Presenting Randy’s Donuts, as seen on TV

★★★☆☆

For my most recent donut adventure, I explored arguably the most visited donut place in Los Angeles — Randy’s Donuts. You’ve probably seen photos of the small shop dating back to 1953 when it was founded, or perhaps you recognize it from the scene in Iron Man 2 where Tony Stark casually sits on the building. Conveniently located near LAX — and easily spotted by the oversized donut that crowns its roof — Randy’s has been an ideal photo-op site for tourists and locals alike. That being said, however, it is known primarily for its fame on camera — and not so much for the quality of its donuts.

Like any donut shop that was founded before the 21st century, Randy’s consists of solely classic donut flavors. That’s a rarity in the sea of trendy shops that have opened in recent years. As a foodie, I typically prefer trying out-of-the-ordinary flavors, but nonetheless, I resorted to an all-time favorite: the old-fashioned chocolate glaze donut.

Even though the version at Krispy Kreme will always hold a special place in my heart, I’ll admit that Randy’s did a stand-up job of meeting my standards. They weren’t the best, but I appreciated the fact that they did not go overboard on the frosting. This is what I call a nice dough-to-frosting ratio!

For my second donut, I opted for the plain cruller donut. Of the two that I tried, this one was my least favorite because it was just too dry for my taste. Since it didn’t have any frosting and I chose the plain version of it, the donut turned out be exactly that: plain. Though I would consider it more of a bread than a donut, I’m a huge fan of all carbs, so I can’t complain.

As I mentioned before, Randy’s is known for its presence in numerous films, not its donuts, so I would only recommend visiting for the experience of visiting a landmark in Los Angeles. There’s plenty of parking if you want to stop and take photos. You could also just swing by on your way to the airport; they also have an efficient drive-through that wraps around the building.

Regardless of how you choose to order your donuts, you will definitely be able to feel the history of Hollywood film at this old-fashioned donut shop.

Randy’s Donuts is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 805 W. Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90301.

Paulina Ordaz is a freshman majoring in psychology. Her blog column, “Donut Worry, Be Happy,” runs every other Thursday.