With vastly different flavors, styles, and price points, we sampled four donuts from Kin Bakeshop and SloDoCo, two from each store, to determine the perfect donut order.
Kin Bakeshop and SloDoCo both have commendable reputations that contribute to their popularity as donut shops in the Goleta and Santa Barbara area.
From SloDoCo, we tried a sugar-raised donut and a raspberry jam-filled donut. From Kin, we tested a green apple matcha donut and a cinnamon sugar donut.
(Camilla Kagramanov)
SloDoCo is a go-to location for students to study and get schoolwork done. The calm environment, chill indie music, and mix of college and high school students make it easy to focus. At SloDoCo, there are rarely any disruptions, and the store is open 24 hours a day. They have a wide selection of donuts and drinks to choose from, and the cherry on top is the affordable prices, ranging from $1.90 to $3.80.
Kin is also a nice donut shop that treats customers well, from what we observed. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is welcoming. “Kin” means family in Old English, and the employees are just as kind and friendly as family, making each trip feel special and inviting.
Even though one donut at Kin costs around $3 to $3.50, the quality makes it worth it. While certain flavors are permanent, most are only available for a limited time, which creates long lines; but in the end, the experience and flavor are worth the wait. Additionally, Kin offers gluten-free muffins for $4.25, which is beneficial for people who want more options.
From both shops, the sugar donuts were satisfactory: pure classics that you could go for any day, but the flavor itself is pretty basic. The sugar-raised donut from SloDoCo was soft, with a nice texture from the sugar coating, without it being overpowering.
(Selah Bentley )
The cinnamon sugar mochi donut from Kin was visually appealing and had a pretty simple flavor. It was light and chewy, and it wasn’t super sweet, which was nice. It would be better if there was more of the cinnamon sugar coating because the cinnamon wasn’t super strong, but overall, the donut was simply delicious.
We also tried the raspberry jam-filled donut from SloDoCo, and it had a pleasant flavor. It’s glazed on the outside and gives a nice crunch when you bite into it and discover the raspberry jam in the center. While the jam was a tad too sweet, it didn’t taste artificial. It tasted organic, but with the amount piped in, the sweetness was a bit much. Still it was one of our favorites.
Finally, the green apple matcha donut from Kin was our least favorite. While the name raised some concerns, we decided to give it a shot. At the start, it was sweet, but then it quickly turned into a bitter aftertaste — probably from the matcha — which didn’t hit the spot. It also didn’t taste like the flavors it was supposed to, and was just pure bitterness startling the taste buds.
Out of the four donuts we tasted, the raspberry jam-filled and cinnamon sugar donuts were our favorites. Both donuts have their uniqueness and are good go-to flavors without being too basic, so try them out for yourself. Kin Bakeshop and SloDoCo both have their variety of attributes that food fanatics might love or hate. If you prefer a rotational menu with something new each week, Kin might be for you — if you’re willing to spend a bit more. But if you want a more reliable, consistent menu, SloDoCo is the better choice.
