San Mateo’s Premier Destination for Artisanal Donuts and Ice Cream
Cruel Donuts stands out as a top-tier ice cream shop and donut haven in the heart of San Mateo. Known for its unique homemade ice cream, this local gem offers flavors like Vietnamese coffee that perfectly balance rich coffee notes with just the right touch of sweetness, making it a dream come true for coffee enthusiasts.
The passion and pride of the owner shine through in every batch, with opportunities to sample a variety of inventive flavors before deciding. Beyond ice cream, the specialty donuts such as crème brûlée and ube are crafted with care and creativity, earning high praise from visitors who appreciate gourmet treats. While the maple donut may not be a universal favorite, the overall donut selection is delicious and thoughtfully made.
What makes Cruel Donuts truly special is its dedication to quality and innovation, including the introduction of New Zealand style real fruit ice cream, a fresh and creamy soft serve blending real fruit with ice cream. This innovative technique offers a delightful alternative for those seeking something light and natural. A visit to this San Mateo hotspot promises unique flavors, friendly service, and a memorable experience for anyone with a sweet tooth.
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Lauren Connon
in the last weekLeila Taherian
in the last weekReally good bacon egg and cheese on a croissant. The donuts were so high quality. Mochi donut was my fav. Good iced latte. Lovely little spot and very friendly service. Can’t wait to go back and try the ice cream.
Gorp
2 weeks agoTHE DONUTS ARE TOO CRUEL!!
Lynn Eglan
a month agoMy first time here, my coworker had recommended this place. I came here when they opened and from the outside, I scanned the plaza and didn't see it right away. It low key looks sketch When I walked in it was immediately transformed to a bright, fragrant, donut shop, and more. They were busy making donuts and transferring some to go to the other location. Some of the donuts I wanted were not quite ready yet but I patiently waited for them to be freshly made. Hazel who helped me was super nice and showed me the freshly made donuts and what they were known for. Crème brûlée doughnuts aren't usually done around 8am but they were able to accommodate. Mochi donuts and a special ube croissant or something is made later in the morning as well. A lot of the specialty donuts are available during the weekend, I was lucky I went on a Friday. 1. Crème brûlée donut: Solid, legit Crème brulee nestled in a nice fluffy donut. It felt so bad to eat this first thing in the morning but OMG so worth it on a Friday morning. I was literally eating a Crème brûlée and thought after the long work week it's so worth it. 2. Liliko donut: Light sweet and tart donut 3. Ube cake donut: Nice glaze shell and when you bite the donut it is surprisingly moist and not dry and crumbly. 4. Cruel donuts: So light and not too sweet, a must try 5. Apple fritter: Big and perfectly crunchy all the way around with the nice cinnamony apple douginess inside. 6. Strawberry mochi donut: It tasted likea fresh smoothie glaze on top, you can see the chunks of strawberries. I loved that it's crunchy and not oily feeling 7. Lilikoi mochi donut: Lilikoi glaze is refreshing and tart, it literally hits you. I love it lol 8. Stuffed guava filled donut: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It's the real deal flavor that doesn't taste artificial. Perfectly stuffed so when I cut it every corner had it. 9. Cookies and cream ice cream: Delicious, I'll definitely be back soon 10. Passion fruit sorbet: Tart and refreshing Honestly, everything I tried was amazing this is a hidden gem. As much as I'd love to gate keep it, I share this with you. This is the real deal..
Yunqing Jia
a month agogood pandan coconut ice cream and good portions. vietnamese coffee flavor is very coffee forward