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Four years after taking over a small storefront in Los Gatos’ Rinconada Center, Puffin Donuts is finally open.
“The community has been really, really awesome, supporting us, and they’ve been all coming in saying, ‘We’ve been waiting for you guys forever to open,’” said co-owner John Chow.
In July, the small business posted to its Instagram that it projected to open later that month, writing that “the process has been extremely long and arduous and for a small business owner very difficult financially.” Nine months later, on April 13, Puffin Donuts officially soft opened, offering a selection of classic doughnuts such as cake, old-fashioned, raised and jelly-filled, as well as more specialty raised doughnuts in flavors including coconut ube, cookie monster, lemon blueberry and buttercream red velvet.
Ron Chan and Linda Hong run the show at Puffin Donuts, having worked in the Bay Area doughnut industry for over 20 years since immigrating from Cambodia. The married couple have been longtime employees at Chow’s family’s various doughnut shops, including Royal Donut Cafe in Burlingame.
“They’ve become family to us,” said Chow, a San Mateo resident who also owns Apple Fritter. “Ron is so experienced and he … truly cares about what he makes, so you can taste it in his product.”
Puffin Donuts sells its doughnuts for $2.05-$3.50 a piece, $10.95-$17.95 a half dozen and $19.95-$34.95 a dozen. The name Puffin Donuts pays homage to how “puffy,” “soft” and “melt-in-your-mouth” Chan’s doughnuts are, Chow said.
In addition to doughnuts, the business also offers housemade croissants and various boba drinks ($5.95-$6.50), including watermelon lychee green tea and caffeine-free options like butterfly lemonade refresher. Coffee beverages are made from Seattle-based Dillanos Coffee Roasters.
Puffin Donuts may introduce additional pastries and specialty doughnuts as well as breakfast sandwiches later on, Chow said.
While there’s no seating in Puffin Donuts, guests are greeted by an image of Dwyane Johnson peeking through the window upon entering the store.
“Just thought he’s really cool, and I think he’d catch people’s attention,” Chow said.
Chow ultimately hopes Puffin Donuts can be a go-to neighborhood spot for doughnuts and boba drinks and a business that will be able to provide for Chan and Hong’s two children.
“We’re not trying to get rich,” he said. “We’re just trying to take care of each other … I think with the right hands and dough and ingredients, I think the customers will be able to taste the quality of our product.”
Puffin Donuts, 1442 Pollard Road, Los Gatos; Instagram: @puffindonuts. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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