donuts to go. There’s nowhere so sit, save for some rickety tables on the sidewalk. They’re meant to be enjoyed in the comfort of your living room.
Now go get some! And enjoy!

I gotta admit, they’ve got some of the most unique flavor combinations I’ve EVER heard of. Props to them for having some culinary balls to pull off some unusual pairings!
There is a line, which I can’t say I’d wait in again, but if their doors were ever open without much of a wait and I had a hankering for some sweets, I might just stop by for another bite.
Prices are as «gourmet» as the donuts are, and while they’re good, I’m also not sure if they completely warrant their price tag at $ 3-​$ 4 a piece.
Boyfriend didn’t care too much for his Apricot Vanilla Old Fashioned (and he’s an oldfashioned donut fanboy – his #1 can be found at Blue Star), but I thought my Chili Lime Raspberry donut had a refreshing and unique flavor with a good soft and doughy consistency.

Nomad
SD: Adams Avenue
11:30am Sunday 24^th August 2015
Four Stars
After a workout at Crossfit Elysium, we walked over and got a couple donuts. I had a Chocolate Old Fashion with Lavender Icing and a Cold Brew with Coffee Ice Cubes. The doughnut was rich and dense, with a bit of crunch. The icing was semi-​sweet with a nice floral bouquet. The coffee was dark and caffeine forward. The coffee ice cubes is such a good idea because it does not water down your coffee plus it reuses leftover coffee. I will have to comeback and try some of their weirder flavors.

We tried Nomad’s this morning for the first time. Parking in this neighborhood can be difficult on a Sunday morning and we drove around the block a couple of times before we found a spot to park.
There was no line since we arrived early. The cashier and her assistant who greeted us could use some customer service skills. Neither could serve up a smile with the doughnuts and coffee. Neither she nor her assistant seemed happy to be there which is a shame because the doughnuts are amazing!
The flavor combos are varied and original. My favorite was the Mocha Chip Cake Coconut Coffee. They are pricey from $ 2 to $ 4 each. I purchased a dozen and the total was $ 49 plus 15% undeserved tip and a very small Cubano coffee for $ 2.75 for a total of $ 57. With the expense and poor customer service I don’t think I would visit here again.

A small donut store that sells donuts (of course), drinks, and ice cream donut sandwich. The menu is a display of different donuts placed on a long wooden shelf. The name of each donut is behind each donut held by a clothing pin and if it doesn’t have a name, that means they don’t have anymore left. I came here for their unique flavors of donuts.
:Donuts:
We bought ten donuts. They were moist except for the donut holes. I didn’t taste all of the donuts so I listed below which ones I ate and what I thought of each one. For the price, the My thoughts on the donuts:
~Chocolate Banana Donut has a cream filling and the banana flavor was missing.
~Green Tea Black Sesame tasted like green tea but I couldn’t taste the Black Sesame. It has green tea filling.
~Thai Tea Donut Holes was dry and it didn’t taste like Thai Tea.
~Ube Taro Coconut was not bad.
~Chocolate Glazed was not sweet. I wish it had more of a chocolate rich flavor.
(
)
:Customer Service:
The lady who greeted us was not really friendly. Although the guy who went on the cashier to help her since more customer came, had more of an up beat attitude.
:M’s Notes:
~They serve Vegan Donuts
~Outside seating (limited)
~Street Parking

Nomad gets my vote for best donuts in San Diego. The dough tastes good on both yeasted and cake varieties, they weren’t oily and the flavor combos go from classic American to fusion International (UBE!!!) to experimental-​stop-​thinking-​about-​it-​and-​eat-​it-​already in between.
YUUUUMMMMMMMM.
If this spot doesn’t make any Best Donuts in the USA lists in the very near future, I give up.
These babies are sooooooo gooooooood and in my opinion taste so much better than many more written up/​better known east coast donut spots in NYC, Philly, Boston and Chicago that I’ve been to.
4 stars b/​c I think the coffee needs work but I shall definitely return on my next visit to SD.

If you know me then you know I’m all about the D (see review on Rose Donuts). I wasn’t feeling too hot after my doctors appointment so my girlfriend, Kira, treated me to something she knew that would make me happy. She took me to Nomad’s for the D that can fit in my mouth and not in my vagina because it was under maintenance at the time being. Pro-​tip: that’s what good friends do.
These are very far from your classic, traditional D’s so if you wanna mix things up and be experimental with flavor then you gotta open your orifice to one… or a dozen of these. Go ahead, I’m not judging. Sometimes there are long lines here so you should take any opportunity you can. Also, with how attractive the employees are, I really wish they would consider delivery services. [Insert Le Lenny face emoticon]
If you’re poor then this might not be the place for you because each donut ranges from $ 3-​$ 5. If you have binge eating disorder then stay away too because these are not the D’s that you want to shove down your throat with the quickness. You have to handle these with care and savor each bite because you can truly taste each ingredient. I was soooo pleased with the ube taro coconut because the Asian part of me loves anything taro. I definitely recommended it if you like the taro buns from Ranch 99 or the 85° Bakery and you’re not in Chinatown.
If you’re on a Tinder date then forget the overpriced, overrated Starbucks and suggest coming here for coffee and romantic patio seating. Trust, Starbucks are the fedoras of coffee shops and maybe after you treat her to the D, then she will treat you nomsayin’? [Insert smirking face emoji]