Duck Donuts - Irvine

I have been in love with Duck Donuts for a while now, and I recently discovered that they offer vegan options! While not every donut is vegan, they do have a good selection available. Everything is made fresh right in front of you, ensuring that all the donuts are fresh. You can even enjoy your donuts alongside your meal!

I also tried the sunflower donut, which is significantly more expensive than a regular donut, but really worth it. It comes with a warm donut topped with icing, along with two pots of ice cream and extra frosting. The donut stays warm and crispy as the ice cream melts into it, blending the flavors into the dough. I loved the contrast in textures and flavors. Their only vegan ice cream flavor is vanilla bean, but it's creamy and delicious. So far, I’ve only ordered individual donuts and eaten them immediately, so I can’t comment on how their quality or texture holds up when they cool down. However, the fresh donuts are quite impressive. In terms of vegan-friendliness, there are a few downsides. The vegan donuts come at an additional cost. They also serve meat, with bacon being a noticeable option, and they offer meat sandwiches. The list of non-vegan toppings appears old and worn, so I’m not sure they will update it when they add new toppings. When I ordered the sunset donut, the cashier did not initially realize they even had vegan ice cream until I pointed it out on the menu, suggesting they might not be well trained on the available vegan options.