Who doesn’t stop at Randy’s Donuts on the way to or from LAX? Honestly, if you skip it, that’s a personal choice—but also a questionable one. For us, it’s practically tradition. Flights, pickups, drop-offs… somehow they all magically involve donuts.

This visit was especially important because we were picking up a friend who had never had a Randy’s donut before. A first-timer. A blank slate. Naturally, we felt a strong sense of responsibility to initiate him immediately. Waiting was simply not an option.

Since 1952, Randy’s has been serving up legendary donuts to Los Angeles, and it shows. From the moment you pull up, that iconic giant donut lets you know you’re in the right place. It’s not just a sign—it’s a landmark, a photo-op, and a beacon of hope for hungry travelers everywhere.

Then came the hardest part of the visit: choosing the donuts. With so many options, the pressure is real—especially when you’re selecting donuts for someone’s very first Randy’s experience. We decided the safest (and most delicious) route was a well-balanced mix of classics and over-the-top creations.

We started with the essentials: raised glazed, chocolate glazed, maple raised, devil’s food, and a glazed old fashioned (which I claimed immediately). These are the donuts that made Randy’s famous—simple, perfectly executed, and impossible to resist. Then we leaned into the fun stuff. Oreo raised, Fruity Pebbles raised, bacon maple long john (sweet, salty, elite), M&M’s raised, and finally, the s’mores donut—because every donut box deserves a dramatic finale.

Was it a lot of donuts? Yes. Was it the correct number of donuts? Also yes.

To round things out, we grabbed drinks—because donuts without caffeine or boba just feels irresponsible. Whether you’re in the mood for a yummy boba or an iced butter crumb latte, Randy’s has you covered.

By the time we made it back to the car, the box was already lighter and our friend was officially converted. Another successful initiation. Another reason Randy’s remains a must-stop every single time we’re anywhere near LAX.

Oh, Randy’s… we love you. And we’ll absolutely be back—probably sooner than planned.