Why you should experience Big John's Donuts in Long Beach, California.
Big John's Donuts is where oversized glazed rings and early-morning ritual still define a neighborhood corner.
Located on East Spring Street in Long Beach, California near the intersection with Clark Avenue and just south of the Lakewood Village corridor, this long-running doughnut shop is known for its towering “big” doughnut sign and classic bakery case stacked with raised rings, cake doughnuts, bars, twists, and filled varieties. The shop opens early, and the rhythm is familiar, construction crews, office commuters, families grabbing a dozen before school. The interior is straightforward and bright, built for quick transactions and takeaway boxes.
What you didn't know about Big John's Donuts.
Big John's Donuts has been part of the East Long Beach landscape for decades, operating within the Southern California independent doughnut tradition rooted in daily scratch production.
Dough is mixed, proofed, fried, and glazed on-site, producing that classic contrast between crisp exterior and soft interior crumb. The oversized novelty doughnut has become a visual landmark for passersby on Spring Street, but regulars know the draw is consistency, the glaze hits the same every time, the coffee stays hot, and the case stays stocked through peak morning hours. Its location near Lakewood Village keeps it woven into everyday routines.
How to fold Big John's Donuts into your trip.
Make this your first stop of the day.
Arrive before mid-morning for the fullest selection, grab a classic glazed or chocolate bar with coffee, and take your box to a nearby park bench or back to your hotel balcony. If you're with a group, order a mixed dozen and let everyone claim a favorite. From there, head toward the shoreline, Signal Hill, or downtown with sugar and caffeine doing their quiet work. It's simple. And that's exactly the point.
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