Nickel Diner’s bacon donut exemplifies the restaurant’s personality

Bacon. Oh, the crispy, salty delight that neighbors our yummy pancakes and eggs on a breakfast plate. In many instances, this is one of the few times one will see bacon in a meal, other than on say, a BLT sandwich. But what about bacon as a dessert?

Bacon bits · Nickel Diner’s creative recipes take the ordinary donut to greater heights. The maple-glazed bacon donut and the strawberry crunch are only a couple of examples of the diner’s mouthwatering concoctions. - Cory Sanford | Daily Trojan

At Nickel Diner in downtown Los Angeles, those dreams, in the form of a maple-glazed bacon donut, come true.

At first, the thought of smoky applewood bacon on a donut sounds, well, downright gross. But this type of culinary inventiveness deserves some sort of praise or at least some attention. Who doesn’t love that moment when the sweet maple syrup from a plate of fluffy buttermilk pancakes accidentally, or not so accidentally, ends up on a crispy wave of bacon?

The hybrid taste is sensational, and Nickel Diner’s concept, genius.

Walking into the small diner, located on Main Street in downtown’s Old Bank District, the establishment is beaming with life and the sweet, homey smells of its delicious fare.

Reminiscent of a 1950s diner with a modern typography twist, this place is unlike any of its competitors, and certainly nothing like Denny’s. The food stands on its own as a notable culinary experience, but it is Nickel Diner’s dessert menu that really draws in a crowd.

Just a stone’s throw away from the Fashion District, the charming eatery summons a blend of patrons, a melting pot of curious first-timers, employees on lunch break and L.A. hipsters with one thing on their mind: bacon.

There are many versions of the bacon donut surfacing around the country, but this ever-expanding trend is an intriguing breakthrough from a cupcake-crazed Los Angeles. The simple yet enticing treat is a composition of a plain donut, generously sprinkled with crunchy bacon bits and finally veiled with a silky sweet maple glaze.

At first bite, the contemplation sets in. Does this donut really live up to the hype? The answer is yes.

The unparalleled combination of the candy-like glaze and salty meat proves to be a satisfying surprise, paying tribute to breakfast and dessert alike. The only problem? It doesn’t last long.

Fortunately, Nickel Diner offers an array of other donuts that lend a hand in satisfying a sweet craving. Showcased on the shirts of friendly employees, donuts like strawberry crunch, topped with a crispy strawberry crumble, red velvet, filled with cream cheese icing, and Nutella, a chocolate donut sprinkled with hazelnuts, push the limits far beyond the typical Winchell’s donut.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday, this spot is sure to fill your empty stomach at all hours of the day, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“This is the place. There is no place quite like this place anywhere near this place so this must be the place,” is seen on the wall of the restaurant as customers leave.

Since there is no place quite like this one, it deserves a second look.

Nickel Diner is located on 524 South  Main St., Los Angeles, Calif.,  90012.