Organization
Seaside Donuts Bakery
Seaside Donuts Bakery is a Cambodian American-owned bakery beside the Newport Pier in Newport Beach, California, open 24 hours a day.[1][2] Also known as Seaside Bakery, or simply Seaside, it has been run by one Cambodian family since 1985.[1] It became a local favorite for its low-priced pastries and its place on the beach, and its green Thai tea donut draws special attention online.[1]
History
The Cambodian immigrant Kong Eap bought the small shop in 1985.[2] It was one of many Cambodian American-owned bakeries that opened in the area after the success of Ted Ngoy's donut shops in Southern California.[1] Eap worked daily shifts for decades before passing the business to his son, Roger Eap, who owned it by 2012. Kong Eap later turned to the hospitality business in Barstow.[2]
In 2012 the bakery still looked much as it had in 1985. Framed black-and-white photographs and faded snapshots of customers hung on the walls, and the register took cash only.[2] Roger Eap said the relationships with customers, many of them decades long, were part of what made the work rewarding.[2]
Food
The counter carries about ten kinds of doughnuts, among them classic glazed, chocolate-covered, cake, filled and old-fashioned doughnuts, donut holes and cronut-style pastries.[2][3] One favorite has blueberries baked into the dough under a crumb topping.[2] There are sweet and savory croissants, including ham-and-cheese croissants with or without jalapeño, along with sandwiches, smoothies, muffins and ramen.[2][3][4] Drinks include Thai iced tea, iced coffee and mocha.[3][4]
Community
Local surfers, business owners and residents come regularly, and summer brings tourist crowds.[2] For years the bakery drew college students, including students at the University of California, Irvine.[1] Since the 2020s it has become a late-night gathering place for young Asian Americans in Southern California, helped by TikTok videos. It is often packed between midnight and 4 a.m.[1][5]
Press
The bakery has been featured in the Los Angeles Times' Daily Pilot, Female Foodie, Hoodline and other publications. Hoodline ranked it 14th on its list of America's favorite donut shops.[1]
Visiting
The bakery is a small walk-up shop on the Balboa Peninsula with no indoor seating, and most orders are taken to go. Lines can form at busy times, especially at night. Paid and free parking are nearby.[3][4][6]
See also
Sources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Wikipedia, Seaside Donuts Bakery
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Daily Pilot, "A happy baker makes happy doughnuts" (February 2012)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Seaside Donuts Bakery, Fresh donuts and croissants by the beach
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Visit Newport Beach, The best bakeries and sweet shops in Newport Beach (November 2025)
- ↑ 88Tumble, What is Seaside Donuts and why does it have such a large impact on Southern Californian Asians (September 2024)
- ↑ Seaside Donuts Bakery, menu listing